G R E E C E
The land of ancient sites and gorgeous beaches, Gods and Goddesses, great food, and sunny weather. So much history and so many islands yet less than 200 of those islands are inhabited.
Popular Greek Islands:
Corfu, Crete, Hydra, Milos, Santorini, Sifnos, Rhodes, Tinos
Olympian Gods & Goddesses
Apollo, Athena, Athens, Dionysos, Hera, Poseidon, Zeus
Greek History (From Stone Age to Independence)
Stone Age, Bronze Age, The Geometric and Archaic Periods, The Classical Era, The Hellenistic Era, The Roman Conquest, The Byzantine Empire, and I N D E P E N D E N C E
Independence Day is celebrated by the Greeks on March 25.
On March 25, 1821 Bishop Germanos Patras raised a blue & white flag at Agia Lavra monastery (near Patras) where the struggle for independence officially began.
Today the country of GREECE is visited by tourists throughout the world who enjoy exploring the ancient sights, eating the outstanding cuisine, and relaxing on the gorgeous beaches.
A Sampling of Greek Cuisine
Main Dishes:
Greek Salad, Fava (puree of split peas), Moussaka (oven-baked meal and eggplant casserole), Kalamarakia (fried squid), Spanakopita (spinach pie), Gyros (roasted lamb or pork stuffed in a pita and garnished with sauce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions).
Desserts:
Baklava, Halva, and Finikia cookies
One of my favorite cuisines is the Greek cuisine. My family & friends can always count on a Greek dish made especially for them and one of my most requested dishes is Spinach Pie (known in the Greek language as Spanakopita).
Adrianna's Spanakopita (Spinach Pie) Recipe
If you can make phyllo dough from scratch it makes a difference in the quality but it's very time consuming so it's best to buy store bought phyllo dough in the frozen section of your local grocery store.
One package of phyllo dough (unfrozen) room temperature
1 cup of unsalted butter, melted
1 - 2 pounds of fresh spinach, slightly steamed (1-2 minutes)
One big onion, finely chopped
Two garlic cloves, finely chopped
One chunk of authentic Greek Feta Cheese, crumbled
1 cup olive oil
Note: If you like lots of spinach steam 2 pounds of spinach, if you prefer less spinach steam 1 pound of spinach for this recipe!
Take a medium size baking pan and place some melted butter at the bottom then layer about 6 phyllo dough strips on top of the melted butter. Mix the fresh steamed spinach with one chopped onion, 1 cup of olive oil, and one chunk of crumbled authentic Greek feta cheese in a bowl. Place the mixture on top of the phyllo dough and sprinkle a bit of garlic powder, and oregano on top.
Place 6-7 strips of phyllo dough over the spinach mixture and pour the remaining melted butter on top.
Bake for about 10-12 minutes at 375 degrees until phyllo dough is golden brown and crispy.
Serve warm with a side of Greek Salad
You can freeze the leftover phyllo dough for next time you make spinach pie or baklava.
GREECE is loaded with spectacular islands. When I spent a few days in GREECE I chose the island of CORFU for my island getaway. I highly recommend the Ionian island of CORFU for a vacation.
This is the perfect island to just relax and enjoy the beach but if you want some action than head to the Archaeological Museum for cultural stimulation. Stroll around the town of Corfu and do some sightseeing. Browse the shops and check out the variety of things for sale ranging from fig cakes to handmade lace and jewelry. Check out the 16th century Fortress and the Byazntine Churches of beautiful CORFU town.
The narrow streets of Old Corfu are a maze of wonder and will make you feel as if you've been transported back a century or two.
For pizza that's out of this world try Vasilis Pizza. It's one of the best pizzeria's in all of Greece. Other reputable restaurants in Corfu are Ammus Restaurant Cafe, Avli, Dionysos, Kaparelli Taverna, and Trilogia Restaurant.
If you just can't get enough of the beach consider stocking up on some tasty treats at the food market and putting together a picnic basket to take to the beach.
CORFU the island of olive trees has lodging options in all categories;The Pink Palace Back Packer Hostel is a favorite with 20- somethings. It's one of the most famous hostels in Greece. Bella Venezia is a cozy boutique hotel in Corfu town. Nissaki Olive Press is a wonderful villa situated right on the sea and Costas Golden Beach Hotel is the place to choose for impeccable service and a picturesque setting.
A side trip to the city of Athens will give you a taste of metropolis Greek life but it's the islands of GREECE that are the real treasures. So find a good place to sit on the beach, drink some wine, and brush up on the Greek language because chances are you might want to stay as long as you can in gorgeous GREECE.
G R E E C E G R E E C E
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