Athens, Greece: Day Seven
December 23, 2011Posted by Kanga.
Due to the continued rain, DaddyBird needed a hat. This was the one and only style of hat in the shop. I like it. (Notice I had to turn the camera sideways to get the beard in.)
We went to the downtown area which has been largely pedestrianized (no cars allowed). (It’s difficult to tell, but in the distance is the plateau of the Acropolis.)
This is the Church of the Metamorphosis.
When you see it from the back, you can see it has gone through a metamorphosis of its own.
We stopped for a late lunch at the Saita Taverna.
This is retsina wine. This a 1/2 kilo carafe. One can also get a full kilo carafe. It comes out of oak wine barrels stored in the restaurant.
We ordered appetizers. They did not have sausages, which we had ordered, so brought the fried cheese instead. The other plate contains grilled octopus, which was delicious.
The fried zucchini was very delicious and I ate most of it before DaddyBird had a chance. You snooze, you lose.
Our main dishes – lamb chops and bakalairo (salted cod).
The mashed potatoes were served cold with olive oil and a generous amount of garlic. I don’t need to keep repeating that this was delicious, do I?
We continued our walk through the shops. Many of these shops carry touristy items.
Before long we had entered a very different shopping area where you could get clerical vestments made or pick up a nice censer or candlestick for your Byzantine church.
We diverted a bit to look at this wonderful little church. Behind it is its 19th century replacement which is currently under renovation. A man working at a nearby restaurant came out to talk to us and tell us about the churches. He was pleased to hear that we come from Oregon, which he is convinced is a state known for cowboys.
Living the Travel Channel 
How on earth can you drink mouthwash with food? 😉
Pussy report, they have bedded down for evening, me now off to underbelly!:-)
what a lovely looking day–and because you are from Oregon (and NOT cowboys) you were able to enjoy the walk in the rain! Love the yoummies you shared, although I have never been fond of octopus!
by the by, my favorite pic is the second one.
I like it, too. It is was kinda artsy fartsy.
This is where I was supposed to be right now!
And, yet, you shunned us and went elsewhere. 😦