Eating in Aegina

Boy, did we feel foolish! After looking in the harbor, we got tired and went to our room for a nap. When we woke up and were hungry at 7:00 pm, we found Aegina up and all the stores open! It turns out that this is how the Greeks live on the islands: open your business, regardless of type of business at 7:00 AM, close at 1:00 or 2:00 pm (depending on island), eat a big lunch with your family, take a long nap in the heat of the day, open your business at 6:00 pm, close around 9:00 to 10:00 pm, go to a restaurant at 9:00 pm and eat a big meal with your family, and go to bed around midnight. If you are young, forgo bed and go to a bar with very loud music until about 3:00 am.

So, everything was open! We ate a traditional Greek meal of a Greek Salad and some grilled fish. If you ask for salad in Greece, you will get a Greek Salad. It is so fresh. Sorry for the half eaten picture.



Here is the recipe:

Greek Salad

2 -3 tomatoes rough chopped
1/2 of an English Cucumber (or several small persian cucumbers. Trader Joe's has them) sliced and cut in half
5 thin slices of a red onion, cut in quarters
8 Kalamata olives (pitted are nice if you can get them)
Big slice of Feta cheese (get the cheese in brine so it is moist)
a sprinkle of oregano
Olive oil to taste

Chop up the veggies and put in a big bowl or platter that is bowl like. Sprinkle on the olives. I sprinkle a bit of oregano at this point but most people don't. Put the feta on top in one chunk. Sprinkle the oregano and pour olive oil over the top of the feta.

That it! Easy Peazy! This is very filling and could be a meal or could go with another dish.