γειά σου!

Last night we also got to go to a taverna where we sampled many Greek dishes.  Before you eat you toast each other with the wine and say "Yiaso!" which is the title of this particular post.  It means cheers.  The professor I was with ordered and we had everything from stuff tomatoes to Saganaki, which is fried cheese.  The first corse was filled with vegetable items and various dips for the bread.  There was also a cross between a potato chip and french fry. After that corse we had different meats like lamb and stuffed pork.  All of it was delicious and very filling.  At the end of the meal watermelon was brought out.  Normally, this is the fruit in season and it is an extra item thrown in at the end.  When apples are in season, they generally cut them up and put sugar and cinnamon on them.

The bill the waiter gave to the professor right after he ordered.  Unlike in America, where the bill appearing means that it is time to leave, this is just a way to make sure the waiter does not forget to give it.  Any food ordered later would then be added to it.

The only problem with the taverna was the location.  It was outside, with trees holding up the awning we were under.  Located in the Pagkrati area it was only a few short blocks from the CYA center.  However, that meant it was even further to get back to my apartment, and we took an obscure route to get there.

Athens is made up of several different districts, only all brought together in recent years.  There is no grid system in the city, and it seems they built their blocks wherever.  That meant that there was no direct route to get back to Kolonaki.  Walking back with my friend Sarah, we tried several times to find out where we were on the map that she had.  Unfortunately, she had a map of the CYA area, and we had wondered far from there.  We spent a good 30 minutes walking around and seeing many people in lounge bars as you go out here after 9.

Sarah and Me with our map