No One Asked My Opinion, But…

Thoughts on Greece: YASOU!
By George W. Harris

Last year, I wrote about the music scene in Ireland. This year, I went to go visit my relatives in Greece to check out the family, food, music, and economy. Family was great! Next…
1) There are 3 jazz clubs in Athens, a) Dizzy Miles b) Half Note and c)Parafino. All have local talent, and once in a while big names. I saw some ads for jazz clubs in Crete as well, in Chania, but didn’t check them out.
2) The fact is, you don’t go to Greece for jazz, but for the local sounds. We heard the best folk music in Nafplion, which is about 2 hours south of Athens. Usually 2-3 member combos; a violin or guitar and singer, playing local and traditional music. No touristy stuff, the real thing was here
3) Also, in Nafplion was a traditional music festival with dancers in local costumes, and musicians playing the “old school” of music, with reed instruments that sounded like you were calling the goats home. Good stuff!
4) If you want food, nothing beats the feta cheese. My family is from Larissa County, which makes the BEST feta in the world. Kalamata runs a close second. Brought back 10 lbs, which you can do if you vacuum seal it.
5) World’s best olive oil is from Crete; Cold pressed and extra virgin. Check on ebay, but you will never go back to Italian or Spanish again. I drink a shot glass of it every morning.
6) Beaches! The cleanest beach in the Mediterranean is Farsallana on the Western side of Crete. On the Peleponese, Zacharo Beach on the Western coast is an award winner. Both of these places have hotels for under a hundred bucks, including dinner.
7) Nafpaktos is a cute town just where the new bridge has been built that connects the Peleponese to the main land. All of these places are “Greek” towns, meaning few tourists. You can get by on English, though.
8) Nothing like seeing ruins from 1200 BC, or from the battle of Sparta in 400 BC, or from monasteries from 1000 AD to put your life into perspective. We are but a vapor, as the Bible says, and eternity is a long time to think about your short life on earth.