Here’s How you Can Transport Yourself to Greece Right Now!
By Alicia Sharp published on 19 June 2020
In another reality, we’d all be laying down on the front net of our MedSailors catamaran with a cocktail in our hand as we set sail to another one of Greece’s 6,000 picturesque islands. We’d lose ourselves in the white-washed streets and start and end every day in the oh-so blue seas, thinking ‘how lucky are we to be experiencing this slice of paradise.’
From the incredible natural sea caves to the ancient history and mouth-watering cuisine, Greece is a country that many of us dream to visit. And although we can’t take you on an island-hopping adventure through the islands of Greece right now, we wanted to do the next best thing by trying our best to bring the Greek islands to you at home.
Here’s how you can experience the Greek Islands – virtually!
Eat a Gyros and dream of Greek sunsets
Greek food is world famous for a reason… it’s seriously delicious! The Greeks are masters of spit-roasted meats and take pride in their fresh ingredients. It is one of the most versatile diets that will satisfy anyone with its flavourful variety.
One of Greece’s most popular street dishes (and a personal favourite of ours here at MedSailors) is the Gyros. Picture this: Perfectly roasted meat, fresh veggies and salty potato fries smothered in traditional tzatziki sauce and served inside a lightly toasted pita – mmmmm, delicious!
Biting into traditionally made gyros is one of life’s simplest pleasures. So until you can grab one of your own on an island in Greece, here’s how you can make your own at home. You can also follow the recipe on our Instagram highlights!
Ingredients (this will feed you and 3-5 friends):
1kg chicken
4 to 6 pita breads
6 potatoes
Marinade
3 tsp crushed garlic
1 tbsp
1 tbsp white wine vinegar
3 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
3 tbsp Greek yogurt , preferably full fat
1 1/2 tbsp dried oregano
1 tsp salt
Black pepper
Tzatziki
1/2 – 3/4 cup grated cucumber
1 1/4 cups Greek yoghurt
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove
Salt and pepper
Salad
3 tomatoes
3 cucumbers
1/2 red onion
Method:
- Prepare your protein: Traditionally, Gyros are made with chicken or pork, but you can also use beef lamb or halloumi as a vegetarian option. If, like us, your go-to Gyros meat would be chicken then we recommend marinating your chicken with oregano, thyme, lemon, lots of garlic, white wine vinegar, and yogurt.
- Cook your protein: Gyros meat is traditionally cooked on a vertical spit and then shaved off. This isn’t exactly practical in the home kitchen… but don’t worry! You’ll achieve delicious results from simply grilling your meat in the oven.
- While your protein is cooking in the oven, chop your potatoes into thin chips and sprinkle over some salt and olive oil over them before baking in the oven.
- Prepare the tzatziki: Tzatziki is key for a mouth watering Gyros and it’s super easy to make. Combine the following ingredients in a bowl and mix: Greek yogurt, grated cucumber, olive oil, garlic, a sprinkle of dill, lemon juice and zest, and season with salt and pepper.
- Prepare the salad: Dice your preferred salad ingredients nice and small and combine in a bowl. You can use pretty much any fresh salad ingredients you want but our favourites are always cucumber, tomato and red onion.
- Prepare the pita: Get some delicious fresh pita or greek flatbread and grill that sucker! You’ll want to serve your gyros in a fluffy pocketless pita like this, lightly oiled and grilled before serving.
- Once you’ve got all of the components for your chicken gyros ready, roll it up and serve. We hope it’s love at first bite!
Our favourite way to enjoy a Gyros is with a beer in our other hand watching an epic fiery Greek sunset. You’ll want to but this one on your bucket list for sure!
Trade your morning coffee for a Freddo Cappuccino
If there’s one morning essential that is pretty universal it’s coffee, and the Greeks know how to make one damn fine morning coffee.
As one of the sunniest countries in the world, Greeks enjoy an iced coffee beverage all year round. It’s a drink that’s both deeply ingrained in Greek culture and hugely popular amongst locals. So, if you’re looking to change up your morning coffee routine, let your taste buds take you to a summer’s morning to Greece with this Freddo recipe.
Ingredients:
2 shots espresso
100ml full fat milk, cold from the fridge
Sugar (according to your liking)
Ice cubes
Grounded cinnamon or chocolate
Method:
- Prepare the coffee in the espresso machine. Get two shots of espresso.
- If you want to put sugar in your coffee now is the time as the coffee is still hot and the sugar will melt. Put the sugar in the coffee and give it a good stir.
- Put the coffee in a mixing jar with two ice cubes and give it a good stir with a hand mixer.
- Place your coffee in a glass half filled with ice.
- Prepare your froth milk. The milk needs to be very cold, so take it out from the fridge the very last moment.
- Put your milk in the mixing jar and stir it until you get a rich froth and the milk thickens.
- You can top it up with cinnamon or chocolate powder before enjoying your coffee like a Greek.
Sip your Freddo and dream of stunning morning views in Greece. Yamas!
Transport yourself to the Saronic or Ionian islands of Greece
Grab your homemade Gyros and tucker in for a Friday night set in the beautiful Saronic or Ionian islands of Greece with our #FridayFilmNight. Soak up all the sights and sounds of Greece through these all time favourite films and television series that have inspired many to visit the islands.
Transport yourself to the Saronic Islands of Greece through the popular film ‘Boy on a Dolphin (1957)’ a romantic film set upon one of our favourite Saronic islands; Hydra. The film follows the story of a poor young sponge diver from Hydra who discovers an ancient statue of a boy riding a dolphin at the bottom of the Aegean Sea. The main actress, Sophia Loren, will make you fall in love with the cosmopolitan island of Hydra the same way she did saying it’s “one of the most beautiful places in the world”. Look out for the Boy on a Dolphin statue located near the port when you visit Hydra!
The film also includes scenes in Athens where we start and end our Saronic Voyager, as she attempts to sell the statue to the highest bidder only to end up with so much more than money.
If you’re looking to lose yourself in the beauty of the Ionian islands of Greece, then look no further than the British comedy series ‘The Durrells (2016-2019)’. Following the events of the Durrell family as they move from England to Greece and adapt to life in Corfu, you can’t help but fall in love with this beautiful island.
The series takes you through the colourful pastel streets and stunning seasides of Corfu where we start and end of Ionian Voyager and will have you earning for a Greek getaway.
Spend 24-Hours in Greece
Don’t we all wish we could spend 24 hours hanging out in Greece right now. Though we can’t spend a day in Greece with you we tried our best to replicate what a day sailing in Greece would be like. Head to our Instagram highlights to join in on our interactive Instagram story which allows you to choose how you spend 24 hours sailing in the Ionian Islands of Greece from waking up, to enjoying lunch, exploring sea caves and wandering through the colourful streets Parga.
If you’d prefer to try and live the full 7-days of a Greek sailing holiday, check out our epic video of what a week in Greece with MedSailors looks like here.
Tour of the Ancient Acropolis
The Acropolis of Athens is one of the most famous ancient archaeological sites in the world and is an absolute must-do during your time in Greece. From the comfort of your couch, you can now step inside the acclaimed Acropolis, experiencing the most prominent monuments including the well-known Pathernon, the Propylaia, the Erechtheion and the Temple of Athena Nike, through a virtual tour. You’ll also learn all about the history of the ancient structure with descriptive information about each monument complementing the tour.
When you’re able to travel to Greece again, be sure to add the Acropolis to your travel list.
Fly to Greece for less
Did you know that Greece is the European nation with the biggest population percentage employed in tourism? Family owned businesses that only operate during peak season, the tavernas and beach bars where visitors jostle for the best spot now at a stand still. As soon as we can travel safely again, it’s one of the countries that will need our support most. We can’t wait to get to supporting our favourite local Greek businesses like Hora Farm and Poros Watersports.
To encourage travellers to visit their beautiful country, Greece has revealed that it will be cutting costs for travellers with VAT and GST on all modes of transport from 24 percent to 13 percent. This means flights into the country, buses, trains and subsequent flights around Greece will be cheaper!
Dreaming of future travel? Check out our Saronic Voyager or Ionian Discovery routes in Greece for when the world opens back up to travel again!