Forumite Members › General Topics › Other Stuff › Mmmm Metaxa
- This topic has 3 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 8 months ago by
Bob Williams.
-
AuthorPosts
-
July 20, 2017 at 12:43 am #10345
We spent the last week visiting Vienna and very nice it was too, especially the afternoon cruise down the Danube Wachau Valley between Melk and Krems drinking chilled kaiserspritzers. #firstworldproblem
The 1st and 3rd night we went to a local Austrian restaurant. Schnitzel is very different when done properly by people who know what they’re doing, bloody lovely. Chilled Southern German style beer https://www.goesser.at/ is fantastic when the temperature is still nearer 30 than 20 at 8pm and who can resist a beer called Edelweiss when in Austria? http://www.edelweissbier.at/
But on the 2nd and 4th night we went to the Greek restaurant around the corner. Totally by accident as a thunderstorm started as we were passing. Michelle and I rediscovered Ouzo and Metaxa “brandy” and my daughter had her first experience of Greek food and drink. I had forgotten how good all things Greek can be when done properly and when sat outside on a stinking hot evening.
The problem is that Greece is now on the revisit list along with most of the cities of the low countries, the Rhine valley and Black Forest and TBH everything east of that in a swath to Budapest. I’ve also worked out how to do the Baltic cities without the need for the £6k P&O cruise the sis-in-law went on by using local ferry services. But we decided tonight that a second bite of Amsterdam is where we need to go next and hopefully get that out of our system to make way for a new destination.
I’ve just finished a glug of Metaxa 7 star thanks to Amazon who have it on offer (Prime is so worth it). So at the moment I’m thinking of Athens in the spring and a Metaxa on the terrace under an olive tree overlooking the sea #firstworldproblembutwhocares
July 20, 2017 at 7:48 am #10346Yes I agree fresh food well prepared is so much better than a load of other offerings.
I was last in Athens in March 1985, I had to look back at the photographs to check the details. You might like to think about Athens in the spring though and push it back toward late March or April. I admit that the Acropolis in a March blizzard did look, well different. Athens was disconnected from most of Greece for several days and boy it was cold. The people and food were nice and friendly, the food was very good and not at all expensive for us, but that was 30 plus years ago. There were daily protest marches against some very real social ills and other supposed problems. Industries were closing down and unemployment was rising. I doubt that much has really changed for the best for many of the population.
I had a meeting with a government body the day after a three day weekend. The windows had perhaps 4 or 5 mm glass but perhaps 10mm or more of ice inside. The view out was ‘limited’ and coats scarves gloves and just about anything that could be worn was being used by the staff to try to keep warm. It would be days before the buildings thawed out again. Still the people were lovely. My wife enjoyed the days wandering about the city with my parents – she had been seriously ill and the trip was a side package added onto a business trip from the Middle East, my parents joined us to look after her by day.
Oh, yes I think they all developed a taste for Metaxa that trip.
I doubt that we will ever be able to go back, insurance and other logistical issues, suggest it is not going to be possible. Wandering about the city would likely be rather more than a step too far, though another now scheduled spinal injection might see some benefits for me, my wife’s mobility is currently going the other way as the start of treatment is for ever pushed back due to other health issues.
July 20, 2017 at 7:53 am #10347I do enjoy Greek food, especially a Meze – it has my two favourites for eating – quantity and variety? – and the wife enjoys Greek coffee – Espresso + Metaxa + frothed milk ?? . It’s been a while since we did one, must check out the local area!!
Being on a regime of sensible eating, as opposed to a strict diet, it’s perfect for her, as she can pick and choose whatever fits the bill. I just finish off everything else.?
July 20, 2017 at 5:33 pm #10353AAAAAhhhhh! (smacks lips) I remember that Austrian beer, but my all-time favourite was Adambraü:
Visited Austria and Bavaria many times, my fave Bayerische bier is Paulaner Weissbier:
https://www.paulaner.com/weissbier-family
Not much on Greek food or Metaxa brandy, but I loved German brandy: https://tinyurl.com/y9f9xvvw
Can’t drink any alcohol at all now, unfortunately. But a real schnitzel is something else. I also loved the hälbes – hähnchen (half-chicken) bars & restaurants in Germany, where you can usually pick your own spit-rosted half-chicken straight from the spit. They would halve it for two people, but squaddies would try to eat a whole one, with a montain of chips!
Have a great time Dave, you are making me want to go back there. Coincidentally, SWMBO has her own Roast chicken recipe in the oven as I write, aroma has wafted through from the kitchen. Mouth is watering!
When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out. -
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.