Athen’s Fish Market

If you’d like to experience a glimpse of what an old Athens market might have looked like, check out the Athens meat and fish market. This is also a great place to impress and gross out your kids! Goat heads in a basket—skin removed, eyeballs intact—was one of my favorite things to watch the kids react to. You can also buy half a goat, with bones and without guts.

Who could resist these tempting piles of spices? I found a big packet of cumin, which I was out of, as well as a Greek salad spice blend. Hopefully I can recreate some of the tasty salads I’ve been enjoying here–it’s the most fresh, raw veggies I’ve ever had on vacation! I also bought some dried figs, spiced nuts, figs, Greek chamomile for tea, and a Greek mountain herb my friend recommended from her stays on the Greek island her husband grew up on. Eloise joined me in the spice market because she figured out that all the men manning the market stalls will give her candy while I shop. She graciously shared some of it with Isaac, who waited for us in a plaza full of the most pigeons he’s ever seen. Months after our visit, Eloise told me she loves Greece because all the people are so nice, and if we went back, would people still give her candy?

I think I started this post while we were in Athens and it’s sat in my big pile of unfinished blog posts ever since. Last night I met up with friends for tasty Greek food at Melya in Tervuren—olives, feta, grilled octopus, calamari, a very friendly server (“…You have given me a lot of money…” after we included a tip) and stories that make you laugh so hard you cry. Breaking up the cold of a Belgian winter with the warm sun of an evening with friends inspired me to dig this post out again!

“What did you have for dinner?” my kids asked over breakfast.

“Octopus tentacles. Calamari,” I answered. No one believed me.