Greece has been in the news a lot lately, and not for good reasons. As someone who is Greek, and who spent their entire adolescence in Athens, this national unrest makes me feel heavy. The Greece I know is very different to the riot-zone depicted on TV. When I think of Greece, I think of the summer. I remember the warmth and calm, the flat blue sea and sky, and of course, the food. Beyond the smoke of Syntagma square this is what you’ll find:
1. The vibrance of a simple summer salad.
2. Families eating by the sea, sharing food from the centre of the table.
3. Fresh, seasonal fruit. I miss the local fruit markets!
4. Local tavernas in inner-city Athens, where the waiters know your name.
5. Octopi slowly drying in the sun, until they reach chewy perfection.
Oh, Greece. Oh, Greece.
