I love The Mall

Most of the shops in Greece are found along the sidewalks, imagine during rainy season. Yianna (Aunt Fevronia’s daughter) took me to The Mall in Marousi, I am in love. Great big air-conditioned shopping centre with every store you could wish for! Reminds me a lot of Menlyn, I love Menlyn. The Mall doesn’t follow the ridiculous working hours that normal stores do(none of that closing at lunchtime for siesta nonsense) its open every day, weekdays from 9am until 9pm, but closes earlier on Saturdays at 8pm, how fab! Lucky little me can take the Proastiako (suburban railway) from Glykeria’s house in Vrillissia and two stops later I’m at The Mall *kisses her euros goodbye* http://www.themallathens.gr/

Crepa-Crepa

Pronounced crapper-crapper but no you cant flush the toilet paper in their store.
Savoury, sweet, ethnic, vegetarian. Pancakes with any combination of filling that your greedy little self could ever wish for! My choice was a Papageno - nutella, white chocolate and biscuits.
"one Papageno please"
The kind sir pours some batter onto a round *searches her non existent cooking vocab for the word* hot plate(?), after a minute or so he slides a spatula under the pancake and flips it. When it is a golden brown colour and the sweet smell of deliciousness fills the air, he folds the pancake in half. Out comes a supersize bottle of nutella (its huge! the size of 3 of ours!), he covers one half with nutella and the other half with melted white chocolate, then he sprinkles broken bits of biscuits all over the pancake. Then he takes the pointy sides of the semi-cirle pancake and folds them up to the middle of the circle part (is this making sense?), he folds it in half again so the nutella side and white chocolate side are now facing each other,he folds the bottom up so it doesnt drip out the bottom like an ice cream cone (really smart!), he folds it in half again so it becomes a triangle, he pops it into wrap paper and hands it to you (this part feels like ultra slow motion). You take the first bite and your mouth is filled with warm gooey chocolate, bliss! The store in Halandri even delivers to our house in Vrillissia! *fast forward 3 months to my disbelief at how much weight I picked up while in Greece*

My Living Arrangements

25 Argostoliou, Galatsi – Kosmeria’s Apartment

My cousin Marianna (Kosmeria’s daughter) lives at 11 Argostoliou, its literally half a block away from number 25. Kosmeria lives with Marianna to help her with her babies, so 25 Argostoliou is all mine! First floor apartment with all the bells and whistles I could wish for. My favourite feature is the balcony, perfect for catching some rays in the afternoon while painting your nails, and for being nosy and seeing what the neighbours are up to (I haven’t actually seen anyone from my building, haven’t heard anyone, starting to think I don’t actually have neighbours , but the neighbours across the road will do….) There are shutters on the windows that let the air in but keep the sunlight out, allows me to sleep in as much as I like (I know I know I should be looking for a job not sleeping all day and painting my nails the rest of the time… work is overrated *puts a 2nd coat of nail polish on*)

11 Argostoliou, Galatsi – Marianna’s Apartment

People living there:
Marianna (very sweet cousin who goes out of her way for me)
Dimitri (Marianna’s husband – very sweet , we like him– gave me a full size bottle of Dolce & Gabbana The One and the matching golden shimmer lotion, we really really like him
Marianna’s kids: Vangeli and Angelina, both very good children (when Angelina is not pinching me! The kid pinches me everytime she sees me!)
Kosmeria: My aunt (my dad’s sister), and the former tenant of my apartment. She is also the babysitter and the chef . As soon as food is ready she phones me to come eat, then I go have a nap then she calls me when the food is ready, then I go have a nap
The best feature at 11 Argostoliou is the neighbour with the unsecured wireless network!!

28 Oktobriou, 44, Vrilissia - Glykeria’s apartment (this is where I’ll be living when I’m not at Kosmero’s apartment)

Really fab apartment, divine bathroom with a spa bath…. I wish Denis was here, he has the best bath parties *makes a mental note to make friends soon*
Glykeria is a crazy cousin from my dad’s side, the biggest party animal you will ever meet, very witty, we are gonna have a blast living together! Everything is going to be suuuuppppeeerrr! The only thing I don’t like is the neighbours pool….. huge bright blue pool in full view from our balcony, you can hear people splashing in it while you roast at 37 degrees Celsius…… we need to make friends with someone who lives in the apartment block next door, I’m prepared to swim and tan topless! Make Greece beautiful :-)