Pajama party

Today is one of these autumn days that make you finally realize and feel in your bones – summer is over. It takes much longer to depart from Greece than some other places but it still inevitably succumbs to the conquering march of autumn. Just the other day you could still prance about in a t-shirt and a pair of shorts, and today I was freezing while hanging the laundry out to dry on the balcony, wearing leggings, a denim shirt and socks. Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy it in many ways – I love watching the turbulent skies, thick clouds floating across it and the dark red sunset. But I enjoy it even more when I don’t really need to go anywhere on such a day – like today. In that case the best thing to do is get cosy on the bed or on the sofa, wearing a soft and warm pajamas, heating my hands on a hot cup of coffee or tea, and thinking of cooking some hearty warm-up meal like a tomato cream soup or a stew of ochre and meat. So that’s pretty much what I did – minus the cooking, since it would have required a trip to a supermarket (lazy, lazy me).

Speaking of pajamas, I have lived without one all year in Greece – yes I will certainly miss its warm climate – but now that I’m moving, I will most certainly need one. And it so happens that just today I spied the October lookbook of nightwear by OYSHO – I’ve always admired this brand’s boxer-shorts for girls and other pieces for causal home wear. But never went further than buying some underwear and a top from them. So I guess now the time has come to pick out one of Oysho’s pajamas.

And to complete the perfectly cosy outfit – I might go with this pair of boot-slippers by H&M.

Art-Athina 2011

Greece's biggest visual arts event, ART-ATHINA 2011 - International Contemporary Art Fair of Athens - is coming up on May 12-15 at Faliro Pavilion, the former Olympic Games venue. The event will take place for the 17th time already and while I've never visited one before (after all I moved to Athens only last summer), I'm excited to see what it has to offer. Those who can't be physically present at the event can instead visit its online platform at http://www.openartcollection.com. More info on the art fair to be found at art-athina.gr.

Samos Diary: Finale

So here is my last post in Samos Diary series. Honestly I was too tired and relaxed to take pictures on the last day, so I give you some of the photos from Easter Sunday. Apparently as usual on this day, the city streets were deserted - as all residents were having festive barbecues with families and friends, which usually involve roasting a whole goat and other meats. We also followed the example of the locals and spent the afternoon on the sunlit terrace of my man's childhood friend's house on the mountain with him and his family, and ... the goat. I will leave out the picture of the actual animal (too scary), and instead offer you some highlights of the party which include me, posing in the cap that actually belongs to the master of the house, an improvised karaoke performance and a cat which appeared from somewhere, surely drawn by the smell of meat. Even though I like most cats, what I adore about this one is that he looks so unlike all the sweet furry creatures we're used to seeing - he's a proper "jungle" hunter, a real Bandit!

Samos Diary: Days 6-7

The most interesting moments of my Friday and Saturday in Samos were the EASTER celebrations (Easter is as important here as Christmas or even more!). They started on Friday night with a number of crowded processions carrying so-called "epitafios" - the cloths depicting the body of Jesus placed in festively decorated constructions called Kouvouklion. On Saturday, just before midnight, locals gathered in front of Churches for Easter service which was accompanied by multiple petard explosions (!!!) - the tradition I find seriously strange.

Unfortunately all this curious events took place outdoors after sunset and my poor camera failed to capture the moment in good quality. So instead I give you a set of pictures that could be dubbed "Samos Days and Nights" since they capture our "routine" on a regular day on the island: first a mass gathering at the central cafe at the square, a very late breakfast/lunch with Greek meze (appetizers), Ouzo with ice and one of my local favorites - grilled octopus, and, finally, a night out at our favorite club - appropriately called ESCAPE. To set the mood I've also enclosed a song which, in a way, serves as club anthem.

Samos Diary: Days 4-5

Sorry for no updates for several days - I'm on holidays after all so, as you can imagine, there is not always time to sit around and blog away. Besides, Easter is coming up and celebrations have already began (and Easter is seriously BIG here in Greece) so there are plenty of things to see and places to be. The last couple of days involved lots of slowly gorging on SAMOS food and alcohol in different tavernas in town, but we've also taken a walk up the mountain path, where a friend of ours likes to walk his lively dog. From the path opened a great view of breathtaking Samos' landscape with its combination of lush greenery, forests, mountains and clear blue sea as well as the view of Vathy bay (where we're currently staying) - Samos' capital and main port.

OUTFIT:

1. Leather jacket, jeans: ZARA TRF

2. Blazer: STRADIVARIUS

3. Bag: VINTAGE

Samos Diary: Day 3

Despite high expectations, the weather in SAMOS hadn't improved much on Tuesday - on the contrary it became slightly colder. As result we didn't spend much time outside. Instead we drank Frappe (Greek cold coffee made of instant coffee whipped with sugar and mixed with water and ice), visited local football club (co-managed by a friend of ours) and spent several hours hanging out at a cafe where we first lunched and later had evening drinks with friends...

OUTFIT:

1. Leather jacket: ZARA TRF

2. T-shirt and denim shirt: PULL&BEAR

3. Jeans: Stradivarius

Samos Diary: Day 2

Our Monday in SAMOS started with a traditionally late coffee drinking at our favorite cafe, followed by a short ride to a quiet and deserted spot by the sea, and then - by a very enjoyable meal at a taverna on the Samos seafront. The late lunch featured lots of Ouzo (traditional Greek anise-based alcohol drink, served with ice and cold water) - hence some of the crazier pics you may see below :)