Unlike my trip to India which must be aroma heaven or hell depending on where you are, the aromas of Greece make me feel hungry! During my Naxos holidays, I had the opportunity to buy some of the local herbs which the Greeks use in their cooking. They seem to grow almost everywhere and that probably explains why I associated the summer mountain aromas with food, without even realizing it.
Wild thyme, oregano and sage, are cooking basics, along with rosemary basil, spearmint and mint. It got worse just before lunch while I was wandering the streets of the villages of Naxos, the time when family lunch was being prepared or eaten. That time was usually between 11:30 and 15:00. By the time I’ve walked a mile or so, I always seemed to be ravenous!
And that is not all. At sunset, the air, sometimes warm sometimes cool, carries the sweet scents of a variety of trees, bushes and flowers. Add those to a seafood meal with some light white wine, a view to die for and you get a killer combination.
Greece, I Love it!!
P.S. Don’t let me scare you. With all the swimming and the walks along the “paralia” and the fabulous alleys of Naxos Town and the villages, you can satisfy your appetite guilt free. And you will look strong and healthy. Isn’t that something to look forward to?