If you have been following the blog for a while, or know me personally, then you will know that Greece is a country that is at the top of my bucket list. There are so many islands to choose from, as well as mainland Greece, that I honestly and not even fussy which part I go to (although I do think that Santorini slightly tips the scale with all of that blue and white and unique architecture). There is just so much to love about Greece, albeit from an outsider’s perspective, with great weather, beautiful beaches, water sports, boat trips, island hopping, tasty Greek and Mediterranean food, culture, and events. Not to mention cheap flights and some amazing hotels as well as self-catered accommodation. If you have been, I would love to hear about it all!
Online Event with Jet2 and Mixology
In order to get in the mood for more of us to get travelling again, I was invited to an online event with Jet2 and Mixology, for a drinks masterclass, all with Greece and Greek recipes in mind. Being currently pregnant, as well as not being a drinker anyway, I was pleased that there were some amazing recipes for me to try that included non-alcoholic counterparts. The recipes were all amazing, and I will definitely recreate them when I host parties and events at home, not that I have the gear and the technique to mix a proper drink, in a shaker and everything.
The ‘Greek’ Riviera
This drink was tasty and really fun to make, who would have thought to add honey and jam into a cocktail?! If you love a fruity drink, then this one is for you. Of course, you can use the spirits that are mentioned, but I used non-alcoholic versions of the drink, and it still tasted amazing.
- 40ml Hennessy (one full shot, one 15ml)
- 15ml White Rum
- 15ml Lemon Juice (¼ of a lemon)
- 1 Spoonful Apricot Jam
- 1 Spoonful Runny Honey
Just remember to add with plenty of ice, and shake it all together in a cocktail shaker. Serve with anything you like, but we used dried orange slices which worked so well to have an extra kick of fruity flavour.
Rose and Pine Martini
My eyes were really opened with this drink, because I would have not thought to add rosemary in a drink, but it tastes amazing and works so well with the elderflower taste and the ‘gin’ that I used. I think this was my favourite overall, so without further ado, here is the recipe that you could try yourself too:
- Rosemary sprig (roughly 3cm)
- 45ml London Dry Gin (one full shot, one 20ml)
- 20ml Elderflower Cordial
- 20ml Pineapple Juice
- 10ml Dry Vermouth
- Rosemary sprig to garnish
If those haven’t got you in the mood to travel to Greece, then here are some of the top things or experiences that I would love to try out in Greece. It just seems like such a dream destination. When the travel traffic light system sorts itself out a little more, I may just have to book some last-minute flights for a ‘baby-moon’ to Greece.
Visit Acropolis in Athens
When you think of ancient Greece and the myths, then you will no doubt have Acropolis in mind. It is one of the major and iconic ancient sites in mainland Greece, and one of the top attractions in Athens. You can get to see the famous Parthenon, which is the largest temple in Greece. I love the ancient connections of it, with it being built as a homage to the Greek goddess Athena Parthenos.
Relax on beautiful beaches
There are so many beaches when you add it all up in Greece, with so many islands to choose from, all surrounded by water, of course. The top beaches that I have insta-stalked online are :
- The Shipwreck Beach on the Island of Zakynthos
- The Balos Lagoon in Crete
Quad bike around Santorini
One of my friends went to Santorini pre-COVID and as the island itself is quite small, and with many winding roads, renting a quad bike to get around is one of the best options. She said that they went from beach to beach and place to place really easily, and you get to see the whole of the island in such a short amount of time. It sounds like it would be so fun, by maybe one to leave for when the baby is born!