Archive for November, 2020

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Takeaway coffee The Underdog

November 30, 2020

Athens Sunday three weeks ago, Athens in second day of lockdown.

Walked around The Acropolis to Thissio, then to Sticky Rice n friends Filipino street food for a bowl of lunch, deep fried chicken, stir fried vegetables and steamed rice which I ate in the little square overlooking Thissio Metro Station.

Then back tracked to The Underdog.

Usually on a Sunday, many people about, stalls, but now second day of lockdown, few people on the streets though more than Saturday, first day of lockdown.

The Underdog is usually ram packed on a Sunday horrendous noise, today me and the barista.

My cappuccino an improvement on Saturday, but that was my fault, I allowed it to cool down.

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Peristeri evening before lockdown

November 29, 2020

Friday three weeks ago, a cool day, no sun, a gale blowing, a day for the Metro and the suburbs.

Tuesday bars, restaurants and coffee shops closed. Midnight night time curfew. Friday last day of freedom before lockdown on Saturday.

Plaka deserted, Peristeri by contrast full of life. People on the street, everywhere open, the restaurants open, though serving takeaway only.

A long orderly queue, social distancing for a bookshop. If England, it would have been for consumer crap.

Had I advised people where to go, with restaurants closed in Plaka, I would have said hop on the Metro and spend the evening in Peristeri, except with lockdown, would not have bene possible, as only able to go out for local exercise.

Places to visit, Cashew, Mind the Cup, Manor House.

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Takeaway coffee Mind the Cup

November 29, 2020

Friday three weeks ago, a cool day, no sun, a gale blowing, a day for the Metro and the suburbs. Last day of freedom, Saturday lockdown and would not be possible a trip on the Metro as only permitted exercise locally.

After a trip out to Eat Me and Kudu, passed back through Syntagma and headed out to Peristeri.

Peristeri full of life, an orderly queue for a book shops, contrast with Plaka deserted.

I look in Cashew which I had not seen before, coffee shop with nuts and druid fruit, I headed to Mind the Cup.

To Mind the Cup, a takeaway coffee and a bag of coffee.

As with The Underdog last year and now Kudu, Mind the Cup also coffee in Nespresso capsules.

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Kudu revisited

November 28, 2020

The day before lockdown Friday three weeks ago, a cold day, gale blowing, cloudy, no sun. A day for the Metro, visit the suburbs. Also the last day this would be possible, as would not be able to travel on the Metro during lockdown, or at least not without a plausible excuse and prior consent.

A trip to Cholargos to visit Eat Me, Metro, then 418 bus. Returning on the 418 bust, as I approached the Metro station I knew where I was, hop off the bus and whilst in the locality, pay a visit to Kudu which I had visited last year.

Kudu was surprisingly very busy for a coffee shop in lockdown, takeaway only.

Have a takeaway coffee and a bite to eat.

New Synesso espresso machine. They have bought two for lockdown. They expect to be busy.

The shelves were almost bare, restocked whilst I was there. But why bring boxes of coffee in large cardboard boxes, to then throw away, why not reuse the boxes? Why bring coffee in bags, why not in large reusable food grade plastic boxes for coffee brewed in the coffee shop?

Coffee on the shelves has meaningless best by, even worse a date that is two years hence. Best by is meaningless for coffee. Only meaningful date is the roast date.

Last year, The Underdog coffee in Nespresso capsules. Kudu doing the same.

Why stock tea pigs? Not quality tea.

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Eat Me Cholargos

November 28, 2020

The day before lockdown Friday three weeks ago, a cold day, gale blowing, cloudy, no sun. A day for the Metro, visit the suburbs. Also the last day this will be possible, as would not be able to travel on the Metro during lockdown, or at least not without a plausible excuse and prior consent.

First Cholargos to visit Eat Me, Metro, then 418 bus. Cannot get on where driver is sat, have to get on at exit. No idea how to pay. Some have a card, others simply walk on.

Eat Me a typical bakery serving coffee, no ambience. I did not like. A bakery cum, coffee shop. The coffee though good, as was my cake.

Coffee sourced from Dimello.

Not somewhere I would go out of my way to, but if lived or worked in the locality, then yes would pop in for a coffee.

Hop back on No 418 bus.

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Crop Roastery

November 27, 2020

Three weeks ago Wednesday I chanced up Crop Roastery, a little kiosk I had not seen before down a side street off Ermou.

I stop and have a long chat with the guy serving. I do not have a coffee but tell him I will pop back another day and have a coffee.

I pick up Athens in a Cup, not as I think a guide to coffee shops in Athens, a flyer for an app that is a guide.

The following day, walking through Ermou, having found Just Made 33 and Peek a Bloom closed, I decide to stop by, have a coffee and continue our conversation.

Disappointed to find the knowledgeable guy his day off, nevertheless I stop and have a coffee.

Disappointed, a not very good coffee.

Being a kiosk, not affected by closure of bars, restaurants and coffee shops earlier in the week. When I pass by a few days later, Athens in lockdown, I find Ermou deserted and Crop closed.

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Massage House

November 27, 2020

Three weeks ago Thursday, walking through Ermou, people queuing for sales, stock clearance before lockdown, and traditional this time of year, I spot a sign for a massage, Massage House.

After my hike up Lycabettus Hill a massage just what I need. I check it out.

Ride the lift to floors six and seven, what it says on the lift, nada, walk down to floor five which is what it says on the sign outside.

Nothing available, return at 1845, in forty-five minutes time.

I use the loo. One dirty black towel, how long has it been there, how many people used, raises questions the establishment and their lack of covid-19 biosecurity.

Raise, but get nowhere. Dealing with a very rough character who claims to be in charge. Very unpleasant attitude.

Coffee at Just Made 33 only closed. Try Peek a Bloom, closed

Return in forty-five minutes. By the time I check out Just Made 33 and Peek a Bloom too late.

I decided not worth returning as lack of covid-19 biosecurity raises serious questions in a massage parlour.

Too cheap, 20€ for an hour, 15€ for forty-five minutes.

I also notice touting for businesses on the street, dragging people in off the street.

Covid-19 biosecurity very poor. A dirty black towel in the toilets, used how many times by how many people, serious covid-19 risk. Raises big questions the entire outfit.

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Ascent of Lycabettus Hill

November 27, 2020

I see Lycabettus Hill every day from breakfast. If I am in Kolonaki in the vicinity of Lycabettus Hill I will occasionally climb to the top. Quite a climb, but rewarding as views of Athens unfolds below.

Last year I climbed as the sun was setting, to be rewarded with stunning sunsets, but a dangerous climb back down in the dark.

Three weeks ago Thursday, finding myself in Kolonaki, I decide to climb Lycabettus Hill.  The last time I climbed a year ago, the sun was setting, stunning views from the top of sunset, but walk down in the dark.  Easy to walk over the edge of a precipice. 

The day starts off cool, very warm as I climb the hill, up through pine forest, then a cactus forest before last stage bare rock. 

I ask police officer before I ascend, do I have to wear mask? Yes, is his reply. No one does, it would be impossible. 

Near to the top, not noticed before, a terrace with stunning views where can stop and have a drink. 

At the top a gale blowing.

On my way down, I am lost, I do not know where I am.

Eventually I find myself across the road from the National Garden. A long way from where I thought I was. Last year in the dark I was lost, eventually I found a coffee shop and asked to use their wifi. I was way past the Olympic Stadium, way way out of my way

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CupZ

November 26, 2020

Three weeks ago Wednesday I passed by CupZ.

I have often passed by in the past and not given a second glance. Maybe unfair to describe as a greasy spoon cafe, last year serving commercial corporate coffee, certainly not a specialty coffee shop. Now serving taf.

Out of curiosity I stopped and tried a coffee. Weak and insipid. I poured it away.

Spoilt for choice in the vicinity for excellent coffee shops. Mokka, Foyer, Duo Goulies & Duo Mpoukies, Just Made 33 or walk to Taf which is not far away (and where ironically I had just been only to find closed).

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Accosted by strange woman in the street

November 26, 2020

Three weeks ago Wednesday accosted by a strange woman in the street.

I had visited a Police Station to report a theft the previous evening, as I left and was walking down the street I was pestered by a woman. She was most insistent but I have no idea what she wanted.

She did not appear to be asking for money. Offering sex, or maybe robbery.

She tried to drag me away. Two other women nearby appeared to be with her.

Eventually I managed to shake her off.

I was in the vicinity a few days later, Athens now in lockdown, no sign of the woman.

I asked a witness to the incident, but they could shed no light on what took place. They concluded maybe sex, maybe robbery. Warned me to be careful.

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