August 2014 Member Spotlight

The Carillon House

This is just a short recording of the 30 porcelain bells chiming at the Carillon House (Haus des Glockenspiels). You can also watch the rotation of 10 coloured wooden panels in the tower nearby. The panels show famous aviators and seamen.

Big but tasty portions

O Thanasis

There are a few tables outside and inside, of course. They're almost always crowded, especially at lunchtime, so you have to be patient to get your order. The dishes are great and affordable.

Favourite Dish: anything grilled

Address: 69 Mitropoleos St, Monastiraki

Working hours: 8.30am-2.30am

Phone: +30 21 0324 4705

Ammos music tavern

This tavern offers you the possibility to try Greek food and drinks, listen to live Greek music, or even dance with the locals.
 

Favourite Dish: chicken sticks

Address: L. Poseidonos 64, Alimos

Directions: south suburb

Phone: +30 21 0981 7980

Greece on a plate

This unique restaurant called Eleas Gi, with an old grocery shop and a corridor-cellar, stands on a hill and offers a beautiful view over Athens.

 

The name of the restaurant means 'the land of the olive tree' and everything here is Greek olive oil.

Favourite Dish: Here you can choose between a 14- and a 24-flavour option. It's too much, no matter which 1 you choose!

They prepare the eggplant salad right before your eyes.

Address: Olimpionikon 2-8, Kifisia

Directions: northern Athens

Phone: +30 210 6200005

Simply the best!

This is the best hotel I've ever stayed in!

There's a spacious lobby with comfortable armchairs and a bar.

All the rooms have a key card access. They are very clean, with TV and telephone. It's needless to say that the beds are comfortable. There are different amenities in the bathroom: a hair dryer, soap, shampoo, shower cap, slippers, sewing kit, etc.

the room

the bathroom

Unique Qualities: Buffet breakfast, with who-knows-how-much delicious food, is served at the top floor with the stunning view over the Acropolis and the rest of the city. It's just amazing!

restaurant

a view

Address: 10 Alexandras Ave, Athens, Attica, 10682, Greece

Directions: the National Archaeological Museum's just round the corner

Phone: +30 210 8894 500

Website: http://www.radissonblu.com/hotel-athens

Eco-houses

Our group spent 3 nights here in May 2014. While some were staying in wooden bungalows, the others were in hostel rooms and villa apartments. All the rooms had a bathroom with a shower and toilet, fridge and TV.

casa ecologica

the room upstairs

The meals at the restaurant were warm and tasty.

Unique Qualities: The eco-houses are surrounded by hills, so you can enjoy the peace and quiet. If you like, you can also use a sauna, pool (indoor or outdoor) or fitness equipment. There's also a barbeque area.

bungalows

deckchairs

Directions: Around 1.5 km from the resort Baile Herculane on E70 Timisoara-Bucharest

Other Contact: pensiuneaecologica@gmail.com

Phone: 0255 - 523.292

Price: US$20-40

Website: http://www.pensiuneaecologica.ro/

Natural Springs

There are 16 natural springs in this area. Since they contain large amounts of sulphur, which has healing powers, the air you breathe may smell a bit strange.

The Casino

Close to the town hall, there's a casino-museum built in the 1860s. 

Believe it or not, there's a 200-year-old giant sequoia tree in front of it.

Directions: central park

The oldest spa in Romania

The oldest spa in Romania, situated in the valley of the Cerna River, once very beautiful resort visited by the emperors of Austria, has, unfortunately, been turned into a ruin. It's a real shame. Something has to be done, and fast!

A landmark

According to a legend, Hercules, tired after his many battles, stopped here to bathe and rest. That's why the Romans, who ruled over the area and later helped it prosper, decided to name the spa after him.

Six statues of Hercules have been discovered so far, but the 1 in the town centre is a bronze replica from 1874.