Why I LOVE it!
FromHereOnOut
Posts: 3,237 Member
So moving family halfway around the world (from USA to Greece) was not always a cake-walk, but after ~7 years, I've learned plenty and can really appreciate many of the differences.
#1 In Greece, we have "laiki", this is the traditional market (1-2x/wk they close the street for a farmers market in every neighborhood of Athens). The first time I stumbled upon one, it was like stumbling upon a little piece of heave (well, okay, it can get overcrowded and difficult to walk, lots of shouting, etc, but I digress). It was like heaven because it was blocks and blocks and blocks of beautiful, colorful, succulent fresh fruits and vegetables and even fresh fish and fresh flowers. Stacks and stacks of eggplants, greens, tomatoes so red I've only seen in Greece, zucchini, olives (omg, the olives!), local honey, local wine, cucumbers, onions, oranges, tangerines, mandarin oranges, bulk nuts, YOU NAME IT...and it was all BEAUTIFUL! Suddenly the tiny, anaemic produce section at the "super market" (which was NOT so "super"--more like a MINI-market by American standards), all made sense. THIS, the weekly "laiki", is where the Greeks were shopping for the ingredients to their famously healthy "Mediterranean diet". What an eye-opener. I'll take it over American supermarkets ANY day.
#2 In Greece, the weather is relatively mild (at least in Athens anyway, but the mountains do see cold & snow) and that means plenty of walking. We don't even own a car. I walk and take public transit everywhere. What a way to increase activity, compared to always jumping in the car for every little errand! And best of all, today (in January), I ran in a t-shirt and lightweight hoodie down to the coast and along the palm and white sand lined sea. It was lovely. There was no such possibility when living in DC, that's for sure. In the Summer, there's swimming in the sea and I've never felt healthier in my life than when I spend all day in the sea and eating healthy Greek food.
I guess I might sometimes miss some of the fast food restaurants and the convenience of pulling the car up to a massive supermarket stocked full of every thing I can think of, but still there is no comparison to fresh, healthy foods and getting around on foot.
So, what health and fitness related things do you LOVE about your new adopted home?
#1 In Greece, we have "laiki", this is the traditional market (1-2x/wk they close the street for a farmers market in every neighborhood of Athens). The first time I stumbled upon one, it was like stumbling upon a little piece of heave (well, okay, it can get overcrowded and difficult to walk, lots of shouting, etc, but I digress). It was like heaven because it was blocks and blocks and blocks of beautiful, colorful, succulent fresh fruits and vegetables and even fresh fish and fresh flowers. Stacks and stacks of eggplants, greens, tomatoes so red I've only seen in Greece, zucchini, olives (omg, the olives!), local honey, local wine, cucumbers, onions, oranges, tangerines, mandarin oranges, bulk nuts, YOU NAME IT...and it was all BEAUTIFUL! Suddenly the tiny, anaemic produce section at the "super market" (which was NOT so "super"--more like a MINI-market by American standards), all made sense. THIS, the weekly "laiki", is where the Greeks were shopping for the ingredients to their famously healthy "Mediterranean diet". What an eye-opener. I'll take it over American supermarkets ANY day.
#2 In Greece, the weather is relatively mild (at least in Athens anyway, but the mountains do see cold & snow) and that means plenty of walking. We don't even own a car. I walk and take public transit everywhere. What a way to increase activity, compared to always jumping in the car for every little errand! And best of all, today (in January), I ran in a t-shirt and lightweight hoodie down to the coast and along the palm and white sand lined sea. It was lovely. There was no such possibility when living in DC, that's for sure. In the Summer, there's swimming in the sea and I've never felt healthier in my life than when I spend all day in the sea and eating healthy Greek food.
I guess I might sometimes miss some of the fast food restaurants and the convenience of pulling the car up to a massive supermarket stocked full of every thing I can think of, but still there is no comparison to fresh, healthy foods and getting around on foot.
So, what health and fitness related things do you LOVE about your new adopted home?
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I lived in Greece for 6 years. Miss Kefalonia meat pie and saganaki the most. Do not miss the wine! Mind you randomly where we live now in the Bahamas there is a Greek restaurant and it does amazing tzaziki!0
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Ohhhh health and fitness... Not food then. Well here. I have the luxury of being able to run and walk on the beach everyday, a pool and the balmy Bahamian waters to swim in. I get to play tennis and go kayaking every week. The roads are empty if you want to run and cycle. I LOVE it here. What's not to love!
There are fast food restaurants but they are waaaaaaay up in town 20 mins drive, so. I only go there twice a week to grocery shop.0 -
Glad you joined! Here in Brasil there are the feiras, which are so ubiquitous that the days of the week are beamed after them! That is where I get 80% or so of my produce, and most all of my fresh herbs. They do have fish, poultry, beef, etc. as well … but I haven't really ventured into that yet.
Most of the local fruit though? Out. Of. This. World. Love it!0 -
Ohhhh health and fitness... Not food then. Well here. I have the luxury of being able to run and walk on the beach everyday, a pool and the balmy Bahamian waters to swim in. I get to play tennis and go kayaking every week. The roads are empty if you want to run and cycle. I LOVE it here. What's not to love!
There are fast food restaurants but they are waaaaaaay up in town 20 mins drive, so. I only go there twice a week to grocery shop.
Tennis & Kayaking!! How awesome is that! I'd love to do that and definitely could here (just have to get my littlest in school first--she's 3). In fact, everything you said sounds great! So Greece & the Bahamas...you certainly stood in the right line at some point, huh?
By coincidence, I was just talking to my husband about a potential business venture involving travel to the Bahamas (well, Miami, followed by cruise stops). The venture is a long shot, but we'd be fools to not consider it.
paddydaddyo, Brasil! You're another one who got in the right line! :laugh: Oh yeah, all that fruit must be heavenly. And fresh herbs too! Everything in Greece smells of fresh dill--especially the "yiayias" (grandmothers) :laugh: .
I forgot to mention the central market too where you can go for fresh meat, fish, veggies and herbs and also these awesome bulk shops for nuts and dried fruit....and the dried herb shops, which I LOVE! I use lots of turmeric, curry, cinnamon, paprika, etc and I can buy it by the kilo if I want (okay, that's a bit much). Oh and there are these cheese shops...okay those probably aren't exactly in the "health" bracket (kinda like wabadabadoo's saganaki), but it can't go unmentioned.
I think the main thing about being an expat, is to give-up the convenience and embrace the way-of-life of your new home and seek out the best of it. Sounds like we're all doing that. I feel tremendously fortunate.0 -
In Thailand I love the relaxed, tropical vibe. All the food is THAI FOOD, so that is amazing.... and cheap. And the variety of fresh fruit is incredible. I also enjoy hiking in the jungle, swimming in waterfalls, and seeing elephants stroll through my neighborhood.0
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In Japan most of the food is quite healthy and the portions are small... I hate that but I also love it.
I also live very close to a nice park with a 2km loop that makes running rather enjoyable. It seems that people in Tokyo are very into running so there are tons of 10Ks and Half Marathons to sign up for if I want to.0 -
Every place sounds so nice.
Thailand sounds exactly like my kind of place.
And as for, Tokyo---oh, I'd go nuts with so much access to sushi. But like you say, the portions are so small (and/or expensive, right?). :-( But the running sounds nice. I like to run here in Athens, but I get some strange looks because not many people run (not outdoors anyway). Sometimes older Greek women (infamous Greek grandmothers) look genuinely concerned for me when they see me running. They search my face, looking for signs of trouble, like maybe I'm being chased. :laugh:0
