I spent the day at S Beach two days before their official opening on May 10th and it was pretty fun watching them set up and run around with power tools.

S Beach  is located at the terminal station of the tram in Voula (station Asklipiio Voulas / Ασκληπιείο Βούλας).  There is a big parking lot that fills up early on weekends, so if you are driving, get there early.  Because we were there before the official opening, we didn’t have to pay the usual 4€ entrance fee only 2.50€ per lounge chair.  

S Beach has wooden loungers lined with a thin mat set up in pairs with an umbrella and table between them.

There is a self-service snack bar located near the entrance or you can just flag down a waiter who will take your order right at your chair.   We had excellent service on this occasion, but when the summer is in full swing, it can be difficult to get service at your chair (I’ll get back to you in a month or so with a summer update on S Beach).

We’ve been experiencing a bit of a heat wave here in Athens, so the beaches have been busier than usual at this time of year.   The water isn’t quite warm enough for me to go all the way in, but nice enough to wade around and take in the coast line.

As I mentioned earlier, there were people running around getting ready for the official opening day.  I am a people watcher, so this was my entertainment for the afternoon.  Guys setting up chairs, testing the sound sound system, a man who just paced around with a clipboard was my focus for quite some time.  What was he doing!?  It was driving me crazy.

The people at South Coast think of everything!  Forgot your towel?  Get one here!  The people from Bed & Bath were there setting up a summer towel shop.

I’m glad I got to enjoy S Beach on a quiet spring day.  Things can get pretty crazy here during peak season (go-go dancers and all!).  Check out their events on the S Beach Facebook page.

The post S Beach pre-opening appeared first on Athens Coast.

Poseidonos Ave is the lifeline of the Athens Coast.

Poseidonos Avenue /Λεωφόρος Ποσειδώνος runs all the way from P. Faliro down the coast past all of the seaside communities and all of the Athens beaches.

If you continue on the same road, you will eventually reach Cape Sounion.  A drive from SEF / ΣΕΦ  to Sounion will take approximately one hour (perhaps in the middle of the night when there is no traffic).  Poseidonos can get very congested, especially during the summer.  Locals may try to steer clear of this this road, but as it is a major connector it is hard to avoid.  

If starting from the northern point of Poseidonos in Faliro and heading south toward Sounion, the beach will be on your right the entire time, with the city to the left.  It’s pretty dense and urban through Faliro and Alimos and then you’ll see some of the Olympic complexes from 2004 as well as the old airport in Elliniko.  Next comes Glyfada and Voula where you will notice more green space and natural seascapes.  Between Vouliagmeni and Varkiza you will get your first glimpse of country side and encounter some crazy turns in the road.  Between Varkiza and Sounion there are a few communities scattered along the way, Anavysos being the largest.  It’s a beautiful drive with many great spots to stop and take a picture or even venture down to the sea for a quick dip.    

The official name of the street changes around Voula to Konstantinou Karamanli Ave. / Λεωφ. Κωνσταντίνου Καραμανλή and in that area it may also be referred to as  Alkyonidon Ave. /Λεωφ. Αλκυονίδων.  If you say Poseidonos, even if the official name is something different, everyone will know what you are talking about.  Paraliaki / Παραλιακή  (meaning Coastal) is also a very popular name of this stretch of road.

Greek Vocabulary

Avenue = Λεωφόρος | Leoforos

Coastal = παραλιακή | paraliaki

Beach = παραλία | paralia

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The Blue Flag is a voluntary eco-label awarded to more than 4000 beaches and marinas in 49 countries across Europe, South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, New Zealand, Brazil, Canada and the Caribbean.

This year Greece has 360 Blue Flag beaches and the region of Attiki  is home to 12 Blue Flag beaches and 2 Blue Flag marinas.  Seven of those beaches are along the Athens Coast.

Athens Coast Blue Flag Beaches

• Voula A
• Astir Beach
• Varkiza Beach
• Lagonisi 1/Grand Beach
• Lagonisi 2/Mediterraneo-Anatoliki Akti
• Lagonisi 3/Kochylia-Dytiki Akti
• Mavro Lithari/Eden Beach

Beaches are awarded the Blue Flag based on compliance with 33 criteria covering the following:

1) Environmental Education and Information

2) Water Quality

3) Environmental Management

4) Safety and Services

All Blue Flags are awarded for one season at a time. If the criteria are not fulfilled during the season or the conditions change, the Blue Flag may be withdrawn.  Full FEE Blue Flag Beaches Criteria 

The post Athens Coast Blue Flag Beaches 2014 appeared first on Athens Coast.

Μέλι is one of the most important ingredients in the Greek culinary world when it come to sweets.  Honey soaked cakes & cookies, drizzled on yogurt… truly the nectar of the Gods.

‘Meli – χειροποίητες λιχουδιές'(which translates to ‘handmade delicacies’) is a cafe/sweet shop that is truly one of a kind in Glyfada, it’s like a welcoming, sunshiny, country cottage.

There is even a happy bee outside to greet you.

I prefer this type of atmosphere to sit and relax and enjoy my beverage.  Key word there being ‘enjoy’.  There are dozens of spots to have coffee in Glyfada, many of which you will find filled with people smoking and with the music too loud.  None of that nonsense here.   It has a very open and airy feel with a clever country side-meets-honeycomb decor.

‘Meli’ offers fresh loukoumades/ λουκουμάδες (pastries made of deep fried dough), various savoury pies, a variety of ice cream, smoothies and of course every kind of coffee you would expect to find in a Greek cafe.

Thanks to a clever menu insert, I decided to try a Galvanina Ice-Tea – perfect for a sunny spring day.   It was 4€ which is the same price as a hot tea at most of the popular cafes in Glyfada.  I couldn’t resist the pastry case so I decided my lunch for the day would be a spanakopita/ σπανακόπιτα (spinach pie) [2€].

I give ‘Meli’ the ‘kid-friendly’ thumbs up.  A perfect place for the adults to enjoy an afternoon coffee while the kids keep busy with their ice-cream or loukoumades.

Greek Vocabulary

Honey = μέλι | meli

Greek style donuts = λουκουμάδες | loukoumades

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