A lake, a tiny inhabited island in the lake, a fortress, mosques, old churches, nice restaurants, wonderful villages 20 minutes away, this town has everything. It is in the North-West and it is called Ioannina. It’s like Disneyland for grown ups who are interested in history and medieval times. I could live there for a couple of years. We went to see friends -so nice that they gave us their bed and slept on the couch- and it was the most fun I’ve had in a long time. Our friends have a sweet little girl who would comb my hair into pigtails and follow me in the bathroom to look into my make up bag. It was very exciting as I live with males who consider my make up bag a load of junk. And the mushrooms. The place is full of mushrooms and there were tavernas where all the dishes had some kind of mushroom in them. I felt like a princess (although Greece has lots of mushrooms restaurants and especially tavernas don’t use them much).
I was thinking I should start writing here more often and also reading you more often and generally having a better internet schedule. Not because I have to, but because it makes me feel good and creative and more interesting. I collected all my recipes from my old and abandoned food blog here where I intend to post all the food issues that occupy my mind. I thought long and hard about why I had neglected my food blog. Especially because I cook all the time and I take pictures of food non-stop too. The part I did not like about the food blog was writing the recipe and mostly, writing quantities and how much of this or that you need (I am lazy). I seldom follow recipes (only when cooking, because sweet things are a different thing), and if I do I do it to deconstruct them. So, no more quantities and detailed recipes from me.
Some great things are going on work-wise, some new opportunities that came unexpectedly and also our deli is going from strength to strength. There was a small mention in a british paper and we had many many orders and were really busy this week. This is why I neglected this place but don’t we all say that? Life gets in the way of the internet but I will not let it. Especially because a big part of my life and work IS the internet at the moment.
March 30th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
real life is overrated … but I think I’d be willing to spend some real time in Ioannina
congrats on new job prospect & the deli business growing 
March 30th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
I will send you 2 pictures that are same with them you have posted. Enjoy!
March 30th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
Those are amazingly lovely photos. It definitely sounds like a place where one can escape, and relax. And congratulation on the deli doing so well.
March 30th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
Finally! I’m so happy to see your new post and the pictures are gorgeous as always. It’s nice to see your new banner and nice not to see the shower cap for once.
I wonder if you ever got my card yet??
Seriously it sould be there already. Damn slow post.
Miss you!
March 30th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
Scholiast
thank you so much. maybe we can visit Ioannina together. It certainly has London weather though. It rains all the damn time.
Agadir
got them! yes, we are so predictable x
kimananda
You can escape and relax there and see many many young people (there is a university) doing the exact same thing. Hope you are well. x
Kiki
Not yet. There was major upheaval in Athens, ongoing strikes etc and maybe that is why it was late. There are many things I expect in the mail and haven’t got yet so don’t worry. And thank you x
March 31st, 2008 at 3:37 am
Wow, go Deli!!
That’s great news!
I always remember your food posts as torture while I was working and only had shitty things to eat. But they were beautiful…
See,you were mentioning the lack of Internet-enthusiasm and it seems that the holiday did wonders for you.
Ionnina, that’s a town with my name on it and I mean literally!!
Wonderful photos.
March 31st, 2008 at 3:38 am
And it’s Ioannina of course, otherwise it wouldn’t make sense.
March 31st, 2008 at 5:19 am
Your photos are lovely: you must have had a wonderful trip!
I look forward to reading more of your posts ( as always!).
We had stupid news this weekend (our flight was cancelled) but I will e-mail you about it this week.
xoxo
Cathy
March 31st, 2008 at 4:45 pm
The name Ioannina alone has my attention, but the pictures of the place and the magic your feeling there makes me want to visit.
April 1st, 2008 at 9:01 pm
I love your photos! They’re amazing! And I’m really sorry that I didn’t wish you on time, but it’s better late than never:
Happy birthday gorgeous!!!
xxx
Claire
April 1st, 2008 at 9:24 pm
I am so happy you had such a lovely trip.
I love your photographs and love you~
Good luck with everything in your life~
Love and kisses
Jeanne
X0X0
April 1st, 2008 at 10:16 pm
I love dishes with mushrooms in it.
Since I was young, I have always been fascinated with that plant holder tricyle. I have seen it in different forms, but it has always captured my attention.
April 2nd, 2008 at 2:14 am
I feel as if I just had a walk through a museum. The photos you have taken are just breathtaking. You have such a creative eye.
I used to love your food blog just because the food always looked so yummy. You made it look easy.
So happy things are going well with you. I wish you all the best.
Hugs,
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:05 am
Wow, it looks beautiful! I especially like that bridge.
Awesome that your business is going so well
April 2nd, 2008 at 10:36 am
Your photos…what to say that’s new? What awe-words to use that haven’t been worn completely out? Professional grade, out of the ballpark astounding… That’ll have to do ‘til I think of something better… The ones that engaged me the most were the stony, arched bridge and the crystal-clear stream on its way into town…
Oh, and the story of you and your sweet little groupie! I love seeing how little girls are so attracted to pretty women. They’re looking for themselves in that beauty! And you are Cinderella, Belle, Princess Aurora! Must’ve been a real eye-roller for your son, though!
Super-gigantically huge congratulations on your successes!!! I love success stories period, so that one is unfolding for you is even better, more meaningful!
April 2nd, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Those are gorgeous pictures Chloe!
and btw, i hate following a recipe too. maybe that is why i cannot bake. just tell me the ingredients and let me have a go at it
congrats on your business doing so well… i am proud of you!!
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:20 pm
That bridge!
April 3rd, 2008 at 7:52 pm
I’m moving to that town. Right after this wedding noise is gone away.
The most peaceful I’ve ever felt was in Cocorit, (CO co reet) Mexico. I was on the lot my uncle now owns and has built his home. The lot where my grandmother was born. Quiet dirt road and the feeling of real roots.
April 4th, 2008 at 1:42 am
As always, my dear, you have a wonderful eye! I especially love the triple-humped bridge and the river shot (pictures 3 and 7 respectively). The fifth shot is very craggy, so I like that one too.
I have missed you on my blog.
April 4th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Congratulations on everything - this seems like quite a bit of good news! (Does a little happy dance at the though of you blogging regularly again
I might just resurrect that little idea I had e-mailed about, way before I went to NZ.
April 6th, 2008 at 1:20 am
of course you deli is a massive
success ~ you are a food goddess:)
April 7th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
That bridge is fantastic…can you walk on it?
April 7th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Congratulations!!
April 7th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Fb
yes, you certainly can, unless you have fear of heights. Other than that, it is very safe.
April 8th, 2008 at 2:54 am
What beautiful pictures, Chloe, of an amazing place. It looks like somewhere I would love to visit … I can just see myself happily clicking away with my camera !!
Mmmmm, mushrooms … I love them. Unusual that they are not used much in Greek restaurants … shame, too.
Great news that your deli is coming along so well … congratulations.
Take care, hugs, Meow xx