Tag Archive for: Mediterranean

A culinary day trip to Aegina

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Pistachios growing on a tree in the plantations on the island of Aegina, Greece

The island of Aegina in the Saronic Gulf, around 25 km south-west of Athens, offers scenic beauty, pretty villages, great beaches, and culinary delights: olives, lemons, bananas, passion fruit, lemons, wine, but above all pistachios.

Pistachios from Aegina belong to the Pistacia vera Aegina variety, which is exceptionally rich in nutrients and protein with a fruity, finely acidic taste. It is considered one of the best varieties in the world – and according to the locals, of course, the very best. The harvest from the small island of Aegina actually accounts for 2-3% of world trade. Along the harbour promenade of Aegina, there are stalls from various cooperatives and traders where we stocked up on pistachios and products made with them, such as pastries and butter, before we left. Read more

Of Philanthropists and Philhellenes

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The neoclassical Zappeion building with the columns at the entrance, Athens, Greece

During our city tour of Athens, we passed striking buildings and works of art with interesting backstories involving philanthropists and philhellenes (friends of Greece). In a personal compilation, I’d like to mention a few examples of these connections, which on this day were closely linked not only geographically but also in terms of content. Read more

Céret and the Arts

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A group of elderly artists painting in the square with the Pablo Picasso fountain in the old town of Céret, France

Céret, the picturesque small town in Occitania, Southern France, has captivated numerous famous artists. The unique combination of stunning landscapes, mild climate, Mediterranean atmosphere, and vibrant cultural life has made Céret a hotspot in the art scene. Artists like Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, and Juan Gris, as well as composers and sculptors, found inspiration here and immortalised the town as a motif in their works. On our journey through the artistic triangle in Catalonia – Collioure, Cadaqués, and Céret – we could easily understand why.
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Citroën Méhari – the iconic beach buggy

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An old Citroën Méhari pickup parked on a road in front of pine trees in the sun on the Mediterranean coast

On the hike from Cadaqués to Cap de Creus, I discover a Citroën Méhari, an icon of the lifestyle shaped by beach, sun and casual ease on the (French) Mediterranean coast. With its open, colourful plastic bodywork, you could cruise stylishly along beach promenades or venture onto beaches and into sand dunes – although the four-wheel-drive model offered later was probably better suited for that. Years of use have clearly left their mark on this vehicle.
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Night Awakens

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Holidaymakers sitting in cafés and strolling along the illuminated waterfront during dusk in the harbour and Old Town of Cadaqués, Catalonia, Spain

After a warm summer day, the bustling Old Town of Cadaqués empties out for a short time in the early evening, before the night awakens. As is customary in Spain, bars and restaurants are not visited until late in the evening; before that, people relax, stroll, or admire the twilight of dusk after sunset with an aperitif.
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Rocks and Coves at Cap de Creus

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Morning sun over a rocky cove opposite Cadaqués Old Town, Catalonia, Spain

The Cap de Creus peninsula marks the easternmost point of mainland Spain. Like a backbone, the eastern foothills of the Pyrenees meet the Mediterranean coast here. West of a line from El Port de la Selva to Roses, the coastal mountains separate Cadaqués and the Cap de Creus Natural Park from the rest of the Costa Brava. Until the construction of the only access road in the 19th century, Cadaqués was only accessible by sea. Numerous long-distance hiking trails, for example, along the main ridge of the Pyrenees to the Atlantic, begin or end here.
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Street art in Cadaqués

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“Colmado”, collage of a red wooden door of a general store with a painted meter box in Cadaqués Old Town, Catalonia, Spain

While Dalí seems omnipresent, anyone walking through the inconspicuous-looking alleys and streets of Cadaqués with open eyes can also discover special street art in unusual places. This is because many homeowners have had their electricity meter boxes or other distribution boxes painted with various motifs and styles. In this way, art is everywhere and doesn’t just take place inside galleries or museums.

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