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[greekcypriot]

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[starlagurl]

What's a "meze" lunch, Popi?

I was just reading this: http://www.cyprus-travel-secrets.com/cyprus-restaurants.html

[greekcypriot]

Hi Louise!

Well a meze dish is called Mezedes in Greek.
Instead of ordering one main dish, you order - Mezedes.

This means that you should expect small plates of a combination of different Cypriot traditional dishes (mostly).

If you order Mezedes, DON'T ORDER anything else, because in some cases there are more than 12 -15 different plates.

It can be chaloumi, which is the Cypriot cheese, -not feta-
tzatziki - yoghurt garlic, and cucumber, and mint
choumous - coming out of chickpea plant
tachini - (sesame paste)....but they make it as a dip and it is wonderful!
you eat this with pitta -arabic bread
small pieces of meat cooked in red wine and coriander
boiled potatoes with celery and onion (great salad)
small snails - really tiny little snails boiled in water with salt and vinegar (especially if you are drinking ouzo -on the rocks-
grilled mashrooms,
nice omellete with gourgette or zucchini
asparagus,
sheftalia - grilled meat ball with cinamon, parsley, and onions. Very popular. Not to be missed. - A Cypriot speciality.
Greek salad,
kalamari, small fried fish, fried or grilled liver,
and probably I might have forgotter one or two others.

But all these are enough really, and those who like eating A LOT prefer these Mezedes.

Sometimes these mezedes are SO many that by the end I have a stomach ache.

The above are my pieces of advice to anyone who wants to order Mezedes.


By the way, it would be a nice opportunity, that anyone who really had such a treat, write down if he liked Mezedes of not, his comments and impressions.

I believe it is time these boards over here with all this information from Cyprus and any other countries become more active.

We need to hear of experiences people have or had.
What do you think Louise? I just don't like idle columns, and people just reading them. I want participation.
I am here to offer any help needed.


http://www.travelpod.com/members/greekcypriot
(more than 250 photos from Athens)

[starlagurl]

Yeah, I want to hear from other people too... Maybe we have some of this in my town...

[travelmonster]

I love, love, love meze!!

I had it when I came to cyprus - totally delicious.

Haloumi cheese was fantastic, slices of it fried we had, really very nice!

In fact it was in Cyprus that we came across this place that had no menu - we went in and asked if food was being served, we were invited to sit down and food just kept coming!! We didn't know what was coming next because as I said there was no menu and this guy just welcomed us like old friends - it was a brilliant experience. We had to tell him to stop bringing dishes in the end!! Haha, fantastic!

[greekcypriot]

Hi Paula,
You got a taste of the Cypriot hospitality in a way.
I am glad you like it.


And oh....by the way, I want to add something here concerning ordering a Meze.
I suggest that if you are let's say 4 people when orderning the Meze, order Meze for 3 persons instead. You will see that it will be enough and thus you will save the dinner of one person. It is ALWAYS so much anyway. Usually a quarter of what they bring you can't eat because it is really a lot.

And of course I want to hear of more experiences here.
Thanks again Paula for your comments!

http://www.travelpod.com/members/greekcypriot
(more than 2000 photos in my 3 blogs)

[madcaravanner]

Can't wait for June Just hopethere is a chance for some Mezedes around Pernara because I CERTAINLY will be having a tasting session

Especially as one of my MAIN drinks is Pastis 51/Ricard in France when we vacation there so the chance to find food to go with Ouzo is a double bonus

[greekcypriot]

Will it be your first trip to Cyprus?
I am absolutely sure that you will love it down there.
I am going again next month, bringing more information and beautiful photos on the island.
In fact in a couple of days I am having a new very interesting entry on a village which is a MUST....when you go there.
Don't forget to check on it next week!

[madcaravanner]

Will it be your first trip to Cyprus?
I am absolutely sure that you will love it down there.
Don't forget to check on it next week!

Yes it's our first trip although the wifes brother has been he sees things differently to us but we are always open minded and like to find new things to us

[greekcypriot]

I am sure you will like Cyprus, and be sure when back to let me know how the trip was.
I want to see what you liked and what you did not.
Stay in touch

[madcaravanner]

I am sure you will like Cyprus, and be sure when back to let me know how the trip was.
I want to see what you liked and what you did not.
Stay in touch

I will of course take a peek at my blogs we are quite adept at finding bargains and getting about Europe (We LIKE Ryanair )

infact our trip to Cyprus is already cheaper than anyone booking now
as the trip price is now £350 more than we are paying

[greekcypriot]

I guess you have booked with Easyjet because I know that Ryanair does not fly to the island.
Just out of curiosity, ...how much did the tickets cost you and how long ago did you book them? Because 350 pounds are really too much. I believe you booked at least 4 months ago! Am I wrong?

[madcaravanner]

I guess you have booked with Easyjet because I know that Ryanair does not fly to the island.
Just out of curiosity, ...how much did the tickets cost you and how long ago did you book them? Because 350 pounds are really too much. I believe you booked at least 4 months ago! Am I wrong?

Actually this time the whole package was cheaper so we booked a half board package with Last Choice sorry First Choice the whole holiday for 2 is under £1000 but the prices are slowly creeping up and up

and yes a £350 increase over less then 1 month is a lot - we only booked earlier this month (January) as we have got to go to see a freind in France so we juggled our normal touring caravan holiday around to go to see her down near Bordeaux

[greekcypriot]

Every time I book a badget flight, let's say I may book 4 or 5 months before, I like just checking again to see how much a last minute ticket costs the day before I leave.
This gives me great pleasure realising that I have bought the ticket in advance in a very low price, and I feel as if I have earned these excess money myself!

[madcaravanner]

Every time I book a badget flight, let's say I may book 4 or 5 months before, I like just checking again to see how much a last minute ticket costs the day before I leave.
This gives me great pleasure realising that I have bought the ticket in advance in a very low price, and I feel as if I have earned these excess money myself!

Just as an update we are paying £1000 for the 2 of us to go to Cyprus

the same holiday on the same flight is now £2100 if someone books it now

UK travel agents doing the usual rip off when there is demand for a holiday

[greekcypriot]

Hi again,
Indeed the price has doubled and this is the satisfaction.

I just wonder what the package includes and for how many days. Are any excursions included too, or just H/B accomodation.
Are you going to be picked by sb, even your hotel's coach, take a taxi, or rent a car?
Is Paphos or Limassor your destination?

I am flying to Larnaca next week to collect more info on the travel guides that I am working on. The weather here in Greece is excellent, and the thought that Cyprus weather is even better makes me feel so excited.
I have booked with Aegean for just 75 euros this time.
Yesterday when I looked it up I found the same ticket for 165.

[madcaravanner]

Hi again,
Indeed the price has doubled and this is the satisfaction.

I just wonder what the package includes and for how many days. Are any excursions included too, or just H/B accomodation.
Are you going to be picked by sb, even your hotel's coach, take a taxi, or rent a car?
Is Paphos or Limassor your destination?

I am flying to Larnaca next week to collect more info on the travel guides that I am working on. The weather here in Greece is excellent, and the thought that Cyprus weather is even better makes me feel so excited.
I have booked with Aegean for just 75 euros this time.
Yesterday when I looked it up I found the same ticket for 165.

Ok the holiday is
14 nights
Half Board
with airport transfers (Coach)
no excursions included


as for flights we have found on most airlines the closer you get to departure the more seats cost
except for "Special" offers when airlines use fixed prices
at present we are booking short vacations in England to take our grand-children away in 2's (we've got 8 to cater for) using our Tourer and we are finding some caravan sites doing similar things on pricing
Though our biggest gripe is when they start charging everything individually but don't provide extras you pay for ( such a dog walks when you have to pay huge amounts for a dog)