Post #229220 by midnite on Fri, Apr 28, 2006 12:40 PM

Kalimera!

Our most recent stops in my "Quest for the World's Greatest Club Sandwich" were Athens, followed by a few days in Paris. Athens was a quite a sight, a very interesting city. Our hotel was at Syntagma Square, as we exited the Metro station we were greeted by bright blue sky and a cacophony of disagreeable sounds. We had the misfortune of arriving during, at that point, a 10-day garbage collection strike. It seems the garbage collectors were at that very moment marching in loud protest down the street fronting the Parliament building. Then, as we approached our hotel I saw two stray dogs literally attack an automobile. Not just run next to it and bark, I mean attack, with prejudice. What a first impression of Athens was all I could think. Note: do not mess with the stray dogs of Athens, especially if you're in a car.

Athens: Acropolis, ruins, history, Delphi, ruins, blah blah blah. Let's get to the Tiki! At the Ledra Marriott is Kona Kai and what a place it is. Kona Kai is a must....a must...if you are ever lucky enough to visit Athens. Now, getting there can be a trick. A veritable freeway fronts the place, it is not pedestrian friendly. This fact leads to the worst part of Athens: the taxi drivers. They're a wonderful bunch, ubiquitous and cheap, but also very dodgy in the business ethics department. Take a cab, but do keep an eye on the meter. Athens taxis are a problem.

Here's what greets you descend to the Kona Kai: the "waterfall" effect surrounding the logo Kona Kai tiki is uber-cool. Some of the pics are a bit blurry, I did not use a flash for many, as I tried to capture the true ambiance. Well, after a few Mai Tais the ambiance is inherently blurry anyway.

Here's a montage of some of the drinks we enjoyed. That's a Mai Tai in the lower right, a Zombie in the green tiki mug, a South Pacific next to it. The lower left pic shows another Mai Tai and a Polynesian Passion. Served with your drink is an assortment of nuts and these rice cake things...they look, and taste, like contraceptive sponges. They're pretty though, like big foamy mushrooms.

Here's a shot of Nikos, Hellenic mixologist extraordinaire. Notice the authentic Orchids of Hawaii mugs in the back bar.

Nikos makes, no, he creates like the true artisan he is, a superb Mai Tai. Close your ears Mr. Bergeron, you ain't going to like this part. The Kona Kai Mai Tai is the best I have ever tasted. Voila, I give you the Kona Kai Mai Tai (cue "Also Sprach Zarathustra"):

Good, no great, news: it is sublime, ideal, fantabulous, delicious in a way one feels guilty it's so good. I mean this drink is so tasty, it makes you want to go home and slap your Mother...especially if she's a bartender. Bad news, it's 11.50 Euros. The Zombie, not made by Nikos, was so-so. They like their grenadine in Athens, I don't. The Polynesian Passion was also excellent, also made by Nikos. There's' a little forbidden place in Alameda that should cop this recipe. It is a superior libation, indeed. Overall, the Kona Kai is difficult to find, the drinks are pricey, the food more so, but save them nickels and get yourself to Athens and visit the Kona Kai. Have a Mai Tai, come back and tell me, "midnite, you was right!"

Further research was completed on the "Quest", all entries were worthwhile efforts, special marks go the lobster club, a decadent treat in gay Paris:

And here's a nice montage of the sights in Athens/Delphi. Pretty cool. No Tiki, but without Hellenic civilization where would we be? Savages I say, utter savages:

Thumbs up to Athens, a wild in-your-face sprawling mass of humanity with friendly folks and great history...plus Nikos at the Kona Kai. Paris, as always, is too beautiful for words. I may wish to spend my last days in Venice, but I just might want to die in Paris. Say, a fatal sugar overdose, brought on by one too many visits to Laduree.

The traveling circus that is my life is set for a brief adventure east, to an exotic island steeped in mystery. The passport is ready, got my shots, the Consulate has been notified. Candid pics to follow!

Send Lawyers, Guns, and Money,
midnite

EDIT: Photos replaced!

[ Edited by: midnite_tiki 2008-06-05 23:26 ]