“How many tablespoons of oil do you think was just consumed?” Emily asked me.
“Five.”
“Not including what’s left in the bowl.”
“Uhhh, five. At least five.”
“Five?!”
“Yeah, I think so.”
“Yeah, I guess five.”
This was our brunch conversation after Emily finished her Greek salad – likely the healthiest menu item available at any restaurant.
This followed a discussion we have regularly entitled, “How is anyone here alive?!”
Patmos has a lot of Greek tourism from Athens and other places. So, we’ve watched the habits of Greeks on vacation as well as the people who live here. And we remain constantly astonished that they’re all alive.
They eat grilled meat, oven roasted meat (stewed in its own fat), yogurt that’s basically heavy cream with live cultures, cheese, cheese pies, meats covered in cream (i.e. moussaka, patistio, and similar), fried fish and seafood, fried cheese, cheese baked in olive oil, vegetables baked in olive oil and steamed vegetables drowned in olive oil.
You have a better chance of finding a needle in a haystack than finding a healthy meal in Greece. Even if they have fresh vegetables, Greeks drown them in olive oil. I ordered steamed zucchini once for a “healthy choice” as well as the joy of fresh veggies. It came out as olive oil with some freshly steamed zucchini. I have seen Greek tourists order that same dish and then pour extra olive oil on top of it.
Then there’s the smoking. I’ve already covered Greek smoking habits – but let’s just say that if there was an Olympics for smoking, Greece would win. First, they invented Olympics. And if they didn’t invent smoking, they have perfected it.
So they eat like crap, they eat a lot, they eat very late at night, they drink and they smoke.
They also do nothing. Very few Greeks we’ve seen participate in sports or any kind of physical activity at all. They ride around on motor scooters without helmets and sit with their friends and family smoking, eating and drinking. If they have to show up for work – they take long smoke breaks and do as little as possible to exert themselves. Banks and government offices close by 2:00 – so that no one has to work too hard in their low-exertion jobs.
Yet, most people seem normal weight and healthy. In fact, most are skinny and attractive – and they eat like horses!
Sure, there are a few obese people. Even a few obese children. But definitely a lower percentage of them than you’d see at home.
We’ve had numerous people tell us that the olive oil is good for us and not to worry.
Okay…. so even if we assume every nutritionist on Earth is wrong – it still doesn’t explain how these people don’t all drop dead of cancer, heart attacks and strokes. How is it that our country faces epidemics and these people are on permanent jolly holiday looking like the statues of the gods they used to worship?
These are the mysteries of Greece.
However, it was brought to our attention recently by Hugo, our brother-in-law that from what he’s read – we too discuss food a lot and exertion very little. So, on our last Patmos Sunday – in our farewell motorcycle and beach tour of the island, we stopped for a hike. Not the most strenuous hike I’ve ever been on, mind you – but a real and genuine hike down up and down a hill to explore where a trail led. Photographic evidence is below, Hugo.
The trail led to a church on the edge of a small cliff in a gorgeous cove with incredibly blue water.
Yes, Emily was panting by the end. No, I was not. Yes, we both drank water – but it was hot and dry.
So, as we enter our final four days on Patmos – and we mourn our departure already – there is a part of us that will be glad of some different cuisine. It’s not that it’s not great – because cheese stuffed peppers baked with tomatoes and olive oil is great – but we’re hoping to escape with our lives. So far, clothes still fit and – to Emily’s shock – mine are even a little looser.
Again, another Greece mystery.
When French diet looks like a diet – the world appears a little sideways. I can’t wait for some veggies drowned in nothing but my tears of joy.
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