Mykonos located in the heart of the Cyclades is an island in the Aegean Sea. While exploring the narrowly paved streets you’ll see white-washed houses, restaurants, shops that sell local products along with boutiques. It has been 23 years since I was last in Mykonos, and vividly remembered the Windmills situated on the highest point of town overlooking the sea …… along with its many cats! The windmills also referred to as Kato Mill can be seen from every point of the town.
Lunch was at Eva’s Garden hidden in the heart of Mykonos; a family run restaurant. We ordered meze’s, salads and a few appetizers to share over a bottle of wine. These simple Mediterranean dishes created a most elegant meal.
Here we are in the thick of summer and the living is easy……… well let’s just say I’m not sitting on the front porch in excessive heat during the evenings sipping a mint julip. As the days slip by, I’m inclined to stay in air-conditioned comfort instead of trekking outdoors. Living outside the District of Columbia and within the metropolitan area gives weekends a new perspective for exploring and relaxing. It’s a great place to escape from the ordinary.
Last weekend in northeast DC a friend and I went to the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens to attend the Lotus and Water Lilly Festival. Behind the Capital is an oasis of trees and ponds lined with cattails. Lillie’s sit on the water and lotus blossom’s rise from the same source. To walk around viewing this beauty is astounding. Each turn and wherever you look stroll there is so much to experience; dragonflies flitting across the pond’s, buds getting ready to open and every once in a while, the wind brushed passed our faces. Attending a park with such beautiful gardens is the perfect way to relax and be inspired.
Lunch at a quaint establishment called Rice Paper-Taste of Vietnamat the Eden Center on Wilson Blvd in Falls Church was the perfect spot to revitalize. After being in the heat, we started with a young coconut & juice drink that had sliced coconut and shaved ice in the glass. The Rice Paper combo platter was the perfect summer dish, made with seafood, pork, and marinated beef all grilled and served with grape leaves and vermicelli patties. Items are placed in lettuce and rice paper wraps and then dipped in tasty sauces for added flavor.
Nothing tops spending time with family at the National Museum of Natural Historyon 10th St. & Constitution Ave., NW. My adorable niece and nephew had a wonderful time exploring dinosaur bones, and seeing the bull elephant along with the blue whale. It’s a great place to understand the natural world and to learn of our beginnings.
Stylish Heath 