Cats of Athens, oh, and a dog too!

Hi Frugalistas!  I’ve been having a lot of fun on Instagram over the past few weeks sharing photos of some very, very cute little kitties from my trip to Athens.  Athens is home to many, many cats (and quite a few dogs as well).  Around Monastiraki and Anofiotika they are a real attraction.  Please enjoy […]

The frugalfirstclasstravel top 10 posts of 2014

Hi Frugalistas!  Happy New Year and welcome to 2015.  Today I’m delighted to present to you my top 10 posts of 2014, based on my stats, and therefore as voted by you, my loyal readers.  Interestingly, many of my top 10 posts are older posts, and indeed some of them have proven more popular in […]

The travel souvenir that’s a part of our family Christmas tradition

Hi Frugalistas!  We put up our Christmas decorations yesterday.  One thing I love putting out every year is our crèche.  Crèche is the French word for a Nativity Scene, and ours is a very special one.  It is French, and is made of santons, traditional Provencal clay figurines.  Purchasing our santons, adding to our collection, and […]

The do’s and don’ts of visiting Greek archaeological sites

Hi Frugalistas!  Greeks are proud of their history and culture.  As the cradle of democracy, philosophy, medicine and so many other cultural norms and institutions they are indeed right to do so.  Many visitors to Greece and to Athens in particular, visit to understand, experience and enjoy that history.  There are some rules for the unwary […]

Eating in Athens on a Culinary Backstreets walk

Hi Frugalistas!  I’ve already written about our infamous visit to the Athens Central Market, but there was far more to our Culinary Backstreets walk in central Athens.  Starting with breakfast, we ate, walked, talked, photographed and ate even more around central Athens with our guide, the lovely Despina.  Join me on a feast of food […]

Anafiotika: a Greek Island in the foothills of the Acropolis

Hi Frugalistas!  When I visited Athens recently I was disappointed that I didn’t have time to fit in a visit to the Greek Islands.  I’d sailed in the Cycladic Islands many years ago and had fond memories of those glorious blue and white houses festooned with bright bougainvillea and geraniums.  Then upon studying my guidebook […]

The day four travel bloggers became celebrities in the Athens Central Market

Hi Frugalistas!  When it came time to organise my Culinary Backstreets walk in Athens I thought it might be nice to share the experience with some foodie friends.  So the team at A Taste of Travel Blog, and Vanessa from Turnipseed Travel eagerly put their hands up to join me.  The day started off quietly at […]

What to do when your ship doesn’t come in: the day I didn’t go on a cruise with MSC cruises

Hi Frugalistas!  I was thrilled to be invited to join a pre-TBEX day sponsored by MSC Cruises on one of their ships in Athens.  The plan was that we would spend the day on the ship while it was docked in Athens as part of a cruise from Venice to Istanbul.  I had great plans about what I wanted […]

The Athens meat and fish market

Hi Frugalistas! Armed with my new camera, and some wonderful photos from Athens I’m bringing Friday fotos back for a new series.  First up, the Athens meat and fish market.  A word of warning though – the meat market is very, well, meaty.  A far cry from shopping in your local supermarket.  So if you don’t like meat […]

Real life one bag travel: travel blogger’s packing list in practice

Hi Frugalistas!  I’m just off the plane from Athens and the big travel blogging conference, TBEX.  What a time!  Lots of old friends to catch up with, lots of online friends to meet face to face, and lots of new friends made.  The conference was fantastic – I’ve come back with so many ideas.  And […]