Mom's arrival, paidakia, Monestary Panagitsa Kleistone, and arrival in Kalamata

Mom has arrived in Athens!  I was so glad to see everyone.  The girls surprised me at the airport, and gave me quite the reception.  I am really excited to start this Tziforos family adventure.

Upon my arrival we went out for paidakia in Fili 'Hasia'.  The town specializes in lamb, and when you drive down the street there are lambs hanging in almost every restaurant storefront.  We ordered 3 pounds of lamb, and  finished them all along with salad, bread, tomatoes, and Greek dips.  It was an amazing meal, and a perfect way to start to my vacation in Greece.  After lunch we drove to a Monestary outside of town, Monestary Panigitsa Kleistone.  This was an absolutely beautiful Monestary that was completely tucked away in the mountains.  It was particularly special to Irene because she used to come here with her father when she was young.  The detail in the monestary was amazing, but I loved how it felt like a hidden treasure carved directly into the mountain.

Finally, later that day we arrived in Kalamata where we would spend the next few days.  Our accommodations are amazing, and I am looking forward to spending a few days relaxing and re-energizing from my travels. Kalamata is a truly amazing place!!  It is completely surrounded by mountains with the sea below.  It is modern, but yet still has the feeling of being in Greece with everything that Greece has to offer.