Hello friends,
Do you love dining solo? Have you ever tried it? How about having your dinner beside the Mediterranean sea in Greece alone? Does that sound crazy?
Solo dining is very common in Japanese culture (which I have experienced) (our Japan LGs can comment), but usually a rare event in India. However, it is being normalized due to solo travelling trends over the past few years. Perhaps it’s the unique feeling and experiences that come with solo dining that is making it a rising trend. Throwing yourself into the situation of being alone, in public, takes your mind into a different dimension. More than a strange act it has become a form of self-care nowadays.
Back in 2015 when I started my international solo travel, my very first country to visit was Greece! I stayed at Kolymbari, Chania, a much more distant part of Crete Island! While Islands like Santorini are commonly visited, the Creta remains unexplored due to multiple reasons including expensive transportation in certain areas.
Almost every evening during my stay I chose to walk along the seashore and have my dinner at Hotel Plaza Paradise which had a sea view.
It is right there on the harbour and has two sitting areas- one is the restaurant itself while the other one is an outside arrangement across the street (just near the seashore). You will find almost all locations in Crete having such sitting arrangements! After all the transparent aqua blue water and the sound of waves is what attracts the crowd here (other than the food of course)!
I remember how delicious the preparation was at hotel Plaza. On the menu card, they have multiple options in seafood, grilled/. barbeque vegetables etc. But they try to customize your order if you ask for it. I have tried a variety of starters here including fried mushrooms, fried zucchini, broccoli Patties and my personal favourite was fried capsicum! The texture of these fried vegetables was just perfect and a treat to my taste buds! The barbecued vegetables tasted delicious too! The restaurant has a variety of fresh seafood preparations like BBQ sardines, kalamiri, octopus etc.
On one of the evenings, I was served a complimentary chocolate crepe which was too delicious (I was not very much of a photo freak back then and missed out on multiple good captures on this trip).
I should have mentioned it at the start, I never missed my evening coffee at Plaza Paradise! Just imagining that I am sitting right next to the Mediterranean sea on a small island was a great feeling! It is said that it is impossible to meet new friends if you travel solo! And I can not agree more. I could hardly understand Greek, but the efforts that the restaurant owner took to communicate were really appreciable.
Having experienced a few solo dining experiences, my perspectives have shifted over time. It offers the strength to avoid profane rabble, external judgment and an ability to observe. You understand how self-absorbed people are, too concerned about themselves to be looking at you.
Certain dining establishments offer to ease you into the solo experience less awkwardly and uncomfortably and for me, Plaza Paradise was one of such experiences.
I would surely love to go back and grab a Greek coffee here!
Have you ever tried solo dining on purpose? How was your experience? Which one is your favourite view? Do comment on your experiences!
Keep eating and stay hydrated this summer!
and loved travelling solo and have many stories to tell, this one is right up there, waiting many more to read!!
