Have you ever sat on the beach or by the pool while on holiday in Greece and fancied doing something creative and mentally-stimulating without breaking into too much of a sweat? If so, then several islands offer the chance to try your hand at painting or cooking, with classes set up to help you learn more about your destination while allowing you plenty of free time to enjoy your holiday.
Painting Holidays in Greece
Many of us have, at some point, stood at a panoramic spot, maybe on a mountain top, on a cliff or beside an old fortress, and wished that we could soak in all the details and capture them in a way that a camera just can’t do. If you’re like me then on more than one occasion you’ll have wished that you could paint, so that you could set up your materials and enjoy the shade of an old tree for a few hours while the scene in front of you is brought to life on your paper or canvas.
For those with a desire to learn the basics of painting, or to develop their existing talents, there are opportunities to add a painting course onto your holiday in Greece. English artist Paul Lewis runs a series of painting courses during the summer months on Ikaria, Samos and the Peloponnese. He offers one-to-one tuition for painters of all levels and the classes only run in the mornings, allowing students to relax in the afternoons (or to practice their newly-found skills before the next morning’s lesson). Artist and local resident Christopher Hughes offers a similar timetable for his painting workshops on Alonissos, an island on which he has spent over 25 years.
Cookery classes in Greece
For many of us food is an essential part of our holiday experience and for those who enjoy getting their hands dirty in the kitchen, a local cookery course offers a chance not only to learn about the popular local dishes but also to learn a little about the destinations traditions and cultures.
The Varos Village Hotel in Lemnos runs 3-hour workshops that provide an introduction to the ingredients and the philosophy behind some of the Mediterranean dishes that you’ll typically find on the Greek islands. Local chefs will teach their students how to make local breads and pies, how to cook ‘fava’, made from local beans, and the secrets behind the Greek dips such as tzatziki, taramasalata and olive or garlic spreads. As with all good cookery classes, lunch is the highlight of the session and is made up of your morning’s work.
If you visit Halkidiki during mid-May you’ll be able to join in a food event in Olymbiada that celebrates the island’s most famous son, Aristotle. There’s a walking excursion through the forests of the Aristotelian mountain followed by a cooking workshop using herbs gathered during the walk. There are also workshops on the local herbs and the event is rounded off with a gourmet dinner prepared by well-known local chefs.
