Visit the Saronic Gulf Islands Whilst in Athens on Your Greece Holidays

During the summer months in Athens you may find the heat stifling on some days. This is a perfect opportunity to escape the city and take advantage of the nearby islands in the Saronic Gulf. Pirius, the port of Athens give access via its regular ferry services to the many island of the Saronic Gulf and it is even possible to fit in two or three in one day if you set off early in the morning. There are many islands to explore but following are three of my favourites.

Aegina
Aegina is one the largest of the Saronic Gulf Islands, with a population of around 13,500 people over 34 square miles. It is comparatively suburban in contrast to many of the other islands, with a popular party atmosphere at the weekends. Perhaps despite this, it is still an exceptionally picturesque island and has many sightseeing opportunities such as Nektarios Church, a pilgrim destination for the sick similar to Lourdes (but without the hordes of tourists) or the domineering extinct volcano, Mount Oros.

Paros
Paros acts as a central hub for some of the smaller islands but is well worth a visit in itself. Despite some signs of tourism, Paros retains much of its authentic 'greekness' which will be a welcome relief for Greece holiday makers. Sites of interest are well sign-posted making Paros a joy to explore whilst the white, sandy beaches are kept in pristine and litter free.

Hydra
Despite being relatively large, Hydra has a very small population of around 3,000 people, most of whom live in the main town of Hydra. In many ways, Hydra is very similar to the Italian island of Capri - no cars, few sandy beaches but a peaceful and quiet retreat (which is perhaps why it is, as with Capri, popular with celebrities). Hydra presents an opportunity for the Greece holidays maker to reflect and unwind and escape the chaos of modern life.

Whilst these islands could very well be the main focus of your Greek holiday I strongly recommend, at the very least, setting aside one or two days during your holiday in Greece to explore these islands.

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Delicious Chocolate Cupcakes

Just hearing the words chocolate cupcakes makes your mouth start to water. There is no one kind of chocolate cake, the variety is endless. Different fillings, toppings and additional flavours contribute towards making a great cup cake. Of course the ingredients are the most important part towards making a great cupcake and not just a normal 'cake'.

Ingredients

You can great chocolate cupcake from cocoa powder, but this is no where near as tasty as using 'real' chocolate. There are luxury varieties of cocoa powder, but they still don't match up to the real thing.

There are many varieties of chocolate the most popular being dark chocolate. Even if your not a fan of dark chocolate, the bitterness is taken away using the other ingredients, giving a rich taste. Cooking chocolate is very often used for it is specialised for the job, but Belgian is always a favourite. Belgian chocolate cupcakes have a much richer flavour and you can taste the luxury ingredients.

To make your cup cakes extra special you can use muscovado sugar. This has a stronger flavour and compliments a cocoa flavour. Cream can also be added to some recipes and even liqueur.

Types & Flavours

There is far more to the cupcake than just a flavour. Chocolate can have many hints added to it for a start. For example orange, mint, fudge, strawberry, lemon, brandy and coffee. These could be added to the mixture itself or as a topping.

Icing is an easy way to add that extra flavour or colour. It can also make you cupcakes look more tempting and luxurious. There are some great examples of chocolate cupcakes around to give you inspiration and ideas. Some types of icing include frosting, butter cream, fondant, fudge and glace icing. Extra decoration such as sugar curls and shapes give that extra special trust.

You can also add extras through fillings. Chocolate chips being a widely used solution in all varieties including white and milk. Truffle fillings are little more different, where you add double cream and brandy to the inside of the mixture. You can also take on mini versions of cakes such as Victoria sandwich and fudge cake. They are perfect for parties, or when you need a variety for many people. Some people even use them for wedding cakes!

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