What about Greece?

Posted on by

0

Sydney International Food Festival by the advertising agency WHYBIN\TBWA

This blog is about Athens and its Travel Angels.

According to the quote ‘every crisis bears an opportunity’ I thought I might take this opportunity to tell you a little bit about this place.

Yes, there are economical difficulties, yes there might be some riots from time to time, but all in all it is a magical place with beauty all around.

Be it the vegetation, with the orange and lemon trees blossoming in spring and filling the air with a beautiful scent, colorful oleander and impressive palm trees.

Then there are the ancient sights dating back more than 2000 (two thousand!) years, impressive and strong as ever the Acropolis. But ruins are even to be found in the metro station, in underground park houses and in the middle of squares. Excavated and well preserved they remind you of a time when democracy was born, when comedies and tragedies were written, where  history and mythology were created, where maths and medicine were taught.

But it is also a modern city at the far east end of Europe. With vast highways, big stadiums, shopping malls and recreation centers it can compare to any western European metropolis. Fancy restaurants as well as small tavernas, big hotel chains as well as small pensions, international fashion brands as well as local art can be found all under the blue Attica sky. The city’s beaches and marinas make you forget that you are in a town of 5 million inhabitants and the nightlife is one of a kind.

Locals are still enjoying a glass of wine, nice music and the full moon as they always did. With everyone of them hiding a philosopher in their souls, they don’t give up, on the contrary: like Alexis Zorbas they feel that now is the time to sing and dance!
If you feel like being part of this never ending hunger for life and freedom visit Athens and ask us to show you around.

The great escape

Posted on by

0

ËÉÌÁÍÉ ÐÅÉÑÁÉÁ ÁÐÅÑÃÉÁ

Saturday before Easter and everybody is escaping the city, either to one of the countless islands or to a village on the mainland.

Watching the ferries coming and going inside the port of Piraeus is an experience which is watched by many from the docks.

Young and old is getting onto the boats taking them to their destinations.

It is amazing to see a city of more than 5 Million being deserted and left with ‘a few’ hundred thousands.

This usually happens twice a year, on Easter because it is the biggest holiday for the Orthodox Church and the beginning of August when everybody is on vacation and the goal is to get out of the heat of the city of concrete and bricks.

So keep this in mind when planning your vacation in Greece during this time, as ferries, hotels, beaches and tavernas might be crowded everywhere outside Athens, whereas the city itself is much easier to explore. It is quieter, with less traffic and easier access to the local hideaways.

Happy (Greek) Easter

Posted on by

1

Easter

If you are travelling to Greece this week, keep in mind that it is Greek Easter next Sunday, the 5th of May.

On Good Friday there are processions all over Greece, in every city, village, small and big church people are gathering with brown candles in order to remember the death of Jesus Christ.

On Saturday at midnight,  you will  see the same people lighting white candles, sometimes even fires, outside the same churches, symbolizing the resurrection of Christ.

Then, on Easter Sunday in every garden and on every square there are lambs grilled on open fires.

With music, dance and laughter families and friends get together and celebrate.

Don’t be surprised if you get offered a piece of grilled meat or a glass of delicious Greek wine when passing by.

Even if you are not a religious person, Orthodox Easter is an experience of a lifetime!

More than a 1000 words..

Posted on by

0

video england

I want to share a video spot which is really saying it all.

Have a look, it’s worth it when considering Greece for your next vacation:

http://www.thestival.gr/xalllara/item/44677-i-diafimisi-poy-trelane-toys-toyristes-28binteo29

Food for thought

Posted on by

2

margaro

I have traveled and dined in many countries around the world but I have never come across another restaurant that only serves 3 dishes!

Yes, just 3 different plates, each of them delicious in one of the best known tavernas right above the port of Piraeus called Margaro.

Fried shrimps and fish and the best Greek salad one can find.

Together with fresh bread and white wine,  the meal is one of the best experiences of Greek cuisine.

There is nothing else on the menu, not even french fries but none of the customers seem to care.

On the contrary!  The tavern is always full with new and old customers, who are perfectly happy with what is offered.

So maybe it is true what they say: “Quality is more important than quantity”.

Lost in translation

Posted on by

0

People of Athens - Underground

Yesterday I was giving an interview for a big Asian TV channel and one question asked by the reporter made me write about an issue which many of you might have asked themselves lately:

” Is Greece a safe place to go to?”

Being a foreigner in Greece myself I can only say: yes, it is!

It is as safe as any other European country and talking from my experience it is a lot easier here to get integrated than in many countries I know.

I believe that it always helps if you speak a few words of the local language, words like: please and thank you, good morning, good bye … make it a lot easier to get accepted and to get assistance in a foreign land.

And when it comes to living in a country with another language, personally I think that the best way to feel part of the country,  is to learn the language.

It helps understand the country and its’ habits, the people and their thoughts.

I would not have been able to get to know so many remarkable Greeks if I hadn’t learned the language!

So when visiting Greece, remember to know your basics: kalimera (good morning), efcharisto (thank you), parakalo (please) and yassou (bless you, cheers, hello, bye)

Easy enough isn’t it?

Kali andamosi sti Ellada! (See you soon in Greece!)

Happy (social media) Birthday!

Posted on by

0

Birthday Cake

It was my birthday yesterday and the first time I experienced the many many wishes from facebook friends around the world.

Wishes in many different languages, with many nice words and from people I haven’t seen in years or have never met at all.

It is nice to be remembered and to get so many nice posts.

I  think about the years we didn’t have the social media and this immediate and cheap way to communicate around the world.

I also think about the discussions if social media bring us closer together or drive us further apart..

Whatever it is, to be remembered and to celebrate your birthday with friends and family is a wonderful experience and something to remember for the next 12  months..

 I wish everybody to be with lovely company on their birthdays and as the Greeks say (who usually celebrate namedays rather than birthdays):  with more white hair and wisdom as years go by…

Greek Coffee and Art

Posted on by

0

Φωτογραφία0679

Spending a wonderful day with friends in Plaka yesterday, we passed by a little arcade between Mitropoleos and Pandrossou street which hosts one of the most original folk art museums in the city:

Traditional furniture, icons, antiques, jewels, posters and pictures are exhibited and offered for sale.

One of the coziest and most traditional Greek coffee shops Kafenion Orea Ellas with a beautiful view of the Acropolis invites the guests to sit back and enjoy the atmosphere of days long ago.

It is always a nice surprise to find spots like this inside such a big city, places where tradition and folk art are treasured and appreciated, both by Greeks and foreigners alike.

Related articles

Florida in Europe

Posted on by

0

sunset

While Europe is covered in snow, airports are closed and no sign of spring is in the air, here in Greece we are enjoying  wonderful weather with temperatures around 20-25 Celsius (about 70 Fahrenheit).

The birds are singing and the almond trees blossoming, the smell of the new season is all around and the sun is shining above it all!

That makes me repeat something I already asked 20 years ago: ” Why isn’t Greece the Florida of Europe??”

It very well could be the place for the elderly from northern countries to retire in a warmer climate.

It could be ‘the place to be’ for families with small children, for them to play on the beach from as early as April and May.

And it is definitely the place to go every time you get fed up of the endless grey skies that are so common in the rest of Europe.

Now, that property prices are down, it is a great opportunity to invest in Greece and with the coastline of Athens being restructured from the Port of Piraeus until the old airport, who knows, soon enough Athens might be the new Miami…

Life is a Carnival

Posted on by

0

Carnival-greece_1842128i

It’s carnival time in Athens! Time to celebrate, even though times are rough, or maybe even more so because they are!

It starts out with Tsiknopempti, which is the Thursday before the main carnival week, where only grilled meat is eaten everywhere, where barbecues are put outside shops, tavernas and homes to celebrate and offer lamb chops and souvlaki to everybody passing by.

Then, throughout the following days, there are parties and celebrations everywhere, in the streets, the clubs and houses. The day of Apokreo, the Sunday when carnival peaks, parades are seen in areas of Athens, but the most famous ones are in the cities of Patras and Xanthi.

With humor, the various groups participating make fun of  politics and politicians, but most of all people are having a good time, singing and dancing all night.

The Monday after, everybody is tired and exhausted but there is always room for more.. so in order to ‘clean up’  from the misuse of food and alcohol everybody eats seafood and a special delicious bread called lagana.

With  that day, called Kathara Deftera (Clean Monday) the fasting period starts and goes until Easter, and that is another big holiday which gives more reason to get together and celebrate, once more…