Wednesday, 29 May 2013

Sustainable Tourism: Amorgos, Greece

Greece’s Tangled Land Ownership Is a Hurdle in Recovery - NYTimes.com

Greece’s Tangled Land Ownership Is a Hurdle in Recovery - NYTimes.com

Greece becomes trade battleground as foreign investors swoop | World news | The Guardian

Greece becomes trade battleground as foreign investors swoop | World news | The Guardian

Greece's Mounting Garbage Problem Is a Symptom of Its Debt Crisis | TIME.com

Greece's Mounting Garbage Problem Is a Symptom of Its Debt Crisis | TIME.com

Investment Programs on Greek Islands | Greece.GreekReporter.com Latest News from Greece

Cash machines in Greece

Cash machines are a boon.  I think of money difficulties in Greece before cash machines. 

Buying travellers cheques and changing them in banks and at times when banks were open.

Bringing eurocheques, which you could only change in a post office, which meant finding a post office and a psot office that was open.  The post office might be in the uphill village and you are staying in the port.  I'm thinking of the chap I once saw on Kithnos, jogging uphill - he was going to the post office to buy some stamps.

When I am staying in a small place with kjust one cash machine, I do keep my fingers crossed for the welfare of the cash machine.  I don't rely on the cash machine working at weekends, as I have seen "connection to host lost", or similar messages.  Either withdraw the amount I asked for, or withdraw a lesser amount that, when added to charges, would come to the amount I had asked for.  I opted for the amount I had asked for.  The charges quoted did seem high - about 8%.   the cost of convenience ..................

I started thinking about cash machines as I noticed a new option last night.

Twin Price Inscription Expected on Greek Menus | Greece.GreekReporter.com Latest News from Greece

Saturday, 25 May 2013

Forget Grexit: Now It’s Grecovery | Greece.GreekReporter.com Latest News from Greece

Visitors Flock to Folegandros Island

http://greece.greekreporter.com/2013/05/24/visitors-flock-to-folegandros-island/

"only in Folegandros and Sicily in Italy, one can find lemon houses, which are stone fortresses that protect the lemon trees from strong winds."

I've been to Folegandros twice, but don't remember seeing "lemon houses".  "Lemon houses" conjured up to me a house "whitewashed" with lemon tinted paint!  Sometimes white "whitewash" has a bluish coloured tint.

Thursday, 16 May 2013

GREEK NEWS AGENDA: New Greek Products On The Rise

GREEK NEWS AGENDA: New Greek Products On The Rise

Sikinos’s Priests are Multitalented | Greece.GreekReporter.com Latest News from Greece

Sikinos’s Priests are Multitalented | Greece.GreekReporter.com Latest News from Greece

One of the priests is a former Navy frogman, the other a a violinist and beekeeper.

“The will is the lever that moves every effort, that realizes every thought. I want to give this message to my children that when we want something very much we can achieve it,” said 60-year-old father Spyridon.

BBC News - Aleppo soap: War threatens an ancient tradition

BBC News - Aleppo soap: War threatens an ancient tradition

I have seen blocks of green soap in Greece. The block I bought was wrapped in brown paper, and I didn't realise that the soap was green until I got home.  The colour and shape reminded me of some rough kitchen soap I'd once seen in England.  Now, if I had known of the ancient traditions of that soap I'd have enjoyed using it!

Sunday, 12 May 2013

Benaki Museum Director Struggles With Budget Cuts

Benaki Museum Director Struggles With Budget Cuts - NYTimes.com

I went to the Benaki Museum (the main building near Syntagma Square) last month. An excellent museum. But I was surprised to find that on Thursdays there was not only late night opening, but also free entrance. Very pleasant for visitors to the museum, but less good for the museum's finances.

The link is to the New York Times, but I read this article last night, on Amorgos, in the International Herald Tribune.

Caring for Attica’s Animals

Caring for Attica’s Animals | Greece.GreekReporter.com Latest News from Greece

Saturday, 11 May 2013

ekathimerini.com | Michelin-starred Spondi joins ranks of world’s top restaurants

ekathimerini.com | Michelin-starred Spondi joins ranks of world’s top restaurants

Whilst I wish Spondi the best of luck, I don't think I'll be eating there. The " frog legs coated with peanuts and accompanied by a celery and coconut mousse" mentioned in the article doesn't sound like my sort of dish!

Curious, I looked at the on-line menu .  The frog legs starter costs 33 euros.  There is nothing on the menu that I really fancied, regardless of price.  E.g. Venison, Sarawak pepper  /seasoning hibiscus/"Panisse" Chestnut - Celery/ Quince; or Veal Sweetbread - Arabica Coffe "Haiti Kommet"/ Jerusalem Artichoke / Liquorice.  Perhaps these combinations of flavours work well  - obviously the guide inspectors think so!