Greece - Kalo Taxidi! Notes from Greece and the Greek Islands.
Sunday 30 June 2013
Friday 28 June 2013
Wednesday 26 June 2013
Monday 24 June 2013
Matala Beach Festival Remembers Hippies | Greece.GreekReporter.com Latest News from Greece
Matala Beach Festival Remembers Hippies | Greece.GreekReporter.com Latest News from Greece
I went to Matala in the 1980s. No hippies that I remember.
I went to Matala in the 1980s. No hippies that I remember.
Tourists Prefer Traditional Greek Products | Greece.GreekReporter.com Latest News from Greece
Tourists Prefer Traditional Greek Products | Greece.GreekReporter.com Latest News from Greece
When looking for a "product" to take home, factors I look at include the size and fragility of the "product". Some of the "products" I have seen in gift shops in Greece are made of glass or pottery and are large. Not easy for someone with a car to take home safely , but nigh on impossible for someone travelling independently with a small wheeled case, and a combination of ferries, buses, planes and trains to catch!
When looking for a "product" to take home, factors I look at include the size and fragility of the "product". Some of the "products" I have seen in gift shops in Greece are made of glass or pottery and are large. Not easy for someone with a car to take home safely , but nigh on impossible for someone travelling independently with a small wheeled case, and a combination of ferries, buses, planes and trains to catch!
Saturday 22 June 2013
Are you looking for a nice place to stay in Katapola (Amorgos)?
I've been visiting Katapola for over 20 years, and always stay at Dimitri's P(a)lace, which is on the lane leading to Minoa, but very close to the centre of Katapola. The rooms are a short walk from the sea, shops and tavernas, yet in the countryside.
At Dimitri's P(a)lace you'll find:
Ring Dimitri for more information (0030 22850 71309)
This photo shows the position of Dimitri's in red. You walk round the bay from the harbour towards the large church with three blue domes (one large, two small) in the centre of the bay. Take the stone paved road that leads from the road around the bay towards the church. Walk past the school. You reach a small (but very well-stocked!) grocery shop. Here a path straight ahead leads to the church. To reach Dimitri's take the road on the right.
The photos below show the gardens, and views from the garden and rooms.
At Dimitri's P(a)lace you'll find:
- comfortable rooms, with your own or shared kitchen areas
- a lovely garden setting, with olive trees, grape vines, lemon trees and many more plants.
Ring Dimitri for more information (0030 22850 71309)
This photo shows the position of Dimitri's in red. You walk round the bay from the harbour towards the large church with three blue domes (one large, two small) in the centre of the bay. Take the stone paved road that leads from the road around the bay towards the church. Walk past the school. You reach a small (but very well-stocked!) grocery shop. Here a path straight ahead leads to the church. To reach Dimitri's take the road on the right.
After walking for about one minute, you will see the gateway leading to Dimitri's P(a)lace. 
The photos below show the gardens, and views from the garden and rooms.
Greek Cherries Extremely Good this Year | Greece.GreekReporter.com Latest News from Greece
Greek Cherries Extremely Good this Year | Greece.GreekReporter.com Latest News from Greece
I haven't eaten fresh cherries in Greece recently, but this year I have eaten delicious yogurt and cherry icecream at Waffle House in Naxos and Cassiopi in Amorgos Chora.
I haven't eaten fresh cherries in Greece recently, but this year I have eaten delicious yogurt and cherry icecream at Waffle House in Naxos and Cassiopi in Amorgos Chora.
Thursday 20 June 2013
Lock up your biros!
BBC News - Ryanair and Easyjet: The history of the peanut airlines
Ryanair has started running internal flights in Greece........................
"At Ryanair, cost-cutting culture has been taken to an extreme that Southwest never practiced. O'Leary says he bans the buying of biros for the office at Ryanair. "Hotels are great companies that offer free biros," says O'Leary, "so I regularly purloin my biros and pens... and I'm happy to supply hotel pens whenever I can."
Customer service director Caroline Green says this isn't just another piece of O'Leary spin designed to get a bit of free publicity. "That one is true. Wherever we go, every piece of stationery is taken from the meeting room. It's just a corporate culture now." "
Ryanair has started running internal flights in Greece........................
ekathimerini.com | Revisiting a bygone era through the photographs of Constantine Manos
ekathimerini.com | Revisiting a bygone era through the photographs of Constantine Manos
This makes me want to visit the Benaki before 25 August! I was in Athens last week, but the Benaki was closed when I was there on Tuesday.
This makes me want to visit the Benaki before 25 August! I was in Athens last week, but the Benaki was closed when I was there on Tuesday.
Wednesday 19 June 2013
Monday 17 June 2013
Saturday 15 June 2013
Greek breakfast
http://greece.greekreporter.com/2013/06/14/greek-breakfast-brings-millions-to-greek-hotels/
The "Greek Breakfast" is a good initiative, as in the past I have found Greek hotel breakfasts a little dull and unappetising.
The "Greek Breakfast" is a good initiative, as in the past I have found Greek hotel breakfasts a little dull and unappetising.
Friday 14 June 2013
Thursday 13 June 2013
Watch out, there's a thief about - even at the breakfast table!
Some hotels in Athens serve breakfast on the roof. Here is a sparrow "stealing" cake from my breakfast table!
The "someone behind"
Reading about laterna (traditional instrument) players being required to give receipts for donations reminded me of a niggling concern.
In Athens especially, but also on islands, sellers walk amongst diners in tavernas selling things (e.g. roses, paper tissues), or playing a few notes on an instrument. Sometimes the sellers are young children; sometimes disabled people. My concern is not with the sellers themselves, but how they are organised andn are they being exploited. The children sellings flowers or whatever will have someone behind them supplying the goods, And it is that "someone behind" that concerns me. It is the "someone behind" who needs to be regulated and taxed.
In Athens I had eaten a meal at a taverna, and a tout had walked round selling something - this was a month or so ago and I forget what was being sold. After the meal I bought an icecream and sat in a small park to eat the ice cream. The park was surrounded by tavernas and felt perfectly safe. A woman was sitting at a nearby seat, and I noticed the young tout approach her. I did not hear what was said, but from the general demeanour of the two, it seemed that the tout was not trying to sell something, but was getting instructions from her "minder", the "someone behind".
In Athens especially, but also on islands, sellers walk amongst diners in tavernas selling things (e.g. roses, paper tissues), or playing a few notes on an instrument. Sometimes the sellers are young children; sometimes disabled people. My concern is not with the sellers themselves, but how they are organised andn are they being exploited. The children sellings flowers or whatever will have someone behind them supplying the goods, And it is that "someone behind" that concerns me. It is the "someone behind" who needs to be regulated and taxed.
In Athens I had eaten a meal at a taverna, and a tout had walked round selling something - this was a month or so ago and I forget what was being sold. After the meal I bought an icecream and sat in a small park to eat the ice cream. The park was surrounded by tavernas and felt perfectly safe. A woman was sitting at a nearby seat, and I noticed the young tout approach her. I did not hear what was said, but from the general demeanour of the two, it seemed that the tout was not trying to sell something, but was getting instructions from her "minder", the "someone behind".
Greece Will Tax Laterna Players | Greece.GreekReporter.com Latest News from Greece
Greece Will Tax Laterna Players | Greece.GreekReporter.com Latest News from Greece
"As politischios.gr reports, a player, Michalis Skrivanos, who also goes under the nickname Diopas, was forced to put a cash register on his laterna, instead of being given a grant for keeping alive such a long tradition."
Tuesday 11 June 2013
Saturday 8 June 2013
NYTimes covers Greek museum's financial woes|Culture|2013-05-17 - pappaspost.com
NYTimes covers Greek museum's financial woes|Culture|2013-05-17 - pappaspost.com
This headline is an example of how the meaning of Uk English and US English differs. I read the headline as meaning that the New York Times was subsidising the Benaki Museum. But "covers" only means that the New York Times has an article about the financial woes of the Benaki.
This headline is an example of how the meaning of Uk English and US English differs. I read the headline as meaning that the New York Times was subsidising the Benaki Museum. But "covers" only means that the New York Times has an article about the financial woes of the Benaki.
Friday 7 June 2013
ekathimerini.com | Greece is cheapest destination in European south
ekathimerini.com | Greece is cheapest destination in European south
"Greece has emerged as the cheapest holiday destination in the European south this month as far as accommodation is concerned, .........................."
Athens: best street foods and stalls | Travel | guardian.co.uk
Athens: best street foods and stalls | Travel | guardian.co.uk
Interesting. I haven't eaten a koulouri in years. I'm usually on board a ferry when I see a koulouri seller near the ferry ramp. And then wish that i had bought one!
Greek hot dogs I don't fancy. This piece makes too much of street foods. For hot food, I'd rather buy a takeaway from a "fixed" seller, a taverna selling takeaways. I would opt for a giro, far nicer to my taste than a hot dog. A giro is pieces of grilled pork, freshly carved off the upright grill, and served in a hot pita bread with tomato, onion, tsatsiki and chips, and sprinkled with red pepper. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm! I could eat one now!
Interesting. I haven't eaten a koulouri in years. I'm usually on board a ferry when I see a koulouri seller near the ferry ramp. And then wish that i had bought one!
Greek hot dogs I don't fancy. This piece makes too much of street foods. For hot food, I'd rather buy a takeaway from a "fixed" seller, a taverna selling takeaways. I would opt for a giro, far nicer to my taste than a hot dog. A giro is pieces of grilled pork, freshly carved off the upright grill, and served in a hot pita bread with tomato, onion, tsatsiki and chips, and sprinkled with red pepper. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm! I could eat one now!
Thursday 6 June 2013
Wednesday 5 June 2013
Tuesday 4 June 2013
5 Greek islands you haven’t heard of – but need to see - The Globe and Mail
5 Greek islands you haven’t heard of – but need to see - The Globe and Mail
The five islands are Folegandros, Patmos, Anafi, Samos and Samothraki.
I've been to four - I haven't been to Samothrace. To me Folegandros, Patmos, Samos and Samothraki are fairly mainstream islands, and I'd have throught that many people would have heard of them. Anafi is more obscure - but reasonably accessible to anyone on Santorini.
The five islands are Folegandros, Patmos, Anafi, Samos and Samothraki.
I've been to four - I haven't been to Samothrace. To me Folegandros, Patmos, Samos and Samothraki are fairly mainstream islands, and I'd have throught that many people would have heard of them. Anafi is more obscure - but reasonably accessible to anyone on Santorini.
Some photos of Amorgos Chora - May and June 2013
More photos to follow! I'm busy taking more photos.........................
 |
| A traditional form of transport in Amorgos Chora |
 |
| Amorgos Chora on a misty day, seen from the windmill ridge |
 |
| Some of the windmills above Amorgos Chora |
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| The carvings outside the school in Chora. The school was founded in 1821. |
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| The church of Fotodotis Christos, near the school in Chora. The sun was behind the belfry, giving an almost mysterious glow. |
Monday 3 June 2013
Korres Grows In International Markets | Greece.GreekReporter.com Latest News from Greece
Korres Grows In International Markets | Greece.GreekReporter.com Latest News from Greece
One of the first things I do when I arrive on the Greek island of Naxos is buy some Korres showergel and shampoo, often on the walk from the harbour to my hotel if the pharmacy is open.
My favourite showergel is Citrus. I was running out, so I bought some Korres shampoo today on Amorgos. There was no citrus, so my next shower will be vanilla, freesia and lychee flavoured!
I am currently using the shampoo flavoured with aloe and dittany.
One of the first things I do when I arrive on the Greek island of Naxos is buy some Korres showergel and shampoo, often on the walk from the harbour to my hotel if the pharmacy is open.
My favourite showergel is Citrus. I was running out, so I bought some Korres shampoo today on Amorgos. There was no citrus, so my next shower will be vanilla, freesia and lychee flavoured!
I am currently using the shampoo flavoured with aloe and dittany.
Saturday 1 June 2013
The island of long life | World news | The Guardian
The island of long life | World news | The Guardian
This story about the longevity of the residents of Ikaria keeps doing the rounds in the press. A long-lived story!
This story about the longevity of the residents of Ikaria keeps doing the rounds in the press. A long-lived story!
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