Greece - Kalo Taxidi! Notes from Greece and the Greek Islands.
Friday 31 May 2013
Wednesday 29 May 2013
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.
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.
Monday 27 May 2013
Sunday 26 May 2013
Saturday 25 May 2013
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.
"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.
Friday 24 May 2013
Thursday 23 May 2013
ekathimerini.com | Famed singer Georges Moustaki dies at 79
ekathimerini.com | Famed singer Georges Moustaki dies at 79
Georges Moustaki's parents were from Corfu, and he composed "Milord", sung by Edith Piaf. One of my favourite songs, and until today I did not know the name of the composer.
Georges Moustaki's parents were from Corfu, and he composed "Milord", sung by Edith Piaf. One of my favourite songs, and until today I did not know the name of the composer.
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Tuesday 21 May 2013
Monday 20 May 2013
Saturday 18 May 2013
Some photographs of Amorgos - May 2013
 |
| Katapola at night |
Around Katapola, May 2013
A walk around Katapola on 10 May 2013
A walk around Katapola on 13 May 2013
Chora, Amorgos - May 2013
Friday 17 May 2013
The Garden Movement Grows In Greece | Greece.GreekReporter.com Latest News from Greece
The Garden Movement Grows In Greece | Greece.GreekReporter.com Latest News from Greece
The Greek equivalent of English allotments.
The Greek equivalent of English allotments.
Thursday 16 May 2013
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.
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!
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!
Wednesday 15 May 2013
Tuesday 14 May 2013
Come Back Different: How one Greek is starting up in a recession|News|2013-05-13 - pappaspost.com
Come Back Different: How one Greek is starting up in a recession|News|2013-05-13 - pappaspost.com
"Yannis Koryalos is one of them. He moved to Greece three years ago with his wife Lea. Six months ago, they launched one of the country's most popular online tourism site The website is COMBADI
The holidays are worldwide, not just in Greece.
"Yannis Koryalos is one of them. He moved to Greece three years ago with his wife Lea. Six months ago, they launched one of the country's most popular online tourism site The website is COMBADI
The holidays are worldwide, not just in Greece.
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.
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.
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!
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!
Thursday 9 May 2013
Wednesday 8 May 2013
An art collector with infallible instinct
ekathimerini.com | An art collector with infallible instinct
The collection of George Costaskis.
The collection of George Costaskis.
Friday 3 May 2013
Wednesday 1 May 2013
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