Romantic holiday or not, who wouldn't want to find a secret cove or a hidden beach where all you will find is yourself and the sea? Luckily in Greece, there are plenty of islands to find a secluded paradise and Greek City Times is here to help! Below is a list of 6 secret beaches in Greece you will definitely fall in love with.

Ithaca, the destination of Odysseus and the symbolic end of his adventures, is one of the greatest islands of the Ionian Sea, with so many reasons to visit it! Afales beach is one of the most charming ones and totally secluded.

Ikaria is an island known for its wild beauty, but most importantly, known for its population’s longevity. One of the most magnificent beaches is Seychelles, with bright white and grey pebbles, blue- turquoise water, surrounded by cove scenery. Seychelles is located approximately 25 kilometers from Agios Kirikos, near the village Manganitis.

The island of Antipaxos is a small one near the well known Paxoi. The truth is that during the last years Antipaxos is becoming popular and due to its small size and easy access from Paxoi, it is often crowded. Nevertheless, Voutoumi beach tends to differentiate. It’s a quiet and hidden part, which you can access by a pathway.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek City Times

Because of the recent super (and very full) moon, Nafplio residents discovered a new beach in front of Nea Kios village. The full moon caused a low tide, moving the water dozens of meters back.

This unusual low tide was particularly impressive because of its wide extent. The phenomenon is repeated twice a day due to the gravitational attraction of the moon and the sun on Earth, as well as the rotation of the celestial bodies.

 

Source: Greek Reporter

The idea to open a traditional Cretan kafeneio came about when two childhood friends, Yioula Svyrinaki and Michalis Psomadakis, moved to Athens in 2012. They were both working day jobs, Yioula at a deli and Michalis in construction, when they started developing their plans to open To Laini, a kafeneio (a cafe that also serves food) specializing in Cretan cuisine. Culinary Backstreets shares their story and how To Laini came to be in March 2017.

They wanted something "small, cheap, welcoming, serving great tsikoudia and good food." Their space is just that – it’s quite small, with no more than ten tables in total and a bar. Their open “kitchen” behind the bar consists of a couple of electric stoves, a camping gas canister and a portable little oven. When we first saw it, we wondered how they managed. But when there’s a will – and we would add, a love for food – there’s a way.

Their guiding philosophy is to offer dishes made with high-quality products, cooked with love and at a low price point. Everything they serve, both food and drink, comes from Crete, either from family members there or other small producers they personally know and work with. Luckily, the main distributor delivering food products from different parts of Greece to Athens is nearby.

To read this article in full, please visit: Culinary Backstreets

Photo Source: Culinary Backstreets

The move started a few weeks ago and after three long years of preparations, the hundreds of thousands of books and other items in the Greek National Library‘s collections are finally making the journey to their new home at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center.

The move is expected to be completed in April 2018, when the library will gradually start to go into full operation.

The transfer to the new building entails moving 750,000 items in the general collection and 40,000 in the lending section (10,000 of which are educational games), as well as 30,000 magazines published in the last five years.

"Within its new premises, at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, the entrance to the Library leads into a large open lobby that provides an immediate visual orientation to all the organization’s functions. The NLG Public Library Section, bolstered by a significant book collection and other media, will include separate areas for adults, teenagers, and children and will offer a wide range of educational and cultural programs. The natural light available throughout the National Library will help create an open hospitable environment for individual and collaborative learning. Events and seminars will be hosted for both children and adults, and classes will incorporate natural learning opportunities originating from collaborative programs at the Stavros Niarchos Park as well."

For more information about the National Library of Greece, please visit: SNFCC

Source: Protothema

Greece is reputed to have over 250 days of sunshine with warm temperatures in the summer and lovely mild temperatures throughout the rest of the year. But have you ever wondered exactly why temperatures can reach even 20 degrees Celsius during the peak of winter in Greece? It’s because of what the Greeks call ‘Alkyonides Meres’ or the Alkyonides Days! Today, the phrase ‘halcyon days’ has a literal meaning of calm, peaceful days, and here’s why…

The Alkyonides Days take place from December 15 to February 15 each year, and most often between January 16-31. During this time, the days typically have intense sunshine, with no clouds or wind and heightened temperatures for the season.

What's in the name?

 Alkyonides Days are named after the bird Alcyone (or halcyon/kingfisher birds), which lays its eggs during this time of year in the cracks of sea rocks. The allegorical meaning is of the homonymous star Alcyone in the Pleiades cluster (which bears the name of the bird). During this period, the star Alcyone culminates during the evening hours and therefore during the cloudless nights in January, the star is visible to the cluster of the Pleiades in the highest area of the celestial dome. As a result of this simple natural event, all the consecutive days that the Alcyone star is visible were naturally called ‘Alkyonides’.

Alkyonides Days From A Scientific Point Of View

From a meteorological point of view, the Alkyonides Days are created as a result of the latitude of Greece during these days of the winter, heightened barometric pressure, combined with no wind, cool temperatures, and intense sunshine.

The Myth Behind The Alkyonides Days

 

There are several myths surrounding the phenomenon of the Alkyonides Days, the most common of which is the story of Alcyone, daughter of Aeolus, the Greek god of the wind. Alcyone was the devoted wife of Ceyx, King of Thessaly in central Greece. Ceyx ruled his kingdom with justice and in peace. Alcyone and Ceyx were admired by gods and mortals alike for their physical beauty and the profound love they had for each other.

Zeus punished the arrogant couple who dared to compare themselves to gods by plunging Ceyx’s ship and drowning him. Alcyone lamented her loss so much that she threw herself into the sea and drowned, determined to join her husband in the land of the dead. The gods of Olympus were so profoundly affected by the tragic fate of the couple and their wonderful love for one another that Zeus transformed the couple into halcyon birds (kingfisher), yet condemned to give birth in the winter. The waves of the sea rushed into the rocks and destroyed Alcyone’s nest and eggs, and Zeus once again felt regret and ordered the winds to stop and the sun to shine for fifteen days in the heart of the winter so that Alcyone could safely lay her eggs.

Enjoy the sunshine!

A family road trip has never been easier in Greece, especially with the help of Kids Love Greece and their mythological road trip itinerary! There are so many places to see and do and the time it takes to drive is never too far. This road trip begins and ends in Athens and covers the major archaeological sites, significant places of interest, and even some UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The road trip begins in Athens, and our pro-tip here, is to leave as early as you can in the morning, preferably on a Saturday or Sunday in order to avoid the traffic. The first stop on the agenda is the mountain town of Arachova. This is a lovely place to spend some time, with great views and an intimate feel. You might even choose to spend the night here, or even two nights if you use this as your base to explore Delphi.

The next stop is the archaeological site of Delphi. If your kids read the Percy Jackson books, then they can probably tell you all about it! Delphi was considered to be the center of the ancient Greek world, and was home to the famous oracle. It is worth spending at least a couple of hours at the site, and there is also a museum to be visited.

To read this article in full, please visit: Kids Love Greece

This Spring and Summer 2018, the Road Trip Project, a travel experience, will take 8 individuals on 4 routes across Europe. These 4 duos will hop on a minibus and take a road trip across Europe. They will get to meet locals, experience the local vibe, discover projects that change people's lives for the better, and explore unknown places and amazing landscapes.

The road trips will go from the Baltics to the westernmost point of Europe, will span the length of the Danube, travel around the Mediterranean, and even reaching the Atlantic. The road trippers will then have the chance to share what they learn along the way by filming and posting their stories to other millennial across the continent and beyond.

At the end of their journey, their unique experiences will be featured in a road movie and reflected in an online travel guide on Europe's off the beaten paths.

For more information and how to apply, please visit: Road Trip Project

It gets its name, rizogalo, from its two main ingredients--rice (rizi) and milk (gala). Greek rice pudding is a thick and creamy treat, popular during Greek Carnival or Apokries.

 

To learn how to make Rizogalo, please visit: The Spruce

According to the 2018 Best Countries report released by US News & World Report, Greece was ranked as the 28th best country in the world! Greece was included as one of the best countries in the world because of its contribution to culture, science, the development of trade, investment, tourism, and its impact on international economies.

 

The report analyzed 80 countries based on a sample of 21,000 respondents and a range of criteria including economic influence, power to citizenship, quality of life, and perception on a global scale.

Overall, Greece was ranked 3rd for heritage, 5th for adventure, 15th for cultural influence, 24th movers (up-and-coming economy), 25th for citizenship, 29th for quality of life, 35th for entrepreneurship, 52nd for power and 55th in terms of being open for business.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Travel Pages

This winter in Belgium, a charity concert organized by '12 Hours for Greece' raised 35,000 euros to support the initiative 'Fuel for Schools.' Greek artists performed at the concert and hundreds of Greeks and philhellenes attended. The funds from the concert were then donated to the International Foundation of Greece to help heat the schools in remote areas of northern Greece.

'Fuel for Schools' was started in 2012 and has raised money annually to benefit the schools struggling during the current economic crisis. Aspasia Leventis, the founder and president of the International Foundation for Greece said in a press conference that this year 250 schools had applied for the program.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Reporter