Just in time for fall, get ready for a heatwave with temperatures up to 40C!

Sun and high tempartures are in the forecast for the next few days throughout Greece. Northern and eastern parts of the country will experience temperatures up to 36C, while eastern parts will reach up to 38C. The Aegean islands and Crete can expect temperatures up to 37C. In Athens it will reach up to 39C and in Thessaloniki up to 37C.

Here's what to expect for the next few days in Athens:

Thursday: 35C

Friday: 37C

Saturday: 38C

Sunday: 39C

Sources: Protothema & The Weather Channel

He graduated at the top of his high school class, and just came in first in the entrance exam to study Electrical Engineering at Piraeus University. Great news to hear about any student. But what makes this young man’s story so extraordinary is that he’s an immigrant, from Africa.

This is the story of how he went from arriving in Greece alone, at the age of 16, as an “illegal immigrant” in 2011 — to  learning to speak fluent Greek and rising to the top of his class in less than four years.

Meet Julien — an orphaned minor, a refugee who made his way from Africa via Turkey to Greece, was locked up in a detention center on his arrival, and then lived homeless on the streets of Athens — only to find a caring community that helped him thrive, in the poorest region of Greece. Now, he says, “I want to become useful… To give, as much as I am able, to Greece that helped me.”

Which is why his story is so important — and why Julien is more than just the pride of Konitsa. He is a sign of hope for Greece. His story is like so many others — it even mirrors the story of many a Greek immigrant who came to America or Australia. But it tells the tale of a different Greece — one that isn’t being covered on the nightly news.

Julien’s story did make it on the front page of a few Greek national newspapers, and a couple of local ones. And with good reason. As pointed out by New Europe, “Greek university entry exams are notoriously difficult. Families spend a fortune on tutorials and the competition is enormous, more so in major urban centers – Athens, Piraeus, Thessaloniki.”

How did a poor African immigrant fare better than those with so many advantages?

“We met Julien in the Juvenile Refugee Protection Center of Konitsa, where he has been living for the last three years,” writes Spiros Sideris for the Athens-Macedonian News Agency. “When he arrived in Greece he was 16-years old. At first, he encountered great difficulties.”

As an “illegal migrant” he spent three months in detention centers — a teenager locked in a cell with adults, as is often the case in Greece — in Evros, a border region with Turkey. “Then he was released, with no provision for his welfare,” reports New Europe, and Julien made his way across Greece to Athens, where he lived on the streets in the center of Athens.

Then, a little under a year after his arrival, in October 2012, a public prosecutor intervened in his case, and arranged for Julien to be sheltered at a juvenile protection center, far away from Athens, in Epirus, one of the poorest regions of Greece.

“At the time,” New Europe reports, “he spoke no Greek at all and was depressed.” Employees of the center remember the teenager was always sad, pensive, and his only request was that he may be allowed to go to school, reports AMNA.

His request was granted — and the chance to attend a vocational school in Konitsa made all the difference.

“My parents always told me that the most important thing in life is education. I kept this,” says Julien. Having been deprived of the opportunity to finish school in his native land, “he grabbed the chance” to attend school, reports New Europe.

The school in Konitsa, Julien tells AMNA, became his family, and his classmates and teachers embraced him “from the first moment.” To help him learn the language, a dedicated Greek literature teacher, Mrs. Gianna Nikou, tutored him in the afternoons after school, “free of charge.”

Julien progressed enough to come in first in his class every year — going on to graduate with a 19.8 grade point average (out of 20).

Clearly, Julien stands out in Konitsa, in more ways than one. (People in Konista, reports AMNA, have even become accustomed to seeing him make his way uphill to Stomio Monastery to visit the hermitage of St. Paisius on the mountain above the town.)

But his success holds a lesson, and a promise, for more than just the town of Konitsa.

To Julien, the lesson and promise are clear. “I want to dedicate this success to my parents and my siblings, who are no longer in life,” Julien says as he tries to hide the tears flowing from his eyes, writes Sideris for AMNA. “My parents were the ones who had pressed upon me the value and desire of education since a very young age.”

Indeed, learning a new language and culture has not erased Julien’s memories of the family he lost. The orphaned son of a politician who struggled for democracy, he shows a reporter a bible, “a talisman” he received from his mother he says, before they were separated forever, violently.

Looking back on his own struggle, though, and how far he has come since his arrival in what he calls his new homeland, Julien says, “I thank Greece for supporting me. I thank everyone here in Konitsa, who helped me to stand on my feet and move on.”

When asked how he sees his future, Julien tells AMNA, “I want to go to become a useful and important man for society. To give, as much as I am able, to Greece that helped me.”

To read more, please visit: Hellenext

In September 2015, shooting will begin on the Greek island of Corfu, a six-part drama, The Durrells, based on Gerald Durrell’s popular trilogy of books (My Family and Other Animals, Birds, Beasts and Relatives and The Garden of the Gods— also published as one complete book called The Corfu Trilogy).

The series will air on British ITV and will star Keeley Hawes as Louisa Durrell, a widowed mother of three unruly children trying to pick up the pieces of her life and save those of her children by leaving England and heading to a remote Greek Island. But it’s 1935 and there is no electricity. There is outright refusal and the children revolt. But Corfu is cheap, and an untamed paradise— and the Durrells stay.

“Men Behaving Badly” creator Simon Nye has penned drama series, which is produced by Sid Gentle Films and executive produced by the company’s founder, BAFTA award-winning filmmaker Sally Woodward Gentle (“Whitechapel,” “Any Human Heart,” “Enid”). Sid’s managing director Lee Morris will also executive produce together with Nye. Christopher Hall will produce the series. Prior to setting up her own company, Woodward Gentle was creative director of Carnival Films, the producer of “Downton Abbey.”

Following auditions in Greece for Greek cast members, it was announced that Alexis Georgoulis ("My Life In Ruins") will play the handsome Spiro Hakaiopulos who Louise meets upon her arrival on the island.

Yorgos Karamihos, who was recently in the "Ben Hur" remake will play local Theodore who teaches little Gerry about all the animals on Corfu.

Christopher Sciueref ("300: Rise Of An Empire", "Skyfall") plays convict Kosti. For Sciueref it’s a bit of a homecoming as his parents are from Corfu.

To read more, please visit: Pappas Post

Greece is enforcing its option of an opt-out law that is included in a U.S.-EU deal that allows the US mega grower access to European crops.

Under a law signed in March individual EU countries can seek exclusion from any approval request for genetically modified cultivation across the EU. Specifically, Monsanto sought approval to grow its MON810, a type of pest-resistant corn.

But Greece said no way.

The EU law allows member states to decide themselves, a stipulation that has angered the United States, which wants Europe to open its doors fully to American GM crops as part of a planned EU-U.S. free trade deal.

In a statement this week, the European Commission confirmed that so far only Latvia and Greece had asked for opt-outs from Monsanto’s request to grow their GM crops.

To read more, please visit: Pappas Post

Men and women have often argued about what constitutes the perfect way to flirt. There are several cultures where flirting comes naturally while others appear to be more aggressive and go to extremes, often scaring off their potential dates.

Thrillist posted questions to Reddit and Quora users, asking them to share their extreme flirting stories and then used the statistical data to determine which countries flirt more aggressively.

Greece came first on Thrillist’s list, showing that the financial crisis and the country’s overall situation has not affected Greeks’ confidence levels. “Not only has Athens been named the world’s most flirtatious city, but Greece as a country was dubbed the most sexually active nation,” noted the website.

Furthermore, Thrillist added that according to Dr. Simon Hardy, author of the “The Greeks, Eroticism and Ourselves,” Greeks may have perfected their flirting skills in antiquity during the “ultra-sexual symposiums.”

To read more, and to find out which counties came in second, third and fourth, please visit: Greek Reporter

Archaeologists in Greece have discovered the ruins of an ancient palace with important archaic inscriptions dating back to the Mycenaean age, the culture ministry said Tuesday.

The palace, likely built around the 17th-16th centuries BC, had around 10 rooms and was discovered near Sparta in southern Greece.

At the site, archaeologists found objects of worship, clay figurines, a cup adorned with a bull’s head, swords and fragments of murals. Since 2009, excavations in the area have unearthed inscriptions on tables detailing religious ceremonies and names and places in a script called Linear B, the oldest script to be discovered in Europe.

To read more, please visit: The Guardian.

When making holiday plans, many turn their heads to the warm shores of Greece and its islands, and for good reason. With a hot, but not uncomfortable climate, beautiful seas and vibrant culture, there’s enough on offer to keep anyone satisfied on their weeks away from reality. However, such variety also causes a dilemma, where should you set up camp? The most popular options are those that sit on the coast of either Greece’s beautiful mainland and its exotic islands. Why? Perhaps it’s that ocean breeze, the soft Mediterranean sand or tropical-esque beach huts. Or maybe it has to do with the history of Greece, its proud naval tradition and bustling trade ports eventually evolving small settlements into the vibrant and prosperous towns we know and love today.

Whatever the reason for their popularity, here’s our pick of the best Greece has to offer:

For anyone visiting Greece, a trip to Athens is a must; which is handy because most international flights flow through this hub. Known for its stunning ancient architecture, including the Theatre of Herodes Atticus, the Pantheon and even the world famous Acropolis. However, while it is home to some 3,000 years of history, modern-day Athens has its own merits. With ample opportunities for water sports, some of the world’s finest cuisine, stunning beaches and pumping nightlife, Athens of today can be just as exciting as Athens of the past.

Oia is perhaps the most beautiful town in all of Greece. Famous for its whitewashed architecture and blue-domed churches, the town sits on a gentle cliff that overlooks the turquoise Med below. Known for being a serene and quiet location, Oia is the perfect place to enjoy a peaceful break from the modern world, although there are plenty of shops, restaurants and other bits to keep you busy if need be. The town can also be used as a sort of base camp for those looking to explore the many exciting hiking trails of Santorini, an island formed of volcanic rock, giving it a distinctively dark look. Lastly, if you’re only visiting Oia for the day, make sure you stick around until sunset, as the town’s location makes it the perfect vantage point for one of nature’s most spectacular shows.

Famed for its exotic culture, Mykonos is probably one of the most well-known locations in Greece. While the town itself is locally known as Chora, it is often the place people are referring to when they talk about Mykonos, rather than the entire island. A cosmopolitan town, Chora combines traditional Greek culture with aspects of modern-day lifestyle, which has led to it being world-famous for its legendary nightlife. Along with its vibrant atmosphere, Chora is also a simply beautiful city with stunning architecture. However, most people come for the beaches, with numerous options located just a short distance outside the town.

To read more, please visit: Greek Reporter

by

Cliff Blaylock

October is the ever-important olive harvest in Greece and many of the country’s entrepreneurs see a tremendous opportunity for growth and a rare opportunity to take a chunk out of Number 1 Spain and Number 2 Italy— the word’s top two olive oil producing nations.

Italy’s crop has been decimated by a fruit fly that eats olives and a rare tree disease. Nearly a million trees in the Puglia region alone have been infected with a disease dubbed by locals as “olive ebola” which slowly kills trees. And this is coming from a 1/3 decrease in production from the 2014-15 season, according to data from the Madrid-based International Olive Council (IOC).

Things are so bad that the Italian government has declared a “state of calamity” in the provinces of Lecce and Brindisi on the heel of the country.

The same organization points to a 50% decrease in production in Spain due to a drought that has effected much of the Iberian peninsula.

But resilient Greece has seen its olive oil output double since last season to just over 300,000 tons and the problems Italy and Spain are facing are making Greece’s wholesale prices competitive. According to a June report from the council, wholesale prices for extra-virgin categories from Italy and Spain have surged 114 percent and 84 percent this year, respectively, to €5.66 ($6.25) per kilo and €3.59 per kilo. In contrast, prices for Greek oil have climbed just 24 percent, to €3.09 per kilo.

The IOC reports Greek exports from the most recent harvest to the U.S., now the world’s top olive oil consumer, rose 28 percent from October 2014 through June of this year, while exports from Spain and Italy both dropped more than 50 percent.

Costco Wholesale is one company that recently got on the Greek olive oil bandwagon in a major way.

To read more, please visit: Pappas Post

Veteran Corfu author Effrosyni Moschoudi shares with is her local recipe, as featured in The Flow, book 2 in The Lady Of The Pier trilogy:

3-4 eggs

1 large onion, chopped

Extra virgin olive oil

1 large (or two medium) ripe beef tomatoes

1/3 teaspoon of sugar

Salt, pepper

 

Grate the tomatoes (leave out the skin)

In a large frying pan, fry the onion in the olive oil until soft, add the tomato, salt, pepper, sugar, and a small amount of water (about 1/4 of a wine glass). Cook in medium heat for about 15-20 minutes.

Break eggs and place in a bowl.

When the sauce has thickened (only oil left, no water), add the eggs in one go, then quickly start stirring with a fork or wooden spatula.

Serve immediately with a salad and fresh bread.

To read more, and to find out more about The Lady Of The Pier Trilogy, please visit: Effrosyni Writes

At London's Heathrow Airport, a traveler to Greece is offered a deal by Aegean Airlines: the flight is booked solid, take a different flight and get 400 euros ($440) and a free round-trip ticket to anywhere in Europe.

Some hours later in Athens, a long queue moves slowly forward to passport control, while smiling but harried officials shout out "Santorini", "Mytilene" and the names of other sun-drenched Greek destinations as they try to herd tourists quickly toward connecting flights.

Greece, despite all its economic and political strife, is heaving with foreign tourists.

"On TV they said we can come, there was no problem," said Thibault Larhant, a tourist from Normandy, in France, who was resting at an open air cafe in Athens' Syntagma Square, cooled by a fan spraying water vapor.

"We came to go to the islands, for the countryside," he said, adding that he and his companion had had no problems.

Nearby, another French tourist sat on the "Athens Happy Train", a road vehicle with carriages that swings visitors around the main sights in Greece's capital, such as the Acropolis.

"My friend loves history and culture," said Christelle Fourdinier, from Perpignon, indicating her companion.

Greece's ancient sites and holiday playground islands have been little changed -- from a tourist standpoint -- by an economic crisis that led to the closure of banks and the country coming within a hair's-breadth of leaving the euro zone.

It is just as well, given that tourism accounts for around a fifth of Greek economic output -- perhaps more now that the economy is shrinking again.

"Tourism is ... our heavy industry, it is the main economic source of income today and also the main source of jobs for many Greeks," Minister of Tourism Elena Kountoura told parliament this week.

"Today it offers 750,000 direct jobs, numbers that rise to 1.5 million jobs including indirect tourism-related jobs."

To read more, please visit: Reuters