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Thursday, 19 February 2015 14:00
Obama Says Greece Needs Growth, Not More Austerity
As representatives of the new Greek government begin a round of visits to eurozone countries, President Barack Obama has suggested that Greece will not be able to recover from its economic crisis unless there is a let up in austerity policies. “You cannot keep on squeezing countries that are in the midst of depression,” when CNN’s Fareed Zakaria asked him about the case of Greece.
“At some point, there has to be a growth strategy in order to pay off their debts and eliminate some of their deficits.
“There is no doubt that the economy of Greece was in dire need of reform,” he said in the interview broadcast on Sunday. “Tax collection was famously terrible. In order for Greece to compete in the world markets, they had to initiate a series of changes.”
However, the US president underlined that it is very difficult to carry out reforms when a country’s economy has contracted dramatically. Greece saw almost a quarter of its GDP disappear between 2008 and 2014.
“It’s very hard to initiate those changes if people’s standards of living are dropping by 25 percent,” he said. “Over time, the political system and society cannot sustain it.”
Obama also made reference to the compromise that would be needed by the SYRIZA-led coalition and the eurozone to reach a deal that would keep Greece in the single currency.
To read more, please visit ekathimerini.com
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Local News
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Wednesday, 13 May 2015 07:00
Andreas Diakodimitris - Hospitality Consultant / GM of 'Me Zen' Project
“Treat your guests as you’d wish to be treated. Be yourself and smile. It doesn’t cost a penny!”These are the words of the Greek entrepreneur behind the 'Zen Project.'
Andreas is an experienced and skilled General Manager with expertise in hotel management, food and beverage operations, vendor relations, profit and loss management and guest services operations.
After 17 years of managing small and medium luxury hotels, he is currently developing the “Me Zen” project, a small chain of traditional Tsipouro Bars throughout Greece.
Following the successful opening of “Me Zen Volos” he and his team are preparing for the opening of “Me Zen Larisa”.
What are the things you like best about your job and how would you describe your hospitality and tourism management philosophy?
Travelling around Greece and the world to discover flavors is what makes my job unique. Meeting people with different cultural backgrounds always reminds me of the reasons for choosing a career in tourism.
My motto is: “Treat your guests as you’d wish to be treated. Be yourself and smile. It doesn’t cost a penny!”
Have you had to face any challenges in your career to get to where you are today?
Tons of work , full time schedules and no holidays and days off for years, elder colleagues that I had to manage, working on weekends and public holidays, accurate forecasting and teambuilding were a few of the challenges I had to face during the 17 years I have been managing hotels.
In regards to hospitality, where do you think Greece needs to improve the most?
Better management of regional airports will certainly give a boost to more destinations. Destination marketing must at last follow a steady plan and be managed by one independent authority. Millions of euros have been spent during the past decades without any measurable outcome.
To read more of this interview, please visit: Greek Travel Pages
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People
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Friday, 19 June 2015 07:00
Tripadvisor: The Ten Best Historic Sites In Greece
These are the top ten sights and landmarks not to be missed in Greece according to the users of Tripadvisor. Based on the votes of travelers themselves, Tripadvisor has come up with a list of the top ten sights and landmarks worth visiting in Greece.
Rather unsurprisingly the top two places go to Greece's most recognizable landmark with the Acropolis hill taking the first spot followed by the Parthenon itself at number 2.
The list also includes Meteora, Delphi and perhaps lesser known monuments such as the Acropolis of Rhodes and the island of Spinalonga which was once home to a leper colony.
Below is the list in full of the top ten places to visit in Greece:
Νο 1 Acropolis
Νο 2 Parthenon - One of the seven wonders of the ancient world
Νο 3 Meteora - The monasteries perched on the tops of imposing cliffs are wonders in their own right and marvels of Byzantine architecture
Νο 4 Delphi - Perhaps the spiritually most important site of the ancient world
Νο 5 Hephaestus Temple in Athens - The best preserved ancient Greek temple in Athens and perhaps the country
To read more, please visit: The TOC
Published in
Travel Greece
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Thursday, 01 October 2015 07:00
Let's Learn Some Greek!
One of the very first words that students of Modern Greek learn is ‘πίνω’ (= to drink). There are many good reasons for that: it’s a very common verb, it’s really easy to conjugate –at least in Present– and it helps to form full sentences in Greek even in the very early stages of learning, e.g. Κάθε πρωί πίνω καφέ με γάλα = Every morning I drink coffee with milk.
After a few classes, the students are introduced to another group of verbs ending in Present in –άω/–ώ. ‘Μιλάω or Μιλώ’ (= to speak) is a classic example of this group as students usually know from the beginning phrases such as ‘Μιλάς / Μιλάτε ελληνικά;’ (= Do you speak Greek?) or more commonly ‘Δε μιλάω ελληνικά!’ (= I don’t speak Greek!). When more examples of this group are needed, the verb ‘πεινάω or πεινώ’ (= to be hungry) makes its appearance in class. And chaos is on its way!
There is no doubt that ‘πίνω’ (peeno = to drink) and ‘πεινώ’ (peeno = to be hungry) are two of the most commonly confused words in Greek!
However, if you stress the wrong syllable, out of the blue the person/people you are talking to may burst out laughing! After introducing the students to these two verbs, teachers always expect phrases such as:
‘Δεν πεινώ κρασί’ (= I am not hungry wine) instead of ‘Δεν πίνω κρασί’ (= I don’t drink wine) or ‘Πίνω. Πάμε στην ταβέρνα;’ (= I drink. Shall we go to the tavern?) instead of the right ‘Πεινώ. Πάμε στην ταβέρνα;’ (= I am hungry. Shall we go to the tavern?)
So, let’s put an end to this confusion.Πίνω (peeno) = to drink
Present πίνω
Past Continuous έπινα
Past Simple ήπια
Future Simple θα πιω
Future Continuous θα πίνω
Present Perfect έχω πιει
Past Perfect είχα πιει
Future Perfect θα έχω πιει
Present Future Simple Past Simple
εγώ πίνω θα πιω ήπια
εσύ πίνεις θα πιεις ήπιες
αυτός/αυτή/αυτό πίνει θα πιει ήπιε
εμείς πίνουμε θα πιούμε ήπιαμε
εσείς πίνετε θα πιείτε ήπιατε
αυτοί/αυτές,/αυτά πίνουν(ε) θα πιουν ή θα πιούνε ήπιαν ή ήπιανε
Example sentences:
1. Η μητέρα μου πάντα πίνει ένα φλιτζάνι τσάι το απόγευμα. (My mother always drinks a cup of tea in the afternoon.)
1. Η μητέρα μου πάντα πίνει ένα φλιτζάνι τσάι το απόγευμα. (My mother always drinks a cup of tea in the afternoon.)
2. Τι θα πιείτε, παρακαλώ; or Θα πιείτε κάτι; (What will you drink, please? / Will you drink something? = this is what a waiter asks the customers in a restaurant) Strangely enough, when used for clothes, ‘πίνω’ means ‘to shrink’!
3. Δεν το πιστεύω! Το αγαπημένο μου μάλλινο πουλόβερ ήπιε στο πλύσιμο! (I can’t believe it! My favorite wool sweater shrank in the wash!)
Expressions with ‘πίνω’:
1. ‘πίνω το αίμα κάποιου’ (= to suck somebody’s blood) Δυστυχώς υπάρχουν ακόμα και σήμερα αφεντικά που πίνουν το αίμα των εργαζομένων τους. (Unfortunately, even today, there are bosses sucking the blood out of their employees.)
2. ‘να πιεις (κάποιον) στο ποτήρι’ (used to emphasize the beauty of a –usually young– person) Είδες την καινούργια κοπέλα του Πέτρου; Πανέμορφη! Να την πιεις στο ποτήρι! (Have you seen Peter’s new girlfriend? So pretty! She is stunningly beautiful!)
3. ‘πίνω νερό στο όνομα (κάποιου)’ (= to trust somebody blindly and show them great respect, to think highly of somebody) Δεν μπορεί να πιστέψει ότι η Μαρία έκλεψε τα χρήματα. Μέχρι χθες έπινε νερό στο όνομά της. (He can’t believe Mary stole the money. He always held her in the highest regard.)
4. ‘ήπια το αμίλητο νερό’ (= used for someone who in a given situation remains silent, they don’t say a word) Δεν έχεις πει κουβέντα σήμερα. Τι έγινε; Ήπιες το αμίλητο νερό; (You are so quiet today. What’s wrong? Did you drink the ‘unspoken water’*?)
* this expression derives from a custom called ‘Κλήδονας’, during the first phase of which single women fill up their pitchers with water from a spring and then, on their way back to the village, they have to remain silent, even though men tease them to make them speak.
Πεινάω or Πεινώ (peeno) = to be hungry
Present πεινάω / πεινώ
Past Continuous πεινούσα
Past Simple πείνασα
Future Simple θα πεινάσω
Future Continuous θα πεινάω
Present Perfect έχω πεινάσει
Past Perfect είχα πεινάσει
Future Perfect θα έχω πεινάσει
Present Future Simple Past Simple
εγώ πεινάω / πεινώ θα πεινάσω πείνασα
εσύ πεινάς θα πεινάσεις πείνασες
αυτός/αυτή/αυτό πεινάει / πεινά θα πεινάσει πείνασε
εμείς πεινάμε / πεινούμε θα πεινάσουμε πεινάσαμε
εσείς πεινάτε θα πεινάσετε πεινάσατε
αυτοί/αυτές/aυτά πεινάν(ε)/πεινούν(ε) θα πεινάσουν(ε) πείνασαν / πεινάσανε
Example sentences:
1. Τα παιδιά πεινάνε πολύ. Θα τους φτιάξω μία ομελέτα. (The children are very hungry. I will make them an omelet.) Keep in mind that the Past Simple form ‘πείνασα’ is very often used when referring to the present, e.g.
2. Πεινώ! = Πείνασα! Θα φάω γιαούρτι με μέλι και καρύδια! (I am hungry! I will have yogurt with honey and walnuts!)
Expressions with ‘πεινάω or πεινώ’:
1. πεινάω σαν λύκος [= I am (as) hungry as a wolf; the Greek equivalent of the English expression ‘(I am so hungry), I could eat a horse’] Πεινάω σαν λύκος! Δεν είναι έτοιμο ακόμη το φαγητό;! (I am so hungry, I could eat a horse! The food is not ready yet?!)
2. Των φρονίμων τα παιδιά, πριν πεινάσουν, μαγειρεύουν (= wise people’s children cook before they get hungry; wise people take precautions) Προσπαθώ να βάζω χρήματα στην άκρη για τα γεράματά μου. Όπως λέει και ο λαός: (I try to put aside money for my old age. As people say:) ‘Των φρονίμων τα παιδιά, πριν πεινάσουν, μαγειρεύουν’!
Published in
Greek Language & Culture
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Wednesday, 06 October 2021 07:00
How To Make The Perfect Cup Of Greek Coffee
Greek coffee is a strongly brewed coffee that can be found all over Greece, a staple of the Greek diet, and an integral part of the country's culture. According to studies, Greek coffee has major health benefits, going as far as to say that drinking a cup of Elliniko kafe a day can increase your lifespan!
To make Greek coffee, you'll need a briki, a metal (copper is best) pot with a long handle. Brikis come in many different sizes–anything between 2 and 6 cups is acceptable. However, keep in mind that if you're serving more than 6 cups at a time, you'll need to do it in stages.
To make Greek coffee, you'll need a briki, a metal (copper is best) pot with a long handle. Brikis come in many different sizes–anything between 2 and 6 cups is acceptable. However, keep in mind that if you're serving more than 6 cups at a time, you'll need to do it in stages.
What You'll Need
1. Greek Coffee
2. A briki
3. Water
4. Sugar
5. Demitasse cups
How To Make It
Step1: Take however many demitasse cups are needed and fill each with water. Then, pour the water from each cup into the briki. Add 1 heaping teaspoon of Greek coffee into the briki for each demitasse cup.
Step 2: Add sugar as needed: 1 teaspoon for metrios (medium) 2 for glykos (sweet)
Step 3: Put the briki on a gas burner and turn it on to medium-low heat.
Step 4: After a few minutes when it starts to get warm, continuously stir the mixture until it dissolves. Once all is dissolved, stop stirring.Continue to slowly heat and watch for the foam to rise and take it off right before it begins to boil. (This foam is called kaïmaki) and the richer the foam, the better the coffee.
Step 5: If it’s just one cup, pour and enjoy. However, if there is more than one, pour a little into each cup, then go back to the first, and fill up each cup to the top. The reason for this is that you spread the foam to each of the cups so it will be present in each person's coffee.
Sit back, relax, and enjoy your coffee!
Published in
Greek Food & Diet
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Monday, 06 February 2017 07:00
Piraeus Aims To Highlight Ancient History Via Pedestrian Walkway
A pedestrian walkway across Zea Marina in Piraeus is set to offer archaeology lovers a seaside stroll through time as it aims to connect wall fortifications, towers and ancient harbor finds.
The Culture Ministry has tabled a plan which has already received the approval of the Central Archaeological Council to establish a historic route that will highlight the port city’s ancient history and landmarks.
The walkway, which will include the Hellenic Maritime Museum, will bring all the main sites, findings, buildings, cisterns and parts of the famous Kononeio Wall together through wooden ramps, bridges and constructions aiming to offer visitors insight into the port city’s vast history.
To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Travel Pages
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Local News
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Tuesday, 23 May 2017 20:57
March 14 - Out & About In Athens
Discover the best places to visit in Athens with a list of top wine bars and a Sunday brunch along the Athenian Riviera!
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Newsletters
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Thursday, 10 August 2017 10:09
Athens Gets Its First Makerspace Workshop For Young Professionals
Millennials in Greece trying to enter the job market come up against countless closed doors. At the same time though, they are quite innovative and proving themselves capable of charting new paths.
This kind of thinking is what resulted in the first Makerspace in Athens. It is a small, communal workspace for young professionals who do not have the funds to rent or buy their own and equips them with modern and traditional tools.
Today, items made by professionals at Athens Makerspace adorn the windows of the workshop in the eastern Athens neighborhood of Kaisariani. There are colorful plastic figures made using a 3D printer and a wooden disc with the workshop’s imprint, carved with a CNC router and inspired by the Phaistos Disc. Walking through the door of the Athens Makerspace it becomes immediately clear you’ve entered a lively, cooperative place equipped with specialized tools for each craft.
To read this article in full, please visit: Ekathimerini
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Local News
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Tuesday, 06 February 2018 21:53
Get All Your BBQ Supplies Delivered To Your Doorstep
The big day for all meat lovers is almost here! Tsiknopempti is right around the corner and now is the time to stock up with all the necessary meats, vegetables, salad dressings, sodas and beverages you will need for one of the most important days devoted to BBQ in Greece (after Easter of course…).
Do you need to get all of your supplies fast, hassle-free and delivered to your doorstep?
Don't worry, it's easy! Open your laptop or tablet and log onto www.e-fresh.gr.
Don't worry, it's easy! Open your laptop or tablet and log onto www.e-fresh.gr.
e-Fresh.gr is the best online supermarket that delivers your groceries within hours to the whole of Attica from 7am to 11pm on weekdays and Saturdays. The minimum value of your order must be 25€ or more, and you can by cash, POS, credit cards, even PayPal. You choose the day and time of delivery and the people of e-Fresh.gr will take it from there.
So what will need for Tsiknopempti?
At e-Fresh.gr you’ll find a big selection of fresh or frozen meats of all kinds, sausages and more traditional selections. You can search for the best side dishes for your meat feast like Freskoulis salads and of course a huge selection of salad dressings. There is also an impressive variety of beer and soda, as well as wine and snacks.
So, forget about the hassle of running to a supermarket. Get on e-Fresh.gr, create your account, shop from the comfort of your own home, and get that BBQ grill fired up!
Published in
Local News
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Thursday, 28 March 2019 00:54
One Of The Most Recognizable Greek Songs Of All Time
Everyone knows that we Greeks love music; in joy and in sadness, we sing! And truth be told there’s a great number of music genres to accompany all moods and mind states. There’s folk songs, rebetika, laika, entexna (sophisticated music), as well as mainsteam music like pop & rock.
The two golden decades of the 50’s and 60’s produced great composers, distinguished performers, and some of the best Greek songs that were ever written.
Undeniably, one of the most recognizable Greek tunes worldwide is that of the song ‘Τα Παιδιά του Πειραιά’ (The Children of Piraeus). The song was first performed by Melina Merkouri, in Jule’s Dassin’s film ‘Never on Sunday’ and fascinated cinema & music lovers all over the world. Furthermore, this song earned Manos Hadjidakis an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1960. Since the 60’s ‘Τα Παιδιά του Πειραιά’ has been sung by various artists such as Nana Mouskouri, Pink Martini, and even Miss Piggy from the Muppet Show!
Discover more Greek songs that became international hits, here: omilo.com
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Greek Language & Culture
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