How many languages do you know that derive from Greek origin? There are actually hundreds, and to begin listing them would literally take up hours of our time.

However, there is one language we would be remiss not to mention. It is the one you are currently reading off this computer screen: English.

There are over fifty thousand English words that derive from the Greek language. Words like anchor, martyr, prophet chaos, photograph, and nectar. The list goes on and on.

But the rest of you out there who have grown up speaking both Greek and English on a regular basis, know very well that there are a handful of words in which North Americanized Greeks enjoy using in their everyday dialect. Heck, people in Greece are even speaking it. We use these words interchangeably, and sometimes even unknowingly. We mishmash English with Greek all the time, and in the end you get: Grenglish.

So with that being said, I now present to you a list of 10 popular Grenglish words that you may (or may not) know. Read their definitions, learn how to pronounce them, and find out the proper term.

Let's go!

GRENGLISH DEFINITION: to go from one place or position to another.

USED IN A SENTENCE: μουβάραμαι από ένα διαμέρισμα σε ένα σπίτι… we moved from an apartment to a house.

PROPER TERM: μετακινώ (mai-ta-kee-no)

GRENGLISH DEFINITION: a floor or stair covering made from thick woven fabric, typically shaped to fit a particular room.

USED IN A SENTENCE: Το καρπετο θελει καθαρισμα

PROPER TERM: χαλί (ha-lee)

GRENGLISH DEFINITION: a body of fresh or salt water (of considerable size), surrounded by land.

USED IN A SENTENCE: Πάμε για μπάνιο στο λαίκι… Let’s go swimming in the lake.

PROPER TERM: λίμνη (leem-nee)

GRENGLISH DEFINITION: to make an inquiry into, search through, etc.

USED IN A SENTENCE: τσεκάραμε τα αρχεία, αλλά το γράμμα έλειπε… we checked the files, but the letter was missing.

PROPER TERM: ελέγχω (eh-le-hoh)

GRENGLISH DEFINITION: an automobile. The real definition of kάρο is horse carriage in Greek.

USED IN A SENTENCE: Οδήγησα το κάρο μου στην δουλειά…  I drove my car to work.

PROPER TERM: αυτοκίνητο (af-toh-kee-nee-toh)

To read more, please visit: Greek Gateway

A 2015 circulating commemorative €2 coin from Greece marks the 75th anniversary of death of runner Spiridon “Spyros” Louis.

Louis was known for being the first marathon winner of the modern Olympic Games, the summer event conducted in Greece in 1896.

Many sports clubs in Greece and abroad still carry his name, as does the main stadium at the Athens Olympic Sports Complex, where the 2004 Summer Olympics were held.

Louis’ fame reached Hollywood, as well, as the 1962 Jayne Mansfield movie It Happened in Athens was a heavily fictionalized account of Louis and the marathon.

The coin is being issued during the third quarter of 2015, according to the announcement from the European Commission.

The coin design shows Louis and the cup that he was awarded, against the background with the Panathenaic Stadium. Inscribed along the inner center are legends in Greek detailing the country of issue and “In Memoriam of Spyros Louis.”

To read more, please visit: Pappas Post

In the beautiful and historic city of Athens where democracy was invented and many sciences were introduced for the first time, books have been a very important part of people’s everyday lives.

It is said that the first public library appeared in Greece by the 4th century BC. The philosopher Aristotle was among the first to put together a private collection of books and to have taught the kings of Egypt on how to arrange a library. It is interesting to also note that it is said that the first libraries were not buildings specially designed to house books, but that books were stored on shelves in dedicated rooms or warehouses, and reading took place outdoors while taking a walk or seated under a porch. (Source: History Magazine)

It goes without saying that books and libraries still have an important part in our daily lives. For this reason we have put together this list of libraries in Athens.

 

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Cervantes Institute Library Of Athens

Since 1991, with the founding of the Instituto Cervantes, the library is the basic information and documentation center in Greece on matters relating to the Spanish Language and Culture.

The library offers modern facilities, over 26,000 publications, 34 reading seats, and 6 computers. Access to the Library is free. 

In order to be able to borrow books and use the internet visitors must hold a library member card. To issue a member card, applicants must provide the Cervantes Institute with details (name, address, phone, and e-mail), proof of identity, and pay the corresponding price.

Telephone: 210 3634117

Italian Cultural Institute

The library of the Italian Cultural Institute opened to the public in 2007. The library offers books related to literature, cinema, theater, linguistics, music, history, politics, journalism. It is available to readers some of the major Italian magazines and newspapers.

In order for someone to borrow books, they need to become a member. Membership is open to everyone residing in Athens by showing their identity card or their residence permit. Each member can borrow two books at a time.

Address: 47 28is Oktovriou (Patission), Athens, 104 33

 

 

National Βοοκ Centre Of Greece

A private non-profit entity established in 1994 by the Ministry of Culture to implement national policy to promote books. Publishers, authors, translators, librarians and booksellers are all involved in decision-making and work closely to achieve the centre’s objectives. EKEBI is subsidised by the Ministry of Culture.

Its objective is to play a coordinating role among these players, to create new structures to support books, to offer information and support the players involved, to record new developments in the sector, and to make a substantive contribution to establishing a friendly environment for people from the world of books.

 

 

Photo Credit: @EBE_Theophilos Gerontopoulos

 

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I visited 2 places this past week that I liked a lot, one that’s brand new and one that’s been around for more than 10 years. These are each very different places – and very different spaces – and I enjoyed them both, for different reasons.

 

Last Saturday night, I had a couple friends in town attending a medical conference (yes, apparently there are lots of these in Athens), staying at the Hilton. We decided to meet for dinner at Agora Select, which is literally behind the hotel. The area around the Hilton has numerous restaurants and night spots – including places like Cookoovaya and Pulitzer… This is not exactly a ‘cheap and cheerful’ neighbourhood, but has a number of nice choices for when your local taverna just won’t do.

 

Agora Select is a busy Greek restaurant – with an ‘upper class’ vibe and a relaxed Athenian elegance in the décor.  I had called several hours ahead to reserve a table for 5 people – and was told that there was in fact only 1 table left. Yes, there are many restaurants in Athens that are completely booked on a Saturday night… Definitely call ahead. If I’m being honest, the space itself was not so interesting – very clean and well kept, but on the ‘classic’ side for my taste. However, I quickly discovered that people go to Agora Select for two tings – the super-professional service and the delicious Greek (and non-Greek!) food. There is an extensive menu at this place (also available to view online), offering large portions, delicious plates and surprisingly reasonable prices, considering location and clientele. The food is not ‘fussy’ – but more like really well done Greek food. A pleasant surprise.

 

K8 Point is on the opposite end of scale in terms of design and vibe. This is a carefully decorated, dramatically beautiful, decidedly cool space. Only recently opened, K8 is envisioned as an ‘all day/all night’ venue, for morning coffees, lunch or dinner, and drinks into the wee hours. With its multiple spaces perfectly set-up for all kinds of fun, they have numerous events and parties planned, they are sure to become a new favourite in the city.

 

K8 is an older structure that was originally a horse stables, and around 1880 became an inn. In recent years it was abandoned and left to fade into the background of the lower Ermou Street chaos… Today, the place has been transformed into an architectural masterpiece of exposed brick, original arches, wood, glass, graffiti and modern art. If you love unique spaces as I do, K8 is for you. Apart from this, the menu looks equally ‘curated’, an interesting take on modern Greek fare. Great drinks list too.  I must admit I only stopped in for a coffee – but you can be sure I will be back.

 

Athens, you never stop surprising me! There is life in you yet…

 

Until next week,

 

Jack

 

Ermou 119 & Astiggos

+30 21 0331 5407

 

Chatzigianni Mexi 8 & Ventiri 9

+30 210 72 52 252,

Parents are often asking where the best places are to show their children the experience of fall. Many expat parents remember those September and October autumn days in their home countries with colored leaves, chestnuts and walks in the forests. And the general idea is that this is something one can only find in Greece’s countryside, but not in Athens. Yet, there are many places in and around the city that can give you that autumn feeling. Family Goes Out shows us one of them:

On a warm Sunday morning in September, my friend Sofia invited me and the girls to drink a coffee near Kapandriti.  Kapandriti is situated in the green corner of North Attika,  37 km from Syntagma square. Sofia said that she knew a ‘small paradise’, a picnic place where the children would be able to play in the forest and we would be able to watch them and relax.

When we got there, I could not agree more with my friend. This place is indeed a small paradise.

It is called Kioski and is actually just a kiosk on the side of the mountain road in between the villages of Kapandriti and Varnava. The kiosk is surrounded by oak and chestnut trees and there are picnic tables and a hammock around. Behind the kiosk is a steep staircase carved in the mountain that leads to an exciting river. The river was almost dry in this period of the year but has lots of water in the winter time. A wooden bridge leads across the river and can be the start of a beautiful hike. The kiosk serves coffee, (alcoholic) drinks, small snacks like toast, crisps and ice cream and some freshly prepared mezedes. There is a mobile bathroom near the kiosk and there is a small parking area.

The children played in the sand near our table whilst we had our coffee. Later they climbed down to the river and played around the water. The water was only a few centimeters high and because all of our children can swim, I did not worry. A romantic wooden bridge took them to the other side of the river and they had fun throwing stones in the water. Later on, they relaxed in the Kioski hammock, climbed in trees and collected stones and leaves. We ordered lunch and the children had ice cream. We had a lovely morning.

To read more, please visit: Family Goes Out

There has been more written about Christopher Columbus than about any person with the exception of Jesus Christ, and yet his past has been shrouded in mystery. We all have been told that he came from Genoa, a city in Italy and sailed for Isabella and Ferdinand, the king and queen of Spain, after many years of trying to convince them that the world was round, a belief that was uncommon despite the fact that Aristotle had said it over a thousand years before.

Most of what we know about Columbus is conjecture and much of his history was written by people who never knew him or had reasons of their own for rewriting or presenting as truth something that was just a theory. The story of his being the son of a woolworker from Genoa for example only came from the fact that there was someone named Columbus from Genoa who was a wool worker and is a legend attributed to Peter Martyr de Anghiera. Go to Genoa and you will see that there are monuments and a show of pride in it being the birthplace of Columbus.

There is a book called, 'A New Theory Clarifying The Identity Of Christoper Columbus: A Byzantine Prince From Chios, Greece' written by Ruth G Durlacher-Wolper, the founder and the director of the New World Museum and the New World Foundation in San Salvador, Bahamas, where Columbus' ships first landed in 1492.

The book is carefully researched and after reading it even if you are not convinced you will certainly be less sure that all you knew before was the truth. For those of you who remember your Byzantine history, you may recall that the Paleologos Dynasty were the Byzantine Emperors who traced their descendants to the Royal House of David and fled to the west after the fall of Constantinople. According to the book, Columbus and his kinsman Colon-the-Younger came to France with the Paleologi and mixed with the royalty of the period, which would make sense. Why would the King and Queen of Spain give him three ships and a lot of money if he was the son of a Genovese woolworker?

Columbus never said he was from Genoa. He said he was from the Republic of Genoa, something much different. The island of Chios was part of the Republic of Genoa. The name Columbus is carved above many doors in the villages of Pirgi and Cimbori and a priest with that last name traces his ancestry on the island back over 600 years. There are also many Genovese families who trace their ancestry back to Chios. Columbus also wrote about the gum-mastic called mastika which comes only from Chios.

The book presents many convincing arguments and in the end summarizes them with 22 facts contributing to the clarification of Columbus' identity. Among the most interesting are:

Columbus' signature "Xro-Ferens" Christophoros is Greek-Latin or Byzantine.

Columbus spelled Chios with a Greek 'X'.

Columbus named Cape Maysi in Cuba using Greek words, Alpha and Omega.

The Colombo family of Genoa were illiterate and the Genovese Christophoro was a woolweaver. For this person to acquire the learning, experience and spirituality that Columbus had that could convince a foreign king and queen to entrust a small navy and a fortune to him doesn't seem probable. Maybe in twentieth century America a poor son of a common garment worker can grow up to become president but in the Europe of the 15th century it is unlikely he could make Captain, much less Admiral in command of a fleet. It is more likely that for Columbus to have received an audience with a king and queen he would have to be royal himself or have some pretty good connections.

Columbus' son Ferdinand wrote that his ancestors have always followed the sea. Unless the Columbo family of Genoa had a long history of being ships tailors or official shearers of sea-sheep then they were not related. In fact even though they were living in Genoa at the time that Ferdinand was writing about his father, they are not mentioned. Nor are they mentioned in the Will of Columbus.

For more on this interesting topic, please visit: GreeceTravel

We've had a difficult time turning up a copy of the book online, but have found a link on Amazon UK. You may also contact the publisher: John Perikos - Kallimassia - Chios 8210 - Greece.

TripAdvisor, one of the largest travel sites, has announced its Travellers’ Choice™ awards for museums around the world in September 2015.

Award winners were determined using an algorithm that took into account the quantity and quality of reviews for museums around the world, gathered over a 12-month period. The Acropolis Museum in Athens, Greece is among the best museums ranked 11th in the world and 8th in Europe attracting hundreds of tourists every year and receiving great reviews.

To read more, please visit: Parthenon UK

For a complete list of the top 25, visit Trip Advisor

Every person arriving in Athens Airport, probably recognizes the place name “Elefsina”! From the moment you leave the airport by car, bus or taxi, you see that all directions on the highway point to “Elefsina”! A very known name for every Greek, but not that known for tourists. So especially for you, here is the story of Elefsina.

Elefsina is located only 20 kilometers away from Athens.  It is certainly a place you would have heard of had you lived in ancient times. People all the way from Asia and Eastern Africa made the pilgrimage to participate in the Great Mysteries of the Goddesses Demeter and Persephone.

In the antiquity Elefsina, together with Athens, Olympia, Delphi and Delos formed the 5 sacred cities. In ancient times, and for 2000 years, Elefsina was connected with the cult of the goddess Demeter and her daughter Persephone. There was the festival of the Elefsinian mysteries, which were celebrations in honor of the goddess Demeter and her daughter, who was the goddess of spring and Queen of the Underworld.

The goddess Demeter (Dimitra) was one of the twelve gods who lived on Mount Olympus. She was the goddess of earth and agriculture. It was Demeter who taught the people how to cultivate the land. Demeter was the daughter of Cronus and Rhea and sister of Zeus. With Zeus she had a daughter, Persephone.

When Pluto, god of the Underworld, snatched Persephone, Demeter wandered the earth searching for her daughter, until she found her in Elefsina. There the king of Eleusis (Elefsina), Keleus, hosted her and in return she established the Elefsinian Mysteries, the most important festival of antiquity.

Even today, we know little about the ceremonies and events during their celebration. At the end of the 4th century AD the Festival declines, the sanctuary turned into ruins and the cult was abandoned.

Years of religious conflict, war, and looting foreigners destroyed the area of its greatness, and now it’s a strange mystical place situated just above an industrial shipyard.  However, on the archaeological site of Elefsina, we can travel mentally to the time when the Mysteries had taken nationwide character. It is a place worth visiting, with a great archaeological museum, that no one ever sees.

The archaeologist investigating an ancient Greek tomb from the era of Alexander the Great has suggested it was a funeral shrine for his closest friend Hephaestion.

Greeks have been enthralled for months by the mystery surrounding the Amphipolis monument. Now, Katerina Peristeri has revealed that fragmentary inscriptions link the tomb to Hephaestion.

Hephaestion died less than a year before the Macedonian leader. After his death in 325BC, Alexander was said to have ordered that shrines be constructed throughout the empire.

Ms Peristeri's team believe the site at Amphipolis may have been designed by one of two architects, Dinocrates or Stesicrates, and built by Antigonus, another of Alexander's generals.

They also believe that tiny inscriptions found at the site show Hephaestion's monogram (two initials from his name).

However, not everyone was convinced by the team's revelations. 

Prof Panayiotis Faklaris of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki told Greek radio on Thursday that there was no indication that the tomb had any connection to Hephaestion or that Alexander had ordered it to be constructed.

There had earlier been speculation that the tomb may be linked to Alexander the Great's mother Olympias or his wife Roxana.

And earlier this year, bones were recovered at the site that belonged to at least five individuals including an elderly woman, a newborn child and two men, one of whom had been stabbed.

To read more, please visit: The BBC

Warm and generous, Thessaloniki is at the same time historic and avant-garde: the second largest city in Greece, ideal for a city break, a mosaic of cultures and fascinating holiday moments.

Located in Macedonia, Northern Greece, there is a city unlike anywhere else in Greece. Thessaloniki is a sprawling urban centre, a cultural melting pot, where dreams, ideas, visions and trends percolate in an alternative, avant garde scene. Its history is written upon everything you see: the Thermaic Gulf, the White Tower, Nikis Avenue, Aristotelous Square, Mitropoleos Avenue, Tsimiski Avenue, Ladadika, Modiano Market, Bit Bazaar and the Old City.

For thousands of years, this northern port-town has been a meeting point for people of different cultures. Impressive attractions, cafes, bars, traditional tavernas, gourmet restaurants, a lively nightlife – you’ll find everything here in Thessaloniki, the beautiful ‘bride of the Thermaic Gulf’.

Trace the civilizations and peoples that have left their mark on this great city of Thessaloniki. The Palace, the Triumphal Arch and the impressive Rotunda offer an insight into to the reign of emperor Galerius Maximilianos (early 4th century) and formed the city’s administrative and religious centre in Roman times. Or the Jewish Museum, in an elegant listed building of 1904 on Agiou Mina Street, recreating the life of the Jewish community in pre-War Salonica and its subsequent extermination by the Nazis. Finally, don’t forget to visit the former home of Kemal Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey.

Or wander the narrow lanes of Ano Poli, one of the oldest districts of Thessaloniki, above the modern town. There you’ll admire the numerous attractions, most of which are castles and religious monuments: the Trigoniou Tower, with its amazing view and the Eptapyrgio fortifications, Ottoman monuments, the Vlatades monastery and the Byzantine churches of Osios David and Agios Nikolaos Orfanos. This is the most unspoilt district of the old city. And let’s not forget, of course, the iconic 16th century White Tower, by Aristotelous Square in the city centre.

To learn more about Thessaloniki, please visit: Discover Greece