Andros is mountainous and it is criss-crossed with a number of mountain ridges. All of these ridges run parallel to one another from southwest to northeast. Between the ridges there are deep valleys and sometimes steep gorges. The highest summits are the Kouvára (with the Profítis Ilías at 997 m) and the Pétalo (990 m), in the centre of the island, between the towns of Ano Aprovátou and Vourkotí. Because of this relief the north-south connections on the island are rather difficult. Except for the main coastal road, most of the roads thus run into the valleys, from the southwest of the island to the northeast.
Andros is a unique island for a number of different reasons. First of all, in comparison with many of the other Cycladic isles, there is a lot of water – and this thanks to the relative high amount of rainfall and the multitude of sources. As a result, some of the valleys are remarkably green. Especially the pine tree dominates the landscape (for instance in the neighbourhood of Ménites). There are also lots of remnants of watermills in the valleys of the Dipotámata (between the towns of Exo Vouní and Sinetí), in the valley of the Mégalo Révma (in the north), etc.
The second remarkable characteristic is the architecture of some of the villages, which is not really Cycladic. Andros is a very wealthy island and this is partly the result of generations of ship owners. The villages of Chóra and Steniés are therefore striking because of the large and wealthy houses. The red roofs resemble the Italian cities and also some Greek islands such as the island of Sími near Rhódos.
To read more, please visit cycladen.be
WELLNESS HUB
XpatAthens
Saturday, 07 February 2015 13:28
Hopscotch International Kindergarten
Established in 1997, Hopscotch International Kindergaten is located in a quiet area of Vari behind Jumbo, surrounded by 1000 square metres of garden. We are a dedicated English speaking Nursery and Kindergarten. With our open door policy and small groups, we offer a warm and welcoming environment for children and parents alike. We accept children from the age of two and offer a fun packed, full, activity based day, either on a full time or a part time basis and we accept registrations throughout the year.
By following the British Early Years Foundation Programme, we fully prepare our reception/kindergarten children for entry into all the English speaking schools' first grades.
If you would like to experience our unique environment for yourself, please feel free to call and make an appointment.
Contact: Helena Scott
Published in
Private Nursery Schools
Tagged under
Wednesday, 18 February 2015 12:48
Andros
Andros is the northern- most island of the Cycladic isles. The islands of Kéa, Kýthnos, Sérifos and Sífnos can be seen as a natural continuation in the sea of the peninsula of Attika; in the same way, the nearby islands of Andros, Tínos and Mýkonos can be seen as the foothills of the mountain ridge of the island of Evia (Euboia).
Published in
Travel Greece
Tagged under
Thursday, 19 February 2015 14:05
Thousands On The Streets Against EU Austerity
Under the organizing title "Breath of Dignity", standing in front of parliament, protesters unfurled banners reading "Bankrupt but Free" and "Stop Austerity, Support Greece, Change Europe." Satellite demonstrations took place in Brussels, at the European Central Bank in Frankfurt, in Venice and elsewhere in Europe.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras tweeted a picture of the Athens protest, saying: "In the cities of Greece and Europe the people are fighting the negotiation battle, They are our strength."
Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis was attending a meeting of his euro zone peers in Brussels to press for a new debt deal and an end to many of the tough reforms required by the bailout deal.
Protesters in Athens singled out German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has led demands for Athens to keep promises made by the last conservative-led government under the deal.
To read more, please visit thetoc.gr/eng
By Theo Ioannou
Published in
Local News
Tagged under
Wednesday, 29 April 2015 09:53
Good News For Greek Olive Oil
Warehouse wholesale company Costco has switched the sourcing of the extra virgin olive oil that goes into its Kirkland Signature 2-liter bottle from Italian sources, to providers from Greece.
This is good news for providers in Greece who have felt the punch of the financial crisis and even better news for the recognition Greek olive oil deserves.
The move across the Ionian Sea comes amid an apocalyptic season for Italy’s olive groves. A hot spring, a rainy summer and a pesky olive-eating fly conspired to create what Italian daily La Repubblica called “the black year of Italian olive oil.”
Production in Italy is expected to drop 34 percent this year, according to the International Olive Oil Council.
Prices have gone up accordingly: Italian extra-virgin olive oil in March was sold by producers for about $2.97 a pound, 84 percent more than a year earlier, according to the council.
For Costco, the reasoning appears to be purely financial— and not because Greek olive oil is far superior to its Italian counterpart. That drastic price hike must have been tough to swallow for the company that’s always looking for a good deal.
Costco Chief Financial Officer Richard Galanti said the availability of the extra-virgin olive oil Costco usually purchases from Italy is down to one-tenth of the normal level.
To read more, please visit: PappasPost
Published in
Local News
Tagged under
Friday, 27 November 2015 07:00
Yussuroum, A Slang Term That Hides Fragments Of History
The stories about Athens and its people are endless. Many of them have faded from memory over time. Others are remembered in fragments that come together at some point for the story to be told. The case of the Yussuroum family is one such Athenian tale. As charming as it is distant, the family name has retained its currency in everyday usage: Yussuroum (also rendered as giousouroum) in Greek has come to mean flea market.
The Athens Jewish community held an event in October in honor of Mois Yussuroum, aged 95, for his voluntary service over the decades. A garden in the community’s synagogue was named after the benefactor and the event, held on the initiative of the Jewish Museum in Athens and the Jewish community, was an occasion to bring back to light the history of the Yussuroum family.
While many Greeks use the term yussuroum when referring to a flea market, few know that it stems from this family and, in particular, from the antique market it created in the Jewish quarter of central Athens. Mois Yussuroum is the descendant of a long line of successful merchants with a presence in Athens. The Yussuroum home on Karaiskaki and Ermou streets was located in the middle of the city center’s commercial district and also housed the capital’s first synagogue. This was the heart of the Jewish quarter, which lay between Aghion Asomaton Square, Sarri and Ermou streets.
To read more, please visit: Ekathimerini
Published in
People
Tagged under
Tuesday, 20 February 2018 07:00
How To Have An Enjoyable, Memorable, & Educational Family Trip In Greece
For those families who live in the Diaspora, trips back to Greece are often a favourite family tradition. Many families will have a particular time of the year (for example Greek summer or Greek Easter) when they like to go back to Greece to visit their ancestral village or town, usually staying with relatives. Sometimes the extended family will go elsewhere in Greece together, such as one of the beautiful Greek islands, so that everyone can have some relaxing time away from work and routine. The common ingredient, regardless of family, destination or time of year, is quality time spent as a family, enjoying one another’s company and building precious lifelong memories.
Many parents like to turn the family holiday into an exciting opportunity for their children to explore their cultural heritage. Living in the Diaspora, our kids will most certainly already have a “taste” of their heritage and language, often by participating in events within the Greek community, and socialising with other Greek families. However, when visiting Greece on holiday, kids will discover many differences, and even more similarities, between their own life, and that of their peers who live in Greece. Visiting the country of birth of their parents or grandparents offers them an appreciation and connection to their own heritage. They will begin to form a deeper understanding of many of your family traditions and celebrations they witness in the Diaspora, and these will take on a whole new meaning when they return home. It is certainly a new feeling to enjoy Greek Easter with the entire town and country, than it is with only a small group of others back home – when most of their classmates eat their chocolate eggs on a different weekend altogether!
There are lots of fun and age-appropriate ways to help your child make the most of his/her holiday back to Greece. Firstly, prepare in advance by showing children pictures and discussing your destination. Talk about the sites you will visit back home and why they are special, such as the house you were raised in, or a cultural landmark in your town. Show them photos of their relatives that you will visit, as well as any family friends, and explain the family connection. If Greek isn’t already spoken at home, your child will get a real buzz out of learning, and then trying out, a few key Greek phrases when they arrive. Start with the basic greetings, and depending on your child’s interest and ability, introduce him/her to more words and phrases as the holiday draws closer. You can also purchase colourful activity books aimed at kids to assist the process, such as ‘Trip to Greece’, which features an interesting narrative in English, and Greek keywords to practise and learn. Each page offers multiple fun opportunities for your child to hear, speak, read and write Greek.
When planning your travel itinerary, it’s always a good idea to include plenty of child-friendly activities, as most kids will find long days of visiting monuments and museums, as well as relentless visits to aging relatives, quite tiring. They will get more enjoyment out of the trip (and learn more too) if you spread out your cultural visits over the duration of the holiday. And of course, they will always have more fun during visits to relatives and family friends who happen to have kids around the same age. It is certainly important that kids do visit and spend time with their older relatives too – but, depending on your child’s age, consider bringing along some games or activities for when their attention span during the visit starts to wear out.
Make sure to include some unscheduled time too. An agenda that is too full unfortunately eliminates opportunities for those unplanned adventures that so often are the highlights of the entire holiday. Leave plenty of time to explore at leisure, or simply enjoying relaxing in your relatives’ home. Remember that children are fascinated by the small things – they will spend hours absorbed in exploring the kitsch souvenirs at Monastiraki or watching the Evzones guarding the tomb of the unknown soldier, chasing pigeons, tasting gioconda chocolates while visiting, or eating vanilla fondant by the spoonful!
As many of us have experienced, when travelling overseas, not everything always goes to plan. Museums or attractions you had planned to visit may be closed, or bad weather may force you to cancel some excursions you were hoping to make. Travelling with kids just adds to the unpredictability of the holiday. However, don’t see this as a deterrent. Leave some room in your holiday schedule for some spontaneity, and (depending on their age) let your kids decide on some of the activities you do together. Often, the things that you didn’t plan turn out to be the most memorable.
Enjoy your family holiday – these memories are the most precious and the building blocks of your family. Hopefully your trip back to Greece will awaken your child’s curiosity and interest in his/her cultural heritage, and the desire to learn Greek more fluently for the next visit!
For more information about the author and her children's books, please visit: Melina Mallos
For more information about the author and her children's books, please visit: Melina Mallos
Published in
Kids Life
Tagged under
Tuesday, 23 May 2017 23:09
May 16 - Spring Is In Full Swing
Discover 10 things to do on a Sunday in Athens, restaurants that are ideal for perfect nights out with the kids, and outdoor cinemas in the city that offer movie-goers the chance to sit back, relax and enjoy a show under the stars.
Please click HERE to view this issue of our newsletter!
Remember to stay connected with us through our weekly newsletter, Facebook, and Twitter!
Published in
Newsletters
Tagged under
Monday, 04 May 2020 22:05
Amazing Greece In 2 Minutes
Despite the recent lockdown, the travel restrictions, and the blow to the Greek economy, it's only a matter of time until our country comes back stronger and even more colorful. Soon we will be able to enjoy Greece's great beauty in real life, united with our loved ones.
Until things settle back to normal, let us virtually travel to Greece with this stunning 2-minute video that showcases some of its most beautiful locations!
Published in
Videos
Tagged under
Monday, 23 November 2020 16:36
Dancing The Kalamatianos!
Greeks Definitely Love Dancing!
Greek dances are very important in Greek culture and there is an amazing variety. The music, the pace, the steps can vary depending on the area in Greece. However, there are some dances that are danced all over Greece and almost every Greek knows to dance. This is, because they usually also learn some dances during their gymnastic lesson in primary school, and Kalamatianos is one of them.
The Origin
The Kalamatianos is a popular dance, often referred to as ”sirtos”. Its roots are lost back in antiquity: on ancient vases, we can see dancers dancing like in the Kalamatianos, and there are ancient inscriptions referring to the “sirtos” dances.
The name “Kalamatianos” indicates its modern origin from the Peloponnese (Kalamata: city in south Peloponnese). Thanks to the cheerful music and its pleasant rhythm, the dance was introduced throughout Greece with several variations.
The Steps
This dance is danced by both men and women. The dancers dance in a circle. The first person in the row can improvise and make figures. He/she often holds a white scarf in his/her right hand.
The dance has 12 steps. Depending on the area there are small variations, e.g. the way you cross your legs. The steps may seem to be a lot, but the most important thing is to keep up with the rhythm of the music. Even if you do not know the steps, do not hesitate to enter the circle and follow the rhythm of the other dances. Do not worry if it goes wrong, the goal is to have a good time!
The Music
The music that accompanies the Kalamatianos is usually cheerful and the pace varies depending on the area. So sometimes the rhythm of the music is very fast and therefore the circle moves quickly, and in other areas, the music has a much slower pace, and you will have more time to adjust your steps and learn it more easily! Click here for an example of foreigners dancing the Kalamatianos in Greece.
The most representative song is the ” Mantili Kalamatiano” (=scarf made in Kalamata), where the singer asks her beloved to bring her a silk scarf as a sign of his love on his way back from Kalamata (Kalamata was known for producing silk scarves of high quality). Listen to the song, here.
The Village Feasts – Πανηγύρια
During summer, feasts with live music are organized in many villages, accompanied with food, drinks and many hours of dance. If you are lucky, and you are on the right place, the right moment, do not hesitate to join the circle, trying your dancing steps. If you prefer to
just “observe”, that is also a great experience. Click here to see one of my experiences on the island of Skiros, where I joined the circle together with our daughter.
If you also love Greek music and dance, then feel free to download my free eBook, on the masaresi.com webpage!
This content was originally posted on masaresi.com
About MASARESI
Masaresi.com was founded by Maya Cornelissens-Andreadi, who shares her experience about how “to integrate in Greece and feel like a local”. Masaresi = μας αρέσει = we like it! Discover the “real Greece," while delving into all the aspects of Greek life – from modern lifestyle and culture to history, literature, traditions, and many more.
Explore Greece - Read About Greece - Buy Greek - Learn Greek
Published in
Greek Language & Culture
Tagged under
Tuesday, 23 August 2022 14:16
Bolivar Beach Club
The magical Bolivar Beach Club welcomes you all hours of the day at the organized beach “Akti tou Iliou” in Poseidonos Avenue, Alimos. It is one of the most popular destinations in Athens located a few kilometers from the city center. It stands out for its tropical style, exquisite menu, impressive parties, as well as its exotic sandy beach!
In the kitchen of Bolivar, you will find Aris Jalal, from 9 am until midnight, the talented Iranian chef who loves Mediterranean flavors. The menu includes delicious dishes that will fill you up, made with the freshest and highest quality ingredients.
The beach scenery is extremely exotic: A combination of white sand with gravel, beautiful palm trees, shady trees and green spaces, comfortable sunbeds, and crystal clear blue waters…
The beach scenery is extremely exotic: A combination of white sand with gravel, beautiful palm trees, shady trees and green spaces, comfortable sunbeds, and crystal clear blue waters…
The Bolivar Beach Club is sun, sand, music, and of course fun!
An all-star cast of special guests, international DJs, famous dancers, and super fans from all around the world are gathering to pump the adrenaline to the max!
Superstars like Solomun, Tale of Us, Boris Brejcha, Nina Kravitz, Deborah de Luca, Paul Oakenfold, John Digweed, Sasha, Dennis Ferrer, Guy Gerber and many more, mixing on the unique tropical space, offer an extremely powerful and memorable party experience.
An all-star cast of special guests, international DJs, famous dancers, and super fans from all around the world are gathering to pump the adrenaline to the max!
Superstars like Solomun, Tale of Us, Boris Brejcha, Nina Kravitz, Deborah de Luca, Paul Oakenfold, John Digweed, Sasha, Dennis Ferrer, Guy Gerber and many more, mixing on the unique tropical space, offer an extremely powerful and memorable party experience.
This year Bolivar celebrates its 18th year by organizing explosive parties with an awesome lineup of renowned artists for all tastes!
Bonus the fantastic cocktails: The specialized staff of Bolivar is highly trained to prepare a selection of cocktails and innovative blends for you. You will also find a wide variety of drinks and beers.
Undoubtedly, Bolivar is a timeless value on the dance scene in Greece and knows how to create magical days and nights for everyone!
Check out their upcoming events HERE!
Check out their upcoming events HERE!
Published in
City Venues
Tagged under
