XpatAthens
Unforgettable Olympic Tales: Triumphs, Heroes & Resilience
From groundbreaking milestones to incredible displays of resilience and determination, here are some of the most wow facts about the Olympic Games that will leave you in awe!
In the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Greek hurdler Voula Patoulidou etched her name into Olympic history with a stunning upset victory in the women's 100-meter hurdles. Against formidable competition, including reigning champion Gail Devers of the United States, Patoulidou surged ahead in the final meters to claim gold, becoming the first Greek woman to win an Olympic track and field title. Her triumph sparked jubilant celebrations across Greece, inspiring a new generation of athletes and solidifying her status as a national hero.
The Athens Singers
Areopolis
The town is of great historic importance to Greece as it was here that the war for independence against 350 years of Turkish occupation began. On 17th March 1821, a banner was raised and allegiance sworn under the motto “Victory or Death” by the various Maniat clan leaders assembled. They then marched to Kardamyli and on to Kalamata. The seven-year struggle had begun. In recognition of this role, the town was renamed Areopolis after Ares, the god of war, in 1836.
Previously it had been known by its Slavic name, Tsimova.
In the last decade Areopolis has seen something of a boom. The central square, dominated by a statue of Petrobey Mavromichalis, has been repaved, a new police station and town hall built, a number of new bars and cafes have opened along with hotels to accommodate visitors and on the outskirts of the town are a number of recently built, huge stone shops and supply yards. However it has by no means lost its quality of an atmospheric gateway into Mesa Mani and no tour of Mani is complete without stopping here. At the very least it warrants a coffee stop or lunch. The main square is the centre of life in the town and is a great place to ‘people watch’.
There is a market every Saturday, mainly selling fruit and vegetables, turning the square into a hive of activity. However, Areopolis deserves a little more time. Its narrow alleys and cobbled streets are a photographer’s dream and, being a historic town, there are a number of places worth visiting. There is a great bookshop on the square, next to the cake shop. Its owner, Georgios, is a real Mani enthusiast and has a good stock of maps, books and recently a DVD as well as his own Mani magazine (in Greek). A Byzantine museum is located in the restored tower next to the church of Ioannis O Prodromos. It promises to ensure that local treasures housed in locked churches will now be on permanent display beyond the grasp of unscrupulous thieves.
By following the map out of Areopolis on the road to Omales, it is possible to walk down to the pebbly beach of Pyrgos and then on the caves of Pyrgos Dirou. Once you come to the T-junction marked on the map of Areopolis, simply turn left and follow the road all the way down to the beach. The concrete gives way to a dirt road and as you near the sea, it swings right. To get to the beach you have to hop over the wall by the house and walk down some steps to get on to the rocks. You will see steps ahead of you on the other side of a very small beach that bring you out onto the tarmac road to the beach. It should take just over an hour to here from town. There is no café on the beach so you will need to take plenty of water. It is also possible to cut across the small headland at the far end of the beach to get to the caves of Pyrgos Dirou. An earth path runs around the back of the concrete hut – simply follow it for 5 minutes to get to the caves. The ticket office is 100m up the road.
Source: Insidemani.gr
Icy Weather All Over Greece
Snow has interrupted traffic on the Kastoria-Florina and Florina-Kastoria provincial road network via Vitsi, while motorists on the Arnissa-Vorra Pellas sky resort are advised to use snow chains.
Snow is falling on the mountains in northern Greece and in Thessaly, in the central part of the country, with temperatures around 0 degrees Celsius.
According to forecasts, the bad weather will continue until Tuesday with heavy snowfall and low temperatures in the eastern and northern parts of the country, especially at higher altitudes.
Snow is expected in the Attica region as well, with the surrounding mountains Pendeli, Parnitha and Immitos already turning white.
To read more, please visit thetoc.gr/eng
Greek Spinach & Feta Quesadillas By The Greek Glutton
Top 5 Things To Do In Greece In Winter
Just a stone’s throw from Athens, the Peloponnese offers some of Greece’s most accessible, beautiful country lanes lined by stone walls and olive groves, and ancient sites spanning eons. Make a base in Nafplio, the charming seaside Venetian city topped by a fortress. Its tiny streets are lined with creative craft shops and boutique hotels, while Fougaro cultural centre hosts a winter program of arts and musical events.
To read more, please visit: Lonely Planet
Greece Hoists Blue Flags At 430 Beaches Countrywide
For an interactive map of all the beaches and to learn more about the Blue Flag, please visit: Blue Flag
Kostarelos Cheesemakers
To read this article in full, please visit: Living Postcards
May 9 - News, Events & Destinations
Crete was chosen as 3rd most important place in the world by TIME Magazine, 12 Romantic Destinations for perfect getaways and a series of short videos that reveal the true beauty of Greece!
Please click HERE to view this issue of our newsletter!
Remember to stay connected with us through our weekly newsletter, Facebook, and Twitter!
Yorgos Lanthimos's Film 'The Favourite' Receives The Most BAFTA Nominations
