XpatAthens
Watch The Full Moon Rise Over Athens' Cape Sounion
February 6th - It's Carnival Season In Greece!
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Perivolas Hotel In Santorini Among The Best In The World
‘There are plenty of hotels on Santorini with giddying views—the most desirable places to stay teeter on the rim of a 300-meter cliff that plunges into the flooded volcanic caldera. But none have the spare, ethereal bone structure of Perivolas. Rooms are sculpted from brushed concrete, pressed into arched doorways and barreled ceilings with the builders’ bare hands. Bright hits of pink and purple—a sprig of bougainvillea, a heap of floor cushions—bring the cool white interiors and black volcanic walls into sharper focus. This fierce purity defines every detail at Perivolas, a family dream that materialized in the early 1980s and is still run with great passion and precision by the Psychas clan. The line-up here is scant but special: a hushed restaurant beside a pool almost indistinguishable from the blue horizon, where the chef cures, smokes, and ferments local ingredients into artful yet unfussy dishes; and a small, soulful spa streaming with natural light. It takes confidence to leave so much out of a five-star hotel, but Perivolas defines luxury differently than most hotels on the island—or anywhere else for that matter. One of the things that draws devotees back season after season is the fact that time seems to stand still here. Sure, discreet additions might appear, such as the purpose-built gym, lap pool, and yoga studio last year. But while the rest of Santorini is engaged in an unseemly scrum for more tourist dollars, life at Perivolas remains blissfully unhurried, unflashy and yes, unspoiled.’
To read the Gold List in full, please visit: Condé Nast Traveler
Photo Credit: Perivolas Hotel
Useful Greek Words That You Really Need To Know
Yia Sou
Possibly the most essential Greek phrase, and one of the most common Greek greetings, 'yia sou' [jaː su] is an informal way of saying 'hello.' What your Greek phrasebook probably won't tell you, is that 'yia' is a shorter version of 'iyia' [ijiːa], which means 'health' in Greek. By saying 'yia sou' you are greeting people by literally wishing them good health!
Ela
Ela is a Greek word with multiple meanings; It means 'come' or 'come on,' but Greeks also use it to casually answer the phone–given they know who is calling. By saying 'ela' they are not inviting the caller to come over; it is more of a way to acknowledge the caller and adding a friendly note to the phonecall.
Meraki
'Meraki' is one of the most beautiful Greek words; it means doing something with love, enjoyment, and attention to detail. 'Meraki' derives from the Turkish 'Merak' and is applied to tasks, usually crafts, but can be applied to any task at all.
Efharisto
While in Greece, you will most probably want to say 'efharisto' [efχaristoː] or thank you to a few people. Even if you don't speak a word of Greek, it is imperative to master this one little word, as a form of appreciation to locals!
Parakalo
In case you were wondering, the natural reply to 'efharisto' is 'parakalo' [parakaloː] - the Greek word for 'you're welcome.' However, the Greek language often attributes multiple meanings to just one word so keep in mind that 'parakalo' could also mean 'please,' or 'how can I help you.'
To discover even more delightful little Greek words, please visit: TheTravelPorter.com
Astypalaia To Become A Smart And Sustainable Island
To read this article in full, please visit: themayor.eu
Greek Universities Eye English-Speaking Students
More than 200 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs will be added, most in 2023-24 but some in the 2022-23 academic year.
Universities are seeking support from EU structural funds.
Likewise, UK universities aim to attract Greek students back, after seeing an exodus after Brexit, by offering joint programs with Greek institutions.
Originally published on: ekathimerini.com
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