Vacationing in Greece
They say a picture is a thousand words...and there are millions of pictures to explain why ...dozens and dozens of videos as well ...just look at these and you will see why you should be vacationing in Greece:
Here are some...funny reasons to why you should visit Greece next summer..at least these are E.O.T's reasons ( E.O.T is the Hellenic Tourist Organization )
No, seriously please check out their link with all the info available , and then some, to change your mind ok ?
Of course you do not speak Greek, as a matter of fact ' It is all Greek to you ' right? Do not worry...you can learn the basics by simply watching this video clip from ' My Big Fat Greek Wedding ' ok ?
During The Olympic Games of 2004, in Athens Greece , a volunteer was hit by a car that went trough a red light and hit him while he was riding on his bike…a very lucky, volunteer !
It is also…funny, if you understood him …( ‘gamo tin panagia mu echis kokino, echis kokino, thee mu echo prasino ‘)…he was not too friendly, he was cursing at her and telling her that he had the right of way...well , what can I say about Greek women drivers….what a lucky guy he was…this video has been seen by five million people so far !!!!
So ...please be very careful driving, especially in Athens...traffic is a real mess...just look at this:
I will highly recommend taking the subway or the metro as it is called...look at heir link at :
There is even a ' TRAM '
If you are a soccer fan then you HAVE TO go to see a game or two...the Greeks are the most passionate soccer fans in the world...one of the greatest stories ever told :
I will be blogging even more about this beautiful Country !!!
Till then , enjoy my favorite music video clip :
Christmas in Greece
What do Greeks do on Christmas ? Do you remember this scene from ' My Big Fat Greek Wedding ? '
Are you trying to decide where to go on your Christmas holidays and still haven’t made up your mind? Why not consider Christmas in Greece? True, it is not the traditional Christmas holiday destination, but it has so much to offer that it will be one of the most unforgettable holidays in your life!
You’ll find Christmas in Greece celebrated with lavish decorations and lights strung across most of the streets in major cities and towns. Athens in particular has responded to the revival of Christmas where its mayor, has added new color to the festivities by erecting the largest Christmas tree in Europe. This tree can be seen towering above busy Syntagma (Constitution square), where Athens now also hosts exciting ‘live’ stage acts and shows featuring many of Greece’s popular entertainers.
But the beginnings of Christmas in Greece go back to the time of St. Nicholas, who was known as the patron saint of sailors. According to Greek tradition, his clothes were soaked with brine, his beard drenched with saltwater, and his face is covered with perspiration because he had been fighting the storms and waves to reach sinking ships and rescue drowning men from the sea. Even today there is still an old custom where many ships never leave port without a St. Nicholas icon carried in the boat.
In Greece, there are many Christmas customs that are similar, yet slightly different from the West. Such as the custom on Christmas Eve where village children travel from house to house offering good wishes and singing ‘kalanda’, the equivalent of Christmas carols. The children often accompany the songs using small metal triangles and little clay drums. Afterwards, the children are usually given dried figs, almonds, walnuts and lots of sweets or sometimes small gifts or coins in appreciation. Read more about the Greek Christmas carols .
In Greek Christmas, the feast itself becomes the main attraction by both adults and children alike. Lamb and pork are roasted in ovens and open spits, and on almost every table are loaves of ‘christopsomo’ (‘Christ bread’). This bread is usually made in large sweet loaves of various shapes and the crusts are engraved and decorated in some way that reflects the family’s profession.
As people are they greet one another by saying Chronia polla or many happy years. The table filled with food may include such dishes askourambiethes, a Greek nut cookie and honey cookies(melomakarona)
In Greek Happy/Merry Christmas is ‘Kala Christougenna’.
In Greek homes, the main symbol of the season is a shallow wooden bowl with a piece of wire is suspended across the rim; from that hangs a sprig of basil wrapped around a wooden cross. A small amount of water is kept in the bowl to keep the basil alive and fresh. Once a day, a family member, usually the mother dips the cross and basil into some holy water and uses it to sprinkle water in each room of the house. This ritual is believed to keep the ‘Killantzaroi’ (bad spirits) away.
There are a number of beliefs connected with these spirits, which are supposed to be a species of goblins that appear only during the 12-day period from Christmas to the Epiphany (January 6). These creatures are believed to come from the center of the earth and to slip into people’s house through the chimney. More mischievous than actually evil, the Killantzaroi do things like extinguish fires, ride astride people’s backs, braid horses’ tails, and sour the milk. To further repel the undesirable sprites, the hearth is kept burning day and night throughout the twelve days.Priests sometimes go from house to house sprinkling holy water around to get rid of the bad spirits who may be hiding in people’s houses.
Some of the most charming features in Greece are its villages, especially those located on the beautiful mountainsides. At Christmas time in Greece, the tall mountains are snowcapped, as are the lush evergreen trees that cover the countryside. Most villages in Mainland Greece have picturesque stone-brick houses and narrow alleyways, which in the wintertime, resemble a small Santa’s village. They are the ideal places to spend a white Christmas in Greece!
If you want to fit some skiing or other winter sports into your Christmas holiday in Greece, stay in one of the many winter resorts in the countryside. Most offer quaint accommodations that are located close to snow centers. The most popular snow centers are Parnassos near the town of Arcahova, Pertouli and Pilio in the region of Thessaly, Tymfristos in the Karpenissi area, Helmos in the town of Kalavrita, Mainalos in Vytina, Peloponnese, Vasilitsa in Grevena and Kaimaktsalan in Edessa.
So…have you made up your mind ? or what ? I have spent a lot of Christmas in Greece and I miss it so much…I only wish I could go back again !!!
In Greek Happy/Merry Christmas is Kala Christougenna...do you want to learn a few more wishes in Greek ?...then check out this video:
See you all in Athens,Greece !!!
Does it snow in Greece ?
Oh yes…it does snow in Greece , in the winter months…Greece is not known only for its beautiful islands, but for ….skiing as well…that is why there are so many ski resorts. The most famous one is at Kalavrita…
Kalavrita (Greek: Καλάβρυτα) is a town, a province and a municipality in the east central part of the prefecture of Achaea. It is the southern terminus of the Kalavrita – Diakopto Road and the eastern terminus of the Patras – Kalavrita Road. It is the largest municipality covering about 18% of the prefecture and is the least populated municipality in density. It also has the most number of communes in the prefecture. It is located approx. 40 km S of Aigio, 38 km S of GR-8/E65, about 190 km W of Athens, about 85 km NNW of Tripoli and about 130 km NE ofOlympia.It was here on March 21st 1821 when Archbishop Germanos raised the Revolution Banner at monastery Agia Lavra which started The Revolution against the Turks giving this way freedom not only to Kalavrita but also all over Greece.
Check out the Photo Gallery and video clips at :
On the top of Helmos mountain, there is ” The Kalavrita Ski Resort” . It is situated on the North West side of the mountain , at an altitude of 1,700 meters (base) to 2,340 meters (summit),14 kilometers from the historical village of Kalavrita……The ski centre is open daily throughout the ski season (December to April) from 09:00 to 16:00…here the visitor can enjoy a special moguls ski run, a snowboard park, cross country ski, a snow tubes park, paragliding, snowmobiles , free parking, coffee shops, snack bars, restaurants, ski rental facilities with sporting goods, organized ski school and a First Aid Station.
I highly recommend Mixaela’s Lodge,for a beautiful weekend relaxation and ” stuff your face ” with great food at ” Spitiko ” restaurant , by the bus terminal ok ? You will love it . I DID !!!
Check out my fotos on ” Flickr ” at :
