33rd Athens Marathon. The Authentic..

 The Athens Marathon, the Authentic Marathon, will be held on Sunday November 8, 2015 along the route from Marathonas to Athens, offering the opportunity to those participating to make their dream come true.

A record number of 16,000-plus runners are expected to take to the classic course from the town of Marathon to the 1896 Olympic Stadium in the heart of Athens which was the route used for the 1997 World Championships and 2004 Olympic Games.

In total 43,000 runners are expected to take part in all the running events on offer.

With this gesture, the organisers invite runners from around the world to run the Athens Marathon in solidarity with the Greek people at this testing time. Online entry for the marathon race is still available on the website at www.athensauthenticmarathon.gr.

Date: 08/11/2015. Area: Attica. Place: Athens (5km and 10km Road Races, and Fin. Point of the Marathon Race). Start. T.: Marathon Race: 09:00, 5km Road Race: 07:45, 10km Road Race: 08:45, 5km Road Race Afternoon: 16:00.

For more info: www.athensauthenticmarathon.gr

Do you know how Cretans make rakí?

Rakí is the traditional Cretan spirit that is famous throughout the country for its very high alcohol content and its richness of aromas. Rakí is so intrinsically connected to joy that even its making procedure sets Novembers in Crete on fire!
At the end of summer, the infinite vineyard of Crete generously offers its valuable harvest to the special century-old procedure of making the renowned Cretan rakí, a procedure that remains unaltered through time: the Cauldron feasts (called kazanemata).
Rakí (or tsikoudiá) is much more than the aromatic nectar of the Cretans; it’s their loyal companion to happiness, sadness, meetings with friends, dances, festivals.
No wonder the feasts of rakí making are the mega autumn event in Crete. Travel there in November and visit the mountainous villages of the hinterland to see the farmers in the act!

Distillation
Pulped grapes - called tsikouda or strafylla - leftovers from wine-pressing are stored to go through a process of fermentation for 20-40 days. They are subsequently poured into the cauldrons with water. Boiling i.e. distillation starts right away before your very eyes!
In just one hour the first rakí starts falling in small drops; it’s very strong, almost pure alcohol! Little by little, distillation passes through several alcohol percentages to reach its minimum number at 18 degrees. That is when the cauldron is put out and hot rakí urges everyone to careless dancing.
Tables are set early enough. Luckily, it is Cretan food guests will be treated with: small pies of all kinds, kalitsoùnia (sweet mini cheese pies), dácos (the traditional hard Cretan bread accompanied with tomato, mizithra cheese and plenty of virgin Cretan oil) snails boubouristì (popping fried snails), sausages, gruyere cheese. Barbecues bend under the loads of meat.

Cretan products lend their touch of freshness to the table: chestnuts, pomegranates, apples and quinces.
The rakí “orgy” has just begun with friends, guests, even passersby lifting their glasses to toast, and wishing well to each other. Instruments start play; hearts warm up; arms open; spirits are high! Big Cretan men lead the dance, while women and men alike sing traditional songs. People exchange smiles, banters, good feelings.
After all, that is what Cretan culture is about and that is exactly what rakí is about: to bring people back to the age of innocence, directness, authenticity.
(source:visitgreece)

New Review on Tripadvisor: “Saved our holiday!” 5 of 5 stars

 Reviewed yesterday..

 I can't say enough about Plakias Suites and the hospitality of the owners (Eleni and George). We had a horrible accommodation experience in the early part of our holiday (we walked away from a paid booking) and Eleni took us under her wing and ensured we had a fantastic rest of our trip.
Her suites are simply lovely! The beach is perfect, views are amazing, and the in suite amenities are divine. Exceptional value for money!

Eleni even researched the next area of Crete we wished to visit and found our next accommodation for us! What service!!!

We would happily bring our whole family from Canada across the Atlantic just to stay at Plakia Suites again:) 

Stayed October 2015, travelled with family

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g319776-d1897412-r320273425-Plakias_Suites-Plakias_Rethymnon_Prefecture_Crete.html#

 Plakiassuites: Ranked #1 of 46 Speciality Lodging in Plakias

  

90 Reviews Certificate of Excellence

Balos Crete - One of the most beautiful beaches!!

The surreal beauty of Balos enchants anyone who visited. On Crete's most northwesterly peninsula. A mix of bright white and pinkish sand and incredibly vivid turquoise water in the lagoon have made this one of the most beautiful beaches of the world.

(By nikos sarantos)

Photo of the day

 30 degree today…stay at the beach!

Holidays in Plakias, Rethymno, Crete, Greece.

Heidelberg Museum returns fragments of the Erechtheion to Greece..

A small step towards the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures

The Museum of Ancient History of Heidelberg intends to return to fragments of the Erechtheion, the ancient Greek temple on the north side of the Acropolis, to Greece. The announcement was made by the Culture ministry on Friday.

The decision for the return was expressed by Dr. Reinhard Stupperich, during his meeting on Thursday with Greek Culture Minister Aristides Baltas. The meeting was also attended by the head of the International Association for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures, David Hill and the Chair of Marbles Reunited, Andrew George.


(source: protothema)

2015 Expedia travel survey on etiquette reveals the worst hotel guests...

 Travel can be strenuous, and the last thing we want to deal with when we settle into our hotel room is annoying behavior from strangers. And yet, no matter how lovely our hotel experience ultimately is, it seems there's always some person or group of people we encounter that really get on our nerves!

 
 Online travel site Expedia has released its first study on hotel etiquette, asking people to rank the types of guests that most aggravate them at hotels.

 See the full list:
1. Inattentive Parents
2. The Hallway Hellraisers
3. The Complainers
4. The In-Room Revelers (noisemakers nearby)
5. The Bickerers
6. The Poolside Partiers
7. The Loudly Amorous (indiscreet lovemakers)
8. The Hot Tub Canoodlers (amorous couples in a public hot tub)
9. The Business Bar Boozer (sloshed business travelers0
10. The Elevator Chatterbox

The world's most spectacular theatres

See some of the most amazing theatres in the world, as Telegraph shows:

1.The Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Greece 

 

 
Situated on the southwest slope of the Acropolis Hill, Athens, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, completed in 174AD, originally had a wooden roof and a capacity of 5,000. The seating and stage was restored in the 1950s, since when it has hosted concerts by singers ranging from Maria Callas to Elton John.

 2.The Seebühne, Austria
 The Seebühne (floating stage) juts into the Austrian waters of Lake Constance, and is the most dramatic setting for performances at the Bregenz Festival. The photo here shows a 2002 production of La Bohème

3.Gran Teatro La Fenice, Italy

Venice's La Fenice theatre staged world premieres of operas by Rossini, Donizetti and Verdi. The theatre's name translates as "the Phoenix", which is appropriate as it has burned down twice in its 224-year history

Access the full study here.

One of the most traditional recipes of Greek cuisine: Fasolada (bean soup)

Fasolada is considered Greece’s national dish and is definitely one of the most traditional recipes of Greek cuisine. Every Greek family eats this dish at least once per month, especially during winter.

Serves: 6 Preparation time: 10 mins Cooking time:1.20 mins Ready in: 1.30 mins
INGREDIENTS
500 g beans
1 large onion, chopped
1 leek, chopped
2-3 carrots, sliced into small round pieces
1-2 tablespoon of tomato paste
½ cup chopped celery + some more for serving
½ red pepper
1 red chili pepper
1 cup of olive oil
salt, freshly ground pepper
PREPARATION METHOD
Step 1
Place the beans in a saucepan with plenty of cold water to cover them. Bring to the boil, turn the heat down to medium and parboil for 30-35 minutes, until slightly tender. Drain in colander and set aside.
Step 2
Fill the saucepan with water up to the middle. Boil the beans with the onion and leek until they are soften and then add the carrots.
Step 3
Add the parboiled beans and boil. Then add tomato paste, celery, red pepper, salt, pepper, chili pepper and continue cooking for about 15 minutes more or until the soup becomes thick and creamy soup.
Step 4
Serve this traditional Greek bean soup (fasolada) while still steaming hot with feta cheese and bread.
 Source: www.olivemagazine.gr

Save Greek nature! By WWF Greece.

Do you have a soft spot in your heart for Greece? If the answer is "yes", this probably has a lot to do with the magic of Greek nature! But what will Greece look like if it loses the most precious pieces of its natural heritage?

The campaign is organized by WWF Greece and invites people to participate to help WWC to fight for Greece’s future, Greek nature.

For more information, click here.

 

Greece ‘All Over’ Finland with ‘Ellada Pantou’ Fest

The 1st “Ellada Pantou” Festival, to take place in Helsinki, Finland, on October 23-24, aims to bring together diaspora Greeks through cooperative initiatives in efforts to better promote the country and its products abroad.
Held under the auspices of the culture ministry, the Embassy of Greece in Finland, and the General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad, the “Ellada Pantou” (which translates into “Greece All Over”) festival will further enhance ties between the two countries, promote Greek products, services and culture, and pave the way for social entrepreneurship initiatives and collaborative projects in a social economy. In this direction, a workshop has been organized for October 23 at the European Commission’s Eurooppasali.
Parallel events include an art exhibit, a networking event for Greek food and trade professionals, a sampling event featuring Greek food and products, as well as a workshop focusing on the promotion of Greece as a tourist destination.
On October 24, Helsinki’s “Kaisaniemi” restaurant will host a song and dance event as part of celebrations for the 35-year anniversary of the Federation of Finnish-Greek Societies.
The 1st “Ellada Pantou” Festival will be aired live on public broadcaster ERT3 on the “Diaspora” program.
(source:gtp)