"Crete the island inside you" - Crete Daydreaming

The Region of Crete continues to promote the island..
Amazing work with new video!!

Holidays in Greece: a history in tourism posters.

For intrepid early romantics on their Grand Tours to the18 million travellers expected to visit this year, Greece has long been one of Europe’s most alluring destinations. These posters, marking 100 years of what is now the Greek National Tourism Organisation, highlight its winning combination of culture, charm and sunshine!!
In 1922, Greece’s Bureau of Foreigners and Exhibitions is upgraded to a ‘Service’. In that year, under the heading Independent Travel without Trouble, Thomas Cook’s Traveller’s Gazette begins: ‘Let us suppose one is desirous of taking wife or family for a tour on the continent …’
In 1936, the Greek National Tourism Organisation is abolished by prime minister Ioannis Metaxas. He orders all houses on the Cycladic islands be whitewashed – for hygiene but also because he believed it made them more picturesque.
 

 In 1941, tourism is transferred to Greece’s ministry of national economy, where a directorate of spa towns and tourism is created, despite the second world war raging. At the end of the war, a secretariat general for tourism is established. 

 This 1949 poster is from the time of the Marshall Plan, which provided US aid to Europe after the second world war. A supreme council for tourism is set up – but Greek finances are in disarray: ‘Since the release of Greek territory from enemy occupation, the monetary system is in a state of confusion,’ notes the Thomas Cook Continental Timetable.

By 1955, foreign tourist numbers to Greece have reached 200,000 – a five-fold increase in five years. The average stay of the visitors is one week.

 In 1967, a Greek military junta – the ‘Regime of the Colonels’ – came to power. For the first time, tourism numbers decline – by about 14% – though they rebound the following year. In the UK, the government imposes a £50 limit on the allowance for British citizens travelling abroad.

 Greece is one of the first destinations to be chosen by Britannia Airways for its new Boeing 737 jet, with charters from Luton to Athens. In 1968, Jacqueline Kennedy marries the Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis on the Ionian island of Skorpios. 

 In 1980 there is evidence budget travel is flourishing, with the publication of Europe: a Manual for Hitch-hikers. It says: ‘Greece is one of the most beautiful countries on earth to get stranded for a few hours.’ Greece joins the EU in 1981, and the latest James Bond film, For Your Eyes Only, features the monasteries of Meteora. 

 In 1990 visitor numbers hit nine million for the first time, with some tourists inspired by the movie Shirley Valentine, released the previous year. Cephalonia features in Louis de Bernières’ 1994 novel Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, about the Italian and German occupation of Greece in the second world war. 

Greece win the 2004 UEFA European Championship, beating the hosts Portugal in the opening group match and again in the final. The following month, Athens hosts the Olympic Games. Visitor numbers to Greece are now more than 13 million.

(Source:Guardian)

Photo of the day: Are you ready for swim?

Today in Plakias, Crete: 26 degrees Celsius!!

Amphipolis: Skeleton found, mystery remains (photos + 3D interactive tour)

A skeleton has been found in the monument for the mortal who was probably worshipped by his society at the time

Archaeologists in northern Greece announced on Wednesday that they found a skeleton belonging to a distinguished ancient celebrity from the time of Alexander the Great in the ancient tomb at Amphipolis. Chief archaeologist Katerina Peristeri speculated that “the tomb in all probability belongs to a male and a general.”

The skeleton found is housed in a wooden coffin once held together by iron and bronze nails and studded with bone and glass decorations. Though the coffin has disintegrated over time, the skeletal remains are intact and were found both inside and outside the floor of the tomb, possibly as a result of the looting during ancient times.

Archaeologists estimate that the person whose remains were found was 1.8 meters tall, however there will need to be complex lab work and an analysis of organic residue that could take months to complete before having a clearer picture of the occupant of the tomb. The analysis will allow archaeologists to restrict the number of potential candidates that the tomb belongs to rather than point to a single person with certainty, possibly Nearchos or Hephaistion, or even Alexander the Great, event though finding the latter is unlikely if historical sources are taken into account.

An analysis of the bone structure will give a clearer idea of the occupant’s build, health and injuries they may have had during their lives that could give scientists more clues when pinpointing the identity of the occupant of the tomb.

The announcement of the discovery of the skeleton overshadowed any other discussion on the monument and a number of serious questions remain unanswered. For instance, the question as to why the monument was sealed even though it had been looted. Furthermore, there is a strong contrast between the pre-chambers and size of the monument compared to the no-frills decor in the main burial chamber and the frugal space in the underground cist grave where the skeleton was found.

Take the tour...

Amphipolis Tomb by Greektoys.org (new update #3)
by Greektoys.org
on Sketchfab

The excitement of finding the skeleton dominated the discussion, however noteworth is the fact that over 500 pieces of the surrounding wall were found near the place where the Lion of Amphipolis sits. More than 100 stones were discovered just a couple of days ago in Lake Kerkini where the pieces were transferred in 1936 by the company Ulen who were responsible for the construction of the Dam at Kerkini.
(Source:prototema, Greektoys, sketchfab)

The simple is beautiful... Thank you Paolo!

     When the art meets the perfect places...                                            

"You don't take a photograph, you make it"
                 Ansel Adams
                                        http://www.paolosarti.ch/

Photo of the day: November in Plakias!!

And the winners of the 32nd Athens Marathon are… Kenyan! (photos + video)!!

The race brought people from 120 countries to run the ancient route!!
Kenyan long-distance runner Felix Kandie is the winner of the 32^nd Athens Classic Marathon with a record win after he covered the 42km-course in 2:10:36. With this result he broke the previous record set by Italian Stephano Baldini at 2:10:55.

“This is my first time in Athens and I am happy,” he said. “I desired to be in the top three and manage to do my best time. The people here were very good and the atmosphere was welcoming. Running at the historic Panathinaic stadium made me happy. I had heard about this stadium in Kenya and I am very happy.”

Raymond Bett, also from Kenya, came second. This was his fourth time at the Athens Marathon and he had reserved optimism despite being last year’s winner and receiving first place in the Marathon twice and second place twice in previous years. He was pleased with his time.

The best Greek winner was Christoforos Meroussis from the isle of Chios with 2 hours and 25 minutes.

(source:protothema)