On this day: 35 years without the great Nikos Xilouris

Thirty five years later, we honor the Archangel Cretan with lyre, Nikos Xilouris or Psaronikos... born in 1936 in Crete, Anogia, from a family with musical tradition.

Crete is the safest family destination!

Crete received the safest destination for families award from the tourist magazine 'Mondo'. 

The island participated in Matka tourism exhibition held in Helsinki, Finland, and impressed visitors with its natural beauty, important monuments, culinary richness and quality hotel infrastructure. 

MATKA is the largest event of the travel trade in Northern Europe.

The Fair was dedicated to foreign and domestic destinations and took place at Messukeskus, Expo and Convention Centre Helsinki from 15 to 18 January 2015. More than 70,000 people visited the exhibition.

Athens Enters 2nd Phase of ‘European Best Destination 2015′ Competition!

Athens, Greece, ranks among the top 10 cities in the run for the title of ‘European Best Destination 2015′, according to the results of the first round of voting. The competition launched on January 20 among 20 tourist destinations.
The second phase of the competition has begun! The winner will be the city with the most online votes!
Cast your vote for Athens here! The deadline is February 10.
The competition has been launched by the European Best Destinations (EBD), a European organization based in Brussels and developed to promote tourism in Europe.
One destination will be awarded the title of “European Best Destination 2015″ and will be authorized to use the title and affix the “European Best Destination” logo on all its communications, adverts, website and photos.
The next nine destinations with the highest number of votes will be announced through EBD’s communications, website and social networks as being one the best European destinations to visit in 2015(source GTP)

Austrian tourists choose Greece for their summer vacations

According to Austrian tour operators and the multitude of new airline flights

Greece has managed to acquire 12.7% of the summer tourism Austrian market. This impressive jumping point for 2015 is expected to continue throughout the year, according to the head of the largest Austrian tour operator.

The International Conference on Tourism of Vienna is the largest and most important conference of its kind in Central Europe. It opened on the 15th of January and includes 790 exhibitors from 70 countries, while it is estimated that 150,000 people will be visiting it.

Greece’s positive progress is confirmed through meetings held in the Greek exhibition kiosk between Tourism officials, their representatives in Austria, and officials of various airlines. It is indicative of progress that the latter stated that airlines have already developed more frequent flights and to more destinations, connected to Austrian airports.
(Source:gtp)

National Geographic for Crete: “We Are What We Eat: Spring in Crete Means a Feast of Wild Greens”

Greek food, the Mediterranean Diet and eating traditions are taking center stage in a series of National Geographic food tour/travel features, bringing Greece into the international spotlight as a prime culinary tourism destination.

Thessaloniki and its goodies featured in National Geographic Traveller’s Jan/Feb 2015 issue under the title “Eat: Thessaloniki” focusing on the northern port city’s rich, multicultural past and “passion for food”.

The story outlines the reasons to eat in Thessaloniki, and better yet what to eat and where. Highlights include smoky aubergine dip, sweet fish “sinagrida”, oysters, and of course, the city’s trademark pastries, the “bougatsa” and the creme patisserie-filled “trigona”.

Dakos (or “Greek bruschetta”): A traditional meze (light meal) of the island of Crete.

In the meantime, Crete’s dietary habits and offerings steal the show in “We Are What We Eat: Spring in Crete Means a Feast of Wild Greens”, part of the “The Evolution of Diet”, which is a segment of National Geographic’s special eight-month “Future of Food” series.

Rummaging Crete for greens and much more, the feature describes the Greek island as “favored by the gods” and focuses on the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet.
(source:gtp)

A delicious Greek dish

 

Beef with aubergines and fresh tomato

 

Serves: 6 Preparation time: 30m Cooking time: 60m Ready in: 1h 30m

Ingredients
1.200gr. beef bon net, in portions
1½ kg aubergines at moderate cubes
1kg fresh ripe tomatoes, grated
2 medium onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
¾ cup olive oil
½ tsp. sweet sugar
½ tsp. teaspoon cinnamon
salt and pepper
Preparation method
Step 1
Place the aubergines  and half the oil in a large bowl and stir. Then lay on a baking tray and put in oven grill turning them on both sides until browned and softened.
Step 2
Heat the remaining oil in a large saucepan and sauté the meat until golden brown on all sides. Add onion and garlic and continue to sauté until the onion softens.
Step 3
Stir in the crushed tomatoes, meat, sugar, cinnamon, salt and pepper. Cover and simmer food for 40-45 minutes until the meat is tender and the sauce thickens. Check periodically and, if necessary, add a little water. Add the aubergines in the last 15 minutes to mix with the sauce.

Source: Olive magazine
Chef: Georgia Kofina
Photo: Vaggelis Paterakis
Food Styling: Antonia Kati

Mystery Greek tomb contained at least 5 corpses, experts say

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek officials say human bones found in a resplendent ancient tomb excavated last year in northern Greece belong to at least five individuals, including an elderly woman and a baby.
The high-profile excavation at ancient Amphipolis uncovered a large, vaulted tomb decorated with marble statues of sphinxes and young women, as well as a remarkable mosaic pavement.
A Culture Ministry statement Monday said bones found in the grave belong to a woman over 60, a newborn, two men aged 35-45 and another adult.
The tomb has been dated to between 325 B.C. — two years before the death of ancient Greek warrior-king Alexander the Great — and 300 B.C. Experts speculated it could have been built for a general or a relative of Alexander's, who himself was buried in Egypt.
(Source: the big story)