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Hotel Grande Bretagne: Celebrating 150 Years With Grand Experiences
Since its establishment in 1874, the Hotel Grande Bretagne, a distinguished member of the Luxury Collection, has stood as the epitome of Greek hospitality. It has written its history of timeless elegance, paralleling the evolution of Athens. As one of the world's few hotels boasting 150 years of continuous operation, it proudly holds the title of a landmark for Athenian society. Its reputation as a favored host for heads of state, royalty, and dignitaries remains unwavering over time.
Originally published in Greek, on: marieclaire.gr
4 Villages In Greece To Explore This October: Unique Hidden Gems
1. Papingo, Epirus
@smallfeetbigsteps
Unique Experiences:
- Hiking Vikos Gorge: The cool October air makes it the perfect time to hike down this breathtaking gorge.
- Thermal Springs: Enjoy a dip in the natural thermal pools near the village, known as “Kolymbithres.”
- Autumn Colors: The fall hues against the grey stone architecture create a stunning visual contrast.
@nickolas.bird
Unique Experiences:
- Mastic Harvesting: October is the tail-end of the mastic harvesting season. Visit local farms and learn about the centuries-old tradition of this unique resin, used in everything from cosmetics to culinary treats.
- Explore Fortified Alleys: Wander through the narrow, fortress-like streets, built to defend against pirate raids.
- Medieval Festival: If your timing is right, you might catch local celebrations that showcase the village’s rich history and culture.
@tzwrtzina_jojo
Unique Experiences:
- Explore Historic Areopoli: Stroll through the streets named after local heroes and visit the Church of the Archangels, where the revolution was first declared.
- Caves of Diros: Just a short drive away are the famous Diros Caves, where you can take an underground boat tour through stunning, water-filled caverns.
- Local Maniot Cuisine: Enjoy authentic Maniot dishes like syglino (smoked pork) and wild greens at local tavernas.
@giorgos_tzitzis
Perched on the slopes of Mount Olympus, Palaios Panteleimonas is a beautifully preserved traditional village with panoramic views of the Aegean Sea. With its cobblestone streets and stone houses, the village offers an idyllic, peaceful retreat amid nature.
Unique Experiences:
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Mount Olympus Hiking: October is a perfect time to hike the lower slopes of Mount Olympus, enjoying the autumn colors and fresh mountain air.
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Sea and Mountain Views: From the village’s central square, you can soak in the stunning views of the coastline, making it a rare spot that combines mountain serenity with a sea view.
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Local Crafts: Palaios Panteleimonas is known for its local artisans. Browse traditional craft shops offering handmade items such as pottery, wood carvings, and textiles.
Smart Life Coaching – A Turk In Athens
The next morning after this announcement was made – I can still remember it very clearly – I woke up, sat in my bed and looked out the window. I said to myself, I am going to go to Greece! I had no friends there, no relatives, no prior connection… just a few business contacts that I’d done some work with. But the decision coming from my heart was so clear and I was so sure that without a second thought, I took my compensation package, booked myself a flight, rented an apartment online and enrolled in a language school for 3 months. Everything was ready, I was so excited and I had no idea what I was excited about!
This week we share an interview with Goncha. Thanks to our friend Rebecca from leavingcairo.com!
Goncha Papasotiriou is Turkish, married to a Greek and living in Athens. She runs Smart Life Coaching and I have to say, she’s good. Far from the ‘touchy feely’ approach that many people are quick to jump to the conclusion that coaching is all about, Goncha poses some interesting questions that can help you reach your own conclusions about whichever aspect of your life you feel you most need help with. She certainly helped me with “Leaving Cairo” and gaining the confidence to develop my site.
I decided I wanted to know more about Goncha and why she took this route.
Goncha, tell us about how you ended up in Greece.
That’s a great question Rebecca, because it’s a great way to show your international readers that we can do whatever we like with our lives, and if we aren’t able to find contentment in one place…., why not look for it somewhere else?
I studied as an economist and started my professional life as a ship sale & purchase broker in Istanbul.
As I was working in the highly competitive and glamorous shipping industry, my boss came up one day and said he had decided to retire. The company was going to shut down. I was going to get a severance package and continue working in the company that bought ours.
The next morning after this announcement was made – I can still remember it very clearly – I woke up, sat in my bed and looked out the window.
I said to myself, I am going to go to Greece!
I had no friends there, no relatives, no prior connection… just a few business contacts that I’d done some work with. But the decision coming from my heart was so clear and I was so sure that without a second thought, I took my compensation package, booked myself a flight, rented an apartment online and enrolled in a language school for 3 months. Everything was ready, I was so excited and I had no idea what I was excited about!
When I landed in Athens, it was a beautiful day in May.
A fellow broker picked me up at the airport and drove me to my apartment which I had never seen before. The apartment looked lovely with its antique furniture and high ceilings. My landlady handed in my keys and there started my life in Athens.
I started happily going about my days, learning the language and meeting new people. Among those new people was a man named Antonis, who would later become my husband. We met, fell in love almost instantaneously and spent a wonderful summer together. But, at the end of the summer it was time for me to leave Athens and go back to Istanbul…time to end the adventure. I had run out of money, visa and time. I had to go back home and look for a job. We parted in tears, promising to one another that this was not a break up. I went back home and felt sad, but at the same time I knew in my heart that this was not the end. Antonis would come and visit me every other weekend and several weeks passed like that…until one day
I received an e-mail from a London-based head-hunter company, informing me that a shipping giant was interested in offering me a great job, and would I prefer to work in Copenhagen or Athens??
Well, I’m sure you can imagine the answer – I returned to Athens with the biggest smile, started working in a beautiful office by the sea and a year later, Antonis and I were married.
To read the rest of the interview, please visit Bex's blog at leavingcairo.com
Until next week,
Jack
In this weekly space, keep up with ‘Jack’ as he navigates daily life in Athens… Anecdotes, stories, hits & misses, the good, the bad and, well, the rest…
10 Great Spots to Sleep, Drink & Eat In Athens
As Greece gears up for a bumper tourist season, with over 21 million visitors expected this year, Athens is surfacing from austerity. Its cultural and night-life scene is blossoming as locals start up creative cooperatives or become city guides.
1. City Circus
Two friends ditched corporate careers to set up this hip hostel in Psirri, a central neighbourhood of lively meze joints and gift shops. With mid-century antiques, frescoed ceilings, and graffiti art, it's way cooler and cheaper than the average boutique hotel. Nine rooms in an annex open this summer, along with a bar/restaurant that will screen films and serve cheap cocktails. The roof terrace has dazzling Parthenon views.
• +30 213 0237 244, citycircus.gr, dorm beds from €15 a night
2. Alice Inn
Decent lodgings are surprisingly scarce in Plaka, the touristy old town. This stylish "three-and-a-half-room" guesthouse is the exception. Greek-Irish architect John Consolas has converted a crummy hostel into a cosy, art-filled bolthole. Consolas, who lives on site, is a laid-back host who makes guests (everyone from top DJs to IMF inspectors) feel like old friends.
• +30 210 323 7139, aliceinnathens.com, doubles from €50
3. Black Duck Garden
Modern Athens' first public park was the gardens at the City of Athens Museum, with palm trees and fountains. One palm tree survives in the secret garden behind the museum, which now hosts a sweet, summer-only bistro. An oasis of shady calm, it's a relaxing spot for brunch or coffee.
• +30 210 3252396, blackduckgarden.gr
To read more, please visit theguardian.com
Louvre Collects Millions To Restore Masterpiece
The Paris Louvre, one of the world's largest museums, will be able to fund restoration work on the Winged Victory of Samothrace, one of its masterpieces, after collecting one million euros in individual donations. The work will also include repairs to the large staircase that leads up to the 2nd-century BC marble sculpture of the Greek goddess Nike, the museum told AFP on Monday.
It said about 6,700 individual donors had contributed over the last four months, with the rest of the projected total cost of four million euros ($5.5 million) coming from sponsors. The Winged Victory is currently undergoing restoration work in a nearby hall and is expected to return to its established site at the museum in mid-2014. Work on the monumental staircase should be finished by March next year. The statue was discovered on the Greek island of Samothrace in 1863 and then taken to Paris for exhibition at the Louvre where it overlooks the so-called Daru staircase.
Oct 28th is Ochi Day
On October 28th, expect to encounter parades and other celebrations commemorating Ochi Day, the anniversary of General Ioannis Metaxas' flat denial to the Italians' request for free passage to invade Greece. In October, 1940, Italy, backed by Hitler, wanted to occupy Greece; Metaxas simply responded "Ochi!" - "No!" in Greek. It was a "No!" that brought Greece into the war on the Allied side; for a time, Greece was Britain's only ally against Hitler.
Greece not only did not give Mussolini's forces free passage, they seized the offensive and drove them back through most of Albania.
Some historians credit the Greeks' fierce resistance to the later German paratrooper landings during the Battle of Crete with convincing Hitler that such attacks cost too many German lives. The from-the-air invasion of Crete was the last attempt by the Nazis to use this technique, and the extra resources required to subdue Greece drained and distracted the Third Reich from its efforts on other fronts.
Had Metaxas not said "No!", World War II might well have lasted considerably longer. One theory suggests that had Greece agreed to surrender without resistance, Hitler would have been able to invade Russia in spring, rather than making his disastrous attempt to take it in winter. Western nations, always happy to credit ancient Greece with the development of democracy, may owe modern Greece an equal but usually unrecognized debt for helping to preserve democracy against its enemies during World War II.
Was Metaxa really that succinct? Probably not - but that's the way the story has been passed down. He also probably responded in French.
On Ochi Day, all major cities offer a military parade, and many Greek Orthodox churches will be holding special services. Coastal towns may have naval parades or other celebrations on the waterfront.
By deTraci Regula
One Of Our Favourite Athens Neighbourhoods Ranks #5 In The World
Kali xronia!
Until next week,
Jack
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A Festival Of Light Comes To Life At SNFCC
