Painting in Skiathos

The course begins with a series of discussions and exercises in the studio, For beginners (and those wishing to revisit what they may already know) this is followed by an insight to of the basic principles (line, form, perspective, colour theory and practise, design i.e composition) and an exploration of a variety of mediums (watercolour, acrylics, oil painting etc) and techniques (such as glazing) – as laid down by the Great Masters.

This general drawing and painting course is suitable for all levels of artistic ability. The classes are small, relaxed and friendly (even one to one) and are flexible enough to meet individual requirements: For beginners it provides an opportunity to explore different genres and media (covering a variety of techniques including working with acrylics, oils, and water colours) and for the more experienced or established artist, it provides a unique and inspiring setting in which to hone your skills in your preferred medium, working at your own pace and with as much, or as little, instruction as you’d like, while enjoying the company of fellow artists.
A full week’s course is designed to offer not only art tuition and an opportunity to paint but a complete and memorable ‘Skiathos experience’, ensuring that you thoroughly enjoy and make the very most of your visit. Classes are conducted both in the studio, ‘en plein air’ and on excursions.

Demonstrating The Ancient Greek Encaustic Technique

Not too many years ago, Francisco Benitez, an artist who divides his time between Santa Fe and Europe, turned from oil painting to encaustic. What made his switch in mediums unique was his extensive background in Classical Greek art and literature. The combination of interests led him to emulate the painting techniques and color palette of the “enkaustai,” the Greek encaustic painters of the Fayum funeral portraits. He has since given encaustic presentations in collaboration with Euphrosyne Doxiadis, the author of The Mysterious Fayum Portraits.
Benitez recently visited us at R&F and gave a demonstration of his working method. He applies the paint with a brush, but models, blends, and fuses the paint with our heated horn in the manner of the Greek painters using heated bronze spatulas. This gives markings in the paint similar to those we see in the Fayum portraits. His color palette is based on the “austere” tradition, known as tetrachromy. The Greek painters of that school relied on the use of only four colors: white (either lead or chalk), black (a very bluish black from charred vines), yellow ochre, and red ochre. From these four colors the entire spectrum was mixed. It is a rigid discipline, but the economy of color produces a beautiful harmony.
Below is a detail of the quick sketch Benitez did showing the marks made with the heated horn along side the marks in a Fayum portrait.

Yanis Stavrou - Greek Painter

Our blog http://greekartists-yannisstavrou.blogspot.com/ is an artistic, cultural guide to the Greek landscapes via Yannis Stavrou's impressionist paintings. At the same time it offers an introduction to the history of Greek fine arts, Greek artists, mainly Greek painters, as well as to the recent artistic movements.
The unique character of Greek landscapes is rediscovered through painting, poetry, culture...Our aim is to present the Greek landscapes in a holistic way as the term itself is holistic. Greek landscapes refer to pictures and images of Greece, to paintings and art, to poetry and literature, to ancient philosophy and history, to contemporary thought and culture...

Exploring Greece

Athos is a republic of monks founded in 963 AD by the monk Athanasios. In 970 the Byzantine Emperor John I Tsimiskis issued an imperial Bulle which guaranteed the autonomy of the republic from Greece. To this day Athos is ruled by an elected body of four abbots, a governor represents Athens. This parchment Bulle, exhibited in the Meghistis Lavra, makes Athos the oldest, chartered autonomous republic in modern times.

Geographically it is the eastern most peninsula of the Chalkidiki, east of Thessaloniki in Northen Greece

To enter Athos one needs two separate permits, one from the secular authorities in Athens or in Thessaloniki, which is issued on the basis of a letter of recommendation by one's embassy, and a ecclesiastical authorities in Thessaloniki which entitles one to board the boat from Ouranoupolis to Limin Daphni, the harbor of the islands administrative town Karyes. 

Yiannos Xenis

Yiannos Xenis was born in Limassol. He studied textile technology, design and fashion design in England and Swtizerland. He started his professional carrier in Milan, Italy.  He worked in various companies as a designer of shoes and knitwear, he worked in America & whilst in Los Angeles he collaborated with costume designer Marlene Steward, her film credits ranging from ‘The Doors’, ‘JFK’, ‘ALI’ & ’21 Grams’.


After 12 years living abroad, he decides to settle in Greece where he was in charge as a designer with a company exporting garments. He established his own company YIANNOS XENI.  His creations were highly praised leading to an extensive international press coverage. He was honoured as guest designer for the exhibition FLASHBACK 100 YEARS IF DESIGN organised by the Municial Art Centre of Nicosia and the British Council.
Yiannos Xenis’ collections are exclusively sold at MEZA showroom in Paris and the ATHENS FASHION SHOWROOM in Athens.

Coffee Down Under

The Greek and Italian Influence

From the 1930’s to 1960’s Greek cafés dominated the Sydney and Melbourne street landscape. They became a focal point for eating, drinking and perhaps more importantly – socialising. Freshly roasted coffee was probably introduced into Australia by three Andronicus brothers who had packed up and left their home in Greece in the late 1800s to build a new life in Australia. Drawing on their wealth of European coffee-making experience the trio established one of Australia's first coffee roasting businesses in 1910, roasting 90kg of coffee every day from a store in George St, Sydney. In 1952 the family imported into the country Australia’s first espresso machine and suddenly Australians started enjoying espresso in the true European tradition. Hundreds of people would stream into their café at lunchtime and drink espressos. Cappuccinos were rare. Caffe lattes and flat whites were non existent. Now three generations on, Grant Andronicus is still heavily involved in the coffee scene in Australia, owning several espresso bars in Sydney.

“Italians may have brought the art of espresso coffee to our fair shores, but it is truly the Greeks who have embraced it and helped to turn it into the amazing social experience that sharing a good cup of coffee is,” quipped the proud Greek Australian, Steve Agi.

Greeks in Australia

As a kid growing up in Melbourne, Louis Mandylor quickly learned one thing about the city’s tight-knit Greek community: it was impossible to keep anything a secret. “Everyone knew everyone else and they all talked,” he says. “I’d show up for soccer practice and my coaches would know everything I had done the night before.” 

Mandylor, a professional soccer player turned actor who played Nick Portokalos in the 2002 blockbuster hit, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” is one of the 300,000 Greek-Australians who call Victoria’s state capital their hometown. It is the largest Greek population outside of Europe. And while Athens may be thousands of miles away, its culture is alive and well here in Australia’s second-largest city.

My name is Khan - February 2010 release

  

MyGreekSpirit, loves a great love story, so we would like to recommend this movie.

My Name is Khan, with our two favorite bollywood actors, Shahrukh Khan and Kajol.

http://www.mynameiskhanthefilm.com/

History alive at the movie theatres in 2010

http://www.percyjacksonthemovie.com/

 http://clash-of-the-titans.warnerbros.com/

On the heels of Latino Review's scoop that the Clash of the Titans remake was being fast-tracked into production at Warner Brothers and that director Stephen Norrington had dropped out, news arrives announcing the newest director. The Incredible Hulk's Louis Leterrier, known previously for the two Transporter films as well, has been quickly hired to direct Clash of the Titans. The film is a remake of the 1981 classic that featured Ray Harryhausen's wonderful stop-motion visual effects and told the story of Perseus and his quest to battle both Medusa and the Kraken monster to save the Princess Andromeda. Can Leterrier move from Marvel's Hulk to Titans so quickly and succeed yet again? I think so!

Read more: http://www.firstshowing.net/2008/06/27/hulks-louis-leterrier-directing-clash-of-the-titans-remake/#ixzz0bRBiArPm

Collider reveals that three producers of the awesome spectacle 300 have picked Tarsem to helm their new project War of Gods, which will be filmed in a similar fashion. Pairing Tarsem's eye with the style of 300 is almost too good to be true. This announcement also seems to cement a new epic fantasy trend, considering recent news about the upcoming Red Sonja and Clash of the Titans remakes also in the works.
War of Gods deals with "battles waged by Theseus, a warrior from Greek mythology, who leads a fight against the imprisoned titans… unlike some mythological tales, gods fight alongside mortals." I'd start getting used to comparisons to Clash to the Titans. Interestingly enough, Warner Brothers considered buying the script for Gods and using it for its Titans remake. In the end, Relativity Media (who usually partners with Universal) acquired the rights to Gods, pitting the two studios against each other in what will be an interesting race to release, similar to what happened with Alexander a few years back. If that wasn't tense enough, Warner Brothers just announced that they've secured The Incredible Hulk director Louis Leterrier for Titans. There seems to be epic battles on every front!

Read more: http://www.firstshowing.net/2008/06/27/tarsem-singhs-next-project-greek-epic-war-of-gods/#ixzz0bRC0bPTZ

Mythological Revival

There were inscriptions above the entrance of the Temple of Apollo at the Oracle of Delphi, and the two most famous were cautionary words of wisdom: ''Know thyself'' and ''Nothing too much.''
Those bits of ancient advice are worth considering as two Hollywood studios hope to launch film franchises that use Greek mythology as the unlikely premise for popcorn entertainment.

LOS ANGELES TIMES

This story was found at: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2010/01/01/1261982390872.html

Grecian Style

Ottoman Stye accomodations

Dedeli Konak combines comfortable cave living and beautifully restored 400 years old -Greek style home and Ottoman style decoration.
Each of the ten guest rooms were designed and decorated with wonderfully traditional carpets and decor that gives our guests a wonderful welcome from the moment you walk through the arched entrance.
This stone cave house is a family-run boutique hotel carved into a mountain cliff  3 years ago.
The family and staff at the Dedeli Konak offer the peace, pleasure and comfort you seek with ten unique quest rooms.

The lunar landscape of Cappadocia is dotted with fairy chimneys, rock castles, underground cities, and cave dwellings - some of which are still lived in today. You too can stay in a cave, as many of the hotels are traditional dwellings that have been luxuriously restored.

Cappadocia has been inhabited since prehistoric times. No one knows when the underground cities were dug out - some say it was the Hittites who began the process. In more recent times, the valleys became home to Orthodox Christian monasteries, and their beautifully decorated churches are one of the regions main attractions.

Famous Olives

No matter which way we look at and how often we discuss it, the fact remains that the Greeks were the first to make olive oil. They didn’t find the tree first, nor did they use it first, but they made the oil first. Whether it was the Minoans in Crete or old King Nestor himself in Pylos is not really important anymore, especially not when it comes to food and eating today. What is important is that we are able to consider everything there is to offer, learn what we can from one another and give unbiased credit where it is due. Today we credit the Greeks and the undeniably important role they play in the production of olive oil.

As scientists tell us, the exact place where the olive tree sprung for the first time is the greater Mediterranean Basin. The first cultivation of the olive tree worldwide took place in Crete, Greece. This happened about 3500 BC in the Early Minoan times. In this period the olive tree was in a wilder form in comparison to the tree we know today. After 2000 BC the cultivation of the olive tree in Crete was very intense and systematic playing the most important role on the island's economy.

Soon after, the cultivation of Olive Oil migrated to Spain and Italy. Today Spain, Greece, and Italy produce over 85% of the world’s total output of Olive Oil.

 The olive oil production was very important in the economy of the Mycenaean civilization (1600-1150 BC). The decipherment of the "Linear B" script brought to light valuable information about the production, the commerce and the export of the olive oil in Mycenaean. In the 6th century BC, Solon, the great Athenian legislator, drafted the first law for the protection of the olive tree excluding the uncontrolled felling. The olive tree was a symbol in ancient civilzations and the olive oil was used not only for its valuable nutritional quality but also for medical purposes. Between the 7th and 3rd centuries BC ancient philosophers, physicians and historians undertook its botanical classifications and referred to the curative properties of olive oil. This knowledge is being "rediscovered" today as modern scientists’ research and find news why the Mediterranean diet is so healthy.

Astrologia - Litsa Patera

Περιοδικό «ΑΣΤΡΟΛΟΓΟΣ». Οδηγεί τα βήµατά σας και το 2010!

Διαβάστε στον ετήσιο, εορταστικό, τριπλό συλλεκτικό «ΑΣΤΡΟΛΟΓΟ» που κυκλοφορεί τις αναλυτικές προβλέψεις της Λίτσας Πατέρα για όλο το 2010 για κάθε ζώδιο, κάθε µήνα και κάθε δεκαήµερο χωριστά. Ανακαλύψτε επίσης τι σηµαίνει ο Ισηµερινός Ωροσκόπος σε όλα τα ζώδια. Μάθετε τι θα φέρει η νέα χρονιά σε παγκόσµιο πολιτικό, κοινωνικό και οικονοµικό επίπεδο, µια χρονιά κατά την οποία θα κριθεί η εξουσία. Διαβάστε επίσης αναλυτικές προβλέψεις για όλη τη χρονιά σύµφωνα µε τον προσωπικό σας ωροσκόπο, αλλά και σύµφωνα µε την Ινδική και την Κινέζικη Αστρολογία. Μάθετε ακόµη τι αποκαλύπτει η τράπουλα Ταρώ τη νέα χρονιά για κάθε ζώδιο, αλλά διαβάστε και τις ετήσιες προβλέψεις για την πορεία του Χρηµατιστηρίου. Αν είστε γυναίκα, ακολουθήστε τις συµβουλές της αισθητικού µας για να αναδείξετε την οµορφιά σας µε αφορµή τη βραδιά του ρεβεγιόν. Τέλος, δείτε τις προτάσεις µας για να στολίσετε µε πρωτότυπο τρόπο το σπίτι σας τις γιορτές.

Happy New Years starts in Sydney Australia

Watch the entire fireworks in Sydney Australia- Under explosive bursts of crimson, purple and blue, more than 1 million New Year revelers in Sydney got one of the world's biggest parties started Thursday — bidding farewell to the tough year that was 2009 and welcoming a new decade.

As the family-friendly, pre-midnight fireworks show illuminated Australia's largest city, preparations were under way across the world for pyrotechnics, parties and prayers in the final countdown to herald the end of the period dubbed "the Noughties."

The mood of celebrations was tempered in some places by the effects of the financial downturn, which bit hard in 2009, sending economies into recession, causing millions to lose their jobs and home foreclosures to rise dramatically in some countries.

Once in a blue moon there is one on New Year's Eve.
Revelers ringing in 2010 will be treated to a so-called blue moon. According to popular definition, a blue moon is the second full moon in a month. But don't expect it to be blue — the name has nothing to do with the color of our closest celestial neighbor.
The New Year's Eve blue moon will be visible in the United States, Canada, Europe, South America and Africa. For partygoers in Australia and Asia, the full moon does not show up until New Year's Day, making January a blue moon month for them.
However, the Eastern Hemisphere can celebrate with a partial lunar eclipse on New Year's Eve when part of the moon enters the Earth's shadow. The eclipse will not be visible in the Americas.
A full moon occurred on Dec. 2. It will appear again on Thursday in time for the New Year's countdown.
"If you're in Times Square, you'll see the full moon right above you. It's going to be that brilliant," said Jack Horkheimer, director emeritus of the Miami Space Transit Planetarium and host of a weekly astronomy TV show.
A full moon occurs every 29.5 days, and most years have 12. On average, an extra full moon in a month — a blue moon — occurs every 2.5 years. The last time there was a lunar double take was in May 2007. New Year's Eve blue moons are rarer, occurring every 19 years. The last time was in 1990; the next one won't come again until 2028.
Blue moons have no astronomical significance, said Greg Laughlin, an astronomer at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
"'Blue moon' is just a name in the same sense as a 'hunter's moon' or a 'harvest moon,'" Laughlin said in an e-mail.
The popular definition of blue moon came about after a writer for Sky & Telescope magazine in 1946 misinterpreted the Maine Farmer's Almanac and labeled a blue moon as the second full moon in a month. In fact, the almanac defined a blue moon as the third full moon in a season with four full moons, not the usual three.
Though Sky & Telescope corrected the error decades later, the definition caught on. For purists, however, this New Year's Eve full moon doesn't even qualify as a blue moon. It's just the first full moon of the winter season.
In a tongue-in-cheek essay posted on the magazine's Web site this week, senior contributing editor Kelly Beatty wrote: "If skies are clear when I'm out celebrating, I'll take a peek at that brilliant orb as it rises over the Boston skyline to see if it's an icy shade of blue. Or maybe I'll just howl."
___
Alicia Chang of The Associated Press wrote this report.

Welcoming the New Year

Families typically gather on New Year’s Eve to renew ties, welcome the new year together and partake in a number of traditions all having to do with good fortune, health/longevity and prosperity for a new stage of life.

In addition to a dinner of lamb or roast pork with an extra place set for Ag. Vassili at the table, everyone plays cards or other games of chance to not only pass the time until midnight, but also because it is considered a lucky night whether you win or lose. Many use euro cents to keep the game friendly.

Why a pomegranate? The pomegranate is a fruit with a history going back to ancient times and figures prominently in mythology. It is widely revered as a symbol of regeneration, fertility, prosperity and the inseparable marriage of life and death.

Duality of the pomegranate is best illustrated in the myth about Persephone, who was both daughter of Demeter (goddess of grain, harvest, seasons and fertility) and Demeter’s younger self. Hades, god of the underworld, abducted Persephone and would not let her return to Earth, thus leaving it barren and infertile in Demeter’s depression. When Zeus sent Hermes to retrieve Persephone, she had already eaten six pomegranate seeds, which committed her to return to the underworld for six months each year. The seasons of spring, summer and fall represent the six months when Persephone is happily reunited with Demeter on Earth  

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The Rome production of Persephone is directed by Beppe Menegattiwho earlier created a version for Palermo in the 1970's with Carla Fracci in the lead. Fracci, now Artistic Director of the Rome company, is in the new production, this time as Demeter. The myth is rich and complex with a feast of characters including Eumolpus (a narrator and scene setter), Demeter (Persephone's Mother who gives her name to a cult), Persephone (in this production split into two - an actress/narrator and dancer); in the underworld there are Pluto and Mercury and many others too. Narcissus flowers, corn and pomegranates all play their part in a fantastical tale with an appropriate ending in which, for once, no one dies. In short form: the beautiful Persephone is lured from earth to the underworld full of "People without hope, pale, unquiet and sorrowful" whose king is Pluto and who ravishes her. But Mercury helps Persephone see the earth she has left - cold and unhappy, as her mother searches for her, and she returns in triumph and marries only to be drawn back to the underworld each winter to ease the lot of its sad souls. She's a good-natured girl at heart and nowadays would do charity work rather than go on a fun-loving gap year I suspect.

Read more:

The Vasilopeta can either be a cake or bread. In our household, we make the cake version. This is a passed down recipe and there's nothing spectacular about this cake. It's a simple cake with a pound cake like texture. In the Greek household, however, this cake is more about tradition mingled with religious symbolism than a dessert.

This cake is usually made on the last day of the year and served right after the stroke of midnight or during New Year's Day. The head of the household lightly passes a knife, three times, in a cross formation, without scoring or cutting the cake, while saying a prayer of thanks for all that has been received in the past year and all that will come in the New Year.

The Vasilopeta is then cut into servings. The first three pieces are offered to: St. Basil, Christ (also known as: "The Zityano" - The Beggar) and The Virgin Mary. The order may vary, depending on the background and origin of the family, but they always come first. The following servings are cut for "The House" (the family's household) and then the immediate family members living in it, beginning with the oldest member and ending with the youngest. Then come the spouses of the children. Some of us also cut a few crumbs for our pets; we really shouldn't, but we do.

As for the coin, it's said that the person who finds it will be the lucky one for the rest of the year. This is superstition; though, it does make for a great scavenger hunt, especially when no one has found the coin and someone pops up and says: "Did you forget to stick the coin into the peta?" Or, even better, the most anxious family member will lift up the peta off the platter and look underneath to see if they can spot the coin. Then of course, everyone turns to the remaining cake to search for it. In our family, as with most Greek families, the Vasilopeta isn't about the cake and coin. It's about stopping, appreciating, as well as being thankful, for what we have: our health and prosperity. Anything else is secondary. Happy New Year.!!

Fire of Anatolia

 

The Fire of Anatolia or Anadolu Ateşi is a Turkish dance group consisting of 120 dancers, several choreographers and other technical staff. The group has performed in more than 60 countries from the USA to China and Japan, in front of an audience of approximately 10 million people altogether^[1]. Fire of Anatolia holds two Guinness records, one for fastest dance performance^[2] with 241 steps per minute^[3] and another for largest audience, 400 000 people in Ereğli, in the Black Sea Region of the country^[4]. The head of the group is Mustafa Erdoğan.

The group had its first performances in 2001 and started a world tour a year later, already under the name Fire of Anatolia. The number of dancers now reaches 120, which means that the group is able to perform the same show in two or three different locations at the same time. According to Erdoğan, Fire of Anatolia is currently among the three largest dance groups in the world.^[5]. The dance group has performed so far in more than 40 countries, including the USA, Germany, Switzerland, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Russia, Qatar, China, Japan, Kazakhstan, France, Egypt just in front of the Pyramids and The Netherlands

The programs they currently perform are named Fire of Anatolia and Dawool, the latter of which is "built on rhythm. It begins with a religious scene, then a romantic duet and continues with drum sessions. We wanted to reflect Istanbul with it, its multiculturalism, the mixture of cultures and religions" (Oktay Keresteci, ballet coreographer)^{[6] 
*Wikipedia*}

Kaiti Garbi

Kaiti Garbi

Garbi began her singing career with her younger sister, Liana, as the "Garbi Sisters" when she was just 15 years old and Liana 13. Due to their age, their father was against their work as singers, but he did not want to stand in the way of the promising future that he felt their talent offered them. They are most remembered for the backup vocals they provided at Yannis Floriniotis's performances in the early eighties.

Breaking away from the duo with her sister Liana, Garbi recorded her first solo song "Sain Trope" that quickly became a hit. Her official debut in discography came in 1987, when she appeared as one of the artists on a new compilation album called Ta Deka Dekaria alongside other new singers including Manto, Polina, Sophia Vossou and Laurentis Mahairitsas. In addition to "Sain Trope", contribution also included a duet with Kostas Haritodiplomenos titled "Glyka". With the success of the first album, the second volume was released in 1989 which featured Garbi in two new songs titled "Ah, Afto Mou Aresei" and "Zo Na S'Agapo". These early songs grabbed the attention of Greek music executives, and led her to her first record contract with CBS Records Greece, paving the way for her first studio album in 1989.
^{*wikipedia*
http://www.garbofans.gr}

Areti Ketime - Ellada Mou (my Greece)

Do you believe in God????? lololol

Guido Hatzis is a Greek-Australian comic character created by Australian comedians Tony Moclair and Julian Schiller and voiced by Moclair. Guido appeared originally in the context of Schiller and Moclair's radio program "Crud" on the Australian Radio Network Triple M. Several albums have been released in the name of Guido Hatzis, including Do Not Talk Over Me in 1999, Whatever in 2000, and Deported in 2002. Most of Hatzis's comedy involves making prank calls that are usually centred on outrageous claims about his looks and abilities, Greek stereotypes, and extreme rudeness. Moclair appropriated the last name "Hatzis" from friend and sometime producer of the "Crud" program, fellow broadcaster and actor Chris Hatzis; Chris Hatzis, Julian Schiller and Tony Moclair are alumni of the Breakfasters on Melbourne's 3RRR. Chris Hatzis based the character on fellow school friend Paul Catelaris aka "Pauly", a greek guru who migrated to Melbourne from Athens in the late 1980s. *wikipedia*

Rare Footage - Very funny lolol

Classic Jackson

Xronia Polla apo to Greek Spirit kai apo to Evros !!! Merry Xmas everyone

Folk rituals of Vagia 
The girls of the village walk form one house to another with Vagia, the doll they make the night before and sing the songs of Vagia. They accept treats and go back home and ritually destroy the doll they made while singing eastern songs of the area.
ΚΑΛΑΝΤΑ 1927 KALANTA ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥΓΕΝΝΑ XRISTOYGENNA

Enjoy the Mandolin, AGAIN, and AGAIN

About the film Captain Corelli's Mandolin

The idyllic beauty of Greece's Mediterranean coast has been invaded by Italy, bringing legions of soldiers to the once tranquil, magical island of Kephalonia. Captain Antonio Corelli (played by Nicholas Cage),  an officer with an irrepressibly jovial personality and passion for the mandolin, initially alienates a number of the villagers, including Pelagia. The daughter of the village doctor, Pelagia (played by Penelope Cruz) is an educated and strong-willed woman, and while at first offended by the Italian soldier's behavior, she slowly warms to his certain charms as they are forced to share her father's home. When Pelagia's fiancee, a local fisherman, heads off to war, the friendship between Antonio and Pelagia grows even stronger. Her beauty and intelligence have captured his heart, and his fondness for the village's vibrant community causes him to question his reasons for fighting. Antonio becomes a part of the lives of the villagers, but the moment is fleeting. As the war grows ever closer, Antonio and Pelagia are forced to choose between their allegiance to their countries and the love they feel for one another-a love which must overcome tremendous odds, and endure the inevitable sacrifice which accompanies eternal devotion.

Source: Written by Sujit R. Varma http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0238112/plotsummary

 

go smell the coffee

Movies don’t only make stars of actors; they can make great advertisements for destinations. Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy had a phenomenal impact on tourism in his native New Zealand, and the Greek island of Cephallonia enjoyed a surge in visitors following the big screen adaptation of bestselling book Captain Corelli’s Mandolin.
Greece looks set to enjoy another tourist boom this summer with the release of Mamma Mia!, the ABBA musical set on a Greek island, and My Life in Ruins, the first feature film granted permission to shoot at the Parthenon. Much of My Life in Ruins was actually filmed in Alicante, Spain, where production costs are cheaper, but the Greek tourist board is hoping movie-goers won’t spot the difference.
After all, Montenegro became hip overnight after Casino Royale, even though the scenes in question were filmed in the Czech Republic.
No matter how cheesy, a movie that features ABBA’s anthems is sure to be a feel-good hit. Mamma Mia!
(released on 11 July) stars Meryl Streep as Donna Sheridan, who is forced to confront her wayward past when three ex-lovers show up for her daughter’s wedding on a Greek island. Director Phyllida Lloyd scoured the country by helicopter to find the perfect island locations, finally choosing Skopelos and Skiathos, renowned for their pristine beaches fringed by pine forests. Teenage girls descended on the islands en masse last September, hoping for a glimpse of Colin Firth or Pierce Brosnan. While most of the film’s stars stayed at the swanky Skiathos Palace Hotel overlooking sandy Koukounaries Bay, ABBA’s Benny and Björn holed up on a huge yacht to keep the paparazzi at bay. From cosmopolitan Skiathos, take a short trip by ferry or hydrofoil to sleepier Skopelos. Go for a dip at Kastani beach, where Donna’s beach bar stood. Recapture the film’s romance by climbing the steep steps to Agios Ioannis chapel, where the wedding scene was shot. The Agnanti restaurant (+30 24240 33076, agnanti-rest.gr) in nearby Glossa has been serving inventive cuisine since 1953. The cast and crew partied at the Adrina Beach Hotel taverna (+30 24240 23373, adrina.gr), where the hot dish is spaghetti with lobster. After hours, head for Platanos Jazz Bar (+30 24240 23661) in Skopelos town, where Brosnan enjoyed a beer or two.

 Read all about the movie

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Greece's TOP MODEL

The Next Top Model is a Greek reality television show that forms part of the Top Model series. Greek supermodel Vicky Kaya (Greek: Βίκυ Καγιά) assumes the role of Tyra Banks from the original series as the head of the search as well as a mentor for the contestants.[1] The number of contestants is 17 and the number of applications reached approximately 5000. Many of the applications have been sent in from abroad, which means that some of the contestants are from other countries. The show premiered on 12 October 2009.
The basic premise of the series is a group of young female contestants who live together in a house for several weeks whilst taking part in various challenges, photo shoots and meetings with members of the modeling industry. Normally, one poor-performing contestant is eliminated each week until the last contestant remaining is declared "The Next Top Model" and receives a modeling contract along with other associated prizes. *wikipedia*

Gamo tin Comedia tou Giannis

Giannis Zouganelis is a successful Greek composer, musician, and comedian, who was born in Athens.

At a pre-school age he started learning Byzantine music with a teacher at the church of St. Nicolas in Athens. During his early school years, he studied guitar and theory of music at the Greek Odium, Athens.

Giannis continued his studies at the National Odium of Greece, where he was first taught the piano, harmony and counterpoint. A determinant at his musical studies was the composer Nick Mamagakis, who taught his orchestration and rhythmics.

In 1975, Giannis won the first composition award for his 'Ten Byzantine Essays' in a competition organized by the Greek Department of Culture, a work of music for small symphony orchestra and mixed chorus.

The Academy of Athens rewarded him with a scholarship, and so Giannis went on to study composition and drama at the Academy of Arts of Munich, from which he graduated with honours. Since 1987, Giannis is emiritus professor at the University of Munich.

Giannis continues to compose music for theatrical shows, cinema, television as well for ballet shows. His first work in discography was in 1972 at the age of fifteen and to present date has released over 50 albums.

Giannis' albums consist of mostly instrumental music or music based on the Ancient Greek culture and is amongst the few Greek composers whose albums have been released worldwide.

Greek Books by Greek Authors
Bus Safety by Leo Foreo
Automobile Maintenance by Mick Hanicos
Home Electrical Tips by Alek Trologos
Chinese for Greeks by Ken Ezos
Map Reading for Dummies by Olie Hathicame
Reducing Stress by Dan Meniazi
Unemployment Tips by Tam Bellis
Easy BBQ Recipes by Lou Kaniko
Vegetarian Cooking by Mel Inzanes
Killing Time by Perry Meno
Drink Less & Enjoy Life by Al Kaholicos
Journalism by Effie Meritha
Gardening by Lou Louthi
Cooking by Lou Koumathes & Pat Sticho
Hobbies by Tina Kano (not relatead to Tina Kaneis LOL)
Reading & Comprehension by Den Katalaveno
Pencil Making by Mo Levi
Dancing American Indian Style by Chief Tedeli
BBQ Preparation by Sue Vlaki
Disappearing Acts by Anna Hathis
Peace by Irini Pasi
Unwanted Hair Removal by Harry Kolos
Winters by Connie Krio
How to Please a Man by Connie Erota

Notable Greek Canadians

List of notable Greek Canadians

Politicians

• Eleni Bakopanos - Liberal MP for Saint-Denis since 1993
• Staff Barootes - Former Conservative Senator
• Marie Bountrogianni - Liberal MPP for Hamilton Mountain since 1999
• John Cannis - Liberal MP for Scarborough Centre since 1993
• Philippe Gigantès - Former Liberal Senator
• Maurine Karagianis - New Democratic Party of British Columbia MLA, former Esquimalt, British Columbia municipal councillor
• Jim Karygiannis - Liberal MP for Scarborough—Agincourt since 1988
• Constantine George Mitges - Former PC MP, first Greek elected federally
• George Samis - Former Ontario New Democratic Party MPP, first Greek elected in Canada to a Legislature
• Christos Sirros - former Quebec Liberal MNA and provincial cabinet minister

 Maurine Karagianis (born August 17, 1950) is a Canadian politician, currently the New Democratic Party MLA for the riding of Esquimalt-Metchosin in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.
She was first elected in the 2005 election, garnering almost 50 percent of votes cast and 2,895 more votes than the next closest candidate.^[1]
In August 2007, Karagianis was appointed the Official Opposition Critic for the Ministry of Transportation in New Democrat leader Carole James' shadow cabinet. She had previously served as the Official Opposition Critic for the Ministry Children and Family Development, and, prior to that, the Ministry of Small Business and Revenue.
Prior to serving as an MLA, she was elected as a municipal councillor in Esquimalt in 1996, and re-elected in 1999 and again in 2002. She is an entrepreneur, opening her own retail fashion store, operating a wholesale venture and a successful import/export business. She was also a co-founder of the Sunshine Folkfest in Powell River, BC.
Starting in 1998, she served three years with the provincial government as assistant to three NDP cabinet ministers – first in the Social Services ministry and then in Transportation and Highways. She recently ran a consulting company that works with non-profit organizations and First Nations communities to create affordable housing. *wikipedia*

Heroes fight like Greeks

"We will not say thereafter that the Greeks fight like heroes, but heroes fight like the Greeks!"

Winston Churchill