We love fish, we eat fish, BUT we did not know much about Greek fish, their names, methods of cooking, which one is the king of all, which ones have the most Ω3, and a lot more.
This is part of our “Meet the Greek products” visits which we’ve organized for the English speaking community “Newcomers in Athens”, as well as for the French community “Athènes Accueil“. The photos are from both visits.
***
Thanassis, the fish monger, in fluent English explained everything, answered all our questions, and showed us the fish “live”
Another thing that people loved was the rest of the shops in the market, like the amazing butcher shop, the fruit and vegetable shop, the cheese shop, and all the others.
We stayed there a lot longer than we had expected, just to look around and do our weekly provisions.
Then, as always, we went to the one and only taverna in the market for a lunch with….fish, of course!
We enjoyed another one of Elli’s guided tours at the Acropolis Museum with a large group aged from 4 to …. While the parents were attending the tour, we (Yannis, Aris and Katerina), doing the family activities of the museum with the little ones.
The guided tour at the Ancient Agora was one of the most interesting and successful tours. It was a very hot day, in spite of the weather forecast, that had announced clouds, so Elli tried to do all the tour in the shade under the trees. Through her stories, we could actually picture a typical day of an Athinian. She was amazing as usual !
After the tour, some of us went to the food festival at Technopolis Gazi, where he had the chance to taste flavors from all over Greece. Many thanks to Athinorama for their special OFFER of 2 for 1 tickets, as well as the FREE invitations they offered to our group so generously.
Or better, we knew A LOT about Plaka, but not all…
***
… and then, along came Aristotelis, to disclose secrets spots that we had not been aware of, like the house with the glass floor and the ruins underneath, the importance of the Tower of the Winds in the everyday life of the Athenians, the house with the statue at its facade, and a lot more…
***
The Mascot of our Tour !!!
We began our Tour where the previous one (“Must See Athens”) had finished, at Hadrian’s Arch.
Strolling around Plaka
A “Polikatikia” with … a glass floor !
The bell of independence
Temple of The Winds
Hadrian’s Library
It was a tour that we all enjoyed very much and it was followed (as always), by lunch at a picturesque beer spot in Psyrri, where we will be hosting a beer tasting event in the near future.
“We had a very interested follower last weekend on the “Must See Plaka” tour in Athens. He walked with us, he stopped were we stopped, and he seemed to understand most of the history we were told by our great guide Aristoteles”.
Comment & photo by our friend Kim.
We are starting a new series of visits to small – mostly unknown – Museums, art galleries, exhibitions and workshops. Let’s meet:
Little Hidden Gems in Athens
***
Spyros Vassiliou (1903-1985) was a Greek painter, printmaker, illustrator, and stage designer. He became widely recognized for his work starting in the 1930s, when he received the Benaki Prize from the Athens Academy. The recipient of a Guggenheim Prize for Greece (in 1960), Spyros Vassiliou’s works have been exhibited in galleries throughout Europe, in the United States, and Canada.
Spyros Vassiliou became recognized as a painter of the transformation of the modern urban environment, depicting with an unwavering eye the sprawl of urban development that surrounded his home in Athens, under the walls of the Parthenon. His artistic identity combined monochrome backgrounds and the unorthodox positioning of objects. He paid homage to the Byzantine icon by floating symbols of everyday Greek life on washes of gold or sea-blue color, very much like the religious symbols that float on gold in religious art. With oils and watercolours he painted natural and urban space, portraits, still-life, and scenes of daily living, combining selective elements of cubism and impressionism. A member of an important community of Greek artists in the mid-20th century, Vassiliou was known as one of the first Greek pop-art painters.
Sourse: wikipedia.org
Do NOT miss the “Little Hidden Gems in Athens” Tours
In our continuous efforts to enrich our knowledge of the Ancient Greek history and culture, and provide expats and guests with a profound understanding of Greece, its people, its culture and timeless spirit. we are proud and honoured to announce our cooperation with Diazoma, one of the most prestigious organizations dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of Ancient Greek Theatres.
***
My journey to ‘DIAZOMA’ has been a long one with many ports of call: Kalamata, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of the Interior, Administration and Decentralization, Ministry of the Aegean. On the way I have been involved with the reconstruction of a town destroyed by earthquake, the enhancement of its historical centre, cultural networks, CastrorumCircumnavigatio, a programme on ancient theatres, island policies, Citizen Service Centres… Ports of call en route to a destination of which I am not yet aware, which has not yet taken a specific shape.
Caring for monuments has always been a special part of my life. I cannot look upon them as ruins, as something dead. I see in them living organisms transmitting messages of knowledge, wisdom, aesthetics, harmony, dialogue with the environment and nature, as transmitting messages of life. And I have always disagreed with the classic treatment of monuments, that which treats them as museum pieces, which puts them to one side, on the margins of our era, which is blind to their secret life, which ignores their own adaptability and harmonization with every historical period.
That is why, wherever I have passed, I have tried in every way to include them in the daily life of the place and the people. From the Neoclassical buildings of Kalamata and the restoration of the town’s historical centre to the opening of archaeological sites on summer nights with a full moon, all my actions have been in the same direction, aimed at the same ultimate target and inspired by the same philosophy.
Small Theatre of Ancent Epidavros
Τhe ancient theatres are unique examples of exceptional architecture. Culminating achievements of ancient Greek civilization. Works of art built to host works of art. Buildings that concentrate in their structure, their parts and their details the originality, the grace, the sagacity, the expression of democracy and of citizens’ participation. In other words, the best of what the Greek spirit offers. Buildings which have been keeping the usefulness and the uniqueness of their form alive and up to date for centuries.
These characteristics led me to combine my ideas on monuments with ancient theatres. I started this particular endeavour five or six years ago. I failed. ‘Wherever you fail go back and wherever you succeed leave’, says Kazantzakis. I paid him heed. A couple of years ago, I returned. It seems that the right moment had come. The time was now ripe for a more dynamic confrontation of the monuments. The time was ripe for certain things to go ahead, because we take their fortunes into our own hands. And we help them to proceed. We take part in their development. The time was now ripe for creating a Movement of Citizens, of a large group of people, which can see beyond the miserly limits of a short-sighted age, which feels the primary right to demand transcendence of the dreary daily routine, by including monuments in our daily life.
At once I found myself surrounded by an enthusiastic and dynamic group of people, which widened in the blink of an eye. All of them, ‘as one long prepared…’ Scholars, intellectuals, artists, people in local government and pro-active citizens embraced ‘DIAZOMA’. Fellow-citizens who have decided that the research, study, protection, enhancement and, wherever feasible, the use of ancient theatres and other venues for spectators and listeners, such as ancient odeia and stadia, are also their concern. And they are resolved to take these monuments’ fortunes into their own hands, to work together dynamically, as helpers of the State and the services responsible, in the major task of including ancient theatres in modern life.
In this section, Mr. Stavros Benos, chairman of “DIAZOMA“, shares his impressions from touring all over Greece. Joining him in these visits are the heads of the regional services from the Ministry of Culture, local authority representatives, residents and “DIAZOMA” members from each particular area.
These tours have three main objectives:
to help compose a well-defined “monument inventory”, both in the scientific and sociopolitical sense (availability/response of local communities etc.)
to bring together in joint action all parties necessary for the restoration/showcasing of important monuments (archaeologists, local authorities, etc.)
to raise public awareness about the tremendous value of these monuments, not only in the context of historical and cultural heritage, but as a part of contemporary Greek society. This can be achieved via press conferences and open debate sessions with the public.
Become a member If you believe that the most beautiful and the most symbolic monuments in Greece, the ancient theatres, should be brought back to life. If you believe that for great plans and grand dreams to become reality they must be embraced by us all.
Our second “Little Hidden Gems in Athens” visit will amaze you ! When we visited this exhibition to prepare our visit, we were astounded ! We are going to be introduced into the world of “The inventions of the Ancient Greeks” an exhibition at Herakleidon Museum, 16 Herakleidon str. Thission.,
Some words about the exhibition from the museum’s website:
The exhibition “The amazing inventions of the ancient Greeks” presents functional models of some of the most extraordinary ancient Greek inventions, a selection of the exhibits of the Museum of Ancient Greek Technology Kostas Kotsanas that operates at Katakolon port and Ancient Olympia. These models were constructed after a long and extensive study of ancient Greek, Latin and Arabic literature, information from vase painting and the few relevant archaeological finds.
This exhibition aims to demonstrate that the technology of the ancient Greeks, just before the end of the ancient Greek world, was shockingly similar to the beginning of our modern technology. An important cultural initiative, which promotes Greece internationally as the foundation of Western civilization.
Please apply as soon as possible, because the size of the group is limited to 17 people
by the museum, as the exhibition rooms are quite small.
If there are more than 17 participants, we can form a second group, either the same day right after the first one (will begin approx. at 14:30), or on another date.
In your application email please inform us if you are coming to the taverna after the tour, because they have to know the number of people coming and fix a menu in advance, so all people could be served on time. (it’s a Saturday)
One of our #sharingtheathenswelove Tours during the holidays was a huge challenge: we had to combine the interests of the grandparents, parents and children… three generations at the same time ! Our son Giannis was in charge of the children and we don’t know who enjoyed it more, the kids or himself. We have to say it was a big success and an even bigger satisfaction. Here are some highlights of the tour:
“Sharing the Athens we Love Tour”: Every time different, one step ahead
Heading to Cape Sounion, our first stop is Lavrion Photo: diakonima.gr On such a hot day, we had to take a swim before we carried on to the Temple of Poseidon. the Temple of Poseidon the view The sunset … After driving along the coast line, we ended up at Vouliagmani Lake for an ice cream and beer Stay tuned by following us on Pinterest:
Following our exceptional visit to Nemea in October, where Pr. Miller, except for the tour he gave us, spoke to us in depth about his dream concerning the revival of the Nemean Games, we would like to inform you that if you want to be part of history and participate in the Nemean Games 2016, here is what you have to do:
CLICK ON: nemean games for the Nemean Games Trailer
June 11-12, 2016
If you would like to participate in the next (6th) Nemean Games, and in a revival of the Olympic Spirit, you must register before May 1, 2016. There are no registration fees.
ATTENTION! The 7.5 kilometers race “In the Footsteps of Herakles” will take palce ONLY on Saturday, June 11, 2016. Please, whether you register directly electronically or send your registration form to us, do not omit to fill in every space. Please also write your name and surname with lower case letters (e.g. John Green, not JOHN GREEN) and if you write in Greek characters, don’t forget to use accent marks.
Sixth Nemead, June 10-12, 2016 (tentative schedule)
Friday, June 10, 6:30 p.m.
at Temple of Nemean Zeus:
Greetings
Sacred Truce (Ekecheria) Crowns Nemea
Jelena Jovanovic Bakopoulou sings “Ode to Nemea”
Torch is lighted at the Altar of Zeus, and Truce and Nemea carry the torch in procession toward the stadium
Armed ancient troops “Leonidas” lay down weapons as the torch passes
at the Ancient Stadium:
The torch enters
Nemea Municipal Philharmonic and the New Choir of Nemea perform “You the Flame” and selections from “Ode to Nemea”
The stadium altar is lighted by Nemea with the torch
The start of the Sixth Nemead is inaugurated by H.E. the President of the Hellenic Republic Mr. Prokopios Pavlopoulos
National Anthem
8:30 p.m. at the Main Square in front of the City Hall of Nemea:
Performance of “Greece! The Musical” by students from the Primary School “Olga Milosevic” of Smederevska Palanka, Serbia
***
Saturday, June 11, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Footraces in the stadium in groups of twelve organized by age and gender
4:30 p.m. to Ancient Kleonai: the 7.5 km “Footsteps of Herakles” race
7: 30 p.m. In the stadium: Closing ceremonies
Concert by local choral groups
Entrance of Priestesses and Judges (Ambassadors)
Award of the official Sixth Nemead pin to all participants
Entrance of victors and award of crowns of wild celery
Speeches
Prayer to Earth
Extinguishing the Flame
Trumpet Farewell
9:30 p.m. reception for the participants
***
Sunday, June 12
*
10:30 a.m. in the stadium: exhibition of the ancient Pankration
1 p.m. in the city hall of Nemea: presentation of two new Nemean books
7 p.m. in the stadium: performance of the “Nemeada” poem and music of Nemean myth and history
About the rivival of the Nemean Games:
“It is our belief that the modern Olympic Games, despite their obvious success in many respects, have become increasingly removed from the average person. Our goal is the participation, on the sacred ancient earth of Greece, of anyone and everyone, in games that will revive the spirit of the Olympics. We will achieve this by reliving authentic ancient athletic customs in the ancient stadium of Nemea.”
Statement of the Purpose of the Society, December 30, 1994
The Society for the Revival of the Nemean Games is a movement born from nearly 40 years of excavation by the University of California at Berkeley in the panhellenic Sanctuary of Zeus at Nemea, Greece, and from the enthusiasm and dedication of local residents of Nemea who feel that they could make an important contribution to today’s world because of their personal ties to Nemea.
It was at Nemea that the ancient Greeks celebrated athletic and religious festivals that were part of the cycle of games at Delphi, Isthmia, and (best known today) Olympia. It was at one of these four sites that, for a brief period each year, wars and hostilities were suspended by a sacred truce, and all Greeks gathered in recognition of their common humanity. This impulse toward peace – albeit limited to a few days each year – was the first in the history of mankind on an organized, regular, and international scale. Thus, the festivals at Nemea, Olympia, Delphi, and Isthmia are the direct ancestors of today’s United Nations and Olympic movement. The ancient stadium discovered at Nemea is, therefore, an important monument in the history of such institutions.
The Olympic movement has become an ever more important and complex international event, and a symbol of the nobler aspirations of our human race. But it has also become increasingly removed from those who are not extraordinarily athletically gifted. The average person, inspired by the ancient lessons of peace and hopeful of participation in the movement finds even the role of spectator difficult to fulfill at the modern Olympics.
The Society for the Revival of the Nemean Games believes that there is scope for the average person to participate in such an international athletic festival where no records will be kept and no medals awarded. Races will be organized by gender and age, and participants will be rewarded only by bare feet sore from contact with the same stones and the same soil where ancient feet ran more than 2,000 years ago.
The Sixth Nemead will take place on June 11, 2016. For more details about the organization and significance of the games, see ANCIENT BASIS; for a living image of the games, see STEP INTO HISTORY; to participate, see RUN.
“LIVIN’ AND LOVIN’ IT IN GREECE” STRONGLY SUPPORTS THE REVIVAL OF THE NEMEAN GAMES
In this section, Mr. Stavros Benos, chairman of “DIAZOMA“, shares his impressions from touring all over Greece. Joining him in these visits are the heads of the regional services from the Ministry of Culture, local authority representatives, residents and “DIAZOMA” members from each particular area.
