Wedding in Sifnos

Can you imagine being this bride and walking towards your future husband and following the narrow cobble stone road… the only path that can lead you to one of the most stunning Greek island churches? What an amazing and once in a lifetime feeling…

The modern and stylish wedding took place in the Church of the Seven Martyrs in Kastros, a small island village where no cars are permitted within the center. The picturesque church with the traditional aesthetic from the Cyclades islands, was built on a mountainous hill. The view from the church is intense…however after a while when you get used to it, serenity overwhelms you. This church is actually one of the most photographed churches of Sifnos.

A perfect wedding ceremony location with an utterly fascinating backdrop. Ideal and certainly a dream come true for a couple that is truly and deeply in love.

The location of this Greek island church is the most appealing: at a first glance it seems as if the church was built “in the sea”. Majestic and mysterious, surrounded by the deep blue Aegean waters.

One of the many reasons a couple may choose Sifnos as their wedding destination is the fact that the wedding can be themed as a holiday vacation for all friends and family and the perfect opportunity to create priceless memories for all.

The characteristic Cycladic architecture is undoubtedly very impressive with the white washed walls and the round blue dome. The island of Sifnos actually has the highest number of churches compared to its size and it has been said that “Sifnos has about 365 churches… one for every single day of the year”.

Sifnos maintains the traditional architecture of the Cycladian islands. The beauty of the island is mesmerizing. The white houses, the windmills, the stone graveled roads, the traditional villages and the exotic beaches all together create the perfect wedding destination.

 

Salty Summer Breeze with Salty Bags

It all started because of the wave. I will never forget that wave.  It was nothing like the waves I had crossed in the Aegean. Summer waves of the Aegean sea are brisk, cool and mostly predictable, like the meltemi winds that air-condition the Cyclades islands and form them. This wave was man made, terrifying in it’s energy and made of sound.

I was a volunteer at the Olympic sailing venue at Agios Kosmas. My job was to take out important foreign journalists and show them the various racecourses. I had just moored my powerboat and was waiting for the next batch of journalists to come and report that the Olympics were going as planned etc. etc. when I heard its haphazard rolling boom. It was made out of more than two hundred volunteers who took turns screaming and cheering, tens of R.I.Bs, powerboats, day cruisers with cameras bobbing about their sterns, sounding their fog-horns hoarse, and hundreds of hands clapping below teary faces. It rolled over the sea wall effortlessly like a hurricane, and filled the Olympic marina, crashing and booming into our chests so that if you didn’t know why it was happening some primeval urge would have pushed you to run away. In an instant it owned everyone who was there, it owned the marina, it owned the passing cars it owned the hours and minutes that were to come. We came under the spell of the wave and would remain so till we passed out exhausted, drained from partying, dancing and cheering well into the next morning.

The wave was created by two twenty-something year olds racing for Greece in a little sailboat 470cm long called a 470. Sofia and Aimilia had had a galactic career until then. With four back-to-back World Championships, three European championships and twice yachtswomen of the year the Gold medal they had just won, without even having to race in the last day, should have been expected, just another peak, albeit the highest one, in a career that had brought them every prize you could win in Olympic class sailing. But three months before the Olympics, Sofia, the skipper, injured her back so badly that she could barely move. Sheer will and bloody-mindedness brought them back from never competing again to heights only a handful of athletes have ever reached.

So the wave took us all in. Because they were our girls, because they made it, because they never gave up even when it seemed all was lost. Because we knew that they created an example of grand achievement that bordered on fiction but was not. Because every one of us who grew up sailing in Greece were part of it, infinitesimally, but part of it. The wave crashed over and took over their boat withSofia and Aimilia on board. When it reached the dock we lifted them up, boat and crew and paraded them around till we realized they had to prepare for their coronation, Gold medals on their chests.

In the years that followed that August day in 2004 a lot has changed in Greece. A new generation of sailing talent has gone searching for their own wave, and Sofia in a new class is still inspiring and making waves of her own.

Having experienced the wave, I wanted to, I felt I had to do all I could to take the story of the wave to the ends of the earth and help Sofia, and two other great talented teams making their own waves do the same.

So together we created a project called the Road to Rio, to help make new waves during the Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. The Road to Rio is a project made from the very materials that made waves and carry with them, written inside, the stories of these waves. We track down the sails these teams have used and are now decommissioned. We track down the story of these waves. Then we find skilled artisans in the Ionian island of Corfu who make them into pieces that can be carried around, bags, clutches, and duffels. Finally we make sure that every cent that is made from these pieces returns to the teams so they can make ever-bigger waves.

 

Live your Bachelor Myth in Greece

There’s no doubt that Greece is one of the top summer wedding and honeymoon destinations in the world. Before you exchange vows this summer though, why don’t you organize a Greek stag holiday for that special future groom?

Breathtaking natural beauty, unforgettable destinations, warm people, marvelous cuisine and vibrantnightlife are all waiting for you in Greece. True to our Combadi philosophy of alternative travelexperiences, here are some Greek stag party recommendations to get you started:

Live the cowboy life  in an agrotourism ranch that’s an exact replica of a Wild West town! You’ll saddle up and embark on seven day horse riding adventure that will take you through Northern Greece’s rugged landscapes!

Sail through the beautiful Saronic Gulf, in a Greek sailing and fishing holiday! You’ll cast your lines over the Aegean, visit beautiful beaches and swim through crystal clear waters. During the evenings, you’ll also get the chance disembark on the Saronic Gulf islands and experience their nightlife.

Have a blast in Mykonos, the island known for its azure waters, stunning beaches and internationally renowned party scene. Relax in a five star boutique spa hotel just meters from the island’s largest beach. Enjoy a wide variety of water sports and a magical view of the Aegean.

Get your fill of active mountain adventures in Karpenisi. Its pristine natural beauty and mild summer climate makes it the ideal place for mountain activities like mountain biking, trekking, river trekking,rafting, skiing, horse riding, canoe-kayaking, offroading and cave exploring!

Go on a two-day Canyoning Initiation training course in the Pelion mountains. The course is certified by the ICTC/CAI and, by the end of the weekend, you won’t simply have had the time of your life, but will have received your first ICOpro certification as well!

Not Just a Stopover

Summer is approaching and travellers from across the globe will soon flock to Greece for its picturesque beaches and historic sites.

Unfortunately, Athens had become a mere stopover for many of these tourists. Visitors are now typically spending a day or two to check out the Parthenon and a few other touristy spots, but are overall missing out on the real treasures of the city.

HotelsCombined, the world’s leading hotel price comparison website, aims to change this. The award-winning site’s user-friendly capabilities can help visitors discover the other side of the Greek capital, enabling guests to book hotels at the lowest rate near a number of preferred points of interest.

Modern Athenians are quite fluent in many foreign languages and therefore able to answer most of your questions. Likewise, HotelsCombined speaks your language – it’s available in over 40 languages and is easily accessible and navigable. HotelsCombined offers a wide range of search filters that help narrow down accommodation options so users can find their ideal hotel within seconds.

For instance, Athens has a number of acclaimed malls and markets that shopaholics can tailor their stay around through HotelsCombined’s search categories or if you are seeking for a unique gastronomical experience, you can choose to stay at a hotel offering a golden hat awarded restaurant and be served by a real master chef! Athens also boasts a large number of music halls and stadiums that host both international and local cultural productions – again, HotelsCombined can help find you accommodation nearby major performance sites. The recently renovated municipal theatre of Piraeusor the Athens Concert Hall are good examples of exquisite architecture and very broad repertory. And for those who love the visual arts, HotelsCombined proves an essential guide; after all, it would be a tragedy to miss out on a theatre performance within the country that invented drama.

Due to its geographical position, Athens is the ideal junction for any Greek sojourn. You can visit places of archaeological interest like Delphi and Sounio or popular islands such as Spetses andHydra within a day trip. And if you spontaneously decide to extend your visit at one of these places but don’t know where to stay, HotelsCombined offers the best on-the-go solution with its intuitive app. Available for smartphones and tablets, the multi-lingual HotelsCombined app provides an “Around Me” search function that enables users to find available accommodation in their surrounding area in real time.

So don’t miss out on everything that Athens has to offer – use HotelsCombined to unlock the ancient city’s vibrant culture and scenery!

ROMANTIC TRADITIONAL WEDDING IN PELION

A quaint Greek mountainous village called Promiri, located in the southern part of Pelion is a perfect place for a couple to have a traditional romantic wedding. A Pelion village, located 55km from the city ofVolos, is literally hidden in the luscious olive trees and beautifully maintains the authentic characteristics and calm atmosphere. It is truly a breathtaking place with natural beauty, traditional mansions, stone walled houses and cobblestone roads that lead you on a wonderful journey throughout the village. The view from this small piece of heaven on earth is…amazing. From the center of the village one can actually see the island of Skiathos.

Just like every traditional wedding in Pelion, the bride is escorted from her parents’ home to the church by the entire village. Local musicians play Greek folk music and sing traditional wedding songs. As the bride heads towards the church, the village residents gather outside of their homes and wish her all the happiness and luck in the world. Everybody joins in the wedding celebration since they all feel proud to be part of this beautiful event in their own village. An unforgettable experience!

The village of Promiri has a beautiful church with Pelion architecture, known as Koimiseos ofTheotoko… an excellent choice for a wedding ceremony. It was built in 1767 on the foundations of an old temple and it has a magnificent selection of Saint Paintings. The lovely church is dedicated to the Assumption of Mary and it is located on the outskirts of the village, overlooking the deep blue sea.  One of the great advantages of getting married in Promiri is that the location combines the picture perfect mountainous beauty and the crystal clear beaches that are near and easy to access. Promiri is considered to be a passage to reach the incredible beaches of Lyri, Katigiorgis and Mortias and has many hiking paths.

It is customary for a traditional wedding reception to take place in the town square. Family and friends celebrate with the newlyweds under the huge maple tree as they listen and dance to Greek music. A Pelion wedding tradition that continues to take place even until today and definitely creates a nostalgic atmosphere.

The amazingly romantic video teaser by videographer Nikos Dimou gives you the opportunity to be one of the wedding guests and see for yourself what a beautiful traditional Pelion wedding is really like! Admire the unique location of Promiri surround by beautiful forests, the nearby beach of Katigiorgis, the unique and truly authentic beauty of this part of mount Pelion

Voluntourism

Alternative Greek tourism has grown in popularity over the past few years, as more and more travelers choose authentic Greek experiences, holidays and tours catered to their own interests and lifestyle.

Meanwhile, one of the positive phenomena to come out of the Greek crisis has been the creation of volunteer organizations both large and small, and with a variety of missions – from supporting the underprivileged and creating alternative economies, to promoting conservation, culture and the exchange of knowledge and ideas. Nowadays in Greece, an energetic and talented generation of new NGOs and NPOs are working to bring best practices from around the world to Greece,  even establishing new ones themselves.

The growth of alternative tourism and NGO/NPOs in Greece can be linked by another kind of niche tourism called voluntourism. Already popular in many countries, voluntourism is now finding its way into Greece as more people look to make a difference while they travel.

It’s a good time to open up towards voluntourism activities in Greece, as a good number of local NGO/NPOs are experienced and staffed by professionals who have successfully accommodated volunteers into their operations.

Voluntourists are able to come to Greece for their holidays and, depending on the amount of time and type of activity they want to engage in, they will be able to participate in volunteering activities. Volunteers can dedicate anywhere from a couple of days to several weeks of their time – there’s no upper limit!

While volunteer programs will be available to all voluntourists, some of the positions will only be open to the Greek speaking diaspora, as working knowledge of the Greek language may be necessary.

Work is currently being done to offer life changing volunteer experiences and flexible accommodation all in one package. With more being planned every day, the current voluntourism programs on offer are:

Support Social Street Work in Athens: Volunteers can spend two weeks or more working with the Emfasis Foundation in its mission to help vulnerable and socially excluded groups in need of social, psychological and family support during the unprecedented socio-economic crisis.

Fight food waste in Greece:  Greek speaking volunteers can spend from one to several weeks working with BOROUME, a NPO that fights food waste by establishing food distribution networks throughout Greece. By communicating with donors, volunteers will be expanding the non-profit’s food network and increasing food security for welfare institutions, soup-kitchens and municipal social services.

It’s not all work for voluntourists however. In their spare time, volunteers will go on tours, attend workshops and social evenings with other like-minded volunteers where they’ll discover Athens in the most authentic ways.  This way, volunteers will have a truly immersive and life-changing Greek experience that will stay with them forever.

A WALK IN ATHENS’ PRETTIEST PARK

Welcome to the National Gardens of Athens! Right next to busy Syntagma square, this visitor-friendly and historical green space is an oasis of 19thcentury romanticism. Planned in 1836, the Gardens are actually the first park/botanical garden created in the Greek capital.

7,5 kilometres of winding pathways lead us to a different picture with each turn. A fountain, a clearing, a folly, a rock garden, a pond…Statues of romantic poets of the era match the scenery.

 Several ionic-style columns and capitals are scattered as decoration about the Gardens, according to European ideas of the time. The park stands on overlapping important classical Greek and Roman-era antiquities, parts of them visible along Amalias avenue and inside the Garden proper.

The park today covers an area of 158 square kilometers (288 sq. k. together with the adjacent Zappion gardens). It is open daily from sunrise to sunset and the visitor can orientate by info stands and direction signs.

 The Gardens are not only a free recreation space but also host educational opportunities for kids.Programs are carried out by the Athens Municipality (managing of the Gardens), schools, environmental NGOs and the Gardens’ own excellent Children’s Library. Furthermore, there is a large children’s playground, a small zoo of barn-yard animals and a café.

The Gardens were initially planned (1836) as a closed private leisure space for the adjacent Royal Palace of the time (presently the Greek Parliament). The Bavarian architects and agronomists working in the palace employed a design for a Garden that’s similar to the “English Gardens” of Munich (hence the many curved pathways). The works were continued later under the supervision of the French agronomist of Dolmabahҁe Palace Gardens in Istanbul.

 Hundreds of new species of trees and shrubs were imported from all continents of the world, reaching as far as the Americas, South Africa, Australia and China. The collection was enriched by endemic species of plants found in regions of southern Greece. Currently, some 7.000 trees (mostly evergreen) and tens of thousands of other plants belonging to 519 species and varieties are found in the park – of these only 102 are endemic. The botanical richness of flora gives the Garden an exotic look.

Not all rare and precious imported plants were suitable for the Mediterranean habitat but those who survived still thrive, several individual ones already completed a century and more. All oak trees in the Gardens date back from 1845. The trees are a welcoming sanctuary for many species of birds, including migratory ones.

The main entrance from Amalias avenue faces one of the Garden’s landmarks, the tall and slenderWashingtonia palm trees.

In front of them, Athens’ only marble sundial – a good idea to tell the time for a city with an average 300 days of sunshine per year!

This is not just another fountain: it is Boubounistra, the therapeutic (low calcium) spring that used to supply drinking water to most of old Athens…Today it is one more refreshing corner in the Garden during summertime heat.

Every day these little streams distribute some 1.050 c.m. of water for the Garden’s needs via a 1920’s pipeline system that uses the ancient aqueduct of Pisistratos (600 b.C.), collecting water from Mt. Imitos.

Ever since the Gardens opened to the public (1923), the largest pond in the Gardens was the place for kids to feed the super-popular ducks and swans. After the recent poultry ‘flu outbreak these animals unfortunately had to be confined. The little wooden bridge still remains a focal point for our memories…

School kids always find it fascinating to gaze at the huge carp and other gleaming fishes swimming in one of the Garden’s fishponds, the one near the entrance from Vas. Sofias avenue being the most famous one.

Beauty and nostalgic mood easily combine while taking pleasure from the Gardens’ wonderful tranquility. A place worth-visiting, in the heart of Athens.

It remains in my memory like no other park I have known. It is the quintessence of a park, the thing one feels sometimes in looking at a canvas or dreaming of a place one would like to be in and never finds. Henry Miller, The colossus of Maroussi, 1939

Travel light with your baby in Greece

Greece offers a feeling of being part of a big family. The warmth and intimacy that locals openhandedly offer make you forget you are simply visiting and having your vacation here!  Hospitality, security, nature’s beauty and the great Mediterranean diet make Greece a unique and perfect family destination.

Fancy a ravishing sunshine and the turquoise sea while eating in small picturesque tavernas? Diving in those clear blue waters enjoying your family moments? Want to see all those archaeological sites you studied about in school and make it a family experience? Greece has all that and to offer and makes it the ideal family destination all year round.

If you are traveling with a baby or toddler there is no need to wrestle carrying all the baby gear and the high cost and hassle of airline baggage restrictions and fees that can get any vacation off to a rough start. Make things easier on yourself and travel light to Greece without missing out on essentials for your little ones by using My Baby In Greece unique services.

As parents themselves they were always stressed by the quantity of baby equipment they had to pack for their holidays with their twins and often had to “load a truck”. To make life easier for all the parents visiting Greece with young children, they created a unique baby gear rental service with a simple objective in mind: make travelling with children safe, simple and hassle free. They offer top of the line equipment for rent such as strollers, car seats, travel cots, bouncing chairs, baby monitors, trikes, bottle & food warmers and other essentials from well-known brands and delivers them upon your arrival at your hotel or villa. For an added convenience you may also purchase baby supplies such as diapers, baby wipes and personal care products.

Let your baby gear at home and leave it to My Baby In Greece to supply you with all you need and have worry free holidays with your family enjoying the sea, sunshine, nature, sites and gastronomy inGreece!

Kalavryta is a town for all seasons

It’s renowned for its spectacular train journey, but this historical Peloponnesian destination has so much more to offer than a day on the tracks. From skiing to hiking to caving, Graham Wood explores the region’s sporting options.

One of the most breathtaking rail journeys on Earth, stunning natural beauty, enough outdoor activities to shake a hiking stick at, impressive monasteries, underground cave lakes, a historic past and a ski centre: Kalavryta just about has it all.

With such an impressive portfolio of options, fewer places in Greece can match the Peloponnesianmountain village and the surrounding region as a complete, year-round travel destination.

Most visitors head to Kalavryta via the Odontotos, or ‘tooth-train’ (rack railway) in English, which is widely regarded as one of the most unique experiences in the country. Built by the Italians and completed in 1896 – the same year the first modern Olympics took place in Athens – Odontotos starts from the small railway station at the unassuming, chilled-out coastal town of Diakopto.

On boarding the humble little Decauville train, there is little hint of the spectacular journey ahead as you chug slowly out of Diakopto. I must admit, the first and only time I sampled this journey I was more than sceptical, having previously experienced a trip on the well-known Burma railway close to the bridge over the River Kwai in Thailand. But this experience is more than a match, as the train winds its way through the Vouriakos gorge up into the mountains, through tunnels, over water-falls, along cliffs and through pine and oleander forests, arriving at Kalavryta within an hour after a distance of 22 kilometres, rising to 750 metres above sea level.

There are some great stops along the way, a personal favourite is the small village of Zachlorou, where you can grab a coffee and go for a wander to marvel at the quaint stone houses and tavernas while listening to the aquatic sounds of the river below. If you decide to stay the night at one of the small guesthouses, it is also well worth taking a short hike up to the monastery of Mega Spilio(Monastery of the Great Cave) which is perched spectacularly on a cliff-face above the town. For those not too keen on hiking the steep, rocky path, don’t worry, the monastery can also be reached by road. Among many impressive finds exhibited at the monastery is an ornate cross, which took a monk seven years to make, and then the poor fellow went blind – so says the description. So what’s the first port of call once you arrive in Kalavryta?

After a quick amble around the rustic surroundings and cobbled streets close to the village square, most people head to the memorial which was built to honour the victims of the infamous Nazi massacre which took place during WWII. Kalavryta undoubtedly has its place assured in the hearts of all Greeks for its association with that atrocity as well as for its role in the national struggle against Turkish occupation in 1821.

The massacre was Nazi retaliation for the execution of some German soldiers by the Greek resistance. Around 1,200 boys and men from the ages of 13 to 70 were executed on that December 13, 1943, and then the entire village was burned to the ground.

A further poignant reminder of the tragedy is found in the shape of an old schoolhouse which has been converted into a museum dedicated to the memory of those killed which is well worth a visit.

Another important part of the area’s history is the Monastery of Agia Lavra, which is just a few kilometers outside Kalavryta set in beautiful surroundings on the side of a pine-covered mountain. It is here where the first flag of freedom was raised by Bishop Germanos of Patras when the Greeks rebelled against the Turks in March of 1821. There are a plethora of guesthouses and small hotels to accommodate most tastes in Kalavryta.

After you’ve taken your fill of Kalavryta’s history and culture, the ski centre is a great place to inject some adrenaline if you are of the winter sports persuasion. Kalavryta offers great on- and off-piste runs with 12 trails in total, accounting for a range of difficulty from beginner to the very difficult Stiga 1 and 2 trails from the 2,340-metre summit – where on a clear day skiers are treated to a sea view – offer exhilarating powder runs among clusters of pine trees.

Kalavryta has free lifts for beginners as well as student discounts, while the always-lively chalet at the base of the mountain hosts memorable parties in the evening. Equipment can be rented on the mountain but there are several rental outlets in and around the town where prices are more reasonable.

Accommodation can be found via the website, while those seeking a more luxurious option can look to the recently opened Castle Resort perched above the town. Also, for those keen on imitating everyone’s favourite spy James Bond, Kalavryta has the bonus of snow-mobiling. Fewer experiences could be better than whizzing around scenic routes through the forests around the base of the mountain.

Round off your trip with a visit to the area’s final ‘must-see’: the Cave of Lakes. Situated a few kilometers west of the ski centre, the cave’s promotional literature boasts of being “a rare creation of Nature”, and the string of cascading lakes and labyrinth of stalactite formations are truly a sight to behold. The cave is essentially an old subterranean river which visitors can explore up to 500m courtesy of specially constructed metal walkway. On meandering through you’d be forgiven for thinking you had stumbled onto the set of Star Trek in its heyday, as you pass through dark passageways and gawp at the oddly-shaped rock formations. Thankfully there are no weird monsters lurking under the icy-cold waters; at least not to my knowledge.

Visitors are invited to leave their comments in a guestbook at the exit and as I flicked through the pages one message in particular from an enthusiastic visitor seemed to aptly sum up not only the cave lakes but the Kalavryta experience: “I have seen so much of Greece’s well-known beauty, but I never knew this country had such hidden wonders.”

Why come to Greece to write your novel

 Sunshine and weather

The weatherman has it easy in Greece during the summer.  From early June to late August, their duty is relegated to repeatedly pinning sun icons over Greek cities. For prospective authors, this means hours, days or even months worth of sunny writing backdrops that have been proven to boost energy and creativity. With the summer solstice providing up to 15 hours of sunlight in Greece, wherever you’ll go this summer, all you need to bring is your thirst to write – and some sunscreen.

Secluded

The introspection and reflection involved with writing a novel is immense and, try as you might, no local juice bar (complete with rainforest sounds) can make you forget the fact that it took you an hour and two noisy trains to get there. Greece is full of places to escape to; isolated mountain villages and quietisland communities, replete with rustic rooms encased in thick stone walls. Hunched over a sturdy 30′s era writing desk for two weeks, you’ll have a hard time losing focus.

Greek Cuisine and Greek Coffee

Greek food is meant to be savored – the same goes for Greek coffee, slow brewed in hovoli. That’s why lunches and dinners in Greece are always rather long affairs, during which you can brainstorm ideas with yourself, or bring them out into the open for others to give their two drachmas-worth. We guarantee you that writing inspiration will never come from a 10 minute lunch of frozen fish fingers and coffee straight out of the capsule.

Writers Block

What if it all suddenly runs dry? Writers block at 3 a.m. in Greece doesn’t mean the night is wasted – you might want to try out your character – or extricate yourself from him/her – in any number of bustling areas around Greece where people never really go to sleep.

Other ways to kick start your writing or get over the writing block is to take part in an organized writing holiday or workshop.  You can find them on some of the most beautiful Greek island. Experience each and every one of the benefits of writing in Greece, all in the company of like-minded people like you and with some expert help.

Peloponnese for advanced level travelers

Those who are visiting Greece for the first time with their motorhome can easily fit into the category of happy-go-lucky holidaymakers. The “don’t miss” spots and attractions are so many and so different from each other that there will be no room for second thoughts. When the options are so varied and tempting, it shouldn’t be hard to decide. The ride seems to be predetermined: you just have to follow the route from one top destination to another.

It is no coincidence then that most ‘newbies’ choose Peloponnese for their first motorhome trip. Cultural monuments, world heritage sites, superb beaches, in brief some of the most famous attractions of the country are situated in this peninsula, in a distance of few hundreds or less kilometres. Images that you thought you would see only on travel magazines, after 10 days of wandering, will be stored in your own camera.

The real adventure begins the third or fourth time you disembark at the port of Patras. While the newcomers will be making their way to Olympia or Monemvasia or Elafonissos, you’ll drive up to discover hidden treasures. These are few tips that may help you.

Petrified palm forest (Neapoli, Laconia)

Imagine a lunar landscape with secluded coves, turquoise waters and totem-like stones. What actually seems to be man-made sculptures some million years ago used to be a forest of palm and coniferous trees. The ancient woods were petrified due to rising sea levels and turned gradually into exhibits in this open-air Museum of prehistoric flora.

Saint Theodora church (Vasta, Arcadia)

People of faith will assure you that it’s a miracle. People of science will confirm that it’s truly a wonder, if not of God or Saint Theodora, of Mother Nature. In both cases it’s hard to explain how it’s possible that 17 trees are growing on the roof of this tiny 12th century church! The mystery is enhanced when you realize the weight of each tree (approx. 1 ton , which increases when it rains), the height (more or less 20 m.) and the fact that in the church interiors there is no visible sign of roots neither on the roof nor in the walls.

According to the legend, Saint Theodora was a martyr who, while dying, asked God: “May my body become a church, my blood a river, and my hair a forest” There is no scientific explanation for the phenomenon except that somehow during the centuries the stone structure was turned into a ‘living body’.

The church is situated in a deep forest 30 km west of Megalopolis. The area is ideal for hiking and mountain biking; nearby there is a fully operational water-mill open to visitors.

Geraki Castle (Laconia)

This castle is rarely included in the tourist guides, but certainly rewards those few who visit it. Even if you are not fan of military architecture and medieval fortifications you will enjoy the breathtaking view over the Myrtoo pelagos and the Taygetos mountain while wandering through the cobbled streets and visiting churches with frescoes and residential buildings.

The castle was built in 1209 by a French named Guy de Nivelet and for centuries it was one of the most important fortified towns of Peloponnese, often called “Little Mystras”. The Geraki castle doesn’t lack in anything except visitors.

The site is open daily from 8.00 – 15.00 with free entrance. The access is relatively easy (though uphill) and you can park very close to the archaeological site.

Heraion – Limni Vouliagmenis (Corinthia)

Most motorhome owners stay at Lake Vouliagmeni (actually a lagoon as it communicates with the waters of the Corinthian Gulf via a channel) where during the summer a small colony is formed. The main attractions here are the calm, warm water, the relaxed family atmosphere plus some fish tavernas. And an ancient temple right next to the sea that few seem to know!

You can find it if you walk up to the edge of the promontory, 2 km west of the lake. At the end of the road (where you’ll see a stone-built lighthouse too) the path goes downhill where you’ll reach the temple ofHera. There is no fence around the archaeological site; the ruins (temple, altars, Agora, reservoirs) are scattered all around the tiny bay with its blue waters. I cannot think of many other places where you can literally have a swim next to archaeological finds!

Article by Massimo Pizzocaro who is an Italian photojournalist specializing in travel reportage and administrator site camperistas.com that gives information about traveling with motorhomes.

The petrified trunks are scattered throughout the coastline south of Neapolis at the end of the eastern leg of the Peloponnese. The most impressive ones are at the beaches of Koraka and Agia Marinawhere the Geopark Visitor Center is located with information and hiking trails. Although the road toAgia Marina is unpaved, it is fairly good.

Extra bonus: this outstanding/weird place is not popular even amongst locals!

Greece as a film location

As a child, I used to visit Greece almost every summer holiday. My mother’s side of the family — numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and my grandmother — would descend on Cape Sounion, where we’d stay in several villas for almost a month. We’d swim and snorkel in the mornings, have long lunches, read during forced siestas, then go out at night to the local tavernas. It was a magical experience and one that has stayed with me all my life.

It was during these holidays that I developed my passion for Greek mythology and archeology. There was nothing I enjoyed more than sitting among the rocks and reading about the country’s extraordinary history and culture. Back in England I’d do the same, devouring every book I could find in anticipation of the next visit.

My love affair with the country continued into adulthood. I took my own children on holiday to Athens andCrete and it was there that I started to dream about adapting Patricia Highsmith’s Greek set thriller,The Two Faces of January, into a film.

I combined holidays with research, visiting many of the sites and locations that later ended up in the film. Eventually the holidays turned into work trips as shooting approached. While it was expensive to film in Crete I thought it was crucial to the telling of the story and the authenticity of the world. The rugged hills and cliffs of the island are unique and even though we looked for alternatives in other countries, nothing matched the sheer beauty and savagery of the ‘white mountains’ of Crete.

Crete was my favourite location in the film. During pre- production I had the opportunity to scour the island in search of ideal locations. The city of Chania was a revelation. I never imagined we’d find somewhere that still had so much of its 1960’s charm and atmosphere intact. My brilliant production crew did a fantastic job of recreating the city in 1962, but much of what we used was already there.

Chania was also my favourite location outside of filming. Our crew of over a hundred people stayed in various hotels and guest houses in the city and then literally walked to work. After filming we’d disperse to different bars and restaurants and enjoy the city all over again. Despite spending over a month there, many of the crew have since returned for their holidays.

Athens was also a city I loved. Nobody had been allowed to film a movie in the Acropolis for over twenty years but the authorities kindly allowed us two days to shoot there. It was an extraordinary experience. While we were filming in the Parthenon there must have been at least three or four hundred tourists watching just out of shot. They were very gracious and patient too, waiting for us to finish before they continued on their guided tours.

I remember we finished filming after the Acropolis complex closed. The crew had packed and left and I found myself alone on this wondrous hill with its magnificent temples and history. I spent a good half hour up there on my own, thinking how privileged I was to be able to film there but also to have the whole place to myself. In many ways it encapsulated my experience of shooting this film. It was not just work but another chance to discover the country I loved. The Two Faces of January is first and foremost a thriller but it is also my attempt to capture the magic and power that Greece has exerted on me since I was a child.

Cultivate your mind in Greece

Holidays can be about more than just relaxation. Travel itself leads to open mindedness, if we go to new and challenging places.  However holidays can be the perfect opportunity to learn something new and to cultivate the mind. Every new skill enriches us and makes our lives more enjoyable. Whether it is art, new languages, writing or the skill of thinking and reasoning, each brings a new dimension to our personalities, allows us to get to know ourselves better and ignites our passions. Let’s look at just a few possibilities in Greece:

Sculpting & painting

Greece has a long sculpting tradition and its heritage has had a profound effect throughout the ages. Even Michelangelo is said to have been inspired by its styles! You don’t have to be a sculptor or even an artist. Maybe you enjoyed art at school but are now definitely rusty? Consider taking a holiday combined with a few sculpting or painting lessons this summer.

Philosophy

Everybody knows the names of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and Sappho. Not to mention Zorba the Greek and Kazantzakis. But what did all these philosophers actually say? Why are they so famous?

What happens when you visit Greece and follow the basic steps of her philosophers? Ruins with boring stones, turn into fascinating, intelligent and romantic scenery. It’s possible to relax and strengthen your mind at the same time!

Writing

Writing retreats in Greece are perfect for writers, thinkers and the dilettanti. With beautiful surroundings inspiration often comes and if it does not you can always invoke the Greek Muses or simply invite them to write ‘through’ you!