Palaiokastritsa, Corfu

Paleokastritsa is located on the northwest coast of Corfu, 25 km from the I.Kapodistrias airport as well as from Corfu town. The resort is hilly and nestles beneath the folds of steep verdant slopes of olive groves and citrus orchards. 

Paleokastritsa has long been considered one of the most beautiful villages in Corfu. Paleokastritsa is chiefly memorable for the exceptional scenery along with the superb beaches. The cool crystal waters are ideal for swimming and water sports.

Greece awarded with blue flag beaches

Greece is once again in the news, but this time to celebrate the quality of Hellenic beaches and clear waters. The International Blue Flag awards have ranked Greek beaches and marinas as second in the world. .

The coveted Blue Flags have been awarded to 394 Greek beaches and nine marinas, an increase of seven flags since 2011. Blue Flags are awarded by an International Committee and denote world-class prestige.

Island News reports that the Blue Flag "works towards sustainable development of beaches and marinas through strict criteria dealing with Water Quality, Environmental Education and Information, Environmental Management, and Safety and Other Services."

Ta Nea also reports that the European Environment Agency shows Greece has the clearest water for swimming of the Mediterranean countries.

Beaches in Corfu and Chalkidiki swooped the most Blue Flags with 35 each. A full list of Greece's Blue Flag can be found here.

Matala, Crete

Matala (Greek Μάταλα) is a village located 75 km south-west of Heraklion, Crete. Matala is part of the community of Pitsidia within the municipal unit of Tympaki, Heraklion regional unit.

The artificial caves in the cliff of the Matala bay were created in the Neolithic Age. Matala was the port of Phaistos during the Minoan period. In the year 220 BC. Matala was occupied by the Gortynians and during the Roman period Matala became the port of Gortys. In the 1st and 2nd centuries the caves were used as tombs. One of the caves is called "Brutospeliana" because according to the legend it was frequented by the Roman general Brutus.

Matala was then a fishing village. In the 1960s the caves were occupied by hippies who were later driven out by the church and the military junta. Now Matala is a small village living mainly from tourism.

Canadian folk singer Joni Mitchell's experiences with the Matala hippies were immortalised in her 1971 song Carey.

When Zeus seduced the princess Europa in the form of a white bull, he crossed the sea and brought her to the beach of Matala. There he changed into an eagle and flew her to Gortys where he had sex with her.

Olympic Flame Lighting

Greek light travels the world

The Olympic Flame is alight for the very first time by the Greek sun at the sacred and historic site of Ancient Olympia.

Ever since, the unique event of the Flame Lighting Ceremony has acted as herald for the Olympic Games worldwide. The Sacred Flame travels the country where the games are to be held and burns for as long as the Olympic Games last, as a strong reminder of the land that gave birth to them.

The ritual of the Lighting, in simplicity and mystagogy, starts with the procession of the priestesses from the Altar of Hera, in front of the goddess’s temple. Dressed in archaic-style clothing, priestesses surround the Altar while the High-priestess, invoking god Apollo, lights the torch, using a concave mirror. According to the Myth of Promytheus, the fire is the symbol of life, rationalism and freedom as well as inventiveness and so had been the ageless flame that used to burn on the Altar of Prytaneion in Ancient Olympia.

Then, the High Priestess relays the flame in a small ceramic pot and heads to the Stadium with all priestesses in procession. They pass by the Olive Tree, where they stand for a moment and “Amphithalis Pais”, the young boy (whose both parents are alive) cuts off an olive branch, as a symbol of peace and a meaningful winner’s prize. When the procession arrives at the Stadium, the High Priestess lights the torch of the first runner and the torch relay begins. The Olympic flame travels to many places and becomes the connecting bond among people, sending the message of hope.

Let’s listen to the thoughts and feelings of the High Priestess in anticipation of the unique event of the Olympic Flame Lighting Ceremony, which is to be held on May 10, and will draw the humanity’s attention to Olympia.

“… just a while before the sun sends its rays to light the flame of the Olympic Games, thousands of images and feelings come before my eyes and my soul abounds in them…... A great culture, which once gave birth to ideas, values, important advocates of those ideas and events, enriches the course of history and humanity. The light of Olympia signals the creative force in the hearts of people which generates culture. The flame; a force of nature, a symbol of life and a source of inspiration.

….how many feelings, how many unique moments in the cycle of priestesses who convey images from the past, symbolisms, the concept of art……

“Sacred silence

Let the sky, the earth, the sea and the winds sound.

Mountains fall silent

Sounds and birds’ warbles cease

For Phoebus, the light bearer King shall keep us company…”

…waiting for the moment that these words will sound in the sacred land of Olympia, carrying the essence of the team’s soul in my voice and the power of its heart in my hand… just before the invocation to Apollo who will send the rays of the sun and to Zeus who will bestow peace to all peoples on earth and will wreath-crown the winners of the sacred race…”

Optimistic outlook for Greek holidays in 2012, say Holiday Hypermarket

According to Holiday Hypermarket, Greek holidays will see moderate growth this summer

Greek tourism is tipped to see moderate growth in 2012 due to lower airfares and attractive rates in island destinations like Crete, Mykonos and Corfu, say leading online travel retailer, Holiday Hypermarket. This follows statements from Taleb Rifai,secretary general of the U.N. World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), who affirmed Greece's popularity as a tourism destination.

In 2011, around 10 per cent more travellers booked Greek holidays, and with tourism accounting for 15 per cent of the economy as well as one in five jobs, it is a crucial aspect of the Greek way of life. As a result, both the mainland and surrounding islands boast a large number of holiday resorts with great facilities.

Greek tourism bodies have launched campaigns to promote tourism abroad. For example, UP Greek Tourism is an initiative that employs outdoor advertising, traditional and social media to promote inbound tourism, particularly among German and British travellers who are eager visitors to Greece's coastal and island resorts.

Calum MacDonald, Online Marketing Manager at Holiday Hypermarket, comments,"Greece is slowly climbing into the top 10 tourist destinations in the world with plenty to offer families, honeymooning couples and young friends looking for a party destination.

"Tourism resorts on the coast are continuing to provide excellent package holidays to visitors from abroad no matter the political situation. As one of the most attractive countries in southern Europe, Greece is a great place to book a beach holiday this summer."