According the Up Greek Tourism team a new project is in the works for the promotion of Greece and her Islands.  “Following the success of our New York and Washington campaigns which was only possible thanks to all your generous support and contributions of the Greek Diaspora, Up Greek Tourism is preparing to land in London’s Piccadilly Circus!”

Currently there is a fundraising campaign going on to finance the new billboard to be featured in London’s most famous circles.   Piccadilly Circus is surrounded by several major tourist attractions, including the Shaftesbury Memorial, Criterion Theatre, London Pavilion and several major retail stores. Numerous nightclubs and bars are located in the area and neighboring Soho, including the former Chinawhite club.

Surely this will be the perfect location to help promote Greece and The Greek Islands this winter.  To contribute to the Up Greek Tourism Fundraising campaign, please visit this link on Loud Sauce to safely contribute with over 7,000 p0unds have been contributed at the time of this post.

Target: £12,000 or more

Media: outdoor campaign on one of Piccadilly Circus’ famous billboards

Plan: funding period throughout December and advertising campaign in February 2013

The creative message will remind London residents about the beauties of Greece as a holiday destination and ask them to visit Greece this summer.

up Greek Tourism More info here 

Like our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/UPGreekTourism

Greece and its Greek Islands are having a tough time these days and tourism which is one of the main driving fores for Greece is in a funk.  Yes typically a big money advertising campaign can solve the problem, but Greece like many countries is out of money.  Thus the best solution is a Grass Roots Campaign via Social Media Networks to get the word out on what an amazing Travel Destination the Greek Islands are.  Time and Time again I have heard how Greece is on ones “bucket list” and that “one day” they would like to Visit Greece.  Well folks the time is now to Visit Greece.  Prices are falling for Airfare, Ferry Tickets and Hotels.  The Islanders and ready and willing to be your host, so why wait?

Basil Boziotis visiting Akrotiri Santorini

In the recent past private citizens have taken matters into their own hands when it came to getting the word out on the Greek Islands.  The Up Greek Tourism Campaign was one notable example that made a huge difference.   Below are a few recent Greek Island Blog Stories.

Up Greek Tourism Campaign Promotes Greece

Up Greek Tourism Time Squares Billboard

Greek Islands going on Sale

Contact Basil Boziotis to discuss your Greek Island Hotel or Island Business, he would like to help get the word out and help you promote Greece!  Click here to contact Basil Boziotis

Thank you,
Basil Boziotis

The Premier Greek Film Festival is the annual event taking place in Greece’s wonderful northern city of Thessaloniki.  In November, Thessaloniki, Greece otherwise known as the  arts city – becomes the center of international film making.  Both Greek and foreign film artists arrive  to compete.

 
The festival was established in 1960; it has since then remained in the center of the Greek film production and has provided the means for promoting great film producers according to Visit Greece.  The best news is that University students, the unemployed and persons over the age of 65 are entitled to free admission– provided there are seats available – to all screenings starting before 15:00. A valid student pass / unemployment card / ID must be presented.

For more Information of the Thessaloniki International Film Festival Screenings visit here

In Dario Ciriello’s ‘Aegean Dream’ Dario and his wife Linda gamble everything on their dream—a new life on the tiny Greek island of Skópelos. They’ve studied Greek, done their research, and have a simple goal: to set up a small business and live happily ever after. But the Greek Gods have other ideas, and before long the couple find themselves snarled in a web of corruption and incompetence, their dream slipping hopelessly out of reach.

In Greece, connections are everything. But will the efforts of their friends—be enough to help them overcome their difficulties before they’re forced to abandon their dream?  Comic and tragic by turns, Aegean Dream is a compelling tale of love, resilience, and the power of friendship. A charming window on the daily life of a Greek island and the spirit of its people, this book also provides hard and timely insights into the broken institutions that would soon shake the entire global economy.

- What’s it really like to live on a tiny Greek island?
– Why is the Greek economy so messed up?
– What IS ‘The Secret’?
…and what do mysterious skulls, Russian prostitutes, President Bush the elder, and Pierce Brosnan have to do with it all?

About the Author

To Purchase the Aegean Dream

Information on Skopelos Greek Island

The Enamored Greek Island of Crete, a part of the world that has risen from the depths of conquest and adversity many times over, has transformed to a land of endless feasts, legends and dreams where the fine art of unpretentious hospitality is religiously practiced.

Crete has an unparalleled character and atmosphere, which cannot be compared to any other part of Greece.  A drive along one of its bountiful coasts will reveal a countryside that is constantly changing.  In one place harsh and barren, in another wooded and gentle.  Its villages perched on mountain ridges, adorned with olive trees, orange groves, vineyards and Cypress forests, while the hillsides are speckled with old stone farmhouses, and monasteries. Shores are lined with forbidding rocks at one glance, only to be transcended to beaches blessed with miles of sand or pebbles.

Overview of the Island

The island is divided into four prefectures: Chania, Rethymno, Heraklion and Lasithi.  Although the north coast is where most vacationers flock, due to the presence of larger resorts, great nightlife and a modern infrastructure, the islanders have not let this beautiful region go spoiled.  Exploring the south side of the island allows one to experience the epitome of traditional life and a far more authentic experience.

With over 1,000 Kilometers of extensive and diverse coastline it’s possible for beach goers to enjoy endless locations blessed by warm, crystal clear water.  On the north coast, west of Chania one beach in particular stands out; it stretches from the town to just outside Kolimbari.  Closer to the eastern point of the island is the famous Elounda Beach, near the town of Agios Nikolaos.  On the west coast, one has the sandy beach of Falassarna and, further south, Lafonissi.   It is best however, to rent a jeep, grab a map and explore this vast island (260 km by 60 km) as the ancient have done for thousands of years.

Crete Brief History

This largest, and most southerly of all the Greek Islands enjoys a unique blend of diverse cultural influences, separates the Libyan and Aegean Seas, and marks the boundary between Europe and Africa.  The island?s fertile soil and towering peaks witnessed the development of one of the most important civilizations on Earth, the Minoan (2800 – 1150 B.C.)    A geological catastrophe, the eruption of the volcano of Santorini in 1450 BC created a huge tidal wave that swept away most traces of civilization and halted the Minoan civilization at its height.  However, shipping and commerce with the Phoenicians, Syrians and Egyptians continued to broaden Crete?s horizons.

The Romans then occupied Crete in 67 BC, bringing Crete into the Byzantine Empire (325 AD to 824 AD) and thus the introduction of Christianity.  But many others had there eyes on the riches.  First Crete fell into the hands of the Arabs (824AD) forming the present-day capitol Heraklion, and then in 1204, the island passed to the Venetians. From this occupation appeared the cities of Chania and Rethemnon, with their fortified walls, narrow alleyways, small residential blocks, decorative piazzas, fountains, churches and palaces, remains that can still be seen today.

After the fall of Constantinople to the Turks (1453), artists and scholars from all parts of the former Byzantine Empire fled to Crete.  Arts and Sciences flourished again, with the biggest representative of this renaissance being the painter El Greco. (Domenicos Theotocopoulos)  Heraklion then falls to the Turks in 1669, with the occupation lasting until 1878, and then eventually Crete unites with Greece in 1913.

Legacy of Legends

Over the centuries Cretans have had an uncanny ability to harmoniously blend nature and myth captivating the spirit of man.  The myth of Icarus can best demonstrate this point.  Dedalus was a famous Athenian architect that Minos (king of Knossos) invited to Crete to build a Labyrinth.  When Dedalus finished, Minos jailed him in the Labyrinth.  Dedalus however, built two sets of wings using wax and feathers, one for himself and one for his son Icarus, and they flew off Crete.  During the flight to Athens Icarus, happy from flying, decided to challenge the sun.  He flew too high and the sun melted the wax that kept his wings together.  Icarus fell in the Aegean and died.

Today only the legend of Icarus remains (and the island of Icaria named after him), however there are numerous bona fide sites to be explored when visiting Crete.  The most famous archaeological site on Crete is Knossos located in Heraklion, which contains the ruins of the Minoan Palace built in 2000 BC, which were excavated in 1900 and partially reconstructed.   There is also the palatial site of Phaestos, which unlike Knossos, has not been reconstructed with the ruins uncovered and left untouched in the places they were found.

Another important site is the Arkadi Monastery located in the prefecture of Rethymno.  In this monastery, on November 18, 1866, about a thousand people preferred to die by blowing up the powder arsenal than fall into the hands of the Turks.  Its high walls are reminiscent of a fortress, and the church, which has a baroque face, is considered to be one of the most beautiful in Crete.

Freedom or Death

Cretan hospitality is truly a unique experience, allowing for one to taste such “meze” as yogurt and honey, sweet tarts (kaltzounia), pies made with wild greens flavored with Fennel, fried cheese (staka), rabbit stew, cheese pie from Hora Sfakion, cockles, and boiled goat. Along the seaside an array delicacies either fried or grilled over charcoal can be found, from calamari to octopus.

For the Cretans every day is a feast to be celebrated with gusto; Cretan wine flowing and the sound of the lyre echoing through the hillsides driving the pulsating rhythms of such local dances, as the pentozali and the sousta.   Such enchantments could not be found on the deck of a cruise ship or on the grounds of an all-inclusive resort, but over a glass of “raki” you might discover the essence of life and the sanctity of dreams.

Nikos Kazantzakis, Greece’s greatest modern writer and legend sums it up best with the epitaph on his grave located on the south wall of the city; I hope for nothing, I fear nothing, I am free.

Explore More on Greek Island of Crete Here

Copyright 2000           Delmar Enterprises Ltd.                    July 18th 2000

Written by, Basil Boziotis

According to legend Leto gave birth to Apollo on the island of Delos bringing to this world the music of light. This invisible harmony burst over the Aegean turning to stone and bringing the Cyclades to life.  Deriving their name from the word “kyklos” meaning circle they surround the uninhabited sacred island of Delos forming an island group that is known for its ability to enchant, entertain, and soothe the spirit of both man and god alike.

Brief History 

The islands were the cradle of the Cycladic civilization (3000  – 1000 BC), which developed during the Bronze Age and since then have been inspirational to artists with their marble figurines, which are the legacy of the islands.  Considered crude and ugly when first discovered, this art has brought to bear a strong influence on the 20th century artists and sculptors such as Picasso, Modigliani, Henry Moore and Constantin Brancusi.

The Minoans of Crete then colonized the islands, making Sanotrini’s Akrotiri the center of their trading activities.  Later on the Myceneans dominated making Delos their religious capital. By the 11th Century BC the Dorians invaded the islands marking the start of the Dark Ages.  Eventually the Venetians made their strong mark on the islands ruling between 1204 and 1453.  Their influence is evident even today with rich cultural and architectural legacy.

Overview of the Cyclade Greek Islands 

There are 56 islands in the group with only 24 inhabited some tiny and docile like Folegandros, and others like Mykonos, Paros and Ios pulsate with nightlife till dawn. Most of the islands are arid and rocky, with the exception of wooded Andros, Kea and Naxos.  Syros the regional and commercial capitol is one of the few islands in the group not dependent on tourism for their main source of revenue.

The Cyclades are best known for their beaches and whitewashed towns.  The most famous of all is the cliff top town of Fira on Santorini. This volcanic island first erupted in 1450 BC forming Santorini’s crescent shape. The island is widely believed to be the lost city of Atlantis, and with the recent discovery of remains dating back to Neolithic times at the archaeological site of Akrotiri, this debate will surely not rest.  The ongoing excavations that are only 3% complete continuously both amaze and bewilder archaeologists from around the world, as they now realize that numerous civilizations may be buried at the site.  It is estimated that if a team of 150 Archaeologists would work 24 hours a day for 365 days a year, it would be 700 years before the site would be completely excavated.

Life on the Cyclades is centered on “chora” or town where all of life’s basic amenities could be found with great ease.  However do expect to miss such luxuries as Seven-Elevens and drive through windows.  Life on the islands has its own pace that takes a few days to assimilate into.  The enchantment of a typical Cycladic town is enough to mystify any soul.  Mykonos? chora is the epitome of this with its web of dazzling white alleys and cube shaped houses.  Built in a maze of narrow lanes to both defy wind and pirate raids, visitors will be sure to get lost at least a few times.

Eventually one is freed of time constraints and eventually even the concept of time, to instead be absorbed with visions of beaches, cafes, restaurants, fine wine, dancing and of course most importantly soul searching.

Navigating the Cyclades 

Traveling through out the Cyclades may be very difficult at times, primarily due to the lack of a consistent and centralized source of ferryboat schedules and information.  Additionally those traveling during the summer peak season of end of June to early September have also to contend with the mysterious and disrupting effects of the “Meltemia”.   These high winds although bringing with them a cooling relief to the scorching summer temperatures can cause constant and unpredictable cancellations of scheduled ferryboat and flying dolphin schedules throwing a wrench into any ones overly planned travel itinerary.

However, overall the Greek ferryboat system is the best way to travel and truly experience these islands.  The ferries usually run daily and frequently, and eventually all the islands of the Cyclades connect via this system with the centrally located island of Paros being its hub.  A little patience and an Odyssean appetite for adventure is all it takes to explore the Cyclades by sea.

Air travel between the islands although improving, is limited by the lack of direct inter-island flights and limited airports.  Mykonos and Santorini have international airports, and islands with domestic airports include Syros, Milos, Paros and Naxos.  Thus travel by air can be frustrating, and at times just as time consuming as sea travel.  In addition t is always best to allow for extra time when planning for inter island-travel, especially when trying to catch an international flight out of Greece.  A phone call to the Greek Coast Guard, Ferryboat Company or ticketing agent may save a lot of time and trouble.

Just as light is said to have given birth to the Cyclades, it was also said that Aphrodite passed by and made the people of this land dreamers, inventors, travelers and lovers of horizons, so it is only fitting to pay homage to this phenomenal luminosity when traveling the Cyclades.  For when the sun begins its graceful decent over the islands it is as if all the spirits both ancient and reborn perch themselves on some rocky peak and with time standing still the soothing moment of a simple sun setting is forever cherished.

September 12, 2000  Delmar Enterprises Ltd

Written by, Basil Boziotis

As per the Greek Reporter,  celebrities came flocking to the Greek Islands to spend their summer vacations in Greece this year and the list was long.   One of the first stars spotted hopping the Greek Islands was John Travolta, then came Robert DeNiro and even Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie graced Greece with their presence.  Most recently actress Demi Moore was the next Hollywood star to arrive.

When locals of the world famous Greek  island of Mykonos spotted Moore having dinner at a well-known restaurant all heads were turning.  The Greek reporter went on to say that “Eye-witnesses said they were amazed to see the gorgeous Moore since neither Greek nor international media were aware of her visit”.

Click Here to read more about the Famous Visitors to the Greek Islands

Today fire rages on the island of Chios threatening the inhabitants of the island as well as the thousands of acres of Mastic Trees which produce countless products used from Ancient Greek Times to the days of Christopher Columbus.

“Chios mastic is a natural, aromatic resin in teardrop shape produced from the mastic tree only growing in the  southern part of Chios Island where weather and soil conditions allow this tree to flourish.  Mastic is first mentioned by Herodotus, who refers to its usage in embalming.   In Roman times, women used it to freshen their breath and whiten their teeth.  Christopher Columbus himself was astonished by the properties of mastic when he visited the island and he actually believed that mastic was the cure against cholera.   In Arabia, water jars were perfumed with mastic smoke, while in ancient Egypt mastic was used as an embalming agent.”

Today Mastic has been used to treat duodenal ulcers, heartburn and is believed to have anti-cancer properties, while also providing anti-aging benefits which results in reduced appearance of wrinkles and aged skin.  Commercially Mastic has many uses ranging from the medicinal to the functional, including use as a stabilizer in paints and making varnishes, especially for musical instruments.  Mastic has also been used in the production of tires, aromatic soaps, insecticides, electrical insulators, dentistry, toothpaste, chewing gum, confectionery and paints.   A Greek grape spirit, mastiha, is flavored with the resin and over the centuries Mastic is used for making breads, pastries, ice creams, sweet puddings, almond cake and the traditional Greek spoon sweets.

Special Thanks to visitgreece.gr for providing Content for this article.

Click here to see NASA Image of  Chios Fire

According to a report published in the Sacrmento Bee yesterday, Greece’s culture ministry said the two third-century wrecks were discovered earlier this month during a survey of an area where a Greek-Italian gas pipe line is to be sunk. The ships were located approximately 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) deep in the sea between the Greek Island Corfu and Italy.

The report went on to quote, Angeliki Simossi, head of Greece’s underwater antiquities department, who said sunken ancient ships are generally found 30-40 meters (100-130 feet) deep.  Most scholars believe that ancient traders were unwilling to veer far offshore, and generally stayed close to shore, however this discovery now sheds different light on the Ancient Greek Sea Men. Read more here about Ancient Greek ShipWreck

To read more about Ancient Greek Ships visit here

Extra, Extra, Read all about it!  The headlines are blaring again about the demise of Greece and how they will be exiting the Euro.  There is much talk of the chaos that will follow and how the country will come to a screeching halt when the Euro stops circulating.  I have news for you; If and when Greece leaves the Euro there is one thing for certain; THE US DOLLAR WILL BUY YOU A LOT MORE ON THE GREEK ISLANDS.  Euros will still be accepted by merchants, however the USD will be the currency of choice for both tourists and merchants alike as it was in the Good old days before the Euro arrived.

The Greek Islands will truly be on sale with a strong dollar if the Greek Drachma returns with Hotel, Ferry & Domestic Airline Tickets plummeting.  Greece will once again be the European destination of choice for many and the Greek cash registers will be once again full.   Financial Institutions, Global Companies, Governments and Greek Treasury have been busy preparing for the day the Drachma makes its reappearance so there is no need to buy into the hype of the CHAOS that will come.  The printing presses are busy in Greece and the only Chaos will be how to carry all the Drachmas around after converting your Dollars when visiting the Greek Islands.

Today I came across a great article from the BBC dated January 01, 2001 touting the Fact that Greece has Joined the Euro Zone.   “The Greek Finance Minister, Ioannis Papandoniou, described it as a historic day that would place Greece firmly at the heart of Europe.”  However, “Some investors have said they are worried the decision to allow Greece to join the euro will send out the wrong signal to financial markets”  Now we must let the chips fall where they may, allowing natural market forces to open up opportunities for visitors and investors alike.  Visit Greece this year and find out why this is one the greatest places on the planet and feel free to bring Euros, Dollars, American Express and maybe even Drachmas.

Basil Boziotis May 17, 2012