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Rhapsody in pink

By: | January 28th, 2015 | 0 Comment

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These graceful birds are known to us as flamingoes, but their scientific name is Phoenicopterus, from the Greek words for purple and wing—so it’s only fitting that their migration routes include stops at Greek wetlands like Psifta. These beautiful wading…

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Epiphany, or the Blessing of the Waters

By: | January 2nd, 2015 | 0 Comment

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The winter holiday season closes with the Theofaneia or Epiphany on January 6 and, as the traditional carol notes, it’s back to normal life the day after, which is the feast of Saint John. Folklorist and writer Yannis Poulakis notes…

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New Year Traditions on Poros

By: | December 30th, 2014 | 0 Comment

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While contemporary Greek culture has assimilated Anglo-American holiday customs, folklorist and writer Yannis Poulakis reminds us that in Greek tradition it is Ayios Vassilis, or Saint Basil, who brings the presents on New Year’s—and not Santa Claus at Christmas. Greek…

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Tales of Christmas Past

By: | December 24th, 2014 | 0 Comment

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During Christmas, women cooked and baked special treats like the turkey, usually with a pine-nut stuffing, the Christopsomo bread, and sweets like melomakarona and kourambiedes as well as all the other goodies for the Christmas table. These cookies were arranged…

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Yoga Week at the Odyssey

By: | December 5th, 2014 | 0 Comment

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Author and photographer: Annette Spaan Dutch Travel Journalist Annette Spaan spent months at the Odyssey and wrote this blog about her experiences. The yoga and meditation week at the Odyssey seems like a great opportunity to finally put my brain into…