" ********* Kακοκαιρία αναμένουμε το τριήμερο της Καθαράς Δευτέρας στις περισσσότερες περιοχές τις χώρας. Θα θυμίζει περισσότερο Νοέμβριο μήνα με χειμωνιάτικο σκηνικό.****Δύο νέοι σταθμοί του προαστιακού σιδηρόδρομου, στις περιοχές Λυκότρυπα (Κάτω Αχαρνές) και Πύργος Βασιλίσσης, τέθηκαν από σήμερα, Πέμπτη, σε λειτουργία.****Iσορροπία τρόμου στην Ουκρανία, αναπτύσουν στρατιωτικές δυνάμεις οι Ρώσσοι στα πρότυπα δράσης ανάλογα με αυτά στην Γεωργία**** Σέντρα στα γήπεδα της Super League με φόντο το ντέρμπυ των αιωνίων.

Παρασκευή 5 Ιουνίου 2009

Rhodes Island - Greece












RHODES, Greece, is the Crusader Isle, steeped in ancient history and boasting 300 days of blue skies a year. It lies at the southern end of the Dodecanese island chain that skirts the Turkish coast and is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the Mediterranean.Popular resorts, such as Faliraki, are now almost totally devoted to package tourism and anyone in search of Greek goatherds and fishing villages has come to the wrong place. Bar touts and club bouncers make up the local 'colour' and can display an insatiable avarice that only an unending supply of free-spending tourists can sustain.But the island is still popular with independent travellers on the hunt for some of the best beaches in the Greek islands and the best bargain accommodation at Rhodes hostels.The most popular beaches lie to the west and south of Rhodes City and many visitors now opt to fly to the island direct, there being so many cheap flights to Rhodes on offer.Here, a maze of high-rise conference centres tower over the narrow shingle beaches to the west. To the south, replicated rows of holiday hotels are stacked along the coast like deck chairs. Only after Lindos do the crowds thin out and a more authentic glimpse of Greek island life emerges.
Rhodes takes in more annual holiday visitors than virtually any other Greek island. The attraction is not just the many hotels in Rhodes, the long summer season and the sandy beaches but also the remarkably well preserved medieval city of Rhodes itself. Castles galore come courtesy of the Crusaders and the island's hilly interior is carpeted with pine forests.
The island's classical past can be explored at the ancient sites of Kamiros, Ialyssos and Lindos. Medieval fortresses to rival any in the world can be found at Rhodes, Lindos and Monolithos.
The island suffers from tourism of almost frenzied proportions, laced with rampant commercialism, tons of litter, dirt and dust. Those looking for a more authentic holiday will head south where the island becomes a backwater of dirt roads and ancient villages, though isolated luxury hotels are now cropping up even there
Rhodes Town (Rodos) ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Renowned for its archaeological treasures RHODES city or RODOS sits on the northern tip of the island with sea on three sides. It's really three cities in one.
The first is the modern city - a monumental heap of concrete which, but for some nice Italian buildings, verges on the bad to awful.
The second is the medieval walled city - a national treasure given World Heritage Status by UNESCO and slowly turning itself over to an outdoor holiday shopping mall.
The third is the ancient city - now well buried by centuries of development and best viewed in the city's Archaeological Museum.
Rhodes beach is shingle and sand with little in the way of charm despite the setting and the sunshine. Backed by tower block holiday hotels and bizarrely shaped luxury conference centres it has a sort of regimented misery that belies its lovely location.
The beach is usually very windy and the sea can get very rough. Stones, rocks and pebbles are sometimes flecked with oil from passing ships and there is a steep drop into the sea, so it's unsuitable for children. Expect to pay top prices in bars and tavernas.
Modern Rhodes------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charmless is too nice a word for this concrete mess but there are interesting Italian buildings near MANDRAKI harbour and remnants of Turkish presence persist at the Mosque of Mourad Reis.
The aquarium too is worth a visit, although the stuffed and moth-ravaged monk seals looked a sorry sight. You can catch the scenic holiday train outside the town hall for a tour of the sites with excellent commentary from the driver.
Medieval Rhodes ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
To explore the old city, the wise will get a map and guide. It brands you dumb tourist of course, but there is so much to see that there is really no alternative.
A good place to start is Symi Square near Mandraki harbour for a tour of the CASTELLO where the knights left their most enduring mark.
For a different era in Rhodes' history find the Plane Tree Walk where the clock tower marks the wall that separated the knights' quarters from the rest of the city. The place is packed with shops, bars, cafes, restaurants - you name it, but expect to pay for it.
Most important beaches and places
Ixia Rhodes----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bizarrely shaped hotel or apartment blocks set in their own grounds or with high hedges to muffle the sound of traffic are the staple of IXIA.
Here you will find the international luxury hotels that double as conference centres out of season. Typical is the huge Rodos Palace Hotel, with an array of facilities including sauna and masseuse, and the equally upmarket Mira Mare Beach.
Tributes to concrete, and rivals to a Dallas soap set, are the circular Olympic Palace - like a vast flying saucer - and the Metropolitan Capsis with its two sweeping curves.
The Rodos Bay is set amongst pines while the impressive Blue Bay complex has several swimming-pools, sports facilities and a popular disco.
The beach is little more than a narrow strip of shingle lining a busy airport road. It can get crowded in high summer as the hotel rooms fill up. There are restaurants and shops along the esplanade, a children's playground and a couple of watersports centres where they hire out surfboards and jets skis.
The wind can get very fresh and parasols are used as much for protection against the wind as the sun, while children may prefer hotel pools to the choppy seas. For sunbathers there are views across to Turkey, if they can cope with the non-stop whine of passing mopeds.
In the evening, crowds stroll out of their plush hotels for a pleasant walk into Rodos. After dark, the hotels, bars and eateries on the main road are lit up like a sci fi film set. Neon signs are as likely to suggest smorgasbord or burgers as they are moussaka or souvlaki.
Surprisingly, there are a few tavernas offering authentic Greek food and music, but you will find the locals away from the tourist traps and in the village of Tris (turn left just beyond the Miramare Hotel).
There are supermarkets and shops for self-caterers, and a couple of quiet roads run inland from the neon tat. Here you can still find rustic smallholdings and cattle in the fields.
Trianda Rhodes -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
About 9km from Rhodes Ixia merges with more back-to-back 1,000-room hotels at TRIANDA or TRIANTA, another resort dominated by large luxury hotel complexes and holiday villages that really have more in common with Spain than Greece.
The beach is a very long, narrow strip of shingle and sand still lined by the busy and noisy road behind. There are loads of sun beds and the usual watersports. Litter appears to be a problem here, especially along the hotel strip.
The further along the coast you go the worse it gets. Rubbish lines the kerb and skips can sit there full of uncollected junk.
Walking along the road is quite unpleasant as traffic hurtles past and youngsters show off with their motorbikes skills - or lack of them, depending on your age and viewpoint.
Trianda does have a large and bustling village which retains some local atmosphere despite the surrounding high risers, though it's not particularly picturesque.
Ialyssos Rhodes-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
High above the resort of Trianda is one of the island's most noted beauty spots at IALYSSOS on the plateau of Filerimos.
The hill is studded with cypresses and pines and was the site of one of three ancient cities of Rhodes. In 1522 Sultan Suleiman used Ialyssos as a base for his assault on the Knights.
This was once one of three great city states that ruled the island. The ruins are rather meagre but it does have third century temples to Zeus and Athena.
Filerimos is visited more for the heavily restored church of the Virgin Mary - built by the Knights on the site of a Byzantine basilica - and the monastery, an Italian restoration of the original.
Reached by a flight of steps bordered by cypresses, the monastery and its domed chapels feature the coat of arms of the Grand Master d'Aubusson.
Beneath the ruins of a small Byzantine church is a tiny underground chapel with 14th century wall paintings. The monks sell their own liqueur, known as sette, made from seven local herbs.
Modest dress is essential for a visit here - no shorts, plunging tops or swim wear. From the monastery there's an uphill path to the southwest of the hill, along which are 14 icons representing the Stations of the Cross.
Stunning views and a riot of flowers make this a very popular with photographers and nature lovers.
Kremasti Rhodes----------------------------------------------------------------------------
KREMASTI
, a little further along the coast road, is hardly a resort but a busy run-of-the-mill village with rooms, apartments and a few package hotels.
Still expanding, it has a wide pebble beach with the usual sun-loungers, parasols and watersports. The beach is steeply banked pebble and stone, making it most unsuitable for children.
Kremasti is right a the end of the runway with flights every 12 minutes or so, day and night. It gets frenetic on Wednesdays and Saturdays, the main transfer days for package tours.
The tree-lined village square is dominated by a striking church and lined with shops. The village is famous for its Panayieri, or Festival of the Virgin Mary, on August 15.
There is a giant street market, fiesta and funfair. And the Panhellenic Craft Fair is held here from August 14-22.
The nearby inland village of PASTIDA is worth a visit, an oasis of calm among citrus and olive groves with a smattering of small shops and tavernas.
Koskinou and Kallithea Rhodes-----------------------------------------------------------
KOSKINOU and KALITHEA
make up a line of hotels that run south, about 10km out of Rodos. Sun loungers, already heavy with residents of nearby hotels, are swelled each day by visitors from the town.
The area is not to be confused with Thermi Kalithea - the revamped former spa that sits on a rocky outcrop to the south.
The beaches here are dominated by self-contained, all-inclusive, holiday hotels. They squat side by side along a beach, which although reasonable, is by no means the best on Rhodes.
It is mainly sharp sand and pebble, though more patches of good sand can be found as you head south to Thermi Kalithea. There are no hidden coves or quiet bays to be discovered along this shore.
This is all-inclusive hotel holiday territory, and it shows.
Thermae Kallithea Rhodes----------------------------------------------------------------
THERMAI KALLITHEA,
also variously spelled Thermi, Therma, Thermae and Kalithea, Kalithia or Kallithea, was originally a health spa was built in the Moorish style by the Italians in the 1930s.
The dramatic, decayed setting and kitsch architectural features, including domed pavilions and pink marble pillars, make it a favourite venue for fashion photographers.
A major restoration has breathed new life into the holiday resort which is approached down an avenue of pines. Palm trees offer shade on a small shingle beach while sun loungers are scattered around a small lido.
Buildings are illuminated at night to add a Disney-like glitz to the pseudo oriental atmosphere.
A nearby cove is the target of many scuba diving excursions from Rodos and 15 minutes walk away is the beach resort hotel of Aldemar Paradise with various watersports.
On the road to Faliraki a left turn down a dirt track leads to several small coves. The sea is deep here so you'll need to be a decent swimmer to get the benefit.
Each cove usually has a few sun beds and a beach taverna that often gives the cove its name. A succession of grim hotels on the main road leads to Faliraki beach, a 20-minute walk away.
Faliraki Rhodes-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Once a tiny fishing village - and some brochures actually claim it still is - you would be hard put to find a fisherman in FALIRAKI now.
Often dubbed 'lively' in the brochures the resort, about 15km south of Rodos, is in fact little more than a noisy teenage play pen.
Jet skiing, go karting, bungy jumping are all on offer to please the daily influx of frolicky young visitors whose idea of fun is getting stoned on fizzy lager and making as much noise as they possibly can.
And noise there is, brain-addling at night as the bars and clubs wind up to full power. The din is in evidence several kilometres away.
Beaches are a grey, gritty sand and packed with bodies from dawn to well after dusk. Food here is as plastic as you would expect while millions of mosquitoes home in from the nearby lowland to gorge on the bare teenage flesh.
Drinks cost up to six times supermarket prices and street touts for the clubs and bars can be persistent and aggressive.
Perversely, recent holiday hotel complexes have adopted a Cycladic village theme for those wishing to enjoy the 'Greek experience'.
If you have a two-watt bulb for a brain and an ever-open wallet you will feel very much at home with the majority of visitors in this Greek version of the Spanish costas.
Faliraki water park is also nearby, one of the largest in Europe, and offers those bored with the beach a day out on water flumes and slides at a reasonable price.
It can get crowded though and young children need to be looked after. Food and drinks here are also better value that Faliraki.
Ladhiko Rhodes-----------------------------------------------------------------------------Just south of Faliraki is the small pebble-beached cove of LADHIKO or Ladiko where many scenes from the noted war film The Guns of Navarone were filmed.
It is amusingly dubbed the Anthony 'Queen' bay by owners of the many excursion boats that visit. The 'Queen' title is in homage to the film's star actor Anthony Quinn, who once bought some property near here.
More prosaically named Ladhiko or Ladiko, the cliffs are huge and vertiginous but there are only rocks available for sunbathing and there are sharp underwater stones too, so it's not ideal for children.
Above the bay is a small taverna. Another small sandy bay down a nearby dirt track has borrowed the name and cashed in on the visitors with some sun beds and caravan cafe.
Afandou Rhodes-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
This must surely rank as one of the most boring beaches in the Greek Islands. White stones and shingle at AFANDOU stretch in one great 7km desolate swathe, just about as far as the eye can see.
Parts of the beach are so desolate you would not tether a goat there. Stone and shingle make up most of the beach, dipping steeply at the shoreline where large and slippy underwater rocks make paddling difficult if not impossible.
Some travel brochures boldly boast how you get a beach to yourself - but one look at this monotonous holiday desert and you can understand why. Few visit more than once.
The plucky resort, about 20km from Rodos, does its best to attract visitors with an 18-hole golf course and a tourist train that ferries visitors the 2km between village and beach and across a very busy main road.
Afandou village is the second largest on the island. It is still a working village, though tourism is now the staple trade. Dozens of tavernas and holiday bars line the busy main street which pedestrians must share with busy traffic.
Although there is little nightlife as such there is loud music and karaoke from the busy bars around the town square. The biggest problem is avoiding yobbish British families.
Check on the location of your apartment before booking here. Many are sited in scrubland between the village and the beach with a 15min walk either way and a main road that is busy and noisy both night and day.
Just outside the village, surrounded by pines, is the monastery of Agios Nektarios, with an immense pine tree and a drinking fountain fed by springs in the surrounding hills.
Kolymbia Rhodes---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Built as a model farm by the Italians, KOLIMBIA, KOLYMBIA or KOLMYPIA, is full of identical houses noted for their over large chimney stacks.
The approach is dramatic, along an arrow-straight road lined with mature eucalyptus. The resort itself, about 25km from Rodos, is small and is much favoured by German package tour operators.
There is a picturesque rocky cove and attractive beach to the north. The flat beach is mostly shingle with water sports at each end.
There are also some sandy coves to the south about 10 min walk away. There is another long but scruffy beach there backed by an impressively ugly hotel complex.
That said, Kolymbia has an unhurried air despite the numbers and most of the hotels blend unobtrusively into the landscape. The holidays style here is leisurely with fun and games restricted to the hotels.
The resort proper has a dozen tavernas and 20 or so bars. There are boat trips to nearby island and a regular bus service to nearby resorts
Tsambiki Rhodes ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Overlooked by a Gibraltar-like rocky outcrop topped by a monastery, the huge swathe of fine, soft sand at TSAMBIKA or TSAMBIKI, also called Tsampiki or Tsampkia, is approached down a precipitous, hairpin cement road.
The steep descent of 1.5km or so rules out tourist buses and other public transport, but the beach nevertheless teems with tourists and sun beds are jammed together like playing cards, particularly along the northern stretch.
A beach taverna is supplemented by several caravan cafes offering little more than lemonade, beer, rolls and shady relief from the midday sun. Behind them the sand peters out to a dirt and gravel area that serves as a huge car park.
Expensive sun beds peter out at the southern end which is favoured by hundreds of hermit crabs and shoals of tiny fish.
According to legend, barren women had only to climb barefoot up the concrete steps to the tiny white Byzantine church of Panayia Tsambika to ensure pregnancy.
As a result many of the island's children are named Tsambikos or Tsambika, depending on sex.
The outcrop overlooks both Kolimbia and Tsambika beach with stupendous views of both and more besides, while the surrounding area is protected from development.
Archangelos Rhodes------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you think the sprawling village of ARCHANGELOS looks as though it has seen better times you would be just about right.
Home to a dwindling leather crafts industry it now has a shabby look and, strangely, appears to have been swallowed up by the German package holiday industry.
This is still the largest town on the island outside Rhodes, with about 6,000 living here. Archangelos lies on a low plain surrounded by the mountains Profitis Elias, Karavos and the hills of Kefaloti, Kastro and Anagros.
The first houses at the foot of the Kastro date to 1023. The village centre is dominated by the Church of the Archangel Michael.
Around it are whitewashed lanes, traditional houses with arched passageways painted in bright colours. Tavernas and bars line the single main street and the village has a 15th century Crusader castle, though little remains except the outer walls.
Nearby are MALONA and MASSARI, two farming villages in the valley of Nethona River set amongst citrus groves.
Kalathos Rhodes----------------------------------------------------------------------------
KALATHOS
is a village on the main road about 6km north of Lindos. There is a very long stone and shingle beach here which stretches along the shore for about 4km.
The beach shelves rather steeply offshore, making it a poor place for children but it rarely gets crowded despite there being a number of large hotels nearby.
A cantina, mini market and some tavernas can be found on the road that runs behind the beach. The village is pretty enough with a fine church.
Its position makes it a good centre for exploring the island for those who don't want the hustle and bustle of neighbouring Lindos. There is a sprinkling of bars and tavernas.
Lindos Rhodes-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lawrence Durrel once described LINDOS as “of a scrupulous Aegean order, and perfect of its kind”. Well Lawrence, it is nothing like that now.
It has inherited the perfect setting - a shimmering violet and emerald pool in a horseshoe bay of golden sand and sheltered by comforting hills dotted with white, sugar-cube houses.
But we are now describing a 'perfect hell of its kind' as package tourists blow in like a daily sandstorm.
The beach is very beautiful, but quickly filled by local holidaymakers. The the cars and bikes roar in, followed by tour buses.
Then it's the turn of tourist boats and before long the only distinction between the beach and a Tokyo subway is the baking sun beating down on your head.
In July and August, the packed amphitheatre turns terribly hot and airless and temperatures can soar to 120F. With little natural shade an expensive beach umbrella is a must.
Popularity brings high prices and you will pay more for a sun bed here than anywhere in the islands - if you can find one that is.
The beach sand is very fine and the bay waters are shallow and well protected so, apart from the crowds, this is an ideal family beach.
The paths down from the village however are exceedingly steep, as is most of the town, and it can be a heavy slog home after a heat-soaked day on the packed sands.
Lindos Acropolis
Sugar-cubed houses clustered above a wide horseshoe bay make Lindos, 56km from Rodos, one of the most photogenic of resorts.
The narrow, cobbled streets are pedestrian only and many houses boast beautifully laid out black and white pebble courtyards.
The two big problems are noise and crowds. Buses park bumper to bumper in the tiny square at the foot of the steep hill. Waves of day trippers press through the tiny streets which are simply unable to cope.
And just as you think the town can take no more the excursion boats come hooting into the bay full of trippers eager to pant up the hill to the Acropolis.
This beautiful place is so packed you must queue just to pass along the narrow, pebble-paved, serpentine streets. Tourist shops and bars hem in the crowds with a tone that is ruthlessly and relentlessly mercenary.
Mercifully, high rise hotels have been banned inside the town limits and discos are confined to the outskirts. But the bars still blare out ear-blasting noise all day, even when they are deserted.
The main attraction for boat trippers is the ancient Acropoli,s enclosed by the walls of a Crusader fortress which is impressive when the visitor swarms have left but a dire experience when surrounded by camera-wielding visitors. A temple to Athena has capped the outcrop above Lindos since nth century BC.
Fortification by the Knights of St John make for a blend of ancient and medieval with Italian restoration work and Greek cement completing the modern mix.
Lindos is noted for it rooftop restaurants which can be found all over the town. Romantic they may be but they generally excel at offering less for more. The food is mediocre at best and the vegetables invariably tinned.
Glystra Rhodes------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GLYSTRA
is a small cove with an inviting beach of good fine sand that lies south of Lardos. This 'undiscovered' beach tends to take overspill from more northern beaches at Pefkos and Lardos.
The sands are quite deep and the beach makes a long sweep around an attractive bay with the waters shallow, so it's fine for families with young children. Snorkelers can hunt for the shell of a car dumped in the middle of the bay.
There is good parking at the northern end and a family-run cantina opens in the summer, providing sun beds and some good food.
The beach, though pleasant enough, is rather exposed with little natural shade, so hiring an umbrella is a must if you don't take your own.
Prassonisi Rhodes---------------------------------------------------------------------------
At PRASSONISI a dramatic 3km spit of sand runs out to sea with the choppy Aegean on one side and the calm Mediterranean on the other.
The views are astonishing from a distance but close up the beach tends to be grubby and dirty, not least because of the cars and jeeps that regularly rolled in to park on it.
In winter the seas can join and turn the spot into a genuine island, about 80km from Rodos and 40km from Lindos. Even in summer the strong winds can force sunbathers to seek shelter.
Surfers find the spot ideal, especially along the northern shore, and many professionals come here to train. On most days the offshore sea is jam packed with sailboards.
There are a couple of tavernas at the roadside but neither is cheap. There are surfboards and wet suits for hire but most visitors bring their own.
Monolithos Castle Rhodes -----------------------------------------------------------------
MONOLITHOS
castle is a favourite on the tourist route, an impregnable fortress on the southwest coast near Apolakkia Bay and perched on top of a 300ft high precipitous rock overlooking the sea.
It was built around 1480 by the Knights of St John and it is certainly an impressive sight, but you must leave your car at the bottom and take a steep 15min hike up a narrow pathway to get to it.
Within the castle walls stands the church of Agios Panteleimon. The village itself is 3km from the rock and is small, relaxing and peaceful with a few hotels and a clutch of tavernas.
The road leads on to FOURNI, the beach of Monolithos, ideal for those who like pebbles with a little sand, waves and a peaceful setting. Unnerving rock formations add interest. One huge rock looks as though it might topple over onto the tourist sun beds below at any minute.
Nearby are some 17th century Christian caves that have been carved into the rock at Fourni beach, but expect to get lost trying to find them and beware the badly worn steps down to the cave entrances.
Petaloudes - Valley of the Butterflies -----------------------------------------------------
During July and August tourists outnumber the insects in Butterfly Valley near PETALOUDES which lies about 5km inland from Tholos. The butterflies are actually Jersey tiger moths, Euplagia quadripunctaria, but let's face it, how many tourists would want to visit Moth Valley?
The moths are a well camouflaged and difficult to see except in flight when they show their deep red overwings. The result has been thousand of tourists clapping their hands and even blowing whistles to drive the sleepy insects into the air.
Unfortunately, the moths have come here to rest before mating and the consequence of all this disturbance has seen a worrying decline in the numbers returning each year. Not before time, tourists are being asked to keep the noise down. They moths arrive in their thousands in June, mate in late August and fly off in September.
The 60-minute walk through the valley is pleasant enough, with plenty of shade from the trees and a well marked path through the woods past small pools and over wooden bridges that cross the River Pelekanas. Visitors should wear decent walking shoes as the going can be rough at times.
Epta Pyges - Seven Springs -----------------------------------------------------------------
More a lowlight than a highlight, EPTA PIGES or SEVEN SPRINGS is touted as a pleasant picnic spot with a stream and a waterfall. Tourists usually walk to it as the coaches can't get very near, but few are likely to return for a second look. The springs are no more than muddy wet patches of woodland that tend to give off the very damp, musty smell of decayed vegetation.
There is an unlit tunnel carrying the spring water to a reservoir that you can walk through. It is about 150 metres long, the water is ankle deep and the only light is from a shaft half way along. The reward for the walk is a small lake at the other end and you have to wonder why this place is promoted so strongly by tour firms.
How to travel---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diagoras International Airport is 16km southwest of Rhodes City, near Kremasti on the north coast. The airport has expanded in recent years and now handles about 3.2m annually. In addition to regular domestic and international flights there are charters to many countries.
Rhodes Airport has a single terminal with 13 check-in desks and eight gates, and opens 24 hours a day. The airport has ATMs. A VIP lounge offers limited business facilities. There are various shops and a cafe, restaurant and bar. Travel agencies and tour operators have desks at the airport.
Though there have been improvements, Rhodes airport is still chaotically Greek. Be prepared for long queues and organized chaos. Surrounding are drab, functional and depressing. There is seating in the departure lounge but it is far from adequate. Flight information is sketchy with little information on terminals and announcements made over a creaky PA system in broken English. As flights can be called simultaneously, it's not always easy to tell which gate to use.
Gates are not always easy to find, down corridors with no signs etc. Baggage handling can be seriously slow and its not unusual to wait more than an hour. There is plenty of public transport from the airport with about 30 buses daily to Rhodes City.
Rhodes ferries -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regular ferries and hydrofoils leave from the harbour at Mandraki with regular daily services too and from Piraeus (Athens) and Crete. A daily ferry to Piraueus calls at Santorini and there are regular services to other islands in the Dodecanses group including Kos and Kalymnos as well as further north to the smaller islands of Leros, Patmos and Lipsi.
There are mainy daily boat trips around the island with the main coastal resort being Lindos, which seems to be included on every boat trip from Mandraki harbour. There are also daily boats to Symi, calling in at Panormitis Monastery on the way.

Paros Island - Greece









In the heart of the Cyclades Islands, Paros, with 10,000 inhabitants and 120km coastline, is a whole world fulfilling everybody's dream of an Aegean Island. Serene landscape with fertile valleys and rolling hills dotted with small churches and monasteries, endless sandy beaches with sparkling blue waters, famous monuments from the lands rich ancient and medieval past, picturesque white villages bathed in the unique, dazzling Aegean light. All this, along with warm hospitality, excellent tourist facilities, rich cultural life, cosmopolitan ambience but also the possibility of seclusion, have combined to make Paros one of the most favorite spots in the Cyclades Islands. It is now your turn to discover and explore it.
Enjoy swimming and your favorite water sports, have fun in the local feasts, savour the local dishes and famed wines in restaurants, taverns and ouzeries stroll around the countryside and the lovely village streets, visit the handicraft shops, revel in the intense nightlife.
Discover Parikia, the capital, visit the famous church of Katapoliani, one of Greece's most important Byzantine monuments, impressively preserved, the Venetian castle, and the Archaeological Museum with its exhibits from the ancient history of Paros and Antiparos. Discover Naoussa which is north of the island with its whitewashed alleys, picturesque fishing port and beautiful nearby beaches. Lefkes and Marathi which are in the middle of the Island with the ancient quarries of the famous Parian marble. The monasteries of Longovarda, Christou tou Dassous and many others. The tranquil fishing village of Aliki is on the south west of the Island with sandy beaches around.
It is well worth discovering the south east district from Marpissa to Drios is maybe the most beautiful in Paros, with picturesque villages and fishing ports (Marpissa, Pisso Livadi, Logaras, Drios), exquisite sandy beaches (Pisso Livadi, Logaras, Pounda, Messada, New Golden Beach, Golden Beach and Drios), interesting sights, warm island hospitality and model tourist facilities. Famous worldwide to fans of watersports, especially windsurfing, it also offers a variety of vacation possibilities for every taste, discover it by yourself and find out how many more surprises it holds. Distances in Paros are short, the roads are good and every ride has its own charm, with breathtaking views over the Aegean sea and the surrounding islands.
You can also take a trip to nearby Antiparos and visit its spectacular cave and turquoise-water beaches. And don't forget that Paros due to its position and importance, is linked not only to Piraeus (The port of Athens) and Rafina, but also to all the islands of the Cyclades, the Dodecanese, Samos, even Crete island and Thessaloniki which is the second biggest city in north Greece. The possibilities offered are limitless, both in moving around and in your stay, since Paros has an excellent tourist infrastructure. We are sure all this will entice you to become fans of Paros. Have a nice holidays!


The European Blue Flag On the occasion of the European Year of the Environment in 1987, the Foundation for Environmental Education in Europe (FEEE) started a programme aimed at ensuring the proper organization and management of popular coastal beaches. This programme, known as the European Blue Flags, has now completed ten successful years of operation in 18 European countries. The programme is coordinated in each country by a national NGO operator in cooperation with the Ministry of the Environment. A yearly award of a Blue Flag is given to those beaches and marinas which meet the criteria of the programme. Paros has to offer a great variety of beaches with crystal clear waters throughout the island and many of them award with blue flags.
Beaches in Parikia: there are two good beaches in Parikia, Krios and Livadia. The Krios beach offers music, food, ice cream and drinks, Beach Volley, and if you like it quiet, just move out of hearing distance. You shall find crystal-clear water here and fine white sand and have a beautiful view towards the town Parikia and the harbour. Also offers deck chairs and umbrellas. You can get there by boat taxi from Parikia's harbour, which doesn't cost much and takes about 5/10 minutes. If you have another means of transportation, drive once around the bay, which will only take you five minutes.Some people even like to walk their way around along the waterfront and, although it takes a while, it is a beautiful walk! Livadia is Parikia's main beach, starting within about 700 meters from the harbour and going all around the bay. It is divided into several sections, with and without trees, with deck chairs and without and there is a wide and a narrow section. Close to some shops, bars and restaurants for drinks and meals in-between. Good for all tastes and for those who want to stay close to the town or their accommodations.
Beaches in Naoussa : Piperi is the Naoussa's main in-town beach, in a small curve embraced by rocks, about 50 meters beneath the main road that leads into the town centre. It is within walking distance, approx. 250 metres from Naoussa's fishing port. You can also find yourself a comfortable quiet spot for sunbathing among the rocks. It is small but nice for swimming and a secret tip for snorkeling.
One of the Island's most famous beaches on the other side of Naoussa Bay is Kolimbithres with a beautiful view towards Naoussa. It is very special due to impressive rock formations that divide the beach into a succession of little sandy coves, which allows you, unless it is high season, to find a private spot of your own. The crystal-clear water is shallow here and ideal for families with little children. You can find some natural shade and umbrellas with deck chairs. The beach has a few Beach Bars and taverns spread out along the road where you will also find enough parking facilities. Water ski and other activities go on here in the high season.
Small boats will take you, in ten minutes, from the little harbor of Naoussa to Kolimbithres and Monastiri for swimming. Here the rocks form an impressive landscape with little harbors ideal for tanning and enjoying the water. But after all maybe the best place for swimming in Paros is that private little harbor you can always discover around the island. .
Other beaches around Naoussa: Monastiri this beach is also very well known and popular especially during the high season. It is at the end of the bay opposite Naoussa, about 2 km past Kolimbithres. It is a tiny bay enclosed by rocks on both sides with very shallow, pool-like water, overlooked by a tavern & music bar. A popular spot for private yachts. There is a lot going on here in the summer, including live concerts and organised beach parties. If you like it quiet, avoid this beach or look for a private, quiet spot nearby. Get there by using the frequent boat taxis from Naoussa's harbour or taking the road that leads to Kolimbithres first. Lageri Beach a very quiet, far from the road sandy beach that is difficult to be found as it is not well sign-posted. Not very busy, so good if you prefer it quiet. Can be reached easiest by boat taxi. Santa Maria Beach long coastline with sections of several long and wide sandy beaches, one of which is attached to Santa Maria Campsite. The countryside is flat here and there are small dunes and bushes in the background. You find music, food, Beach Volley, Wind Surfing (ideal because of more wind) here as well as a Diving Club. You can go there by car/motorbike or by bus. You can also take the boat taxi but it is a long ride and the boats are not scheduled so frequently, as they have to go once around the north peak of the island. Ambelas several small & quiet beaches nearby the town. To be recommended if you are mobile or with children.
Molos Beach : nearby the small village Marmara you find Molos and a few other sandy beaches that are hardly visited, even during the high season, probably because they are about 1 or 2 km off the main road. They are beautiful and wide, at some spots a little pebbly, and well worth visiting especially if you like it quiet! The water is deep here, and you have a beautiful view towards Naxos. When the winds are right, it is an ideal place for Wind Surfing if you have your own equipment. Get there from the main road between Naoussa and Pisso Livadi, but with your own vehicle, as the beaches are far from the bus stop.


Piso Livadi & Logaras beache: these are several beaches in or nearby of Pisso Livadi village. They are beautiful with shallow water and easy access to excellent restaurants for traditional Greek Cuisine. Convenient if you are staying in one of the hotels here or are on a tour around the island, by bus or with your own vehicle.
Punda Breach:
This is a small beach with a tropical flair. Actually more important than the beach itself is the new, two-story complex with a swimming pool, a bar and some shops with a Mexican touch, which is built upon the beach. It attracts happy crowds and has a lot going on during the summer, from partying by the pool to Bungee Jumping.
Go there by bus or car/motorbike. There is a steep hill to overcome from the bus stop,although it is not far.


New Golden Beach & Golden Beach:
Ideal for windsurfers and not only, long and sandy beaches with beautiful swimming pool-like water and the best circumstances for Wind Surfing; you can also rent equipment here. This is where the yearly Wind Surfing World Cup takes place ( P.W.A). There are several hotels and taverns and a nice little restaurant! You go there easily by bus or with your own vehicle.


Drios Beach: Drios it’s a quiet beach, protected from the wind, here you can find a few taverns with fresh fishes and local wine.
Lolantonis / Glyfa: Londanis it’s a quiet beach, just 1 Km. away from Drios.


Faragas: These are two not very well-known or heavily visited beaches. Farangas is far away from the main road, and nice if you prefer it quiet and lonely.
Aliki: Nice if you are staying in Aliki as a visitor anyway. Very good fish restaurants.
Agia Irini: This is a small beach with palm trees and very blue water, quite far away from the main road that leads to Parikia, with a nice tavern that has a big variety of Greek foods. Watch out for pebbles in the water.Parasporos: Big beach with a campsite and Beach Bar at the north end. The water gets deep quickly, and although the beach itself is sandy, you have to beware of the pebbles and small rocks in the water. Easy to be reached from the bus stop and the campsite has its own busses with frequent transfer.Delphini Beach: A small beach with turquoise-coloured water and a charming little Beach Bar. Seemingly a Mecca for foreigners living on the island, with live music and lively grill on Sundays. Easy to be reached by bus from Parikia.


How to get in Paros:
There are two ways to get on the island: by plane and by boat.
By plane
You can fly by plane from any European city to Athens, Santorini or Myconos and then take the boat from there to Paros. Or you catch a connecting flight from Athens (Olympic Airways) and you will arrive half an hour later on our island. Athens New Airport Access.

By boat
The ferries to Paros departures from the port of Piraeus and Rafina. Duration 2 hours and 45 minutes with a high speed boat and 4 hours and 45 minutes with a normal boat

Παγκόσμια Ημέρα Περιβάλλοντος


Κλείστε τα φώτα. Μετακινηθείτε με τα δημόσια μέσα μεταφοράς. Ανακυκλώστε. Φυτέψτε ένα δένδρο», παροτρύνει ο ΓΓ του ΟΗΕ. «Η οικονομική και χρηματοπιστωτική θύελλα που σαρώνει τον κόσμο, μας υπενθυμίζει την ανάγκη να αλλάξουμε τον παλαιό τρόπο ανάπτυξης και να περάσουμε σε μια νέα εποχή, μιας πιο πράσινης και καθαρής ανάπτυξης. Το θέμα της φετινής Παγκόσμιας Ημέρας Περιβάλλοντος, «Ο πλανήτης σε χρειάζεται», έχει στόχο να μας εμπνεύσει προκειμένου να κάνουμε αυτό που μας αναλογεί», αναφέρει ο ΓΓ του ΟΗΕ και προσθέτει:
«Η Γη αντιμετωπίζει τη σοβαρή απειλή της κλιματικής αλλαγής. Αν και όλες οι χώρες θα πληγούν, οι φτωχότερες θα σηκώσουν το μεγαλύτερο βάρος των συνεπειών. Μας παρουσιάζεται ωστόσο η ευκαιρία να αλλάξουμε πορεία. Τον Δεκέμβριο στην Κοπεγχάγη, θα συζητηθεί το ζήτημα της κλιματικής αλλαγής.


Πηγή: ΑΝΤ1

Ελλάδα Καθαρή


Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΚΑΘΑΡΗ είναι ένας μη κυβερνητικός, μη κερδοσκοπικός φορέας με έδρα την Αθήνα. Συμμετέχει στις δραστηριότητες της πρωτοβουλίας 'Clean up The World' και αποτελεί επίσημο μέλος του Mediterranean Action Plan του Προγράμματος Περιβάλλοντος του Οργανισμού Ηνωμένων Εθνών (UNEP). Η Ελλάδα Καθαρή δραστηριοποιείται από το 1999, με σκοπό τη βελτίωση της σημερινής περιβαλλοντικής κατάστασης, μέσω της ευαισθητοποίησης, της ενημέρωσης και της κινητοποίησης του Ελληνικού κοινού σε περιβαλλοντικά θέματα. Στόχος της οργάνωσης δεν είναι απλώς η συνειδητοποίηση των πολιτών στα θέματα προστασίας του περιβάλλοντος, αλλά η ενεργοποίησή τους σε ένα νέο τρόπο ζωής, έτσι ώστε όχι μόνο να σέβονται το περιβάλλον, αλλά να το θεωρούν ως πρωταρχικό τους μέλημα.
Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΚΑΘΑΡΗ πιστεύει ότι για την βελτίωση της σημερινής περιβαλλοντικής κατάστασης της χώρας μας είναι αναγκαία η ενεργή συμμετοχή όλων μας. Γι' αυτό, μεταξύ των άλλων δράσεών της περιλαμβάνει και την διοργάνωση εκδηλώσεων με εθελοντική συμμετοχή των πολιτών, σε πράξεις όχι μόνον συμβολικού αλλά και ουσιαστικού χαρακτήρα. Πληροφορίες: www.cleanupgreece.org.gr/

Δεν ανήκουν στο Airbus τα συντρίμμια που ανασύρθηκαν από τον Ατλαντικό


Ρίο ντε Ζανέιρο

Νέα δεδομένα προκύπτουν για την αεροπορική τραγωδία στον Ατλαντικό καθώς, όπως διαπιστώθηκε, τα συντρίμμια που ανέσυρε την Πέμπτη το Πολεμικό Ναυτικό της Βραζιλίας δεν ανήκουν στο Airbus της Air France. Οι έρευνες για τα αίτια του δυστυχήματος συνεχίζονται.
«Μέχρι τώρα κανένα τμήμα του αεροσκάφους δεν έχει ανασυρθεί» δήλωσε ο διευθυντής του τμήματος ελέγχου του εναέριου χώρου της Βραζιλίας, Ραμόν Καρντόσο.
Σύμφωνα με το BBC, ο ίδιος υποστήριξε πως όντως βρέθηκαν στη θάλασσα κηλίδες πετρελαίου που ενδεχομένως προήλθαν από το αεροσκάφος, όμως η μεγάλη πετρελαιοκηλίδα που απεικονίζεται στις φωτογραφίες των ξένων πρακτορείων προήλθε από πλοίο.
Ο Καρντόσο είπε ότι οι έρευνες θα συνεχιστούν, με πρώτη προτεραιότητα να βρεθούν οι σοροί των θυμάτων. Από την πλευρά του, ο εκπρόσωπος του γαλλικού στρατού Κριστόφ Πραζούκ υποστήριξε ότι προέχει να βρεθούν τα συντρίμμια του αεροσκάφους, πριν αρχίσουν οι έρευνες για τα «μαύρα κουτιά».
Σκάφη του Πολεμικού Ναυτικού της Βραζιλίας «χτενίζουν» την περιοχή όπου εκτιμάται ότι βρίσκονται συντρίμμια του Airbus Α330, βορειοανατολικά των ακτών της Βραζιλίας.
Αλλά τέσσερα πλοία (τρία από τη Βραζιλία και ένα από τη Γαλλία) αναμένεται να φτάσουν στην περιοχή τις επόμενες ημέρες.
Όσο για επιζώντες, αυτό θεωρείται απίθανο και οι συγγενείς των θυμάτων ήδη έχουν ενημερωθεί. Την Πέμπτη τελέστηκε επιμνημόσυνη δέηση για τα θύματα στο Ρίο ντε Ζανέιρο, παρουσία των υπουργών Εξωτερικών Γαλλίας και Βραζιλίας.
«Αυτοί που χάθηκαν θα είναι πάντα στην καρδιά και την σκέψη μας» δήλωσε ο Μπερνάρ Κουσνέρ.


Πηγή: Newsroom ΔΟΛ

Santorini Island - Greece













The world famous island of Santorini is the southern most island of the Cycladic group in the Aegean Sea, and is located 63 nautical miles north of Crete.

Its surface area is 73 sq. km. and its population, distributed among thirteen villages, just exceeds thirteen thousand six hundred people, according to the census of 2001.

HOW TO REACH SANTORINI

By plane
Santorini can be reached from most international airports via Athens. The flying time from Athens to Santorini is approximately 40 minutes.

Nearly all international scheduled flights arriving in Athens allow adequate time for making the connecting flight to Santorini. Numerous charter flights from different European Cities fly directly to the island during the summer period. During the same period Santorini is also connected with flights to and from Thessaloniki.

By ferry boat
Another way to reach the island is by a regular ferry boat service from the port of Piraeus, Thessaloniki or Crete and almost all the Cycladic islands. The boat trip takes approximately 8 - 13 hours depending on the ferry and the ports of call.

Daily high speed boats are also available only during the summer period leaving from the port of Piraeus and from numerous other Cycladic islands and Crete. The trip lasts about 4 – 5 hours.
GEOLOGY
The present-day crescent shape of the island is a consequence of the activity of the volcano in prehistoric times. The island itself owes its very existence to the volcano.
The last huge eruption of the volcano dates back 3,600 years, to the late bronze age. Thirty million cubic meters of magma in the form of pumice and ash were blown to a height of up to 36 kilometers above the island. Pumice deposits, dozens of meters thick, buried one of the most prosperous pre-historic settlements of that period, feeding the myth of the lost Atlantis.
The mild activity of the volcano after this major eruption continues into the present (the most recent eruption occurred in 1950) building up two small islands within the caldera, Palea and Nea Kameni. These islands represent the volcano's most recent activity.
The marvelous dry climate and continuous sunshine create year around conditions which are perfect for observation, photographs and videos under an extraordinary variety of natural lights and colours that give the visitor the exceptional advantage of reaching the interior of the volcano by boat.

HISTORY

Human presences on the island seem to have existed since the middle of the 3rd millennium B.C. The excavations at Akrotiri have confirmed that human activity on the island continued until the eruption of the volcano around 1500 B.C, which entirely buried the island beneath very thick layers of pozzuolona, At that point, all traces of human activity vanished from the island until the end of the 13th century B.C.
According to Herodotus, the island was initially called Strongyle (the Round One). Then later, because of its beauty, it was named Kalliste (the Fairest One). The Phoenicians settled in Kalliste, and after the Phoenicians, the Lacedaemonians arrived and renamed the island after their leader, Theras. In the 9th century B.C. Thera, became an important stopping point of that era in the travel routes between the East and the West. The Phoenician alphabet was adopted at this time for writing in the Greek language. Interestingly though, the conservative Therans, did not follow the cultural development of their counterparts in the other Cycladic islands. At about 630 B.C the Therans reached the north coast of the African continent where they founded Cyrene, the only Theran colony. From as early on as the 6th century B.C. Thera had its own coinage. During the Classical period in Greece [5th and 4th century B.C.] Thera did not play any significant role in the events of that Hellenic time. During the Peloponesian War Thera sided with Sparta, as expected. In Hellenistic times the island's strategic position made Thera an important base for the war campaigns in the Aegean of the successors to Alexander the Great.

During the Roman Empire, Thera was little more than a small, insignificant island. However, when Christianity reached the island early, an organized church was established by the 4th century A.D. The island had neither political nor military significance in Byzantine times, although Alexius I Comnenus [1081 - 1118] founded the church of the Panagia Episkopi at Gonia. After the fall of Constantinople in the Fourth Crusade [1204], the Duchy of Naxos was founded and Thera became the seat of one of the four Catholic Bishops of the Duchy. The name Santorini was given at that time by the Crusaders, named after a small chapel of Agia Irini [Santa Irene] which some say was located at Perissa and others say it was at Riva on Therasia.

In the years under Frankish rule [1207 - 1579], Santorini experienced the development of a thriving cotton cultivation and viticulture, but the island suffered as much from piratical raids as it did from the rivalries between the local Latin rulers as well as the Duke and the Sultan.

The Turkish dominion [1579 - 1821] resulted in the abolition of piracy and the development of international trade. The Santorinians created close contacts with the great harbours of the Eastern Mediterranean (Alexandria, Constantinople, Odessa) where they founded important communities.

In 1821, Santorini with its shipping power, took part in the fight for independence from the Turks, and in 1830, the island became part of the independent Greek state. Up until the beginning of the 20th century shipping, textiles, tomato production and viticulture were all flourishing markets, but the change from sail to steam-driven ships and the relocation of the island's factories to mainland Greece had a negative effect on the island's economy. After the 1956 earthquake there was a huge decrease in the population resulting in an economic catastrophe. Towards the end of the 1970s however, tourism began to develop, bringing economic relief to the island.
OTHER
Currency
Since the 1st of January 2002, the Euro (EUR) is the currency of Greece. Notes in circulation are 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euro while coins are in denominations of 1 euro, 2 euro, 1 cent, 2 cents, 5 cents, 10 cents and 20 cents. A currency converter is available here.
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Banks
The banks on Santorini are open 8.00 am-2.30 pm Monday to Thursday and 8.00 am-2.00 pm on Friday. ATMs are available in almost all villages on Santorini. Most accept Visa and MasterCards as well as debit cards of internationally recognised networks.
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Electrical Appliances
The electricity supply in Greece is alternating current, 220-250 volts, 50 cycles. Appliances for 110 or 120 volts may be operated by using step down transformers of 220 - 250/110 volts connected to each outlet.
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Formalities for Entering Greece
Passport and visa requirements vary from country to country. Please click here for details.
Greek Diplomatic and Consular Missions abroad: click here
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Health
In case of health problems you may visit the Santorini Health Center in Fira (Tel 2286023123) or ask your hotel reception for a private specialist doctor.
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Water
Bottled water is recommended for drinking. Tap water can be used for washing, bathing and cleaning your teeth. In the area of Oia the tap water that comes from the local desalination plant is drinkable.
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Transportation
There is a taxi stand in the square of Fira. With just a phone call you can be picked up from any point. The price of your journey is based on a catalogue issued by the Ministry of Transport and not based on the taxi's meter. KTEL buses carry out daily bus routes to almost all destinations. The KTEL terminal is also located in the square of Fira next to the taxis.
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Postal services
ELTA is the official name of the postal service and their colours are blue and yellow. The main postal offices on Santorini are located in Fira, Emporio and Oia. Postal agencies are located in Pyrgos, Kamari and Perissa. Mailboxes are available in all the villages of Santorini. A standard letter or postcard less than 20 grams sent anywhere in Europe or abroad costs €0.65 (as per April 2007).
Courier services are also available.
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Internet
Most hotels provide Internet access for their guests. Internet cafés are available mostly in Fira.

Θεσσαλονίκη: 2η Γυμνή Ποδηλατοδρομία


Φορώντας μόνο τα απαραίτητα περίπου 300 ποδηλάτες συμμετείχαν σήμερα στη 2η Γυμνή Ποδηλατοδρομία, η οποία διοργανώθηκε στη Θεσσαλονίκη εναντίον της χρήσης του αυτοκινήτου.
Η ποδηλατοδρομία ξεκίνησε, λίγο μετά τις 8 το βράδυ, από την Μοναστηρίου και διέσχισε τους κεντρικούς δρόμους της πόλης.
Στην κεφαλή της πορείας βρίσκονταν άτομα με αναπηρικά αμαξίδια και ακολουθούσαν νεαροί με ρόλερς και σκέιτ και δεκάδες ποδηλάτες, με πολύχρωμες περούκες και ζωγραφισμένα σώματα, οι οποίοι φορούσαν τα εσώρουχα τους ή έκρυβαν τα επίμαχα σημεία μόνο με ένα φύλο συκής.
«Άσεμνο δεν είναι το κορμί, άσεμνοι είναι οι ρύποι των ΙΧ», υποστήριξαν οι διαμαρτυρόμενοι ποδηλάτες, οι οποίοι ζητούν να δημιουργηθούν ποδηλατόδρομοι στη Θεσσαλονίκη.


Πηγή: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ

Mykonos Island - Greece






















Mykonos is a small island and therefore it is easily explored. It has great beaches with soft white sand and crystal clear waters, made famous in the popular British film Shirley Valentine which was filmed at Agios Ioannis, just a few kilometres from Ornos beach.
The capitol of the Island, Mykonos Town (Hora), with its colourful harbour in which little fishing-boats nestle happily side by side with luxury yachts, presents quite a different picture from the majority of Aegean island towns. Mykonos is famed as being the quintessential Cycladic village, with maze like narrow paths framed by dazzlingly white-washed buildings. While it is usual for island villages to be built on naturally amphitheatrical sites, Mykonos is spread out over a flat area and conveys an impression of solid aesthetic cohesion.
The nightlife on Mykonos is the best in the Aegean, with DJs of great renown coming from all over Europe to perform in the wild clubs. Those seeking a bacchanal holiday of sun and beach in the day and endless partying in the night are perfectly suited to Mykonos.
Little Venice is one of the most charming districts of Mykonos Town and one of the prettiest places in the Cyclades. Its picturesque, two and three storey houses with colorful balconies, windows and doors, built right on the sea, form a unique picture. Little Venice is the perfect spot from which to view the sunset.
Ano Mera is, after Mykonos town, the most important of the older villages of the island. Standing 8 km. (5 miles) to the east of the town, Ano Mera has the interesting monastery of Our Lady Tourliani, ornamented with woodcarvings. The church has a collection of valuable ecclesiastical vessels, vestments and embroideries. The courtyard contains an interesting bell-tower and a marble fountain. The best bus system to be found in all the island’s also helps to make this an accessible place to visit and it combines with a caique system that provides alternative frequent transport to the beaches. The service offered in Mykonos far surpasses that elsewhere in Greece with its sophistication and helpfulness. Mykonos is a busy island with all the amenities of a modern resort with plenty to do by day or night, for those who want to have a lively time. Yet visitors fond of more peaceful holidays will still find quiet corners in which to relax.
Beaches The many sandy beaches of Mykonos are reputed as some of the best in the Cyclades. There is a beach for every taste, from popular family beaches to the more "cosmopolitan" and nudist.

The more popular family beaches include:
Platis Yialos: One of the most popular beaches in the Mediterranean, with a regular bus service to town about 4 km (2½miles) away. This beach is excellently organized and provides a variety of facilities for sea sports such as water-skiing, diving, pedal boat and more. There is also a daily small boat transport from the Platis Yialos pier to all other south coast beaches of Paranga, Agrari, Elia, Paradise and Super Paradise.
Ornos: On the south-west side of Mykonos and about 3 km from town. The sandy beach slopes gently into the sea so it is perfect for families with small children. There are schools for water-skiing & surfing.
Psarou: Another of the more well know beaches of Mykonos, about 5 km (3miles) from town. The wonderful location, clean sea and sandy beach is a combination that attracts many tourists. The beach is excellently organized offering a variety of sea-sports which includes scuba-diving.

Agios Stefanos: The windless sandy beach of Ag. Stefanos is 2km north of Mykonos Town. It has a variety of good services and sea sport facilities such as water skiing, surfing and jet skiing.

Kalafatis Beach - Agia Anna Beach: Two more beaches with a sandy shore and clear water. Between them, a peninsula with fishing port. Beautiful landscape, transportation, surfing and diving school, plus bus transport. Megali Ammos, Kalo Livadi, Tourlos, Agios Ioannis and Korfos bay are other popular family beaches.
Some of the more cosmopolitan beaches of Mykonos include:

Super Paradise: A magnificent beach with crystal clear blue water in a small, deep bay: half the beach is family-oriented, the other half is fully gay with nude bathing permitted, nudists often prefer the rocky paths & coves. Most famous gay beach in this part of the Mediterranean. Regular caiques / boat service from Platis Yialos Beach.

Paradise: A beautiful beach with a mostly younger crowd. Big, well organized camp sites and bus service. Many water sports. As the sun goes down the lively bars get into full swing with electronica, techno music, and parties.

Paranga: A 15-min. walk from central Platis Yialos Beach; small, beautiful beach organized one end and includes a small mainly gay section Good quality taverns nearby.

Elia: A not so crowded, large beach with a mix of sun worshippers: hetero, gay and some nudity at one end. The organized part has 3 restaurants and tavernas. Elia is the last stop of the small boats leaving from central Platis Yialos Beach, there is also a bus service from Mykonos Town, which is 10 km (6¼miles) away.

ACTIVITIES POSSIBLE IN MYKONOS:

SCUBA and snorkeling (SCUBA at Psarou beach near Platy Yialos)Best nightlife in the Greek islandsJeep safarisDay trips to the ancient holy island of DelosMykonos has more then 800 churches to visitMultiple water sports: windsurfing, water skiing, parasailing, pedal boats, jet skiing.Windmill Museum and Traditional Mykonian House MuseumGo Karts on race tracksMascot Pelicans to pose for pictures withSophisticated shopping and dining

Restaurants:Mathios Taverna at the new port is meant to be one of the island’s bestSale and Pepe in Mykonos town is excellent fine Italian diningEdem in Mykonos town is a very romantic restaurant beside a swimming pool in a quiet courtyard and with excellent Mykonian cuisineKatrin’s One of the most famous and oldest restaurants on the island, with classic French and Greek cuisine, excellent service.Caprice in the little Venice area, next to the bar of the same name, with tables on the water’s edge. Serves good traditional dishes


TRANSFER INFORMATION:Central bus station in Mykonos town in area called FabrikaPort has a bus stationOnly 25 taxis and in high season up to 70,000 tourists – TRANSFERS NECESSARYCaiques from the port to the beaches start at 10 AM During the summer months in Mykonos there are an average of 70,000 tourists on the island per day. On the entire island there are only 25 taxis, which means that depending on taxis for transport can be an exercise of great patience. For this reason I highly recommend that for your arrival at least you arrange for a transfer, which entails being met at the port by a person holding a sign with your name on it, who will then transport you to your accommodation. Since there are no street names or building numbers for addresses in Mykonos this is also extremely helpful because you will be shown to your lodging.

All about Delos island.The sacred island of Delos was, in the myths, the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. Today the island is uninhabited: it is a vast archaeological site whose superb monuments draw thousands of visitors in pilgrimage to what was, for a thousand years or so after the ninth century BC, the political and religious centre of the Aegean.
The archaeological site covers almost the entire island, starting on the west side, where the sacred harbour was. From the harbour, a majestic sacred way led to the Sanctuary of Apollo, where there were temples, altars, votive offerings and other buildings. There are ruins of four temples to Apollo, one of them known as the Temple of the Athenians.
To the east is the Sanctuary of the bulls, an oblong building, and to the north are the Treasuries and the long and narrow Stoa of Antigonns. In the north-west corner is the much smaller Sanctuary of Artemis, with an Ionic temple to the goddess, and the Tomb of the Two Hyperborean Maidens. Still further north is the region of the sacred lake, with the Terrace of the Lions, the Letoon, the Agora of the Italians and the Institution of the Poseidoniasts of Berytos. A little further along are some fine examples of houses and a palaestra. To the north-east of the lake is the Stadium and the Gymnasium. Some of the houses yielded superb mosaic floors with representations of Dionysus, a dolphin and a trident. A narrow channel separates Delos from Rhenia, where there is an important burial ground.
The Museum of Delos has sculptures of the Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic and Roman periods, together with a collection of vases from various periods. Half Day Excursion to Delos island.This excursion runs daily (except Mondays).The excursion boats depart from Mykonos port at 10:15 (and there is pick up service from your hotel about 30 minutes earlier) and they return at approximately 14:00.