The Cretan Diet

Crete, the Cretan diet, Mediterranean diet.
Olive oil, mountain greens, salads and fruit. Cretan recipe for health.


Read the article here

Cold and snow in Crete

Cold, rain and snow in Crete. Brrrr

Pile the logs on the fire .. the cold weather is set to continue.

There is heavy snowfall on the mountains and frequent rains and storms in the south and north of the prefecture of Chania today.

Yesterday snow caused problems in mountainous areas of the prefecture of Chania, particularly on the Omalos and Sfakia roads and this is expected to continue today.

Temperatures will reach a low of 3 or 4oC. North winds of up to 9 Beaufort are expected tomorrow (Thursday).

Drivers are urged to avoid unneccesary travel on the mountain roads, and to take particular care if travelling in the morning because of the danger of frost.

In an emergency call any of the following :
• 199 of the Fire Department.
• 100 of the Police Directorate.
• 28213 40130 Department of Civil Protection, Chania and the local municipalities.

The Great Greek Prison Break

Greece's most notorious prisoner, Vassilis Palaiokostas, 44, has escaped from a high security prison in Athens by helicopter, for the SECOND time in three years!

The daring escape came yesterday, Sunday, as Palaiokostas and his Albanian accomplice, Alket Rizaj,were in the prison yard taking an hour's exercise break from their high security solitary cells

A helicopter whisked away the prisoners after throwing a rope ladder down as it hovered over the roof of the prison building.




Questions are of course being asked as to how two prisoners could organise such a well timed and planned escape from a high security prison and a number of prison guards are being investigated, as is the helicopter pilot who claims that he was threatened with a knife and hand grenade by the couple who had chartered the helicopter.

On June 4th 2006 Paleokostas escaped from the same prison courtyard in the same manner, by a helicopter rescue organised then by his brother, Nikos who was at that time also a fugitive. Vassilis Paleokostas was on the run for two years before he was arrested again in August last year, and his brother Nikos was arrested shorty afterwards.

Top Ten Crete

Here's a guide to the top ten attractions in Crete for visitors.

Crete's Top Ten Sights and attractions, Sightseeing, Archaeological Sites, Family Resorts, Villas, Off the Beaten Track, Childrens' Activities.

Read the article here: Top Ten Crete

Ephraim effigy gets Patras OK

Further news on Thursday's posting about the Patras carnival Ephraim float -

A Patras course has rejected the complaint by a local religious organization seeking the imposition of a fine on city authorities for allowing the construction of a Carnival float depicting two monks, one of whom is supposed to be Ephraim, the central figure in the Vatopedi land-swap scandal with the state.

But the court must still rule on a second complaint by the same organization, demanding that the float be banned from participating in the city’s main Carnival parade on March 1.

Holy Row over Carnival Effigy of Monk

A Carnival float satirizing a senior monk at the heart of the Vatopedi land exchange scandal has fueled controversy in the port city of Patras,Greece with churchmen demanding its removal from forthcoming Carnival celebrations.


The float, which depicts three cunning-faced monks, is due to appear at the city's annual Carnival parade on March 1. One of the monks depicted is supposed to be Ephraim, the former head of the Vatopedi Monastery which was implicated in a multimillion-euro land swap with the state.
ekathimerini.com


Well it's not the first time is it? Certainly in the Kalives Carnival each year the satire is blatent and brilliant. Last year it was the Zoniana hashish float being towed by a 'police' car, while another float mocked the education reforms.
Previously in 2005 they had a float with dancing & boozing Priests, mocking the scandals which rocked the church at that time Remember this?

Greek National Military Service Changes

Greece is one of the few European Countries who still have mandatory military service for men. At the age of 18 they must register with the Armed forces office (Stratologia) and await their draft call up.

Greek teenagers can obtain permission to delay the start of their service based on family, psychological, health or education grounds.
It is very common for teens to finish their studies, at university etc, before serving their military obligations, meaning that the majority of conscripts are between 20 and 30 years of age.

Changes
Reported by ekathimerini

Young Greek men will soon perform their military service only in the army and not the air force or navy, according to plans unveiled by Defense Minister Evangelos Meimarakis over the weekend.

Currently, conscripts are assigned to either the army, air force or navy, although most end up in the army.

Meimarakis said that he is also aiming to reduce the time conscripts must serve to nine months, adding that the time is ripe for such a reduction.
The basic military service in the army is now 12 months, which is down from 18 months earlier this decade.

The defense minister said that this change would be accompanied by rules that would prevent would-be conscripts from putting off their military service for postgraduate studies.

Greek Nationals living abroad and Greek Americans may wish to read this

Apokries - Carnival in Greece

Apokries, Apokrias, Apokreis and Carnival in Greece.


Yes it's that time of year again and the Carnival season is upon us.
Karnivali, masqueraders dressing up, Clean Monday..



Read More on the following links:

Apokries - Carnival in Greece

Carnival In Crete

Expat Medical Insurance - How to Choose a Policy That is Right For You

Overseas Health Insurance - help for choosing medical insurance.

Expat medical insurance is an important consideration for expats moving to live abroad. Choosing the right health insurance policy for you and your family is essential for peace of mind, knowing that things are covered in an emergency or just the normal expenses of doctors visits and prescriptions.

For many expatriates it can be difficult and expensive to access the right medical treatment without a suitable expat health insurance plan.

Read more here : Expat Medical Insurance - How to Choose a Policy That is Right For You

Summer Jobs in the Greek Islands

Jobs in Greece 2009
Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, Kos, Ios, Paros, Zante, Mykonos, Santorini. Summer jobs in the Greek Islands.

Fancy a job working in the sun this summer? Then why not head for Greece and the Greek Islands and work in the sun in 2009.

Each summer thousands of workers arrive looking for jobs in Greece and the Greek Islands. They will spend anywhere from one month to a year, or more, living and working on the Greek islands in mostly tourist related services..

Read more here : Summer Jobs in the Greek Islands

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