quae i similis

"quæ i similis" means "what I like" in ancient latin language, and this is pretty much the theme of my blog. I'll post photos -some of them will be taken by me- from Greece. You will see landscapes, waterscapes, animals, plants, people, etc. that I like and find remarkable. But since my blog's name is "what I like", I'll also post whatever I find on the net, that is a "worth-to-share" thing. :)

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Naoussa, Paros, Cyclades, Greece

Naoussa is a traditional, fish village, located in the island of Paros. 

Photo by: faddoush

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Zappeion Hall (Greek: Ζάππειον Μέγαρο), Athens, Attiki, Greece

The Zappeion was used during the 1896 Summer Olympics as the main fencing hall. A decade later, at the 1906 Intercalated Games, it was used as the Olympic Village. It served as the first host for the organizing committee (ATHOC) for the 2004 Games from 1998 to 1999 and served as the press center during the 2004 games.

A number of historical events have taken place at the Zappeion, including the signing of the documents formalizing Greece's accession to the European Community in May, 1979, which took place in the building's marble-clad, peristyle main atrium.

The Zappeion is currently being used as a Conference and Exhibition Center for both public and private purposes.

Main Photos of Zappeion taken by: Elias and ~swalex

Learn More here.

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Antipaxos, Corfu, Ionian Islands, Greece

Antipaxos is a small island (5 km²) in Greece, about 3 kilometers to the south of Paxos. It reported a population of 64 inhabitants at the 2001 census, and is administratively part of the municipality of Paxoi in Corfu regional unit in western Greece.

This is heaven! <3

Photo by: Greek Islands

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Mount Olympus, home of the Gods, captured from the Valley of the Muses! Mount Olympus, Greece (located in the Olympus Range on the border between Thessaly and Macedonia)

Congratulations to the photographer, this is really amazing! :O I <3 it!

Photo by: Maria / Greekscapes

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Shipwreck in Zakynthos, Ionian Islands, Greece

I want to be there, now! :D

Photo by: 9gag

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Let's party! It's Carnival Time! :D

In Greece, these days it's the carnival season. We call it Apokriés (Greek: Αποκριές) which means, "saying goodbye to meat".

[One could ask, Why to say goodbye to meat? Well, as we also mentioned in the post about "Burnt Thursday" (or Tsiknopempti), the Great Lent begins in a few days (on Clean Monday, widely known as Mardi Gras) and then, orthodox Christians are not allowed to eat meat or products that contain milk/yoghurt/cheese.] 

Well, let's get back to our subject:

At that time, Patras holds the largest annual Carnival in Greece; the famous Patras Carnival is a 3-day spectacle replete with concerts, balles masqués, parading troupes, floats, a treasure hunt and many events for children. The grand parade of masked troupes and floats is held at noon on Tyrine Sunday (tomorrow), and culminates in the ceremonial burning of the effigy of King Carnival at the Patras harbour.

In many other regions, festivities of smaller extent are organized, focused on the reenactment of traditional carnevalic customs; for example those held in Tyrnavos (Thessaly), Kozani (West Macedonia), Rethymno (Crete) and in Xanthi (East Macedonia and Thrace). Specifically Tyrnavos holds an annual Phallus festival, a traditional "phallkloric" event in which giant, gaudily painted effigies of phalluses made of papier maché are paraded, and which all women present are asked to touch, or kiss, their reward for doing so being a shot of the famous local tsipouroalcohol spirit. Also every year, to the very beginning (from 1 to 8 January), mostly in regions of the Western Macedonia, there are Carnival fiestas and festivals. The most known of them is the Kastorian Carnival or "Ragoutsaria" (Gr. "Ραγκουτσάρια") [tags: Kastoria, Kastorian Carnival, Ragoutsaria, Ραγκουτσαρια, Καστοριά]. It is taking place from 6 to 8 January with a mass participation of the local population and thousands of visitors under the sounds of big brass bands, pipises, Macedonian and grand casa drums. It is an ancient celebration of natures' rebirth (fiestas for Dionysus (Dionysia) and Kronos (Saturnalia)), which ends the third day in a huge dance in the medieval square Ntoltso where all the bands are playing the same time and all the people are dancing too.

These photos depict a little bit of the atmosphere that you can see and feel when you visit Patras' carnival, which is held in Patras, Akhaia, Greece.

NOTE: This post contains 6 photos. In order to see them, just click on the first photo, drag & drop it to another place and, voila!

Sources: Wiki, Patras Carnival 

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Caryatids of the Erechtheion, Acropolis, Athens, Greece

Learn about the Caryatids and the Erechtheion by visiting the official site for the Acropolis Museum of Athens.

Photo by: ΟΙ ΟΜΟΡΦΙΕΣ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΑΣ ΜΑΣ

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Let's eat! It's Greek Souvlaki time, on "Burnt Thursday!" :D

Each year before Great Lent begins, in villages and towns all over Greece, people share in a national feast day that is decidedly un-vegetarian.  There is music and revelry, and most of all, there is meat in every shape and form cooking on outdoor grills for all to smell.

The name of this holiday is Tsiknopempti (tseek-no-PEMP-tee) a word that comes from the combination of the word tsikna which means the aroma of charred or grilled meat, and pempti(PEMP-tee), the Greek word for Thursday.

During the seven-week period that precedes Pascha (PAS-ha) or Easter, Orthodox Christians abstain from meat, dairy, eggs, and basically any food products that derive from an animal with blood.  Observing the fast allows one the opportunity to purify the mind and body, and fosters a more spiritual focus during this holy period.

The forefathers of the Orthodox Church were very pragmatic in their preparation for Great Lent. They allowed the faithful an opportunity to gradually purge their kitchens and pantries of the foods that would be restricted during the Lenten period to follow.

Two weeks before Lent begins, the faithful give up meat products, hence the great meat-fest.  One week before Lent begins, they give up dairy.  By Clean Monday or Kathari Theftera (ka-tha-REE thef-TEH-rah), which marks the beginning of Great Lent, they are all ready to go.

Photo by: Deviantart

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Santorini, Cyclades, Greece.

Santorini (officially Thira), is an island in the southern Aegean Sea, and #1 holiday destination for tourists.

Santorini is essentially what remains after an enormous volcanic explosion that destroyed the earliest settlements on a formerly single island, and created the current geological caldera. The island is the site of one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history: the Minoan eruption (sometimes called the Thera eruption), which occurred some 3600 years ago at the height of the Minoan civilization. The eruption left a large caldera surrounded by volcanic ash deposits hundreds of metres deep and may have led indirectly to the collapse of the Minoan civilization on the island of Crete, 110 km (68 mi) to the south, through a gigantic tsunami. Another popular theory holds that the Thera eruption is the source of the legend ofAtlantis. (Source: Wikipedia)

  Photo by: Greek Islands

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Molyvos Village, Lesvos, Greece

Molyvos is the tourist capital of Lesvos but don't let that scare you away. It is Greek Island tourism at its best with all of the good qualities and few of the bad and attracts visitors who are sensitive to culture and tradition but are still there to have a good time.

Note: This post contains 2 photos. In order to see them, just click on the photo you see, drag & drop (the photo) to another place and, voila!

More info here. Photo by: Lesvos - Λέσβος (Το ομορφότερο νησί της Ελλάδας)

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Sunset in Leros island, Dhodhekanisos, Greece

Leros is part of the Dodecanese. The island lies in the south-east part of the Aegean Sea, between Patmos and Kalymnos. Used as a naval base by Germans and Italians and as a prison for political dissidents during the Greek dictatorship, the Greek Island has just recently been open to tourism. This explains its lack of touristy facilities and its unspoiled and authentic character. It is ideal for relax and calm holidays in Greece.

Leros island, is also known as the island of Artemis, the Goddess of the Hunt, Forests, Hills, and the Moon (Greek Mythology).

Learn more: Leros (booking site) or visit the official site for the municipality of Leros.

Photo by: ΟΙ ΟΜΟΡΦΙΕΣ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΑΣ ΜΑΣ

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World Cancer Day 2013 (4 February 2013) will focus on Target 5 of the World Cancer Declaration: Dispel damaging myths and misconceptions about cancer, under the tagline “Cancer - Did you know?”. World Cancer Day is a chance to raise our collective voices in the name of improving general knowledge around cancer and dismissing misconceptions about the disease. From a global level, we will be focusing our messaging on the four myths above. In addition to being in-line with our global advocacy goals, we believe these overarching myths leave a lot of flexibility for members, partners and supporters to adapt and expand on for their own needs.

Learn more: http://www.worldcancerday.org/wcd-home

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Talk to me, Mr. Zeus!

Cavo (Kavos) Cafe Bar, in Skála Sikaminéas, Lesvos, Greece

Photo by: giko7

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Sailing in Santorini, Cyclades, Greece!

Well, I have no words to say, the photo is sth more than amazing! :)

Photo by: Maite Martinez Gonzalez

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Sunset at Delphi, Central Greece

Delphi (Greek: Δελφοί, [ðelˈfi]) is both an archaeological site and a modern town in Greece on the south-western spur of Mount Parnassus in the valley of Phocis.

In Greek mythology, Delphi was the site of the Delphic oracle, the most important oracle in the classical Greek world, and a major site for the worship of the god Apollo after he slew the Python, a dragon who lived there and protected the navel of the Earth. Python (derived from the verb pythein, "to rot") is claimed by some to be the original name of the site in recognition of the Python that Apollo defeated. The Homeric Hymn to Delphic Apollo recalled that the ancient name of this site had been Krisa.

Apollo's sacred precinct in Delphi was a panhellenic sanctuary, where every four years, starting in 776 BC athletes from all over the Greek world competed in the Pythian Games, one of the four panhellenic (or stephanitic) games, precursors of the Modern Olympics. The victors at Delphi were presented with a laurel crown (stephanos) which was ceremonially cut from a tree by a boy who re-enacted the slaying of the Python. Delphi was set apart from the other games sites because it hosted the mousikos agon, musical competitions.

These Pythian Games rank second among the four stephanitic games chronologically and based on importance. These games, though, were different from the games at Olympia in that they were not of such vast importance to the city of Delphi as the games at Olympia were to the area surrounding Olympia. Delphi would have been a renowned city whether or not it hosted these games; it had other attractions that led to it being labeled the "omphalos" (navel) of the earth, in other words, the center of the world.

In the inner hestia ("hearth") of the Temple of Apollo, an eternal flame burned. After the battle of Plataea, the Greek cities extinguished their fires and brought new fire from the hearth of Greece, at Delphi; in the foundation stories of several Greek colonies, the founding colonists were first dedicated at Delphi.

Learn more about Delphi here.

Photo by: ΟΙ ΟΜΟΡΦΙΕΣ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΑΣ ΜΑΣ

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HAPPY NEW YEAR! :) *2013*

Wishing you a year of health, wealth,

happiness, luck, warmth.

And loads of love of your dear ones!

Hope the New Year showers you with

All that is beautiful

In Greece, when new year arrives, we use to break a pomegranate on the ground! Why? The answer is simple: Pomegranate is a symbol of regeneration, fertility, prosperity, and the inseparable marriage of life and death.

Need more info about New Year's traditions in Greece? Click here. :)

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Misirlou - A Greek Song!

Well, I think you all know Misirlou, the famous song of Dick Dale, which got popular after the movie "Pulp Fiction". You can hear it here. (The Black eyed peas also made a remix of this song, and they named it Pump it.)

But, here's something that you may not know. "Misirlou", originally is a Greek folk song, dating back to 1927, originally as a Greek rebetiko composition. Its earliest known recording was by a rebetiko musician, Tetos Demetriades, in 1927.

"Misirlou", means "Egyptian Girl", and the word comes form the turkish word "Mısırlı" (Egyptian).

As for the lyrics, you can read them below.

Greek

Μισιρλού μου, η γλυκιά σου η ματιά

Φλόγα μου 'χει ανάψει μες στην καρδιά.

Αχ, για χαμπίμπι, αχ, για λε-λέλι, αχ,

Τα δυο σου χείλη στάζουνε μέλι, αχ.

Αχ, Μισιρλού, μαγική, ξωτική ομορφιά.

Τρέλα θα μου 'ρθει, δεν υποφέρω πια.

Αχ, θα σε κλέψω μέσ' απ' την Αραπιά.

Μαυρομάτα Μισιρλού μου τρελή,

Η ζωή μου αλλάζει μ' ένα φιλί.

Αχ, για χαμπίμπι ενα φιλάκι, άχ

Απ' το γλυκό σου το στοματάκι, αχ.

English

My Misirlou (Egyptian girl), your sweet glance

Has lit a flame in my heart.

Ah, ya habibi, ah, ya le-leli, ah (Arabic: Oh, my love, Oh, my night‎)[3]

Your two lips are dripping honey, ah.

Ah, Misirlou, magical, exotic beauty.

Madness will overcome me, I can't endure [this] any more.

Ah, I'll steal you away from the Arab land.

My black-eyed, my wild Misirlou,

My life changes with one kiss

Ah, ya habibi, one little kiss, ah

From your sweet little lips, ah.

Source