The Ioninan Islands in the Mediterranean Sea
By Theodora Filis
There are islands that have been forgotten by time that allow visitors to feel as if they live in a different era, and there are islands that offer cosmopolitan luxuries for every contemporary taste.
Greek islanders have a strong sense of tradition and retain the unique cultural character of their individual island.
Greece is surrounded by three seas: the Ionian Sea to the west, the Aegean sea to the East, and the Sea of Crete to the south. They are all northern extensions of the Mediterranean sea that touches the south of the Peloponnese and Crete.
The islands of Greece are divided into Ionian and Aegean Islands and they in turn are separated into smaller administrative groupings or prefectures.
The islands of the Ionian Sea all belong to the prefecture of Eptanisa. Eptanisa means “seven islands” and they are comprised of: Corfu, Paxi & Antipaxi, Lefkada, Kefalonia, Ithaki, Zakynthos (Zante) and Kythira and Antikythira
Shipwreck Bay - Zakynthos
The seas of Greece are sprinkled with over two thousand islands and islets. The Islands of Greece have been a popular tourist destination for a long time, and each island of Greece with its unique topography, history, and culture attract thousands of visitors from around the world every summer.
With so many islands to choose from, one is bound to find their favorite vacation spot, and while many prefer to island hop, others return to the same island year after year.
There are islands that have been forgotten by time that allow visitors to feel as if they live in a different era, and there are islands that offer cosmopolitan luxuries for every contemporary taste.Greek islanders have a strong sense of tradition and retain the unique cultural character of their individual island.
Northern Suburbs of Athens, Greece - Home for 20 years
By Theodora Filis
Kifissia is a suburb of Athens Greece, located 20 kms, about 12 miles, north of the city. A quiet area known for its up-scale lifestyle and luxury homes. The main centres are on Kassaveti Street near Kifissia Square and Kolokotronis Street near Kefalouri Square.
Walk through lovely spacious parks, and you will find wonderful cafés and shops along Kassaveti street. And April is the time for the popular Kifissia Flower Exhibition.
Kifissia is full of history. People have lived here for centuries. The cool, fresh air, is a wonderful change from congested downtown Athens.
There are several beautiful neo classical mansions and detached houses, a roman tomb and the impressive natural history museum.
There are two outdoor cinemas in Kifissia and plenty of late night café bars to enjoy in the evenings.
Hotel Pentelikon - I stayed here for a month when I first moved to Greece. It was tough, but I had to stay somewhere... right?
I miss everything about my life in Greece, but most of all I miss walking through Kifissia on a beautiful sunny day – as most days are in Greece – meeting friends for coffee at an outdoor cafe lined with tress and flowers...
Can not end without mentioning Frappe'
Parma, Italy "City with the highest standard of living".
By Theodora Filis
The name conjures up many different things, all pleasurable, and brings back 3 of the most amazing months of my life. Parma is unlike any city I have lived in.
Parma is home to artists like Corregio and Parmigianino, musicians Giuseppe Verdi and Toscanini, and rich with castles, cathedrals and fortresses.
Its history goes as far back as Etruscan times, and it probably began its existence as an Etruscan encampment. Parma gained importance and wealth through the Middle Ages, coming under the rule of the Viscontis, the Sforzas, the French and the Popes till it was made a duchy in 1545 and came under the jurisdiction of Pier Luigi Farnese, illegitimate son of Pope Paul III. The Farnese family kept control of Parma till the last scion of the dynasty died in 1731.
A favorite of mine is The Piazza Garibaldi. It lies at the heart of Parma. A statue of Garibaldi, the Governor’s Palace and the Town Hall, both dating back to 1673, are located in this square. Many fond memories were made at this piazza.
Violetta di Parma, the perfume that owes its existence to Maria Lugia, duchess of Parma. Napoleon’s wife loved this flower and used the colour as a signature tint – even the livery of her pages were of this shade. She encouraged the Benedictine monks at the Monastery of Annunciata to distil the essence of the flower, and at last, their long and patient efforts bore fruit. The first bottles of this perfume were produced exclusively for the use of Maria Lugia, and the technique was a closely-guarded secret, but by 1870, the scent of violets spread beyond the boundaries of Parma.
The name conjures up many different things, all pleasurable, and brings back 3 of the most amazing months of my life. Parma is unlike any city I have lived in. Parma is home to artists like Corregio and Parmigianino, musicians Giuseppe Verdi and Toscanini, and rich with castles, cathedrals and fortresses.
Its history goes as far back as Etruscan times, and it probably began its existence as an Etruscan encampment. Parma gained importance and wealth through the Middle Ages, coming under the rule of the Viscontis, the Sforzas, the French and the Popes till it was made a duchy in 1545 and came under the jurisdiction of Pier Luigi Farnese, illegitimate son of Pope Paul III. The Farnese family kept control of Parma till the last scion of the dynasty died in 1731.
Parma is feast of art, architecture, culture, haute couture, gastronomy. Easily accessible from Milano and Bologna, surrounded by verdant green hills, themselves dotted with castles, and the river Parma runs across the city.
A favorite of mine is The Piazza Garibaldi. It lies at the heart of Parma. A statue of Garibaldi, the Governor’s Palace and the Town Hall, both dating back to 1673, are located in this square. Many fond memories were made at this piazza.
The church of San Giovanni Evangelista, and the Stoica Speziera di San Giovanni Evangelista, a pharmacy founded in 1201, are well worth a visit. The pharmacy was working till 1766, after which it was restored and reopened in 1959. It is fascinating to see the ceramic jars and huge mortars, dating back to the 17th and even to the 15th centuries, stocked here. Apart from the tools of the pharmaceutical trade, the building also has beautiful frescoes and antique furniture.
Parma is also known as the food capital of Italy, having given to the world two sublime items of cuisine – Parmesan Cheese and Prosciutto Ham. Made from the milk of cows fed on the green grass of the Po valley, Parmigiano-Reggiano is produced today just as it was seven centuries ago.
Porsciutto di Parma strictly regulated, and starts with breeding and feeding, going on to salt rugs and rinsing and culminating in long hanging and curing in progressively warmer rooms. The process takes between 10 months and a year, at the end of which, only if all the criteria are satisfied is the five-point ducal crown stamped on the silky, pale pink hams with their distinctive flavour, to distinguish them from other, lesser varieties.
Once every two years, Parma hosts Italy’s most important food industry trade fair, CIBUS, and visitors crowd the city for a week to experience pleasures of the palate.
Barilla, which exports spaghetti, pasta, biscuits and bread to countries across the globe, and Parmalat, specialists in milk and dairy products, contribute to Parma’s reputation as the food capital of Italy.
Violetta di Parma, the perfume that owes its existence to Maria Lugia, duchess of Parma. Napoleon’s wife loved this flower and used the colour as a signature tint – even the livery of her pages were of this shade. She encouraged the Benedictine monks at the Monastery of Annunciata to distil the essence of the flower, and at last, their long and patient efforts bore fruit. The first bottles of this perfume were produced exclusively for the use of Maria Lugia, and the technique was a closely-guarded secret, but by 1870, the scent of violets spread beyond the boundaries of Parma.
I can't wait to return to this beautiful and captivating city... but will a short visit be enough?
Find A Guy Who Calls You Beautiful Instead of Hot...
Find a guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot,
who calls you back when you hang up on him,
who will lie under the stars and listen to your heartbeat, or will stay awake just to watch you sleep...
wait for the boy who kisses your forehead, who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats, who holds your hand in front of his friends, who thinks you' re just as pretty without makeup on.
One who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares and how lucky he is to have YOU...
The one who turns to his friends and says, thats her...
~Author Unknown
Greek Summers
Red wine
Cheese
Fruit
Crusty bread
Perfection.
Take me back to the islands...
To friends and lovers lost.
To warm summer evenings and late night dips in the pool.
To the sounds of friends' laughter and the cool breeze blowing off the shimmering sea.
To a moonlight more beautiful then any artist's rendering of it could ever be.
To kisses in the dark and making love under the stars.
To a life many dream of but few experience.
Take me back to the land of the God's so I may feel whole again walking among their ruins...
Today we are going to Belgium...
No travel plans necessary - just hang on and enjoy the ride!
Sink your teeth into one of these sugary delights, and you'll be hooked for life! Belgium waffles are tasty treats that need no syrup - no butter and are not eaten at breakfast. They are delicious any time of the day!
While I was living in Europe, I would travel to Belgium once or twice a month. Let me tell you - it's not a country you go to and expect your bathroom scale to drop when you get home. Noooo! Belgium is a country that eats and eats well! The food is out of this world, and the cold weather and gray skies make comfort food even more tempting.
Saint Hubertus Gallery
I love to shop! This glass roofed arcade was built in 1847. It was the first shopping arcade in Europe. It consists of two major parts called Galerie du Roy (King's Gallery) and Galerie de la Reine (Queen's Gallery); and a smaller section called Galerie du Prince (Prince's Gallery).
This shopping arcade is lined with lots of luxury shops, cafes, some restaurants, a theatre and a cinema.
Sink your teeth into one of these sugary delights, and you'll be hooked for life! Belgium waffles are tasty treats that need no syrup - no butter and are not eaten at breakfast. They are delicious any time of the day!While I was living in Europe, I would travel to Belgium once or twice a month. Let me tell you - it's not a country you go to and expect your bathroom scale to drop when you get home. Noooo! Belgium is a country that eats and eats well! The food is out of this world, and the cold weather and gray skies make comfort food even more tempting.
Saint Hubertus GalleryI love to shop! This glass roofed arcade was built in 1847. It was the first shopping arcade in Europe. It consists of two major parts called Galerie du Roy (King's Gallery) and Galerie de la Reine (Queen's Gallery); and a smaller section called Galerie du Prince (Prince's Gallery).
This shopping arcade is lined with lots of luxury shops, cafes, some restaurants, a theatre and a cinema.
Hard to imagine that this city with its dreary weather is home to some of the most up and coming artists of the day - and yet - it is! Brussels has the best beer, restaurants, bars and brasseries in the world. A very unpretentious city with so much old world charm and culinary delights - you forget the clouds and rain and think only of the warmth and comfort of your existence there. I strongly recommend a trip to anyone in love with life.
European Cities...
By Theodora Filis
European cities are drenched in sensuality, dripping with desire, immersed in passion.
Walking through the ancient streets of the Agora in Athens I imagined togas, bare feet, sun drenched faces and a gleaming Acropolis.
The warmth of Italy lies in its people, the food, the language and above all, their passion for passion's sake.
Underneath the cold, superior French facade there is an equally erotic odor that permeates from every closed door and freshly baked baguette.
The list of cities go on. The experiences and emotions so varied and magical I fell in love... with the journey.
So let's chart a course for adventure as we journey to explore our beautiful world...
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