Crete has been named one of the top 10 destinations in the world for adventure and wellness tourism in 2023, according to the Spanish magazine Hosteltur.
Hosteltur listed Crete as one of the best adventure vacations to tick off your travel bucket list, reported amna.gr. While all countries offer an adventure of some kind, the magazine cited the findings of a recent survey conducted by Mabrian Technologies, a Spanish travel intelligence services provider.
The Greek island occupies the second place, behind Bali, Indonesia, and above Algarve, Portugal.
Crete among top 10 destinations in the world for adventure and wellness. Photo: amna.gr
“Crete broke all tourism records in 2022, despite the absence of Russian tourists, who are one of its main markets, and despite the fact that it is mainly a summer destination. In addition, it showed an increase in air seats by 17% compared to last year, both for domestic and international routes,” Hosteltur writes in the magazine.
“In terms of accommodation, it is the destination with the second most competitive average hotel price offered for the coming months. Finally, Crete collects 57% of the comments for active tourism, for activities in nature and for wellness tourism.”
Constantine II, the last king of Greece, was laid to rest in a funeral service in Athens on Monday, with European royalty in attendance.
The late monarch died last week at the age of 82, after his health deteriorated following a stroke. Constantine was buried as a private citizen.
Τhe private burial service was held after the completion of the funeral service at the Athens Metropolitan Cathedral, led by Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Hieronymos, with the participation of senior clerics of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Greece.
Constantine’s son, Pavlos, delivered the eulogy at the service: “You will always live on in our thoughts and our hearts, as happens in every Greek family when it loses something precious.”
He spoke of moments in his father’s life, among them winning a gold Olympic medal in 1960, and the influence he exerted so that Athens would assume the organisation of the Olympic Games in 2004.
Pavlos also promised that Constantine’s children and grandchildren will safeguard his legacy and “always offer to the country and to Greece”. Afterwards, he delivered the eulogy in English.
Photo: Zougla.gr
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and President Katerina Sakellaropoulou did not attend the funeral.
The government was represented by Deputy Prime Minister Panagiotis Pikrammenos and Culture and Sports Minister Lina Mendoni. Among those attending the funeral of the former king, who had been an Olympic gold medallist, was the president of the Hellenic Olympic Committee Spyros Capralos.
Among those attending were royals and nobility from across Europe. Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II, the king and queen of the Netherlands and the entire royal family of Spain attended the service. Royals from Sweden, Luxembourg and Monaco were also present.
The British royal family was represented by Princess Anne — the daughter of the late Queen Elizabeth II. Royalty attending the funeral included King Felipe of Spain with his wife Queen Letitia, Queen Mother of Spain Sofia, Constantine’s sister, with her husband King Emeritus Juan Carlos, as well as Constantine’s other sister, Irene, and the princesses Elena and Cristina, daughters of Juan Carlos and Sofia.
It started as a small community gathering of 200 people in 1979 to celebrate Greek culture, food and dance in the western suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia.
On Sunday, the 42nd Bank of Sydney Semaphore Greek Festival once again attracted visitors from all over Adelaide.
The two-day event is organised by the Greek Orthodox Community of the Nativity of Christ, Port Adelaide, and held at the popular Semaphore Beach.
Its loyal troupe of around 350 volunteers of varying ages worked hard behind the scenes preparing Greek food to be enjoyed by all who attended.
Port Adelaide Greek Orthodox Community president John Douvartzidis said the iconic event attracted thousands of visitors this year.
“We started with 200 people [attending] and we’ve grown to 40,000 visitors,’’ he told The Greek Herald.
“We’re known for our food quality and our program of events – live bands, DJs, and local Greek dance groups to satisfy families of all nationalities.
“We are all so glad to be back and re-connecting again… and our festival is a vital step to do this. Thanks to the current Labor Government on their leadership.”
The special guests who attended the Semaphore Greek Festival included the Premier of South Australia, Peter Malinauskas; the SA Deputy Premier, Dr Susan Close MP; the Consul General of Greece in Adelaide, George Psiachas; His Grace Bishop Silouan of Sinope, Stephen Mullighan MP; Joe Szakacs MP; Mark Butler MP; Stephen Patterson MP; City of Port Adelaide Enfield Mayor Claire Boan; Ms Adriana Christopoulos and Ms Daniela Baricevac.
Behind the scenes, the food prepared by the dedicated volunteers included 1,000 kilograms of calamari, 2,000 kilograms of lamb kontosouvli, 15,000 souvlakia, 10,000 yiros, 1,500 kilograms of chips and 40,000 loukoumathes.
Mr Douvartzidis said he is proud the huge team of volunteers is made up of four generations who all work side-by-side to ensure the event is a success.
In his speech, Mr Douvartzidis also acknowledged the support from visitors, friends and sponsors, which also included The Greek Herald.
“The volunteers are proud of their community and heritage,’’ he said. “It drives them to be the best in everything we do.’’
During the festival, the Premier of South Australia, the Hon Peter Malinauskas MP, announced a pre-election pledge of $2 million towards the new cultural center that will be built near the local Greek church.
The proposed centre will have the capacity for a school to teach the Greek language, a dance academy, music school, performing arts groups and youth groups.
“Language is fundamentally central to the Greek culture,’’ the Premier said.
“I’m very proud of the fact that my Government is contributing $2 million to the Greek Language School here in Port Adelaide.’’
Mr Douvartzidis said the PAGOC community is grateful for the support of Bank of Sydney, the Government of SA and the City of Port Adelaide Enfield.
A few days before the first big meeting of the new season in Melbourne, Stefanos Tsitsipas seemed optimistic about his course in 2023.
“I have put in a lot of work and passion,” the leading Greek tennis player told exclusively to sports reporter Bill Roumelioti of the Greek Herald.
“It’s hard to put it this way, but a lot of analysis has gone into understanding what needs to be done to be able to get to the next level. 2023 will be different and I want to say it right now that it will be a year full of great memories. A lot of work has gone into making something different for 2023. My goals are different and I’ve never given myself the opportunity to have those goals before. And I’m sure I’m at a point in my career where I can aim for that.”
Photo: Twitter
He also spoke about the “weight” of the leader of Greece. “It doesn’t bother me. We have a goal with Maria, to raise tennis in Greece, to bring it even to schools. To become one of the main sports that will interest the world. To me what we do is beautiful, we wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do it if we hadn’t both chosen to pursue tennis professionally. And for us it is an incredible honor to be able to do it at such a high level and of course on the occasion of the United Cup. I had explained it a few months ago to the ATP that it would be very nice if they organized such a tournament. I’m glad it came true and we had an amazing time there, I also met members of the team that I didn’t know well. The team dynamic is amazing, I hope we have a very good No.2 man and woman soon, who will be able to help us in future tough matches to give us the chance to one day win the United Cup. It may be the beginning of the event, but it will develop into a historic tournament, I’m sure it will be played for many years to come.”
Last year he came from an injury, but he reached the semi-finals of the event. How far can he go this year when he’s healthy? “I feel, of course, much better than last year and the expectations are definitely different. I am happy that I can and play without pain. It was something I couldn’t even do in last year’s ATP Cup and I wasn’t even sure if I would play 100% in the Australian. I am thankful that there is no problem at the moment and I am really playing the way I want to play. How high is the bar? We see this. That comes match by match, I can’t assume and say that will happen. I want to stay grounded and do my job, the way I do it. There will be tough opponents in the next two weeks and I will have to put up something good.”
He also spoke at the press conference in English about the new season. “I have made it clear since the beginning of the year what I want to achieve this year (the No.1). I mustn’t rush, though. I shouldn’t be running at 1,000 miles an hour and waiting for it to happen. I have to be steady, come back strong when the losses come sometime. We have young players coming from behind, we still have Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal playing good tennis. It’s still here. I know I can do many things this year. I have the ability to handle the pressure and challenges this year will bring. With proper preparation comes proper execution.”
Tsitsipas during his press conference ahead of the Australian Open 2023. Photo: Mark Baker via Associated Press
As for Novak Djokovic’s return to Melbourne? “I don’t have a lot of thoughts about it, honestly. It’s good for the world that it’s back. He is one of the strongest players on the board. He can still go very deep in the tournament, he has played great matches here. It’s up to us to do something to stop him.”
Stefanos makes his Australian Open debut on Monday (16/1) and his first opponent is Kenden Allis.
Australian Greek tennis star, Nick Kyrgios has withdrawn from the 2023 Australian Open due to a knee injury.
According to The Guardian, the athlete has a tear in his lateral meniscus and a cyst which is not career threatening but could become problematic should he play in this year’s grand slam.
The announcement, made at Melbourne Park on Monday afternoon was made by Kyrgios and his physiotherapist.
“It’s just bad timing,” Kyrgios said. “That’s life, you know. Injuries are part of sport … I’m not doubting that I’ll be back to my full strength.”
“Devastated obviously. It’s my home tournament … and going into this event as one of the favourites, it’s brutal,” Nick Kyrgios said.
The world No.19 was meant to play his first-round match against Russian tennis player, Roman Safiullin tomorrow.
The Inaugural Greek Community Cup got off to a great start yesterday at the Partridge Street Reserve in Lalor as the first games of the tournament were held in a competitive atmosphere.
In perfect conditions following yesterday’s heatwave, the tournament kicked off with Group Two competitors Heidelberg United FC and West Preston SC facing off.
The entertaining game ebbed and flowed and ultimately ended in a 1-1 draw. Jonathon Tsangas opened the scoring for the Cup for West Preston and Tadiwanashe Hove equalised for the Bergers.
The second match kicked off at 3pm and featured the home club Mill Park SC facing their Group 3 rivals Oakleigh Cannons.
In what was an entertaining and competitive game, Mill Park came out on top in a 2-1 victory.
Matthew Oghanna opened the scoring for Mill Park in the 12th minute only to have Oakleigh’s Roy Gregory equalise in the 26th minute.
Mill Park however thrived on their home ground and got back out in front 6 minutes later when Dean Joncevski scored and managed to hold of Oakleigh to claim the points.
The Cup continues this week on Tuesday 17 January at 7PM when Altona East face East Kew and Heidelberg look to claim their first win against tournament debutants Malvern City.
ABOUT THE GREEK COMMUNITY CUP
The Greek Community Cup (Greek Cup) is a Greek community of Melbourne initiative aimed at bringing together teams of Greek heritage and identity on the football pitch. The Cup will feature teams from across competitive leagues in both Men’s and Women’s football.
The Greek Community Cup is presented by the Greek Community of Melbourne with support from the Australian Football Skool.
In 2023, the Cup will be hosted by the Mill Park Soccer Club commencing on 15 January with the Men’s final being played on Saturday 11 February.
Anastasios Giamouridis, a business partner of Bill Papas, in documents filed in the Federal Court said that he “did not know of, nor participated in a sheme,” concerning the alleged fraud of Forum Group issuing fake invoices, The Australian reports.
Mr Giamouridis, whose statement comes as an attempt to avoid paying 10m refund for the manufacture of food digestion machines, confirmed being a 1 per cent shareholder in Mazcon, Bill Papas’ business, which Westpac alleged of receiving funds from the fraud.
The bank supports that Mr Papas and Vincenzo Tesoriero were allegedly masterminds of a lease contract scheme. Westpac claims that Mr Papas used part of the funds for his waste disposal business Iugis, which according to the Australian, he planned to grow into a $1bn business focused on disposal technology and food digestion machines.
Forum Finance director Bill Papas and Liverpool FC managing director and chief commercial officer after inking the deal to sponsor the team with the Iugis brand. Photo: The Australian
Mazcon was also involved in the purchase of Greek football team Xanthi, by Mr Papas, in a 15m deal and Giamouridis was for a short period, chief executive of the team. Westpac claims that Mr Papas purchased many properties, companies and a football team, in a move funded by him sending millions to Greece.
The bank claims that Mr Giamouridis received millions in order to manufacture and store thousands of waste digestion machines for Bill Papas. The answer from Mr Giamouridis’ lawyers came in the court, mentioning that “he denies receiving payments from (Forum Group) which he had no legitimate basis to receive.”
“The funds were used to acquire assets, namely prototypes for food digesters and food digests, but not to acquire the jointly owned real property nor the Tesoriero real property,” they wrote.
Westpac earlier claimed Mr Giamouridis received some $10.7m from Forum between June 2019 and December 2020. In his defense, he answered that he had “no notice that the funds were fraudulent obtained … nor that the funds were infected with any wrongdoing.”
Methana is as sleeping beauty, a volcanic peninsula with more than 30 craters. Situated in the north-westernmost of Aegean, Methana allows the visitors to discover impressive lava domes and craters, age-old man-made terraces, archaeological sites, tiny fishing villages, thermal baths, and amazing views on the surrounding Saronic Gulf.
On the top of the list of best destinations is London, with the NYT noting that the bustling city is preparing for the coronation of King Charles.
Regarding Greece, Methana is one of the places one should visit in 2023, which ranks 39th on the list.
Athens’s nearest active volcano, Methana, sits on a peninsula of the same name some 30 miles southwest of the Greek capital. Though largely unknown to tourists, the area is slowly evolving, in part because of its increasing popularity as a hiking destination.
In recent years, groups of locals have managed to reopen and map old walking paths, some of which date back to the Mycenaean Era, creating hiking trails that attract visitors from around the world. So far, more than 18 miles have been cleared and marked. The Methana Volcano Challenge, first organized in 2021, offers a trail run across the peninsula’s sloping landscape.
Uluru (Ayers Rock), Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park, Australia.Admirals Arch, Kangaroo Island / Image: South Australian Tourism Commission
In this year’s edition you can also find two destinations from Australia. In number 7 of the list is Kangaroo Island. It is a nature lover’s paradise, with prolific native wildlife, dramatic coastal sightseeing and bountiful farmlands. Kangaroo Island, 13km off the coast of South Australia, is one of the best places in Australia to see wild animals like koalas, kangaroos, sea lions and seals.
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park ranks 29th on the list. The park, formerly called Uluru National Park, features spectacular geological formations that dominate the vast red sandy plain of central Australia.
Uluru, an immense monolith, and Kata Tjuta, the rock domes located west of Uluru, form part of the traditional belief system of one of the oldest human societies in the world. The traditional owners of Uluru-Kata Tjuta are the Anangu Aboriginal people.
“As I have repeatedly made clear, I strongly oppose the Biden administration’s proposed sale of new F-16 aircraft to Turkey,” Senator Bob Menendez, Democratic chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a statement on Saturday.
The State Department sent an informal document to Congress on Thursday notifying that it is preparing the potential $20 billion sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey.
The intention to proceed with the proposed deal sparked an immediate objection from the senior US lawmaker who has long opposed the deal.
The Biden administration has said it supports the sale and has been in touch for months with Congress on an informal basis to win its approval. However, it has failed so far to secure a green light.
While the sale is still in the informal review process, Congress is also unlikely to approve the sale as long as Turkey refuses to proceed with the ratification of Sweden and Finland’s NATO membership.
The notification, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, comes as Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu prepares to visit Washington on Wednesday for talks as the two NATO allies struggle with a host of disagreements including over Syria and weapons purchases.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan was disregarding human rights and democratic norms and engaging in “alarming and destabilizing behaviour in Turkey and against neighbouring NATO allies,” Menendez said in his statement.
“Until Erdogan ceases his threats … and begins to act like a trusted ally should, I will not approve this sale.”
Menendez also said he welcomed news of the sale of new F-35 fighter aircraft for Greece, referring to Athens as a “trusted NATO ally” and saying the sale “strengthens our two nation’s abilities to defend shared principles including our collective defence, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.”
A State Department spokesperson declined to comment, saying the department does not confirm or comment on proposed arms sales or transfers until the administration has formally requested approval from Congress.
The much-awaited Antipodes Festival in Melbourne and Greek Festival in Sydney are proud to announce that one of Greece’s most significant and respected vocalists, Alkistis Protopsaltis will perform at both festivals.
As part of an elite group of Greek artists who introduced contemporary Greek music to the international stage, Alkistis Protopsaltis promises to offer an unforgettable experience at the Greek Fest in Darling Harbour- Sydney, on Sunday 19 February and The Antipodes Festival 2023, on Saturday 25 February.
Chair of the Greek Festival of Sydney, Nia Karteris stated, “Alkistis Protopsaltis is one of the most successful female artists in Greece. Her concerts are always highly energetic and her ability to connect with the audience has seen her career go from strength to strength. Her last visit to Australia was in 2002 and we are excited to have her back on our shores and part of the Greek Fest @ Darling Harbour”.
Cultural Programs Chair of the GCM Leo Vlahakis commented, “We are so happy to have Alkistis Protopsalti at the Antipodes Festival 2023. She is an artist who can appeal to Melbourne’s diverse and often multigenerational Greek audience. Her unique voice and the variety of her songs will offer to the visitors of the festival a show which will leave them wanting more”.
Along with Alkistis Protopsaltis, the Festivals will offer a wide variety of live Greek entertainment, children’s activities, live music, dancing and an array of mouth-watering Greek culinary delights, there will be something for the entire family to enjoy!
