MILATAI ELLINIKA: The Greeks of Bulgaria

The visit to Sofia

Milatai Ellinika!! (Great, you speak Greek!!)

Prosexai, ti theli o xenos?? (Be careful, what does that stranger want??)

I had just walked past a Couple who were speaking Greek. I couldn’t resist the temptation. I had to ask if they were Greeks from Bulgaria. After startling the woman (I’m sure she was the dialing the number for the local Police as I approached her) the man told me as abruptly as he possibly could that they were from Athens and not from BULGARIA!!

Hellenic Travels to…Japan

The following is an article written by Billy Cotsis which was published in the O Kosmos newspaper in 2003. I was working in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan at the time and wondered what would happen if you pitted a proud Hellene ready to talk about his country’s history for hours on end (without a single break) against an unsuspecting Japanese citizenry.

HELLENISTIC KINGDOMS: From Greece to India, Alexander the Great’s successor kingdoms

Theo Zagorakis, George Michael, Anna Vissi, Despina Vandi. These are all household names in the Greek world and a testament to Modern Greek popular culture. Seleucus Nicator, Attalus Philadelphus, Ptolemy Epiphanes, Demetrius Poliorcetes. These are certainly not household names in the Greek world. Yet they were once rulers of the various Hellenistic Kingdoms that emerged after the death of Alexander the Great in 323BC and in those days, these leaders were certainly known throughout the world.

BYZANTINE EMPIRE: The achievements of the Greeks

(Compliments of Jani Niemenmaa, Wikipedia)

I was asked by my friend to write an article on the achievements of Greece. Like most countries with a long history, you find yourself asking the question, “where do I start?”. I thought about the achievements of Mycenaean, Minoan, Classical and Hellenistic times

Jason and the Argonauts go trekking – An overview of the Greek history of Georgia

We all know about Jason and the Argonauts – a group of buffed up men who went on an epic voyage in 1200 BC. The Argonauts racked up more frequent flier miles than today’s corporate executives. They visited magical and mystical places across the ancient world, including the Black Sea kingdom of Colchis in search of the Golden Fleece. With plenty of assistance from Medea, Jason was able to defeat a dragon and other buffed up warriors and made his escape with the Golden Fleece and Medea to continue the journey back to his homeland.

So, who really is Santa Claus?

HO HO HO HO HO. Sounds like something you would hear in a Snoop Dogg song. Actually this is the calling card of that rather paunch grey haired guy who magically appears every Christmas. I’m of course referring to Santa Claus, one of the great cultural icons of modern times.

THE GREATEST CITY OF ALL TIME!!

From the outset, I would like to ask you, the reader, for your opinion. Can you tell me what the most significant cities of all time are? Can you tell me what would be the greatest city of Greek civilization?

Lesbian encounters: there is no other island like Lesbos

Growing up, I have always had the ultimate conversation starter, “I am Lesbian trapped inside this body.” Mind you, not everyone thought it was funny, but what else could I say about Lesbos. I never really appreciated the charm of my island until I was forced to spend a few weeks there in 1999.

Northern Epirus: Bunkers, Dictators, Gothic Cities and the Greek Minority

“Why would anyone want to go to Albania, don’t people usually escape from there?” That was the typical response from friends when I told them that I would be visiting Albania.

AN ASIA MINOR ADVENTURE

What was it that made me go to Asia Minor-Micra Asia and more importantly, what did I expect to achieve? For the benefit of all concerned, Asia Minor is an area once inhabited by Greeks from classical times all the way through to modern times.