Anastasia

Coral Holidays in Paphos

As almost every year, at the end of the summer and just before school starts, Alkis and I spend a weekend at Coral Bay, Paphos. Coral Bay is located north of Paphos and consists of a rugged, 600- metre coastline of fine golden sand and a pair of headlands and boasts one of the island's most desirable beaches. It seems that in the distant past, coral reefs composed a part of its underwater structure - hence the name Coral Bay.

We set off on Friday afternoon and just before dusk, we checked in at the Coral Bay Beach Hotel- one of the finest hotels in the area, which stands only a few metres away from Coral Bay. We were just in time for an aperitif on the veranda of our room while contemplating the sun set on the bay. And since old habits die hard, we had a romantic dinner at Doria Restaurant by the seaside - not far away from Coral Bay. When in Paphos, rain or shine, we always have lunch or dinner at Doria's. The food is excellent, the service is impeccable and the view to the sea is amazing.

On Saturday, we spent all day on the beach swimming in the incredibly blue waters of Coral Bay. I even enjoyed the waves which we don't often have in the south. I'm a good swimmer but that's all - not as brave as Alkis, anyway. Short siesta after lunch followed by more swimming and coffee on our veranda. But I missed the sunset this time as I was getting ready for our second night out. (Yes, it takes me ages to get ready!). Some great friends from Paphos had called earlier and invited us to dinner at Koi - the most trendy Japanese and Thai restaurant in Paphos. I love Japanese food, but just for once I didn't have sushi but chicken on a skewer for starters served with satay sauce and teriyaki beef with apple sauce and vegetables cooked in the wok. It was also great to see good, old friends after such a long time!

Time flies when you are having fun. So Sunday arrived in a flash. By 5:00 pm we were back home. Alkis helped me unpack and then we spent the rest of the evening talking about what it was a great weekend away and browsing through our Coral Holiday photo album on the laptop.

More Photos

Do video games help shy youngsters build social skills?

 

Photo Credit

Hong Kong - Scientists have found that children who spend hours playing online games may be developing friendships and nurturing vital social skills, a news report said Tuesday.

Rather than causing them harm, playing computer games can help boost the self-esteem of shy youngsters and increase their satisfaction with life, the South China Morning Post reported.

The benefits of online games were similar to those of making friends in the real world, the researchers from the Chinese University in Hong Kong concluded.

More than 600 primary school children were interviewed for the study, which found they spent an average of 67 minutes a day playing online games and 44 minutes using hand-held game consoles.

Nearly one-fifth of the pupils interviewed said they played for three hours a day or more, according to the newspaper.

Dr Angel Leung of the university's psychology department said: "Online friendship is ... especially important to those who are extremely shy or introverted - those who have difficulties making friends in real life."

However, she conceded that playing online games too much could adversely affect their academic results with English the subject most affected by game playing, the report said.

Copyright DPA

via www.earthtimes.org

If you ask me, online games and more specifically these interactive video games can eventually turn out to be detrimental to a child's physical condition and psychological growth. They contribute greatly to child obesity and to aggressive personalities. I really don't think they can help shy children build social skills. On the contrary, they tend to cut off children from the real world by making them unfriendly and anti-social while their grades can drop dramatically- not only in English but in all other school subjects. What's worse, these games can become terribly addictive for the child who gradually begins to live in a virtual world of make believe. Children need to go out and play, run, jump, skip, meet their friends, practise sports and take up creative hobbies. That's how they can develop real social skills.

On the other hand, technology is part of both adults and children's lives. Some online games can be really fun for children and can help them develop creative skills, yet, even in this case, parents should, by all means supervise their children, set time limits and stick to them and, most importantly, talk with their children in order to make them realise that real life doesn't work the way they see it in their online games. In this way, children will be able to see the difference between the virtual, unreal world of a video game, and the many benefits they can gain in the real world.

Folk Dances in Cyprus

Kandila Dance

Cypriot dances are mainly of the type performed by a confronted pair, invariably two men or two women, or men's solo dances displaying virtuosity and often performed with a hand-held object, either a sickle, knife, sieve, or tumbler. In their steps and general characteristics - such as the movement of the body and limbs - they have features in common with dances of the historic Greek island area (the Asia Minor seaboard, Aegean islands and cities, and the Ionian isles). Apart from these common features, Cypriot dances are distinguished by steps peculiar to certain localities, such as stamping in one spot with the feet, crossed alternately in front of each other, in the "second" and particularly the "third" ""kartchilamas"" and in the "syrtos" for men. Improvization is another characteristic of Cypriot dances and may be attributed to their being performed by only two people and so to an overriding sense of comparison and, by extension, of competition. But it is to be noted that improvization and the freedom of the dancer to do his own thing are constrained by the community's severe strictures upon any excesses. Indeed, the more inward-looking the community, the more rigorous the restraints.

Here are some of the most popular men's dances:

Zeimpekikos

The "zeimpekkikos"is a solo dance that allows the dancer freedom to strike his own attitudes and to range more widely over the floor than in any other Cypriot dance: it also has more composite steps within the basic step pattern. All these factors help the dancer to show off his virtuosity to greater effect. Some dancers are noted particularly for their performance of the "zeimpekikos".

Tacha Dance

The "tacha" is a virtuoso's dance. The dancer spins a sieve in which he has placed a tumbler full of water, of which not a drop must be split. In the past twenty years or so dancers have been using an even greater number of tumblers. 

Kandila Dance

The "arapies tis kandilas" - dance with a tumbler - has become a similarly extravagant dance After covering a half-filled glass with a kerchief the dancer turns it upside down and places it on his head, endeavouring to keep it upright as he dances. At the climax he kneels down and leans backwards to resume his original position without letting the glass fall or the water spill. The contemporary dancer balances as many glasses as he can on his head.

Drepani Dance

The "dhrepanin" (sickle) is a harvest dance. The best reapers would 'play the sickle' as they reaped, cutting swathes in the air and making swift passes about their bodies and over their heads or neatly topping the corn ears, but without ceasing to mow.

The day reapers finished the last of a farmer's fields the "potherka" would begin: threats made in jest by the reapers against the owner lest he fails to treat them handsomely, various games, and the harvest supper. A tune the instrumentalists played to the reapers during the "potherka" on the monastic estate of Saint Andrew's survives at Rizokarpaso. Old folk living in the locality of Karpasia used to call the sickle dance 'sickle games'. Till quite recently it was still seen at festivals including the celebration of the 'Cataclysmos', a festival held at Pentecost. What we know about 'sickle games' and the sickle dance in general bears witness to its antiquity. Passages of the harvest dance in Cyprus reflect a ritual involving fertility magic and the averting of evil. 

SOURCE: kyprosnet

Heat Wave And Letters To Juliet

On the island of Venus, Aphrodite is being ruthless! Since the beginning of August, the sun has been burning hot and , as a result, the beaches are packed at this time of year when 75% of the citizens of this republic are off on holiday...which means that almost everything is closed - supermarkets, hotels, restaurants and some shops excepted - department stores in particular. Humidity has dropped, though, which makes candlelit dinners on the veranda a real pleasure - especially if you have a fan or air-conditioner for outdoor use! I don't mind hot weather, really, as I'm lucky enough to live near the beach. Nothing can be more invigorating than a good swim in the sea early in the morning and a good film at the cinema in the evening.

 

I've recently seen Letters To Juliet directed by  Gary Winick and loved it!When Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), a young American, travels to Verona, Italy- the romantic city where Romeo first met Juliet- she meets a group of volunteers who respond to letters written to Juliet seeking romantic advice. Sophie finds and answers a letter that has been lost for 50 years, and is stunned when its author Claire (Vanessa Redgrave) arrives in Italy with her handsome but overprotective grandson to find the fiance she left decades before. Fascinated by Claire’s quest, Sophie joins them on an adventure through the beautiful hills of Tuscany searching for Claire’s long lost Lorenzo. The journey will change their lives forever, as they discover it’s never too late to find true love.

Love does wonders! My most favourite plants - basil, mint and parsley - have survived the heat wave! And their divine smell mingles with that of perfumed candles.

When you love someone - Bryan Adams

via www.youtube.com

I can listen to this song hours on end...

Think Rihanna needs to rethink the Ronald McDonald...

via omg.yahoo.com

I like her sandals most!

August 15 - Dekapentavgoustos

August 15 or "Dekapentavgoustos" is the third most important holiday for the Greek Orthodox after Easter and Christmas. Often called the Small Easter, August 15 observes the dormition of Virgin Mary and her ascent to heavens. This day is celebrated throughout Greece with a variety of festivities (panigyria) following the solemn church services.

On this day, pilgrims from all over the country flock to the Church of Evangelistria situated on a hill on the island of Tinos, Cyclades, in order to worship the miraculous icon of Virgin Mary. The Virgin has proved to have a healing power. Believe it or not, many terminally ill or disabled people were cured by Her Holy Grace. All it takes is faith. To this day, many pilgrims with serious health problems will go up to Her Grace on their knees - a distance of about 3 km - and their knees would often bleed till they reach Her. But they are driven by their deep faith and hope that Her Grace (Megalochari) will cure them just like She has cured many other people. On August 14, in the evening, a wreathe is laid as a memorial to the warship Elli which was sunk on the island of Tinos by an Italian submarine on August 15, 1940.

In Cyprus August 15 also commemorates the island's two greatest tragedies: the second phase of the Turkish Aggression (August 14, 1974) and the Helios  Aircrash (August 14, 2005). On a happier note, August 15  marks the...mass exodus to beaches and mountains or holidays abroad. Alkis and I were naive enough to try to book a hotel for one night in the mountains, two days ago - but, you know, hope dies last. Of course, every single hotel in the mountains had already been fully booked ! I didn't mind this at all, as I hate crowds and traffic jams. So we had our August 15 lunch delivered at home. 

Well...I made the salad!

Sea Thoughts

i saw the sea

in high pressure
or in low pressure
moderation she knows not

i saw the sea
weeping its heart out
pity, none to notice
her pain or tears

i saw the sea
stretching its parched
tongue for a dropp of water
to quench her thirst

i saw the sea
looking longingly
at the dark clouds
passing by...

i saw the sea
raising beyond her
desperate to touch
the moon beyond

i saw the sea
caressing the sky
the sky bloomed
the sea smiled

i saw the sea
in my palm
i saw the sea
in my heart
i saw the sea
in your eyes

how i wish to
be one with the sea

28sep2009
22.34hrs

By indira babbellapati

via www.poemhunter.com

I'd sit hours on end just contemplating the sea - I do feel so lucky I live only a short walk away from her. The Venerable Lady as Mrs Claire Angelides describes her. So, when I talk to her, I always call her "My Lady". In her own, unique way, Her Ladyship always provides me with soothingly invigorating answers when I'm sad, and with a gay laughter when I'm happy. Some people call her "ocean" but to me she's nothing like the ocean. She is the sea - thalassa in greek.

Seagulls

On the pier the seagulls

at sunrise

flew around playfully

hurriedly moving their beaks.

They dived into the water one by one

like soldiers,

and sailed on the early-woken sea

that longed for day'

Seagulls always travel

like dreams.

Claire Angelides - Venerable Lady : The Sea
Thessaloniki, June 1997

Translated by Constantinos E. Evaggelides  

How very true! "Seagulls always travel like dreams." This is also the impression I got when I first saw at the cinema "Jonathan Livington - The Seagull." What a superb film that was! And Neil Diamond is simply divine!

Twins

Photo Credit

I closed the door behind me and from that very moment I felt that there was somebody there and that this somebody was very friendly and pleased to see me.In my heart of hearts, I hoped it was Paul Belinsky..Pauk Belinsky? No, no, not him! In 1968, Russia ruffled her feathers and showed her power to the rest of the world when in August she and members of the Warsaw Pact invaded the country of Czechoslovakia. Paul Belinsky was one of the members of the Warsaw Pact. No, no ,no!! It can't be him! So I turned my head, and to my utter surprise, I was looking at a woman who looked exactly like me. I was speechless. I kept staring at her not believing my own eyes!

" Won't you ask me in?" , the woman said with a fixed, abstract expression on her thin face.My heart was still racing as I finally managed to mutter:"Who are you?" The woman smiled at me and said:

" Belinsky...Francesca Belinsky."

" I am a woman, she added, who has, for some years contended against the pressure of pecuniary difficulties. Sometimes I have risen superior to my difficulties, sometimes my difficulties have...floored me."

I didn't know what to think. Seeing that I couldn't understand, she went on with her narrative: August 21 1968. Soviet Union and members of the Warsaw Pact allies invaded my country...our country, Czechoslovakia, to stop the reformers of the Prague Spring. OUR father, Paul Belinsky, was the leader of the Pact. We were born in September 25 1968. I was sent to France in a foster family who abused me. You were sent to America. You were much luckier than me. You were received by a wealthy foster family that loved you and spoilt you. See...sis? All my life, I had to cope with money problems to make ends meet.

Words were failing me. "I.... I.... I.... have a sister? A... a... a twin sister? ... And our father.... is..... I.... I..... I have to sit down" ..

I sat down feeling as if I was in a dream. I plucked up the courage and asked angrily: " How the heck did you get in?"
She laughed her head off and said : "Oh ma cherie, your housekeeper let me in. I said I'd lost my keys...See? She thought I was you!!!"
"Right... of course..." I said. "So... your name is Francesca, right?"

"Right Vicky or should I say Victoria? After all, you are Victoria Belinsky - my twin sister!"

"Apparently so..." I mumbled, still in disbelief.

I was silent for a moment. Then our eyes met - the same deep green - and locked.

"There's something else you should know." she said, maintaining eye contact.
"Really?" I said concentrating on my cup of coffee. "But you should listen to me first. When my housekeeper said I had a visitor from Europe, I wished it was Paul Belinsky. I wanted to find out who my biological father was - that's all. Instead, it's you - my twin sister. So, Francesca, what else should I know?"

"You're in danger Victoria" she said matter-of-factly." Oh, by the way,Paul Belinsky is dead!" He died in an accident five years ago. So...I'm the next of kin, dear sis."
"In danger?" I was at a loss what to say.
"Yes, my dear Victoria. You're in danger because I can destroy everything and everyone you love, unless....you do exactly as I say."
"I'm not taking orders from you, Francesca!"
"I thought you were pleased to see me," Francesca replied softly.

She paused for a while and then added:"I know you have a lovely family and I'm sure you wouldn't like any of them to get hurt....not for $500,000. Once I get the money, you'll never hear of me again, dear sis."

"I'm afraid it's too late, Miss Belinsky." Surprised, I turned round and saw a police officer standing at the door next to Mrs Gibbs-the housekeeper. "The French police have been looking for you since you left the country. You are under arrest."

Petrified, I stood there looking out the window. The sun was now bright and warm and the air was filled with the children's happy laughter playing by the pond. Teddy was sailing a model boat and Linda was playing with her dolls on the grass. My heart leapt as I watched them play knowing that no one would ever harm them. Yet deep down I knew that I would probably never see Francesca again and felt so sorry for her - my twin sister I had known for a while and had only just lost.

Written By ( in alphabetical order):

Agnes

Alexia

Anastasia

Christina

Constantinos

John

Karolina

Lakis

Laura

Lisa

I would like to thank you all for your great contribution to this story. As promised, I'd love to send you a small thank-you gift from Cyprus if I could have your address.

This story is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the authors' imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this post may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior permission of the blog owner.

Let's Write a Story!

Those of you who have known me for quite some time now, you know what I mean. This is my favourite online game.

Here are the rules of the game:

1. I will write the first sentence of what I hope to be a gripping tale. In the comments section, you must add to my sentence and what you add must make good sense to what the previous commenter has written. Please bear in mind that in order to avoid unwelcome spammers who would copy and paste your comments, you must sign in using your TypePad, Twitter, Facebook, Blogger, Yahoo and more.... As you all know, a story has a beginning, a middle and an end. So, be inventive and imaginative!
2. I promise to put everything together so that it reads smoothly.
3. Those of you who choose to participate in the writing of this story will win a small souvenir from Cyprus if you email me your address.
4. I'll give our story a title after I have put everything together. 

My Facebook friends don't need to sign in - they can post their contribution to the story on Facebook.

OK Here Goes!

I closed the door behind me and from that very moment I felt that there was somebody there and that this somebody was very friendly and pleased to see me.

Your Turn!

Please note that all contributions are either product of the commenter's imagination or used fictitiously.