Anastasia

Eurovision Song Contest 2013 - Malmö, Sweden - The Grand Final

The 58th Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest  was held last night at the Malmö, Arena  Sweden and was broadcast  live. More than 125 million people from all over the world watched the planet's biggest song contest. Beautiful 20-year-old Emmelie de Forest from Denmark won the contest with her song "Only Teardrops" scoring 281 points. That was one of my favourite songs. Emmelie, singing barefoot and sitting on the floor sang her heart out on stage and deeply touched Europe. She definitely deserved the first prize.

 

Although I had predicted that Greece would be in the top ten, I was pleasantly surprised to see that  Agathonas and Koza Mostra scored 152 points and came sixth!

 

On the other hand, I was very disappointed to see that Bonnie Tyler came 19th although she did better than Engelbert Humperdinck last year. She gave a brilliant performance and her song "Believe in Me" was a magical rock ballad. I wonder...what went wrong? The final result was decided by a fifty-fifty split between professional juries and televoting from all 39 participants regardless of whether they had  qualified for the Grand Final or not.

 

Bonnie Tyler sings Believe in Me for the UK

Photo Credit

Emmelie de Forest - The Winner

Photo Credit

The Malmo Arena

Photo Credit

The Greek Entry - Agathonas and Koza Mostra

Photo Credit

 

Here's how Europe voted:

1. Denmark: Emmelie de Forest, Only Teardrops - 281 points
2. Azerbaijan: Farid Mammadov, Hold Me - 234 points
3. Ukraine: Zlata Ognevich, Gravity - 214 points
4. Norway: Margaret Berger, I Feed You My Love - 191 points
5. Russia: Dina Garipova, What If - 174 points
6. Greece: Koza Mostra feat. Agathon Iakovidis, Alcohol Is Free - 152 points
7. Italy: Marco Mengoni, L'Essenziale - 126 points
8. Malta: Gianluca, Tomorrow - 120 points
9. Netherlands: Anouk, Birds - 114 points
10. Hungary: ByeAlex, Kedvesem - 84 points
11. Moldova: Aliona Moon, O mie - 71 points
12. Belgium: Roberto Bellarosa, Love Kills - 71 points
13. Romania: Cezar, It's My Life - 65 points
14. Sweden: Robin Stjernberg, You - 62 points
15. Georgia: Nodi Tatishvili and Sophie Gelovani, Waterfall - 50 points
16. Belarus: Alyona Lanskaya, Solayoh - 48 points
17. Iceland: Eythor Ingi, Eg a lif - 47 points
18. Armenia: Dorians, Lonely Planet - 41 points
19. UK: Bonnie Tyler, Believe In Me - 23 points
20. Estonia: Birgit, Et uus saaks alguse - 19 points
21. Germany: Cascada, Glorious - 18 points
22. Lithuania: Andrius Pojavis, Something - 17 points
23. France: Amandine Bourgeois, L'enfer et moi - 14 points
24. Finland: Krista Siegfrids, Marry Me - 13 points
25. Spain: ESDM, Contigo hasta el final - 8 points
26. Ireland: Ryan Dolan, Only Love Survives - 5 points

The host country, Sweden, went out of their way to offer the world  a glamorous show and great entertainment. I would like to congratulate Sweden and the city of Malmö on this impeccable evening which started with an Olympic style flag march where the artists entered the Arena to the anthem We Write The Story, written by ABBA's Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus.The latest IT technology was used to give the show that ultimate touch of perfection.

Eurovision Song Contest 2013 - Malmö, Sweden - The Second Semi-Final

The second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 took place last night and was aired live from Malmö, Sweden. The last 10 countries to go through to tomorrow's Grand Final are:

 

The Butterfly of the Swedish TV for Eurovision 2013 summarises the Eurovision spirit nicely. We are one in Europe.

 

- Hungary

- Azerbaijan

- Georgia

- Romania

- Norway

- Armenia

- Iceland

- Finland

- Malta

- Greece

Oh yes! I am so glad Greece made it through. It's an amazing song which I loved so much and deep down I knew it would qualify for the Final. Albania, Bulgaria, FYR Macedonia, Israel, San Marino and Switzerland all failed to make it through to the Final. Just like yesterday, my vote will go to Greece tomorrow but I also liked some other songs like the songs from Denmark, UK and Bonnie Tyler, Estonia and Malta. UK along with Germany, Italy, France, Spain and host nation Sweden automatically qualify for the Grand Final on Saturday, May 18 2013. And may the best be the winner.

 

Bonnie Tyler represents the UK with the song "Believe in Me" Isn't she ageless and divine?

Eurovision Song Contest 2013 - Malmö, Sweden - The First Semi-Final

Being a Eurovision fan, I watched the first semi-final on Tuesday night. I wasn't surprised Cyprus did not make it to the Grand Final on Saturday. I hated both the song and the singer's poor performance. Despina Olympiou was simply miserable despite her effort to ...sing! The countries that got the ticket to the Grand Final are:

Estonia

Denmark

Russia

Ukraine

The Netherlands

Belgium

Belarus

Moldova

Ireland

Lithuania

 

In less than half-hour tonight, there's the second semi-final and I hope that Greece gets through because the Greek song is a hit! I love it! Good luck Agathona and Koza Mostra!

 

A Midsummer's Night Dream at the Golden Bay Beach Hotel

Apart from being one of the most prestigious hotels in Cyprus, the Golden Bay in Larnaca  aspires to preserve our customs, folklore and traditions. Every summer, the management team of the Golden Bay organise a special Cyprus Night featuring traditional folk dances, the making of baskets, flutes and, of course trahanas,  halloumi cheese and loukoumades   .  Naturally, the Executive Chef prepared a wide variety of traditional Cyprus dishes and desserts which we enjoyed under the stars  by the beach.

 

The good old traditional way of making halloumi cheese

 

 

The Final Product - Halloumi

 

 

This lady is showing us how to make halloumi in the traditional way - when factories and technology did not exist.

 

 

Cooking trahanas

Trahanas - just delicious for a soup on cold winter nights

 

 

Cyprus Night - Golden Bay

Traditional Cyprus Baskets

This lady is showing us how to make traditional Cyprus baskets.

The making of a flute

Traditional Cyprus Baskets

 

 

A midsummer's night dream at the Golden Bay

 

This fabulous night ended with folk dances from Greece and Cyprus.

 

Ο Χορός της Στάμνας - The Dance of the Clay Jug

 

Syrtaki (Zorba the Greek)

Saturday Night Out at Ktima Georgiadi

Located on the old road Nicosia-Limassol, between Skarinou and Kofinou, at about 25 km from Larnaca, Ktima Georgiadi is probably one of the best options in Cyprus for a night out with good friends or family. The well-known Greek Cypriot singer Stella Georgiadi and her brother Pieris have made their father's dream come true: the return to innocence, the return to their roots, the return to tradition far away from the bright lights of the city. 

Ktima Georgiadi - my friend Andreas Morfitis on the dance floor.

Stella Georgiadi Live

My friend Andreas Morfitis who invited us to a great night out at Ktima Georgiadi.

My friends Stavros Rossos and Andreas Morfitis - alias "gerondas" - wise man.

Pieris and Stella have turned a traditional, old mansion into a Greek taverna  where you can let off steam, eat, drink, dance  and sing with Stella and her band.  In the summer, you can enjoy the show under the stars and the orange trees where Stella and her siblings played when they were kids.

Stella Georgiadi and her daughter Eleftheria who had her b-day yesterday. Her gorgeous mum sang Happy Birthaday to Eleftheria.

Stella Georgiadi who did not hesitate to give up on a bright career as a singer in Athens and return to her roots.

My husband Alkis

Last night, Alkis and I had a great time there with good friends. After a long week at work, it was THE perfect night out. Stella will welcome you to her mansion with an old Greek song which she sings amongst her guests without music or micro. A big hand follows and then the show begins with Stella and her band.  Prices are reasonable, yet the food needs to be improved. 

 

Photos and video by Anastasia Marou for Anastasia

 

Dancing with the Greeks

 

Greece is one of the few countries in the world where folk dances are as alive today as they were in ancient times. Dance has always played an important role in the life of a Greek. It is an expression of human feelings and everyday life. The Greeks danced at religious festivals, ceremonies; they danced to ensure fertility; to prepare for war and to celebrate victories; they danced at weddings; to overcome depression and to cure physical illness. Almost every dance has a story to tell. Dance was regarded as one of the highest forms of art. Plato agreed with his mentor Socrates that every educated man should know how to dance gracefully by which he meant the manly exercises that kept the body strong and supple and ready to do its duty on the battlefield. The Pyrrhic, or weapon dance (a form of mock combat) taken from Crete and perfected in Sparta, was the ideal.

 

The dance, of all the arts, is the one that most influences the soul. Dancing is divine in its nature and is the gift of the gods. Plato

Traditional dance continues to be passed from generation to generation, which in turns maintains national identity. Folklore is the term used for traditional dance when performed out of its traditional social context. The principal characteristic of folklore dance is that it is not transmitted in a traditional manner but by a process involving dance teachers and gym instructors.

CHARACTERISTICS

There are two distinct categories in the traditional Greek dance; the springing/leaping dance and the shuffle/dragging dance known as sirtos; the latter being the oldest form of dance. Most dances are circle dances, start with the right foot and move counter-clockwise. Each dancer is linked by a handkerchief or by holding hands, wrists or shoulders. In mixed dances, the man will lead the dance, which allows him in most regions to improvise or break away allowing him to express himself. Until recently, men and women rarely danced together although chains of men and women danced together at the same time, the women in the inner circle and the men in the outer circle. The order of dance varies from region to region. In general, the men are commonly at the beginning in descending order of age, followed by the women also ranked according to seniority. Sometimes the married men come before the bachelors and likewise for the women. The oldest inhabitant always leads the dance. In the islands the circle is usually formed of groups of families, the husband leads the wife who is followed by the eldest son, his wife and their children etc. Occasionally the local priest will lead the first dance symbolising a blessing. In olden times a man never held a woman’s hand but a kerchief. This also applied to married couples. In some regions a woman could not dance next to a man who was not family: therefore a child or an elderly would be placed in between. Most women's dances are slow, simple and dignified

 

via www.nostos.com

My Favourite Songs

Music is an integral part of myself. I can't live without it. Classical music makes me relax after a hard day at work but I also enjoy listening to Rachmaninov and Mozart on the beach. My ipod is filled with their music. I like American oldies and Greek music, of course. . Here are a few of my favourite songs.

 

Love on the Rocks by Neil Diamond because to love is to receive a glimpse of heaven. And because Neil Diamond is divine!!!

 

Jonathan Livingston - the Seagull by Neil Diamond because I fell in love with the movie and the music.

 

...because I'm romantic and I love Haroula....

 

because Yiannis Parios is our very own Neil Diamond - Matia Mple (Blue Eyes)

Of course the list is endless. I could go on and on telling you about my favourite songs. I also love Tom Jones, Andy Williams, Michel Sardou, Joe Dassin, Al Bano, Beyonce, The Beatles and Rachmaninov!

What's your most favourite song?

Giorgos Hadjinasios & Stavros Sideras: Music Nights

Stavros Sideras at the piano

Every year, especially in the summer, many Greek artists gig in Larnaca. The truth is I don't often go to gigs. They're usually too crowded and too noisy. But when I heard that one of Greece's greatest musicians, Giorgos Hadjinasios and my good old friend Stavros Sideras organised three music nights in the luxuariant gardens of  Mousio Theasis in Larnaca, I got tickets at once!

Giorgos Hadjinasios at the piano

This truly amazing performance started with four young artists - Dalida, Christos Hadjinasios, Pambina Kontea and Andronicos Lefkaritis and later 16-year-old Rafaela who is an opera soprano. They are all very talented and have great voices and I'm sure they will all make a dazzling career with such great masters to guide them and advise them. I was also impressed by the violinist's incredible virtuosity.

From left to right: Christos Hadjinasios, Pambina Kontea, Andronikos Lefkaritis, Dalida

Last night, Giorgos Hadjinasios and Stavros Sideras brought together almost all kinds of music with a strong emphasis on Greek music. For almost 3 hours, Mousio Theasis was filled with the sound of music and, of course we sang along! If you are in Cyprus, don't miss this event. A bottle of whiskey or a bottle of vodka or 2 bottles of Lazarides wine are included in the price for every four people together with a variety of finger food, nuts and fruit.

Last but not least, I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart Giorgos Hadjinasios - it was such a great honour to have him here in Larnaca - and my great friend Stavros who is not just a great friend but also a great composer, singer, songwriter and a very successful  musical theatre writer.

Work and Leisure

All work and no play may make Jack a dull boy but it certainly doesn't make me a dull girl! I've often shared my thoughts about my work and how much I enjoy working with children even though they are occasionally trying my patience!  It's that time of year again when work is more important than leisure as school exams are round the corner. The IGCSE Reading and Writing exam was last Thursday, the Listening test is next Friday followed by final exams at my school, FCE on June 4 and Pitman for Young Learners in mid June- enough to keep me busy at work for the next four weeks or so.

However, in my busy weekly schedule I have made room for some time online - mostly at the weekend - and some time spent outdoors on Sundays. I sometimes wish I lived in a small village where I could enjoy nature and the great outdoors every single day of the week.  What relaxes me most after a long day at work is spending some time listening to Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No2. I could listen to that hours on end.without getting bored.

 

Apart from Rachmaninoff, I also relax listening to Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel:

When you are weary feeling small

When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all

I'm on your side. When times get rough

And friends just can't be found

Like a bridge over troubled water

I will lay me down

 

Have you ever heard this song? It's been one of my favourites since I was 16! Working long hours doesn't always allow me to indulge in leisure activities, yet it is not work that kills but worry. Working hard won't kill you but worrying too much is bad for the health! Well, at least, I only worry a little.

How do you relax after a long day at work?

Saint Valentine's Day - For or Against?

I am an incurably romantic person who believes that love is very important and deserves to be celebrated on a special day. Valentine's Day is an excuse to splurge a fancy dinner, eat chocolate to your heart's content and ....buy lingerie! It is also an occasion to say "I love you." I know that actions speak louder than words, but these three magical words  can do wonders when spoken! Some of you hate the commercial side of  Valentine's Day. But most of you celebrate Christmas or your birthday even though these days also have a materialistic side - organise parties, give and receive presents. We all expect presents at Christmas and on our birthday, so, why not expect presents on Valentine's Day? Not necessarily expensive presents.  Valentine's Day is a also a great reminder that love should be celebrated every single day of the year because true love is timeless.

I'll love you and leave you with my most favourite love song - "Love on the Rocks" by Neil Diamond.

Love on the rocks
Aint no surprise
Just Pour me a drink
And I'll tell you some lies
Got nothing to lose
So you just sing the blues all the time

Gave you my heart
Gave you my soul
You left me alone here
With nothing to hold
Yesterday's gone
Now all I want is a smile

First, they say they want you
They haven't really need you
Suddenly you find you're out there
Walking in the storm
And When they know they have you
Then they really have you
Nothing you can do or say
You've got to leave, just get away
We all know the song

You need what you need
You can say what you want
Not much you can do
When the feeling is gone
Maybe blue skies above
But it's cool when your love's on the rocks

First, they say they want you
They haven't really need you
Suddenly you find you're out there
Walking in the storm
And When they know they have you
Then they really have you
Nothing you can do or say
Youve got to leave, just get away
We all know the song

Love on the rocks
Aint no big surprise
Jsut Pour me a drink
And I'll tell you more lies
Yesterday's gone
And now all I want is a smile