Anastasia

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)

Magic Mirror on the Wall.....

In Grimm's well known fairy tale, the new Queen - Snow White's step mother - has a magic mirror which is an animate object. Being beautiful and vain, the Queen often asks her Mirror: " Magic Mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?" The Magic Mirror would always answer:"You are the fairest of them all." But when Snow White turned 18, the Mirror said: "Snow White is much fairer than you."

In the year 2012 and the era of advanced technologies, very young girls no longer trust their mirror or what their friends and family tell them. They'd rather upload themselves on You Tube and ask their viewers exactly the same question Snow White's stepmother asked her magic mirror in Grimm's fairy tale. "Am I pretty or ugly?" followd by "Please comment" The wording is different, the meaning is exactly the same. The anonymous commenters are just like the "magic mirror on the wall". They feel free to say anything ranging from flattering comments to nasty and hurting remarks. The girl in the video below received more than 6,000 comments. Naturally, I didn't read them all but I did browse through and came across some really nasty comments which I wouldn't like to quote here.

 

What really saddens me is that these young girls - aged 11-13 - crave for comments, negative or positive. Surely, they lack self-esteem and self-confidence and they rely on total strangers to know whether they're pretty or ugly. But this is not what it boils down to. These kids seek to attract the  attention they lack in their own home.

Weekend at Protaras and the Fire Show at the Golden Coast Hotel

 

Situated on the east coast of Cyprus, Protaras covers approximately 5km of the golden Famagusta Coastline. Protaras flourished into a charming tourist resort in the 1980s as a more sophisticated alternative to the buzzing and wild atmosphere of its neighbouring town; Agia Napa (located 7 km west of Protaras).

Saint Nicolas Chapel

Before becoming a tourist resort, Protaras was essentially uninhabited; the area was mostly covered by a multitude of windmills, some of which still stand, adding to the character of the Protaras landscape. Artefacts uncovered during recent excavations dating back to the Greco-Roman era (58 BC - 395 AD) suggest the land where Protaras now exists may have been the ancient town of Lefkola, notable in those times for its hustling port.

The Fishing Harbour

Protaras became an idyllic holiday resort largely due to the beautiful sandy beaches in its vicinity. There are several excellent beaches, each developed to appeal to a particular type of holidaymaker. For instance, the main beach “Fig Tree Bay”, regarded as one of the most popular beaches on the island, offers a wide range of water-sports, while to the north of the coastline, the tranquil waters of Skoutari Beach, make for great snorkelling.

The Fishing Harbour

Protaras is particularly apt for package-holidays owing to the impressive array of hotels that have been built in the area since not many people actually reside in this town. Some hotels are enormous comprising several swimming pools and have been purpose-built to fulfil their guests’ every need. The "All-inclusive" deals at these hotels often cover the use of deluxe sports facilities such as tennis courts, gymnasiums and spas.

The Golden Coast Hotel Beach

The Golden Coast Hotel has been my favourite hotel in the area since it was built in 1986. Every summer, I spend at least a weekend there. Following tradition, I spent this weekend at The Golden Coast which also boasts one of the island's most attractive bays. This is where I look forward to having the first swim of the year in early June which marks the beginning of summer.

The Golden Coast Beach

It was a quiet and peaceful weekend during which I had the chance to relax and unwind after a hectic week at work.  Last night, after dinner, Alkis and I had the pleasure to watch the fire show right on the beach. It was an impressive show with real fire and excellent dancers. I really can't wait to go back to the Golden Coast Hotel, hopefully soon.

Fire Show on the Beach - The Golden Coast Hotel

The amazing fire show at the Golden Coast Hotel

Photos and Video by Anastasia Marou

The Greeks Prefer Brains to Brawn

The video below has been travelling all over the world since yesterday morning when a Greek MP violently attacked on Greek  live TV two women politicians taking part in a political debate in George Papadakis' live show on Antena TV. I did not watch the show as I was at work at that time. While I was having my lunch break at home, I turned on the TV since this is the only time I can catch up with the news. This video had been playing on all Greek channels and already travelling abroad. Say that I was appalled at what I saw would be an understatement. 

 

Mr Ilias Kasidiaris, 32, is a spokeaman of extreme right Golden Dawn party in Greece and a member of the Greek parliament for a few days till the elections of June 17. During the live talk show, he  lashed out  in response to comments from rival politician Rena Dourou of the Syriza party. After Ms Dourou made reference to a court case pending against him and said his party "will take the country back 500 years", Mr Kasidiaris leapt from his chair and threw a glass of water over her. Thank God, he only threw the water, not the glass!

When Communist party deputy Liana Kanelli stood up to condemn Mr Kasidiaris and threw a newspaper at him, the ex-special forces weightlifting enthusiast turned his rage on her. Mr Kasidiaris slapped Ms Kanelli around the face three times as she struggled to defend herself. Host Giorgos Papadakis ran across the set shouting, "No, No" as he attempted to intervene but was too slow to stop the attack.

Mr Kasidiaris has been one of the most vocal critics of claims that Golden Dawn is a violent organisation with a history of targeting Greece's immigrant populations. Golden Dawn - surprise winner of 7% of the vote in recent elections - said in a statement that Mr Kasidiaris had been provoked. It said: "If anybody wants us to condemn our colleague over this indeed unfortunate moment, they should first condemn Kanelli's attack and slandering."

Following the incident, Ilias Kasidiaris was locked in a room at the Antena studios in Athens but broke down a door and escaped, according to the TV show's host. An arrest warrant has been issued for Mr Kasidiaris as tensions ahead of the June 17 elections in Greece became explosive.

A public prosecutor ordered police to track him down and detain him on charges of causing serious bodily harm. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted but may be fined instead.

I firmly believe that violence never solves problems. And it is definitely not an argument! I won't discuss here the political dimensions of the incident. As most of you know, I'm not into politics. But no one has the right to violently attack any citizen in any country just because they disagree with them. At the same time, I am glad to see that this attitude, which reminds us of the cavemen, does not represent the Greek culture and civilization. Since the golden era of Pericles, the Greeks have proved that they prefer brains to brawn and, I'm sure, that they won't let this unfortunate incident change their beliefs. 

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

Silent Night

In 1818, a roving band of actors was performing in towns throughout the Austrian Alps. On December 23 they arrived at Oberndorf, a village near Salzburg where they were to perform the story of Christ's birth in the small Church of St. Nicholas.
     Unfortunately, the St. Nicholas' church organ wasn't working and would not be repaired before Christmas. (Note: some versions of the story point to mice as the problem; others say rust was the culprit) Because the church organ was out of commission, the actors presented their Christmas drama in a private home. Even so, that Christmas presentation put assistant pastor Josef Mohr in a meditative mood. Instead of walking straight to his house that night, Mohr took a longer way home. The longer path took him up over a hill overlooking the village.
     From that hilltop, Mohr looked down on the peaceful snow-covered village. Reveling in majestic silence of the wintry night, Mohr gazed down at the glowing scene. His thoughts about the Christmas play suddenly made him remember a poem he had written a couple of years before. It was a poem about the night when angels announced the birth of the long-awaited Messiah to shepherds on a hillside.
     Mohr decided those words would make a good carol for his congregation the following evening at their Christmas eve service. However, he didn't have any music to which that poem could be sung. So, the next day Mohr went to see the church organist, Franz Xaver Gruber. Gruber only had a few hours to come up with a melody which could be sung with a guitar. However, by that evening, Gruber had managed to compose a musical setting for the poem. It no longer mattered that their church organ was broken. They now had a Christmas carol they could sing without it.
     On Christmas Eve, the little Oberndorf congregation heard Gruber and Mohr sing their new composition to the accompaniment of Gruber's guitar.
     Weeks later, well-known organ builder Karl Mauracher arrived to fix the St. Nicholas church organ. When he finished, Mauracher stepped back to let Gruber test the instrument. When Gruber sat down, his fingers began playing the simple melody he had written for Mohr's Christmas poem. Deeply impressed, Mauracher took the music and words of "Silent Night" back to his own Alpine village, Kapfing. There, two well-known families of singers -- the Rainers and the Strassers -- heard it. Captivated by "Silent Night," both groups put the new song into their Christmas season repertoire.

Let's sing along with Neil Diamond!

 

Should you wish to watch this video and sing along, please click pause on my electronic ipod!

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?

TV Commercials

In recent years, the amount of advertising on television seems to have increased dramatically. As a result, many people feel that their enjoyment of the programmes has been spoilt due to the constant interruptions by commercials. They also believe that advertising on TV should be banned or, at least, reduced in quantity.

Although I seldom watch TV mainly due to lack of time, I completely disagree with this suggestion. In the first place, let us not forget that TV channels rely on the income from commercials to pay for the programmes, otherwise they'd go out of business or would have to depend on government subsidies - like our national channel CyBC (Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation) . Almost invariably, this leads to political control over news and current affairs - not to mention the poor quality of most programmes. Secondly, advertisements increase our knowledge of different products and this enables us to make better choices as consumers or even learn about new products. Well, that's how I found out about Vanish .! Finally, tv commercials encourage competition amongst manufacturers who each try to produce the best quality products at the cheapest prices. Consumers would have to pay a great deal more if advertising didn't create mass markets for products.

What's more , some TV commercials can be fun to watch and others can raise awareness on various human issues such as the Coca Cola Commercial 2011.

 

Do you watch TV commercials? Do you think TV channels should cut down on them?

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?