Words of Wisdom July 7, 2006
Posted by grhomeboy in BooksLife, Culture History & Mythology.add a comment
Here’s Robert Kennedy, in a passage from “A Wonderful Life” reflecting on the death of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.: “Let us dedicate ourselves to what the Greeks wrote so many years ago: to tame the savageness of man and make gentle the life of this world. Let us dedicate ourselves to that, and say a prayer for our country and our people.”
*Cyrus Copeland > He’s back this summer with “A Wonderful Life” a follow-up collection of even more eulogies of departed greats.
Greek Taste > Food for thought July 7, 2006
Posted by grhomeboy in Greek Food Culture.add a comment
When the Greeks eat in a Greek restaurant, it’s a good sign to dine there.Follow them!
Larnaca: Hermes Airport denies mass fee hike July 7, 2006
Posted by grhomeboy in Transport AirSeaLand.add a comment
Hermes Airports Ltd., the consortium in charge of modernising Cyprus’ airports at Larnaca and Paphos has hit back at recent reports suggesting that it intends to hike airport charges by 300%, clarifying that airport fees will only increase by 42% by end June 2007.
Hermes Airports was awarded the concession for the development and operation of the Larnaca and Paphos International Airports, on May 11, 2006 for a term of 25 year. Amongst others, the concession agreement signed with the government provides for the gradual introduction of a number of new fees such as: Ground Handling Fees, Security Fees and Fire fighting and Rescue Fees.
These services were currently provided by the Government of Cyprus but not charged to the airlines. (more…)
Marcos mania is back again July 7, 2006
Posted by grhomeboy in Tennis & Squash.add a comment
Fans across the island are gearing up for a rerun of the hysteria that took place back in January when local tennis sensation Marcos Baghdatis this afternoon walks out onto the famous Centre Court at Wimbledon for his semi-final match against Rafael Nadal.
On Wednesday night, Baghdatis pulled off one of his greatest victories when he beat Lleyton Hewitt in four sets, a man whose Wimbledon crown not to mention his record-equalling four title wins at Queen’s Club boasted rather better grass-court pedigree.
Making the victory even more remarkable is the fact that the 21-year-old Cypriot had never won a top-level match on grass until a month ago.
Unlike in Melbourne, his mother Andri was in the players’ box.
And as her son completed the win by breaking his rival’s serve, an emotional Andri, who was seen praying throughout the match, burst into tears.
Aussie street fighter Hewitt was out-punched by a player who was cruelly nicknamed ‘Mr January’ after reaching the final of the Australian Open but then struggled to build on the achievement.
Speaking from London, Baghdatis’ father, Christos, said: “We have been expecting a lot from him ever since his exploits Down Under. It was just a question of time so this latest victory is not a surprise to us. Marcos is doing his job and is happy and this is the most important thing. The family is not getting carried away and our feet are still on the ground.”
Speaking about his son’s prospects for the rest of the tournament, Baghdatis senior explained that, “of the top 100 players, anybody can beat anybody, so in a way, the semi-final is no different from the first round. We are hoping for the best and Marcos is fully confident.”
He also thanked the Cypriot and Greek fans for their support. “We hope a few more can manage to get their hands on tickets and Marcos really appreciates their support.
The whole crowd have taken to him and this pumps Marcos up. He knows that he is capable of playing good tennis and he has proved this to himself.”
When asked about the conspicuous absence of his son’s French model girlfriend, Camille Neviere from the players’ box, Christos chuckled, saying: “Everything is fine, there is nothing wrong. You haven’t seen her as she has not travelled with Marcos to England due to prior engagements.”
President of the Cyprus Tennis Federation Philios Christodoulou said he felt, “very proud seeing Marcos beat such a great player as Hewitt, a former world number one. Marcos has honoured himself and his country.”
Looking ahead to today’s semi-final, he said he was optimistic and is “looking forward to seeing Marcos in the final.”
If Baghdatis can make it past Nadal, he is likely to face the current world number one and three-time defending champion Roger Federer of Switzerland, who beat Baghdatis in the final in Australia, and who many pundits believe is almost unbeatable at SW19.
“Yes, Federer is an amazing player but anything can happen in a Wimbledon final,” said Christodoulou. “I talked with Marcos after the Hewitt match and he’s feeling confident.”
He added that he was negotiating with the Lawn Tennis Association for more tickets for London’s Greek Cypriot community.
Baghdatis’s parents hail from a village near Limassol called Paramytha – which means fairytale in Greek.
And that is the only way to describe what has happened to a player who left home at the age of 14 to train in Paris.
Speaking after the game on Wednesday, Baghdatis said: “This is a fairytale. I am feeling unbelievable emotions right now and I hope to go on feeling those emotions.
“The worst part of my life up to now was not growing up with my parents. I had to leave Cyprus to go and live in France and that’s difficult for a kid.
“I’m not sure if my mum enjoys watching me – I’ll ask her! It’s been tough for me and my parents.
“I don’t think anybody realises what’s happening yet, especially my parents.”
The Mukhtar of Paramytha, Evripidis Mappas said he felt, “unbelievable excitement when Marcos sealed victory, with residents of the village rushing out into the streets waving flags and honking car horns. Many of them drove to Nicosia to celebrate.”
He said the local council was not planning on setting up any big screens for today’s semi-final, “with everybody watching the match at home”. He also said he was feeling very confident that Baghdatis, “will go on to win the title.”
Baghdatis confessed: “I don’t see why I can’t win it all. I’m in the semi-final and believe anyone can beat anyone.”
Baghdatis is guaranteed £327,500 for reaching the semi-final and will pick up a cheque for £655,000 should he walk off with the title on Sunday evening.
What the British press are saying about our boy
“Baghdatis captures hearts with ferocity of assault on Hewitt,” said The Times, while the back page of Britain’s biggest selling paper, The Sun, simply said: “Bag Snatch.” “Baghdatis writes a new chapter in fairytale run,” said The Independent, with The Guardian describing him as, “the box-office bolter from Cyprus.” The BBC said his performance was, “inspired,” with the legendary John McEnroe singing his praises during his live commentary of the match. The Reuters news agency said the victory proved “he is no flash in the pan”.
Greek Taste > Taverna Koutouki July 7, 2006
Posted by grhomeboy in GreekTaste World.add a comment
It is said that the ancient Greeks invented democracy. They are also responsible for Ouzo and, subsequently, the hangover. I’m familiar with all three. When it comes to Greek cuisine, however, I’m pretty much a novice.
I’ve eaten pita bread and I buy Greek salad dressing now and then, but otherwise I’ve been underexposed to Greek food. UNDEREXPOSED CULINARIAN DISCOVERS THAT ‘GREECE IS THE WORD!’ With about 24 tables perched closely together under low ceilings, Koutouki has recreated the cosy atmosphere of a Greek taverna.
It was quiet over the midweek lunch hour, but we noticed several people come in to pick up overflowing boxes of food, presumably for their offices.
Well, read more! Click above link!
Greece - the Musical July 7, 2006
Posted by grhomeboy in Hellenic Light Americas.add a comment
It has been a couple of millennia in the making, but Robert Thicknesse has finally reconstructed an ancient Greek chorus line.
“Greek tragedy is an odd form of drama because the plot keeps getting interrupted by this chorus, who keep insisting on singing and dancing,” Taplin continues. It sounds more like a musical than an opera, “except the choruses weren’t part of the plot; more a kind of meditation on it, like the chorales in a Bach Passion”. Greece - the musical
In a sense, Greek chant is not unlike Gregorian chant. The chorus, of 12 or 15 men, sang in unison, accompanied by a double-reed instrument called an aulete, and by all accounts, danced at the same time, albeit a stately, tai-chi-style dancing of the sort you might see in a Robert Wilson production.
“It’s hard to say whether different composers had different styles,” says Taplin. “The rhythm of the music follows the rhythm of the words, so in a sense there’s less freedom.” Panufnik agrees: “The words drive you forward. The biggest difficulty for me was that I couldn’t modulate to another key, which we are sort of conditioned to do and which gives music a shape and direction. Here that is all provided by the words, the drama.”
Click above link to read the whole of this interesting story.
View also related picture at our Flickr Photo Gallery.
grhomeboy
