Back to culinary boot camp for Cyprus army boys July 18, 2007
Posted by grhomeboy in Cyprus News.comments closed
No takeaway on duty > Cyprus’ Defence Minister Christodoulos Pashiardis yesterday issued strict instructions to ban all takeaway food at army camps and observation posts.
In a written statement Pashiardis said the National Guard was the only authority responsible for the supplying of food to soldiers. “The phenomenon of supplying takeaway food to soldiers, apart from health problems it might cause, also results in financial discrimination between soldiers,” said the statement.
It was back to culinary boot camp for Greek Cypriot army conscripts who were told this week that their revered takeaways are banned. Food deliveries are more the practice rather than the exception at military camps on the island, where conscripts either tuck in to mama’s cooking or kebabs and pizzas from the closest takeaway smuggled in through the fence. Takeaways have been frowned upon for years.
Conscripts say army food varies from camp to camp, ranging from good, to inedible. “In my boot camp the kitchen was disgusting and you didn’t want to eat at all, though when I was transferred somewhere else the food was pretty good,” said a Cypriot youth who recently left the army. “I don’t envy the conscripts now,” he said.
Vardinoyiannia meeting in Rethymno, Crete July 18, 2007
Posted by grhomeboy in Athletics.comments closed
Torri Edwards led an American medals sweep in the 100 meters Wednesday at the Vardinoyiannia track meet in Rethymno, on the island of Crete.
Edwards won in 11.05 seconds, with Allyson Felix second in 11.11 seconds and Lauryn Williams third at 11.12.
Spectators at Pavlos I. Vardinoyannis stadium cheered as Greece’s Perikles Iakovakis won the 400 hurdles in 48.21.
“I’m happy with the win. The time could have been better, but at least I was fast at the end,” he said.
Danny McFarlane of Jamaica finished second in 48.92, and American Kenneth Ferguson third in 49.23.
In the men’s 100 meters, Jamaican Usain Bolt won in 10.03 seconds, beating Americans Leroy Dixon (10.07) and Wallace Spearmon (10.20).
Related Links > http://www.eartf.gr/vardinoyiannia/en/0/
Cypriot wines perfect for the summer July 18, 2007
Posted by grhomeboy in Food Cyprus, Wine And Spirits.comments closed
N/V Tihikos Moschato, Mesana Krelan Winery, Pafos Regional, Alcohol Volume 12% > A medium sweet wine form the Krelan Winery based on the Malaga varietal, which, up until in the mid nineties, was planted in abundance especially in Pafos. Basically Malaga is better known as Muscat of Alexandria and there are about 280 hectares of it. Medium intensity yellow in colour, clear, with brilliant yellow hue. Grapey and herbal on the nose, mint, ripe pear, melon and honeysuckle are the predominant aromas along with roses. Light to medium body, more raisin concentration on the palate, intense fruit of melon and peach, the taste lasts long enough in the mouth. Served at 9 degrC, this wine was excellent with pan-fried chicken and blue cheese sauce, and it will do well with Spanish tapas or baked fish in tomato and spicy sauce.
N/V Tihikos Maratheftiko, Mesana Krelan Winery, Paphos Regional, Alcohol Volume 13% > The Maratheftiko is kept for 12 months in oak barrels, which is evident on the nose. Deep red in colour, limpid and clear, the nose is also supported by intense red fruit, plums and blackcurrant, a touch of leather and sweet spice, vanilla and dark chocolate. Medium body, red fruit in abundance, firm tannins and medium aftertaste with the fruit lost. At 16 to 18 degrC, this Maratheftiko was perfectly married with roast leg of lamb infused with mixed herbs. Rest assured that this wine is ideal with your barbecue outings. Silver medal at Concours International du Vin 2005 and Silver also at the 1st Cyprus Wine Competition.
The Hellenic Community of Montreal is holding their annual Festival July 18, 2007
Posted by grhomeboy in Greek Diaspora Festivals.comments closed
The Hellenic Community of Montreal launches its annual festival: The Hellenic Flame/la Flamme Hellénique to be held at the Park Jean-Drapeau from August 10th to August 12th.
In its fifth year, Mr. Billy Balabanos, Secretary of Cultural Affairs for the Hellenic Community, and organizer for this year’s Festival announced that this year’s festival has changed venues. “In keeping with the other cultural groups, who now host their festival on the Île Ste-Hélène, we also found this move to be a logical step since the Parc Jean-Drapeau offers a wonderful setting for families and visitors. ”
The cultural program for the fifth year presents a gamut of activities from dance, music and entertainment fields. Local talent will be showcased with popular groups within the Hellenic Community. Popular folkloric groups will also be performing, among which are: The Hellenic Community Dance groups, Terpsihori and Orpheas groups, as well as La troupe folklorique Syrtaki.
Along with the lively entertainment, the festival will feature cultural booths representing different local associations and artists.
The Hellenic Flame is free for all and will be open from 12 PM to 11 PM from 10th to the 12th. This 3 day Hellenic festival will be a Quebecois-Greek celebration and a “Montreal” Mediterranean experience for all to enjoy.
For information please call (514) 738-2421 #125 or, visit > www.hcm-flame.com
Byzantine Museum’s cultural oasis in works July 18, 2007
Posted by grhomeboy in Architecture Greece, Arts Museums.comments closed
Refurbishment of area surrounding Byzantine Museum progressing > The 150-seat theater for cultural and educational activities at the Byzantine Museum will be ready by this fall when the stone covering has been laid.
It has taken some time but at last results are visible to the passerby. Work has gone ahead on the area surrounding the Byzantine Museum, which will become a park in the heart of Athens, with outdoor exhibitions, a cafe-restaurant, a shop and a 150-seat theater. Eventually it will be connected to the 1-hectare site of Aristotle’s Lyceum on Rigillis Street.
Work has not begun at the Lyceum, despite all the promises that have been made, because there are not sufficient funds to highlight it as it deserves. Eleven years since its discovery by Effi Lygouri, the Culture Ministry is still seeking funds to complete an implementation study, that will include a proper roof to shelter the archaeological remains.
Work began on the forecourt of the Museum two months ago and is advancing on several fronts. The cafe-restaurant in the western wing is being extended into the courtyard of the Museum and will operate without being restricted to the Museum’s opening hours. Tenders will soon be called for the cafe.
Exactly opposite is the Museum’s shop, in a space four times its present size, while the former outlet will be occupied by administrative offices, currently crammed into the entrance on Vasilissis Sofias Avenue. Among other items, the shop will sell works inspired by Byzantium and made by contemporary artists. Meanwhile, the Museum’s emblematic building, the winter residence of the Duchesse de Plaisance, will get its first refurbishment.
Next in line is the landscape project, which involves planting hundreds of trees and shrubs that are suited to the area and will offer Museum visitors the opportunity to take a pleasant walk. Museum Director Dimitris Constantios has planned two flexible routes for walkers: “the marble road” and “the architecture of death” which sounds more macabre than it is. The Museum will present three Early Christian tombs that were found at Koukaki during excavation for the Athens metro. The idea is for the public to get acquainted with the architecture of funeral monuments and to understand how these voluminous finds were transported and became Museum exhibits. The other walk sheds light on the development of sculpture from late antiquity until the 19th century through several representative examples.
The Museum has a vast collection of works in storage that have never been on display, such as a Late Roman water pipe found 20 years ago that will soon be exhibited for the first time. The theater, adjacent to Vasileos Constantinou Avenue, will be ready for educational and cultural events once the stone covering is laid.
A competition is already in process for the renovation of the winter residence, which will have an information lobby on the lower floor and temporary exhibitions on the upper. Exhibitions are already in the works, starting with an exhibition of photographs of Gothic architecture, organized by the Culture Ministry, which opens September 20.
The second stage of the project will link the park around the Museum with the archaeological site identified in 1996 as Aristotle’s Lyceum. The Lyceum’s location had long been a controversial issue among scholars, but this was the first time hard evidence was produced. An outstanding monument, it is made of fragile material. Archaeologists and conservators have worked to save it, but the rain continues to erode it.
The slightly domed, 9-meter structure with a metal roof and copper leaves on the exterior is designed to give the impression of a thin protective cover floating above the ruins. It took the Third Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities 11 months to excavate the site, and 11 years of promises have gone by since then.
Related Links > http://www.lrf.gr/demos/byz/homepage.html
Greece’s ship capacity grows at a rapid rate July 18, 2007
Posted by grhomeboy in Business & Economy.comments closed
The Greek commercial fleet’s capacity expanded by 4,014,042 register tons during the first five months of this year, compared to December 2006, according to data compiled by the National Statistics Service (NSS).
In May of 2007, the Greek fleet numbered 2,025 vessels, with a total capacity of 35,609,983 register tons against 31,595,941 in December 2006. NSS data also show that of the 2,025 ships, 630 are dry-bulk carriers and 911 are passenger carriers and other vessels. This growth is attributed to the measures the Merchant Marine Ministry recently took to boost the competitiveness of the Greek register.
In the period from January 2001 to May 2007, there was a 2.9 percent rise in ship numbers and an increase of 30.3 percent in total capacity. Dry-bulkers have increased by 0.8 percent and their capacity by 19.8 percent. Tankers have increased by 5.9 percent, with their capacity growing by 40 percent. Passenger carriers and other ships increased by 2.9 percent and their capacity rose by 21.9 percent.
Shipping foreign currency inflows grew by 295 million euros in the first months of the year compared with the same period in 2006. It reached 4,914.2 million euros, from 4,618.3 million euros last year. The growth was greater in April, with inflows reaching 1,254.8 million euros, against 1,070.4 million euros in April 2006. Bank of Greece data confirm that inflows came to 14,324.7 million euros in 2006, from 13,871.4 million euros in 2005.
The steady growth of shipping foreign currency inflows began in 2000, when, according to data from the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping (NEE), they reached $7,914.2 million and rose to $12,493.4 million in 2003.
Constructors eye waste disposal market July 18, 2007
Posted by grhomeboy in Business & Economy, Environment.comments closed
Michaniki is set to join a growing number of construction firms aiming to enter the promising market of waste management. The listed company yesterday announced that it is at an advanced stage of negotiations with a European group to expand to this sector.
The two groups are also discussing their joint entry into the development and operation of hydroelectric energy plants, a sector in which Michaniki is already active.
Another listed construction company, Proodeftiki, is making plans for the waste management market, intending to expand beyond its traditional domain due to problems in the local construction market.
Earlier, Lamda Development had announced the establishment of a subsidiary company for managing solid waste, including paper, household and corporate refuse. Half of this belongs to the category of so-called biodegradable materials, which also includes food, the very sector which Lamda Development’s subsidiary wishes to penetrate.
“The new company will aim to develop activities in this fresh market, using the method of Public-Private Partnerships, in this case with local authorities that will undertake the processing of refuse,” the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer of Lamda said. Other construction companies with a presence in the sector are Hellenic Technodomiki TEV and J&P-Avax.
Waste management is expected to generate turnover of 500 million euros per year up to 2015, while total investment will reach 2.5 billion. The sector’s growth is being driven by strict EU regulations which must be implemented by 2010. By then, Greece must have adopted the EU directive providing for an increase to 25 percent of the refuse that is processed prior to its sanitary disposal.
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