Greek property news

By Jonathan – Angels Greek Island Homes
Which is it going to be, traditional Greek coffee served hot as a strong brew with foam on top and grounds in the bottom of the cup. Or the more recent type of “Greek coffee” frappe served ice-cold in the summer and made mainly from instant coffee.

Whichever way you decide to drink it, the moment of drinking coffee is without any exaggeration a special moment for all Greeks… and me!

“Why is drinking Greek coffee so important?” you may ask. Well, it relaxes the soul clears the mind and gives pause for thought and discussion. It can also make you talk faster and louder. This is especially important if you want to ‘have your say’ among a group of people.

But where does it come from and why the Greeks?

Well, one such myth tells a story of an Arabian shepherd named Kaldi.

One day about a thousand years ago in 1100 AD, Kaldi went to tend to his goats in the in the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. He found them dancing around a dark green leafed shrub with bright red cherries. They were very happy and bleating loudly. Kaldi soon realised that it must be the bright red cherries causing such energy and joy in his goats as they were eating them.

He then thought ‘oh, why not’ popped a berry in his mouth and had the first caffeine hit. Kaldi ran back home and gave berries to a monk. The monk spat them out disgusted with the taste and threw them in the fire. Roasted coffee was born!

It wasn’t long before the monks at the local monastery started to frequent ‘Kaldi’s Coffee bush’. The bean helped them stay awake during extended hours of payer. They distributed them to other monasteries around the world. Kaldi’s coffee chain was born!

Africans of the same era eat protein-rich coffee and animal fat balls. These were possibly the first energy bars. They would then un-wind with wine made from coffee berries.

The truth of the matter is that Coffee started in Arabia. Roasted beans were first brewed around A.D. 1000. Recent evidence indicates that the history of the coffee bean began on the plateaus of central Ethiopia and soon spread to other areas of the Mediterranean by Muslims drinking coffee to stay awake during their long hours of prayer. With the introduction coffee houses, coffee became a passion.

So, why the Greeks?

Well, in 1471 the Greeks opened the first coffee shop. It happened soon after the occupation of Constantinople by the Turks. They called it the Kiva Han Coffee shop. Some say it still exists today, a small shop on a cobblestone street somewhere in today’s Istanbul…

The Greeks in Skopelos for example are doing what they are best at. Who can blame them, after years of practice they are the true professional coffee house sitters.

Please see my next article on how to prepare both types of Greek coffee.

Comments (1)

By Jonathan, Angels Greek Island Homes
Getting to Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonissos is easy. There are a variety of routes available. Fly direct to Skiathos during the tourist flight season (May to October). Fly to Athens and take an internal flight to Skiathos. Fly to Volos or Thessaloniki.

There are no airports on Skopelos Island or Alonissos.

From Skiathos

Once you arrive in Skiathos Airport it is about a 5 minute taxi ride to the Port where you can take the car or fast ferries – flying dolphin / flying cat to the Skopelos ports of Loutraki (for Glossa), Skopelos Town and then on to Alonissos. It is advisable to check ferry schedules before your departure to Skiathios as these can change. It is also advisable to book a ticket in advance during the high season. This can be done on websites or by telephoning Skiathos ticket agencies direct. One company is Hellenic Seaways Tel: 0030 24270 22209.

Travel times from Skiathos are about 25min on the fast ferries to Glossa Skopelos, 45min to Skopelos Town and about 90min to Alonissos.

From Athens airport

you can get an internal flight to Skiathos. For travel by bus and ferry or you can either take the Metro to Omonia Square and walk to Alkon Travel in Kanigos Square. You can also take the Metro / Airport Bus to Syntagma Square and then take a Taxi to Kanigos Square. There are also Taxi’s from the Airport however; the journey by bus or metro is quite easy and cheaper!

On the corner of Kanigos Square (97 Akademias Street) you will find Alkon Travel Agency, a company which runs special buses to connect with the ferry at Aghios Konstantinos. They generally  open at around 6.30am. Next door there is a coffee shop where you can wait. I always order a Greek Coffee.

It is important to buy the combined bus and ferry ticket. The coach leaves from outside Alkon Travel, generally around 7am but, this is dependent on the schedules. It is important to check these before you travel as it can change. You can’t book the bus ticket online at the moment so it is best to telephone. Alkon Travel Tel: (00 30) 210 3832545 or 3843220.

The coach takes about two and half hours to Aghios Konstantinos where a connecting Flying Dolphin or ferry awaits.

From Thessaloniki (Salonika)

At most times of year you can get flights to Thessaloniki (Salonika). There are many airlines operating services and from 2008 Easy jet have a regular flight from the UK to Thessaloniki.  You can then take the public bus to Volos and the flying cat to the sporadic islands. At certain times of the year there is a car ferry service from Thessaloniki to Skiathos and Skopelos. It is best to contact SAOS Ferries or G.A Ferries for information and schedules.

Adverse Weather Conditions

Sometimes in winter there is no sea transport due to bad weather, if this happens it can be fun to stay a night in Athens. Book into a hotel, do some sightseeing, go to a good restaurant and try again the next day.

Alternatively you can travel on the public bus from Athens to the port of Volos from where ferries and Flying Dolphins may run more frequently.

Go to the Liossion Street bus station in Athens and take a bus to Volos (about a five hour journey).  This bus also passes through Agios Konstantinos. From Volos the Flying Dolphin / Flying Cat to Skiathos takes around 90 minutes, and around 2 hours to Skopelos.

If you need to stay in Volos overnight there are hotels opposite the port. There is often a Flying Dolphin or Ferry at 8.00 am, but again you must always check the schedules and availability.

Comments (1)

See video link of Perivoliou beach Skopelos.  By:Jonathan – Angels Greek Island Homes
Perivoliou beach is lovely wild and remote. It is the last north east beach on Skopelos Island and is away from the tourist trail and bus route. It offers sun in the morning and natural shade from the rocks in the afternoon.

A short drive (about 4km) or a wonderful nature walk from Glossa that takes around two hours, you can take in fantastic views of both sides of the island.

Remember to pack your lunch and drinks as there are no restaurants or facilities.

Comments (1)

By Roger and Jonathan
A lot of people may want to go on holiday to Skopelos Island and visit some of the locations the film Mamma Mia was shot in.

What may I ask is a better way to spend your time than to walk in those cool green pine forests, swim in that clear blue Aegean water, and lie in the sunshine, listening to the lapping of the waves on the shore? There is no better way to spend your time, as all these locations are as good as they look in the film. Actually, in real life they are even better!

Kastani for example is a lovely small beach, quiet, beautiful and surrounded by a forest of pine trees. I can sit there all day looking at the sea.

Please don’t expect to walk on the jetty out to sea or have a drink in the beach bar.  As soon as the filming was done, the whole lot was taken down. Kastani beach is now once again a tranquil strand.

The monastery of Agios Ioannis (St John) on its rock above its 195 steps (or so) is real.

It does not appear in the film as it is. It was just not big enough for Hollywood standards. The film crew built a temporary structure around the real monastery for more impact. Happily the real monastery has now been restored and is as beautiful as ever. It is inspiring! Once you reach the top, admire the stunning views of Skopelos over the Aegean Sea, sign your name in the guest book that Pierce Brosnan signed and allow the fantasy to blend with the reality of the magical lovely island that is Skopelos.

Comments (0)