As the World Churns

By Bob Nicolaides

Media power players such as Huffington Post Media Group’s  Arianna Stassinopoulos Huffington vowed late last year not to go overboard in one area of their lives: technology! Besides the president and editor-in-chief of Huffington Post Media Group, Cindi Leive, editor-in-chief of Glamour and Mika Brzezinski, co-host of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” teamed up to unplug from their prized phones and slick laptops from Dec. 23 through Dec. 29 (a whole week!)….

The Princess with hubby: Does she know-and what?

Did you hear, Princess Cristina of Spain, Queen Sofia’s daughter may know something about her husband’s dealings for which he has been charged, and a panel of four judges will be deciding whether to uphold those preliminary charges. The panel will make a decision ahead of the March 8 court date. The princess's husband, Inaki Urdangarin, is accused of diverting, for private use, public funds earmarked for his nonprofit foundation. Urdangarin, an Olympic medalist in handball, led a private foundation that secured contracts from regional governments to promote sports and tourism. He has faced preliminary charges for more than a year. The preliminary charges could eventually be dropped, but a filing of indictments would set a trial in motion. Queen Sofia is one of the two sisters of deposed Greek King Constantine…



Soyioul's Nostalgia

Betty Harlafti interpreting nortalgia

I learned of it too late, but the Greek nightingale Nana Mouskouri is holding currently a Happy Birthday tour, so one of her concerts was given in Philadelphia at the Keswick Theater on January 20^th. How would’ve I wanted to be there…… The Center for Contemporary Opera presented the fully staged version of Hans Werner Henze’s  El Cimarrón directed by Greek director Eugenia Arsenis on January 16 and 17, at 7:30pm at Symphony Space's Thalia Theater, 2537 Broadway, New York. Hans Werner Henze is considered by many to be Germany's leading contemporary composer and as far as known, El Cimarrón has not been done in New York City since 1986… There is no electrical charge quite like the one produced by the meeting of prima donnas on live TV. It didn't hurt that Lady Gaga and Christina Aguilera sported coordinating wigs and champagne flutes as they held hands and belted "Do What You Want" on tonight's season five finale of The Voice. Do you think they met at their wig wrangler's house prior to tonight's episode? Or did they first become acquainted in the primordial diva stew from which they both emerged, fully formed and draped in skin-tight gold lamé, to declare their greatness once again?... Organized by Orpheus Foundation for Greek Music and the Arts, this seminal event will be a concert that focuses on the music of Michalis Souyioul. As you may know, this noted composer and lyricist created songs that marked the pre and post – World War II era in Greece. Souyioul’s memorable music and songs had a Pan-Hellenic appeal as evidenced by the fact that they were among the most popular songs at that time throughout the country. Many of them remain popular to this day. For sure, you yourself will remember, and perhaps have sung Souyoul’s timeless songs, including, Asta ta Mallakia sou, Gia mas Kelaidoun ta Poulia, Mia Zoi tin Echoume and others. The concert will take place on February 9, 2014 at the Chian Cultural Center (4401 Broadway, Astoria, N.Y.), and will feature the talented Athenian mezzo-soprano Betty Harlafti, who will be accompanied by an equally talented group of musicians. Betty is perhaps Greece’s most recognized young interpreter of Souyoul’s songs. Special Guest will be Tasos Papaioannou. For information please call: 917.485.8683 info@orpheususa.org

As expected, Greek American Alexander Payne raked in five nominations in the Oscars, including Best Director , his black & white flick Nebraska for Best Picture, Best Supporting actress, Best original Screenplay and Best Cinematography,   (Phedon Papamichael.) Here’s  Bruce Dern explaining how he got  the part he’s waited 77 years for in Nebraska. "First day of work, he came to me, put his arm on my elbow, and he said, ‘Bruce, this is Mr. Papamichael. He’s your cinematographer. My name is Alexander Payne, and I am your director. I want you to do something that you’ve probably never before done in your career: I want you to let us do our jobs. I want you not to show us one thing for eight weeks; we’ll find it. We’ll find you, because you’re Woody, and that’s the story we want to tell. Without dialogue.’ I hugged him." … The Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria presented the United States premiere of a new Greek film, To The Wolf (Sto Lyko), as part of the museum’s First Look series on Sunday, January 19. The film premiered at Berlinale in 2013. Directed by Aran Hughes and Christina Koutsospyrou, To The Wolf takes place over four days of unrelenting wind and rain in a remote God-forsaken village high up in the Nafpaktia mountains in western Greece where two goat herding families struggle to survive during a period of national crisis. ….

A pilot for Zach

Actor Steve Coundouriotis was in the cast of Operation Dumbo Drop and Alexandra Balahoutis played in ConAir…On the other hand, Yorgo Constantin plays in the Phone Booth...Prepare to welcome Jennifer Aniston to New York one more time. The actress and her beau Justin Theroux are moving back because of the actors commitments there. Fiancée Jen agreed to follow him-and relocate- so they can spend more time together….Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis was one of the nominees for the Peoples Awards in the category of Best Streaming series. We also learn that FX has ordered a comedy pilot from Zach, the network announced. Galifianakis created and will star in the show, which will be co-written with Louis C.K., who will also serve as one of the show's executive producers………Renny Harlin’s new film, The Legend of Hercules, has lots of romance. Starring second-string Twilight hunk Kellan Lutz as the legendary Greek demigod/hero, Hercules refashions the myth into a tale of love thwarted. Changing the Hercules story is nothing new, since the classic version of the tale is a downer, involving him killing his own children. This time around, Hercules, the illegitimate child of queen Alcmene of Tiryns (Roxanne McKee) and Zeus (Factory VFX), is set up and sent off on a purposely ill-fated mission by his foster father, King Amphitryon (the never-not-intense Scott Adkins). Hercules dreams of getting back home, not to rule or take revenge, but to claim the hand of his lover, Princess Hebe (Gaia Weiss). She in turn is also coveted by his dastardly, neurotic older brother Iphicles (Liam Garrigan), the legitimate child of the brutal Amphitryon and the long-suffering Alcmene.



Famous jeweler dead at 93

Ilias Lalaounis, 93, who died recently, was a man who honored the ancient Greek and Byzantine cultures and promoted them through his creations, Culture Minister Panos Panagiotopoulos said on Tuesday in a message of condolences on the death of the internationally-known jeweler. Lalaounis who was buried privately a few days ago following family wishes  was based in Athens and had founded a museum in 1993 devoted to his creations, including over 4,000 pieces from over 50 collections, designed by him between 1940 and 2000. He was especially known for being the first major jeweler in Greece to give prominence in his designs to themes and shapes of objects found in ancient Greek and Byzantine cultures...Gus Ouranitsas of NYC has donated time to what is called Time Banking, an offshoot of the Visiting Nurse Service of NY, which allows anyone to volunteer his time to patients and their families. As such, Gus, 57, so far has given a food tour of Astoria to several of these patients... The due date for the Panpaphian Scholarship has been extended toFebruary 15, 2014. Qualified applicants may receive up to $5,000 in grants. In order to qualify however, an applicant must be of Cypriot descent, attending a US accredited college/university. For additional info please call or email George Sophocleous, President (917) 509-0861. gsophocleous@elyons.com

Psilakis the teacher





Master chef Michael Psilakis who owns three MP Tavernas on LI and Astoria, plus Kefi and Gus & Gabriel in Manhattan is now in the cameo of the top chefs of the country, and as such, he will be instructing a class when the International Culinary Center, with the help of New York Magazine celebrates a weekend of master classes, cooking and conversation, Saturday and Sunday April 5 & 6 of 2014.....

Word of the Month : Drastic from Gr. Δραστικος- Radical



Travelogue… with Bob Nicolaides

The Lure of Dalmatia, with 99 co-passengers-and Venice too!



The Corinthian



From the deck of your elegant ship, the Corinthian, islands appear-evolving forms held in bright sunshine above impossibly clear, royal blue seas. As the ship rounds bleached cliffs, forest mounds and pebbled beaches, a port comes into view: a medieval walled town, perched like a captain on the prow of his ship, virtually unchanged through six centuries or more. It’s crenellated walls, campaniles and patrician villas speak of a rich past. At night,  moonlit pools on the ancient flagstones. This is Croatia and Montenegro, renowned for their physical beauty, the splendor of the ancient towns and villages that have preserved their character and architecture through the centuries, the magnificence of their monuments, the elegance of their customs and traditions and the vitality of the friendly inhabitants.

 

This superb corner of the Mediterranean has a long and proud maritime tradition. As in bygone ages, Croatia’s Dalmatia and Montenegro are best appreciated when accessed from the sea. But on which ship you cruise matters a lot. This is not an area for today’s mega cruises ships. The small islands, ancient towns and villages cannot accommodate large crowds of tourists. When traveling in such large groups, people miss the essence of what these places are all about, Travel Dynamics International’s Corinthian is the ideal cruise ship for the voyage. More like a private yacht than a cruise ship, Corinthian accommodates only 100 guests in 50 suites. The limited guests capacity, fine facilities and distinctive style of operation like-minded travelers who return again and again to enjoy its custom-crafted itineraries and a style of cruising that is rarely found today.

 

All Corinthian suites face outside, providing views of the sea and landscape. Several have a private balcony. There are expansive open deck areas and attractive facilities, including a gym, spa, library (with internet access,) beauty salon, two lounges, a sun deck with Jacuzzi and an outdoor café. An elegant restaurant accommodates all guests in an open, unassigned seating. An elevator serves all decks. A resident physician attends a well-equipped infirmary. Wi-Fi is available throughout the ship. It is also equipped with retractable fin stabilizers and a fleet of Zodiac inflatable craft for forays ashore.

 Best 2014 Value as Destinations

Santorini: Best Destination

Travel Guide makers, Lonely Planet has named the Greek islands as their top best value destination for 2014. The iconic islands have risen to the top spot thanks to the crisis crunch reducing prices and the drop of tourists making it easier to get around. "Greece still does what it's done brilliantly for generations," the writers at Lonely Planet summarize. "What's missing are visitor numbers from previous years, and prices have come down in an attempt to woo them back.

"Combined with the chance to explore Greece's more popular sites with fewer visitors, this means that in 2014 it offers remarkable value." Greece is joined by various good value destinations, including a close neighbors, Bulgaria, and Southern Italy.

  

 

 

Olympics tourists: You may face jail in Russia , if....

 

Protesting at Olympics





















 

Amnesty International says laws that restrict gay rights, free speech and freedom of association are changing Russian society for the worse. IT'S the simplest of acts which most people wouldn't give a second thought to in Australia. But in this part of the world, not only is it frowned upon, but it can land you behind bars. In fact, for visitors heading to Russia to watch the Winter Olympics, any social activity outside of games events will be just as tightly controlled as the competitions themselves.. Put a foot wrong, and you could find yourself on the wrong end of the law. The tight controls and bans people now face in places such as Sochi have caused outrage from human rights groups across the globe.



And Russia's treatment of its gay and lesbian community in particular has drawn the anger of Wallabies star David Pocock who has written an open letter, slamming the country's outdated and discriminatory laws. In his letter, the Amnesty International ambassador, reveals the discrimination and risk gay, lesbian and transgender people face on a daily basis and called on President Putin to investigate hate crimes. The Rugby union star, who has said he will not marry his long-term partner Emma Palandri until gay and lesbians can do the same, said it was time Russia stopped punishing people simply for who they loved. Legislation introduced in June last year banning "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations" means anyone found promoting homosexuality can be penalized with a fine of up  to  5000 rubles (AUD $170).



Most media in Russia is under strict government control which limits information and is often used to attack those critical of Putin or the government. According to Amnesty, new legislation has extended this power and given the government the power to According to Amnesty, new legislation has extended this power and given the government the power to blacklist and block websites publishing material considered "extremist or otherwise harmful to public health, morals or safety". freedom of expression. Under such laws, two Norwegian journalists, reporting on preparations in Sochi between late October and November last year, were repeatedly arrested and threatened with imprisonment.

 River Cruising-a Better Way to Explore!



 

Nothing compares to a  river. How else but on a river can you journey into the heart of the world’s greatest cities and charming towns and discover the true nature of the land and its people? Where else but on a river could you be gently carried aboard an elegant, intimate ship to your next destination , strolling off into town to begin your exploration? And how else but on a river would you travel with such ease, unpacking just once and enjoying the ever-changing scenery along the banks?

The Grandest of Tours

 

Viking has continuously set the standard within the river cruise industry-and it continues to do so with the newest ships , designed for your comfort and pleasure. Viking owns and operates a fleet of deluxe ships and every room has a river view through a veranda or window. Hotel-style beds, TVs with English-language programming, plus premium bath products make it your private sanctuary.

To personalize your travel experience, Viking offers choice in every aspect of your journey-from accommodations and excursions to dining styles. New for 2014, you can choose enhanced land extensions in select cities with upgraded Premier hotels and optional privileged access tours.

Plans include a Grand European Tour,  the  Romantic Danube, River of History, Rhine Getaway, Danube Waltz, Paris & The Heart of Normandy, Waterways of the Tsars and so many others.

 TUI  unveils vision for the future   The travel giant TUI claims it is developing a holiday experience that will "know what you want before you do". The video promises a range of technology innovations that will allow customers to: - set up a holiday journal, based on the ideas and browsing history of everyone going on the trip; - get advice and tips from other TUI customers who have shared their holiday memories; - order anything they've forgotten, such as sun cream, on the way to the airport and have it delivered to their airline seat; - be in contact with resort reps 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from the moment of booking; - pay for souvenirs and other items in resort with a mobile phone and have the amount added to their hotel bill; - use a mobile device on arrival at the airport to get directions to the transfer bus; - receive daily weather reports and recommendations for sightseeing and activities while in resort; - send and store holiday photos to the holiday journal; - make special requests, like lactose-free ice cream, before the holiday.

Taste a Melange of Mediterranean Culture

 



A plethora of isles



Welcome to Holland America Line’s Mediterranean, a region marbled with ancient symbols of beauty and power. This is where Caesars ruled, towers were built, the arts were perfected. In true Greek fashion, fortresses mark your entrance into Kerkira, with the palaces of Corfu just a drive away. Dine on local cuisine at Constantinople’s (Istanbul) Maiden Tower which dates back to Byzantine Empire’s 2500 years. In La Goulette, relax with a sip of mint tea just above the ruins of Carthage, once a glorious rival of Rome. For an energetic mix of tradition and modernism, enjoy a colorful flamenco performance that unites singing, dancing and the rhythm of a guitar in Barcelona.

 

Travelogue… with Bob Nicolaides

 

You may not be able to afford to live there. You may not even want to. But the world's most exclusive streets beckon nonetheless. But the world's 10 most exclusive streets beckon nonetheless, with gorgeous views, proximity to shopping and just plain enormous houses. Based on how much a square meter of real estate sells for — data provided by real estate consultancy Knight Frank — Billionaire.com compiled the following list of the world's Top 10 most expensive streets:

1) Pollock’s Path, the Peak, Hong Kong

According to Billionaire.com, it's the world's most expensive street, boasting glorious views of Victoria Harbor and an average price of $120,000 per square meter. The super-rich have lived on the mountain since back in the day, the only major difference being that they used to be carried up and down the steep slope in sedan chairs. Prominent residents include Stephen Chow, a local movie star.

2) Kensington Palace Gardens, London

This street in west central London has some of the most expensive property in the world — average price per square meter: $107,000. Known as "Billionaires' Row," the tree-lined street is home to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and many national embassies.

3) Avenue Princesse Grace, Monaco

Since the recession, houses on the palm-tree-lined seaside way in this principality have been going for a measly $86,000 per square meter, but at their height, according to Knight Frank, rates were as high as $135,000 per square meter. Famous neighbors include the Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and Danish model Helena Christensen.

4) Boulevard du Général de Gaulle, Cap Ferrat, France

According to Billionaires.com, this boulevard holds the title for most expensive, non-urban street. Nestled along the Mediterranean Cote d'Azur, Cap Ferrat (or the “Cap," as it is affectionately called) is a little peninsula where the average square meter goes for $79,000. Brad and Angelina reside here, as did Charlie Chaplin, way back when.

5) Paterson Hill, Singapore

Paterson Hill is a cul-de-sac in Singapore, located very close to the well-known shopping district along Orchard Road. Real estate goes for $42,500 per square meter, and its most expensive condo, according to Billionaires.com, is "The Marq, which features one highlight condo with interiors designed by Hermès, and a private lap pool cantilevered outside each apartment." Famous residents include Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin and former Miss Singapore, Rachel Kum.

6) Chemin de Ruth, Geneva, Switzerland

Close to Lake Geneva, Chemin de Ruth is located in the heart of Switzerland’s Cologny. Many properties on the street, where an average square meter goes for $37,000, have views of the famous Jet d’Eau, the United Nations buildings and the headquarters of the World Economic Forum. Famous residents include France's Peugeot family.

7) Romazzino, Sardinia

Winding Romazzino's Hill is one of the most exclusive areas in Sardinia's Costa Smerelda. The average square meter goes for $32,900, and many wealthy Middle Easterners reside there, including Saudi Arabian politician Ahmed Zaki Yamani and Qatar royal family members.

8) Ostozhenka, Moscow

Ostozhenka in downtown Moscow is home to The Kremlin, the Pushkin Museum and the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour — as well as Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov. An average square meter goes for $29,000. The most expensive streets in Russia, it's also one of the country's oldest.

9) Fifth Avenue, New York

Fifth Avenue has long been home to wealthy Americans, particularly the stretch between 59th and 96th, which fronts Central Park. The street is home to the Empire State Building, the Rockefeller Center and Saks. An average square meter goes for $28,000, a pretty penny that actor Bill Murray and newscaster Tom Brokaw, among others, are willing to pay.

10) Avenue Montaigne, Paris

Marlene Dietrich lived there before she died, so it's got to be pretty fancy. Avenue Montaigne in Paris is known for French high-fashion. Located in the 8th arrondissement in the Champs Élysées quarter, an average square meter on this street goes for $26,000. This 350-year-old avenue has also been the target of two high-profile heists.

Greece to invest in medical tourism

 

Tourism Minister Olga Kefaloyianni has spoken of Greece’s aspiration to tap into medical tourism, while also referring to wellness and cruise tourism, as well as cultural tourism, which

"Greece will extend its offer to the sector of medical tourism next year. Prime Minister Samaras predicts great growth prospects in this sector," Kefaloyianni told the newspaper "Der Tagesspiegel."

She mentioned as examples the areas of eye operations, dental care, kidney therapies and fertility treatment, which she explained are in great demand, mainly by Russians and Americans. Europeans, she said, can use the medical services of other EU member-states.

The minister further said that "all Greeks realise that tourism is the only sector that can help the country return to growth rates".

Kefaloyianni reiterated that a new record in tourism is expected to be recorded in 2014, while the newspaper refers to revenues amounting to 12 billion euros in 2013 and a target of 13 billion euros in 2014.

In 2013, Greere recorded a 45 percent increase in tourists from Russia and 40 percent from Turkey.

 

 

Discover the World with Swan Hellenic



Swan Hellenic's flagship

Looking ahead to 2015, Swan Hellenic Discovery Cruising says you can enjoy the winter sunshine as the Minerva seeks out the historical and cultural highlights of the East, cruising to India, Sri Lanka, Burma, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Japan and Indonesia. In January, that ship will be breaking ground with an inaugural cruise to Japan, which also includes ports of call in China, Taiwan  and South Korea. Then she will continue her exciting adventures visiting fascinating ports in the Far East where you’ll be able to explore India, visit the Arabian peninsula, travel though Holy Lands in the Eastern Mediterranean or circumnavigate the Black Sea.

NYC : Citi Rides program reaches 5.1 M

 

The Mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, announced that the Citi Bike, the city’s bike rental service, has reached 5.1 million rides since the system began working last May.

In the last five months after the launch of the new transport system in the Big Apple, more than 432,000 people have bought access passes to the service, with an average visit of 35,000 during the last three months.

It was estimated that on the first 166 days of operation 16 million kilometers had been ridden (equivalent to 404 trips around earth) surpassing other American cities that also have similar bike-sharing service. Washington, as a matter of fact, took three years to reach the level of 5 million rides.

The median number of daily trips on the 6,000 bikes of the service is 6, which suggests that the median number of trips on each of the bikes throughout these five months has been 862 trips.

The bike-renting service launched on May 27th includes daily or weekly passes. According to the rates plan, interested people can acquire a daily pass for USD 9.95 (EUR 7.6) and a weekly pass for USD 25 (EUR 19.2), which gives you a 30-minute free renting right, and an additional payment for each extra half hour fraction. There is also an annual pass for USD 95 dollars (EUR 73) that will give you a 45-minute free rental.

The service includes the City of Manhattan below 59th street and the Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill neighborhoods and Bedford Stuyvesant zones in Brooklyn.

The main objective is to extend the system to 10,000 bikes and 600 stations in the coming years. The company Citi Bike trusts to create 170 jobs and generate USD 36 million (EUR 27.6 million) annually in the local economic activity.

“City Bike is the largest bike rental program in the country and it’s now also the fastest growing one”, said Mayor Bloomberg who added that the system has resulted in a great success among New Yorkers and visitors, and that the amount of passengers has surpassed the most optimistic projections.

Antikythera Shipwreck exhibition Extended until June

 

The National Archaeological Museum's exhibition "The Antikythera Shipwreck, the ship-the treasures-the Mechanism" is to extended until June 29, lasting throughout the Greek EU presidency in the first half of 2014.

"There has been a great response to the exhibition in Greece and abroad and we believe that people who visit our country because of the presidency will admire the show," the museum's deputy director  Georgios Kakavas told the ANA-MPA. "The benefit is that, with this exhibition, the museum's revenues have grown from 45% to 81% each month."

The exhibition was launched in April 2012 and was initially scheduled to run for one year, while its duration has been repeatedly extended. It focuses on the famous shipwreck that yielded the mysterious AntiKythera mechanism - also dubbed the world's first analog computer wreck - that occurred at approximately 60-50 BC. The exhibits include other items of cargo on board the vessel, which may have been heading for Rome when it sank, which were mainly bronze and marble statues dating from the 4th to the 1st century BC.

The cargo was accidentally discovered in 1900 by divers from the island of Symi and was raised in two stages: in the year of 1900-1901 and in 1976 by the Greek Archaeological service and Jacques Yves Cousteau's oceanographic ship "Calypso". 

 

 

 

Most dangerous place for backpackers- Malaysia

 

A backpacker from the United Kingdom has visited countries like Africa and Yemen, but picks Kuala Lumpur as the most dangerous place he has ever been to.

Dave Ramsay had related his experience about being stabbed and mugged in the city on travel site Virtual Tourist.

The incident took place near Hard Rock Cafe in Jalan Sultan Ismail on Oct 5.

Dave was stabbed in the chest and then slashed across the arm with a knife, before the robber fled with his bag. Dave said there was no regard for his life since he was attacked before being robbed, instead of the other way round.

However, his ordeal did not end there.

Not only did it take 30 minutes to reach a hospital as most taxis did not stop for him after seeing blood, police were also ineffective and inefficient.

According to Dave, security at local venues did nothing. Tourist police also did not ask anything about the robber and only produced a report for an insurance claim, making the victim feel they had no interest in pursuing the criminal.

Dave even called the tourist police office a "conveyor belt of victims coming in".

"This place needs avoiding big time. I have travelled to Africa, Yemen, and SE Asia for nearly 30 years and I am not a squeamish person but I genuinely believe this to be the most dangerous place I have been to, due to the vast number of incidents and the frequency of them. It's epidemic," wrote Dave.

 

A blast from the Past: Why Not Spend Winter in 1922 Egypt?

This is an ad from long ago: In Cairo, the place to stay is the Heliopolis Palace Hotel, deemed the most luxurious hotel in the World. This is where you experience all the up-to-date comforts among a purely enchanting mid-eastern background. The hotel consists of 400 rooms with bath and 50 drawing rooms, features French Cuisine and an American bar.

You can play all sorts of sports at the Heliopolis Palace, such as Golf, Polo, Cricket, as well as horse-racing all kinds of diversified attractions among them Jazz music, orchestral concerts, dancing events, tea dances and ethnic festivals. The management offers special rates for family stays as well as long term occupancy.