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Greek PM Mitsotakis Survives Vote of No Confidence

Mitsotakis prime minister Greece
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis survives vote of no confidence motion over handling of Tempe rail disaster. Credit: Prime Minister GR

The opposition’s proposal for a vote of no confidence in the Greek government over the management of the Tempe rail disaster has been dismissed after a 141-159 vote in favor of Mitsotakis’ party.

With the end of a three-day debate in parliament today – which ended an hour and a half later than scheduled – Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis struck back at the opposition, saying their motion was “unacceptable” and “inappropriate” and denigrating their “brutal attempt” to leverage the widespread grief felt after the February 28, 2023 Tempe train crash, which he claims went way beyond the families of the 57 dead and the hundreds of injured passengers.

Mitsotakis’ Response to Government Opposition Claims

“They tried to turn grief into a party banner” Mitsotakis said about the opposition. About the incident itself, which opposition speakers called a “crime”, Mitsotakis claimed it was the moment where the state’s longstanding structural inadequacies met with human error.

Speaking about the article in the Sunday newspaper To Vima, which led to socialist PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis tabling the no-confidence motion, Mitsotakis said it was misleading, and that the events it detailed – a supposed flurry of communications that highlighted the stationmaster’s responsibility for the crash – had been reported a long time ago by state TV ERT and that his government had no involvement.

The frontpage story cited doctored tapes leaked to the press immediately after the horrific train crash.

“It is legitimate for businesspeople and publishers to want to influence politics. Some have been elected President, or Prime Minister. Let them get into the arena themselves and not by proxy,” Mitsotakis said, implying that Androulakis had foreknowledge of the Sunday paper’s article. It is standard journalistic practice, he said, to call authorities ahead of publication and ask for their reaction. But this time, it was the opposition that was contacted.

Poking fun at his opponents, the prime minister argued the real creator of the motion – not present during his speech – was far-right Greek Solution party leader Kyriakos Velopoulos “whose conspiracy theories you have adopted.”

He commented on one of the theories at length – that authorities filled in the site to conceal the evidence. He said the decision to fill in the ground under the train was taken by rescue crews so they could lift the train and gain access to the bodies laying beneath it.

Addressing the accusation that the government is protecting then-transport minister Kostas Karamanlis, Mitsotakis came back saying that the opposition are welcome to indict Karamanlis on specific charges and that the parliament would decide whether to send the case to judicial authorities.

He also said that amendments to the law on ministerial responsibility had made it more difficult to dismiss such cases by invoking the statute of limitations. It is still true, however, that prosecuting a minister remains a long and complex process that is highly unlikely to succeed.

Amid the ongoing debate over the no-confidence vote, minister of state Stavros Papastavrou and deputy minister to the prime minister Yannis Bratakos handed in their resignations.

The prime minister reportedly thanked them for their service and accepted their resignations.

It has also been announced that the prime minister will now not be traveling to Washington in April due to conflicting obligations, having been expected to make his way to the US capital to attend an event at the White House commemorating the anniversary of the Greek revolution of 1821.

“The Prime Minister will not travel for the event in the US. This is not customary anyway. There was an attempt to organize a visit, but as the dates do not combine, considering that New Democracy’s conference is starting at which he should be present, it was not possible for him to go to this celebration,” government spokesperson Marinakis said.

Adding, “However, this does not change the fact that the relations between Greece and the US are at the best possible level”.

5 Finance Tips from Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophers

Finance tips from ancient Greek and Roman philosophers.
Finance tips from ancient Greek and Roman philosophers. Credit: 401(K) 2013. CC BY 2.0/flickr

The opinions and advice of ancient Greek and Roman philosophers were much sought after, whether about learning, debating, biology, physics or dialectics, but one thing that is perhaps undersold, is the great advice on finance they were able to give.

Earning, lending, borrowing, spending; money management and the wider goals of financial literacy are a minefield, and there is plenty of advice out there given by today’s experts in the stock market or banking industries, but financial management is something ancient Greek and Roman philosophers thought about too.

From Epictetus to Plato, nearly every ancient philosopher has at least some financial advice to give, and many of their suggestions are still useful and relevant today. In that light, here are five pieces of fantastic financial advice from ancient Greek and Roman philosophers.

Finance Tips from Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophers

1. The ability to control desires, written about in the Enchiridion of Epictetus

Epictetus's Enchiridion.
Epictetus’s Enchiridion. Credit: University of Glasgow Library. CC BY 2.0/flickr

One could do worse than leafing through the pages of Enchiridion – a collection of teachings from ancient Greek philosopher Epictetus – if they are looking for sound advice on finance.
Epictetus believed that true wealth lies not in material possessions, but within ‘us’, and can be discovered if we learn to identify what is in our control and what is not.

The central point being made can still be applied to the managing of finances, in that it can teach us not to concern ourselves withy external factors like market fluctuations or economic crises, and instead focus our attention on wat lies within our own choices.

A key piece of financial advice which can be derived from Epictetus‘ teachings is that one should ‘cultivate a mind of frugality’, reminding us that true happiness is not found in a world preoccupied with consumption. Owning more and more ‘stuff’ does not make a person fulfilled, but learning to be grateful for the things one already has can bring about a greater joy.

Epictetus also dispenses the knowledge of caution, advising us to carefully assess our needs vs our wants before making any buying decisions. This is a great reminder not to impulse buy, and always keep a level head when spending.

According to Epictetus, we command our desires, thoughts and actions, and everything else is out of control.

2. Developing Your Own Financial Principles, as taken from Sophocles’ Antigone

Sophocles's Antigone Page.
Sophocles’s Antigone Page. Credit: College of William & Mary Law Library. CC BY 2.0/flickr

One of the central themes of Sophocles’ great play is that of duty, and responsibility. The audience sees the drama unfold through the eyes of the play’s namesake character – King Creon orders Antigone not to bury her brother Polynices, who he says is a traitor to the state, but she refuses.

Amid the struggle, Antigone state that her duty to her family is far greater than any man-made laws or decrees. This idea can remind us that in everyday life, money and material wealth can pull us away from the responsibilities and priorities that really matter.

This is a particularly poignant point because it goes against the general milieu of today’s societies, where money is central to everything – entertainment, media, commerce.

Another important theme in the ancient Greek playwright’s work is the eventual consequence of excessive pride and arrogance – pertinent to finance. Both king Creon’s and Antigone’s pride respectively, leads them to their disturbing ends. Creon’s hubris clouds his judgement of reason and logic, resulting in him making decisions driven by ego instead of rational thought.

In a similar way, Antigone’s ceaseless pride takes her down a path of self destruction. The moral message of this theme is clear: unchecked desires for wealth and power can cloud our judgement and better nature, leading us down destructive paths.

According to Sophocles, money is an instrument of exchange. When what we have is not enough, this leads to discouragement. Further, lots of people find themselves in a situation where they don’t even have the money to make ends meet, let alone chase their dreams, so saving in such a situation is very challenging.

This can be avoided by figuring out basic financial principles for yourself and sticking with them. For example, spend less than what you earn and keep a record of all expenses.

 

3. Learn the Principles of Wise Men According to Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

Meditations, by Marcus Aurelius.
Meditations, by Marcus Aurelius. Credit: Michael Graham Richard. CC BY 2.0/flickr

The Roman Emperor and philosopher Marcus Aurelius‘ work Meditations contains a litany of sound advice on finances that is worth heeding even today.

One of the emperor’s key concepts is the importance of developing discipline when it comes to money. He teaches us that the pursuit of excessive wealth typically leads to dissatisfaction because it always has us wanting more.

Instead, he emphasizes the importance of finding contentment by living within our means. Similarly to the previous two philosophers, Marcus Aurelius believes one should choose to focus on what really produces joy in life, rather than chasing material goods.

Marcus Aurelius also recommends frugality and simplicity, stating that when we practice moderation in our spending habits, burdens need not mount unnecessarily, nor is there any loss of stability in our lives. By spending money only on what we need, and not being wasteful, we can ease financial burden.

Further advice from Marcus Aurelius urges us to cultivate inner peace, so that we can detach ourselves from material wealth. He believed that people should assess their real needs against their shallow wants by taking time to reflect on what they truly value in life. By taking a course of action based on these values, a person can cease to be distracted by fads and trends.

The emperor also underscores ethical behavior in financial matters, highlighting the importance of handling business with integrity and honor.

4. Know Your Limits, as taught in Plato’s Republic

Plato's Republic.
Plato’s Republic. Credit: quinn.anya. CC BY 2.0/flickr

Although Plato’s seminal work is about the ideal state, it does capture a handful of important principles that can be interpreted as extremely useful financial advice.

Perhaps the most significant fraction involved in Plato’s idea of the ideal state is the notion of specialization and societal harmony. In the ancient Greek philosopher’s vision, individuals are specialized in specific roles defined by their natural abilities and aptitudes. This division of labor is essential to the efficient running of the community, and facilitates economic growth and prosperity.

From the perspective of finance, the Greek philosopher’s concept demonstrated the importance of ‘finding our true selves’ if we are to manage our finances effectively. It suggests we should aim to develop our skills in areas which we know we are already good in, rather than trying to improve on everything at once.

Understanding our limitations is the forerunner to making informed choices about whether to seek other people’s help or not, and it also helps when building relationships with other people who may complement the skillset you have.

A further key point in Plato’s Republic is that of moderation and temperance, where he warns us against excessive desires and advocates for a meaningful life balanced by both material wealth and spiritual fulfilment.

In terms of money, Plato advises throwing out extravagant luxuries driven solely by greed or the urge to impress. He argues that true wealth lies beyond material possessions.

5. Learn to Control Yourself as per Epicurus’ Letters

Epicurus.
Epicurus. Credit: mharrsch. CC BY-2.0/flickr

Epicurus, the ancient Greek philosopher who founded Epicureanism, devoted his life to indulging in and understanding pleasure, and how to achieve a peaceful life. In his famous Letters, penned to friends and disciples, he offered numerous wise words about making good decisions with finances without alienating fellow Greeks and losing focus on what really matters.

Again, Epicurus’ central message is that material excess is unimportant. He believed that owning too many possessions would bring about unnecessary levels of stress and anxiety. Instead, he advocated moderation in material needs, realistic limits and restraint when spending, and focus on what is truly important.

For Epicurus, wealth comes from having few needs, rather than owning many things.
At the center of the ancient Greek philosopher’s teachings is the importance of meaningful relationships, and he suggests people pursue relationships that rest on common values. With a close friend, money matters can be discussed openly and freely, without reprisal.

A further valuable nugget of advice on finance within the pages of the ancient Greek’s Letters revolves around investing wisely. According to Epicurus, investments did not solely pertain to monetary gains, but money spent on one’s health, education and personal growth.

Pierce Brosnan Endorses Aaron Taylor-Johnson for James Bond

Pierce Brosnan
Pierce Brosnan has endorsed Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the new Bond. Credit: Flickr / World Bank Photo Collection CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 DEED

In the wake of Daniel Craig’s last appearance as James Bond, competition to fill the role has been on the rise, and former Bond actor, Pierce Brosnan, has endorsed one of the rumored contenders, Aaron Taylor-Johnson.

The Bond franchise is in need of a new leading man, and this gap in casting has sent British tabloid papers into a frenzy speculating about which lucky actor might become the new spy—with a lot of contradictory reports being written.

One of those supposedly in the running for the role is Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who has acted in Bullet Train, Kraven the Hunter, and Kick-Ass. Asked about the potential casting, former Bond actor Pierce Brosnan gave his views on seeing Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the next 007, essentially endorsing the 33-year old actor.

Pierce Brosnan on Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Bond

Aaron Taylor Johnson
Aaron Taylor Johnson. Credit: wikimedia commons / John Bauld CC BY 2.0

“I think the man has the chops, and the talent and the charisma to play Bond, very much so,” Brosnan said in an interview on The Ray D’Arcy Show on RTÉ Radio 1. While Brosnan’s approval doesn’t mean much in the end, it is perhaps something notable, and the veteran actor also offered some advice. “I would definitely tip my hat to the fellow. Be bold. Go out there and have a great time. Just love it. Just go for it,” he said.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson is touted as a strong contender for the Bond role, with previous franchise experience and of a suitable age, as the studio wants an actor in his thirties. However, the BBC dismissed rumors reported by The Sun when a source told it there was “no truth in the rumors.”

In the last three years since Craig announced his retirement from the role, there have been several names put forward for the next Bond film. Mark O’Connell, author of Catching Bullets: Memoirs of a Bond Fan, told the BBC after Craig’s departure: “A new Bond is not just a red-carpet suit and a timepiece endorsement arm. He must be a movie star, an ambassador for the series and cinema, a media diplomat, an anointed son of British culture and the face of a billion-dollar ecosystem of products and endorsements.”

O’Connell added, “He must be instantly recognizable across all corners of the globe as James Bond. He must be good looking, able to hold the camera and dominate cinema screens the size of football pitches.”

One of the better-known, more high-profile actors who has been touted to be the new Bond is Superman and Mission: Impossible actor Henry Cavill, who was believed to be in the running to play the spy before Craig got the job.

He told GQ in 2020 that he “would love to play Bond, [and] it would be very, very exciting.”
One of the youngest actors believed to be in with a shot is 32-year-old Damson Idris, best-known for his role in US TV crime drama Snowfall, which ran for six seasons between 2017 and 2023. He also took on the lead role in Netflix’s sci-fi action film Outside the Wire.

Athens Municipality Plans Monument Honoring Victims of Train Crash

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Athens municipal council will erect monument to Tempe train crash victims.
Athens Municipal Council will erect monument to Tempe train crash victims. Credit: AMNA

A decision has been made by the Athens Municipal Council to move ahead with the creation of a monument for the victims of the February 2023 Tempe train crash.

“More than a year after the tragedy, the Municipality of Athens, with respect for the people who were lost and their relatives, wishes to honor their memory,” said Mayor Haris Doukas. “We commit to the creation of a monument to honor the memory of our fellow human beings.”

Athens Train Crash Victims Monument

The location and the form of the monument for the Tempe train crash victims have yet to be determined. These will be decided by the municipality’s services in consultation with the association of the victims’ relatives. The crash took the lives of 57 people, while many more were left injured.

A memorial service was held last month at the site of the rail tragedy in Tempe to honor the 57 individuals who lost their lives on February 28, 2023. Relatives and friends gathered to pay their respects, leaving flowers at the scene as they called for justice.

“Justice will come as soon as those responsible are sent to prison,” the father of Panos Routsi, who lost his life in the train accident said. He blamed the authorities for covering up the evidence following the train collision.

The investigation is ongoing amidst bitterness and suspicion on the part of the families affected. The tears of those who lost their loved ones have dried, but the anger remains, still palpable. It has been a year, and not one official has taken responsibility for the accident. Not one apology has been uttered by official lips, whether it was from the State or Hellenic Train.

Young students make a human chain depicting the 57 victims of the Tempe disaster during a recent protest.
Young students make a human chain depicting the 57 victims of the Tempe disaster during a recent protest. Credit: AMNA

Churches across the country rang their bells 57 times on the memorial day to symbolize the number of lives lost. Many of the victims were young students returning home after a long weekend.

This gesture was made in response to a request from Maria Karystianou, representing the families of the victims, to the Holy Archdiocese of Athens and the Holy Metropolises of the Church of Greece.

Additionally, a monument dedicated to the memory of the train crash victims was unveiled in the city of Larissa about 215 miles (approximately 345 km) from Athens. Meanwhile, in the Parliament in Athens, lawmakers observed a moment of silence in honor of the victims.

Outside, protesters, including rail and hospital workers, seafarers, and school teachers, joined a 24-hour walkout organized by the country’s largest public-sector union, ADEDY, to commemorate the anniversary of the train crash.

Railway workers demanded those responsible for the accident be brought to justice. “Railway workers are the only ones who are not to blame for all that happened as they have been calling for the improvement in safety for years because they saw what was coming,” a statement by the Railway Workers Union said at the time.

Archaeologists in Search of King John’s Lost Treasure

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Archaeologists in search of King John’s Lost Treasure
The location near Tydd St Giles where archaeologists are in search of King John’s lost treasure. Credit: WNKLAS

Researchers from the West Norfolk and King’s Lynn Archaeological Society (WNKLAS) are on a hunt to find King John’s missing treasure.

King John, born in 1166 at Beaumont Palace in Oxford, England, was the youngest son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. He became king in 1199.

Despite his title, John’s reign was full of trouble, leading many to call him “one of the worst kings ever to rule England,” according to HeritageDaily.

Resistance movement in the north and east of England

The wars with Philip II of France caused more and more problems between John and his barons. This tension led to a resistance movement in the north and east of England.

The barons gave up their feudal ties and marched on to London, Lincoln, and Exeter. This forced John to make peace at Runnymede, which later became known as Magna Carta.

However, John didn’t keep his promises of the Magna Carta. Instead, he started hiring an army of mercenaries. In response, the barons asked Prince Louis of France to take the crown. Eventually, they pushed John back, and he had to retreat, as reported by HeritageDaily.

As John was traveling across the tidal estuaries that flow into The Wash on the east coast, legend has it that his baggage train, which carried the English Crown Jewels, got caught in quicksand and whirlpools and thus disappeared.

Uncovering King John’s lost treasures in Norfolk

Archaeologists from the West Norfolk and King’s Lynn Archaeological Society (WNKLAS) are working on a new study to find John’s lost treasures in Norfolk.

Their plan involves digging up an area of land near Walpole Marsh in the Fenlands, about five miles (about eight kilometers) from the current coastline. In Medieval times, this area was a vast natural marshland that frequently flooded, according to HeritageDaily.

Researchers picked the excavation site after studying aerial images using a method called Lidar. Lidar uses laser pulses to measure distances to the Earth, helping them choose the best spot to dig.

Clive Bond, the chairman of the West Norfolk and King’s Lynn Archaeological Society (WNKLAS), said, “It’s an opportunity to take a glimpse into the landscape. When you’re looking at something this big it’s quite exciting.”

“There could be something there, absolutely, but actually getting to where it’s been deposited in a changing, dynamic river system—you’re looking a million to one,” he added.

Enso Energy intends to build a solar farm on the site by the end of 2024. It could provide electricity for around 10,150 homes. Yet, according to a report by Enso Energy, the site doesn’t have any official landscape, heritage, or ecological designations.

Who Invented Crucifixion?

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Jesus Christ Crucifixion
Crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the two thieves. Credit: Travis / Flickr CC BY-NC 2.0 DEED

The form of execution known as crucifixion is most closely associated with Jesus Christ. It was the form of execution by which he was killed almost two thousand years ago. However, this method of killing someone long predates the Romans. Who really invented crucifixion?

What is crucifixion?

When most people hear the term ‘crucifixion,’ they tend to imagine a live person being nailed to a wooden cross. The person would remain there until they died of exposure, exhaustion, or suffocation. This is indeed the most famous version of it. However, other variations existed.

For example, sometimes, a person might be nailed to the cross after having been killed by other means. In this case, the crucifixion served a warning purpose to others rather than as a form of execution.

Another interesting point is that the cross was not always a cross. In fact, for both practical and logical purposes, the most common form of crucifixion was actually the use of a single stake. It was just as effective and was easier to set up.

The Roman writer Seneca mentions seeing numerous people being crucified. In his description, he mentions certain peculiar variations he witnessed. Among these was one in which victims had their arms stretched out on a crossbeam. Since he mentions this as a variation, we can assume it was not the standard form used by the Romans, which was evidently a single stake.

Early evidence from the Bible

Coincidently, not only does the Bible contain the single most famous crucifixion, but it also contains one of the very earliest references to a variation of it. In the Book of Deuteronomy, the detailed law code of the ancient Israelites contains a reference to a type of crucifixion: “If someone guilty of a capital offense is put to death and their body is exposed on a pole, you must not leave the body hanging on the pole overnight.”

This mentions a criminal being affixed to a pole or stake. Unlike the most famous form of crucifixion, this happened after the criminal was already put to death, as the text explains. Nonetheless, if we consider this to be a type of crucifixion, then this is perhaps the earliest reference to it in ancient literature.

The date of Deuteronomy is a subject of considerable debate among scholars. Moses is the traditional writer, placing its composition in the fifteenth century BCE. Other scholars date it later than this, but this would still be a very early reference.

Was crucifixion invented by the Persians?

Depiction of Carthaginian crucifixions, by Victor Armand Poirson, 1890
Depiction of Carthaginian crucifixions, by Victor Armand Poirson, 1890. Credit: Public domain

Actually, this is not crucifixion in the common sense, that is, as a method of execution. Suspending a body to a stake or a cross after the person has already died is not what most people mean when they refer to crucifixion. Hence, in terms of an actual method of execution, who was the first to use this?

Many scholars claim the Persians invented crucifixion. However, the basis for this claim is weak. One piece of evidence comes from the Bible’s account of Esther in which Persian King Ahasuerus (Xerxes the Great) orders the death of one of his court officials around the year 484 BCE.

The problem is that Haman’s body is only placed on the large stake after he is executed through other means. This same issue also applies to another common piece of evidence. Herodotus refers to the Persians using crucifixion against their enemies in the era of their wars against the Greeks.

One example is the death of Polycrates of Samos. The Persian satrap Oroestes supposedly crucified him. In reality, it was only Polycrates’ lifeless corpse that Oroestes placed on a stake.

There are a variety of other texts in which Herodotus supposedly refers to the Persians using crucifixion, but the reality is that none of these are explicitly suspensions of a living victim affixed to a stake or cross. Many of them may have been suspensions of corpses or executions of living victims by impaling.

Who really invented crucifixion?

Of course, this does not mean that the Persians definitely did not use crucifixion. It is possible that they invented it. Nonetheless, the simple fact is that there is no clear evidence that this is the case. In reality, it appears that the earliest record of something which was unambiguously a crucifixion concerns the actions of the Greeks.

The record in question comes from Herodotus. Rather than his vague accounts of supposed Persian crucifixions, he is very explicit referring to what the Greeks did. He describes how the Athenians defeated the Persian general Artayctes in 479 BCE.

This general had plundered Greek territory and was responsible for a considerable amount of suffering in the area. For this reason, the Greeks despised him intensely. After they captured him and his son, the Athenians crucified him and stoned his son to death.

Herodotus leaves us no doubt about this. He specifically says that Artayctes was suspended to a board to which he was nailed. Thus, Herodotus is definitely describing crucifixion here. Therefore, it would appear that the Greeks (the Athenians, specifically) may well be the ones who invented crucifixion as a method of execution.

Living on a Yacht in Greece: The Magic of Island Hopping

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lLving yacht Greece
British expats Tony and Tessa Cross have lived for years on their yacht in Greece. Credit: Greek Reporter/Tony Cross

How is it living aboard a yacht in Greece? British expatriates Tony and Tessa Cross have spent years doing it while crisscrossing the Aegean.  

By Tony Cross

If you walk along the quay of almost any coastal town in Greece you’ll likely find a number of sailing yachts moored there. Most of them are probably owned by locals and are used infrequently, but one or two will be live-aboards; yachts that are used as a home.

Some live-aboard yachts are used only during the summer months, their owners going back to their home country for the winter, but many will be the main full-time home for their owners, as our yacht was for us.

Most live-aboards are retired, enjoying the freedom and independence of sailing whenever and wherever they like. Increasingly these days however, some are middle-aged and taking a few years out of their busy working lives to live a calmer, less hectic, lifestyle for a while.

Live-aboard myths

It’s a common myth that you have to be rich to live-aboard a sailing yacht. Whilst it’s true that a yacht is an expensive luxury when bought in addition to a home, a yacht that is bought as a home can be considerably less expensive to buy than most houses and apartments.

Most of the live-aboards that we met in our twelve years of living aboard our sailing yacht Little Roundtop were not rich, they were just ordinary people like us, who had sold their house or apartment and chosen to live aboard a yacht instead.

Another myth about the live-aboard life is that you need to have been sailing since you were a child in order to be safe aboard your own yacht. It’s true that most live-aboards have been sailing for much of their adult lives, that’s partly why they have chosen to live aboard a yacht in the first place, but sailing is not rocket science and anybody can learn to do it.

As an example, we learned to sail very late in life so that we could retire aboard our own yacht. We first set foot aboard a sailing yacht less than five years before we bought our own boat and set off. If we can do it then anyone can do it.

Living aboard a yacht Greece
The Little Roundtop. Credit: Greek Reporter/Tony Cross

A game of two halves

Living aboard a sailing yacht in Greece is a bit like like football; it’s a game of two halves.

In the summer months you’ll be out sailing around, anchoring in remote bays, mooring to the quay of small towns, and generally enjoying the freedom to go or stay pretty much where you like.

In holiday brochures you’ll see pictures of a yacht at anchor in crystal clear waters off a deserted sandy beach with people swimming, or in the evening with people sitting in the cockpit, champagne in hand, watching a blood-red sun slowly sink below the horizon. That’s not a fantasy, that’s exactly what it’s like to live aboard your own yacht in Greece in the summer.

Opportunity to explore thousands of islands with a yacht in Greece

If you seek solitude and independence you have over 6,000 Greek islands to explore, only around 250 of them are inhabited. On the other hand, if you like the company of others, there are many popular anchorages and ports, where you can enjoy meeting new people and making new friends at every stop.

It is possible to continue sailing in the winter months in Greece and some do, but the weather is colder, stormier and less predictable in the winter and most of the smaller coastal towns have shut down.

Most live-aboards head for a marina for the winter; some leave their boats there and head home, but a good many live a more social, organized, and more land-based life in the marina. Drinks and dinner aboard each other’s yachts, barbecues, quiz nights, music groups, walking groups, and group meals out are very common during winter in almost any live-aboard marina.

Winter is also a time to do the necessary maintenance on your yacht. Things break more often on a yacht simply because the marine environment is so harsh. Checking all your systems over winter and making any necessary minor repairs is the way to prevent a catastrophic failure that ruins your summer and makes a big hole in your pocket.

That doesn’t mean you have to be an expert at boat maintenance however, sailors love to help one other. In almost any winter marina you’ll find electricians, diesel engineers, computer wizards and the like who can help you sort out whatever problems you might have.

In our first summer of sailing for example, our alternator failed whilst we were motoring at sea. I had it out in bits on the cockpit table at the next port and found that worn brushes was the problem. Unfortunately the small town we were in had nowhere where I could buy new ones. As I was scratching my head wondering what we were going to do, the guy on the boat next door asked what the problem was. He popped down below, returned with a small box and after some rummaging around produced two half-worn brushes of exactly the right size. He even came over to help me put it all back together!

Aboard a yacht
Exploring Greek islands. Credit: Greek Reporter//Tony Cross

Water, electricity, and the smelly stuff

There are three main differences between life aboard a yacht and life ashore; access to fresh water, access to electricity, and access to sewage facilities. On a yacht you’re not connected permanently to any of those services, except when you’re in a marina of course.

All yachts carry fresh water in large tanks on board, and many supplement this by storing water in bottles or containers in the bilges (the space between the cabin floor and the hull). A constant concern is where you’ll be able to fill up and when you’ll need to fill up. On Little Roundtop for example, we could make our water supply last about two weeks if we were really careful in how we used it.

A sailing yacht uses a bank of several large deep-cycle batteries to power everything on board; the cabin lights, the navigation instruments, the fridge, the television, your computers, phones – everything. The power drain on a live-aboard yacht often means that the batteries need to be recharged daily.

If you can connect to mains electricity ashore then your battery charger will handle the recharge comfortably overnight. At sea however, you’ll be relying on the engine alternator, possibly a generator if the boat has one, or more commonly these days, solar panels. On Little Roundtop our large solar panel array meant that we were fully electrically independent in the sunny summer months.

The biggest (and nastiest) problem on a yacht is your raw sewage. It is illegal in Greece (and almost everywhere else) to discharge raw sewage into the sea within three nautical miles of the shore. The penalties if you’re caught are severe, and rightly so.

That means that you need a holding tank in which to store your raw sewage until you find somewhere to pump it out ashore, or until you’re at least three nautical miles offshore when you can legally discharge it. It’s clearly very important that you keep a close check on how much capacity remains in your holding tank!

Aboard a yacht
Mooring near Parga, Epirus. Credit: Greek Reporter /Tony Cross

Living room

Space is at a premium on any sailing yacht of course, but it’s surprising how quickly you adapt to living in the space that’s available. That said, if you ask any sailor what the ideal live-aboard yacht length is he’ll tell you that it’s two metres longer than the one he has!

Most yachts have two or three double cabins, though standing room in these is usually limited and sometime non-existent. If you sit up suddenly in bed you’ll likely bang your head on the ceiling.

The main saloon on most yachts has standing room everywhere, usually with a fixed table and seating for six to eight people. This is also where you’ll find the galley, typically with a gimballed gas hob and oven, a sink, and a refrigerator.

What is lacking in all sailing yachts is hanging space for clothes. There is plenty of storage space on a yacht, but it’s usually on shelves in cupboards, in lockers under seat cushions or behind seat backs. It’s quite common to have to remove a stack of other clothes to get to whatever you want.

Most people who have never been on a yacht always want to know about the toilet facilities. They’re known as ‘the heads’ on a yacht and are flushed with seawater via a manual pump, either direct into the sea or into the holding tank depending on what was in the bowl. There is usually a small hand basin in there as well and they typically double-up as a shower cubicle too.

Sailing in Greece
Sailing in the Aegean. Credit: Greek Reporter/Tony Cross

The downsides of living aboard yacht

It isn’t all sunshine, calm seas and deserted anchorages though. In a sailing yacht you’re dependent on the wind to get you where you want to go. That usually means waiting around in port or at anchor for the winds to become favorable for the direction in which you want to go. Either that or you use your diesel engine and chug along noisily against the wind.

There is a fine line between waiting for strong winds to allow you to sail fast and avoiding the challenge of the big seas that strong winds whip up – especially in Greece and the Mediterranean.

We made the classic mistake one year of thinking we could reach the next port from the safe anchorage we were at in Greece before a forecast gale force 8 arrived. Racing the weather is never a good idea and it taught us a hard and valuable lesson.

We set off in strengthening force 5 winds and a half metre swell coming from astern, conditions which are quite manageable, even fun. Unfortunately the winds strengthened much faster over the next few hours than the forecast had suggested. As we rounded a headland just before our intended destination the wind was already blowing at gale force 8 and the following seas were approaching four metres high.

Large following seas are very dangerous in a sailing yacht, if the rudder loses its grip on the sea as a wave passes underneath the yacht will suddenly ‘broach’ and turn beam-on to the waves. That would likely have resulted in a capsize in those kind of seas. It was a very frightening situation to be in.

Sailors often say that it’s better to be in port wishing you were at sea, than to be at sea wishing you were in port. That saying had never been more true than it was for us at that time.

We had no business being out there in those conditions, but we learned from our mistake and we never attempted to race the weather again.

Yacht in island
Calmer weather. Credit: Greek Reporter/Tony Cross

Getting started to live aboard yacht

Whilst it’s true that anyone can learn to sail, the live-aboard life is not for everyone. The only way to find out of course is to give it a try. If you think it might be for you and you don’t know one end of a yacht from the other (like we didn’t at first) then join a local sailing club and learn to sail. You’ll soon find out whether the sailing life suits you and you’ll meet a whole bunch of people who can help and guide you when (and if) the time comes to buy your own boat and try the live aboard life for yourself.

Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than those you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the wind in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. – Mark Twain.

Greece’s Meteora and Pindos Designated UNESCO Global Geopark

Meteora
The Meteora Pyli UNESCO Global Geopark is famed for the towering Meteora sandstone columns that reach heights of up to 300 meters. Credit: Harshil Shah CC by 2.0

The Meteora Pyli Geopark was designated part of the UNESCO Global Geoparks network as of Thursday, becoming one of the now 213 Geoparks located in 48 countries in the world.

It was among a group of 18 new geoparks whose addition was announced on Wednesday following a bid submitted by the Thessaly Region, the Natural Environment & Climate Change Agency (N.E.C.C.A.), Trikala Chamber, the Trikala Development Agency (KENAKAP S.A.) and the municipalities of Meteora and Pyli.

Welcoming the news, Meteora Mayor Lefteris Avramopoulos said that it put the region on the global geoparks map and highlighted the role of geoparks in serving local communities, helping in the preservation of their geological heritage and a sustainable approach to growth.

“It is a significant recognition that opens new avenues, strengthening developmental momentum to extend the tourist season in terms of quality and sustainability,” he said, thanking all the agencies involved in this result.

Covering an area of 2,409.5 square kilometers, the Meteora Pyli UNESCO Global Geopark is notable for its unique landscape and natural environment, as well as its rich biodiversity, geological monuments and geodiversity.

Meteora dominates UNESCO Global Geopark

Nestled within the picturesque Thessaly region at the center of mainland Greece, the Meteora Pyli UNESCO Global Geopark is famed for the towering Meteora sandstone columns that reach heights of up to 300 meters.

Perched atop these ‘columns of the sky’ are the iconic Byzantine monasteries, constructed between the 13th and 16th centuries. They are adorned with 16th-century frescoes, which mark a key stage in the development of post-Byzantine painting and offer an insight into the region’s rich religious history and artistic heritage.

Located near the town of Kalabaka at the northwestern edge of the Plain of Thessaly near the Pineios River and Pindus Mountains, Meteora is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Emerging about twenty-five million years ago as part of the elevated seabed which was thrust into the sky as the result of massive tectonic movements, the Meteora rocks have created a landscape that looks like something out of a fairy-tale albeit perhaps a scary one.

The beauty of Pindos mountains

Among the other geological wonders of the geopark are the Tafoni formations of Kalambaka, with honeycomb weathering patterns carved into the rock by millennia of erosion.

In the western part of the geopark, the Pindos mountains offer a haven for biodiversity and outdoor enthusiasts with rugged peaks, alpine meadows, lush forests and meandering rivers.

Trekking through the region’s unique terrain, visitors can encounter rare plant species, including the Chalcedonian lily (Lilium chalcedonicum) and the endemic chasmophyte Centaurea kalambakensis which thrive in the area’s distinct microclimates.

The Pindos or Pindus mountain range is roughly 160 km (100 miles) long, with a maximum elevation of 2,637 meters (8652′) (Mount Smolikas).

Because it runs along the border of Thessaly and Epirus, the Pindus range is known colloquially as the spine of Greece. The mountain range stretches from near the Greek-Albanian border in southern Albania, entering the Epirus and Macedonia regions in northern Greece down to the north of the Peloponnese.

Ancient Statue of the God Apollo Uncovered at Philippi, Greece

Apollo statue Philippi
The statue dates back to the 2nd or early 3rd century AD. Credit: Ministry of Culture

Students at the archaeological site of Philippi, northern Greece uncovered a marble head of a statue believed to belong to God Apollo, the Ministry of Culture announced on Thursday.

Archaeologists say the statue dates back to the 2nd or early 3rd century AD and it probably adorned an ancient fountain.

Apollo statue Philippi
Apollo was one of the most important and complex of the Greek gods. Credit: Ministry of Culture

Apollo is one of the Olympian deities in classical Greek and Roman religion and Greek and Roman mythology.

He has been recognized as a god of archery, music and dance, truth and prophecy, healing and diseases, the Sun and light, poetry, and more.

One of the most important and complex of the Greek gods, he is the son of Zeus and Leto, and the twin brother of Artemis, the goddess of the hunt. He is considered to be the most beautiful god and is represented as the ideal of the kouros.

Philippi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Philippi
Ancient Philippi seen from the acropolis. Credit: Marsyas, CC BY-SA 3.0/Wikipedia

The ancient city of Philippi was established in 356 BC by the King of Macedon, Philip II, on the site of the Thasian colony of Crenides near the head of the Aegean Sea.

Centuries later, it was abandoned after the Ottoman conquest of the 14th century. The archaeological site was classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016 because of its exceptional Roman architecture, its urban layout as a smaller reflection of Rome itself, and its importance in early Christianity.

The present municipality of Filippoi is located near the ancient city’s ruins and is part of the region of East Macedonia and Thrace in Kavala, Greece.

Theater Philippi
The ancient theatre. Credit: MrPanyGoff , CC BY-SA 3.0/Wikipedia

The ancient city is currently the most vital archeological site in the region. However, the first excavations did not begin until the summer of 1914 and were soon interrupted by World War I.

Between 1920 and 1937, archeologists unearthed the Greek theater, forum, baths, and city walls. Following World War II, Greek archeologists returned to the site, uncovering multiple public buildings.

Statue of Hercules uncovered at Philippi

Recently archaeologists at Philippi uncovered a statue of Hercules. The magnificent statue from approximately the second century AD Roman period adds to the unique architectural style of the premises.

StatuePhilippi
Credit: Ministry of Culture

The statue, whose size is indeed larger than usual, depicts a youthful, nude Hercules while a fragmented club and a lion hanging from the statue’s outstretched left hand attest to the figure’s identity.

A wreath of vine leaves— held together by a ribbon in the back, the ends of which rest on Hercules’ shoulders— further adorns the statue.

Excavations at Ancient Greek City of Amphipolis Yield New Discoveries

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Ruins at the ancient city of Amphipolis, where further new discoveries have been made. Credit Marmontel.
Ruins at the ancient city of Amphipolis, where further new discoveries have been made. Credit: Marmontel. CC BY 2.0/flickr

New discoveries have been made by an archaeological excavation in the Kasta Tomb and the Amphipolis archaeological site, which highlight the strategic character of the city and its significance in notable events of the past.

Speaking to ERT, Dimitria Malamidou, head of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Serres, said that announcements about the new findings are due to be made at the 36th scientific meeting of the “Archaeological Project in Macedonia and Thrace”, being held on March 28 and 29.

She explained that the new discoveries from the Kasta Tomb and the Amphipolis archaeological site would be presented in three parts, the first will detail findings from the ancient market, which has been worked on by professor of classical archaeology at the University of Patras, Dimitris Damascus. The dig uncovered the ancient market, which is now known to have functioned as the economic and administrative center of the city, from the late 5th and 4th centuries.

Kasta Hill Amphipolis, Greece
Kasta Hill in Amphipolis. Credit: Neptuul. CC BY-SA 4.0/Wikimedia Commons

The second announcement focuses on a ceramic kiln found in the north wall, and the third notice will expand on new excavations being planned to try and find the ancient stadium.

History of the City of Amphipolis

Amphipolis was originally a colony of ancient Athenians and was the site of the battle between the Spartans and Athenians in 422 BC. It was later the place where Alexander the Great prepared for campaigns leading to his invasion of Asia in 335 BC. Alexander’s three best admirals, Nearchus, Androsthenes and Laomedon, all lived in Amphipolis.

Following Alexander’s death, his wife Roxana and their son Alexander IV were imprisoned and murdered in 311 BC.

Thucydides claims the name Amphipolis comes from the fact that the Strymon River flows “around the city” on two sides. However, a note in the Suda gives a different explanation apparently put forward by Marsyas, son of Periander, that a large proportion of the population lives “around the city”.

Amphipolis
Credit: Ministry of Culture

But the most probable explanation is the one given by Julius Pollux: that the name indicated the vicinity of an isthmus.

Amphipolis – after concerted efforts – became the main power base of the Athenians in Thrace and, consequently, a target of choice for their Spartan adversaries. In 424 BC, during the Peloponnesian War, the Spartan general Brasidas captured Amphipolis.

Two years later in 422 BC, a new Athenian force under the general Cleon failed once more during the Battle of Amphipolis at which both Kleon and Brasidas lost their lives. Brasidas survived long enough to hear of the defeat of the Athenians and was buried at Amphipolis with impressive pomp. From then on he was regarded as the founder of the city and honoured with yearly games and sacrifices.