Greek Mamas and Their Multiple Personalities

Protective, sensitive, passionate, fierce... a few words of the hundreds that could describe the breed of Greek moms! They're like cartoon characters with such strong traits that immediately separate them from the rest. You can't really describe the Greek mama with one word, though. She's got several sides to her:

The Cook

It's what she does. She cooks and she feeds. She cooks and she feeds. She's taken her role of prolonging the human species very seriously, that's for sure. How many times have you been force-fed? "Τι με κοιτάς παιδί μου; Φάε το φαγητό σου! Τα παιδάκια στην Αφρική δεν έχουν να φάνε κι εσύ που τα έχεις όλα, κάθεσαι και παίζεις με το φαγητό σου!"

This doesn't stop when you get older. You're now old enough to respond to the growling sensation in your stomach and recognize that it is hunger. After all, you are living alone in college. This small detail doesn't seem to matter to the Greek mom. Her usual question when she calls you: "Εφαγές σημερά; Τι έφαγες;" and then you hear "Πάλι βλακείες τρως; Εγώ φταίω που κάθομαι και σε ακούω! Αντί να πάρεις το φαγητό της μανούλας σου και να το έχεις έτοιμο εκει να το τρως όποτε πεινάς, κάθεσαι και μου τρως σκουπίδια απ'έξω!" And then the next time she sees you, she'll be the first to notice any change in your weight, no matter how trivial.

The Stylist

Yes, the stylist. She's got an opinion about everything you happen to be wearing throughout all of your life and all of the fashion stages you may go through. She insists that when she dressed you - up until your tenth birthday - it was the best you ever looked. On the other hand, looking at old pictures now, you swear you'll never make your kid wear anything that tacky!

"Pull your pants up" is her constant greeting when you're a teenager and when you decide to get a piercing, usually innocent, she'll scream: "Τώρα μάλιστα! Μετά από αυτό τι να περιμένω δηλαδή από εσένα; Άλλες 3 τρύπες στα αυτιά και μετά θα μου φέρεις και κανά παιδί στο σπίτι!" Getting a few extra piercings automatically means losing your morals.

(Read more about the Greek Mama at www.allthegreeks.com)

Image: http://christophermattix.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/mother-and-child.jpg

Where to Go When It Gets Cold

Temperatures are dropping. The beaches have been left with those few dozen people that enjoy swimming in winter and we've even seen a few chimneys smoking here and there. It's official. Summer is over. So, where to now?

Mount Pilio

Entering the city of Volos from Athens, you cannot help but notice the towering mountain of Pilion overlooking a sprawling city that ends where the beautiful Pagasitikos Gulf begins. Known as the mountain of the Centaurs in mythology, and as the place where the original conflict started that led to the Trojan war, Pilion traces its history back to the ancient times. Today, many of its villages are tourist attractions. Makrinitsa, Portaria, and Hania are the most popular ones on the northern side. Makrinitsa overlooks the city of Volos and the view from almost anywhere in the village is just stunning. The inhabitants of Pilio weigh in heavily on tradition, as most of the houses, new and old, are built of stone. Try the several kinds of jarred sweets and other dried herbs that are sold there. Have a coffee at the village squares where the giant age-old trees serve as a natural tent. Past Hania you will find the Ski Center of Pilion.

If you decide to head towards the northeastern side of the mountain, you will find picturesque villages such as Milies, Tsagarada, Zagora... All of them offering a sense of seclusion, yet with an air of calmness and peace. Before you head up the mountain, you will see the villages Kato and Ano Lechonia. This is where you can take the Pilion train "Moutzouris" that will take you through a graphic journey in the mountain, ending in Milies. Don't forget to try the apples of Pilio and the chestnuts that are sold! (Tickets for the Small Train of Pilion: 12,90 adult, 8,90 child. For more info call: +3024210-28555) Volos and Pelion are approximately a 3.5-hour drive from Athens and a 2-hour drive from Thessaloniki.

Arahova

Perhaps the most popular and cosmopolitan of all winter destinations in Greece, the town of Arahova sits on the side of Mount Parnassos. Despite its popularity, Arahova has maintained its architectural roots in tradition with stone buildings and narrow paths in the town. By staying in Arahova, visitors have access to the three ski centers of Parnassos and the ancient archaeological site of Delphi. Another link to archaeology is present with the cave of Korikion Antro, where you will see countless stalactites as you get lost in the dark cave, which was used by Ancient Greeks as an oracle. If you're more the adventurous type, besides skiing, you can also enjoy mountain biking, mountain climbing, and hiking. (For more information visit: http://www.arahova.gr/) Arahova is a 2-hour drive from Athens.

Karpenisi

Karpenisi is a hidden gem nestled in Timphristos Mountain in Evritania. Karpenisi is known for its Ski Center and large number of activities of alternative tourism. For example, Karpenisi is the place to go mountain biking, rafting, canoeing, horse-back riding, archery, nature orientation and so on. The area is also rich in religious sites, such as several churches and the beautiful Monastery of Proussos, which is about 45 minutes away. (For more information on the activities mentioned call +3022370-24606). The road to Karpenisi is mountainous and full of turns. If you're coming from Athens, through Lamia, It'll take you about 4 hours. A list of activites, information on the ski center and the area can be found at www.karpenissi.gr. (Read about 2 more destinations at www.allthegreeks.com)

Three Major Sites of Religious Importance Worth Visiting

From the idyllic peninsula of Athos in the North, to the natural wonders of Meteora in Thessaly and the holy island of Saint John in the Aegean, Patmos... Greece holds three of the most important sites for the Orthodox Christian faith among all of its other famous natural and archaeological attractions.

Agion Oros

Mount Athos or Agion Oros, as it is known in Greek, is the holiest place for all Orthodox Christians in the world. It is an area located in the North of Greece, on the third “leg” of Halkidiki. There are 20 major monasteries on this amazingly beautiful peninsula, where only men are allowed.

Yes, unfortunately, ladies cannot visit this holy place, which is also known as the Garden of the Virgin Mary. Many men take trips there to forget about the outside world and find inner peace, as they are being hosted in one of the monasteries. Women can take a look at the monasteries by taking a tour around the peninsula by boat from Ouranoupoli. That’s the closest they can get to the miraculous icons and pristine beaches!

There are even stories of women that tried to go there dressed as men or as they were. One of them was the daughter of Theodosios the Great (379 -395 A.D.), Plakidia. When Plakidia entered the area she heard a voice from the heavens saying: “What do you want here? There are monks here. You are a woman! Why do you give the enemy a reason to fight them?” Legend says this was the voice of the Virgin Mary herself.

Meteora

At first sight they look like small miracles of nature, but upon closer examination one can count 24 monasteries built on top of huge rocks, as if they were part of them. Today only 6 of these monasteries are inhabited; some of them are men’s and some women’s. The United Nations have declared this network of monasteries as a Landmark of Cultural Heritage. (Read more about Meteora and Patmos at www.allthegreeks.com)