When the eccentric Duchess of Plaisance died intestate in Athens in 1854, her American and French relatives showed little interest in her property. So a big slice of today’s central Athens and land on Mount Penteli was purchased for a pittance by Parliament. Some say it was the wisest act the legislative body ever passed. Sophie de Marbois of Philadelphia, however, would not have been pleased.
At a party in Kolonaki recently, an attractive lady was looking fretful and twisting her handkerchief in her fingers. Several gentlemen, noting her discomfit, tried to soothe her. Over dinner the conversation had been all about how many percentage points ND would win in the coming elections.
One of the most dashing exploits of World War II was the kidnapping of General Kreipe from Crete, but its cliff-hanging and colorful details are very little known.
Two very popular and charming subjects of 19th century ceramic art expressed national aspirations on dinnerware by illustrating the heroic exploits of the War of Independence and later the figures of reigning royalty.
This Bronze Age site once ranked in power and glory with Troy and Mycenae. The Three Graces were worshiped here, Pausanius visited, and Schliemann excavated.
Like Camp David in Maryland, Chequers in Buckinghamshire and certain dachas near Moscow, Korydallos Prison has become recreational headquarters for a growing number of government leaders.
For the third year running, AFS/Hellas will be bringing young campers from abroad to Greek villages and putting them to work on community projects requiring motivation, muscle and mirth. Both the visitors and the communities they visit will be the richer.
In 1972, a Boston University anthropologist went to Ammouliani, a fishing village beneath Mt Athos, to spend 16 months with a Greek community transplanted from Asia Minor. A very special relationship and book resulted.
The Greek Sea Turtle Protection Society was founded in 1983 to protect some very special expectant mothers. At stations manned by Greek and foreign volunteers, and up and down the nesting beaches of Zakynthos, “turtlers” are working to educate (and reeducate) visitors and islanders alike about the endangered Caretta caretta
