mevasileiadi

Η Θεσσαλονίκη εκτός…βιτρίνας

(Δημοσιεύθηκε στο Parallaxi Magazine)

Η Θεσσαλονίκη εκτός βιτρίνας, είναι μια πόλη που μυρίζει σαλέπι, σουσάμι, μπαχάρι, λουλούδια, αρώματα κυριών, ψαρίλα και καυσαέριο. Τα τοπία της και οι άνθρωποί της, στην πλειονότητα Μικρασιάτες, μπορούν να χαρακτηριστούν με μία μόνο λέξη: Αυθεντικότητα.

Μια πόλη που για να τη γνωρίσεις, πρέπει να την περπατήσεις. Παρά τα σημεία των καιρών, εκείνη καταφέρνει να ζει στους δικούς της ρυθμούς… Ένα πέρασμα από το Καπάνι για να βρεις μπαχαρικά, ελιές, τυριά, κρέατα, ψάρια, μαγνητάκια για το ψυγείο σου, έπιπλα για το σαλόνι σου και βαλίτσα για το ταξίδι σου · μια βόλτα στα Λαδάδικα για ρακόμελο, μεζέ και ψιλή κουβέντα με τους θαμώνες. Στην παραλία, θα δεις αδέσποτους σκύλους να λιάζονται και νεαρά ζευγάρια να γεύονται την αλμύρα του Θερμαϊκού από κάποιο ξαφνικό Βαρδάρη την ώρα που φιλιούνται. Στην Αριστοτέλους, θα συναντήσεις παιδιά να παίζουν με μεγάλες σαπουνόφουσκες και τους γονείς τους να πίνουν το καφεδάκι τους στα γύρω καφέ.

Κι αν θες να ξεφύγεις από τη βαβούρα του κέντρου, σου έχω Άνω Πόλη, με τα στενά λιθόστρωτα δρομάκια, τα μικρά ξέφωτα και τις γραφικές πλατείες με τα πλατάνια, τα κτίσματα της Λαϊκής Μακεδονίτικης Αρχιτεκτονικής και κυρίως…το πιο ρομαντικό ηλιοβασίλεμα που θα δεις ποτέ σου!

Για το τέλος, αφήνω το ιστορικό Καραμπουρνάκι- ή Μικρό Καραμπουρνού. Ξεχασμένο στο χρόνο και δυστυχώς παραμελημένο, παρότι το 1989 ανακηρύχθηκε αρχαιολογικός χώρος και το 1993 χαρακτηρίστηκε από το Συμβούλιο της Επικρατείας, περιοχή ιδιαίτερου φυσικού κάλλους. Αν το εξερευνήσεις, θα ανακαλύψεις παλιά εργαστήρια καραβομαραγκών, κουφάρια μικρών πλοίων να φθείρονται από τον ήλιο και το αλάτι, αναπολώντας τα αλλοτινά ταξίδια τους και κάπου ανάμεσα, οι μόνοι τακτικοί θαμώνες, οι πάπιες, που σπάνε την ησυχία με τα κρωξίματά τους.

Θα κλείσω με ένα απόσπασμα από το «Θεσσαλονίκη, Μάνα μου» του Θωμά Κοροβίνη: «Περπατώ κι αναπολώ τους ποιητές σου που σε δοξάζουν, περπατώ και ψιθυρίζω στίχους και μνημονεύω ονόματα, Αναγνωστάκη, Ασλάνογλου, Θέμελη, Κύρου, Θασίτη, Αγαθοπούλου, Αλέξη Τραϊανό και Δημήτρη Δημητριάδη, ποιητικά αποφθέγματα του Χριστιανόπουλου μουσκεμένα απ’ την αγάπη του για σένα, ενώ η βαριά υγρασία σου χρόνια τώρα με σιγοτρώει σαν σαράκι».

SUNGAZING: ΜΙΑ ΑΡΧΑΙΑ ΠΡΑΚΤΙΚΗ ΚΑΤΑΚΤΑ ΤΟ ΣΥΓΧΡΟΝΟ WELLNESS

Αρθρα

Δημοσιεύθηκε στο τεύχος Απριλίου 2020 The Body

Αστέρες της showbiz και λάτρεις της γιόγκα, υποκλίνονται στον ήλιο και τις θεραπευτικές του ιδιότητες. Το sungazing ή ηλιοθέαση στα ελληνικά, είναι μια πανάρχαια μέθοδος θεραπείας που πρόσφατα ξαναήρθε στην επικαιρότητα.

To sungazing (ηλιοθέαση) χρησιμοποιούταν στην αρχαιότητα ως μέθοδος ίασης σωματικών και ψυχικών νοσημάτων. Το 1962 η «μητέρα», κατά τον κόσμο, Mirra Alfassa, της ινδουιστικής κοινότητας Ashram στο Pondicherry της Ινδίας, επανέφερε τη μέθοδο και η πρακτική της φθάνει μέχρι και τις ημέρες μας. Ως θεραπευτικό μέσο, η ηλιοθέαση εμφανίστηκε στην αρχαία Ινδία με την ονομασία Surya Namaskar (οι γνωστοί σε όλους όσους ασχολούνται με τη γιόγκα «Χαιρετισμοί στον Ήλιο»). Στην αρχαία Αίγυπτο ως ηλιοθεραπεία και στην Ευρώπη ως θεραπεία του Απόλλωνα. Η παράδοση ορίζει πως ο ανθρώπινος οργανισμός καταναλώνει δευτερεύουσες τροφές, άμεσα εξαρτημένες από την ηλιακή ενέργεια, ενώ στην πραγματικότητα μπορεί ο ίδιος να απορροφήσει αυτή την ενέργεια απευθείας από τον ήλιο. Ο ήλιος, ως κύρια πηγή ενέργειας των πάντων, μας βοηθάει να αναπτύξουμε τις νοητικές μας δυνατότητες και να διατηρήσουμε τη σωματική μας ευεξία.

Here comes the sun!

Όλοι λίγο πολύ γνωρίζουμε τα πολλαπλά ευεργετικά οφέλη που μας προσφέρει η συνετή έκθεση στον ήλιο. Βάλε στη λίστα όσα γνωρίζεις λοιπόν, και πολλαπλασίασε τα! Ύστερα από πολυετείς έρευνες σε επιστημονικό επίπεδο, αλλά και βάσει όσων μοιράστηκαν οι «γονείς» του σύγχρονου sungazing, Mirra Alfassa και Hira Ratan Manek, τα κύρια οφέλη της συγκεκριμένης αρχαίας πρακτικής είναι:

η αύξηση των επιπέδων ενέργειας
η βελτιωμένη όραση
η ενεργοποίηση της επίφυσης που ευθύνεται για την παραγωγή μελατονίνης, συνεπώς βελτιώνει σημαντικά την ποιότητα του ύπνου μας
η σημαντική μείωση του στρες
η οξυμένη αντίληψη και συγκέντρωση
η βελτίωση της διάθεσης μας χάρη στην πρόσληψη βιταμίνης D, γνωστής ως «βιταμίνη του ήλιου», υπεύθυνης για την παραγωγή σεροτονίνης.

Κοίταξε τον ήλιο «κατάματα»

Αν ασχολείσαι με την πρακτική της γιόγκα ή σου αρέσει να βλέπεις το ηλιοβασίλεμα, τότε είσαι ένα βήμα πιο κοντά στην ηλιοθέαση! Οι «Χαιρετισμοί στον Ήλιο» (Surya Namaskar), που συνήθως συναντάμε στην αρχή μιας συνεδρίας γιόγκα, βασίζονται στη φιλοσοφία ότι η ηλιακή ενέργεια ενισχύει την καλή υγεία και ποιότητα ζωής. Σε μια χώρα που τις περισσότερες μέρες του χρόνου ο ήλιος έχει την τιμητική του, αξίζει να δοκιμάσουμε το sungazing, ακολουθώντας τα παρακάτω βήματα για ασφαλή πρακτική:

Safe Hour

Φρόντισε να ξεκινάς την πρακτική σου μία ώρα μετά την ανατολή και μία ώρα πριν τη δύση του ήλιου (safe window), για να αποφύγεις την υπερβολική έκθεση στις βλαβερές ακτινοβολίες UV και IR.

30 Min

Είναι επιστημονικά αποδεδειγμένο πως πάνω από 44 λεπτά ηλιοθέασης είναι βλαβερά για τα μάτια. Ξεκίνα την πρακτική σου κοιτώντας τον ήλιο για περίπου δέκα λεπτά κατά την πρώτη συνεδρία και αύξησε σταδιακά τον χρόνο θέασης στα τριάντα λεπτά ως ανώτατο επιτρεπτό όριο.

Naked Eye

Μην ξεχάσεις να αφαιρείς πάντα τυχόν γυαλιά ή φακούς επαφής και μην κοιτάζεις τον ήλιο μέσα από τζάμι.

Round & Around

Αν αδυνατείς να εστιάσεις το βλέμμα σου απευθείας στον ήλιο, δοκίμασε να παρατηρήσεις την περιοχή γύρω από αυτόν.

Namaste

Καθιέρωσέ το ως μέρος της καθημερινής σου πρακτικής γιόγκα για να απολαύσεις την πιο spiritual διάστασή του.

Το ήξερες;

Κάτι ακόμη που αξίζει να αναφερθεί είναι πως, όπως κάθε ολιστική πρακτική, συχνά μπορεί να πάρει και ακραίες διαστάσεις, όπως εκείνη του λεγόμενου suneating, που βασίζεται στην πεποίθηση ότι ο οργανισμός μας, προσλαμβάνει την ενέργεια που χρειάζεται αποκλειστικά από τον ήλιο, καθιστώντας την κατανάλωση τροφής μη αναγκαία. Γνωστό παράδειγμα ο ινδουιστής Hira Ratan Manek (82 ετών σήμερα), ο οποίος ισχυρίζεται πως ζει από το 1995 καταναλώνοντας μόνο νερό και βουτυρόγαλα, έχοντας ως βασική τροφή του την ηλιακή ακτινοβολία. Είναι λοιπόν θεμιτό να γνωρίζουμε τα δικά μας προσωπικά όρια και να δοκιμάζουμε νέες εμπειρίες, με απώτερο στόχο τη συνολική μας ευεξία και υγεία, χωρίς να προβαίνουμε σε ακραίες πρακτικές. Αν αντιμετωπίζεις οποιοδήποτε πρόβλημα με τα μάτια σου, συμβουλέψου οπωσδήποτε κάποιον ειδικό και ενημερώσου πλήρως πριν ξεκινήσεις να κοιτάς τον ήλιο κατάματα!

ΘΡΕΨΕ ΣΩΣΤΑ ΤΗΝ ΕΠΙΔΕΡΜΙΔΑ ΣΟΥ!

Αρθρα

Δημοσιεύθηκε στο τεύχος Απριλίου 2020 The Body

Όλες ονειρευόμαστε την τέλεια επιδερμίδα, λαμπερή, υγιή, σφριγηλή, σε κάθε ηλικία. Οι περισσότερες πιστεύουμε πως το μυστικό της επιτυχίας βρίσκεται στα ακριβά καλλυντικά και τα επώνυμα προϊόντα make up. Στην πραγματικότητα όμως, η λύση δεν βρίσκεται στο νεσεσέρ…αλλά στη διατροφή μας!

Οι παράγοντες που επηρεάζουν την υγεία και την επιδερμίδα μας ποικίλουν από άνθρωπο σε άνθρωπο. Τα γονίδια, οι ορμονικές διαταραχές, το άγχος, η ποιότητα των καλλυντικών μας προϊόντων, η λήψη φαρμάκων, η έκθεση στον ήλιο και η διατροφή, είναι μερικοί από αυτούς. Ο παράγοντας διατροφή ωστόσο, παίζει καθοριστικό ρόλο. Άλλωστε, είναι γνωστό πως η ομορφιά ξεκινάει από μέσα! Μια ισορροπημένη διατροφή, είναι γνωστό πως κάνει θαύματα στη συνολική μας υγεία και κατ’επέκταση στην υγεία του δέρματος. Ωστόσο οι συγκεκριμένες τροφές, περιέχουν υψηλή περιεκτικότητα βιταμινών που αποτελούν ισχυρό σύμμαχο στη μάχη με το χρόνο και τον σύγχρονο τρόπο ζωής.

ΤΙ ΘΑ ΦΑΣ ΣΗΜΕΡΑ;

Κάποιες βασικές τροφές που προτείνεται να καταναλώνεις σε καθημερινή βάση είναι:

Φρούτα, κυρίως εσπεριδοειδή, όπως πορτοκάλι, λεμόνι, μανταρίνι, γκρέιπφρουτ αλλά και βερίκοκο και blueberries.

Λαχανικά, κυρίως πράσινα φυλλώδη, όπως το σπανάκι, το λάχανο και το μαρούλι.

Άπαχη πρωτεΐνη, όπως ψάρι αντί για κρέας, καθώς και ρεβίθια, φασόλια, φακές και ξηρούς καρπούς, πλούσιους σε Ω3 λιπαρά οξέα.

Προϊόντα ολικής, υψηλά σε περιεκτικότητα φυτικών ινών και ιχνοστοιχείων.

ΤΙ ΘΑ ΑΠΟΦΥΓΕΙΣ;

Καλό είναι να αποφύγεις τις τροφές που περιέχουν κατεργασμένη ζάχαρη αλλά και την κατανάλωση γαλακτοκομικών προϊόντων, κυρίως του αγελαδινού γάλακτος και του παγωτού. Το κίτρινο τυρί επίσης, έχει υψηλό γλυκαιμικό δείκτη, ο οποίος μπορεί να συμβάλει στην έξαρση της ενήλικης ακμής. Αν παρ’όλα αυτά σου είναι αδύνατο να κόψεις μαχαίρι όλα τα γαλακτοκομικά, σου έχουμε καλά νέα! Σύμφωνα με εργαστηριακές έρευνες, το γιαούρτι και τα περισσότερα είδη τυριών, δεν συνδέονται άμεσα με την εκδήλωση ακμής.

DIY RECIPE

Green Smoothie για Τέλεια Επιδερμίδα!

Αυτό το δροσιστικό, πράσινο smoothie, με βασικά συστατικά το μήλο και το σπανάκι, θα γίνει η νέα αγαπημένη σου συνήθεια! Πλούσιο σε βιταμίνες Κ, C αλλά και σε αντιοξειδωτικά, θα σου εξασφαλίσει λαμπερή επιδερμίδα μέσα σε λίγες μόνο ημέρες.

Υλικά

2 χούφτες σπανάκι baby

1 πράσινο μήλο (κομμένο σε κύβους)

3/4 αγγούρι (αποφλοιωμένο)

2 κουταλιές χυμό λεμόνι

*προαιρετικά 2 κουταλιές σιρόπι αγαύης, 2 κουταλιές σπόροι chia

Βάζεις όλα τα υλικά στο μπλέντερ, προσθέτεις στο τέλος θρυμματισμένο πάγο και στην υγειά σου!

ΒΙΤΑΜΙΝΕΣ: Ο ΠΟΛΥΤΙΜΟΣ ΣΥΜΜΑΧΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΕΠΙΔΕΡΜΙΔΑΣ ΣΟΥ

Οι περισσότερες βιταμίνες, αποτελούν σημαντικό σύμμαχο του οργανισμού μας, ωστόσο μία είναι η χρυσή τετράδα για λαμπερό και νεανικό δέρμα σε κάθε ηλικία. Η πρόσληψη των συγκεκριμένων βιταμινών μπορεί να επιτευχθεί με την κατανάλωση προτεινόμενων τροφών αλλά και συμπληρωμάτων διατροφής. Η χρήση κατάλληλων καλλυντικών προϊόντων δε, συντελεί σημαντικά στην απόκτηση και διατήρηση μιας όμορφης επιδερμίδας.

Βιταμίνη C: Το μυστικό της παντοτινής νεότητας! Η βιταμίνη C, βρίσκεται στην εξωτερική και εσωτερική στιβάδα της επιδερμίδας μας και παίζει σημαντικό ρόλο στην παραγωγή του κολλαγόνου. Για αυτό τον λόγο, θεωρείται συστατικό κλειδί στις περισσότερες αντιγηραντικές κρέμες. Συνίσταται πρόσληψη 75-90mg ημερησίως. Μην παραλείψεις, λοιπόν, να εντάξεις στη διατροφή σου τροφές όπως το πορτοκάλι, η φράουλα, το μπρόκολο και το σπανάκι. Τέλος, μια καλλυντική κρέμα με βιταμίνη C μπορεί να βοηθήσει στην καταπολέμηση της ερυθρότητας και της ξηρότητας της επιδερμίδας, καθώς και στη μείωση ρυτίδων και πανάδων.

Βιταμίνη D: Η βιταμίνη του ήλιου! Μπορεί η υπερβολική έκθεση σε ακτίνες UV να βλάπτει την υγεία του δέρματός μας, αλλά εχει αποδειχθεί πως μόλις 15 λεπτά ηλιοθεραπείας, βοηθούν στην παραγωγή αυτής της τόσο πολύτιμης για τον οργανισμό βιταμίνης. Το Ινστιτούτο Linus Pauling του Πανεπιστημίου του Όρεγκον, συνιστά πρόσληψη 15mg βιταμίνης D καθημερινά. Μπορείς να εντάξεις στο πρωινό σου δημητριακά ολικής άλεσης, φρέσκο χυμό πορτοκάλι και γιαούρτι και στο μεσημεριανό σου τροφές όπως σολομό, τόνο ή βακαλάο.

Βιταμίνη Ε: Αποτοξίνωση τώρα! Η βιταμίνη Ε εμπεριέχεται σε πολλά καλλυντικά με προστασία UV. Παρ’όλα αυτά, σε μια χώρα με ηλιοφάνεια καθ’όλη τη διάρκεια του χρόνου, η έκθεσή μας σε βλαβερές ακτίνες, είναι αναπόφευκτη. Είναι σημαντικό λοιπόν να προσλαμβάνεις τη συνιστώμενη ημερήσια δόση των 15mg μέσω της διατροφής σου. Προτίμησε ξηρούς καρπούς όπως αμύγδαλα, φουντούκια και ηλιόσπορους.

Βιταμίνη Κ: Ο κρυφός σύμμαχος της επιδερμίδας σου! Η βιταμίνη Κ αποτελεί βασικό συστατικό σε φαρμακευτικές κρέμες, αφού βοηθάει στην επούλωση πληγών, μειώνει το πρήξιμο και καταπολεμά τους επίμονους μαύρους κύκλους κάτω από τα μάτια. Σύμφωνα με το Πανεπιστήμιο της Φλόριντα, καλό είναι να προσλαμβάνουμε 12mg ημερησίως. Επίλεξε πράσινα φυλλώδη λαχανικά όπως σπανάκι, μαρούλι και λάχανο, αλλά και όσπρια όπως τα πράσινα φασόλια.

A HOUSE IN ASFENDIOU VILLAGE

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Forgotten in time but without losing its traditional flair, in contradiction to other villages on the island of Kos, Asfendiou lays on the Southeast side of the town, a place surrounded by olive trees, pine trees and firs, somewhere on mount Dikaios.

Wintertime is probably the best time of the year to explore the area; winter on the island is mild so the temperature is ideal for hiking to the top of the mount, plus the lack of tourists gives you the opportunity to enjoy the peaceful scenery and meet the locals. The locals will always greet you with a smile, without asking a lot of questions. In the beginning of our route, there was a small, picturesque house, visibly abandoned but still majestic. Its walls were still white, still fighting the mold. Its windows were wooden, with rusty bars and its door was narrow and quite old, trying to protect what was on the inside.

We got into the house and the feeling that this was actually an abandoned home, disappeared for a while. The sunglasses still laying on the wooden table, the family photos and the embroidered tablecloth, make you think that grandma is out to collect some olives and grandpa forgot his glasses when leaving. On my right side, I spotted more photos that unravel the close relationship of the family with the church. A big window in the center of the living room, sees to the big bedroom. The window right in the middle of the house, indicates that this also used to be a traditional kafenio (café). My friend told me that it used to be a cafe during the Italian occupation (1912-1943), before it was bought by Daniil Efstratios in 1946, as a proika (bride price) to his daughter, to become, a year later, the family home we have just discovered.

We continued to the central room, where the Efstratios family used to welcome their friends and family to spend the afternoon together, as the locals used to say “aposperizo”. There, a small entrance leads to the second part of the house that was built at a later time and was used as a kitchen.

In this kitchen, someone can find useful everyday items from the times it used to be a house, and also kitchen appliances from a later era, since many generations grew up there, until it was completely abandoned in 1993. A very characteristic detail, is the huge bed with some patchwork kilts and pillows, also featuring a wooden ladder leading to the attic.

Closing the old door behind us, to start hiking to Metohi, a nearby area, we realized that we just had a small taste of the past life in the village of Asfendiou. A former traditional café that met the prime era of the region (during 1850-1940) and a home that was abandoned by its owners that had to leave their fatherland to work as economic migrants, in the 60’s, in Germany, Canada, Australia and the US.

Who knows…maybe this place will relive its past glory with the help of the new generation. In any case, its multiple lives will remain untacked, no matter the social changes…

KAYAKING TO THE ISLE OF DASIA

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Skopelos is a place that offers a great variety of outdoor activities. However, there are a few places that are not easy to reach without proper guidance. One of them is the isle of Dasia. Sea kayaking rental spots are available on the beaches of Milia, Neo Klima and Glossa, offering organized excursions. Check them out.

Excursions to Dasia are normally prohibited, especially without the supervision of a professional guide. The open sea hides many dangers due to strong winds and the crossing ferries and jet skis. We decided to reach Dasia with our kayaks, keeping in mind that this was a great risk, but on the other hand we were guided by someone who knew the route very well and we kept close to each other throughout this entire time (thanks to the bright colors of the canoes, it is wise to keep them in line and create a distinctive line in the sea for the crossing ferries to see).

Tip: It is allowed to kayak when the sea is calm and it is recommended to do it during morning and late afternoon hours, since the strong sun during the afternoon can be quite harmful, especially if you are not using UV protection.

The isle of Dasia is just 30 mins away from Milia beach, but only if you paddle with a quick pace. It is an evergreen haven, diving into the crystal clear waters of Northeast Aegean. While exploring it, you will find small caves and natural passages that lead to the opposite side of the isle; they are easily accessible via canoe. The place is uninhabited, its only residents are a dozen of snakes and some mice, so you better explore it by the sea!

One of the most impressive caves lays on the eastern side of the island. Its wide entrance makes it visible even from a certain distance, so it is not challenging to spot it. The cave features a little shore with gravel, but it is better if you approach it with your canoe, since the place is filled with sea urchins. However, if you wish to swim its shallow waters, you can do it with caution. Don’t forget to wear some protective shoes or flippers. If you are a daredevil, keep in mind that the cave is quite deep; you can actually see part of its long tunnel getting darker and darker.

Entering and leaving the small cave can prove to be quite challenging, since the canoes are big and they tend to get stuck or turn upside down, so you might end up keeping company to the sea urchins! When leaving the cave, the water gets quite deep, but if you are wearing a life vest, you can safely swim to the natural passage which will lead you to the other side of the island, from where you can enjoy the view to Milia beach. The passage is short but very narrow, so if you don’t feel confident enough to explore it, you can always paddle around the isle before you return to shore. The longer route will take you around one and a half hour to finish. Our excursion came to an end right before sunset, the ideal time to enjoy the reddish sky and Dasia isle floating peacefully on the calm Aegean waters…

GRONINGEN: A JAZZ METROPOLIS

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The city of Groningen is the largest city of Northern Holland with 202.567 permanent residents. It is also considered to be the ideal “student city”, a place that invites you to get lost within its alleys, dance in jazz tunes and meet youngsters from all over the world. Its international flair and its vibrant nightlife made this place known as the Metropolis of the North!

Traveling across the Netherlands is quite easy. As a small country, most of its cities are within a short distance with each other (approximately 2 hours) and through various online pages, you can easily book your ticket for any destination you want. Once more, we neglected the fact that it was raining cats and dogs (better not expect a sunny day to travel!) and with a brief trip plan on a piece of paper, we hopped on the intercity train and within two hours and two trains, we reached our destination.

We reached the most central railway station of the city (there are three in total), called “Groningen” (the others are called “Groningen Europapark”, “Groningen Noord”) and at a first glance we saw many cars, some bus stops, a big canal with floating houses and in the background, some buildings of gothic architecture. As in most Dutch cities, cars are only allowed in certain areas, so we just happened to be around the city center. The safety of both cyclers and pedestrians comes always first.

Our first stop was the oldest University of the country, Groningen Rijksuniversiteit (aka RUG), found at one of the most central spots of the city (Broerstraat 5^th). The town is so small and well-organized that you don’t even need a map or GPS to reach the city center. After several minutes walking past a canal (one of the many crossing the city), the shopping street of Grote Markt that resembles Ermou Street in Athens or a smaller Kartner Strasse in Vienna, we spotted the impressive building of the RUG.

A few info

The RUG was founded in 1614 and initially provided solely religious education.
It was the first University to accept a woman as a student, Aletta Jacobs. As well as this, notorious figures like the nobel prize winners Heike Kamerlingh Onnes and Ben Feringa, have studied here, as well as Wim Duisenberg, the first President of the European Central Bank.
It is ranked as one the 100 best Universities worldwide.

A jazz city

If you wander around the area, you will notice that Groningen is filled with cafeterias and bars. Most of these places organize events with live music, mainly jazz. It is worth visiting Jazzcafe de Spieghel (addr.Peperstraat).

The students of the music academy Prince Claus Conservatoire, often conduct jazz jam sessions around the city (eg. Peter Pan jazz café, Café de Smederij), offering a great spectacle to both visitors and the locals. This is why Groningen is one of the most popular destinations for music lovers, especially in January when the annual music festival Eurosonic Noordeslag is held, hosting numerous bands and artists from around Europe and always closes with local musicians.

Nightlife

Although it is a small town, it has a very lively nightlife, mainly thanks to its students. Streets like Grote Markt, Vismarkt, Poelestraat and Peperstraat, burst with life during the evenings, even on weekdays, and in contrast with most northern European cities, its bars remain open until 5 in the morning! Not by chance at all that for two years in a roll (2005-2007), Groningen was voted as the Best City of Holland!

For the Cycling Enthusiasts

To top the award of Best City in Holland, here comes the title of Worldwide Bike City, with 57% of its population using their bikes as their main means of transport. The city offers a well-organized cycling network that makes it quite easy to explore the surroundings. However, if you wish to rent a car, there is a good road network around the city center.

360ο view

The city of Groningen is known as the Metropolis of the North and as the Martinistad (the town of Martini), thanks to its historical attraction, a tower called Martinitoren (Martini Tower). From the top of the tower you have a 360ο view of the whole city. Apart from a monument, it is Groningen’s trademark and thanks to its height, you can spot it from every corner of the city. So, in case you are lost and want to return to the city center, just look up, I am sure you will spot the tower’s top!

Tip: Right next to the Martini Tower, there is a cozy café that resembles a traditional Dutch house. Ideal for cold rainy days!

For the Travelers

The most popular and affordable way to travel across the Netherlands is by train (NS Trein). With only two hours route from Amsterdam, you have no excuse not visit Groningen. From there, you can also travel to other places as well using the international bus line (go to Hamburg, Berlin, Munich by Flixbus, Postbus).

It was already late in the evening and the rooftops were soaking wet by the constant showers. We had to return back to Enschede. After a quick stop at the station’s café for a hot cup of coffee and a snack, we took the first train to Overijse. Groningen is a small town that has a lot to offer. Filled with café and bars, friendly locals and an artistic flair, this city invites you to be a Groninger yourself!

SOLO HIKING MOUNT CHORTIATIS

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Mount Chortiatis with maximum altitude 1,201 metres, lies in the Eastern part of the city of Thessaloniki and offers an amazing natural scenery to those who wish to explore its trails and hike up to the top “Keraies” (means antenas), to enjoy the panoramic view of Thermaikos gulf, Chalkidiki, Soho, Nigrita and the lakes of Agios Vasilios and Volvi!

With marked trails, easy routes (level B) and within a short distance from the city centre, it is the ideal destination for families with children, hikers and downhill enthusiasts (marked trails for bikers are available). Τhe Refuge of Chortiatis is open mainly on weekends and it’s usually the final stop of most hikers. However, it is strongly recommended that you hike to the top, even if it’s a bit challenging for a beginner, since it’s the most beautiful part of the entire route. The vegetation becomes thicker and the trails more uphill; for those who wish to challenge their limits, nature offers its beauty to the maximum! In the end, you will be able to enjoy the amazing view from the highest spot in the whole region.

Let’s start from scratch. Although it was a weekday, we decided to go hike the mount. In this way we would have the whole place to ourselves, skipping the numerous visitors during the weekends. During the week, even the refuge is closed, so if you are planning to explore the area then, keep in mind that you will probably be on your own! In this case, it is wise that you invite a friend or two, especially if you don’t know the area very well and always have a GPS app downloaded on your cellphone. Even though the trails of the mount are not on the map, the application will help you calculate the distance from the highway around Chortiatis or at least through the village itself.

The route is a bit challenging from the beginning, with small and big rocks on your way, so you should wear non-slip shoes. After a short uphill hike, you will find the first trail of the mountain, which is full of evergreen bushes, like kermes oaks, creating an impenetrable vegetation around the trail. At 700m. height you also meet oak trees and cedar trees.

Spring season, before June is ideal for excursions in nature, since even in midday, the temperature is mild and the sun gives a pleasant warm feeling to the hikers. Although Chortiatis Mount offers a variety of marked routes, you should be careful which trail you choose, because some are quite challenging and longer and some easier and shorter. Unfortunately there are no signs whatsoever, so as a beginner, you will simply choose a route by chance and the more you hike the area, the more routes you will discover. Good news though, no matter which trail you choose, they all end up in valleys and small “oasis”, ideal for lunch breaks. This allows all hikers to rest in between, and hike the mountain at their own pace while enjoying the peaceful surroundings.

If you are a more experienced hiker, you can hike non-stop straight to the top, within two hours, but if you are not familiar with the surroundings, it is strongly recommended that you start your excursion early in the morning to have plenty of daylight during your route. Another reason you should start in the morning is that although the uphill route is relatively easy, the downhill route is a bit challenging. If you hike during the weekend, the refuge is always open, so there is always the choice to leave with other hikers or spend the night at one of their cozy rooms.The higher we hike, the thicker the vegetation becomes, with a variety of deciduous trees, like chestnut tree, ash tree, oak tree, as well as clinging plants and spring flowers like geranium, orchid etc.

Even during summer season, it can get quite chilly up there, so I suggest you take a waterproof jacket with you, because as the altitude gets higher, the temperatures drop dramatically.

The trail to the top is reached within a short walking distance from the Refuge and it ends up to the top “Keraies”; the trail is not marked since it is the only one leading to the top.

Tip: When you reach the central road leading to Keraies, you will meet a small crossroad. Go left.

This last part of our route happens to be the most beautiful (850-1200m.). You will meet a fairytale scenery, a forest of beech trees, cyclamen flowers, geraniums, lilies, violas, buttercups… It is worth mentioning that there is a big variety of mushrooms but not all of them are edible so be cautious. After 15-20 mins walking, at the final stage of our hiking, the road is more accessible and flat, the sun is hard and big and the view takes your breath away! The spot is ideal for picnic or sunbathing. If you happen to be a biker than you should know that even up there, you will find marked trails for cyclers.

A little throwback here. Back in the day, the area used to have rich fauna, like wolves and wild boars but to this day, their population has been dramatically reduced due to illegal hunting. If you respect the surrounding area and keep quiet, you might see squirrels, rabbits and plenty of lizards. Hunting is strictly prohibited and there are signs around the area clearly indicating that.

Tip: As I mentioned above, your return may be a bit challenging, so it is strongly recommended that you take a baton with you and as weird as it sounds, don’t forget to cut your toe nails; the continuous downhill route can be quite painful for your feet. Last but not least, always check the weather forecast beforehand.

If you’re keen on exploring this small treasure of Northern Greece and wish to enjoy the beautiful scenery through your own eyes, then follow these tips, grab your backpack and hike the evergreen trails of mount Chortiatis!

EASTER IN HALKI ISLAND OF MARMARA

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Halki, also known as Heybeliada. A small, evergreen island that lies in Marmara sea and between Antigoni island (Burgazada) and Pringipos (Buyukada), as well as Maltepe cape. Such a small isle with such long history. A place where you can smell the salty air everywhere…from the wooden cottage houses from a past era, to the monastery of the Holy Trinity at the northern part of the island, one of the main sites built in the 11^th century.

We took a long weekend due to Easter holidays and we decided to take the local ferry to the famous Princess islands and get away from the beautiful chaos of the city of Istanbul. Our starting point was the port of Beşiktaş where we enjoyed a hot cup of demlik çay – strong flavored Turkish tea. As soon as we arrived at the sunny port of Halki, we saw a bunch of taverns in line filled with spicy aromas and flavors, seagulls making long dives into the waters of Bosphorus to catch some fish, and a few people, mainly locals, strolling around… It was like a summer day!

We started walking up the hill to our hostel named L’isola, where we managed to book a room literally at the last moment and at a very good price due to low season. Only five minutes walking distance from the central port, we arrived at this little guesthouse with the cute garden with flowers and green grass and many, many cats. Koral, the owner of L’isola informed us that the building used to be the house of a Greek man that aspired to make the first Bauhaus building of the island but had to leave, along with many other Greeks who used to live in Turkey, back in the great persecution in 1964. After being in the hands of locals for many years, it was eventually bought by Koral who managed to preserve its original beauty and bring its past to life. Our room was cozy and clean with a great view to the sea of Marmara and the town of Halki.

Hiking to the Halki Seminary

The maximum altitude of the island reaches 448 feet, so it is quite easy for someone to hike its hills, no matter their age or their physical condition. The Halki Seminary has no students nowadays, but it is still preserved in a perfect condition thanks to the orthodox Patriarchate, that often organizes events for the locals as well as the visitors. If you manage to visit its premises, which I strongly recommend, you will see a small church of the Holy Trinity and a huge evergreen garden filled with lilacs, tulips and trees. Even if you don’t care about the religious part of this site, it is worth hiking the route to the seminary and enjoy the breathtaking view to the sea of Marmara, the aromas from the flowers and the pinetrees and the singing of the numerous birds. It is certainly an excursion that will satisfy the most rigorous hiker.

After spending quite some time enjoying the warmth of the sun and the sea breeze, we decided to explore the seaside hoping to find a beach to sunbathe and why not…swim! Unfortunately we were not very lucky. Although the island used to have amazing open beaches in the past, most of them were sold to private owners.

However, Halki is the ideal place for various activities, such as trekking, hiking, cycling, all enjoyed with safety since all cars and vehicles are prohibited. Another means of transportation are the horse carriages, mainly used as a tourist attraction. Luckily they are only a few, compared to the ones in the island of Pringipos. There have been many clashes between animal welfare organizations and the locals that profit from that…let’s say…tradition, since the living conditions of the poor horses, are not good.

Celebrating Easter all together

During winter time, the permanent residents are about 3.000, mainly Turkish but also some Greek – known as Romioi– that live on the island all year long or own a cottage house for the weekends and holidays. Easter is a weekend of celebrations for the few Greeks, Russians but for many Turkish locals as well. In opposition to what Mass Media promote, Turkish and Greeks live harmonically with each other here in Turkey, they share their ethics and traditions with mutual respect and love.

Ιn the night of the Resurrection, right before midnight, we all gathered at the little church of Saint George, located at the edge of a rocky hill. Only a few people, some Greek tourists, some Russians, Turkish and Romioi, all together. Isn’t that the purpose of these days after all? I still remember the whole moon that night combined with the flame of the candles. Throughout the night, I was talking with Mustafa, a permanent resident of the island, that visits the church of Saint George every single year to bring the holy light back home (a christian tradition). Like most Greeks, he also believes that this will bring him good luck and health.

“All of us, no matter of what religion, we all believe in the same God” he says.

Sunday Easter at the Halki Seminary

The next morning, around 9 o’clock, we started hiking to the Halki Seminary to listen to the church choir, sang in all languages as a tribute to unity and love. From Greek to English and from Arabic to Azeri and so on. After the choir, the local priest gave to all of us a red egg, decorated with tulle.

A huge feast was taking place in the garden of the seminary. Tables filled with tasty dishes, Greek folklore music and children running up and down playing with the farm animals. I really enjoyed the oven potatoes, the fresh green salad and the fruity red wine. The buffet was rich with local delicacies.

It was a weekend filled with aromas, nostalgic moments, wonderful people and connection with local traditions. The social and political upheaval in Turkey lately, has prevented many tourists from visiting this wonderful country, but reality stands far from the front pages.

Especially the Princess islands, they stand still in time, so close to the city of Istanbul but so distant at the same time. Ready to unfold a parallel world where people co- exist, respecting the past while creating their own present and future, day by day…

HIKING MOUNT PAGGAIO

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The mount of Paggaio lies between the cities of Kavala and Serres. With about 1,956 meters height, a great variety of deciduous and evergreen trees and small rivers, it is the ideal destination for nature enthusiasts at beginner or intermediate level (level B).

Spring is the best time of the year for outdoor activities; the winter snow loses the battle to small, colorful flowers and most days are sunny with ideal temperatures for hiking. Although this winter- especially in Northern Greece- was quite heavy and spring made a late appearance, the view from spot “Denna” at 1,150 meters as well as the top of the mountain, called “Mati” (def.eye) is definitely a highlight.

If your starting point is the city of Thessaloniki, you will need a two hour drive to reach the monastery of Oikosifinissa, located at the foothills of Paggaio. We started our route at 7 am along with the Trace Your Eco team that provided two buses for our trip. The monastery opened its doors in 450 B.C and it is located at 753 meters height. Apart from being a historical site, it also attracts tourists for religious purposes. Its presence in combination with the fog and the psalms from the 23 nuns, create a rather spooky scenery.

After a while, we started hiking towards the spot “Denna” and after a small break to enjoy the view, we would visit the village of Nikisiani. The overall route’s duration is about 5.30 hours, mainly upward and during this season, a bit challenging, due to small pieces of eyes and slippery leaves. In the beginning, someone can only see dry trees and small Anchusa flowers making their first appearance. But soon enough, evergreen tall trees and firs are all around, creating a scenery straight from Enid Blyton’s tales.

The team of hikers was advanced, walking with a fast pace. After only an hour, we had already reached spot “Denna” where we took a break for a quick snack while enjoying the snowy tops in the horizon and with a panoramic view to the village of Nikisiani.

This brief stop was long enough to help us regain the strength for more hiking. Our main goal was to explore the NorthEast part of mount Paggaio, and eventually reach the village of Nikisiani at 350 meters height. Someone would expect that walking downwards would be easier but the remains of ice and the thick layers of wet leaves, made our route a bit challenging and full of trips!

Tip: Don’t forget to wear strong hiking or non-slip shoes if you wish to reduce the level of difficulty. A thick tree branch could work as a hiking stick for more support.

Some areas require extreme caution, since most trails are very narrow. It is recommended that all hikers walk in a straight line for their own safety. Our downhill route lasted a bit longer than expected because of the aforementioned small challenges and around 14.00 o’clock, we arrived at the village of Nikisiani.

It’s not easy to describe this place with a single word, because it’s a mixture of folklore and modern. On the one hand, picturesque alleys with small houses featuring windows with pots of flowers and embroidered curtains and on the other hand, modern, luxurious buildings. In the streets you could see, expensive jeeps and youngsters conducting tricks with their motorbikes trying to impress us newbies, but you could also see horsemen and farmers.

The central square had only two, three taverns, a small hostel, closed shops and local people.

We chose a small tavern called “Spilia” (def.cave). Although the service was a bit slow, probably because they usually don’t expect so many people, they offered tasty and quality cuisine. After a filling meal, we started roaming the empty streets, observing the few locals doing their daily activities. An old farmer gave us a suspicious look while doing his gardening and an old lady, doing her laundry, nodded to us with a friendly smile.

Unfortunately, we had to return back to the busy city…We once again took the buses of Trace Your Eco for the trip back home. Most of us fell asleep in the bus, relaxed by the pure oxygen and the long hours of hiking. 19.30, the fields become stores and the birds’ singing is now covered by the noise of someone’s car, rushing to reach his destination…

JUST A FLANEUR IN AMSTERDAM

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Amsterdam, the cultural center of the Netherlands and the ideal place to be for many and for different reasons: picturesque alleys, interesting architecture (e.g Dutch Golden Age), international flair, legal marijuana, vibrant nightlife…and the list never ends!

You should stay for at least a week if you want to wander around the narrow alleys like a flâneur, cross its tiny bridges and discover all the hidden treasures, usually difficult to notice at a quick glance. This journal mentions only a few highlights…rain, wandering around, cheap but tasty lunch (don’t forget to try the traditional erwtensoep or snert, soup made out of peas and sausage), sightseeings, vivid corners and a variety of colorful images…

A loggia filled with old books and vinyls…
Those little discoveries that happen by accident are the most exciting sometimes. An old loggia, right in the heart of the city, houses a flea market of old books and vinyls. Although most books were written in Dutch, so there was not a big variety of choices for foreigners, it was one of the most unique experiences of my trip. A trumpet lies next to a Bob Dylan vinyl and right next to Edith Piaf and Bach; music knows no borders or eras. To the left, two male figures: one is rolling his cigar and enjoys his coffee using a glass of beer (!) and the other is hiding behind his newspaper. Both gave me the impression that they were, in fact, trying to avoid any visitors. This peaceful and quiet loggia, a parallel world in complete contrast to the city center bursting with people.

That embroidered sweater…

“Here comes the sun”! After a couple of hours of heavy rain that led me to the nearest second hand/ vintage shop (check out Vintage Shops Amsterdam) ,to buy a warm embroidered sweater, the sun made its debut. Sometimes rain covers the city with a veil of romance and sweet melancholy but without a doubt, the sun enhances the vibrant color palette of Amsterdam. Surrounded by the warmth of my new sweater, I enjoyed my hot cup of coffee right next to the Staalmeestersbrug bridge and a reddish-brown sleeping cat.

Grab a beer…

Many would say that after sunset, Amsterdam comes to life. I say that this city never sleeps. I wandered as much as I could around the central city market, but then I felt like exploring some distant hoods. One of my stops was the Heineken Experience museum, that used to be an actual brewery, but nowadays it offers interactive tours in the Heineken premises that lead to a tasting room.

Outside the museum, the city lights and the elegant vitro, set the mood for the upcoming holidays.

Not just a monument…

Christofer Wren once said that “Architecture aims at eternity” and that is exactly what I am thinking every time I see the impοsing Magna Plaza, the most well – known shopping center of the city, which also happens to be a monument of great importance and value. It also lies right behind the Royal Palace of Amsterdam. One thing you should check off your to-do list, is to drink a hot cup of coffee at the top floor of this neo-gothic building, at a cafeteria that offers spectacular views.

Even if you don’t wish to become part of the city, it is worth becoming a simple spectator of its bustling, bohemian life. Even for one day…