As a Greek I may be a bit biased in urging you to take a trip to Greece. But after spending 10 relaxing and adventurous days in the motherland I see no other reason why you shouldn’t too. We hopped from Munich to Zurich with Greece sandwiched in between. So do yourselves a favor and add Athens, Kerkyra, Paxos and Antipaxos to your vacation wish lists. Plus, there is no better way to support the Greek economy than to explore all its rich allure.
To take a look at the beauty please click here
A special thank you to a talented photographer by the name of Alex Barbayianis for the kimono shots
‘What If…’ is not so much a story told from two different angles, but a movie driven by two distinct realities.
Demetris, a bachelor living in Athens, Greece makes a choice. He meets the love of his life, Christina, in parallel dystopias.
Christoforos Papakaliatis directs the film through the lens of the economic crisis. The writing is current, without taking advantage of the hackneyed unemployment chaos. The broader issue becomes a backdrop in the characters’ lives, never quite taking center stage.
Job loss, love, affairs, heartbreak, death. Christina and Demetris struggle to live their dreams through their respective realities; each character trying to make his way out of his personal hell.
Christina’s grandparents are the chorus in an otherwise surreal cosmos, driving home how Christina and Demetris are meant to be, they would meet regardless of their choices. But how they meet is up to fate.
Papakaliatis is an emotional masochist. You’ll cry, you’ll be shocked, and hope for the best in Christina and Demetris’ love stor(ies).
The dual perception concept has been done before, but if you can overcome the cheesy soundtrack I promise you’ll enjoy this latest Greek hit.
And besides, remember, your choice. Your reality.
It’s been a while, but Khaled Hosseini is back with his third literary venture.
And the Mountains Echoed is a tale (set in Afghanistan of course) of a beloved sister torn from her brother’s arms only to be sold for what is assumed to be a better life.
The novel jumps from Afghanistan to Greece to Paris to the United States. The reader’s journey through these characters’ lives can be rocky and confusing. The writer’s signature move of connecting the key players can seem forced.
Hosseini’s story-telling has taken a more mature tone; less emotional manipulation, but more didactic. The air of mystery and thrill have taken a back seat as a more confident, blunt writer emerges.
The beauty of the book though is how the stories don’t seamlessly fit together as they did with The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns. Hosseini is keen on not ironing out the jagged edges this time around.
The story can be tough to get through at times, but the lessons learned are well worth it. He’s not about doling out punishment or karma in this book, but it’s up to the reader to decide if the ends justify the means.
Hosseini lures you in for sure, but he treads carefully, patiently; always keeping you at a distance.
Olympia Bardis 