Greece - much more than Sirtaki, Moussaka and Ouzo

griechenland delphiGreece, since 1981, is member of the European Union and, together with 18 other EU member states a monetary union, the euro zone. It is a member of the United Nations, the OECD, NATO, the OSCE and the Council of Europe. The Human Development Index ranks Greece among the highly developed countries.

The Greeks of modern times call themselves Hellenes, but they had many different names throughout history. However, Homer (8th century BC) did not use the term "Hellene" in his epics. In classical antiquity, the Greeks hardly lay a point to present ithemselfves as a unified nation. The own home instead, be it a polis or a kingdom, was up to a few exceptions far more important. The participants in the Olympic Games were summarized as Hellenes. Perhaps it was this name later, in the first centuries of Christianity, being used as synonymous with paganism. From late antiquity until the end of the Middle Ages (1453), the Greeks even called themselves Rhomaioi (ancient Greek for, Romans').

Day trip to Volos to explore the Pilion railway

Day trip to Volos to explore the Pilion railway

As one of the attractions in the region around Volos, there is so-called Pilion railway, which with a track width of only 600 mm belongs to the really attractive Narrow Gauge Railway, and because of that certainly is more like a model railway in big seize. But more about that later.

Meteora - Hikes between the towering rocks

Hiking is a wonderful activity in the nature, is relaxing and exciting at the same time, not only when the area is like Meteora and, in addition to medieval monasteries, also offering magnificent rock landscapes.

Kastraki / Kalambaka - old city core at Meteora

Our tours through the countryside at Meteora had led us into Kastraki / Kalambaka city center too and, as a small town with no fewer than 8,330 inhabitants, is now interesting to tourists due to a variety of restaurants, cafes, shopping abilities and strolling too.