GREEKISLES.BIZ

Antikythera Mechanism

Greek Isles by Basil — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:05:00 GMT

The Antikythera Mechanism is a mechanical miniature of the Ancient Universe. This extraordinary astronomical mechanism from about 100 BC employed 30 bronze gears to make calculations based on cycles of the Solar system, i.e. the calendars, the phases and the positions of the Sun and the Moon. It also predicted the solar and lunar eclipses and, possibly, the positions of the planets.

The whole international community of experts on the ancient world was astonished when its corroded remains were recovered in 1901 by Greek sponge divers, who found them at the bottom of the sea near the island of Antikythera.

Click HERE for the Full Story

Anti Paros a Wonder 20 minutes from Paros

Greek Isles by Basil — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Getting To Anti Paros

Paros is a three-hour ferry ride from the port of Piraeus in Athens. The most reliable ferry company is Hellenic Seaways (30-210-4199-0000). Ferries run at least once a day from Pireaus Port in Athens at a cost of about 50 euros, depending on the season. In addition Olympic Air and Aegean Airlines have daily service to the island. Once in Paros the boat trip to Anti Paros is just ten minutes from the port of Pounta and about twenty minutes from the main port in Paros, Parikia. The ferry leaves every two or three hours. Tickets (3 euros) are bought on the boat.

ABOUT The Island
The largest tourist attraction on the island of Antiparos is a stalactite cavern on the south coast, which is reached by a narrow passage broken by two steep and dangerous descents which are accomplished by the aid of rope-ladders. These Caves are a natural wonder and must be visited if in Anti Paros.

There are many beaches to visit on the island of Anti Paros however there are those which you can visit with either sail boats or fishing boats where one can enjoy the beach of Pantieronisia, the small island of Despotiko famous for its archaeological findings, the beach of Faneromeni, the one of Agios Spiridonas, the cave of Mastihari....all quiet and breath taking.

Where To Stay
There are only six hotels on Antiparos, all within a few feet of the ferry port. The most central is the Hotel Mantalena (30-22840-61206). The rooms are small but the lobby’s seaside patio is airy and comfortable. Double rooms begin at 35 euros, not including breakfast. For Anti Paros hotel assistance go to Blue Map

Rick Steves Visits Santorini

Greek Isles by Basil — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 18:42:00 GMT

Rick Steves since 1973 has spent 120 days a year in Europe. Spending one third of his adult life living out of a suitcase in Europe has shaped his thinking. He has dedicated his life to travel and is a true expert on the art of Traveling. Click on link Below to View this very informative video on Santorini and the Greek islands

Rick Steves visits Santoirni and other Greek Islands

Click Here to view More of Rick Steve Videos

Favorite Beaches of Greece

Greek Isles by Basil — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:18:00 GMT

Every where one looks there is a top 10 list of beaches as if someone other than the 12 Gods can make such a list of favorites. The problem is simple; Greece and it's islands have an overabundance of beaches, coves and private hideaways which one calls a beach. The Endless sands of the Greek coast add up to approximately 16,000 Kilometers.

A visitor has the opportunity to enjoy beaches in sheltered bays and coves, golden stretches of sandwith dunes, pebble beaches, coastal caves with steep rocks and dark sand typical of volcanic soil. In 2007, 428 beaches and 5 marinas inGreece were awarded the “Blue Flag”, a figure that places the country in second place among 49 other countries.

Most of the thousands of Greek coasts are freely accessible and you can easily discover and enjoy them. There are also many organized beaches in the country, with the necessary infrastructure providing high-quality services (umbrellas, reclining chairs, change booths,cafes, bar-restaurants etc), and in addition to swimming, you can enjoy an abundance of water sports.

Here are some beaches we think one should put on their list of those worthy of an exploration:

Ballos Beach, Gramvousa Crete (pictured above)
Egremni Beach, Lefkada
Kathisma Beach, Lefkada
Saraniko Beach, Gavdos
Achla Beach, Andros
Pori Beach, Koufonissia
Tsigrado Beach, Milos
Mikros Simos Beach, Elafonissos
Seychelles Beach, Ikaria
Myrtos Beach, Cephalonia
Kalogira Beach, Achaia, Peloponnese
Zacharo Beach, Peloponnese
Lagouvardos Beach, Messinia, Peloponnese

Charter a Yacht to Sail the Greek Islands

Greek Isles by Basil — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 13:22:00 GMT

Every so often we recommend a supplier to assist our readers with their trip planning to the Greek Islands. Sailing the Greek Isles can be a great way to explore the many small ports, communities and beaches of elusive Island hideaways that are not accessible by tradition ferry boats in Greece. Marcos and Betty at Vacation Yachting offer a high level of personalized service and expertise. Feel free to explore some links which we have provided below. Happy sailing!

Click here for Greek Yachting Photo Gallery

Click here for Greek Yachting Sailing Itineraries

For bookings click here

Kythera a perfect hideaway in the Aegean Sea

Greek Isles by Basil — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 18:50:00 GMT

Kythera is located on the sea cross path of South Greece between the Aegean Sea, the Cretan Sea and the Ionian Sea, otherwise in the middle of Peloponnese and Crete Island. Kythera is made up of one municipality and 13 geographical districts (ex-communities) that occupy280 square kilometers. These 13 geographical districts are represented by the local councils. The population of the island is estimated at only 4.000 persons.

If you are looking for a place to relax and unwind Kythera is the place for you. The beaches and people will rejuvenate you for sure. There are a lot of ways to come to Kythira. Plane from the international Airport of Athens or boat from Piraeus. In Addition you can access Kythrea from Gythion and Neapoli where you can come in via a short ferry boat ride. If you happen to be on the island of Crete you will find the ferry boat transportation in Kasteli located in the district of Chania Crete.

"courtesy of Greece is Great"

Click here for Beaches of Kythera
Click here for Photo Albums of Kythera Greece

Greek Villa prices down by 50%

Greek Isles by Basil — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 17:43:00 GMT

July 29, 2010, 5:00PM EST
Luxury homes in Greece are being deeply discounted because of the debt crisis

By Sharon Smyth and Natalie Weeks

"A sunny clime, an ocean view, some ancient ruins out back, and the chance to bump into Tom Hanks at your local taverna. If that sounds good, you're in luck. Greek island villas are being marked down by nearly half as the country's debt crisis curbs demand for holiday getaways."

Click here for Full Business Week Article

Falling Greek Island Villa Prices

Greek Isles by Basil — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:59:00 GMT

Greek Villas Marked Down 45% as Crisis Hits Island Homes
By Sharon Smyth - Jul 27, 2010 5:00 PM EDT

A three-story villa, whose price is down from 5.5 million euros to 4.1 million euros, is seen on the island of Mykonos in an aerial view. Source: Gougoussi/107 via Bloomberg

Greek island homes, long coveted by millionaires and Hollywood stars such as Tom Hanks, are being marked down by as much as 45 percent as the country’s debt crisis destroys demand for holiday getaways.

“It’s a scary place to invest right now,” said Mike Braunholtz, a broker at Prestige Property Group, which markets properties on the Greek islands. “Things aren’t going to improve until the economic picture becomes clearer.”

Greece is counting on a 110 billion-euro bailout from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund to avert a default and end the nation’s first recession since 1993.

The economy will contract by about 4 percent this year and by 2.6 percent in 2011, according to estimates from the Greek Finance Ministry.

Click here for full article on Falling Greek Island Villa Prices

The Monokini - new swimwear fashion for this year

Greek Isles by Basil — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 16:51:00 GMT

This Summers fashion craze on the beaches of the Greek Islands...The Monokini...designers such as
London's Beach baby: cutout monokini, £275, by Melissa Odabash (020 7229 4299)

Bet you can't wait to get to the Greek Islands now?
Click here for More Monokini pictures courtesy of the London Evening Standard

For Greek Island Booking assistance click Here

Summer bargains: Holiday giants from UK slash prices to Greek Isles

Greek Isles by Basil — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:04:00 GMT

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 9:22 AM on 23rd July 2010

As a consequence of the poor economy fewer holidays have been sold, so prices have dropped to encourage more bookings.' The group's research found the biggest savings in eastern Mediterranean resorts, in particular Paphos, which is 34 per cent cheaper than a year ago, Crete, which is down 29 per cent and Zante at 26 per cent less

.

On average the price of a family holiday across the top 20 destinations for UK holidaymakers has fallen by 13.5 per cent, representing a typical saving of £232.

Mr Davis said: 'People are booking their holidays much later this year and as a result we're seeing the emergence of a very strong late bookings market for family groups.'

Greek Saronic Islands

Greek Isles by Basil — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:09:00 GMT

Only a short ferry boat ride from Athens these spectacular islands are a skip away from the hustle and bustle of the city. They are situated a close distance from the port, Piraeus and are scattered between the prefecture of Attica and the eastern side of the Peloponnese.

photo courtesy of: heavenly-greek-islands.com

The Argo-Saronic Islands: Angistri, Aegina, Poros, Salamina, Spetses, Hydra and the coastal area of Methana have a lot to offer to the visitors: naturalbeauty with remarkable landscapes, clean sandy beaches, unique archaeological sites, museums, manor houses, picturesque settlements and even small desertedislets to explore. They feature spectacular hotels both inexpensive and over the top to satisfy all budgets.

Island of Poros

Island of Spetses

Island of Aegina

Island of Angistri

Island of Salamina

Apella Beach Karpathos, One of the Best Undiscovered beaches of the World

Greek Isles by Basil — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 14:49:00 GMT

The Best Undiscovered Beaches
as featured in the Islands.com

Apella Beach: Kárpathos, Greece
Mention the Greek isles, and you'll trigger visions of sailboats anchored near pebble beaches and coves concealed by pine-treelined mountains. Apella Beach on Kárpathos is a living incarnation of those daydreams. Nestled between the islands of Rhodes and Crete, Kárpathos, a relatively untouched fragment of the Dodecanese island chain, boasts some of the most picturesque shores in the Med, and Apella Beach is high on the list. Tucked along the east coast of this narrow strip of an island , the beach represents what is most attractive about Kárpathos: Like the island as a whole, the beach sees very few visitors and offers travelers a taste of Old World Greece. Relax on the fine white sand at the far end of Apella Beach or walk on the stones that line the shore. Either way, prepare for a low-maintenance day: There are no concessions on the beach, and road access is limited. A day on Apella is all about soaking up your surroundings -- from the cliffs above you to the turquoise sea fanning out in front of you. Make the vision a reality by boarding a ferry in the island's capital city, Pigádhia. You can take the ferry back or continue northward on land to Ólimbos, where the townspeople follow 100-year old customs and traditional music fills the streets.

Photo by Jan Eriksen

While in Karpathos we recommend that you stay at Studios Delfini

Greece braces for nationwide strike Thursday July 08

Greek Isles by Basil — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:11:00 GMT

Public services in Greece are expected to grind to a halt on Thursday as thousands of workers embark on a 24—hour strike in response to a scheduled parliamentary vote on unpopular pension and labour reforms.

The planned strike is the sixth major protest since Athens unveiled austerity measures to battle its budget—deficit crisis.

All flights to and from the country are to be grounded for at least four hours as of 10am (0800 GMT) on Thursday as air—traffic controllers join the protest, demanding the payment of outstanding wages.

The country’s two main airlines, Olympic Air and Aegean said a total of 34 flights had been cancelled and another 45 rescheduled.

Click Here for the Entire Article as published in "The Hindu"

Passenger relief at JFK with Less Tarmac Delays

Greek Isles by Basil — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 15:48:00 GMT

July 02, 2010 12:25 PM
Courtesy of Bloomberg News as published in Crains New York

A trial program that limits the number of planes on the taxiway during peak hours to 12 aircraft has been extended.

The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey and the Federal Aviation Administration are extending a trial program through the end of the year that limits the number of planes that can queue up on the taxiway during peak hours to between eight and 12 aircraft at a time. Gone are the days of sitting in an airplane, on the runway, waiting for the 20 flights ahead of yours to take off—at least at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey and the Federal Aviation Administration are extending a trial program through the end of the year that limits the number of planes that can queue up on the taxiway during peak hours to between eight and 12 aircraft at a time.

This means that once passengers board a plane and it taxis out to the runway, there won’t be more than eight or so aircraft in line to take off; a worst-case waiting scenario would be a line of 12 planes, which roughly translates to an hour of wait-time, according to the Port Authority.

Click Here for the Entire Crains New York Article

The Greek Islands are not for Sale

Greek Isles by Basil — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:40:00 GMT

The Guardian
June 29th 2010

The far-fetched suggestion that Greece would consider selling off islands "driven by the inability of the state to develop basic infrastructure, or police most of its islands" is both incorrect and offensive. Last but not least, Greece did not receive a "bailout" from the EU and IMF, but a loan, which will be repaid in full.

George Petalotis
Greek government spokesman, Athens

Click here for the full Guardian Article

Car Rental Greece : Driving & License Information

Greek Isles by Basil — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 14:28:00 GMT

A reservation during the High Summer season is always recommended prior to visiting Greece or the Greek Islands. Before traveling abroad make sure to contact your credit card companies as well as your personal auto insurance agent to find out what coverages if any are available to you when traveling to Greece. Many gold cards and American Express offer such coverages automatically or for a nominal fee. Below we have outlined some important general information pertaining to renting a car in Greece.

Requirements
To rent a car, you must be at least 21 years old (age may vary by car category) and have held your license for 1 year. Drivers under the age of 25 may incur a young driver surcharge. An international drivers license is required. Some suppliers have a maximum rental age of 70. Seatbelts are mandatory. Child seats are mandatory for children up to age 4.

Speed Limits
Speed limits in Greece are as follows: City 30mph/50kph Open Roads 50 mph/80kph Highways 74mph/100kph

Rules of the Road
Traffic travels on the right and the middle lane of a three lane highway is for passing. Vehicles approaching an intersection on the right have the right of way.

Insurance Coverage
Fire and third party liability insurance is mandatory and is included in all rentals. Third party liability insurance offers up to US$85,000 of coverage in case of damage or injury to people or property outside of the rental car.

Car Rental Quote in Greece
Click here for Car Rental quote in Greece

The Greek Islands For Sale?

Greek Isles by Basil — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 14:55:00 GMT

Athens, Greece
June 25th 2010

Rumors are swirling that Greece is preparing to sell, or offer long-term leases on, some of its 6000 sun-kissed islands in a desperate attempt to repay mountainous debts. The Greek Government denies such allegations and insists that the Greek islands are not for sale or long terms lease as reported in the Wall Street Journal Today.

According to WA TODAY a publication in Australia, an area on Mykonos, one of Greece's top tourist destinations, is up for sale. The area is one-third owned by the government, which is looking for a buyer to develop a luxury tourism complex. Potential investors, who are also looking at property investments on Rhodes, are mostly Russian and Chinese. They are looking for a little bit of the Mediterranean as holiday destinations for their increasingly affluent populations.

Time will tell if such rumors are true which have been circulating since Greece's Debt Crisis hit the headlines last year.

Greek Main Ferry Port disrupts Tourist Travel

Greek Isles by Basil — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 14:17:00 GMT

June 23rd 2010
Athens, Greece
By ELENA BECATOROS (AP)

A tourist carries her luggage as members of PAME, a communist party-backed labor group, block the entrance to a ferry in Piraeus Port, near Athens, Greece, on Wednesday, June 23, 2010. Striking port workers were preventing hundreds of passengers from boarding ferries heading from Greece's main port of Piraeus to Aegean holiday islands Wednesday, despite a court order declaring their strike illegal.

Only two of 14 unions represented in the main port workers' umbrella union had said they wanted to participate in Wednesday's 24-hour strike, called by PAME, a communist party-backed labor group. The union is protesting government austerity measures designed to pull Greece out of a financial crisis that saw it come to the brink of default last month.

Click Here for the entire AP Aritcle on Greek Ferry Boat Strike

Travel Channel's Samantha Brown exploring the Greek Isles

Greek Isles by Basil — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 18:08:00 GMT

Samantha's back with her definitive guideto the very best in weekend getaways. From Sundance to Montreal, "Great Weekends" has Sam traveling todestinations all across the U.S. and worldwide.

Samantha knows travel; she practically lives on the road. So in thisseries, she's taking you to all of her favorite places and her go-tohotels, restaurants and activities in each place.

Here we have provided Samantha Brown visiting the Greek Islands; Enjoy!

Click here for Samantha Brown Greece Picture Slide Show

Samantha Brown Greek Goddess Video

Samanth Browns Top Greek Isles

Santorini: Cliffs, beaches and the sapphire sea

Greek Isles by Basil — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 17:56:00 GMT

June 18th 2010
Published June 17, 2010 | Associated Press

"What is Santorini? It is an island of black rock," said Nicos Plevrakis, manager of the Hotel Belvedere, where my wife and I stayed. "It attracts sunbeams."

This "island of black rock" owes its unique, dramatic landscape to volcanic eruptions. A volcano, still active, stands at the center of a ring of islands, Santorini the longest. In between them is a vast, deep caldera, filled with water, surrounded by the islands' cliffs, volcanic rock, and black and red sand beaches. Geologists say an early blast created a tsunami that washed over Crete 60 miles away, wiped out Minoan civilization and reshaped this landscape.

Click here for the Whole Fox News article