spetses spotlight vol. 4

Spetsesspotlight

spotlight SpetsesS

SUMMER 2016 ISSUE 4

New spirit

Greek champions

on the road to Rio

Going for gold

Green power

Fuel your workout

with a wholesome

Seriously stylishSporty, bold, sultry looks for summer

ALL THE THRILLS & SKILLS OF THE SUMMER REGATTAS

000 Spetses Spotlight Spetses Spotlight 000

Big Pilot’s Watch. Ref. 5009: Ï êüóìïò åßíáé óáí Ýíá âéâëßï ðïõ

êáôáëáâáßíåéò êáëýôåñá Ý÷ïíôáò ôç ãíþóç åíüò ðïëõôáîéäåìÝíïõ êïóìïðïëßôç.

Ãéáôß üóï ðåñéóóüôåñåò åìðåéñßåò óõëëÝãåéò , ôüóï ðåñéóóüôåñï óïõ

áðïêáëýðôåôáé ç óýíèåôç öýóç ôïõ óôá ðëáßóéá ôïõ ÷ñüíïõ. Áðü áõôÞ ôçí

ïðôéêÞ ãßíåôáé ðñïöáíÝò ôï ðïý âñßóêïíôáé ïé ñßæåò ôçò ùñïëïãïðïéßáò ôïõ

íÝïõ Big Pilot’s Watch ôçò IWC: óôéò Ýíäïîåò áñ÷Ýò ôçò åðï÷Þò ôïõ Pilot’s Watch

óôçí IWC. Óå ôåëéêÞ áíÜëõóç, åßíáé ï åðßóçìïò äéÜäï÷ïò åíüò áõèåíôéêïý

ðñùôüôõðïõ, ôïõ ðñþôïõ ñïëïãéïý observer ðïõ êáôáóêåõÜóôçêå áðü ôçí

åôáéñßá ìå Ýäñá ôï Schaffhausen: ôïõ Big Pilot’s Watch 52 T. S. C. Ãéáôß áõôü Þôáí

ôï ñïëüé ðïõ óçìáôïäüôçóå ôçí Ýíáñîç ôçò ëáìðñÞò äåêáåôßáò ôùí ñïëïãéþí

Big Pilot óôçí IWC êáé ðïõ áêüìá áðïôåëåß ïñüóçìï óôçí éóôïñßá ôùí ñïëïãéþí

áåñïðïñßáò. Áêïëïõèþíôáò áõôÞ ôçí ðáñÜäïóç, ôï ðéï ðñüóöáôï ìïíôÝëï

äéáèÝôåé ôçí ßäéá áðüëõôç áêñßâåéá êáé êáíôñÜí ìå Ýíôïíá áðëïðïéçìÝíï

ó÷åäéáóìü ðïõ ðáñáðÝìðåé óôç óáöÞíåéá ôùí ïñãÜíùí ðéëïôçñßïõ èñõëéêþí

áåñïóêáöþí üðùò ôï Junkers Ju 52 áðü ôï íçðéáêü óôÜäéï ôçò áåñïðïñßáò.

Óõíåðþò, ôï ôñÝ÷ïí Big Pilot’s Watch åßíáé ôï ðéï ðñüóöáôï ðñùôüôõðï óôçí

éóôïñßá ôùí ñïëïãéþí Pilot ôçò IWC êáé ôáõôü÷ñïíá Ýíáò êáèñÝöôçò ðïõ

áíôáíáêëÜ ôï Ýíäïîï ðáñåëèüí ôïõ. IWC. Ôå÷íïëïãßá ãéá Üíôñåò.

IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN, SWITZERLAND. WWW.IWC.COM - RICHEMONT ÅËËÁÓ Á.Å. 210 6471310

ÅÎÏÕÓÉÏÄÏÔÇÌÅÍÁ ÊÁÔÁÓÔÇÌÁÔÁ: ÁÈÇÍÁ: ORA KESSARIS - ATLANTIS - IMANOGLOU ÌÁÑÏÕÓÉ: GOLDEN HALL KESSARIS ÍÅÏ ØÕ×ÉÊÏ: PATSEAS

ÃËÕÖÁÄÁ: IMANOGLOU ÈÅÓÓÁËÏÍÉÊÇ: TEMPUS - GOFAS ÌÕÊÏÍÏÓ: ORA KESSARIS ÊÑÇÔÇ: CROESUS - NILOS

ÓÁÍÔÏÑÉÍÇ: ZOE JEWELRY ÑÏÄÏÓ: KOUNAKIS ÊÙÓ: VOLAKA JEWELLERY ÊÕÐÑÏÓ: VE SHOP

000 Spetses Spotlight Spetses Spotlight 000000 Spetses Spotlight Spetses Spotlight 000

Spetses Spotlight 0006 Spetses Spotlight

IN THE SUMMER of 2004 (in a state of euphoria having just completed my PhD), I got my first "real job" as a crisis management consultant for the sponsors of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. In the sweltering August heat I felt an exhilarating sense of accomplishment as Greece managed to pull off this incredible feat with such great success. Twelve years later it is once again an Olympic summer – although Greece barely resembles the country it was in 2004, having endured more than six years of economic hardship and austerity measures along with political and financial volatility. Amidst the continuous lay-offs, pension cuts and increases in taxation, a handful of elite athletes are training around the clock in order to make us proud in Rio. Most of them are funded entirely by private companies and are in a constant state of financial insecurity as they and their coaches struggle

SUMMER 2016ISSUE 4

spotlightSpetses

An Olympic Summer P

EDITOR Marina L. Coutarelli

------------------EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Stella Lizardi

CREATIVE DIRECTORLia Galanou

------------------

COPY EDITOR Cordelia Madden-

Kanellopoulou

CONTRIBUTORS Ioanna Alexatou,

Alexandra Gardenioti,George Kiriakidis,

Paris Kormaris, Cordelia Madden-

Kanellopoulou,Alexandra Koroxenidis,

Thodoris Koutsogiannopoulos,Tatiana Oikonomidou, Despoina Sampson,

Isabella Zabetaki ------------------

STYLE EDITORMyrto Kritsotaki

------------------CONTRIBUTING

PHOTOGRAPHERSNikos Alevromytis,

Alexandros Ioannidis, Nikos Karanikolas,

Panagiotis Mavromattis, Ioanna Roufopoulou

------------------ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES

Elfi Alexandroglou, Nely Xenaki

------------------ADVERTISING

& MEDIA INQUIRIES Ioanna Kozadinou [email protected]

------------------The Spetses Spotlight magazine is published

by Communication Lab 210-8015954

Hellenic Open-Water Swimming

World Champion Kelly Araouzou, photographed

by Nikos Karanikolas

with limited resources to accomplish the biggest athletic achievement of all: an Olympic medal. In Isabella Zampetaki’s feature, we get to meet some of the country's top athletes – many of whom it is an honour to call my friends.Whether an Olympic fan or not, come August it feels as if the whole country has moved coast-wards, with islands welcoming thousands of visitors who relish the idea of the spending entire days on the beach. For an increasing number of keen sailors, the Greek summer brings the chance to compete in one of many unforgettable regattas that combine challenging races with glorious scenery and culture. In this issue of the magazine, Ioanna Alexatou takes a closer look at some of these events, many spawned by Spetses’ own Classic Yacht Regatta, which is now in its sixth year.Tourism continues to be one of the country's main sources of revenue and most definitely is Spetses'

livelihood. Traditionally, the tourist season opened on Spetses at Easter and finished during the Armata celebration. However, for the past six years, the Spetses season has been extended thanks to an extraordinary athletic event of which I am the proud founder and organizer. More than 12,000 athletes and visitors flocked to the island last year to participate in the fifth anniversary Spetses mini Marathon, leaving us with cherished memories and fantastic photos – many, in fact, shot by Marina Vernicos, whose images are also featured in this issue. The impact of the Spetses mini Marathon on the lengthening of the tourist season was acknowledged this spring when we were awarded a Gold Tourism Award for our efforts; an award which I dedicated to the island and its people for the amazing support and effort they put into the event each year.I hope you all enjoy a wonderful Spetses summer!

MARINA L. COUTARELLI

SUMMER 2016ISSUE 4

spotlightSpetses

An Olympic Summer P

Stella Lizardi

------------------

Kanellopoulou

------------------ADVERTISING

SUMMER 2016ISSUE 4

spotlightSpetses

An Olympic Summer P

Stella Lizardi

------------------

Kanellopoulou

------------------ADVERTISING

SUMMER 2016ISSUE 4

spotlightSpetses

An Olympic Summer P

Stella Lizardi

------------------

Kanellopoulou

------------------ADVERTISING

table of contents

SUMMER 2016

6 EDITORIAL10 SCRAPBOOK LIVE LIKE A LOCAL. What to see and do in Spetses during this season, according to two formidable women - Christina Oikonomou and Maria Strati 16 ΤΟ BLOG OR NOT TO BLOG Get the inside information on the current social media frenzy from a group of talented and high-flying young bloggers30 SHOPPING THERAPY Indulge in modern classics and stunning wardrobe items which work from day to night, while enjoying the Spetses summer scene 48 BLUE HORIZON Spend a superb summer island-hopping in search of the best Greek regattas56 DOUBLE CLICK Visionary photographer and philanthropist Marina Vernicos showcases her photos and talks about balancing dreams and life 62 RIO HERE WE COME Meet an amazing group of talented athletes, including cover star Kelly Araouzou, and sailing legends Takis Mantis and Pavlos Kagialis, going for gold at the Rio Olympics this summer 68 GREEN EATING Find out why more and more athletes are turning towards a vegan diet while still playing hard at sports and work76 AL FRESCO LIVING Update your home this season with handcrafted design pieces which perfectly complement breezy summer evenings and cool parties 78 PURE BLISS Pamper yourself at the luxurious Amanzoe spa and enjoy a yoga retreat amidst the breathtaking scenery of the Greek Riviera

w w w . c o c o a n d s i l k . c o m

S h o w r o o m : 5 4 T r i v o n i a n o u S t r . , 1 1 6 3 6 , A t h e n st e l . + 3 0 2 1 0 9 2 1 2 7 0 7 i n f o @ c o c o a n d s i l k . c o m

B o u t i q u e : 2 2 0 O l y m p i o n i k o n S t r . , 1 5 4 5 1 P s y c h i k o , A t t i c a

advertisement1.indd 1 3/31/16 5:16:17 PMDIAFIMISI.indd 1 12/4/2016 10:13:11 µµ

table of contents

SUMMER 2016

table of contents

SUMMER 2016

table of contents

SUMMER 2016

PEOPLE, PLACES, TRENDS, NEWS...

Sscrapbook

Fashion designer Christina Economou and Maria Strati of the Poseidonion Grand Hotel share their favourite Spetses spots.

Christina Economou Fashion Designer Christina Economou

launched her colourful, often minimalistic fashion line following a brief but invaluable stint working at Giambattista Valli. Taking inspiration from her favourite Greek island, Spetses, her creations are already showcased in boutiques around the world, with every new collection promoting an effortless, eclectic and timeless style which reflects the designer’s own. Economou’s childhood memories are tied to the island of Spetses: “I have been vacationing on Spetses since I was born,” she says. “My family owns a house there and I have the best childhood memories. Even as an adult I try to visit as much as I can. I love this island!”

Beaches: “Kaiki beach is the perfect place for water-sports. There is also a beach bar where you can enjoy a drink in the sunset. I also like going for a swim at Zogeria, Kouzounos and Xilokeriza.”Bike ride: “For those who can endure it, you can cycle all around the island in the afternoon. It is the perfect time of day and a great exercise.” For less active types, “Walking from the old port to the Poseidonion Hotel is the best way to enjoy the sea breeze.” Shops: “I find amazing swimwear at the Closet, and I always get a fashion souvenir from Wrap or Ratih.”Restaurants: “The best fish taverns on the island are Sioras and Tarsanas. For pizza I always go to Il Padrino. And I have a sweet tooth so I often visit Klimis and Vanilla for the most tasteful macaroons.”Meeting point: “I always enjoy an early drink at Bikini at the old port and later at Spetsa Bar!”Best view: “From the lighthouse at the old port you have an amazing view of the sea and the island of Spetses.”

PRIVATE VIEW

Sscrapbook

PRIVATE VIEW

Sscrapbook

PRIVATE VIEW

Sscrapbook

PRIVATE VIEW

Maria Strati has lived and worked throughout Europe and the Middle East, but she considers the island of Spetses as her home from home. She first visited the island’s Poseidonion Grand Hotel as a guest and was won over by its elegance, warmth and location. Hailing from a family of hoteliers – her brother owns Tresor Hotels & Resorts, which recently joined forces with the Poseidonion – Strati worked at prestigious and luxurious hotels around the world before moving to the Poseidonion Grand Hotel as general manager in 2015. “Poseidonion is a place to visit all year round, so I stay on Spetses for 8 months, from March until November,” says Strati. “That’s how long the season lasts!”

Beaches: “The island has many picturesque beaches, its one with its own unique beauty; from the most popular, like Kaiki, Vrello and Zogeria with its amazing tavern, to Agious Anargyrous and Agia Marina, best known for their water-sports activities. My personal favourite is Agia Paraskevi, a quiet beach that gives me the serenity I need when I can spare a little free time during the day. It’s the place where I like to work out, doing aerobics with my personal trainer.” Bike ride: “From Poseidonion to the old port.”Shops: “My favourite places are Ileana Makri’s Mageia at Poseidonion Grand Hotel, The Closet and SohoSoho.” Restaurants: “Nero tis Agapis for the fresh fish, Dante for pasta, and the desserts made by Stamatis Marmarinos at Poseidonion Grand Hotel’s On the Veranda.”Meeting point: “The hotel’s veranda, for its amazing and warm atmosphere.”Walk: “From my house to Zogeria beach and back!”Best view: “The sunset and the exotic palm trees from the hotel’s Palms Bar.”

Maria StratisGeneral Manager at Poseidonion Grand Hotel

14 Spetses Spotlight

The secrets of THE SOUTH

Three experts in bespoke travel services share their tips about authentic experiences and lesser-known destinations in southern Greece, from a walk in a petrified palm forest to candlelit dinner in a secluded island cove.THE MANI: From medieval tower houses to a modern family farmAlex Papasimakopoulou, director of Everymatic everymatic.com, http://www.facebook.com/everymatic recommends: “The Mani, both its Messinian and Laconian sides, is a land of myth and legend. Its inhabitants, infamous for their independent nature, have developed a character perfectly in fitting with the rugged countryside and ancient tower houses. Mani is much more than that though. It has stunning seaside towns and villages, offers wonderful hiking paths and breathtaking views. Two of our top tips perfectly encompass the past and present of this unique region. The deserted village of Vatheia is a must-see. Perched on a hill with amazing countryside and sea views, it’s a step back in time. It feels like

Unique travel experiences in the Peloponnese and Saronic Gulf. By Isabella Zampetaki

Clockwise from left: Hiking along the Peloponnesian coastline reveals a less-known version of Greece's natural beauty; the seafront of Aegina features elegant neoclassical mansions; Mani’s stone-built tower houses and rugged countryside are perfectly in line with its inhabitants’ proud and independent nature.

medieval villages, hiking paths to natural springs and secluded coves. Join locals in festivities and art events, and be sure to taste local olive oil and fresh fish.” Island safari in the ARGOSARONIC GULFMaria Gregoriou, Head of Seez Travel, seeztravel.com, recommends: “The islands of the Argosaronic are an enticing combination of cultural and natural beauty, lying only a few miles off the coast of Attica. A speedboat safari is an excellent way to explore Aegina, Hydra and the big blue that lies in between them. Aegina once served Greece as its first capital and its streets are dotted with elegant neoclassical mansions. Also unique to Aegina is the variety of pistachio tree that grows on the island. An expert local producer is the ideal guide to revealing this nut’s unknown properties. The countless picturesque bays of the island, where pine trees stretch all the way to azure waters, are best explored by boat. A unique way to complete the Aegina experience is with a private dinner featuring local delicacies at the imposing Mavrokordatos residence. A short helicopter flight over the scenic coastline and the island of Poros brings you to the island of Hydra. This picturesque port is dotted with age-old stone-built mansions. A sailing boat will take you to unexplored coves of turquoise waters, saving the best for last: a candlelight dinner to the gentle sound of the sea in a secluded gulf.”

An excellent way to make the most of your vacation from the moment you land at Athens International Airport is by signing up for a “Welcome Pick-Up”. Your designated driver will offer you plenty of information about Athens as he takes you to your destination and can even provide museum tickets or a local SIM card upon request. Throughout your stay, as well as before your trip, the Welcome Buddy App will offer instant, personalized service to assist with all your travel queries. www.welcomepickups.com

its inhabitants left suddenly, sometimes without even taking their belongings. Walk around the little alleyways and feel those myths talking to you.Back to the present, Eumelia organic farm and guesthouse in Gouves, Laconia, is a very special place to experience warm hospitality. A working family farm, it offers accommodation in environmentally-friendly houses and a number of activities including wine tasting and cooking classes.”MONEMVASIA TO KYTHIRA: An adventurous travel in timeElena Papanicolaou, Founder & CEO “Fly Me To The Moon” flymetothemoontravel.com, recommends:“This trip down south starts with a glass of Malvasia PDO wine in the gardens of a Venetian estate turned boutique hotel in the medieval fortress-city of Monemvasia. It then reaches all the way to the tip of the first Peloponnesian peninsula, with a hike to the Cape Maleas abandoned lighthouse, one of the Mediterranean’s biggest. A visit to the Neolithic cave of Kastania and a walk along the petrified palm forest reveal some of the lesser-known facets of Greece’s natural beauty. But hold your 'Wows!' for the boat ride that will take you right above the submerged 5,000-year-old city of Pavlopetri. From there, it is on to the island of Kythira, where you can explore

DIAFIMISI.indd 1 13/4/2016 4:59:44 µµ

Vasilis Mathioudakis USERNAME: @VASILI.S AGE: 36. OCCUPATION: ARCHITECT. FOLLOWERS: 18,500 ON INSTAGRAM.SINCE: 2011What do you like most about Instagram?Firstly, the fact that it is so inspiring, and secondly that it gives you the ability to discover interesting people.What do you enjoy capturing most? Sea and cities. But lately, I've been thinking of directing photographic concepts. My future goal is to be able to create surreal images – but there is a long road between the idea to

Life through

A LENS

By George Kiriakidis

implementation.In your profile we saw a lot of architectural photography. What do you like most about it?I like the aspect of a building when you look at it from below, as well as the interesting facades of some buildings. What intrigues me most is when architectural elements are presented along with people.What kind of equipment do you have?An iPhone 6.Which photos of your Instagram collection get the most positive feedback from your followers?The ones that have minimal aesthetics or an interesting setting.

Which are the best hashtags for architecture related photos? #ic_architecture, #archiloverz, #jj_minimalism and #deep_architecture.If a friend of yours was about to join Instagram, which accounts would you recommend following (right after your own)?For beautiful architecture photos, I would recommend @macenzo, @iso72nickfrank, @4_23, @etna11 and @thismintymoment.What's your opinion about Snapchat? Do you believe that it's the new Instagram? I've only used it a little. I believe, though, that it won't replace Instagram easily.

Two young and popular Greek Instagrammers share with Spotlight their aspect of the world's most beloved photo social network, which counts more than 400m members worldwide.

Life through

A LENS

Life through

A LENS

Life through

A LENS

Dimitris KosmidisUSERNAME: @DIM_KOSM AGE: 22. OCCUPATION: MEDICAL STUDENT. FOLLOWERS: 51,800 ON INSTAGRAM. SINCE: 2012What do you enjoy capturing most?Nature. I love discovering its wonders, from the forests in Scandinavia to the beautiful turquoise beaches of Greece. I also love architecture, hence I often take pictures of buildings, cities, streets etc. In which places in Greece have you taken the most amazing shots?I really love shooting in the Cyclades. In these islands you can witness the simplicity of the Greek beauty. White and blue, everywhere. It is a colour-combination I really enjoy capturing. My favourite shots are taken in Antiparos, Koufonisia, and Oia.You have travelled a lot abroad. Why do you think Greece is special?The variety of its landscape, the continuous alternation between sea and mountain, the hospitality of its inhabitants, the food which is different in each place, are just few of the reasons I love Greece.What kind of photo-equipment do you have?A Nikon D5100 camera. I also use sometimes the camera of my iPhone 6.Which are the best photo-editing applications?I mostly use VSCO, Snapseed and Photoshop fix, instead of Instagram's filters. I formerly used Afterlight.If a friend of yours was about to join Instagram, which account would you recommend following (right after your own)? One of my favourite travel-related accounts is @doyoutravel by Jack Morris. He travels the world sharing his passion for nature through his

amazing shots.Which are the best hashtags for nature-related photos?#team_greece, #weroamgermany, #wu_greece, #wildernessculture, #nakedplanet, #shareyournature.Is there a place you would love to visit, in order to shoot there?Lately I can't stop thinking about visiting Iceland. I want to capture the volcanic scenery, the black beaches, and to enjoy nature's most spectacular show, the Northern lights.

Maria KritsiligkouAfter 11 years in marketing and communications, Maria founded www.GoSeeLeave.com, a "Travel Website for Contemporary Nomads", where, along with Georgios T Carabellas – consultant and editor-at-large @ GoSeeLeave – she shares travel experiences and tips. In this issue, she explains why travel blogging became so popular, describes the ideal outfit for an evening walk and shares her favourite Spetses spots.Instagram: @maria_kritsi

Why did travel blogging rise to prominence, in your opinion?I notice that people nowadays search for honest, less pretentious presentations of destinations; they look for more personal information.What do you like most about travel blogging? I like travelling: the journey, the

Bloggers’ MEETINGThree bloggers from different fields (travel, fashion and lifestyle) discuss their varying points of view, while sharing fashion tips, secrets, favourite soundtracks and more. By George Kiriakidis

exploration – they fascinate me. Each destination helps us discover unexplored sides of ourselves.For which feature would you like your readers to return to your blog again and again?GoSeeLeave presents guides based on research and personal experiences (photos and videos), giving weight to history, culture, literature etc, plus suggesting books for travellers. I want readers to derive from my blog inspiration for their trips, and find there tips to follow while visiting a destination. My dream is to make GoSeeLeave an online destination full of inspiration.Can you name travel blogs and bloggers you admire?I like the aesthetics, the content and the structure of 12hrs.net, by Anna Peuckert and Søren Jepsen. I also like AlongDustingRoads by Emily and Andrew, and BrownBook - a contemporary urban guide for the Middle East which also circulates as a print edition six times per year.Which is your favourite destination in this area?Spetses. It might seem like a low-profile island, but it has a significant history and elegant traditional architecture. And, as cars are not allowed on the island, it is one of the few places in the world where you can enjoy a walk without the pressure of nervous drivers looking for a parking space.When do you enjoy visiting Spetses most?September is always magical there. It is still summer, but with nice, breezy nights.The right outfit for an evening walk in Spetses?A white leotard, paired with a cropped pair of jeans, leather sandals, jean jacket, silk scarf in your hair, and long silver earrings. No bags, no worries!Which is your favourite: 1) restaurant, 2) spot for traditional pastries, 3) souvenir shop, 4) hotel, on the island of Spetses?1) Liotrivi restaurant, 2) Politis pastry shop, 3) Aion antique shop in Agios Mamas, 4) Orloff Resort.A must-visit place on Spetses?The Lighthouse – one of the oldest in Greece – is, for me, a very special place. It stands on a small hill, pretty close to the old port. It emits its unique light, guiding captains and inspiring hopeless romantic travellers.

Touche Collection now available at Magnolia Grace Concept store: Shopping Land, Kolokotroni 1, Kifi ssia T: 210 8016340

and at other selected retailers, call T: 210 6855218

SHOP ONLINE MAGNOLIA-GRACE.COM

Adv_monoselidoMG_280316-Print.indd 1 1/4/16 2:43 . .DIAFIMISI.indd 1 12/4/2016 10:28:06 µµ

Nicolette RalliA radio producer, public relations manager and lifestyle blogger, Nicolette Ralli lives her life to the fullest, sharing all the interesting things she experiences with her 41,800 followers on Instagram. In this feature, she counts the reasons Spetses is her favourite destination, while recommending a top-5 soundtrack for a trip to the Argosaronic Gulf. Instagram: @nikolettaralli As a frequent traveller, what would be your first advice to a friend who was just about to leave for a trip?To avoid taking with her lots of clothes, so she can buy what she likes from the places she will visit. And to switch off her social media in order to enjoy the trip.Which is your favourite destination in the area?Spetses! There are three reasons for me to go there. The Poseidonion Grand Hotel, the Tweed Run and the amazing ice-cream at the port. I also want to participate in Spetsathlon, so then the reasons will rise to four!What are your travel essentials for a trip to Spetses? A pair of jeans, a windproof jacket, leggings, a white T-shirt, a jean shirt, sneakers and flats, but for sure, no high heels!A playlist you would recommend for the trip?Hasta Luego Goodbye, B-Tribe

Pasquale KaratzetzoFashion blogger of gentlemansdiary.com and member of the marketing team of Korres Natural Products, Pasquale Karatzetzo seeks elegance wherever he can trace it. Paris, London and Rome are always at the top of his travel list, along with weekend escapes to destinations of the Argosaronic Gulf. Pasquale shares with Spotlight snapshots from his travel diaries, styling tips and his dream about the ultimate trip.Instagram: @gentlemansdiarymagazine In your view, what makes blogs particularly interesting for readers?A blogger offers a personal, more experienced point of view. Through a blog, people can see both market and trends in a more direct manner, as if the blogger is a friend of theirs.As a blogger, you travel a lot. Of all your trips, which do you pick out?Marseille, Stockholm and London, although Rome is my favourite city. It feels like home for me, because I studied there. A perfect day would include a morning walk in Villa Borghese, coffee at Sant'Eustachio, lunch at bistrot Ginger and aperitivo at 'Gusto.If you were about to take a trip to a destination in the Argosaronic Gulf, which items would be the first in your suitcase?An SLR camera, swimming trunks, a sunscreen emulsion, and a power bank for my smartphone!What would you never wear during a trip there?Suits. I would prefer lightweight and airy clothing.What is your next trip?Paris, in order to attend Fashion Week.What trip would you love to take next?It's a lifetime dream for me to visit Africa. As a child, I was always – and I still am – fascinated by the wild nature and life in such places. I can watch Animal Planet for hours!

Midnight Train to Georgia, Gladys Knight & The PipsJohnny Guitar, Peggy LeeSoul Love, David BowieSeason song, Blue StatesWhat is your next trip?To Bulgaria, to visit the first shop of Forever21 there, with which I will collaborate.What trip would you love to take next?Spetses island! For all the reasons I mentioned before and for its magic atmosphere.

unique combination of colourful precious and semi-precious stones used in

unexpected ways is what makes Dolly Boucoyannis’ creations unique and desirable. Based in her hometown, Athens, the jewellery designer has won the De Beers Diamonds International Award for the use of moving diamonds, after studying jewellery design in Great Britain, Gemology in the United States and goldsmith techniques in Florence, Italy. Her workshop and retail shop in Athens is the place where Dolly transforms her designs into precious, timeless objects of desire. Combining images and inspiration from her travels around the world and traditional Greek elements from various historical periods with the craftsmanship and the knowledge she has acquired throughout the years, the designer manages to create handmade, one-of-a-kind pieces of jewellery, with an unexpected, contemporary twist. Bracelets, earrings, pendants and necklaces are made with carefully

Dolly Boucoyannis’ precious, contemporary pieces are created with a unique sense of design and an unexpected use of materials.

Dolly Boucoyannis’ designs are

exclusively available in jewellery

boutiques and concept stores in

Greece

P U B L I

chosen materials, such as precious and semi-precious stones, pearls, gold and silver, while their value lies on the designs themselves, worn by the most elegant, contemporary women. www.dollyboucoyannis.com

MODERN TWIST

Greece

P U B L I

MODERN TWIST

Spetses Spotlight 23

Greece

P U B L I

MODERN TWIST

Greece

P U B L I

MODERN TWIST

Her creations are known for their playful essence, with colourful stones and unexpected shapes, giving a new meaning to the term fine jewellery. This time, Lito Karakostanoglou comes up with a more minimal collection of precious metals that puts the emphasis on geometry. “The ‘Infinite’ collection is all about going back to the basics,” says the designer. “Driven by my curiosity and fascination with forms during my research for my latest collection, I deconstructed, analyzed and played around [with] them. My findings were primal: a world of infinite shapes,” she explains. She draws inspiration from nature and symbolism, her travels around the world, and, of course, the materials she uses for each piece. “My creative process is spontaneous, organic. For me individuality is the ultimate luxury and jewellery is the ultimate self-expression. My collections have a balanced everyday luxury feel,” she says. “New pieces blend with old, layering and adding up, creating diverse and original styles according to the personality. I let my materials – especially the stones – lead my creativity in order to produce as many one-of-a-kind pieces as possible. It's this variety that

Meticulous craftsmanship, a contemporary sense of design and the use of precious materials and stones are the elements that make Lito’s jewellery irresistible.

makes my job so enjoyable!”Apart from her own line of jewellery, Lito recently collaborated with the Museum of Cycladic Art, which (for its renovated and redesigned shop) asked Greek artists and designers to create pieces inspired by the exhibits and the museum itself. “I was very pleased to be asked to participate in their effort,” says Lito. “A gold and lapis lazuli necklace was born that brings together the symmetry and the lines of the idols with the blue and the light of the Aegean archipelagos.”Over the years, her brand has achieved worldwide recognition, with her jewellery showcased in Paris, London, Florence, USA, the Middle East and Asia. “It all started with my ‘Scarabées de Beaute’ collection that I did back in 2009, for the Galerie BSL in Paris,” recalls Lito. “That wonderful first collaboration with Mrs Beatrice Saint Laurent gave me the ticket to other retailers around the world. We are very proud and pleased with the recognition and the network of stockists that we have achieved over the years.” As for the designer’s future goals, she says: “I would like to build a strong global brand identity and focus in retail that is directly managed by our company.”

Romancing the stone

Substantial WEIGHTJewellery for me is a form of art. “Symbiosis” is a first peek into my black-and-white cosmos – I often dream in black and white – shaped by an array of contrasting experiences and diverse visual stimuli. Aiming to give duality and differentiation a tangible form, I set my mind towards the fusion of contemporary and classical materials. The idea of using marble became an obsession serving multiple roles in my creative process; a beautiful natural stone that challenged not only me as a designer, but also the concept of where luxury lies within a piece of fine jewellery. It is a material

Jewellery designer Ioanna Souflia explains why she used marble in her “Symbiosis” collection, creating absolute statement pieces.

though, is not so much a matter of using marble, but more of creating pieces that celebrate volume, boldness and make a statement.Inspiration comes from whatever makes my creative self get “butterflies”. It might be an abstract black-and-white photograph by Nicholas Alan Cope, a sculpture by Barbara Hepworth, an Art Deco illustration by Erté, or just the detail of a dress, the curves of an everyday object, or a detail of a building.Greece has been my “visual library” for most of my years, so it would be impossible not to draw inspiration from my heritage – even though I believe that this influence is more unconscious than intentional. The iconic linear carving of the Greek columns has stuck with me from an early age, as well as the detailing of Greek art, as seen for example on an ancient decorative vase, or the elaborate embellishment of traditional Greek attire.Living abroad for six years now, I’ve come to acknowledge more both the negative and the positive side of Greece. Most importantly though, I came to appreciate the euphoria I experience every time I return home. The natural light, the kindness and warmth of the environment and our people, the serenity one can feel even though amongst chaos. If I could, I would capture a country that is so much “alive”, with the bad and the good, the light and the darkness.* As told to Paris Kormaris. Ioanna Souflia jewellery is available at the Museum of Cycladic Art Shop and online at www.kultia.com, ioannasouflia.com

that adds to the preciousness of the making process. White Thassos marble, pure and illuminating, became the perfect companion of black gold, each highlighting the other in a symbiotic relationship of modern adornments.Working with marble is a challenging yet rewarding experience. Strong and solid in its natural volume, marble becomes fragile and requires a lot of patience and precision when it is “forced” to adapt to a smaller scale. It is a material you need to respect, but you also need to question and provoke its limitations in order to explore the possibilities of such a beautiful natural element. The sculptural blocks of stone surrender and at the same time oppose to the hands of the maker. It is a matter of finding the perfect balance between form, volume, weight, and the “safety” of the stone in each piece of jewellery, without compromising your aesthetic vision. For me, jewellery is not an afterthought; it is not an accessory to complement a certain outfit. It is the piece you wear and somehow feel stronger, radiant, as if the ring on your finger or the cuff on your wrist encompasses your fierceness. The “Symbiosis” collection has a personality of its own, so I would say it is about a bold sophisticated woman who wants to stand out. Varying in size, most of the pieces are surprisingly light in terms of what everyone expects. Having said that, they do have a substantial weight that makes their presence evident on the wearer’s body, offering (somehow) a feeling of empowerment. The weight,

True callingTanja Ludyga has always had a passion for jewellery. “I owe it to my mother, who was a true vintage jewellery collector,” she says. “Since I was little, I was fascinated with her jewellery, playing and exploring in her ‘Treasure box’, and I was ecstatic when she brought a new piece home. I started drawing jewellery designs as far back as high school; I loved to draw all the intricate details. A few years ago, a friend of mine saw one of my drawings and asked me to produce one for her, and then another followed. This is when I realized that I wanted to continue on this path professionally. And voila! The ‘Gaea’ collection was born.” All the pieces are handcrafted in Greece, from 24K gold double-plated brass, and are embedded exclusively with Swarovski crystals. “My designs overall combine an array of different elements, strong and edgy yet soft and delicate,” explains the German-born designer who is now based on Crete. “I wish to create stunning, powerful jewellery for women of all financial backgrounds.” www.tanjaludyga.com P. K.

Infatuated with sculpture, Ioanna Souflia (left) combines white marble, black gold and diamonds, in a collection which treats marble as a true gem.

Staying true to the brand’s DNA, Mareva Grabowski and Dimitra Kolotoura launched their new collection for Summer 2016, with athleisure at its core. Named ‘Athlos’, the Greek word for contest or task, the collection is all about movement, natural volumes

and shapes. Raw silk fabrics and hand-stitched details are a testament to the artisanal craftsmanship that characterizes the brand. The colour pallet ranges from neutrals and earthy tones – like ivory and gold – to black and red. Graphic elements, such

as stripes and prints, are combined with light fabrics that emphasize the natural movement of the body. Inspired by Greek mythology and its symbolisms, Zeus+Dione is a brand that revives the unique craft of artisans all over Greece from Soufli to Metsovo and from the Cyclades to Crete. This is a clothing line that celebrates its Greek heritage by reinterpreting traditional designs and motifs through architectural structures, geometric shapes and contemporary elements.

‘Athlos’, the new collection by Zeus+Dione, is all about clean lines, sporty elements and luxurious fabrics.

Fit for achampion

Kάντε κλικ στο www.herbalife.gr και μάθετε περισσότερα.

Η Herbalife είναι μία παγκόσμια εταιρεία διατροφής με μοναδικό της στόχο να βοηθάει ανθρώπους σε όλο τον κόσμο να ακολουθούν έναν υγιεινό και δραστήριο τρόπο ζωής με τα υψηλής ποιότητας προϊόντα τα οποία συνδυάζουν το μέγιστο της επιστήμης και της φύσης.

Τα προϊόντα διατίθενται αποκλειστικά από τους Ανεξάρτητους Συνεργάτες της Herbalife.

Θρεπτικό πρωτεϊνούχο ρόφημα Formula 1 Herbalife, Συμπυκνωμένος χυμός αλόης Herbalife, Στιγμιαίο ρόφημα από βότανα Herbalife*

προ

τειν

όμεν

ο υγ

ιειν

ρωιν

ό με

προ

ϊόντ

α τη

Fit for achampion

προ

τειν

όμεν

ο υγ

ιειν

ρωιν

ό με

προ

ϊόντ

α τη

Fit for achampion

προ

τειν

όμεν

ο υγ

ιειν

ρωιν

ό με

προ

ϊόντ

α τη

Fit for achampion

προ

τειν

όμεν

ο υγ

ιειν

ρωιν

ό με

προ

ϊόντ

α τη

TStyle Editor: Myrto Kritsotaki

trends

Far-off lands, ancestral rituals

and folk art create a glorious mash-up of prints in

mineral colours for summer.

DON'T call it ethnic

1. Suede embroidered espadrille. 2. Printed cotton skirt, Dolce &

Gabbana, Dolce & Gabbana Boutique. 3. Embroidered tulle jumpsuit, Diane Von Furstenberg, Attica. 4. Printed

sunglasses, Dolce & Gabbana, Luxottica Hellas. 5. Handcrafted clutch, Kooreloo. 6. Silk tunic, H&M Conscious Exclusive, H&M. 7. Embroidered waist belt, Stella

McCartney. 8. Cotton blazer, Stella Jean, Luisa. 9. Printed dress M Missoni, Linea Imports. 10. Gold-plated bracelet with

pearls, Folli Follie. 11. Suede embroidered wedges, Sergio Rossi, Kalogirou.

trends

90s jeans are coming back in a big, slouchy, wide-leg way! The season also calls for patchwork and printed denim, and flirts with long denim skirts, from floor-

sweeping to ankle-grazing. Put your skinny jeans away,

and embrace the softer face of denim!

friends FOR LIFE

1. Denim jacket with embroidery, Juicy Couture, Juicy Couture Boutique.

2. Tortoiseshell sunglasses, Ray Ban, Luxottica Hellas. 3. Denim crossbody bag, Saint Laurent.

4. Denim dress, H&M. 5. Brass and denim bracelet, Diane Von Furstenberg, Attica. 6. Denim and suede sandals, Gianvito Rossi, Kalogirou. 7. Denim top, United Colors of Benetton. 8. Gold-plated hoops with lapis lazuli, Elena Kougianou, Utopia. 9. Denim

jumpsuit, Isabel Marant Étoile, Zilly. 10. Denim and suede espadrille, Chloe, mytheresa.com.

11. Handcrafted backpack, Kooreloo. 12. Denim shorts with embroidery, Valentino, Luisa.

friends FOR LIFE

Fashion's powerhouses are overhauling the

tracksuit, making it "very chic" and so encouraging us all to pair drawstring trousers and sporty tops with cropped bomber

jackets, gold earrings and, alas, heels. The colour

of the season is crimson! Just saying...

Urban TRAIL

1. Swimsuit, Zeus+Dione.2. "FENIX 3" stainless steel smartwatch

with GPS, Garmin. 3. T-shirt, United Colors of Benetton. 4. Leather bag, Loewe, Free Shop. 5. Sandal, Kenzo.

6. Bomber jacket Behati × Juicy, Juicy Couture Boutique. 7. Cap, Adidas ×

Stella McCartney, Adidas Stores. 8. Mesh top, Fendi, net-a-porter.com.

9. "So Real" sunglasses, Dior, Dior Boutique. 10. Slider, Under Armour.

11. Drawstring trousers, Coco and Silk. 12. Cassiopi duffel bag, Salty bag. 13. Neon body, Wolford, Wolford

Boutique. 14. Sports bra, Under Armour.

Urban TRAIL

HOW MANY years did Annie Leibovitz have to wait for a photo session with Queen Elizabeth II? What is the shortest amount of time she was given by another sitter to take a portrait worth being exhibited? Who is the woman she would now most like to photograph? (Perhaps the most powerful woman in today's world.) The venerable photographer answered all these

questions, and more, in London, the first stop of “Women: New Portraits”, a unique travelling exhibition which has since been to Tokyo and is currently in San Francisco (until 17 April), with Singapore, Hong Kong, Mexico City, Istanbul, Frankfurt, New York, and Zurich to follow. It comes more than 15 years since the publication of “Women”, a study on womanhood Leibovitz had collaborated on with her

around the globeA

By Paris Kormaris

late partner, the intellectual Susan Sontag. The new portraits have been commissioned by UBS, a global financial services firm, and more are scheduled to be taken. Oh, and Leibovitz had to wait five years for the Queen, was given eight minutes with the primatologist Jane Goodall, and wants to photograph the German chancellor, Angela Merkel. * www.ubs.com/annieleibovitz

SECOND ACTWorld-renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz once again

turns her lens to women of outstanding achievement

FamiliarThe Venus painted by Yin Xin in 2008 (right) undeniably resembles the goddess in “The Birth of Venus” (c. 1486) by Sandro Botticelli, only her characteristics are Asian. Welcome to “Botticelli Reimagined”, a major exhibition at the V&A in London, showing how and why the Florentine painter’s legacy has suffused into our collective visual memory. As well as bringing together 50 of his original works, it explores the myriad of ways he has been reinterpreted in painting, fashion, film, drawing, photography, tapestry, sculpture and print. * Until 3 July 2016, www.vam.ac.uk/botticelli

“Ven

li” b

Annie Leibovitz at the Wapping Hydraulic

Power Station in London, first stop of

her “Women: New Portraits” exhibition.

SPETSES, DAPIA, TEL.: 22980 73922

BO2 PAUL’S BOUTIQUE ABBACINO CODELLO MARIO RETRO & CHICK RIB COTTON CHRISTOPHE SAUVAT KOR@KOR G.SELL J’AIME LES GARCONS 4 MINDS MASQUENADA BANANA MOON ESIOT GREEK SALAD CHRISTOPHER WOOD SUNGLASSES

around the globeA

By Paris Kormaris

“Ven

li” b

around the globeA

By Paris Kormaris

“Ven

li” b

around the globeA

By Paris Kormaris

“Ven

li” b

here was a time, not long ago, when what differentiated

haute couture from ready-to-wear was the amount of work made by hand (manus, in Latin) versus that made by machine (machina). Now such dividing lines have been blurred, as the advances of technology have given fashion an array of tools sometimes used to create the most exclusive of garments, not to mention that high-tech gadgets have become coveted fashion accessories. “Fashion and technology are inextricably connected, more so now than ever before,” said Thomas P. Campbell, Director and CEO of The Met, presenting the Costume Institute’s Spring 2016 exhibition aptly titled “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology”. With Apple as the main sponsor, the company’s Chief Design Officer, Jonathan Ive, was there

Masterpieces His famous dancers will be there in all their glory, right in the middle of winter – as is the case in Melbourne, Australia, in June. But with more than 200 works by Edgar Degas, the exhibition “Degas: A New

Vision”, at NGV International, will leave no doubt as to why he is one of the most celebrated artists associated with French Impressionism. The art he made – over more than fifty years of constant creativity and renewal – embraces

painting, drawing, printmaking, monotypes, sculpture and photography, and has had an immense impact on modern and contemporary art. * 24 June – 18 September 2016, www.ngv.vic.gov.au

Walking on water During the course of a long and fruitful relationship, both personal and creative, Christo and the late Jeanne-Claude realized art projects which sounded - and looked - surreal. They surrounded eleven islands in Miami's Biscayne Bay with pink fabric, wrapped the Reichstag in Berlin, and installed thousands of saffron-coloured fabric panels in New York's Central Park. A new visual feat will be staged this summer at Lake Iseo (located 100km east of Milan and 200km west of

to add: “Both the automated and handcrafted process require similar amounts of thoughtfulness and expertise. There are instances where technology is optimized, but ultimately it’s the amount of care put into the

craftsmanship, whether it’s machine-made or handmade, that transforms ordinary materials into something extraordinary.”* 5 May – 14 August 2016, www.metmuseum.org/ManusxMachina

Take a seatIn the spring of 2015, Pierre Paulin’s family donated to the Centre Pompidou an exceptional collection of archives, documents and drawings dedicated to the work of the designer, interior architect and creator who literally sculpted space, laid it out and landscaped it. A year later, the Parisian museum presents an exhibition devoted to Paulin’s entire corpus and 40 years of creation from the angle of his dialogue with history and the body. Visitors will not only have the chance to see outstanding pieces, but also to sit down in the designer's iconic seats. * 11 May – 28 August 2016, www.centrepompidou.fr

I’m with THE BANDIf while at “Exhibitionism: The Rolling Stones Exhibition”, at the Saatchi Gallery on London’s King’s Road, you happen to smell curry, then the band has succeeded in creating a fully immersive experience, as was intended. “There was a great tandoori chicken place on the corner by Olympic Studios,” Mick Jagger explained in an interview. “That, to us, is the smell of those recordings.” With more than five hundred artefacts from the Rolling Stones’ personal archives, the exhibition takes the public through the band’s fascinating 50-year history, embracing all aspects of art & design, film, video, fashion, performance, and rare sound archives.* Until 4 September 2016, www.stonesexhibitionism.com

Venice) with “The Floating Piers”, the first project conceived since Jeanne-Claude’s death. Some 70,000 square metres of shimmering yellow fabric, carried by a modular floating dock system of 200,000 high-density

Clockwise from left: Dress with silicon feather structure and mouldings of bird heads, by Iris van

Herpen, F/W 2013–14. Chanel wedding dress, F/W

2014–15 haute couture. Alexander McQueen

ensemble, F/W 2012–13. Thierry Mugler suit, F/W

1990–91.

A collage for the project, by Christo. Left, a view of Lake Iseo. Below, Christo (right) with Project Director Germano Celant (centre) and Vladimir Yavachev (left), July 2014.

A fight of sorts

polyethylene cubes, will undulate with the movement of the waves, creating a 3km walkway for visitors, weather permitting.* 18 June – 3 July 2016, www.thefloatingpiers.com

Edgar Degas,

“Racehorses in a

landscape”, 1894

1990–91.

A fight of sorts

Edgar Degas,

“Racehorses in a

landscape”, 1894

1990–91.

A fight of sorts

Edgar Degas,

“Racehorses in a

landscape”, 1894

1990–91.

A fight of sorts

Edgar Degas,

“Racehorses in a

landscape”, 1894

The "Big Fat Greek" COMEBACK

The story behind My Big Fat Greek Wedding resembles a fairytale, with Nia Vardalos reserving for herself the part of the Greek-American (in fact, Greek-Canadian) Cinderella. A lot of people still believe that the film was based on the play of the same title that she put together and performed in various venues. But in fact, the story began in exactly the opposite way.

14 years after My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Nia Vardalos’ inspiration for the much-anticipated sequel is her daughter, Hilaria. Disarmingly honest, as ever, Vardalos balances her defining faith in the Greek tradition, with the tolerance and progressiveness she acquired via her American upbringing.

Nia Vardalos with her non-Greek husband,

John Corbett

The comedian from Winnipeg, baptized both Antonia and Evgenia to keep both her grandmothers satisfied, had already written the screenplay of My Big Fat Greek Wedding, but since nobody was really interested in providing funds, she turned it into a theatre piece and, of course, incarnated the now-famous Toula Portokalos. One night, actress Rita Wilson saw

the play and fell in love with it. She urged her husband Tom Hanks not to miss it. Not only did Hanks love it, but he, along with his Greek Orthodox wife suggested to Vardalos to produce the feature film based on her screenplay. In a rare, spontaneous act of bravery, Vardalos firmly told the powerful couple that she wanted to play the lead in the film. To her surprise, Hanks and Wilson agreed and the rest, as they say, is history: the sleeper hit grossed 240 million dollars in the US box office alone, becoming the biggest romantic comedy of all time, and Vardalos garnered a best original screenplay Oscar nomination in 2002. The following year, she tried to capitalize on the phenomenal popularity of the film by creating a television series for CBS network, titled My Big Fat Greek Life, which, despite a promising debut of 23 million viewers, waned quickly and lasted for only 7 weeks. In My Big fat Greek Wedding 2, Vardalos brings back the familiar characters. Toula’s daughter’s distress about family pressure reminds us the daily burden that her mother carried all through the original film. The recurrent theme of parental overprotection, and an unexpected technicality that endangers the marriage of Toula’s parents, turn

By Thodoris Koutsogiannopoulos

Nia Vardalos:

Τhe Spirit of Fine Dining and Inspired Food Catering By creating “GTouch Catering Specialists”, a leading provider in gourmet catering, Vangelis Giannouklidi’s aim was to deliver an exceptional culinary experience for you and your guests, offering an extensive range of delectable and flavorful cuisine that is simply irresistible.Proud provider for the European Presidency, caterer for Industry and Shipping Leaders for private and corporate events, “GTouch Catering Specialists” offers its services in every corner of Greece for a very demanding Greek and international clientele. Our team consists of passionate and dedicated professionals, with a wealth of experience in the Luxury industry, who are looking forward to design the perfect menu and meticulous service for your special event.

1st km Markopoulou Avenue, 19002 Peania AttikisTel. (+30): 210 66 40 949, (+30) 210 61 47 313

e-mail: [email protected] www.gtouch.gr

John Corbett

Nia Vardalos:

John Corbett

Nia Vardalos:

John Corbett

Nia Vardalos:

the daily routine of the beloved family, nosy neighbours and faithful friends, into a typical Greek drama, infused with humour and considerably more emotion than the first time around. As they say in the film: “Everybody changes except the Greeks!” And why is that? “Because we have a big heart and our family is always by our side, in our heart,” says Vardalos. “But we do move on, that is why in the film I combined tradition with a step forwards, with the daughter wanting to go to college and leave her native town, and some of the other characters going through major changes.”I am wondering if Vardalos shares Toula’s concerns, now that her own daughter goes to school and sooner that her mommy thinks, will move on: “I am not acting, this is me, this is who I really am,” confirms the actress. “I love my daughter so much that ‘tin eho sto stoma mou’ (I have her in my mouth) from adoration, and I really worry when she goes off to college after 10 years, ‘mipos pathei tipote to paidi’ (in case something happens to her),” she laughs, as if to exorcise her genuine fears. Vardalos went through a lot to become a mother. She preferred to stay mum on the subject, performing on stage or acting in movies and television, at the same time as trying unsuccessfully to become pregnant. She decided to adopt and shared the details and feelings on the process, the trajectory from frustration to elation, in her book Instant Mom, her personal Odyssey with the happiest of destinations, little Hilaria, who entered her and her husband Ian Gomez’s lives in 2008.

From the moment she became a mother, Vardalos sacrificed her career in front of the camera in order to be close to Hilaria. She made her living writing screenplays and enjoyed bringing up her child until the unforgettable moment when she wept endlessly right after waving her goodbye, on the first day of nursery school. That was the place and time that she got the idea for the sequel to My Big fat Greek Wedding. “I had some ideas for a sequel before, but not enough fire,” she remembers. “When I was standing at the gate of the school, crying, another mother came to me and told me, ‘Pos kaneis etsi? (why are you reacting like that?). In 13 years from now, your kid will go away for good,’ and, while I was choking on my tears, I suddenly realized that I had turned into my own mother!"Despite the deliberately exaggerated portrait of Toula’s mother in the film, again played by singer-actress Lainie Kazan, Vardalos’ real mother knew

that her daughter was struggling and never pushed her (as can often be the case with Greek mothers), trusting her daughter and telling her, “Do what you think is best for you." Nia Vardalos first considered the possibility of adopting a child from China, and later consulted a Greek lawyer who told her that she needed to wait for 4 years, as she does not hold Greek citizenship. The solution came thanks to American Foster Care. Vardalos reminisces in a soft voice, filled with emotion: “A lady took my hand and told me that in one year I will become a mother. Nine months later came that moment. Isn't it incredible? I had only 14 hours to prepare myself from the time they called us and said that they found a child for us, to the initial meeting with her, and the moment we would take her home,” she recalls. “After I first saw her, in the parking lot of the organization’s premises, I said, ‘This is my daughter.’ We had to wait a few hours for the papers and the final decision, and in the meantime, Hilaria went back to the assistant's car. She waved her little hand and said ‘Bye mommy.’ The following day, she came to our house and turned it into a home,” says Vardalos, forcing back tears. Vardalos does not wish to give advice to anyone on the sensitive subject of motherhood, mainly because there was always a member of her family coming towards her, hastily and rather mindlessly checking out her belly. "My opinion on the matter is, only when you see the baby coming out of the womb and cut the umbilical cord, you are allowed to ask the mother if she is pregnant,” she proclaims. She’s joking, of course; never failing to recognize the encouragement of her family, who supported her wholeheartedly back in the hard days of writing and trying her luck on auditions.Her daughter saw My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 just before the gala premiere. Her only comment was: “Mom, why do you kiss somebody who is not my dad?” However, the ever-inventive Vardalos had wisely (and luckily) named her movie husband Ian (played by John Corbett), just like her own Ian, so had the perfect excuse for Hilaria’s pertinent remark.

As they say in the film "Everybody changes except the Greeks". That's because we have a big heart and our family is always by our side. But we do move on...

The Portokalos family characters get together for an even bigger and Greeker wedding.

A traditional Italian restaurant with a modern twist, Dante charms islanders and visitors alike with its delicious cuisine,

cozy atmosphere, and beautiful sunset views across the Old Port of Spetses from its balcony.

The Dante concept was born in May 2014 when a team from Athens, led by George Tsalavoutas and Thomas Papastavrou, joined forces with chef Vasilis Ampatzidis in an exciting project that celebrates authentic

Italian flavours in a picturesque Greek island setting.

RESERVATIONS: 22980-75151 , 6944-527050

An artist pays tributeTO HER PARENTS

Artist Leda Papaconstantinou was born in Larissa, lived in Volos and on the island of Salamina as a child, in Athens as an adolescent and in London as an art student. However, if there is one place that she truly made her home, it is the island of Spetses. Her parents were beguiled by the beauty of the island in the 60s and made it their permanent home. When Leda Papaconstantinou returned to Greece from London in the early-70s, all of her summers were spent on Spetses until she decided to move there more permanently. More importantly, Spetses has been where she has worked to her utmost creativity. “The majority of my works but also some of my best works were produced in my studio here,” Papaconstantinou said on a phone conversation from her home on Spetses. One of her most ambitious works, which took more than five years to prepare, was presented in mid-April at the Fougaro venue in Nafplion. A sprawling installation dedicated to her progressively-minded artist parents, whose first names

form part of the work’s title – 3 Papaconstantinou, Thodoris, Litsa, Leda – this is a work that symbolically references more than 100 years, from her father’s date birth in 1913 to the present. It comprises works by all three family members, as well as archival material such as the correspondence between them when Leda was studying in London. The work is the artist’s tribute to her parents, a delving into herself and a journey of self-rediscovery. “I recognize how they managed to live through everything with joy and achievement,” Papaconstantinou told Spotlight during an interview in Nafplion. “A lot of my love and appreciation of things came from my parents and their way of working.”But, indirectly, the work is also a reflection of the creative community that lived on the island of Spetses during the 60s and 70s. It was a member of that community, the wife of the French novelist and member of the French Academy Michel Deon, a woman whose father was a close friend of Renoir, who strongly encouraged Leda Papaconstantinou’s mother to further

Leda Papaconstantinou reminisces about her parents and the artistic community of Spetses, where she lives and works.

Leda Papaconstantinou, Patriarch, 2016, detail of

a suspended sculpture, 118x111x106cm (main photo, right); Litsa Papaconstantinou,

Flowers, c. 1980, emulsion paint on

canvas, 18x24cm (far right); Thodoris

Papaconstantinou, Couple, c. 1980, wood-

carved statuette, 9x6.3x4cm (below)

Thodoris Papaconstantinou, The Painter, c.1980, wood relief,

emulsion paint, 24.5x21x4cm (right); portrait of Thodoris and Litsa

Papaconstantinou, c. 1960 (below); portrait of Leda Papaconstantinou,

2015 (below left)

innovative – back then – concept of performance art to public attention. “Bouboulitsa”, a heroine conceived by Papaconstantinou, appeared in all the plays, different in age each time but with the unifying trait of always resolving the problems in the story. All the plays were written and performed especially for Spetses Players and writers included established artists such as the British playwright Timberlake Wertenbaker. What was also unique about the initiative was that it made use of abandoned or unknown venues on the island.Since then much has changed and so has life on Spetses. “The ethos of the new economy has made people to turn their backs to real issues,” stated Papaconstantinou. However, creativity and a drive to make life better still thrive among a community of artists and intellectuals

her inclination towards painting. The couple opened up Gorgona, an art shop for tourists. It became so popular that their handcrafted objects were constantly sold out. The offspring of bourgeois families with strong intellectual inclinations, both Thodoris and Litsa were self-trained. Thodoris had served in the navy for years but always enjoyed carving. “I remember myself as a child sitting on my father’s lap and watching him carve his wooden boats and figurines while he was reciting Ancient Greek poetry to me in the original language,” said Papaconstantinou.Busy as they were with their work, her parents didn’t socialize much. But they nonetheless mingled with an international elite that included the Deons, the American artist Clement Biddle Wood and his wife (whose island house was designed by Aris Constantinidis), the publisher Ioanna Hadjinicoli and her husband Andreas Vahliotis, and artist Natalia Mela, who still lives on the island. Together with other like-minded people, they formed a creative milieu on Spetses, which, unlike Hydra, was not a well-known haven for artists. “There were many theatre and cinema people related to this milieu, people who visited the island. I remember Greta Garbo and Truman Capote,” related Papaconstantinou. “Georges Moustaki spent time at friends’ houses in Spetses and Christina Tsingos was close to the Deons. Meanwhile, Korgialenios was strongly active in theatre.”Papaconstantinou made her own contribution to that community when she settled on Spetses with her first husband, painter David Hughes. Committed as she was to the medium of performance art, she founded the Spetses Players (1974-1979), an initiative that introduced the

By Alexandra Koroxenidis

who live there. Papaconstantinou counts her artist friend Lizzie Kalliga, Natalia Mela, her daughter and designer Alexandra Tsoukala, young graffiti artist Socratis Argyris, artist Alexandra Roussopolos and professor of legal theory Andreas Helmis among them. “We are all working with a positive spirit in order to keep culture an issue. All through my life I have worked with absolute joy to make a better life through my work, not to entertain,” said Papaconstantinou.As the installation at Fougaro suggests, her mode of life is one largely owed to her parents, but also one that she learned from her exposure to people – many of them on Spetses – with talent and vision. '3 Papaconstantinou, Thodoris, Litsa, Leda' is presented at Fougaro from April 2 until May 15. www.Fougaro.gr

2015 (below left)

Helping hands across the Aegean

For more than two decades, the Aegean Team has extended vital medical and social services to residents of remote islands throughout the archipelago. By Despoina Sampson

This spring’s 22nd Aegean Sea Crossing brings more than 100 volunteers, including as many as 40 medical doctors, to far-flung Aegean islands. Carried on 11 RIBs and the marine ambulance Minas E, the 2016 team departs on May 12 and by its return on May 23 will have covered in excess of 530 nautical miles and 10 islands (Fourni, Thimena, Agathonisi, Symi, Halki, Nisiros, Astypalea, Ios, Iraklia and Koufonisi). The team brings with it an admirable array of much-needed technical equipment, including modern portable diagnostic machines, medical supplies and instruments. This equipment is deployed for the practice of no less than 25 medical specialities, as well as for screening and medical prevention examinations and procedures for both adults and children.The more they endeavour, the further the mission can progress. “We are open to new requests from all over Greece,” say team members Izoldi Hatzigianni and Dr Sotiris Giannakakis. “The Aegean Sea is neither a sole destination nor an exclusive operational territory. We

have also included remote areas such as Prespes, Kythira and Samothraki.” Beyond medical supplies, the Aegean Team has provided school furniture, books, toys, musical instruments, communications and information equipment, even 5X5 soccer fields, children’s playgrounds, school gyms, rapid water filtration systems, reverse osmosis water filters, desalination units and water supply networks. But most important of all, these dedicated professionals provide their personal attention. Should their vision be explicitly stated, it would cover considerable improvement in the quality of everyday life for residents of the most remote islands and an expansion of the scope of their activities. The team’s motto is: “Anywhere, wherever and however we can!”The Aegean Team does not rely on government support. Despite many obstacles, their structural and institutional environment has seriously developed over the years, allowing their operations to run in a highly efficient manner, largely thanks to sponsorships. They are also scheduling a limited number of 2/3-day expeditions throughout the year, aiming at reaching yet more remote islands.To participate, contact the Aegean Team to offer financial support or to help through the provision of products or services needed. Volunteering may

Safety firstIn the summer of 2014, Panayiotis Paschalakis’ 10-year-old son Michael was fatally injured in a water-sports accident off the shores of Mykonos. Since then, his father’s goal has been to prevent such tragedies, through the foundation of the non-profit organization Safe Water Sports. Its primary focus is to bring awareness about safety regulations for recreational water sports and activities, and the prevention of accidents – approximately 50,000 Europeans are injured annually in sea-related accidents around the world, while drowning is the second leading cause of death for children. Paschalakis’ intention is to inform, educate and mobilize Greek citizens, as well as to support the country’s most vital industry, tourism, by promoting beautiful beaches around Greece with proper safety regulations, equipment and experienced operators. Safe Water Sports works with private and public sector influencers in order to improve current safety policies and legislation in this country.www.safewatersports.gr

sound like an idyllic way to spend your days in the Greek islands, but be prepared to work full time during the Aegean Sea Crossing. Website: omadaaigaiou.gr Email: [email protected]

Macedonian Halva’s journey of �avor and tradition started in Thessaloniki in 1924 and continues today with the same un�agging enthusiasm and the same,

beloved taste since its founding.

Macedonian Halva is a timeless Greek product, with worldwide recognition as a great ambassador of Greek products abroad and a constant presence in over 50 countries

across the globe. Its main ingredient is tahini (i.e. 100% crushed sesame seeds), so Macedonian Halva maintains the bene�cial nutrients of sesame seeds and is an excel-

lent source of several valuable vitamins and minerals. It’s a healthy and nutritious snack, suitable for any time of the day.

Anchors aweigh!

A FLOTILLA OF SAILING EVENTS THIS SUMMER COMBINES ADRENALINE-RAISING THRILLS AND SKILLS WITH SERENE MOMENTS DISCOVERING GREECE’S NATURAL TREASURES.

B Y I O A N N A A L E X AT O U

Lateens racing during the Spetses Classic Yacht Regatta.

Anchors aweigh!

A quick Google search for the words ‘sailing’ and ‘Greece’ yields about 19,900,000 results –quite a number! But it’s hardly surprising, as there really is no better way to explore the beauties of this country with its thousands of kilometres of coastline and seemingly endless array of secluded islets. For those who haven’t got their sea legs, it is also an exciting sport to watch, from the comfort of a charming seafront terrace while sipping cocktails. One of the most fascinating spectator experiences is the Spetses Classic Yacht Regatta, SCYR, (spetsesclassicregatta.gr), which this summer takes place for the sixth consecutive year, from June 30 to July 3. “In 2011 we had about 20 yachts and last year the number grew to 72,” says Stratis Andreadis, co-founder of the SCYR. The idea of a race with Spetses at its core was hatched by Andreadis together with Antonis Vordonis, CEO of the Poseidonion Grand Hotel. “Raised up with and being around the traditional Spetses caiques, I thought of a race that would bring to the island the most beautiful, sculpture-like boats and also those who love them,” says Andreadis. A keen sailing-boat racer himself, he ranked 29th in the world, having taken his first sailing “steps” at the age of 4. His love of sailing was infused by his parents Anna and George, the latter himself a world sailing champion and vice commodore of the Yacht Club of Greece (YCG). The SCYR, organized and supported by the YCG, is nowadays the biggest Classic Yacht Race in the country, with record participation last year. The Savannah, an internationally recognized work of art, came all the way from Great Britain to Spetses for the race, while the interest for participation is growing every year. “We even have Australians wanting

Classic yachts during the

Corfu Classic Yacht Regatta racing against the backdrop of Corfu's old

fortress.

CAVAFY: “THEN PRAY THAT THE ROAD IS LONG, THAT THE SUMMER MORNINGS ARE MANY, THAT YOU WILL ENTER PORTS SEEN FOR THE FIRST TIME, WITH SUCH PLEASURE,

WITH SUCH JOY!”

to join this summer,” enthuses Andreadis, who is, quite apart from his relationship with the SCYR, also the president of the organizing committee of the Corfu Classic Yacht Race and co-founder of Salty Bags, a genius brand which offers elegant handcrafted bags and travel accessories made from upcycled sails, each one narrating a fascinating sailing story.Competition in the Mediterranean is stiff, with notable regattas such as the famous Les Voiles de Saint Tropez, yet what distinguishes the Spetses event is the passion, the fresh ideas and the joy that fills the air. The regatta weekend exudes an exciting feeling that everything is possible, while the beautiful wooden yachts moored in front of Poseidonion Grand Hotel (Grand Supporter of the SCYR) look like an image from a vintage postcard. It is an exceptional alchemy with an island where the art of wooden ship-building is carried forward, with

skills passing from father to son, in a country with a naval history that goes back to ancient times. “Greece is a land with a long sailing tradition, yet the Spetses Regatta would just be a vision if it wasn’t for the YCG, the Spetsiots who embrace it and Marina Coutarelli with her team,” says Andreadis. “We all joined our forces.”

IONIAN DREAMSFrom the Spetses Regatta another successful race was born, this time on Corfu in the Ionian. “There were sailors arriving to Spetses from Corfu with their classic yachts, while there was an emerging request from foreign participants to stay longer in Greece,” recalls Andreadis. “So we thought, why not introduce a classic yacht race in this marvellous part of Western Greece? [It would be] a challenging opportunity for a cruise to the most beautiful places of our land; starting from the west, sailing in the Ionian Sea, through the

Corinthian Gulf and arriving at the biggest sailing party in Spetses.” The 3rd Corfu Classic Yacht Race, CCYR (ccyr.gr), organized by the Sailing Club of Corfu with the support of the YCG and the inspired team of the SCYR, takes place June 10-12. Last year’s great success marked the race as one of the most important athletic events in the Ionian and Adriatic seas. The race of beautiful Classic Boats, Spirit of Tradition and Contemporary Classic boats offered unique moments, with a view to the Old Fortress and the picturesque city of Corfu, while an exciting view for guests was of the competing small lateen sailing boats and traditional boats. Among the legendary boats that participated last year were the Gipsy Moth III, the 16-metre ketch on which Sir Francis Chichester travelled around the world, and the gem of the Corfu Sailing Club, the Alexandra, designed by Sparkman and Stephen. The year 2015 was the

fortress.

WITH SUCH JOY!”

fortress.

WITH SUCH JOY!”

fortress.

WITH SUCH JOY!”

SOPHOCLES: “WONDERS ARE MANY, AND NONE IS MORE WONDERFUL THAN THE POWER THAT CROSSES

THE WHITE SEA, DRIVEN BY THE STORMY WIND, MAKING A PATH

UNDER SURGES THAT THREATEN TO ENGULF HIM.”

The Spetses Regatta is one of the few regattas worldwide where the yachts race so close to the shore - affording those on the verandah of the magnificent Poseidonion Grand Hotel the opportunity to enjoy the action (above); Circe- a gaff-rigged ketch built in 1915 in Norway- racing during the Corfu Classic Yacht Regatta (below).

starting point for the 1st Classic and Traditional Boat Circuit, with the race followed by a voyage to explore the natural and cultural treasures of western Greece. “We are happy to see Corfu becoming a reference point for the sport of sailing in Greece,” says Andreadis. “Our aim is to enrich the race with new experiences every coming year. A stop by Messolonghi to visit Delphi, mooring at Parga to visit Ancient Olympia, to tie together culture and sea. Isn’t this what the Mediterranean world has to offer – a sea with different civilizations and different aspects of how beautiful life can be?” “People open up by not considering the sea an end, but a beautiful means to ‘sail you further’,” continues Andreadis. “And Greece is one of the most beautiful places to sail in the world. For example, one summer we participated in Cowes Week, with 15 degrees and waters with the colour of chocolate mousse,” he recalls. “While here the waters have the colour of precious stones.” “Both the Aegean and the Ionian seas are ideal for sailing,” agrees Christoforos Stratos, member of the board of directors of YCG. “There are always wind currents, due to the unique morphology of scattered islands. We have no tides, nor many shoals or big waves,” he continues. “The climate is moderate and our beaches are perfect. The distances among the islands are not long and there are many small ports available – though sometimes not so well organized compared to other places… Yet there is some charm in that, while the prices are considerably lower.”

ANDROS PAST AND PRESENT This summer the YCG and the Yacht Club of Andros (YCA) join forces to create a “Super Regatta”, combining their most successful offshore/inshore yacht races: the 24th YCG Sailing Week (starting June 4-5, www.ycg.gr) and the 49th edition of Andros International Yacht Race (June 16-21, www.androsrace.com).The YCG Sailing Week features an action-packed weekend, with the participation of the best sailors in Greece. It includes inshore racing (wind-leeward and coastal races) in

the Saronic Gulf and a crew party on the Saturday night at the YCG docks. The long offshore leg of YCG Sailing Week will be held two weeks later to combine with the outbound leg of the Andros International Yacht Race. “The Regatta is designed to attract international competitors,” says Stratos. “Additionally, an invitational race for a Big Boat Class is introduced, for sailing yachts exceeding 20 metres.”Leonidas Polemis, chairman of the YCA, describes the modern-day event as paying homage to the early years of the Andros Race in the 60s, which used to be dominated by large classic yachts. “The Nautical Club of Andros, an island with a long maritime heritage, was founded in 1957, when my grandfather Michael S Polemis was the mayor, with the support of the municipal council, ship-owners and sailors of Andros,” he says. “The original aim was for the children of Andros to learn sailing without cost, and many of them reached top positions at national and European events. From 7 years old a child is able to sail an Optimist, while sailing is a means to learn responsibility, respect for the sea, confidence and competitiveness. It is a sport that requires physical ability,” he continues, “but also awareness and mental ability. It broadens the horizons of a young child and by being able to compete in sailing, one feels more able to tackle life in every way, [to] go from a small island to a much bigger world through sailing.”Within easy reach of Athens, the picturesque island of Andros masterfully combines a weekend of relaxation with the thrilling sight of yacht-racing in the stadium-style race

track of the panoramic bay. The first leg, covering a distance of 72 miles, is designed as a night race and sets sail at 4pm on June 17 from Vouliagmeni Bay and heads up through the notorious Cavo Doro to Andros for a spectacular finish in front of the Chora. In the morning, breakfast is served at the Yacht Club and a stroll along Andros’ famous footpaths is organised for those who are not competing. That evening is the opening ceremony of the Goulandris Modern Art Museum (www.moca-andros.gr), followed by a performance of acclaimed tenor Marios Frangoulis along with international singer George Perris in the Ancient Greek-style open-air theatre of Chora. On the Sunday, there are two short coastal sailing races taking place in the two bays of the picturesque Chora, offering panoramic views of the racing for land-based spectators. The final event is the Line Honours Award dinner at YCA. Next morning is the race back to Athens, finishing at Sounio if the weather permits, just beneath the Ancient Greek temple of Poseidon. The Super Regatta closes with a joint award ceremony held at the beautiful premises of YCG. “I grew up participating in the same race that we organize today, one of the largest sailing events in Greece,” recalls Polemis. “It was in 1967 under the leadership of John B Goulandris –Big John – that the international offshore Regatta of Andros was launched, taking place every summer (except in 1974) and attracting famous sailors of the time: the then King of Greece, Juan Carlos now King of Spain, Christina Onassis, Niarchos… We are working

Black Jack racing during last

year's Andros International

Regatta, an exceedingly

competitive and challenging race.

With its sights set firmly on the next generation of sailors, the Spetses Nautical Club (NOSP) challenges youngsters with its Armata Cup for boats type Bug and Optimist, taking place this September 2-4. Last July, the NOSP successfully organised the first National Bug Championship, attracting 43 young sailors – from 7 to 17 years old – from 18 sailing clubs across Greece. “Sailing is an invaluable means to build one’s character,” believes Andonis Vordonis, President of the NOSP (and CEO of Poseidonion Grand Hotel). “Sailing combines abilities that build strong characters: fair play, team spirit, concentration and a sense of responsibility and order, shaping thus one's personality, besides physical ability,” he continues. “Even a child of 6, after handling for the first time a boat by himself, returns from sea a whole new person!” At the NOSP, children can join sailing courses with lessons twice to three times per week. There are also opportunities for private tuition, and ‘off-schedule’ classes to offer kids a taste of sailing while holidaying on Spetses. Vordonis is enthusiastic about the NOSP, which he describes as a “phenomenon” that started with no other resources but the passion of visionaries and volunteers. “NOSP was born from the Spetses community,” he states, pointing particularly to the Anargyrios & Korgialenios Foundation (AKSS) representatives and members of the organising board of Spetses Classic Yacht Regatta (SCYR). “We are lucky that AKSS offered its boathouse which, with just 15 volunteers and within a month, we brought to up-to-date high standards,” he says. Two years since its inception, the NOSP now owns no fewer than 25 boats, of types including Bug, Laser, Optimist and Rhodes 19. www.nosp.gr

Young skippers ahoy!

MARK TWAIN: “CATCH THE

WIND IN YOUR SAILS.

EXPLORE. DREAM. DISCOVER.”

to revive this era, to recreate the international site of the race,” Polemis continues.

NORTHERN EXPOSURE From Andros, sailors head up to Halkidiki for the ORC European Championship, held for the first time in Greece from July 3-10 at Porto Carras Grand Resort (portocarras.com). Just prior to the championship is the North Aegean Cup, a major regatta organized annually by the Nautical Club of Thessaloniki (June 30 to July 3), which forms a test event for competitors. “Porto Carras is a fantastic resort marina complex, and has a proven track record of experience hosting numerous other regattas and events,” says Akis Tsalikis, chairman of the Hellenic Offshore Committee and commodore of the Nautical Club of Thessaloniki. “The perfect weather conditions, excellent facilities, and close proximity to Thessaloniki make this an ideal location to host a major championship regatta.” Racing will feature a mix of round the cans windward/leeward courses and offshore races, to fully test the teams’ skills on the waters of Toroneos Gulf. The challenge

of close windward/leeward racing is likely to keep the fleet in close boat-on-boat battles, compared to the complexity of offshore racing. Interpreting the changing conditions and delivering consistency will reward with championship success.The Porto Carras Grand Resort is also the starting point of the Aegean Regatta 2016 (aegeanregatta.gr), which will be held between August 19 and 27, following a route from Halkidiki to the islands of Lemnos, Agios Efstratios, Molyvos and Mytilene. And for those sailors who wish to idle in limpid Greek waters, without the stress of competition? Costa Navarino offers its guests sailing adventures in the storied waters off the coast of Messinia and tailor-made cruises on luxury yachts, while private companies like Incrediblue (incrediblue.com) encourage one to “Ditch the hotel; hit the deck,” offering a captained private yacht for custom-made island-hopping. As Andreadis says, “Through sailing you reach places you have never imagined.” Or, to quote the great Cavafy, “Then pray that the road is long, that the summer mornings are many, that you will enter ports seen for the first time, with such pleasure, with such joy!”

WIND IN YOUR SAILS.

Eye witness A PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNEY TO SPETSES AND

PORTO HELI THROUGH THE EYES AND LENS OF ART PHOTOGRAPHER MARINA VERNICOS.

B Y I O A N N A A L E X AT O U ; P H O T O S B Y M A R I N A V E R N I C O S

“A heaven on Earth” is how Marina Vernicos

describes Spetses and Porto Heli, “with

crystal-clear blue water, lush vegetation and perfect climate”.

The art photographer Marina Vernicos. Through her photos, she captures a moment in time, which

'freezes' in eternity.

A talented art photographer, inspired philanthropist, keen traveller and mother of three, Marina Vernicos is one of those “it” ladies who manage to combine it all. Through her art work one travels the world, discovers Greece’s hidden treasures and dives deep into the blue, as in her expressionistic “Sea Through” photo series of seascapes ranging from Poliaigos and Sifnos to Tufi in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Vernicos discovered her passion for

photography at a young age. “This love was infused by my father, a keen photographer himself – always with a camera at hand. He bought my first camera when I was 11 and since then I never stopped taking pictures,” she recalls. She studied Communications & Photography at Emerson College of Boston and Business Administration at Harvard Extension School. Returning to Greece, she joined the family business, Vernicos Yachts, without ever giving up her first love: photography. In 2001 she presented her work in a group exhibition, the first step for solo and group exhibitions to come in distinguished galleries and Museums in Athens, Paris, Korea, London, Monaco, Doha and New York. Vernicos has also published four books and is the founder and president of CREAID (www.creaid.com) a non-profit organization with a targeted humanitarian

Vernicos recommends a visit to Mikri Spilia (close to the traditional village of Didyma) and the Byzantine chapel of Agios Georgios, with its murals dating back to the 13th century, and the Metamorfosis of Sotiros, built into the surrounding rock.

Clockwise from left to right: the Amanzoe Beach Club; Hydra, a beautiful island for a daytrip from Spetses; the swimming competition from Spetses to Kosta, during the Spetses Mini Marathon.

mandate served through creativity and art.Her first memories from Porto Heli come from childhood vacations with her parents, while as a teenager Spetses was her favourite summer destination. As the years passed, she witnessed first-hand the development of the area to an upscale global destination. Her husband, with whom she shares the same passion for travelling, is the visionary entrepreneur Miltos Kambourides, founder and managing partner of Dolphin Capital, a global owner and developer of high-end resorts such as Porto Heli’s Amanzoe and Amanera in the Dominican Republic. “Amanzoe and Nikki Beach attract upscale tourism from all over the world,” Vernicos says. “Due to their high-class clientele, there is motivation for other professionals to upgrade their business. In the past a good restaurant was found only on Spetses, while now, there are lots of nice choices in Porto Heli as well.” Enjoying the natural and cultural diversity the area has to offer, Vernicos spends almost every weekend with her family in Porto Heli from April to June, as well as throughout August. “We choose to stay either in Amanzoe or Nikki Beach depending on our mood. Amanzoe is for privacy and relaxation while if we feel like a party and music, it is definitely Nikki!”

The beach at Nikki Beach Resort

& Spa (above).Vernicos describes

Porto Heli (right) and Spetses as ideal family

destinations, combining all the ingredients for a

perfect vacation.

An ideal way to experience the unique beauties of the area is to rent a boat and sail to a remote beach. “I sigh for the beaches, the clear blue waters and Korakia lush green forest” says Vernicos. “A typical day is filled with long hours of swimming with the kids.” The golden beaches, the carefree strolls around the beautiful alleys filled with the chic shops are among the highlights of a day spent in the area.

perfect vacation.

Going for gold MORE THAN 10,500 ATHLETES OF 206 NATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE PART IN THE 2016 RIO OLYMPICS, PARTICIPATING IN 28 DIFFERENT SPORTS. WE TAKE A

SNEAK PEEK AT WHAT’S COOKING IN BRAZIL’S CAPITAL AND TALK TO SOME OF GREECE’S HOPEFULS.

B Y I S A B E L L A Z A M P E T A K I ; P H O T O S B Y N I K O S K A R A N I K O L A S

Preparation for the Olympics has been as fast-paced as the steps of your typical samba. Rio de Janeiro has prepared 34 competition venues, built 43 miles of road and planted 15,000 trees. According to Embratur, Brazil's state-owned tourism agency, an estimated 380,000 foreign tourists are expected in Rio during the Games, creating high demand for hotel rooms. Restricted availability has, for the first time in the history of the Olympics, prompted the local organizing committee to name

Airbnb as the event's official alternative accommodation services supplier. The opening ceremony is highly anticipated, as a vision of “what the country can become”. Fernando Meirelles, Brazilian filmmaker and part of the creative team, elaborates, “We have listened to specialists who have different visions of what Brazil is; the ceremony will be a synthesis of our popular culture.” The acclaimed director of City of God and The Constant Gardener notes, “It will be ten times smaller than the London

Rio from above; swimmer Kelly Araouzou (left); the Brazilian Copacabana (below)

in the City of God

Sailing champions Panayiotis Mantis and Pavlos Kagialis (left);sprinter Lykourgos Tsakonas (above);the Sugarloaf Cable Car (right)

2012 opening ceremony. It does not make sense to be extravagant in this moment that the country is facing. It will not be a high-tech ceremony; it will be high-concept.” High morale is one thing that Brazil and the Greek delegation definitely have in common, as they overcome substantial economic difficulties for the sake of the Olympics.

GREEKS ON THE ROAD TO RIOOver 60 athletes are expected to represent Greece in 11 different sports in the 2016 Olympics. Commenting on the Greek delegation, Spyros Kapralos, president of the Greek Olympic Committee, says: “We have a strong presence in track-and-field, swimming, sailing and rowing. What is more important is that most of our athletes have already won in European and World Championships and have true potential to be Olympic winners.” He singles out Lefteris Petrounias, a gold winner in the World Gymnastics Championship 2015, Sophia Asoumanaki and Katerina Nikolaidou, who won silver medals in rowing at the World Championship last September, and Byron Kokkalanis, ranked as one of the top five windsurf athletes in the world by the International Sailing Federation. “Marathon swimmers Spyros Gianniotis and Kelly Araouzou are also among the best on a global level,” he continues. “Anna Korakaki, at age 19, and Efthimios Mitas are two young talents in shooting. Ilias Iliadis has won a medal in Judo both in Athens and in the London Olympics.” Greece will be represented in only one team sport, men’s water polo, but Kapralos believes the chances to bring home a medal are high.

It is ironic that, in spite of their excellent performance, many Greek athletes have considered quitting their preparation for the Olympics due to economic restraints and the inability of the state to sponsor their effort. However, as Kapralos explains, “It takes a lot of time and work to create Olympic athletes and it would be unthinkable for us to let the ‘investment’ we have already made to be wasted.” This is one of the main reasons why they created the ‘Adopt an Athlete on the Road to Rio’ programme, he says. “The key to its success is that we brought sponsoring companies in direct contact with the athletes. Sponsors can see that their money goes where it is supposed to and athletes feel not just economic, but also moral, support. Most of our athletes are supported under this programme and I believe that they will be ‘paying us back’ by offering us the moments of pride that we are in great need of these days.”What does it mean, however, for an athlete to participate in the Olympics? Swimmer Kelly Araouzou is determined to make the most of this opportunity: “When you participate in an event of this magnitude,” she says, “you cannot but aim for a distinction. I do not view swimming just as something I enjoy doing; it is what earns me my living and I consider it my responsibility to honour the sponsors who support me. I feel well prepared and determined to win.” When asked which aspects of the Rio Olympics she most looks forward to, Araouzou gives a surprising reply: “I am already enjoying the journey. I feel proud for all that I have achieved since I first started and for where I stand today. Taking a minute to think about the progress covered so

Three events not to be missedBeach Volleyball It is, after all, a signature Brazilian event, especially when played in a party atmosphere on Rio's Copacabana Beach.Football (pronounced 'foo-chee-bol' in Portuguese)Brazil will be redeeming itself against Germany as its supporters work their drums, fireworks and coloured banners in support of the home team. MarathonThe Rio Marathon will start and finish in the Sambadrome. The steeply-raked stands on either side of the circuit are a reference to Ancient Greece.

Ioannis Drymonakos, swimmer (left); the Museum of Tomorrow (far left)

Ioannis Drymonakos, European swimming champion, has set himself a tough challenge: to be amongst the very few Olympians who have competed in the Sydney Olympics and the Rio Olympics, spanning an incredible career of 16 years. “I am aware of the difficulties of my journey to Rio, but I am really determined and I draw courage from my friends, fellow athletes and my sponsors who support and believe in me,” says Drymonakos, who was just 16 when he swam for Greece in Sydney. “Every Olympic Games I have participated in has been very different. It’s not only that the hosting cities are different; my perspective has changed as I grew from a young talent to a decorated athlete,” he says. “The only thing that has never changed, though, is how proud I always feel when I wear the national emblem on my swimming cap and line up at the start of the race next to the best athletes of the world.” Drymonakos is hoping that his journey and achievements will not only inspire the young generation to take on competitive swimming, but also to encourage participation by all age groups in swimming and triathlon competitions such as the Spetses mini Marathon and Spetsathlon. As to what makes the Rio Olympics unique, Spyros Kapralos points out: “Brazil is a country facing substantial economic and political challenges. I believe that the Games’ ‘magic’ will help everything come together nicely.” He continues, “What makes these Olympics special is that most of the venues are new builds but also the Brazilians' high and lively spirits, which is a promise to have some of the most festive Games in the history.”Let the Games begin!

far is also what gives me strength to move on.” She doesn’t lose her sense of focus, even when it comes to the sensitive issue of water pollution in the bay of Rio. “We definitely hear a lot about the pollution,” she says, “but I can assure you that the cleanliness of the water is the last thing you are thinking about when you are racing!”

MEN OF GOLDFor sprinter Lykourgos Tsakonas, Rio is his second Olympics and he feels that he is in his best shape ever. “The conditions under which Greek athletes train are far from ideal,” he comments, “but I believe in doing the best I can, under any circumstances.” His goal is to keep improving his personal record of 20.09’’ for 200m. When asked what he thinks of to give himself strength to continue even during hard times, he replies, “There are no thoughts. There is only a target. Once your mind is set on the goal, you simply focus on achieving it.” The same seems to apply to World and European sailing champions Panayiotis Mantis and Pavlos Kagialis. “The Olympics are obviously a very special event but a race is still a race,” says Mantis. “When you are competing, your mind is set on the fight you are fighting and nothing else.” Acknowledging the difficulties, Kagialis points out that while the hardest part of their experience so far was finding sponsors to support their effort, other sailing teams from all over the world started their training in Brazil as early as three years ago. But they aren’t complaining. They draw strength from each other and their coach, Thanasis Pachoumas. Having qualified for the Olympics, they will be striving for a place among the top three.

RIO OLYMPICS IN NUMBERS10,500 athletes206 countries306 medal events42 sports, including two new: rugby and golf7.5 million tickets

315 horses60,000 clothes hangers25,000 tennis balls11 million meals34,000 beds100,000 chairs72,000 tables

THE RIO 2016 LOGO WAS DESIGNED BY TATIL DESIGN AND REPRESENTS

CONTAGIOUS ENERGY,

HARMONIOUS DIVERSITY,

EXUBERANT NATURE, AND

OLYMPIC SPIRIT. THE OFFICIAL

MASCOTS, VINICIUS AND TOM, ARE BOTH NAMED

AFTER BRAZILIAN MUSICIANS

(VINICIUS DE MORAES AND TOM JOBIM)

AND REPRESENT BRAZILIAN WILDLIFE.

Take five from the Olympics: Time out in Rio 1. Hiking and trekking in Tijuca National Park: Tijuca, the largest urban forest in the world, covers 15 square miles around Rio de Janeiro. Apart from hundreds of miles of trails amongst unique species of flora and fauna, it also offers some of the best views of Corcovado, Christ the Redeemer and Pedra da Gávea. 2. Visit the Museum of Tomorrow: It may be one of the world’s most extraordinary buildings, but it also aspires to become known as one of the planet’s most powerful arguments for sustainability. Combining science and art, this brand-new Santiago Calatrava-designed museum devotes itself to the need for change in order to avoid climate disaster.3. Get behind the scenes in Maracana Stadium: Picture Pele’s 1,000th goal where it actually happened: at Maracanã Stadium. Take a 4-hour small-group tour of this iconic temple to football. Enter locker rooms and VIP press boxes, and even take a seat on a team bench. Listen to stories of the legendary matches that took place here, including Brazil’s heartbreaking loss at the 1950 World Cup. 4. Dance the samba in Lapa: Lapa, one of Rio’s most bohemian neighbourhoods, stands out for its lively social scene. It’s the perfect place to enjoy live Brazilian music and to break out some samba moves. 5. Blend in with the locals at Copacabana: From popular Copacabana and Ipanema to lesser-known Grumari, a day on one of Rio’s sandy beaches is an absolute must-do.

CONTAGIOUS ENERGY,

life pleasures

Lsprinter Carl Lewis and tennis-player Venus Williams, just a few of the top tier sportspeople who have found that meat-free nutrition can actually lead to improved performance, as well as better long-term health. When he decided to become vegan, Scott Jurek wrote in his book Eat & Run, “A few people who knew about my training and also knew what I was eating told me I was crazy.” But the world’s pre-eminent long-distance runner found that he felt better than he had ever felt before. “The soreness I had always experienced after long runs was gone. The resting times I had always needed between hard workouts were shorter than ever. I felt lighter. I felt stronger. I felt faster. And I felt as young as ever.” Olympic Marathon-runner Tina Kefala, who represented Greece at the London 2012 Games, recently decided to cut meat out of her diet. “I’d gone gluten- and dairy-free before the Olympics, then relaxed on gluten but continued with no milk. I was at a crossroads of sorts and needed to try something new, to get back to my competitive self.” Then two things happened. “I was talking with a friend about meat-eating, fur-wearing, animal welfare,” she says. “Our conversation really brought the ethical aspect home. Then the next morning I saw an article – Johns Hopkins recommending cutting down meat because of cancer, hormones in meat etc. And I said, Okay, go for it!”For many athletes, amateur and professional alike, good nutrition figures surprisingly low – if at all – on their agenda. Hard workouts are compensated for by high-calorie,

low-nutrition meals (the fact that Macdonald’s provides food at the athletes’ Olympic Village speaks volumes), with supplements replacing true food sources of vitamins and minerals. “I used to say that I ran so that I could eat whatever I wanted,” recalls Pavlos Kanellopoulos, an amateur runner and triathlete. “It took a while for the reality to sink in, that food is our fuel, and if we are eating pasta and ice-cream and other nutritionally useless foods, we are not fuelling properly. And the increase in lactic acid from exercise in combination with a typical acid-heavy diet can wreak havoc on the body.” Kanellopoulos started an alkaline diet, cutting out meat, milk, coffee and refined carbohydrates, after being diagnosed with aggressive rheumatoid arthritis in 2009. As a result, he recovered very quickly and has enjoyed a drugs-free life ever since, whilst improving his personal best times in marathons, triathlons and long-distance swimming events. THE PROTEIN ‘PROBLEM’ The main misconception about vegetarianism, particularly for athletes, is that their diet will lack protein. As Dave Bell, a runner who created the vegetarian recipe site Hurry the Food Up, says: “There seems to be a worldwide belief that if you don't eat meat you'll suddenly die of protein deficiency. That, of course, is absolute rubbish.” “It is very easy to reduce the amount of red meat in our diet and still obtain an adequate protein, iron and zinc intake,” says clinical dietician Shirley Patterson. “You need to ensure that you consume at least one protein-rich food per day. Pulses are a cheap, low-fat source of protein and also contain fibre, vitamins and minerals (including zinc and iron). Furthermore,” continues the UK-trained, Greek-based dietician, “pulses contain soluble fibre, which has been proven to help reduce blood cholesterol levels.” “If you plan your meat-free or

Green POWERFaster, higher, stronger: As vegetarianism becomes an increasingly popular lifestyle choice, athletes are finding the veggie edge in their health and performance. By Cordelia Madden-Kanellopoulou

WHILE HER FELLOW competitors are filling up on spaghetti Bolognese the evening before a big race, Ellie Flenga is enjoying a bowl of grilled sweet potato sprinkled with olive oil and turmeric. The amateur athlete, mother-of-three and CEO of Holmes Place Greece became a vegetarian six years ago, when a 40-day pre-Easter fast with no meat or dairy products turned into a lifestyle choice. “When Easter Day arrived, I didn’t feel like eating meat, and I never felt like it again,” she explains. “After a year of no meat, I decided to cut fish too. Once you start feeling that a few hours ago this was a living being, eating animal flesh becomes abhorrent.”Ethical or environmental qualms, health or weight concerns are among the reasons turning increasing numbers of people vegetarian or vegan. High-profile figures from Bill Clinton to Pamela Anderson, Ellen de Generes, Christian Bale and Natalie Portman are committed veggies, while part-time vegans like Victoria Beckham, Beyonce and Jay Z have helped to bring the more rigorous diet from the animal-rights sidelines into the mainstream. Yet, while it might be accepted as a way that celebrities can keep lithe and paparazzi-ready, popular belief persists that if you are an athlete, you need meat. A vegetarian (let alone vegan) athlete is perceived as a weakling, at an insurmountable disadvantage to their meat-eating competitors. Flenga, typically, was told by her coach before her first marathon that she really should eat liver. Try telling that to ultra-marathoner Scott Jurek, mixed martial arts champion Mae Danzig,

life pleasures

7 steps TO VEGGIE HEAVEN! Clinical dietician Shirley Patterson shares some simple ways you can reduce meat in your diet and replace it with health-giving alternatives. 1. Use less meat in your chilli and bulk it up with kidney beans. 2. Try omitting the meat in curries and instead use chickpeas or other beans.3. Rather than making meat-based burgers, why not make bean-burgers or chickpea falafel? You can bake these in the oven or fry them in very little oil on a non-stick pan. 4. Bulk up your stews, casseroles and curries with vegetables so that you use less (or no) meat.5. Try adding grated vegetables to your burgers and meatballs.6. Swap lamb or beef mince for vegetarian mince in your spaghetti bolognese, lasagne and chilli con carne.7. Use eggs, which are a good source of iron and protein. Make an omelette and bulk it out with lots of vegetables or add boiled eggs to your salad.

life p

“Chia seeds! I love them. They don't really taste of anything but are ridiculously nutritious so I add them to virtually every smoothie or pancake batter that I make. I also drink them as a power drink before workouts.”

Dave Bell, runner and creator of vegetarian website Hurry the Food Up

Since turning to an alkaline diet in 2009, Pavlos Kanellopoulos

(right) has been improving his personal best times

in triathlon, running and swimming races.

Ellie Flenga (below right), a regular competitor at

the Spetsathlon, has been vegetarian for six years.

Greek Olympian Tina Kefala (pictured below

at London 2012) is among many top tier athletes

who have eliminated meat from their diet for better

performance and long-term health.

“Nuts, seeds and dried fruit. My bag is always full of them. I snack on them mid-morning after training. When I do the team relay swim across

the English Channel in August, I’ll refuel

between swims with nuts, dried fruit, banana and probably slices of

pre-grilled sweet potato, my favourite!”

Ellie Flenga, triathlete and CEO of Holmes Place

Greece.

“Quinoa with edamame and avocado – a great meal for the evening before tough training or a race.”

Pavlos Kanellopoulos, runner and triathlete. nutrition is part of that. I have my cupboard at home full of seeds, my little bags of almonds, dates and figs to snack on after training, and my shopping list which is 80% vegetables, plus quinoa, chickpeas and couscous.”Bell and his young family also always have packets of nuts to hand, while lentils, kidney beans and chickpeas are staples in the simple, quick, inexpensive and nutritious recipes they create (and enjoy) for their site. “I think the words 'vegetarian' and 'vegan' carry their own stigma and conjure up unhealthy, boring or restrictive images in the mind,” he says. “But since stopping eating meat I've never eaten better.” Plus, he adds, “I'm fitter and stronger now than I ever have been – and rarely, if ever, ill.”As Flenga says, “Before becoming vegetarian I always felt I was on a diet. But now, I don’t feel deprived of anything. I don’t have cravings. It’s part of me and my lifestyle. This is the biggest achievement for me.”*The author is a long-term vegetarian and runner.

low-meat diet well, you can ensure a very well-balanced and healthy diet,” says Pattterson. “You cannot simply say, ‘I will eat what everyone else is eating, just without the meat!’ You need to ensure that you incorporate some good protein sources at each main meal.” Patterson lists suitable alternatives to meat including soya-based foods (including tofu); beans, peas and

“Homemade apple-cinnamon granola; it goes well with non-dairy milk and sliced banana or fresh berries.” Tina Kefala, Olympic Marathon runner.

lentils; small quantities of nuts and seeds (including nut butters), meat substitutes such as soya mince and Quorn. Vegetarians who eat fish and seafood, she notes, can incorporate these as well as eggs into their diet.Scott Jurek’s diet features fresh fruits and vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and soy products like miso, tofu and tempeh. “To my delight (and, I admit, surprise),” he

writes in his book, “subtracting some things from my diet actually allowed me to expand the number of foods I ate and to discover incredible and delicious new foods.” The key to good nutrition is being organised with your shopping and meal ideas, so that you don’t end up ravenously resorting to pasta, bread or other ‘vegan junk food’. “If I come back from a trip and there is nothing at home to eat, that’s when I eat badly,” says Flenga. “As a mother I need to be organised anyway, and

life p

Greece.

life p

Greece.

life p

Greece.

life p

1 METHODFor the sweetbreads: Mix the milk, water, berries and salt in a big ceramic pot. Add the sweetbreads and put in the fridge overnight. The day after, bring the mixture to a boil and then simmer for 5 minutes. Let it cool, peel and put under pressure in the fridge.For the rice purée: Cook the rice until overcooked and blend until smooth.For the beetroot purée: Boil the beetroots (peeled) in the marinade and when done, blend with butter, using a thermomix.For the roasted beetroots: Wash the beetroots and cover them with salt, all around

them. Put them on a baking pan and bake at preheated oven at 200oC for about 1 hour. When cold, peel and chop into rice shape.

To finish: Slightly sear the beetroot rice in butter. Deglaze with chicken stock and add the rice purée and 2tbsp of beetroot purée. Finish the risotto with butter and parmesan cheese. Season the sweetbreads and sear with oil until golden. Finish cooking, adding butter and keep covering it with a spoon. Garnish with beetroot syrup and coarsely-ground pistachios. Dress the plate with a fine layer of Lardo chips and berries.

At the tender age of 29, Alex Tsiotinis is a new talent on the Greek gastronomic scene. Having grown up in a family where Mediterranean cuisine, featuring local, fresh products, was on the daily menu, he uses Mediterranean flavours in both classic and modern ways. He has worked under 2-starred and 3-starred Michelin chefs at renowned restaurants such as Epicure at Le Bristol in Paris

and Noma in Copenhagen, and in 2015 he made the finals of the San Pellegrino Young Chef competition for the Mediterranean region, with his signature dish, Cretan Salad in a Pot. At his Athenian restaurant named “CTC”, Tsiotinis loves to play with textures and is fascinated by colours, aromas and flavour contradictions. He always uses aromatics and citrus fruits when cooking, intrigued by their unique

Flavours to SAVOURWhether you are into fine dining, authentic Greek specialities or delicious island desserts, you will find a tasty twist in these inspired recipes by celebrated Greek chefs.

Alex Tsiotinis: A rising star

quality of being simultaneously sweet, bitter and sour. “Cooking knows no rules”, he says, when asked about the procedure of creating a new recipe. “Today an idea might be born, either at a small taverna, drinking ouzo and gazing the sea, or tomorrow while sleeping. To turn an idea into a recipe involves a great deal of effort, hard work and tasting. This is why cooking is an ‘art & craft’ procedure.”

Serves 4INGREDIENTS

800gr veal sweetbreads

1 litre milk32gr pink salt

1 litre water

5 berries (any type)

For the rice purée

250gr arborio rice

750ml chicken stock

For the beetroot

purée1kg beetroot

250ml port

Berries (any type), to

tasteSalt100gr prunes

Cardamom, to taste

Hibiscus, to taste

For the roasted

beetroots5gr beetroot

2kg coarse salt

For the finish

500gr butter

Salt and pepper, to

taste150gr berries (any

type)200gr Lardo di

ColonattaRoot chips

Beetroot juice, reduced

to syrup consistency

Pistachios

Pistachio-crusted veal sweetbreads with beetroot ‘risotto’

& lardo di colonatta

life p

Serves 4INGREDIENTS

1 litre water

For the rice purée

250gr arborio rice

750ml chicken stock

For the beetroot

purée1kg beetroot

250ml port

Cardamom, to taste

Hibiscus, to taste

For the roasted

2kg coarse salt

For the finish

500gr butter

Salt and pepper, to

type)200gr Lardo di

ColonattaRoot chips

Pistachios

life p

Serves 4INGREDIENTS

1 litre water

For the rice purée

250gr arborio rice

750ml chicken stock

For the beetroot

purée1kg beetroot

250ml port

Cardamom, to taste

Hibiscus, to taste

For the roasted

2kg coarse salt

For the finish

500gr butter

Salt and pepper, to

type)200gr Lardo di

ColonattaRoot chips

Pistachios

life p

Serves 4INGREDIENTS

1 litre water

For the rice purée

250gr arborio rice

750ml chicken stock

For the beetroot

purée1kg beetroot

250ml port

Cardamom, to taste

Hibiscus, to taste

For the roasted

2kg coarse salt

For the finish

500gr butter

Salt and pepper, to

type)200gr Lardo di

ColonattaRoot chips

Pistachios

INGREDIENTS

1 packet filo pastry

Olive oil 350gr almond powder

100gr powdered sugar

70gr freshly squeezed orange juice

Zest of two oranges

life p

ures Überballs

Born in Thessaloniki and raised in a family that loved “good food”, Vasilis Kallidis is an insightful, innovative Greek chef and one of the pioneers of the New Greek Cuisine. A discerning globetrotter, he believes travelling is the best school to improve both art and life, and he has explored much of the world from Paris, his base for the last four years. Kallidis loves traditional Greek cooking and is the writer of two best-sellers, “The New Greek Cuisine in 88 Recipes” and “Athens Special”, and has hosted popular TV shows such as “A Slice of Real Greece”,

“Food and the City” and “Nostimi Gi”. His first restaurant Aneton wrote its own history on Greece’s culinary scene, while his brand-new genius concept “Überness” opens this month, a pop-up cult restaurant located in a former butcher’s shop in the heart of the central vegetable market in Renti. Set up as a food truck but in the form of a store, genuine in character and brimming with authenticity – think white plastic chairs and a large table decorated with tiles – it serves delicious hot dogs, meatballs, fried chicken and pancetta served with pink sauce and pickles.

Serves 6INGREDIENTS

700gr quality minced

beef 3 slices of bread, torn

into bite-size pieces

Zest of 1 orange

½ cup finely chopped

flat-leaf parsley

2 leeks, finely sliced

2 onions, finely

chopped 1 egg1 shot of vinegar (4

tablespoons)

Dash of grated

allspiceSea salt and freshly-

ground black pepper

Flour and olive oil for

pan-frying

METHODSoak bread in water, leave aside for 5 minutes, then squeeze and put into a big bowl. In a large pan, heat olive oil and sauté the leeks, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon until tender. Remove from heat and add leeks to the big bowl, together with the bread, onion, parsley, egg, vinegar, allspice, orange zest, salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly with your hands until blended. Take small portions of the mixture, roll into a ball in your palms and dredge both sides in the flour, shaking off the excess. Heat the olive oil in a large, wide pan, add the meatballs and fry for around 5 minutes, turning frequently until golden brown.

METHODPut almond powder, powdered sugar, orange juice and orange zest in a blender. Mix well and then put in the fridge to cool. Cut the 1 packet filo pastry into slices (about 7-8cm wide), oil them with a cooking brush and put in the centre 20gr of almond paste. Wrap one by one into a flute shape and put side by side in a large baking pan. Oil their surface and bake at 170o C, in a pre-heated oven, for 15 minutes. When cool, garnish with powdered sugar.

A celebrated chef patissier of global appeal, Stelios Parliaros is considered the “king” of fine pastry in Greece, actually changing the course of pastry-making (and dessert-eating) in this country. Born in Istanbul, he studied the art of pastry-making in France (Ecole le Νôtre, Escoffier at Ritz Hotel, Valrhona's Ecole du Grand Chocolat in Lyon, Fauchon). In 2009, Parliaros launched his new concept high-end pastry store, “Sweet Alchemy by Stelios Parliaros”. He has published multiple aspirational cookery books and magazines – the latest being the monthly edition Sweet Alchemies with Attica Publications – he trains professionals and holds seminars, and since 2008 he hosts the super-successful TV show also called “Sweet Alchemies”. Though his background in pastry-making is French, he garners global inspiration and is constantly up-to-date with new styles and methods. Parliaros has developed his own personal path with a special skill for combining methods and ingredients, and has succeeded with his talent and creativity, rigour and high standards, in raising patisserie in Greece to an art.

Amygdalota are traditional Greek marzipan

2 3Vasilis Kallidis: An uber chef

Stelios Parliaros: A pastry wizard

Amygdalota with a twist

INGREDIENTS

Zest of two oranges

life p

ures Überballs

Serves 6INGREDIENTS

Zest of 1 orange

flat-leaf parsley

2 onions, finely

tablespoons)

Dash of grated

ground black pepper

pan-frying

INGREDIENTS

Zest of two oranges

life p

ures Überballs

Serves 6INGREDIENTS

Zest of 1 orange

flat-leaf parsley

2 onions, finely

tablespoons)

Dash of grated

ground black pepper

pan-frying

INGREDIENTS

Zest of two oranges

life p

ures Überballs

Serves 6INGREDIENTS

Zest of 1 orange

flat-leaf parsley

2 onions, finely

tablespoons)

Dash of grated

ground black pepper

pan-frying

life p

The future is HERE

FOOD LIKE ART They have collaborated with Wallpaper, Kenzo and the historic auction house Philips de Pury. Arabeschi di Latte are the new food designers: a group of women architects led by Fransesca Sarti, who decided to change the food scene in Milan by setting up tables like theatrical scenery. Thirteen years later and with some excellent projects behind them, they are considered at the forefront of food design today. Right: At the Salone di Milano, Kristie van Noort will also be presenting her spring creations. Bringing ceramic crockery back into fashion, the Dutch ceramicist has been hailed by the New York Times’ T Magazine as a new star.

THE RETURN OF THE CLASSIC Made by the same family for the last fifty years in the Portuguese city of Caldas das Taipas, Cutipol has invested in elegance, relaunching bestseller collections from the 50s and 60s. Apart from its acclaimed reputation in its home country, where Cutipol supplies the most prestigious restaurants and hotels, it has gained fame in the United States through a series of collaborations with young designers. The golden rule: nothing can replace the value of handmade. Left: Self-watering planters Cottage from the Lechuza Balconera Collection – German style and know-how for the first flowers of spring.

SCANDINAVIAN IS BACK The new queen of the kitchen is Leila Lindholm from Sweden. She has eight TV shows to her name and every book she writes becomes a bestseller even before publication. In 2014 she created the collection Leila's General Store and recently opened a branch in London. She is young, beautiful, sexy, a mother of two and the new heir to British ‘domestic goddess’ Nigella Lawson. She lives in a village in Sweden and declares that happiness is a picnic with her children in the meadows.

From Berlin to Athens,

the designers, the trends, the

people - all that flavours

the food scene today.

HAND-SCULPTED IN SAN FRANCISCO, Tina Frey's objects draw inspiration from the blue sea, the treasures found during travel, the curves of nature, even the colours of translucent popsicles. Simplicity and function are her designs' focus, and they take shape in materials like resin, copper, brass and cotton. Imagine an urban garden: soft and organic, in natural hues. Pure (modern) happiness. Large pedestal cake stand in cobalt, Tina Frey Designs, www.zoumboulakis.

b y T a t i a n a O i k o n o m i d o uP

OLD IS THE NEW NEW Left: They studied together in London, founded Studiolav and are considered among the most promising names in Greek design. Vasso Asfi and Loukas Angelou won second place in the competition New Memories, by the historic enamel tableware company Metalac, with their collection Graphitecture reviving the nostalgia of Serbian tradition. Above: In Berlin, meanwhile, the successful duo in life and art, Louise and Will Kempkes, presented the project Par Et Impar with 12 porcelain plates, each designed by hand, depicting moments in the movement of a horse, like a flip-book where a browse makes each scene come alive. Below: Vintage copper pudding moulds, late 19th century, stamped on the bottom with Grand Hotel Cannes, from the prestigious cooking site Food 52, www.food52.com

life p

The future is HERE

b y T a t i a n a O i k o n o m i d o u

life p

The future is HERE

life p

The future is HERE

life p

Indulge yourself in a world of serenity, natural beauty and Ancient Greek vibes at the Amanzoe resort spa this season.

Surrounded by a serene landscape, overlooking the Aegean coast and endless olive groves, Amanzoe pays homage to its ancient surroundings with minimalistic architecture and classical aesthetics. This luxury resort, near the cosmopolitan islands of Spetses and Hydra, as well as the ancient theatre of Epidavros and the historic cities of Nafplio and Mycenae, occupies a unique location on the Peloponnese peninsula, ideal for relaxation of

Paralympic athletes, Premier League footballers and members of the England rugby squad as a business and life coach, counteracting the effects of stress. Maguire will be available for treatments like Thai and auricular massage, reconnection healing, Reiki, hypnotherapy, life coaching, meditation, Tai Chi and Qi Gong. Throughout the season, a stay at the Amanzoe resort is a unique experience for every guest. In an environment filled with the mystique and relaxing energy of ancient times, and with a breathtaking view of the Aegean Sea, it acts as a luxurious yet subtle retreat for those who seek a one-of-a-kind, relaxing vacation. Inspired by the holistic treatments of Hippocrates, the light-filled spa area is a place for seclusion, with its vast range of ancient and modern treatments and organic products. The area’s history and culture can be discovered by the curious-minded, through excursions organized by the resort. Enjoy a visit to the Fraxthi cave with its mystical beauty, the Avgo monastery, the picturesque island

of Hydra with its museums, galleries and monasteries, and learn about the historical meaning of Epidavros and its emblematic theatre, the ancient site of Mycenae, and take a walk around the beautiful city of Nafplio. As for the culinary experience, guests who are visiting Amanzoe in September will be able to take cooking classes and enjoy private dinners at the Amphitheatre, visit local beekeepers and cheese-makers, learn about Greek wines through wine-tasting sessions, and sample the olives from the olive trees that surround the resort.

body and mind. From April to October, guests of the Amanzoe resort will have a unique opportunity to enjoy exclusive privileges, activities and treatments from experienced professionals, and the highly trained Amanzoe staff. This summer, bodywork and wellness specialist Peter Baranyi will be in residence from July 8 to August 5. Baranyi is a qualified medical massage therapist who has worked at spas around the world, from Budapest and London to

Bangkok. At the Amanzoe spa, he will be offering a la carte therapies and private consultations, as well as combined tailored treatments, such as deep tissue massage, Thai massage therapy, trigger-point release massage, Yumeiho massage, craniosacral massage and meditation sessions. During August, specialist Francesc Miralles, trained in both Eastern and Western healing practices, will be offering his services to Amanzoe’s guests. By developing methods that are strongly rooted in the Buddhist philosophy and the concept of finding balance in all aspects of life, Miralles created his world-renowned Harmonia programme, which combines beauty, detox and beyond-spa therapies such as physiotherapy, holistic acupuncture, acupressure, fluid drainage, acu-lifting, body sculpting and craniosacral therapy. From September 9 until 25, a leading expert in life coaching and stress management, Toby Maguire, will be at the Amanzoe spa offering therapies and private consultations. He has spent the last decade working with Olympic and

SPA quality

With its classical yet contemporary architectural elements, the resort offers harmonious public and private spaces, as well as a mesmerizing view.Combining ancient and modern treatments, Amanzoe’s spa is a place for seclusion, mind and soul relaxation and body rejuvenation.

life p

SPA quality

life p

SPA quality

life p

SPA quality

Everyday luxuryAiming to create clothes that will last for many seasons to come, cocoandsilk produces womenswear in limited numbers, made from the best quality fabrics, with great attention to detail. The garments are created in independent production units by an all-woman work team. Each piece is designed with the modern woman in mind, who is not interested in ‘fast fashion’ and needs a timeless, everyday and reasonably-priced wardrobe to enjoy luxury without guilt.

S H O P P I N G L I S T addresses

Apriati:3 Stadiou street, Syntagma Square,

Athens 1-3 Patriarchou Ioakeim Street,

Athens 9 Pentelis street & Mitropoleos Street,

Athens20 Matogianni

Street, Mykonos Town

12 Stavrou Niarchou Street, Spetses54 rue du Four,

75006 Paris, France 310 rue Saint

Honoré, 75001 Paris, France

www.apriati.comAttica:

Citylink: 9 Panepistimiou Street, Athens,

Tel +30 2111802800Golden Hall: 37A

Kifissias Ave, Marousi, Athens, Tel

+ 30 211 1814000Adidas:

www.adidas.grCocoandsilk:Showroom: 54

Trivonianou Street, 11636 Athens, Tel +30 210 9212707

Boutique: 220 Olympionikon Street, 15451

Psychiko [email protected]

Dior Athens Boutique:

18 Voukourestiou Street, Athens,

Tel + 30 210 3613014Dolce Gabbana

Boutique:Citylink, 4 Stadiou

Street, Athens, Tel + 30 210

33564433 Morgentaou &

P. Koromila Street, Thessaloniki, Tel +

302310 376451Dolly Boucoyannis:

42 Dimokratias street, N. Psychiko,

Athens, Tel +30 210

6744900 www.

dollyboucoyannis.com

Elena Kougianou:26 Skoufa Street, Kolonaki, Tel + 30

210 3612179 www.

elenakougianou.com Garmin:

www.garmin.gr Folli Follie:

www.folliefollie.grFree Shop:

50 Voukourestiou Street, Athens, Tel + 30 210

3641308H & M:

www.hm.comIWC:

Richemont Hellas: Tel + 30 210 6471310

www.iwc.com

Juicy Couture Boutique:

11 Levidou Street, Kifisia, Tel + 30 210-

808694224 Tsakalof Street,

Athens, Tel + 30 210 3646550

16 Gr. Lambraki & Ioan. Metaxa Street,

Glyfada, Tel + 30 210

3541785Kalogirou:

www.kalogirou.comKapopoulos Fine

Arts:94 Varis Koropiou Avenue, Koropi,

Tel +30 210 8974441 www.kapopoulosart.

grKooreloo:

www.kooreloo.comKyrvanshoes:

www.kyrvanshoes.com

Linea Imports:401 Vouliagmenis

Ave., Athens, Tel + 30 210-

9719654www.lineaimports.gr

Luisa:15 Skoufa Street,

Athens, Tel + 30 210 3635600

11 Kolokotroni Street, Kifissia, Tel +

30 210 8016641 www.luisaworld.comLuxottica Hellas:

Tel + 30 210 6669300

www.luxottica.comMagnolia Grace Concept Store:Shopping Land,

Kolokotroni 1, Street, Kifisia,

Tel+ 30 210 8016340 and at other

selected retailers, Tel + 30 210

6855218Shop online: MAGNOLIA-GRACE.COM

Salty Bag:On the Deck, Dapia,

Spetses, Greece, Tel +30 22980

72075 www.saltybag.comUnder Armour:

74 Posidonos Avenue, Alimos,

Tel + 30 211 1088464www.underarmour.

comUnited Colors of

Benetton:www.benetton.comWolford Boutique:

20 Kanari Street, 10674 Athens,

Tel +30 210 3632353Shopping Land, 1

Kolokotroni Street, Kifissia,

Tel +30 210 8016340 Golden Hall, 37A Kifisias Avenue,

Marousi, Tel + 30 210

6855218Zeus + Δione:

www.zeusndione.com

Hard & softThe use of unusual elements, such as the combination of marble and leather, is what makes Elena Karavasili’s handbags statement pieces. With an emphasis on structure, texture and architectural forms, each item has a unique feel. The balance between hard and soft (cold marble and luxurious leather), a neutral colour palette and the functionality of each piece are the main characteristics of a show- stopping collection. www.elenakara.com

Mediterranean spiritBest described as art objects, Lila Karagiannis’ handbag designs for her brand Kooreloo are a combination of European chic and Mediterranean tradition. Semi-precious stones, luxurious one-of-a kind fabrics and traditional weave patterns are the elements that make Kooreloo’s accessories unique. Using local materials and inspired by Greek heritage, each handbag is a reminder of the beauty and elegance of the Mediterranean.

DIAFIMISI.indd 1 12/4/2016 10:14:30 µµDIAFIMISI.indd 6 12/4/2016 10:24:43 µµ

Athens20 Matogianni

+ 30 211 1814000Adidas:

Athens, Tel +30 210

6744900 www.

210 3612179 www.

3641308H & M:

www.hm.comIWC:

www.iwc.com

Athens, Tel + 30 210 3646550

3541785Kalogirou:

grKooreloo:

www.kyrvanshoes.com

Athens, Tel + 30 210 3635600

Tel + 30 210 6669300

comUnited Colors of

www.zeusndione.com

Athens20 Matogianni

+ 30 211 1814000Adidas:

Athens, Tel +30 210

6744900 www.

210 3612179 www.

3641308H & M:

www.hm.comIWC:

www.iwc.com

Athens, Tel + 30 210 3646550

3541785Kalogirou:

grKooreloo:

www.kyrvanshoes.com

Athens, Tel + 30 210 3635600

Tel + 30 210 6669300

comUnited Colors of

www.zeusndione.com

Athens20 Matogianni

+ 30 211 1814000Adidas:

Athens, Tel +30 210

6744900 www.

210 3612179 www.

3641308H & M:

www.hm.comIWC:

www.iwc.com

Athens, Tel + 30 210 3646550

3541785Kalogirou:

grKooreloo:

www.kyrvanshoes.com

Athens, Tel + 30 210 3635600

Tel + 30 210 6669300

comUnited Colors of

www.zeusndione.com

carnet de voyage

By Ioanna Alexatou

CARD blancheExploring the theme “Utopia by Design”, the first London Design Bienale opens this September at Somerset House.

On Entropy, a marble-working atelier based in both London and Athens, together with art photographer Yiorgos Kordakis and graphic designer Domnika Gregoriades, are Greece’s proud representatives.

Marble, an archetypal Greek material, masterfully takes the form of an art piece in On Entropy's creations. The atelier was founded by the Moskofoglou sisters: Niki, an architect with an academic training in design, and Zoe, an environmental engineer

focusing on the marriage of cultural and natural heritage with roots in the Greek ‘entropia’ (which refers to ‘turning toward’ and transformation). On Entropy evolves around marble's resilience and diverse character, resulting in the crafting of intricate

and delicate creations. Niki and Zoe are enthusiastic about their participation in the London Design Bienale, where artists from over 30 countries explore an ideal society where creativity, spirituality and happiness prevail. “For us,” say the sisters, “our

participation is a matter of promoting Greek culture and showcasing the best in Greek design and aesthetics, in the adverse times that Greece is going through”. The London Design Bienale runs from September 7 to 27. http://www.onentropy.co.uk/

carnet de voyage

By Ioanna Alexatou

carnet de voyage

By Ioanna Alexatou

carnet de voyage

By Ioanna Alexatou

spetses spotlight vol. 4

Documents