For those dancing feet!!!!!

 

So you were Erasmus in Greece, you have probably been in more than one Greek nights and you have seen Greeks dancing those “traditional” dances….

And now you are about to go back to your countries everyone will ask you: Did you learn any Greek dances???

Well, you don’t have to feel bad cause you don’t have to answer NO!!! Because we are here to help you!!!

So, most popular and simple greek dance is the following:

It is danced in a line – and in some cases in circle formation – with the hands holding the other person’s shoulders. Line formation is considered the traditional way of dancing. The dance meter is 4/4, with an increasing tempo, and often the sequence changes to 2/4 in the fastest parts. Accordingly, the dance begins with slow and smooth moves that gradually transform into fast , vivid actions that include leaping and hopping – which are both fun to do and watch.

The simpliest way to learn is by following this video. Childish simple, yet good enough to start with …

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sO1b2ue6bTk&feature=related

So we have:

1) right leg -> step

2)left leg -> back step (your left foot moves to the right, behind the right leg)

3) right leg -> step

4)left leg -> slight kick to the front and right and then back to previous position

5) right leg -> slight kick to the front and left and then back to the previous position

 

Simple huh? Enjoy!!!

 

I’m starving AND bored to cook!

You wake up at 8:45 a.m. for a 9:00 a.m. class, take notes until 3:00 p.m. and study until dinner.
It’s 6:30 p.m. now, there’s nothing to eat, and admit it, you are SO tempted to go for a pita, but you hate eating it every day.
In Greece we say “A bear with an empty stomach doesn’t dance”, which means that with no food you don’t have energy, let alone study!
That’s why we got you a quick and yummy recipe, time to improve your cooking skills and break the routine of pizza-pasta-pita :p
You’re gonna need:

• 6-8 baking potatoes
• 2 tbsp light olive oil
• 1 onion, peeled and finely chopped
• 4 sticks celery, finely chopped
• 1-2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
• 2 green chillies, deseeded and finely sliced
• 1 tbsp freshly grated root ginger
• 400g can chopped tomatoes
• 1 red pepper, deseeded and finely chopped
• ½ level tsp salt
• 200g (7oz) caster sugar
• 150ml (¼ pint) cider vinegar
• 2-3 pieces star anise

DETAILS

• Serves: 6-8 portions
• Prep time: 10 mins
• Cooking time: 1 hr 30 mins
• Total time: 1 hr 40 mins
• Skill level: Beginner
• Cost: Low
• Calories 282(kcal) / Fat 3.0g

PREPARATION

1. Set the oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas Mark 6.
2. Prick the potatoes and wrap them in foil, then bake them in the oven for about 1½ hours, or until they are tender.
3. To make the topping: Pour the olive oil into a heavy-based saucepan and heat over a moderate heat. Add the onion and celery to the pan and cook for 5-7 minutes until they start to soften. Add the garlic, chilli and ginger and cook for a further 1-2 minutes, then add the tomatoes, red pepper and salt, and mix well.
4. Finally, add the sugar, vinegar and star anise, and stir over a moderate heat until the sugar dissolves and the mixture comes to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer gently for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally, so that the mixture doesn’t stick to the base of the pan. Remove pan from heat.
5. To serve, cut the potatoes in half and spoon the warm topping over.

And now enjoy your meal!
TIPS: You can freeze the topping, let it cool, then pack in a suitable container and keep frozen for up to 1 month. Allow to defrost, and then serve either cold or reheated. Also, try it with Philadelphia cheese and you won’t be disappointed

A True Greek Story….!!!

What’s the first greek drink that comes to mind? Hmmm Ouzo of course…but what about Rakomelo? Yeah that really hot and strong spirit that everybody is telling you that you have to try or have already tried in the small bars at the streets of Psiri?

If you are a fan of it here are some information about it as well as the recipe for it!!!

Rakomelo is a hot spirit made out of mixing cretan raki ( also known as tsikoudia) with honey and some spices. For the lovers of greek language ρακόμελο = ρακή + μέλι . The drink is common in the island of Crete and they use it mostly as a medicine for the sorehroat or the common cold!!! Now you have more excuses to drink it

It is also quite simple to make, so this is the recipe for you just in case you want to have a Rakomelo night at your house!

Ingredients :

250ml of Raki or Tsikoudia

1 tablespoon of honey

3-4 cloves

1 cinnamon stick

Tip* You can always adjust the measurements depending on the amount of raki that you use.

 Preparation :

Pour the raki in a small pot and also add the honey and the spices. Some people also add 1-2 slices of orange.

Stir the mixture now and then….Feel free to try it, maybe you need to add more honey.

Let it boil but for a very very short time, you don’t want the alcohol to evaporate

Serve it in shot glasses while it’s still hot.!

Enjoy

do IT like a GReek ! ! !

Frappé coffee also known as Greek frappé is a foam-topped iced coffee drink made from instant coffee (generally, spray-dried). It is very popular in Greece and Cyprus, especially during the summer, but has now spread to other countries. The frappé became a hallmark of the post-war outdoor Greek coffee culture.

Frappé dates back to the 1957 International Trade Fair in Thessaloniki. The representative of the Nestlé company, Yannis Dritsas, was exhibiting a new product for children, a chocolate beverage produced instantly by mixing it with milk and shaking it in a shaker. Dritsas’ employee Dimitris Vakondios was looking for a way to have his usual instant coffee during his break but he could not find any hot water, so he mixed the coffee with cold water and a shaker.

This improvised experiment established this popular Greek beverage. Frappé has been called the national coffee of Greece, and is available at virtually all cafés.

So how do you make this coffee?

You will need: 1) 2 teaspoons of Instant coffee 2)Cold water 3)Ice cubes 4)Shaker or drink mixer 5)Sugar and/or milk  are optional 6) DEFINITELY a STRAW.

Place the coffee, sugar to taste, and 60ml cold water in a shaker. Cover and shake well for 30 seconds  to produce a thick, light-brown foam .
Place a few ice cubes in a tall glass. Slowly pour all of the coffee foam into the glass.

If you are using a drinks mixer you can place the coffee, sugar and 60ml of cold water directly into the glass, MIX and then add the ice cubes.

Add milk, if desired, according to taste. Fill with cold water until the foam reaches the top of the glass. Serve with a thin, bendable straw. Now, take some time and enjoy your coffee…

January 6th: Epiphany

January 6th marks the traditional Epiphany celebrations in Greece:

On the stroke of January 6th, the “twelve days” of Christmas officially come to an end. This day, takes on a special meaning in Greece. Here, there is a special ceremony of blessing the waters and of the vessels that ply them.

The modern observance at Piraeus, the ancient port of Athens, takes the form of a priest hurling a large crucifix into the waters. Young men brave the cold and compete to retrieve it. These days, the cross is generally attached to a nice, safe long chain, just in case that year’s crop of divers is something less than desired.

After the diving, local fishermen bring their boats to be blessed by the priest.

What does all this have to do with Christmas? Orthodox belief says that it was the day of the baptism of Jesus, and that this is where the day’s association with water arises.

But the observance itself may pre-date Christianity. There was, in Roman times, what was said to be a ceremony that opened the season of navigation. However, as any Greek fisherman can tell you, whatever the date of the opening of the season of navigation really is, it definitely is not January 6th, when weather can be stormy and the waters are at their coldest.

The day is also said to be the date of a festival of emperor-worship, also dating from Roman times. Possibly that, with attendant offerings for the emperor, is the root of this ceremony. Or it may also reflect a survival of the custom of giving precious offerings to sea, river, and spring spirits to assure their benevolence or halt their interference. On Epiphany, the kallinkantzari, the malicious spirits who are said to be active during the twelve days of Christmas, are believed to be banished for the rest of the year.

Epiphany is also called the Phota or Fota, in reference to the day being a Feast of Light, and it is also the saint’s day for Agia Theofana.

While the biggest observance is at Piraeus, many islands and villages offer smaller versions of the event. It is definitely still a traditional holiday.

Greek track of the Week 19-25/9

Hey hey hey…

A new week has arrived… so it’s time for the track of this week The weather is getting a bit colder but we keep on having a great mood cause after Friday the temperature will be close to the hot days of the previous week!

You are curious to listen what we have chosen for you??? Well it’s a pop song from a famous pop singer The singer is Thirio featuring Eleni Foureira, a singer that is getting more and more famous the last 2 years! Her “jungle” hair made her easily recognized in a combination with her chocolate colored skin… The track is called “Μια νύχτα μόνο” or you can just say “For one night only”…

The title sounds a bit nasty and the lyrics are a bit nasty too Just to get into the clue Eleni is asking from her beloved one to have a night together cause she can’t stand being alone… and she wants him like hell… It’s a typical greek pop song that combines some catchy rap lyrics. If the following months you’ll party in a club in Athens there is high possibility that you may listen to this track!

ENJOY

ESN Athens AUEB Blog team

Greek track of the Week 12-18/9

Goodmorning our beautiful newcomers!!!

We are in the middle of the week and the Introduction week is getting closer and closer!!! Tommorow it will be our first chance to meet each other and start this great experience that is called Erasmus!!! More and more arrivals everyday and the erasmus team is getting bigger and bigger all the time  

For this reason we have chosen a really cool greek song for this week. The performers of the song are Kostis Maraveyas and Panos Mouzourakis, famous also for his appearance in greek TV Series. The song is the greek version of the famous italian song Baciami Ancora and is called “Φίλα με ακόμα”, or simply “Keep on kissing me”.

It’s a love song full of catchy lyrics that during the chorus “Keep on kissing me… keep on kissing me…” is being repeated several times. You can check the greek and the italian version of the song below and choose which one you like the most  

ENJOY!!!

ESN Athens AUEB blog TEAM

PS: Don’t forget that after the Intro Week… Mykonos Bonding trip begins on 29/9 till 2/10… JOIN NOW!!!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGdXc1Z6SmZRNUlBLU03OFdjMDQtd1E6MQ

Check also the facebook event 

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=134167396678623

Welcome2all & Greek Track of the Week!!!

Hello Erasmus people of 2011 – 2012… !!!

The new Erasmus year is about to begin and we are more than happy about it… the BLOG Team of ESN Athens AUEB is back in action to keep you up to date for everything that happens in Athens and to get you closer with the greek way of life STAY Tuned and you will understand we do really mean!!!

Our first post for the FALL semester is including a Greek hit of this Summer The singer is the band REC, a band that is getting more and more famous during the last couple of years! The track is called “Chocolat..το χρώμα” or just “Chocolat.. the color”!!!

The song is totally in summer mood cause it’s talking for the chocolate color of the skin after sunbathing in Greece during the summer. The clip of the video is filmed in Santorini one of the most famous of Cyclades in Greece. The singer of the band wants to get a chocolate color during summer and her lover to hug and kiss her in a free translation according to the lyrics

ENJOY!!!

PS: Don’t forget that Mykonos is also in Cyclades and you have the chance to start discovering the Greek islands just before your semester begins on 29/9 till 2/10… JOIN NOW!!!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGdXc1Z6SmZRNUlBLU03OFdjMDQtd1E6MQ

Check also the facebook event

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=134167396678623

Greek track of the DAY 03/04!

Sunday mood… we LUV it!!

For all of you that have been in the Greek Dancing Night of Friday this track is just for you We had really a great time and that’s why we dedicate this track to you!

The singer is Aliki Vougiouklaki, a really famous greek actress at her time… lots of her movies are still played on the TV every weekend most likely and lots of people are still watching them… every greek person has enjoyed these movies for sure! The track is called “Σήκω χόρεψε συρτάκι” or just “Stand up and dance sirtaki”!!!

The song is about the happiness of life and that even if you are sad you can always dance sirtaki and make your day better You can enjoy the professional sirtaki movements after 2:00 that the dance is getting wild! The clip and the track is taken from the movie “Η κόρη μου η σοσιαλίστρια” (“My daughter the socialist”) greek comedy of 1966.

ENJOY!!!

Greek track of the DAY 01/04!

hey there,

A new month has just started… so it’s the right time for another track of the DAY!!!

Today you can enjoy a track performed on MAD Video Music Awards the previous summer. MAD VMA is the greek definition of MTV VMA… cause here in Greece we love to have a greek “translation” for everything… like Mc’Donalds in greek is GOODY’s

The performers are Helena Paparizou, yes the one that won the Eurovision song contest in 2005, and Onirama, a really famous greek band with lots of hits the last years. The track is called “Φυσικά Μαζί – Together Forever”, the chorus of the track is in English so we don’t need to say much about the meaning of the track…

ENJOY!!!