Μπορεί τα Ελληνικά τρένα να μην έχουν σχεδόν τίποτα κοινό με τα shinkansen της Ιαπωνίας που επισκέφθηκα πρόσφατα αλλά εδώ έχω δέκα καλούς λόγους γιατί να επιλέξεις να κάνεις τη διαδρομή Αθήνα - Θεσσαλονίκη με τρένο:
1. Επειδή ο σταθμός του τρένου βρίσκεται πιο κοντά στο κέντρο της Αθήνας και άρα (λογικά) και στο σπίτι σου και δε χρειάζεσαι εισιτήριο των 9 ευρώ για να πας και 45 λεπτά για να φτάσεις.
2. Επειδή είσαι ήδη πολύ κουρασμένος και βλέπεις τις 6 ώρες του ταξιδιού σαν μια ευκαιρία να δώσεις λίγο χρόνο στον εαυτό σου να ξεκουραστεί.
3. Επειδή επιτέλους θα μπορέσεις να τελειώσεις εκείνο το βιβλίο που παλεύεις να διαβάσεις εδώ και 6 μήνες.
4. Επειδή θα μπορέσεις να ολοκληρώσεις εκείνη τη σειρά που σου μένουν τα τελευταία 3 επεισόδια.
5. Επειδή είσαι και λίγο στο mood να κοινωνικοποιηθείς.
6. Επειδή είσαι λάτρης του βιντατζ και το να ταξιδεύεις με τρένο (και ειδικά το ελληνικό) είναι κάπως βγαλμένο από άλλη εποχή.
7. Επειδή η άφιξη στο σιδηροδρομικό σταθμό της Θεσσαλονίκης δεν απαιτεί μία ώρα διαδρομής με λεωφορείο για να φτάσεις στο κέντρο της πόλης.
8. Επειδή είναι πολύ φθηνότερο! (special tip: ψάξε βρες τις προσφορές που βγάζει η Trenose κάθε τέλος του μήνα για τον επόμενο. Το ήξερες ότι μπορείς να πας Θεσσαλονίκη μόνο με 9 ευρώ;)
9. Επειδή δεν υπάρχει καλύτερο μέσο για να χαζέψεις το υπέροχο τοπίο από το παράθυρό σου χωρίς να χρειάζεται να προσέχεις το δρόμο.
10. Επειδή απλά το τρένο το λατρεύεις!
As irrelevant as this may be with travel blogging (not at all! preparing for our honeymoon in Japan!!), I decided to dedicate an article based on my recent wedding experience.
Being so crazy about music festivals, my husband -trying to get used to it :) - and I, wanted to create a music festival to celebrate our wedding. And so we did. In the following days I will give more information about it plus we will launch a webpage for festival weddings.
For the time being, here is a piece of advice from a newlywed:
- Keep your family close and your friends closer. As independent as you may want to feel, you will definitely need a second opinion. There is no better person to advise you than your family and your best friends. Talk to them, show them the options, listen to their sincere opinion and then decide.
- Be prepared for budget corrections. Upwards.
- Don't go to a professional make up artist. They are extremely expensive (price in Greece varies from 150-250 EUR) and they charge 50 EUR for the trial make-up. They will make you a non- regognisable person covering you with heavy make up and dark shadows. Unless you are a fan of this kind of make-up I suggest you to buy some professional products (try MAC or Benefit - I bought this mascara; also dont forget a highlighter for a bit of dreamy glow) and ask your friends to do your maquillage. You can make some trials with them before.
- Put a bank account at your invitation. We were quite sceptic about it until we decided to finally put it. It was the best thing we did: you make it easy for invited people to not think of presents and also money is quite useful in this period of your life, considering the expenses you will make to organise the wedding.
- Have bridesmaids. I know it may sound weird to say this but in Greece it is not a common thing to do. It is the best way to have your best friends close to you, make great photos with them and share the happiness of the wedding from the very beginning as they have a role. Dress them in colorful dresses or with the same color and have them by your side.
- Involve your friends. Avoid having everything prepared by professionals. Find the time to invite your friends to come home have a drink or two, eat some pizzas and make the decoration, the wedding favors and anything else you may need. They will enjoy, you will do it as you want and you will have the best of time. Also, involving your friends to your wedding will lead to great memories!
- Involve your friends. Avoid having everything prepared by professionals. Find the time to invite your friends to come home have a drink or two, eat some pizzas and make the decoration, the wedding favors and anything else you may need. They will enjoy, you will do it as you want and you will have the best of time. Also, involving your friends to your wedding will lead to great memories!
- Wear spray deodorant. I am not fan of spray deodorant, I never use it but this special day you need to be fresh, feel dry and try to sweat as little as possible. The one that I bought and totally recommend for such a day is Dove original or any other spray dedorant that has no or very little perfume.
- If you are making your wedding gown from scratch, then I suggest to tell to your designer that the wedding is taking place a week before the real wedding! I was so happy with my wedding dress but I was running till the very last minute. (so stressful!)
- Okay this is really obvious but I will stress it out anyways. Create a Pinterest board and pin your favourite wedding pictures. Ideally print your favourites and use them for the photoshoot after the matrimony. You will not be in the condition to remember them that time.
- Book your honeymoon at least a week after the wedding. Booking our honeymoon 10 days after the wedding was the best thing we did. You are so exhausted after the wedding, you need time to relax, make some research for your destination, pack your bags and more importantly be full of energy for this new great adventure. Furthermore wedding creates red tape. You will need to take the papers to various public bodies afterwards.
- Be diferent. This day is all about making your ultimate party with all your friends! So do it exactly the way you want it. No sales. Even if you cannot afford something make budget alterations or find similar things that are cheaper. But do not hesitate to make whatever makes you happy.
Most of us do work 9-5 for a living. Even if we are not brave enough (yet) to leave our jobs for a life full of adventures around the world, we can discover this planet little by little on a budget! Seriously, this can happen. I am not rich but I get to travel a lot and hopefully one day I will be able to travel a lot more to even farther places. Because life is not meant to be spent only in one place in this beautiful world.
I tried to figure out some ways to travel almost for free, so if you have the wanderlust sickness as well, have a look, make a plan and everything could happen.
I tried to figure out some ways to travel almost for free, so if you have the wanderlust sickness as well, have a look, make a plan and everything could happen.
First and foremost even though we are not students anymore, the God of Erasmus still exists for us. Erasmus+ program is open for fully funded training courses around Europe -sometimes even outside of Europe- for adults, with only one requirement: the need to be influenced and influence other people. That's it. Search for it via your local National Agent, Ministry of Education and NGOs. Simple and amazing. You get to travel for free, you interract with people from all around the world and you learn as well! My trips in Sicily and North of Spain were made under the funding of Erasmus+.
Another good opportunity, although not so certain is: Travel Contests!! As childish as it may sound I assure you, I've won a travel twice in the last 3 years. And both were an awesome experience. One with @mtvgreece on June 2013, a two day trip at London plus tickets for Robbie Williams concert at Wembley stadium (here) and one from @mixgrillgr on June 2015 for Primavera Sound Festival in Barcelona (here). It is difficult as so many people are participating but as you see not impossible! Have faith and you will make it!
Are you a loyalty card member? If not you should!! Airlines member cards are a very very good way to accumulate miles or whatever they call it and getting a flight reward. The more you travel... the more you will travel (for free!!). From my experience so far, best loyalty card -at least for Europe- is Lufthansa's Miles&More as they have the Star Alliance, meaning many air companies are under this "umbrella", more opportunities to stay loyal to them.
Last but not least, and in case you do not have a 9-5 job or other obligations, you can/should volunteer!!! I am so excited about it, although it is not possible for me to do it I totally recommend it! Check WWOOF (Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms), an organization that pairs volunteers with farms all over the world. They provide you with food and a place to stay in exchange with work from 4 to 8 hours on the farm. Unfortunately you pay your flights. But imagine going in a far away place you never imagined you could do it and mix up with locals, get the chance to meet internationals and experience a farm life!
Do you know any other means of travelling on a budget? If so, please feel free to comment about them and enrich our travel opportunities!
Do you know any other means of travelling on a budget? If so, please feel free to comment about them and enrich our travel opportunities!
1. Cubic houses, Rotterdam - Netherlands
Kubuswoningen or cubic houses were created by architect Piet Boom when?? They are tilted 45 degrees and they ahve an hexagon shape, they really are the landmark of Rotterdam!
2. Melting house, Sopot - Poland
Inspired by jan Marcin Szancer (a famous Polish artist) and Per Dahlberg (Swedish painter), the melting House was built in 2003. It is located in the main commercial street of Sopot and it is not easily noticeable but you will see it from the people stopping and taking pictures of it.
4. The Torre Galatea Figueras, Spain
6. House Attack, Vienna - Austria
7. Dancing Building, Prague - Czech Republic
8. Container City, London - UK
7. Cumulus - Nordborg, Denmark
Built in 2007, by J. Mayer H. Architects this building in the shape of a cloud, is located at the Danfoss Universe Sience and Technology Park. The interior is in black and white, it is 1000 sqm big and is hosting various exhibitions.
7. Solar Furnace - Odeillo, France
Kubuswoningen or cubic houses were created by architect Piet Boom when?? They are tilted 45 degrees and they ahve an hexagon shape, they really are the landmark of Rotterdam!
2. Melting house, Sopot - Poland
Inspired by jan Marcin Szancer (a famous Polish artist) and Per Dahlberg (Swedish painter), the melting House was built in 2003. It is located in the main commercial street of Sopot and it is not easily noticeable but you will see it from the people stopping and taking pictures of it.
3. Forest Spiral – Hundertwasser Building, Darmstadt - Germany
Built between 1998 and 2000 by Friedensreich Hundertwasser, a famous Austrian architect and painter known for his revolutionary and colorful work has 105 appartments, a restaurant and a cocktail bar.
4. The Torre Galatea Figueras, Spain
This is a museum-theatre dedicated to famous painter Dali and named after his beloved wife and muse, Gala. Opened in 1974 in his native city, was built by architect Emilio Perez Pinero and became a symbol for the Theatre and Figueres. Dali is buried in an unmarked crypt in the museum's main exhibition Hall.
5. Inntel Hotel, Zaandam - Netherlands
Opened on March, 201o this amazing building features overlapping green wooden facades typical of traditional houses in the region. Created by WAM Architecten is forty metres tall and includes 160 rooms. Plus a conference centre.
6. House Attack, Vienna - Austria
That "house" on the roof of the Viennese Museum of Modern Art is actually an exhibition, titled "House-Attack" by Erwin Wurm.
7. Dancing Building, Prague - Czech Republic
A new landmark of Prague was created in 1996 (it took 2 years of contruction) and today ios one of the greatest buildings in terms of architecture. Designed by Frank Gehry and Vlada Milunic has gathered the attention of local and international people.
8. Container City, London - UK
Created by Urban Space Management, who take shipping containers that are about to be trashed and make living places out of them!
9. The blue building, Rotterdam - Netherlands
This unusual building is named Beukelsblue and is located in Beukelsdijk 21-39. The building is derelict and eventually will be demolished but for the time being is painted blue making it visible from quite far, giving a special "tone" to the area.
7. Cumulus - Nordborg, Denmark
Built in 2007, by J. Mayer H. Architects this building in the shape of a cloud, is located at the Danfoss Universe Sience and Technology Park. The interior is in black and white, it is 1000 sqm big and is hosting various exhibitions.
7. Solar Furnace - Odeillo, France
It is not only a fascinating creation but it is the worlds largest solar furnace. Located in the Pyrenees mountains of the french-spanish borders, it consists of a field of 10,000 mirrors and reaches temperatures up to 3,500 °C (6,330 °F)!
Have you seen any of these buildings with your own eyes? I am 3 out of 7! Have you noticed any other "strange" building around Europe?
(*all photos taken from Pinterest)
Even if you are not a photography freak, when travelling, you should take some photos, not necessarily quality ones but something for memorabilia. How many times have you forgotten about places, corners or little towns you have visited?
Sometimes I scroll down my instagram profile and I realise how much it refreshes my memory. I know that our phones can definitely replace today a very good camera. But me, for example, I am not used to take photos from my phone -maybe because it has a bad camera with the fast progress of technology- but even if it was good, I would prefer other means of capturing moments.
What I mean?
I love my instax. I rarely print photos, I don't know if someone does it anymore so when I feel impressed or when I feel I am standing in front of an important spot of a city (imagine Eiffel Tower for example, or a beautiful lake) I have to capture it - and print it immediately as a postcard. It is a very nice way to keep a souvenir you created by yourself in a place you visited. It is also a very good souvenir to give it to friends whom you may travel together. It is something like a grown ups game (it looks like it as well). The camera costs around 60euros and the film is a bit pricey but its worth it! There are also quite a few accessories and fun things to enhance your photos, like stickers, colourful films etc.
Have you heard about lomography? Another useful (okay, not) camera is a lomo camera!! In the digital era we go analog! It gives you the pleasure of that moment when you develop your film and your heart beats fast in order to see your travel photos. It is a great feeling we tend to forget. Apart from that, you can make various tricks using your lomo cameras, like fisheye effect, multiple exposures, cool mosaics etc. Lomography is a big community with many active members from all around the world so they have a great site at lomography.com where you can also shop their cameras, various film types and discover great tips for your photos.
Chapter: SELFIES! What an invention.. an invention that lead to the creation of camera sticks! It may be prohibited in some festivals (see Coachella or Lollapalooza), they might be annoying sometimes, it happens to be the extension of the hand of some people, but lets admit it: it is a genious thought. You can take photos of yourself when you are a solo traveller instead of returning home with beautiful (but miserable) photos of landscapes. Where were you?! You can take photos with your partner when you are a couple or you are a duo travelling. Why the one should always be the photographer?! So use them! As much annoying as they can be, they are quite precious in what they offer!
Okay technology is not bad, the opposite ofcourse. Make the best use out of it. There are millions of applications out there that can enhance your photos, make them more appealing, more fancy, more bright and more of whatever you want! Many people love VSCO camera app and they feel they belong to a special community using the hashtag #vsco after their photos. The SKRWT app is ideal for building snapshots as it is adjusting the perspective of your photos. TouchRetouch is awesome as it can remove unwanted objects from your photos. Imagine in the summertime being in the most busy beach of the island alone... Done! And have a look at Snapseed from Google that does some enhancement to the photos, plus it is free. (ah.. Google!!)
ΒΗΜagazino, a weekly magazine, asked two advertising agencies creative teams (Adel Saatchi & Saatchi and Soho Square) to design a print ad which could improve the image of Greece abroad at this very critical stage in its history.
On the plane to Riyadh, I got to read on a newspaper about Tuffix.
Tuffix is the nickname of Souffeina Named, a muslim girl currently living in Berlin who creates comic figures showing the everyday life of a muslim girl in Europe. She is so talented and savvy, you should have a look at her page in DeviantArt.
Here are some samples of her amazing work:
Apart from being Taco Tuesday this years' Cinco de Mayo, revealed Frida Kahlo's wardrobe 60 years after her death.
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| Kahlo’s fringed boots, the right one with a stacked heel |
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| One of the corsets worn by Kahlo |
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| After her bus accident, Kahlo was in a full body cast for three months, and she remained in pain for the rest of her life. She painted her casts and corsets, turning them from medical equipment into artworks |
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| Orchids to You and another nail polish |
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| Kahlo’s leg was amputated in 1953. She designed this prosthetic leg with embroidered red lace-up boots and a bell attached |
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| Classic cat-eye glasses worn by Kahlo |
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| A skirt of green silk and lace attached to a body corset |
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| Bathing suit in mint green |
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| The artist’s makeup compact |
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| Kahlo’s right leg was thinner than her left after childhood polio – and it was later fractured in 11 places when she had a horrific bus accident in her 20s. As a result, she wore long, traditional Tehuana dresses that concealed her lower body |
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| Kahlo’s friends noted that the more pain she felt, and the more incapacitated she became, the more elaborate her outfits were |
