My previous articles about the iPhone in Greece still attract a lot of traffic, so I thought that, with the arrival today of the newest Apple Jesus phone, the iPhone 4S, in Greece, I’d update you on the prices these phones command here in Greece. The prices are for a 16GB iPhone at Vodafone, my carrier, with an 2-year plan and in EUROS (€).

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On Friday, January 21, 2011, after three consecutive delays, the Greek Ministry of Infrastructure (YPOMEDI), is reportedly ready to approve the concession contract and to officially start the process of selecting the contractor for the construction of the new Heraklion airport and its management over 35 years. If this deadline is met and YPOMEDI issues the definitive text of the concession contract next Friday, the contractor will be selected by the end of September. Read the rest of this entry »

I got this story by email today from a friend I made in Google Lively, now almost 2 years ago, who got it from an American friend and found it very funny…. You might know it already, I didn’t and I absolutely needed to share it with you.

A Little Christmas Story

When four of Santa’s elves got sick, the trainee elves did not produce toys as fast as the regular ones, and Santa began to feel the Pre-Christmas pressure. Then Mrs. Claus told Santa her Mother was coming to visit, which stressed Santa even more. When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three of them were about to give birth and two others had jumped the fence and were out, Heaven knows where. Then when he began to load the sleigh, one of the floorboards cracked, the toy bag fell to the ground and all the toys were scattered. Read the rest of this entry »

It looks like Winter Solstice (a.k.a. Christmas) was a lot more fun in Ancient Greece.

From Wikipedia:

The Winter Solstice occurs exactly when the earth’s axial tilt is farthest away from the sun at its maximum of 23° 26′. Though the Winter Solstice lasts only an instant in time, the term is also colloquially used as Midwinter or contrastingly the first day of winter to refer to the day on which it occurs. More evident to those in high latitudes, this is the shortest day, and longest night, and the sun‘s daily maximum position in the sky is the lowest. The seasonal significance of the Winter Solstice is in the reversal of the gradual lengthening of nights and shortening of days. Depending on the shift of the calendar, the winter solstice occurs around December 21 each year in the Northern Hemisphere, and June 20 in the Southern Hemisphere. Read the rest of this entry »

Glory Hallelujah! I found what I was looking for. Ecce moto! It’s an old iron barrel Royal Enfield Bullet 500, the classic type, no frills. This model hasn’t changed in over 50 years, they forgot to stop making them. The bike I bought is a 1999 model and is no longer available new since this year, due to new European regulations. It had been parked under a tree, covered with an old tarpaulin, for 2 years. That’s where I found it. There are some technical problems, none of which can’t be solved, but more than anything it needs some good care and polish. I can do that. It’s now at a service shop and I will officially take possession of it on Monday 13th of April. In the mean time I have some private matters to attend to. You can follow my restauration and tune-up project at a new site dedicated to this jewel at www.royal-enfield.gr

The Secretariat for Digital Planning of the Greek Ministry of Economy and Finance, based on the success of the initiative to install free wireless broadband access points at Syntagma Square, Thissio (nearby Temple of Hephaestus), Kotzia Square and the National Research Foundation in Athens, and the very strong response of the public, will finance the creation of 279 new free wireless access points (WiFi hotspots) in municipalities, prefectures, regions, TEDK (Local Unions of Municipalities & Communities) and other locations across Greece. This is good news for the millions of tourists to Greece as well. Read the rest of this entry »

I know you all wished you were in Greece, but you’re not missing out on any nice weather right now. Or better put, the weather really sux, big time. It’s cold, and rainy, we had some hail today, in short, not something you’d really miss. What you are missing out on is the weather forecast, therefor I have included a sample of it below.

Her name is Petroula Kostidou and this is the real daily weather forecast, not some satire. This airs every evening at 20:57 on STAR, a popular commercial television channel here. Originally the weather forecast lasted 3 minutes. Due to popular demand it is going to be extended to 5 minutes, last I heard. I wonder why. Read the rest of this entry »

The idea was first launched in 1986 by then Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou. The new international airport of Iraklio (HER) in Crete Kastelli, which will replace the existing airport “Nikos Kazantzakis” in Neas Alikarnassos, has officially entered the implementation phase. Over the next few days technical and environmental studies will be sent to the local authorities to begin consultation to be completed in six months. The new airport will become operational in 2014. The existing airport in Heraklion will be closed and the area of 278 hectares (687 acres) will be returned to local communities for a large urban regeneration plan. Read the rest of this entry »