Author: Melpomeni Pauleli

Michael Winters, an Australian artist born in 1943, embarked on a lifelong artistic journey ignited by his art studies at the Caulfield Institute of Technology during the early 60s and a passion for the history of art, particularly the archaic wonders of Greece. This passion set the path for a transformative voyage. In 1965, Michael departed Melbourne on board the “Patris” for Athens, an inspiring starting point with its many archaeological marvels and urban tapestry. However, the path ahead remained uncertain until an unexpected encounter onboard changed everything. A chance meeting with Greek traveller, Antoni Tsaloumas, proved most fortunate. An…

The Tomb of Agamemnon or Treasury of Atreus is a large Bronze Age tomb in Mycenae, Greece. While it is known by two names, both of them are misnomers. It is the largest and most impressive ancient tomb in Mycenae Greece and (along with the adjacent Mycenae Acropolis archeological site) is one of the top attractions of early Greece before the Classic Period. The Tomb of Agamemnon is over 3,000 years old and dates from around the time of the Trojan War. Ancient tombs are some of the best monuments to have survived today. Preserved ancient funerary monuments range from…

Heavy rain and hailstorms swept across Greece, damaging olive trees ahead of the upcoming harvest and raising concerns over the spread of disease. In Greece, unusually wet weather caused by the Mediterranean Storm Daniel has dampened the expectations of olive and olive oil producers in the affected areas ahead of the upcoming olive harvest. For three days, a wave of cataclysmic rain and squalls swept the country from the northwest to the southeast, eventually losing its edge in the Aegean Sea.It is a huge catastrophe. Prices of olive oil are high, and we were expecting a robust olive harvest in our area this…

Turkish-Dutch airline Corendon has become the first in Europe to offer a child-free area on its planes. The new “Only Adult” zone, reserved for passengers over the age of 16, would launch on the airline’s flights between Amsterdam and the Caribbean island of Curaçao, starting from November. The airline said the zone would be located in the front section of the 432-seat Airbus A350 used on the route, with the 102 seats separated from the rest of the cabin by curtains. Passengers wanting to reserve a seat in the zone would have to pay an additional €45 (NZ$82) each way. There would…

Rewetting drained land could help in the fight against climate change but the EU’s agricultural subsidies scheme currently favours the use of drained land. Dutch farmer Aldert van Weeran plucked a thick stalk of bright green sweet grass from his flooded field. For most farmers in Europe, a field saturated with water at surface level would spell disaster, but Van Weeran was delighted with the mud. In 2020, he rewet 1.5 hectares of drained peatland situated just outside Amsterdam and started a type of wetland farming known as paludiculture. Van Weeran’s crop, a species of Typha, has flourished. But as…

US and EU concerned with state of Tunisia’s democracy but will ultimately retain ties, analysts say. President Kais Saied has made a mark since coming into office in 2019, from his suspension of parliament and dismissal of the government in 2021 – seen by his opponents as a “coup” – to the imprisonment of many opposition leaders, reduction of the independence of the judiciary and rhetoric that has been blamed for a wave of anti-refugee and -migrant violence in Tunisia. Over his time in office, the economy has continued to weaken. Prices have risen, and the subsidised food that many…

In the heart of Spain’s Doñana national park, a battle is being waged to safeguard one of the most important wetlands in Europe. Doñana, with its impressive landscapes and extraordinary biodiversity, hosts an estimated 6 million migratory birds every year. But its fate hangs in the balance. Despite declining water supplies, illegal wells and encroaching strawberry farms, and amid warnings from Unesco and the European Commission, the People’s party (PP) and far-right Vox party in the Andalucían regional government are pushing to legalise irrigation in the park, which straddles the provinces of Huelva and Seville in south-west Spain. These are some of the “guardians of…

Every summer, millions of vacationers from around the world flock to Greece to enjoy the gorgeous beaches, visit the countless ancient sites and monuments and taste authentic dishes of Greek cuisine. With extra virgin olive oil constituting the basis of virtually every food preparation in Greece, the country’s cuisine is one of the most characteristic manifestations of the celebrated Mediterranean diet. However, in eateries across the country, locals and tourists have no olive oil available when looking to add extra flavor to their food; olive oil for customer consumption has been steadily disappearing from restaurant and tavern tables in Greece since 2018, becoming almost extinct…

In Greece, the authorities warn not to enter the sea because of the sudden change in weather. The forecast is for rough seas and rain, especially in Halkidiki and Euboea. Heavy rain, wind and hail are expected today in a large part of the country, according to forecasters. Authorities are warning tourists not to enter the sea while it is raining due to strong waves in the sea. “Avoid even getting close to the beach, because the weather changes will be fast and dynamic”, urge the lifeguards on the beach. The information is sent to the mobile phones of people who are in risk areas. Temperatures remain high -…

Rahmon’s war against the Ismaili. Dubai (5/7 – 75) The government of Tajikistan’s campaign against the operations of a charitable organization funded by the Agha Khan, the spiritual leader of the country’s Ismaili minority, has intensified over the past few weeks. In the most recent development, the authorities have revoked the license of the Aga Khan Lycée in Khorog, the capital of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, or GBAO. A source at the Aga Khan Foundation told Eurasianet that June 30 was the last day that the secondary school would operate under its aegis. The Aga Khan Development Network, the umbrella…