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| Greece Buying Guide Newsletter |
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| Hello again, I simply cannot
believe that this is the last newsletter of the year, can you? This
is my second Christmas since I moved across here from South Africa,
and what an eventful year it has been! The beginnings of Christmas in Greece go back to the time of St. Nicholas, who was known as the patron saint of sailors. Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh don’t tell ANYONE!! St Nicholas, the Santa Claus or Father Christmas that we know today and is celebrated in Greece (along with most European countries), was actually born in Turkey!! He was the Bishop of Myra, in Turkey, in the 3rd century AD. He would give gifts to the poor and to children, of whom he was particularly fond. Funnily enough, in the past Christmas wasn’t really considered much of a celebration in Greece compared to Easter, but things are changing. This is perhaps due to the many expats now living there – plus shopkeepers with an eye to the Christmas present market no doubt! So much so that in Syntagma Square, in Athens, the largest Christmas tree in Europe is now erected each year, complete with elves, fairy-tale cottages and Christmas ornaments. Children are welcomed in the ‘fairy village’ and are entertained by clowns and other performers – hopefully they are not like my grandchild, who is terrified of clowns and routinely runs screaming from them!! The Greek Orthodox Church, like the Christian Church, celebrates the birth of Christ on December 25. Actually, the date was picked because in the Mediterranean area they used to celebrate a Persian god, Mithras, who was the god of the Sun, on this day. In Greece the Christmas holiday celebrations are already in full swing by December 6th, the Feast of St. Nicholas, when presents are exchanged, and last until January 6th, the Feast of Epiphany. There are of course many Christmas customs in Greece that are similar to those in the UK. For instance, on Christmas Eve, village children move from house to house, singing 'kalanda', the equivalent of Christmas Carols. The children often accompany these songs by playing on small metal triangles and little clay drums. Much like on Halloween here, the children are usually given sweets or coins to reward them. Christmas trees in the home are not as common as here but are becoming more popular. Usually a shallow wooden bowl is prepared in Greek homes. In it is a sprig of basil, wrapped around a wooden cross which is suspended above the bowl, with sufficient water to keep the basil alive. Once a day a family member, usually the Mother, dips the cross and basil into some holy water and uses it to sprinkle water in each room of the house. This is believed to keep the 'Killantzaroi,' or mischievous spirits, away. Needless to say, food plays a large part in the celebrations – this IS Greece after all! Lamb and pork are roasted and on almost every table are loaves of 'christopsomo' or 'Christ bread'. This bread is usually made in large, sweet loaves of various shapes with the crusts decorated in some way that shows the family's profession. I am popping a couple of Greek Christmas recipes for you to try – please click HERE…Your Greek neighbours will really be impressed if you produce these when they drop in to wish you ‘Kala Christougena’ or ‘Merry Christmas’!! I also attach a link to a Greek children’s story here that you could read to the children over the festive season: http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=586 Okay, further…I am going to chat a bit about talking the language, shopping in Athens with a fellow Greece Buying Guide reader, a magnificent offer on the ever popular island of Zante, words from The Wise Man of the currency world, Charles Purdy and some kind words from a Greece Buying Guide reader… Best wishes, Carol |
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Language: It’s all Greek to me…Over the last few years many people are moving abroad, for a variety of reasons. Those that end up enjoying it most are usually those people that manage to speak the language – or at least make the effort to do so – and in this way make friends with the local people. People who marry a Greek partner start off with a very definite advantage, not the least because their children may well need to be educated in the Greek language. Of course, English speakers are traditionally slow to learn another’s language, usually because there is someone who speaks English and who can translate. What I have found is that if you DON’T speak the language, body language is an amazing substitute! Years ago, while travelling, on various stalls and market stands I had seen red eggs beside normally coloured eggs. ‘Why are some egg coloured and some red?’ I finally asked an old chap, cloth cap pulled down low over his eyes, in a tiny shop. Demonstrating as he talked, he replied – in rapid Greek - ‘Because these are uncooked and you can break them and bake with them and the red ones are cooked and you merely peel them and eat them.’ There was a pause, as we both realised that, without understanding a word of what he had said, I had comprehended exactly what he had meant! It is possible to make yourself understood without talking, but some phrases help you show respect and a willingness to make the effort which may possibly get you friendlier service and win friends and influence people! What better time to start than right now, at Christmas time, the season of goodwill? Here we go: Merry Christmas Happy New
Year or: Eftikismenos o kenourisos kronos - Happy New Year (formal) Here are a few more essentials: Hi/hello: YA soo (sg.) YA sas (pl. or formal) Literally, this means "health to you". Also, this term is what the Greeks use in place of "cheers" when they give a toast when drinking. Thank you: efkharistO To say "thank you very much" you add "poLI" (literally 'a lot') after the word: efcharistO poLI You're welcome: parakalO Incidentally, this also means "please". Sorry: signOmi Not often heard…! Good morning: kalimEra This means "good day". Goodnight: kalinIkhta Goodbye: Ade ya Bon appetite: kaLI Oreksi In Greece it is said before every meal. Your waiter may say this when he brings your order - you should reply with a ‘thank you’. A few phrases that may come in handy in your travels: How much (does it cost): pOso kAni? Bill please: na plirOsoome? Literally this means "shall we pay?". You can also catch a waiter's attention and make a motion with your hand like you're writing something and they'll know you want the bill. The word for "bill" is logharyasmO. no: Okhi yes: ne Do you speak English: milAs aglikA? Or "milAte aglikA" for formal or plural cases. I don't speak Greek: dhen milAo elenikA It seems funny to learn how to say this in Greek doesn’t it – but it works!! If you are interested in learning Greek, please go to: |
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Thinking Ahead and Currency Ratesby Smart Currency’s Charles Purdy.People often ask me why thinking ahead with currency exchange is so important. I think this is best answered by looking at the extreme values of just two currencies, the Euro and the US$, over the last year and what £100,000 would have bought:
What causes such large differences in the course of a year? Some are obvious such as the surprise increase in UK interest rates we had in January 2007 or the first run on a UK bank [i.e. Northern Rock] for over a hundred years. These tend to lead to large and very rapid movements. Others are less obvious. Subtle changes in interest rate expectations or economic performance can lead to smaller changes, but can still result in you getting less than you expected when you come to purchase your currency. If you are on a tight budget this could be very painful. You cannot defy gravity with exchange rates and if you need to do something quickly then you need to work in a narrow range of possible exchange rates. Smart Currency Exchange can still save you money by watching the market for you - there are always better times to buy or sell, even when time is short. If you open a currency account with Smart Currency Exchange early, it immediately increases your options significantly through their expertise and their ability to secure an exchange rate that works for your budget. So, if you haven't already dones so, make a New Year's resolution to open a currency account with Smart Currency Exchange as soon as possible. Euro Update and Comments Sterling has made small but steady gains against most currencies apart from the US$. UK economic news has been mixed with pressure on house prices and sales volume countered by a surge in production price inflation. The latter means that the market has become unsure on future cuts in UK interest rates. The central banks of the UK, US and Euro land agreed a loan package in an attempt to add liquidity to a credit market that was/is in danger of grinding to a halt. Still uncertain times and an uncertain future for sterling. The € is still the preferred currency when compared to the US$ or sterling and sits at €1.399/£1 inter bank. Inflation is also of concern to the European Central Bank. Any cuts in € interest rates are very unlikely short to medium term. But clearly the credit crunch is having an affect on Euro land as the ECB were part of the consortium noted above. Euro land cannot be immune to the slowing down elsewhere. They may not have the overhang of highly priced properties throughout Euro land but businesses need to export and if elsewhere is contracting and the strong € makes these exports less competitive then the € will suffer. To get a Better-than-Bank
go to: http://www.smartCurrencyExchange.com/smartsquotation.htm
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Shopping in Athens - from a GBG Reader:"Hello Carol, Athens is getting
into the Christmas spirit. I have seen dazzling displays of Christmas
lights and today in the Plaka there was a promotional band playing Christmas
carols and giving away mini mars bars...anyway!....I would recommend
Athens for any group of women looking for shoes, bags or jewellery!.....if
you look, you will find bargains and the shops will entertain the hardest
to please. Why not just jump
onto a plane – you could be there in a matter of hours! Jokes
aside, please go to our write-up on airlines: |
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An interesting GBG Reader Offer - a Business on Zante!This is not something that we usually do at Greece Buying Guide – in fact, it’s the very first time we are doing it! We have been approached by a British company selling a really exciting business on Zante, an island that I routinely get an enormous amount of interest in, and it seemed such a really good business opportunity that I thought I would share it with you. It comprises a Stone Built Luxury Villa Complex in Substantial Private Grounds, set in a picturesque hillside location with great views of Zakynthos and the nearby islands of Marathonisi and Pelouso. And here’s the best part: The seller will offer Overseas Buying Guide readers an immediate discount on the asking price!! This could be a great opportunity for someone that wants to get out of the UK and have a ready made business in Greece.
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The Greece Buying Guide and other resources...I received such a great comment from one of our Greece Buying Guide readers. She was talking about the Greece Buying Guide and the regular newsletters:
If you have not yet bought our new guide, please go to: http://www.greecebuyingguide.com/guide.htm For help with other resources please click on: http://www.greecebuyingguide.com/resources.htm Finally, I was wondering whether you would be able to help us at the Overseas Guides Company with a project that we are working on. We want to get a very clear idea of our readers: who is buying, why and where. We are hoping that this will help us to get a really good understanding of what you need – what your aspirations are and, once you have bought, whether it has all lived up to your expectations? Or perhaps your move abroad exceeded your expectations? Or not…. In this vein, we would really appreciate your ‘case studies’ – how it all went for you, who helped, who didn’t, potential pitfalls, happy surprises – the whole experience, warts and all!!!! We ARE listening, and striving to ensure that both the good and the bad reaches the ears of those following closely on your heels in the Greek property buying process. Also, we are asked from time to time for our input by certain of the publications that deal with buying property abroad and it would be nice to feel that we are helping others. So please feel free to tell us about you experience won’t you? What you paid (more or less than you budgeted at the start?), whether you ended up buying what you at first set off to look for – or did you change your mind when you saw what was on offer? All input would
be most welcome.
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I may have told you that I am off to Cairo for Christmas – that should be a really new experience – I’ll tell you all about it on my return! I wish you all the best in the New Year – perhaps we can discuss our New Year’s resolutions in January….yes, THIS year I really AM going to keep them… I love to have a chat so don’t hesitate to pick up that phone or give me your phone number - it would be great to speak to you. You would be surprised how many times solutions have been found just chatting on the phone. We have resources that we can put at your disposal – people who have a proven track record of reliability just waiting to help you on your property journey so please don’t hesitate to ask. I’m on 0207 898 0549, so make that call!! Take care, and all best wishes for a happy festive season and New Year. Warm smiles and hugs to cheer you up – and perhaps a sip or warm mulled wine too…I can’t tell you how popular it was at a recent party I threw!! Best wishes… Carol (& Kim).
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