Italy

Dimitra L., Euelina P., B2

Spain

Spain

Spain is located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.

Eating habits:

A typical Spanish breakfast usually consists of just a quick drink of orange juice, chocolate milk or a cup of coffee occasionally accompanied by a pastry such as a croissant.
Lunch is a big deal in Spain and often lasts over an hour. 
Spanish restaurants are required to provide a "menu del dia " which is a 3 course menu at a fixed price and is very economical compared to the actual menu itself. 
An evening meal can start as late as 9 or 10pm at home.

Food:

Paella: There are three widely known types of paella: Valencian paella, seafood paella and mixed paella but there are many others as well. Valencian paella consists of white rice, green vegetables, meat (rabbit, chicken, duck), land snails, beans and seasoning. Seafood paella replaces meat and snails with seafood and omits beans and green vegetables. Mixed paella is a free-style combination of meat, seafood, vegetables, and sometimes beans.

Tortilla: A tortilla is a type of omelette. 

 *"La tortilla de patata" is likely more typical in Spain than "la paella", even though this is better known...

Entertaiment

Carnivals: Carnival time in Spain varies from year to year according to when Easter Week falls due. The  festivities include huge street parades with all the participants wearing fancy dress costumes.

Bullfight: Spanish-style bullfighting is called corrida de toros ( "running of bulls") or la fiesta("the festival"). In the traditional corrida, three matadors, each fight two bulls, each of which is between four and six years old and weighs no less than 460 kg . Each matador has six assistants—two picadors ("lancers on horseback") mounted on horseback, three banderilleros – who along with the matadors are collectively known as toreros ("bullfighters") – and a mozo de espadas ("sword page"). Collectively they comprise a cuadrilla ("entourage").                

Music

The music of Spain has a long history and has played an important part in the development of western music. It has had a particularly strong influence upon Latin American music. The music of Spain is often associated abroad with traditions like flamenco and the classical guitar but Spanish music is, in fact, diverse from region to region. 

Vasiliki K.

Antonia D.

B1, 21/02/2013

                                                               

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Who's the mystery person?

Who's the mystery person?

From the students in the First year of Junior High School

A. (from Nick K.)

Clue 1: He was in Smyrni, on January 15, 1906.

Clue 2: He was a very rich businessman who started up the Olympic Airlines in Greece.

Clue 3: He bought a small island which he named Scorpio.

Who was he?

  

B. (from Dimitra M.)

Clue 1: He was born in Monemvasia.

Clue 2: He was born in 1910 and he died in 1990.

Clue 3: He was one of the top Greek poets and he had international recognition.

Who was he?

C. (from Antonis K.)

Clue 1: He was a composer of Greek folk and outcast (rebetis) songs.

Clue 2: He was born in .1925 in Athens, but he came from Kithnos.

Clue 3: One of his songs was "Σήκω χόρεψε συρτάκι".

Who was he?

D. (from Rea G.)

Clue 1: He was born in 1958 and he died in 2009.

Clue 2: He was a very popular singer and dancer.

Clue 3: It is said that he did a lot of plastic surgeries.

Who was he?

 E. (from Helen G.)

Clue 1: She was a famous a Greek actress.

Clue 2: She died in 1996..

Clue 3: She starred in the film "Mantalena".

Who was she?

F. (from Pamela M.)

Clue 1: She was born in Torquay, England.

Clue 2:She was a famous writer of mystery novels, plays and short stories.

Clue 3: She created the characters "Poirot" and "Miss Jane Marple".

Who was she?

G. (from Katerina K.)

Clue 1: He was Greek.

Clue 2: He was an athlete.

Clue 3: He won the Marathon in 1896.

Who was he?

 H. (from Stavroula B.)

Clue 1:He was an painter sculptor, architect, musician, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist and writer.

Clue 2: He was born in Italy in 15^th April 1452

Clue 3: He painted "Mona Lisa".

Who was he?

Clue 1: They are from Sweden .

Clue 2: Their songs “Mama Mia” , “The Winner takes it all” and others became great hits.

Clue 3: They won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 with the song "Waterloo".

I. (from Georgia K.)

Clue 1: He was born in 1845.

Clue 2: He was from Scotland.

Clue 3: He invented the telephone.

Who was he?

J. (from Euthimia P.)

Clue 1: He was born in 1900 and he died in 1971 in Athens.

Clue 2: He was a poet

Clue 3: He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1963.

Who was he?

K. (from Eugenia D.)

Clue 1: She was born in 1926 in Los Angeles.

Clue 2: Her true name was Norma Jean Mortenson.

Clue 3: She was found dead in her apartment when she was only 36.

Who was she?

L. (from Panagiotis O.)

Clue 1: He was an actor.

Clue 2: He used to wear a black suit and a black hat

Clue 3: He didn't speak when he was acting.

Who was he?

M. (from Penny P.)

Clue 1: He was a Greek politician.

Clue 2: He was Prime Minister from 1928-1935.

Clue 3: To honour him, his name is given to the biggest airport in Greece.

Who was he?

N. (from Aristoula K.)

Clue 1: He was born in Iraklio, Crete.

Clue 2: He died in 1992.

Clue 3: He real name was Alepoudelis.

Who was he?

Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday

Pancake Day or Shrove Tuesday (the Tuesday which falls 41 days before Easter) is the traditional feast day before the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday.
Lent - the 40 days leading up to Easter - was traditionally a time of fasting, and on Shrove Tuesday Christians went to confession and were "shriven" (absolved from their sins). It was the last opportunity to use eggs and fats before embarking on the Lenten fast and pancakes are the perfect way of using up these ingredients.
Some parts of Britain celebrate the day with pancake races. The oldest and most famous is held at Olney in Buckinghamshire. The race is run over 415 yards by women aged sixteen or older. They must flip their pancake in the frying pan at least three times during the race. The winner receives a kiss from the Pancake Bell Ringer – church bells were traditionally rung to remind parishioners to come to confession – and a prayer book from the vicar.
http://ukinusa.fco.gov.uk/en/about-us/faqs/holidays-traditions/pancake-day

Ash Wednesday, in the Western Church, the first day of Lent, being the seventh Wednesday before Easter. On this day ashes are placed on the foreheads of the faithful to remind them of death, of the sorrow they should feel for their sins, and of the necessity of changing their lives. The practice, which dates from the early Middle Ages, is common among Roman Catholics, Anglicans and Episcopalians, and many Lutherans; it was also adopted by some Methodists and Presbyterians in the 1990s.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2011, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

My mother

A person who makes me happy is my mother. She is called Eftihia and she's in her late thirties. She's not very tall and sometimes I make fun of her height. She has short, brown, straight hair, hazel eyes and a round face. She's got light complexion and full red lips. She's slim.

She has a baby-face so we look like friends. I tell her all my secrets and problems and she tells me how to solve them. We do lots of things together, such as riding our bikes, going shopping and playing board games, but the best is that when we hang out together she wears teenage clothes and all friends and relatives say: "Christina, is that your new friend?" and I answer "No, she is my mother!".

Furthermore, she's kind, friendly, out-going, polite and very helpful-when you are in need she always helps you. Five years ago, when she moved from Amfissa to Thessaloniki for a month, I realized I couldn't live without her. She's also very shy and generous. When she first meets an unknown person, her face becomes red. She's an honest and cheerful person and she also has a great sense of humour. I always laugh at her jokes!

My mother is very important to me and I can't live without her for a long time! I can also say that SHE IS THE BEST FRIEND I 'VE EVER HAD!

Christine P., B2
07/02/2013 

My mother, Maria

A person that I admire the most is my mother, Maria. She's of average height, she has brown eyes and straight hair. She is slim and fit. She's a Greek Literature teacher. I spend most of my time with my mother. We watch films together and I discuss my problems with her. I do many things with my mother and in general I love being with her!

She has a very good character. She is sociable, unselfish, sensitive, generous and calm. She's also very patient; especially, when I fight with my brother, she doesn't get angry! She isn't strict, she's modest and hard-working! My mother has been a huge influence on me. I believe she's the reason why I've decided to become a Greek Literature teacher. I like her because she's passionate with her job! I really love my mother!!!

Sotiria T., B3
08/02/2013

My favourite cousin

I love all my family, especially my cousins. My favourite cousin is George. He is 17 years old. He's tall and slim. She's got short black hair and a very friendly face with a beautiful smile. He has thin lips and even teeth. The most wonderful thing on him is his hazel eyes.His dad worked as a doctor and his mother works in a clothes' shop. His brother is called Euthimis.

George is very friendly. He knows how to make other people happy and when I'm sad he talks to me like an older brother. He's a bit shy but he can make lots of friends if he wants. I love when George spends a lot of time with me. We listen to music together, we go for walks and sometimes he comes to my house and we hang out with my sister, who also loves George very much.

I think that everyone will love George because he can make others happy! I'm so happy that he's my cousin!

Giannalena B., B2
07/02/2013

My friend Teodora

Theodora is an interesting person to me, because she makes me happy. She's 15 years old and she's in the 2nd year of Junior High School. She's got long blond hair and large blue eyes and she wears braces. She's tall and fit.She lives in Patra and I see her during our summer, Easter and Christmas Holidays.

Theodora is modest, polite, sociable, hard-working, generous, sensitive and cheerful. Theodora and I usually go camping together. Theodora likes playing games. I know I can rely on her. Even when our lives get busy, we still make time to communicate. Since I'm better at maths and science than her  and she's better at languages than me, we always help each other when we get confused about difficult assignments.

I hope that our friendship will continue and be just as strong after we graduate from High School...We would like to study at the same university too!

I LOVE THEODORA!

Ageliki S., B3
08/02/2013

My best friend, Georgia

The person that makes me happy is my closest friend Georgia. Georgia is 13 years old, of average height and slim, with short brown hair and brown eyes. She has a beautiful smile.

I first met her at school, but we became best friends last summer. Our parents became friends too and go out together. Her parents are very good people and they are always kind with me. Her father is a waiter in a big hotel and her mother is a company assistant. She has two older sisters, Dimitra and Yiota, and a younger brother, Panayiotis.

We always go out together when we don't have school. We usually go to restaurants or for walks. We have many things in common: we like bikes, fashion, we have the same taste in films and music. She always laughs, she is friendly and helpful. For example, when I had broken my leg, she came homeevery day and kept me company for many hours.

For me, she is the best friend I 've ever had in my life! I hope we will be together for a long time!

Evelina P., B2
07/02/2013

Marie

A person who makes me happy is Marie. We are both 13 years old and we met three years ago.When I was 10 years old I had a car accident. I went to the hospital and there I met Marie who was there because she had broken her leg.

She is of average height and well-built. Her hair is dark, long and straight. Her face is round. She has hazel eyes and full lips. Before she came to Amfissa, she had lived in Athens with her family. Nowadays, she lives in Agia Euthimia with her mum and brother, Thimios. Her dad works in Athens.

When we are together, I have the time of my life. We go for walks, we cook, we read books, we watch films, we surf the internet, we listen to music. We have the same taste in music. In general all our interests are the same.

Marie is easy-going. She gets upset if something unfair happens. The most important thing is that we are dependable. I can trust Marie to do what I say se will do. when we disagree, we both get upset but Marie soon goes to the trouble to put things right, she is the peacemaker. I believe in Marie and I think we will be friends all our lives!

Efstathia T., B3
08/02/2013

Asimina, a person who makes me really happy!

A person who makes me really happy all the time is Asimina. She's 13 years old and we're classmates. She's of average height, slim and fit. She has green eyes and long brown hair. She wears braces but her bright smile has nothing to envy! 

I met her four years ago and immediately I understood that she will be a special friend of mine for the rest of my life. Her dad is a lawyer and her mum is a civil servant.She also has an older sister, Ioanna.

Asimina likes music and sports. we listen the same kind of music, we hang out or watch films together. Moreover, she likes running. She runs faster than me! She is very out-going, polite, honest, cheerful and a few days ago I realised that she has a pretty loud voice!!!Sometimes, this loud voice gets on my nerves!

Overall, she is my best friend and I don't think that anyone can break up this friendship!

Vasiliki K., B1
07/02/2013

Irina

Irina is a young woman in her mid-30's. She's tall, well-built,with black hair and green eyes. She is my uncle’s wife, that means that she is my aunt. She comes from Moldova, where her  family lives. She was studying chemistry and when she came to Greece some years ago for vacations she met and fell in love with my uncle!

 

Despite our age difference we are very good friends and we do a lot of things together. She lives in Athens and every time we go to Athens, Irina, my sister and I go to the mall for shopping, cinema and eating. We usually spent most of the summer, Easter and Christmas holidays  together in their cottage house in the village. 

We both love dogs. She has a jack rusell named Raoul  and I have a pincher named Afrika.She teaches me how to knit and sew and how to make my nails. She also loves gardening. So everytime we are in the cottage , I help her with her plants.

Last Christmas we went to Moldova and met her family. They were all so nice and kind people, as Irina is. I’m very fond of Irina. She is a very intelligent person with many interests and a lot of skills. I like spending time with her, because I always learn something  new. She even started teaching me Russian!

 Marilia K., B1

07/02/2013

 

Moldova

Monemvasia, Gibraltar of the East

You have arranged to spend a few days in Monemvasia with a friend from England. You won't be able to join your friend for the first few days because your sister,who is studying abroad,is coming to Greece for her holidays. Write your friend an e-mail explaining why you won't be in Monemvasia for the first few days and making suggestions about what he/she might do until you get there. Use information from the following site:

http://www.clickatlife.gr/story/taksidi/monembasia-to-gibraltar-tis-anatolis?id=1962595