Well this is it. The first opportunity to wish you all a Merry Xmas, all over the world.

To those living, visiting, missing or fond of – Iceland…have a splendid St. Thorlakur Day (23 December 2004)

If you find the modern day spread of Greek culture, and in this case business as well, of interest – and sponges are things you are given by affectionate friends with a tender thought in mind, try this article about the sponges of Tarpon Springs in the USA”s Gulf of Mexico:
http://www.travelwirenews.com/cgi-script/csArticles/articles/000025/002598.htm

And may we offer you a gift for next year….start your calendars and get ready for the best things in Greece…from early February 2005 take a peak at http://www.SuperbGreece.com and enjoy it. But there is nothing there yet….I remind you, from February 2005.

Have a Healthy, prosperous and wondrous new year.

Wondered about Athens now the tickets are sold, the events are old and the city gradually forgets about the Olympics of last summer?

An article worth a read :
http://www.iht.com/articles/2004/12/02/travel/trathens.html

And for those to visit soon – the guide you need:
http://www.cretetravel.com/Athens

Happy holiday shopping!

More than 500 exhibits, the result of 20 years of research and digging in the Eleftherna ancient site.
Eleftherna is one of the 100 important ancient cities Homer mentions, inhabited from Early Minoan times (2600-2000 BC) to the present day.

The exhibition triptych is shown in an original way:
The town and acropolis exhibits are in halls in olive colour, whereas the necropolis (town of the dead) in rose-pink (Persephone’s favourite colour). A huge photograph on the wall “takes” you to the archaeological site.

As an appetizer of the exhibits: a statue of Aphrodite toyed with by Pan which dates from earlier than the Lady of Auxere (also shown in the exhibition on loan from the Louvre in Paris) and a two-faced head from a culumn (Dionysos & Ariadne).

If IN Crete: For your interest the Eleftherna area is 28 km south-east of Rethymno (take the Episkopi and Perama exit off the New national Road – near Stavromenos in the Rethymno area – head towards Skouloufia, Roufes and then Eleftherna)

Links:
About Eleftherna
http://www.culture.gr/2/21/211/21125a/e211ya02.html (Greek Ministry of Culure)
http://www.ypai.gr/atlas/thesi_uk.asp?idthesis=531 (Greek Ministry of the Aegean)

About the exhibition:
http://www.cycladic-m.gr/en_version/temporary.htm (The Museum site – just updated with information about the exhibition)
http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/news/content.asp?aid=42055 (Article in Greek daily newspaper in English)

Our Athens guide (museums, including Cycladic Art)
http://www.cretetravel.com/Athens/Athens_mini_guide/Athens_mini_guide-Museums.htm