February | 2020 | Paura - the Digital Nomad

Monthly Archives: February 2020

Greek Mythology

Posted on February 6, 2020 by Paura Leave a comment

Around 700 BC, the poet Hesiod’s Theogony offered the first written cosmogony, or origin story, of Greek mythology. The Theogony tells the story of the universe’s journey from nothingness (Chaos, a primeval void) to being, and details an elaborate family tree of elements, gods and goddesses who evolved from Chaos and descended from Gaia (Earth), Ouranos (Sky), Pontos (Sea) and Tartaros (the Underworld).

Greek Mythology: The Olympians

At the center of Greek mythology is the pantheon of deities who were said to live on Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece. From their perch, they ruled every aspect of human life. Olympian gods and goddesses looked like men and women (though they could change themselves into animals and other things) and were–as many myths recounted–vulnerable to human foibles and passions.

The twelve main Olympians are:

Zeus (Jupiter, in Roman mythology): the king of all the gods (and father to many) and god of weather, law and fate
Hera (Juno): the queen of the gods and goddess of women and marriage
Aphrodite (Venus): goddess of beauty and love
Apollo (Apollo): god of prophesy, music and poetry and knowledge
Ares (Mars): god of war
Artemis (Diana): goddess of hunting, animals and childbirth
Athena (Minerva): goddess of wisdom and defense
Demeter (Ceres): goddess of agriculture and grain
Dionysos (Bacchus): god of wine, pleasure and festivity
Hephaistos (Vulcan): god of fire, metalworking and sculpture
Hermes (Mercury): god of travel, hospitality and trade and Zeus’s personal messenger
Poseidon (Neptune): god of the sea

Other gods and goddesses sometimes included in the roster of Olympians are:

Hades (Pluto): god of the underworld
Hestia (Vesta): goddess of home and family
Eros (Cupid): god of sex and minion to Aphrodite

Greek Mythology: Heroes and Monsters

Greek mythology does not just tell the stories of gods and goddesses, however.

Human heroes–such as Heracles, the adventurer who performed 12 impossible labors for King Eurystheus (and was subsequently worshipped as a god for his accomplishment); Pandora, the first woman, whose curiosity brought evil to mankind; Pygmalion, the king who fell in love with an ivory statue; Arachne, the weaver who was turned into a spider for her arrogance; handsome Trojan prince Ganymede who became the cupbearer for the gods; Midas, the king with the golden touch; and Narcissus, the young man who fell in love with his own reflection–are just as significant. Monsters and “hybrids” (human-animal forms) also feature prominently in the tales: the winged horse Pegasus, the horse-man Centaur, the lion-woman Sphinx and the bird-woman Harpies, the one-eyed giant Cyclops, automatons (metal creatures given life by Hephaistos), manticores and unicorns, Gorgons, pygmies, minotaurs, satyrs and dragons of all sorts. Many of these creatures have become almost as well known as the gods, goddesses and heroes who share their stories.

Reference: https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/greek-mythology

Hunt for Authentic Hand-made Greek Sandals

Posted on February 6, 2020 by Paura 4 comments

Are you like me who just doesn’t like to buy gifts for anyone when travelling? If you are…..whats your excuses???

Me….I dont have room in my luggage as I travel light!

Now that doesn’t always settle down with alot of people and most think I am just an ungrateful person and do not like them.

I do make exceptions thou…..and usually make exceptions for friends who are genuine and they usually send me payments for any gifts they want.

Another exception are for friends and family which I probably missed out on Christmas gift or birthday gifts and I feel horrible about that as well.

So this week it was a hunt for a Genuine Hand-made Greek Sandals just to make up for a failed Christmas gift…..yeap….I failed miserable last Christmas.

So had to walk around the whole Island of Naxos in Greece just to find the perfect Sandals. After about an hour of searching I came across this little shop tucked away in a narrow street alley.

Pagonis create high quality handmade leather Greek sandals the past 80 years. The Pagonis family is evolving the craftsmanship of manufacturing the best Greek Sandals

The owners of the firm “PAGONIS” specialize in the art of making leather goods and have been involved in this business, working on the island of Naxos since 1940. The first generation of the family learnt the secrets of leather and shoemaking from their uncles Andrea and Manoli Diasiti, who had a shoemaking workshop in the previous century.

In 1940 the three brothers of the Pagonis family made their own workshop, supplying the Naxos market with handmade shoes, whose notable characteristics were their innovative designs and their unrivalled quality.

In 1950 the family business moved to Athens where a modern shoe and leather goods factory was opened with the name of “ PAGONIS” Bros. The products were on sale in well known Athens shops.

In 1982 the name “PAGONIS” reappeared in Naxos, it’s owners running a successful business with two retail shoe and leather goods shops and a workshop. This new page in the history of the company was initiated by Kostas S. Pagonis, who belong to the second generation of the family.

Our efforts over all these years have been with the aim of continuing the worthy traditions and with the emphasis on maintaining the quality of our products, on offering a wide choice, competitive prices and a personal service. Now, at the beginning of another new century, we have new ideas but also a strong basis from which to keep progressing, aiming always for better promotion, in Greece and worldwide, of the craft which we love and it’s products – Kosta Pagonis

Ancient Ruins in Athens

Posted on February 5, 2020 by Paura Leave a comment

A walk around Athens and you’d surely come up to a important ancient sites from the Classical and Roman times

The Acroplis

The Acropolis also called the Sacred Rock, is the most important ancient heritage of the country. It is also the trademark and most famous site of Athens and of Greece. It has been the main attraction of Athens since the 5th century BC and is dedicated to Athena, the goddess of wisdom and protector of the city.

The Parthenon

The Parthenon, the most famous ancient Greek temple ever, stands proudly over the modern megalopolis of Athens, a reminder of the great civilization he has witnessed. The Acropolis can be seen from almost every part of Athens. It was and still is, without any doubt, the ultimate achievement of the city classical and architectural glory

Herodeion Theatre

The Herodeion Theatre is one of the most impressive monuments of Athens and it is today hosting the Athens Festival with performances of theatre, music, and dance. The theatre is open to visitors only during performances. It is located at the south slope of the Acropolis and was added in 161 AD during the Roman rule. The theatre was built by Herodes Atticus, a wealthy Roman, in memory of his wife Regilla. It has exceptional acoustic capacities and can sit up to 5,000 spectators. It has a facade of 28 m high and 2,4 m width.

Temple of Hephaestus

The Temple of Hephaestus is the best preserved Doric temple in Greece. It was dedicated to Hephaestus, the god of the forge, hence the reason why the temple used to be in the center of numerous metalwork shops and foundries. It was built during Pericles rebuilding program.

Temple of Zeus

The Temple of Olympian Zeus took 700 years to be built and is the larger that was ever created. The work was completed by Emperor Hadrian in 131 AD. The huge Temple is composed of 104 Corinthian columns of 17 m high. Very little is left of his greatness today since only 17 columns are still standing.

Panathenaic Stadium

The Panathenaic (Roman) Stadium was built in the 4th century BC. It was hosting the Panathenaic Athletic contests. Herodes Atticus inaugurated the stadium when he rebuilds the seats with Pentelic marble. The stadium was strangely abandoned for centuries. It was finally restored in order to welcome the first modern Olympic Games of 1896.

Arch of Hadrian

The Arch of Hadrian was built by Emperor Hadrian in 132 AD in order to mark the limit between Ancient Athens and his new city. It is also a commemoration of the consecration of the Temple of Olympian Zeus. It is located at the end of Amalias Avenue.

Source: https://www.greeka.com/attica/athens/ancient-sites/

Room at the Top of the Inn

Posted on February 4, 2020 by Paura Leave a comment

I wanted to visit some Greek islands before my trip back to Papua New Guinea early February. My online search recommended Mykonos and Santorini as the place to go. However, when I told my travel agent ‘Makis’ that I wanted to go Mykonos……he was like……’there is nobody there’! Mykonos only comes to life during summer but now is winter and everyone has left.

He then recommended that I do Naxos instead. I was reluctant as I didn’t read up Naxos and I didn’t think it was fun to visit as well. He told there is a new place ‘Grotta Hotel’ that he can put me up for a few nights before I go Santorini.

I reluctantly agreed…….so he book me on a on a trip to the Greek island of Naxos. Naxos is located in the South Aegean and is the largest of the Cycladic islands filled with white-washed, cube-shaped houses and vibrant small town life.

Arrival in Hotel Grotta

As soon as I arrived at ‘Grotta Hotel’ I was blown away on how beautiful the view is. . It was a small but luxurious place to stay and had a stunning view of the sea both from the windows and patio and also from the restaurant.

Lucky for me, it was located right on a hill ner the beach. It was incredible to wake up each morning with the Aegean in our front yards, and I would highly recommend renting a villa or room here if you are planning to visit Naxos.

As since, it just opened. I was the only ‘Lonely Guest’ in the most beautiful, scenic hotel one could ever imagine to stay. I stayed there for two nights and were taken aback by the beauty of the island and architecture, as well as the local culture and food.

To make the most of your trip to Naxos, I recommend that you rent a car, so you have the autonomy to explore the island yourself. There are so many incredible sites to visit and renting a car opposed to relying on public transformation or hiring a driver gives you a lot more freedom.

Naxos is somewhere I would recommend visiting if you find your way to Greece, and offers so many ways to experience the culture, cuisine, and history. I would most definitely recommend taking the trek to this island for the experience of a lifetime.