Resturants In Greece

Latest Stop on the Art Circuit? Hydra, Greece

THE long communal table stretched out down a craggy path overlooking the Aegean Sea. It had the cluttered look of a Renaissance painting, with remnants of grilled lamb, carafes of wine and abundant cutlery. But the overall effect was more minimalist; the sky was black save for a string of white party lights affixed to a telephone pole illuminating a barren hillside of rocks and prickly shrubs.

The contrast could not have been lost on the 300 or so art -world habitués who had gathered on the small island of Hydra in Greece on an early summer night. The artists Brice Marden and Maurizio Cattelan were there; so was the actress Chloë Sevigny, not to mention countless art collectors and curators. Guests were dressed in party attire suitable for a balmy Mediterranean night: shoulder-baring black dresses, linen suits, T-shirts.

They had made the trek by plane and hydrofoil for what has become one of the more coveted invitations on the art calendar: the opening party for the Slaughterhouse, an art space owned by Dakis Joannou, the Greek Cypriot billionaire and collector.

Hydra is only 120 miles from Athens , one of the easiest Greek isles to reach. In many ways it is what it appears to be: a quaint tourist island, with jewelry and gift shops and overpriced Wi-Fi cafes flanking the horseshoe-shaped port.

But the island has also become a stronghold of contemporary art. Tucked into the town are several world-class contemporary art spaces, found on the labyrinthine back streets or in repurposed commercial buildings. In addition to the Slaughterhouse, which used to be just that, there’s the Hydra School Projects, a pop-up in the local high school; and the Hydra Workshop, a gallery run by the collector Pauline Karpidas in an old ship-repair garage of a mansion once belonging to the Bulgari family. (This year’s show at the Hydra Workshop features the Los Angeles artists Matt Johnson, Frank Benson and Mark Grotjahn.)

Hydra didn’t become an art-world mecca overnight; the buzz has been building for the last few years. With the opening of Slaughterhouse in 2009, coupled with the growing influence of Hydra School Projects and Hydra Workshop, the island has earned itself a spot on the summer art tour, attracting many of the same pilgrims who go to Art Basel and biennales.

Long before the galleries and celebrity-studded openings, though, Hydra was a refuge for artists and intellectuals. The writers Henry Miller and Lawrence Durrell came to stay with the painter Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghikas at his family’s mansion in the late 1930s. (Miller compared the island to a “huge loaf of petrified bread” in his travel book “The Colossus of Maroussi.

On Travel» Blog Archive » Travel To Greece

By: mansi gupta

Traveling to any new country away from ones homeland for a vacation is exciting and filled with fun and when the destination country is such as Greece the excitement and joy attached with it are limitless. Traveling throughout Greece has been a hot favorite amongst both the historians and modern day vacationers. Many of the cities in Greece like Athens, Crete, Macedonia and other Islands of Greece hardly need any introduction. They are the most famous cities of ancient times and offer limitless opportunities for a present day traveler.

The geographical location of many cities in Greece favor wide spread physical structures in those regions. People can find both mountains and seacoasts along side the main city region. This creates an exotic view for any traveler that they would long cherish even after their vacations. A trip to any city in Greece would prove the richness of ancient culture and architecture in this country. A walk around any city would reveal the magnificent historical remains and the museums throughout Greece carry the stories of rich cultural past.

Names such as those of Aristotle, Plato, Socrates and many more all have their roots in the city of Athens in Greece. One of the most popular places in Greece is Athens which is a must visit region for any traveler here. It offers numerous options for sight seeing, visiting the most world famous museums and also a great shopping spree. Being a center for tourist visit the area also has various choices of hotels and eateries. All provide excellent services and things as suited to individual requirements.

Greece presents an amazing mix of ancient and modern culture. The archeological sites and latest modern structures all co-exist on the streets of Greece. Also there are immense food options available here. The recipes are mouthwatering and the delicacies served are an excellent blend of traditional food adapted to the modern eating habits. Restaurants in Greece are world famous for providing fabulous traditional dishes and hence it is also a paradise for food lovers.

Numerous islands here are a perfect place for water enthusiasts and the hotels offering rooms with an ocean view only make the place more attractive. Most places in Greece require some movement on foot to enjoy the best experience in these islands. The streets are narrow and vehicular traffic could cause congestion at those places hence vehicles are best avoided. Also an added attraction of the region is the lively nightlife that spreads through the entire region. Nightlife here is rampant and high in sprits offering another option for fun loving people.

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