Mediterranean evergreen wreath for the Winter solstice (+ video)
The point of my evergreen wreath was to create something beautiful by using only local seasonal plant materials from the Rhodian landscape and to celebrate Winter solstice.
All posts filed under: Rhodes island
Walnut on Rhodes
Connecting to nature – traditional ways of using walnut on the island of the Sun.
We need holy places
In July we need plants, plants, plants, trees, bushes, healing shadows. Thank the Greek Gods, in Rhodes we are still nurtured by huge beautiful trees and shrubs. They do not only provide shade on the hottest summer days – this is their visible gift. They also provide a sense of calmness and greater/different perspectives for the human psyche. Trees create resonant spaces that can effect our consciousness. Why do you think it is a much different experience to sit under an old tree than under a parasol? It is neither an accident that traditional Greek circle dances (which are community rituals) are danced under enormous old trees – you can find them by each little church and community square (platia). Through a natural landscape and plants the world speaks to us. That’s what makes a place a holy space. It speaks to us. And because ancient Greeks heard and understood this language, they named the certain entities inhabited in nature: they were different kinds of Nymphs, the protectors of trees, waters, plants, mountains, caves, bees, …
“Every drop counts” – visiting the olive grove of the Purefarm family //Rhodes island
I’ve been leaded by Ariadne’s thread into various places on the Greek islands in the past six years while I was searching for the raw essence and characteristics of this magical region on Earth. Rare times these meetings and experiences truly bonded me with nature, and showed me the way towards my ‘egoless self’ too (even that this way is a long one). They showed me the possible ways towards peace, harmony and simplicity. Things I was always craving for – oftentimes in the wrong environment. During my visit on the olive groves of the Chalanta family I became richer with this mentioned rare experience. It was a beautiful, sunny March day on the island of Helios. Maria, the – young, beautiful and extremely kind – only daughter of the family picked me up in the busy and noisy Rhodes town. After a twenty minutes drive we were in the tiny, peaceful Psinthos (Ψινθος) village – one of the 42 villages of Rhodes. From sea-level we drove up to an altitude of 300 meters to …
My book inspired by Rhodes island
I am living and working on my very first book on the island of Rhodes since 2017. I am searching for my answers in life through researching and at the same time experiencing the contemporary life on the Greek islands of the Dodecanese, therefore this culture will be in the focus of my first book. I was captivated by Rhodes island since my first visit in 2009. After that I became a ‘repeater’, who spent all of her free time and savings on visiting the island again and again. There was something in this local culture and nature I could not resist or ignore. In 2015 I decided to take it more serious and my visits from that year became researches about the character of the local culture which is fading day by day. I did not have a method or education for my research, I had only a very strong inner motivation to do this job. Through this independent project I started to know myself better (especially since the time I moved to Rhodes and …
Responsible beauty on a Greek island / Being a woman
Right before I moved to Greece I already changed my cosmetics, beauty and cleaning products in my household into natural and environmental friendly ones. It was in Hungary in 2017. It was part of a transition process in my life. Something inside of me made a revolution against all synthetic and artificial and non-true stuff. Suddenly I stopped dyeing my hair after 10 years, painting my nails, I stopped taking contraceptive pills, I stopped wearing even jewelleries, and I wanted to ensure that whatever contacts my skin, and whatever I eat are clean products and substances – although in today’s world it is a real challenge… Why is this “clean lifestyle” important especially for a woman? Well first of all, us, humans are part of the natural environment of the planet. I mention this, because sometimes we forget about it. So whatever we use, it goes out there to our waterways and natural resources, and then backwards. Nowadays humanity is using ridiculous variety and amount of poison in literally each and every field of …
Weekly HELLO from Rhodes – 08/04/19
Hello, welcome to the weekly magazine of a Hungarian woman, who moved to a Greek island in 2017 and writing her book there through an intensive research and interviews with locals. The purpose is giving you an insight about the daily life of this island as a foreigner, and also about the book-writing process. Week 15th / 1st April – 7th April (and all the weeks before…) Oh yes, I just couldn’t keep my promise about posting weekly. I should have known myself better. And also this island. Because on Rhodes you cannot make plans ever… We say it very often here with the other foreigners. Somehow our experience is this: everything is just a maybe and nothing is for sure here. There is always a problem to solve, there is always an unexpected thing coming to you, so you learn to be really flexible. Back in Hungary I have been to Budapest in the meanwhile just for 5 days in February, which was an amazing trip. Visiting my country after 15 transformative months …
15 places to drink coffee in Rhodes town
Well, life without coffee… I’ll let you finish this sentence by your own. But I need one good cappuccino every morning (or whenever I want to use my brain). I love the taste and smell of coffee (I am more addicted than an expert), and a café as a space can function in many different ways for me. A café can give space to: read your daily newspaper, drink your espresso just before running to work (at least in my homecity Budapest, or in a busy capital), to have a date (or a secret date), to meet the girls, to meet business partners, to read a good book, to study, or to work on a project, or just to be inspired by the world goes by around you… or in some lucky situations visiting artistic events or exhibitions. Many ideas, innovations, relationships, love, new thoughts could be born in the space of a coffee shop. I usually sit in cafés to write, and during my first months here in Rhodes town primarily I was searching …
Weekly HELLO from Rhodes – 04/02/19
*magyar hanganyag a post végén! Hello, welcome to the weekly magazine of a Hungarian woman, who moved to a Greek island in 2018 and writing her book there through an intensive research and interviews with locals. The purpose is giving you an insight about the daily life of this island as a foreigner, and also about the book-writing process. And you can participate in this process too! Every week there is a main thought/question at the end of the post, that you can comment your own thoughts, feelings, ideas about. Different approaches, different way of thinkers are always create movement. And this is what we need! Week 6th / 28th January – 3rd February The 4 weeks long rain is over…? Well… at least last Thursday was the last day of this chain of apocalyptic weather. We had a kind of mini tornado over the sea (υδροστρόβιλος) close to Elli beach, Rhodes town both on Wednesday and Thursday. The photos are amazing, you can check them by clicking on the dates: 30th January 31st …
Weekly HELLO from Rhodes – 28/01/19
*magyar hanganyag a post végén! Hello, welcome to the weekly magazine of a Hungarian woman, who moved to a Greek island in 2018 and writing a book there through an intensive research and interviews with locals. The purpose is giving you an insight about the daily life of this island as a foreigner all around the year, and also about the book-writing process. And you can participate in this process too! Every week there is a main thought/question at the end of the post, that you can comment your own thoughts, feelings, ideas about. Different approaches, different way of thinkers are always create movement. And this is what we need! Week 4th / 21st January – 27th January The Apocalypse is here The weather last week on Rhodes was very similar to a catastrophe movie. We had 3 earthquakes in one week. No injuries or damages happened, but it is a very scary feeling. I felt only the one on Thursday 22nd January, which was the smallest (4.6), but all the furnitures were shaking …
Mushroom collecting in Monolithos
Once upon a time, last December I visited the charming, peaceful mountain village in the southwestern coast of Rhodes island called Monolithos. The name Monolithos means ‘single rock’. The village got its name from the nearby castle that was built 300 meters above sea level on a ‘single rock’ in the Byzantine era and which was fortified in 1476 by the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes, Pierre d’Aubusson. It has majestic view, one of the main attractions of the island. It has a small church inside the remains of the walls of the castle worshiping Agios Panteleimon. My visit to the village had a certain purpose that time, because I was invited for a mushroom collecting walk in the neighbouring pineforest by Manolis and Despoina the owners and chefs of the one and only Old Monolithos Taverna inside Monolithos village. Their kitchen is always authentic, clean, fresh, local and of course the food is made by lots of care and love with decades of experience. Because of this authentic kitchen with the fresh …
Why you should spend the winter on a Greek island
Winter is a really good period for travelers, who are deeply interested in the local culture of Rhodes, a perfect occasion to observe the authentic everyday life of the community of the island. This period is also for the travelers who adore nature, silence, who prefer to visit a Unesco site, and ancient, byzantine remains without the crowds of people. For people who are looking for an alternative peaceful, relaxing holiday. Because Rhodes is such a big, fertile, diverse, interesting island with too many gifts of Nature all around the year cycle.
Dina’s kitchen – The real Greek home food experience in the heart of Rhodes town
Not all of us have the possibility to taste a Greek mother’s home made food during a short holiday in Greece amongst the several fake touristic places on the popular destinations. So I help you: if you come to Rhodes and want to taste a Greek mother’s authentic plates which is defienetely combined with the real Greek ‘filoxenia’, then visit Dina in the heart of Rhodes town.
Recipes from Rhodes – The Beetroot – παντζαρια
This winter on the island of Rhodes gave me the chance to meet beetroot a bit closer. In Hungary we have a kind of beetroot salad, but I was never into that so much. In general about food I prefer the ‘mediterranean’ approach with its simplicity and always fresh and seasonal ingreedients. During December, January you could see beautiful fresh beetroots with huge stems and leafs everywhere on Rhodes – on the market, in grocery stores, supermarkets, etc. So I could not resist to buy a big bunch of them. I wanted to prepare them the way I usually do, and then my Greek friend Katerina came and gave me some lessons about beetroot. And then Vangelis Pavlidis came and shared some other secrets with me about this fantastic plant, and the way how Greeks prepare it in the traditional way. Which is so simple – as Greeks don’t like to make things difficult – and quick. So now I am sharing this knowledge with you too. Spread the word and cook like Greeks! 🙂 Okay, …
Making the ‘lagana’ bread on Rhodes island
Today is Clean Monday (Καθαρή Δευτέρα / Kathari Deftera) in Greece, the first day of the 40-day-long lenting period before Easter which is called σαρακοστή / sarakosti. They call it clean, because this is the first day of lent and also because in the past the Greek houswifes washed all the kitchen tools with hot water on this day. Most of the Greeks go for a picnic today (called koulouma), or they just gather and eat food according to the lent (without meat, egg, milk) – mainly seafood and vegetarian dishes from the Greek kitchen. And only on this day Greeks eat the λαγάνα / lagana, the special, crunchy lenten flatbread which goes very well with the other foods of Clean Monday (like taramosalata – fish roe salad, tahini, halva, stb…). This bread was already mentioned by Aristofanes, so Greeks have been eating it since the ancient times and still preparing it the same way: covering it with chruchy sesame seeds. It contains a special spice that gives a specific taste and aroma to the bread (they …
Ria Jewelry – a hidden gem in Faliraki, Rhodes
If you go to Faliraki on Rhodes island during summer season you will be kind of lost amongst the numerous tourist shops. But Ria’s jewelry shop – just like Ria herself – is so unique, vivid, extraodinary and sexy. I found her shop two seasons ago, and when I stepped in I felt myself like in a small paradise of colors and different kind of feminine energy. Because us women have so many shades and colors and feelings, attributes to express. So you will definetelly will find a piece of jewelry or accessory in this shop to express yourself as a woman – who you are. And you can find Ria’s own handmade items as well amongst the other designer pieces from different parts of Europe wherever she travels during the year. When I met with Ria end of last season she gave me a little insight about her shop and herself, so here is the result with some photos to introduce you this hidden gem. 🙂 When did you open the shop? How did the …
Respect for the new beginnings – the ‘agiasmo’ ritual for a wonderful museum opening ceremony in Archangelos
“Let me introduce you a custom, a glimpse at one tiny ingredient of the “Greek life” through a beautiful ceremony. Because I found that Greeks have a special approach towards new beginnings. Why is it special? Because they are able to stop sometimes, to celebrate particular moments of life and fill them with spirit, gratitude and care.”
Asklipio – the village of “street art” and beautiful kids :)
The “street art” of Asklipio is a really good example that how easy it is to decorate our life with the most simple things.
The blessing of the waters in Rhodes town – 6th January 2018
Blessing of the waters today – 6th of January – in Rhodes town, Mandraki harbour. It was such a nice spot right (next to Evaggelismos chruch) where I was sitting by the sea next to an old, friendly fisherman – Antonis. From here we could saw very well this exceptional event – which is called the Epiphany – and also sunbathing, because the Sun was shining so strongly today. I don’t know what this event exactly means to the people here, but for me it was something new, and yes: magical in a way. I loved the boats, the bells, the lovely kids around, the excitement of the people, the waves in front of my legs, the salty breeze of the sea and the comments of Antonis – the fisherman. 🙂 For me who come from a really different culture, this morning was colorful, fragrant, warm and cozy. Crowds gathered today only to witness the competition of some determined swimmers for the ‘holy cross’ in the cold sea. It definetely had a power, and I …
Being rich
What does ‘being rich’ really mean to us? What if you had no material possessions, but you had the joy, the love in your heart, the smile, and the beautiful stories of your life that you could share with others? This man obviously lives in deep poverty in a Greek village on Rhodes island. But he smiled at me even if I was a stranger to him. He stands proudly next to his old, little crumbly house for one photo, and invited me inside, offering a seat for me and showing me a picture on the wall that he is very proud of. No complaining, no sadness. Not ashamed by the material poverty, not at all…. Because we are much more than that. Because he is rich inside. There are a lot of things above the physical dimensions that last longer than the material world we build around us. We can forget objects, but we never forget human connections and gestures of LOVE. What kind of richness do we need more than…?
A winter weekend with nature lovers in Monolithos village
Last week for me was about Monolithos – the tiny mountain village on the South-West of Rhodes island. On Wednesday I was collecting mushrooms there in the forest with Manolis and Despoina – the owners of Old Monolithos Taverna. Perfect time to enjoy the silence of the beautiful calm nature and also to have an amazing meal of wild mushrooms with a mushroom expert. 😉 After that trip I didn’t have to wait for so long to return to the lovely village, as I heard that a seminar would be held on that weekend by Γιάννης Ελενίτσας (Giannis Elenitsas) agronomist – botanist about the theory and the practice of making 100% natural beeswax cream with oil extract from local herbs. I had no doubts about going there as I am really into herbs, nature and any knowledge about the island and its natural treasures. To top this the seminar was free of charge located in Thomas Hotel with amazing panoramic view of the sea and nature. On Saturday fortunatelly I had the chance to join in the …
Hello Rhodes, here I am!
I arrived exactly 13 days ago to the island of Rhodes, Greece. But this travel is completely different than the previous ones during the last 8 years, because finally I decided to move here. After 8 years of love, dreaming, wishing and researching I landed on Rhodes with 3 luggages on a dark, rainy November night – to start a new life… Even I have been dreaming about this step since the first time I saw the island, everything happend fast and even now it is unbeliveable for me that I’ve made this step. I did not travel blindly, as during the past years I was researching the life, the customs, the attitude and the traditions of the local community with a huge passion for my upcoming book, but of course there is no guarantee about a new life. You decide, you make the first step, you depart and you take the responsibility of the results, of the unknown, of your own rebirth. There is risk for sure and the decision was surrounded by …
A night with music in Cafe-bar 1900
Last night was very special for me and I guess for everybody who was in Cafe 1900 in Archangelos village on Rhodes island. With these amazing, exceptional musicians we experienced a beautiful journey into a faraway space… I have no more words for that night – music created itself and something unrepeatable was born in front of us through the art of these musicians – it was an open channel. I feel so honoured that I could be part of this deep spiritual experience. Musicians: Anna Nikitiade Despoina Spanou Manolis Christodoulou Panormitis Boubas Taxiarchis Georgoulis
Generations – father and son
Father and son are working together in their garden on a hot Sunday afternoon (27th August 2017) in the beautiful Old Town of Rhodes. Two generations are on one photo. Ilias and Vasilis are carving a sign board for Vasilis’ guesthouse. Ilias the handyman – who is laughing so loud – built their house with his own hands and also the garden which was a busy restaurant years ago – before the crisis. They let me to take some photos of them and also invited me for a lovely conversation into the shady garden. Father and son are working together in harmony, in a silent meditation, but also there are a lot of differences between them. The straight back of Ilias and his elegant clothes even during manual work and in a hot weather takes us back into the past. Vasilis has a different workstyle, and of course lifestyle, because he has grown up in a different era. The differences between our generations shouldn’t prevent loving and accepting each other or learning from each other… …
Green Eco House – hidden paradise for nature lovers on a Greek island
The healing environment of the Green House that Petros and his parents founded gives you the perfect possibility to change gears and return to your natural rhythm. Because we are part of the nature, but sometimes we need to remind ourselves…
Kritinia Panorama – the gift of Nature
On Rhodes island the traveller can experience both the quiet, sandy, crystal clear beaches (Eastern coast) and the wild, windy area with lots of waves (Western coast). Each coast has a lot of sigths to visit, but they have really different athmosphere. Now I recommend you a sight on the west side of the island which is not a well-known spot and despite of being on the “wild” side this can be the perfect place of peaceful, meditative moments to get rid of the worrisome thoughts. The Kritinia Panorama is a viewpoint created by nature, where you can enjoy a fascinating view of the neighbouring islands of Chalki and Alymia and also we can rest our eyes on a calming valley of pine forest. The evergreen valley of the pine forest has an ‘S’ shape with very gentle, soft lines. This tender geometry of nature reminds me of a refined woman. If you really allow yourself to melt into the view you can experience different feelings. Perfect spot for recharging our batteries, to breath worries, …
Rodoscope Creative Gallery – a secret space with a great mission
If you are looking for something special, something handmade, something 100% local on the island of Rhodes, you should visit Rodoscope Creative Gallery in the Old Town of Rhodes…
A little bit of Rhodes on my balcony
Well, it is not a surprise that I do miss my beloved Rhodes island. But untill my next visit I try to create a kind of ‘rhodian’ atmosphere at my home. So I just picked the most basic garden-furniture ever from IKEA: TÄRNÖ chairs and tables, and I painted them with 2 specific colors which I see very often on the streets of the villages of Rhodes island. These two colors were ocher and gentian blue. Of course my love helped me with burnishing the wooden pieces and with disassembling the parts of the furniture, that I would never ever do by myself… The design itself just happened, I did not think a lot about them. I just wanted to create inverse pieces – as I processed 2 chairs and 2 tables. Sooo, this is how it happened: And finally I show you all my inspirations for this project from the lovely, colorful Rhodes island (photos were taken by me in Lachania, Koskinou, Archangelos villages and in the Old Town of Rhodes): And one bonus inspiration …
Ilios art 