International Confernce of Economic and Social History

Economic and social history have given great impetus in the Greek historical studies during the 1970s and 1980s and have contributed to the renewal of thematic, research and methodology that has built on heated discussions and has resulted in an upsurge of production of studies. Although a remarkable production of scholarly research on a Greek and international level has continued during the 1990s and to the present day, the academic dialogue among scholars on Greek economic and social history has not been systematic and the interrelations between empirical research and theory has weakened. The Greek paradigm, despite the different and isolated attempts, has not been explored in its totality and has not been integrated in the international academic dialogue.

In order to overcome this situation, a group of historians, economists and social scientists, that publishes in the internet the Electronic Bulletin of Economic History (Hlektroniko Deltio Oikonomikis Istorias) with the acronym HDOISTO (www.hdoisto.gr), and organizes since September 2005, a biweekly Open Seminar of Economic and Social History, has decided to put together the first International Conference of Economic and Social History. The aim is to give the opportunity to Greek scholars and their colleagues abroad to participate in the exchange of ideas in economic and social history among historians, economists and researchers from different fields.

http://www.hdoisto.gr/synedrio/index.asp?l=1

The 5th Bicycle Ride of Rethymno

The bicycle ride of Rethymno will be held on Sunday 7 of December at 11.00 a.m. The start will be at the end of seaside road (Pearl Hotel). More information at:

http://www.aera.gr/gr/content/view/3434/10255/

Events for Nikos Kazantzakis in Rethymno

A speech about Kazantzakis and Prevelakis, will take place in Rethymno, in the framework of the 20th anniversary of the Internationa Society of Nikos Kazantzakis Friends, will take place in Rethymno, on Friday 12 December, at 19.00 at the hall of Commercial Chamber of Rethymno.
More information at
http://www.amis-kazantzakis.blogspot.com/
and
http://www.kazantzakis-museum.gr/index.php?level=0&id=623&lang=en
Two lectures about Nikos Kazantzakis work will also take place in the framework of the cooperation of Municipality of Rethymno, University of Crete and Volunteers Network of Rethymno on 19 of January and 18 of February 2008. More information about the lectures at
http://www.goodnet.gr/index.php?id=10,19580,1,0,1,0

Greek Association of mountaineers Rethymnon

http://eos.rethymnon.com

The mountain calls also on the island of Crete with its high mountain regions between Hania and Rethymnon ("White Mountains"), between Rethymnon and Heraklion ("Psiloritis" / "Mount Ida") and between Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos ("Dicta Mountains") with their foothills and plateaus in the eastern part of the island. The direct neighborhood between high mountains in the middle, steep cliffs and rocks at the south coast and long white beaches along the northern coast of the island rewards the mountain hiker at any time of the day with an unforgettable view that lets him forget all troubles of the ascent.

Winter on Crete is not just the soft rain at the coasts and in the valleys falling on orange and lemon trees giving life to the earth, which is longing for water from May to October, it is not just the winter storms lashing the waves like furies in rage. No, in the Cretan mountains snow is falling day by day. The temperatures in the evenings have fallen steadily since September to a level, that you can see the villagers in their winter parkas, when the last tourists are taking their dinner at the "platia", the village square, freezing in their bermuda shorts and blouses. From November to February we villagers are quite alone again, and some villages are always cut off by snow.

It's time for mountaineering.

The Greek Association of Mountain Climbers of Rethymnon are organizing excursions all over the year for their members and - after an old Cretan custom - friends and family members are always welcome.
To be mountain climber or hiker is no hobby, no sport. It is a way of life characterized by long lasting friendly relations between humans, who reach together their common goal: To be one with the nature of the mountains.

Program of Events 2008

SUNDAY 30/11/2008
MESSONISSIA - SOROS
Mountain guide : Euthimis Karapidakis,
phone 6932467993

SUNDAY 07/12/2008
ARKADI - MARGARITES
Mountain guide: Giorgos Christidis,
phone 6977589428

SUNDAY 14/12/2008
SIDEROTAS - TRIOPETRA
Mountain guide: Stelios Galakourakis,
phone 28310 32184 / 6973356339

SATURDAY - SUNDAY 20 - 21/12/2008
TIMIOS STAVROS
Mountain guide: Kostas Tzortzinis,
phone 28310 20260 / 6944668887

More info about equipment and terms of participation at

http://eos.rethymnon.com/program.html

Reggae night at Rethymno

The I-LAND BEAT PROMOTIONS presents the absolute reggae experience with KING SHILOH from Amsterdam. On 27/9, at 22.30, at the University Campus in Rethymno. Free entrance
http://www.ilandbeat.com
http://www.kingshiloh.com/

About Rethymno

Rethymno is the ideal place to stay while visiting Crete Island. Not only for the very interesting sightseeing, beaches and tastes that you can find in the town and the countryside but also for the central spot that is located that will allow you to organize excursions all over Crete.

You can easily access Rethymno via the ferry port (with daily link with Piraeus port) or via the two airports of Chania (50 km) and Heraklion (70 km). Car or bike rental is strongly recommended as they will offer you the opportunity to visit the countryside where many elements of Cretan tradition still exist. You have to be extremely careful while driving during high season period (July-September) when the urban and country road network is overloaded.

A common question is about the best period for visiting Rethymno (and Crete in general). The majority obviously prefer the summer period which is the longest among the Greek islands and lasts from early April to late October. During these 7 months all big hotels are open and the daily charter flights provide the opportunity to visit Crete from all over world. But I’m quite sure that for many of you, traveling abroad is not only vacation but also a way to meet different people and cultures. If you really want to be in touch with local people and local way of life, I personally recommend visiting Rethymno from October to May when the local life is at the normal rhythms and the town is not just a “tourist playground”. Just have in mind that the winter in Crete is not very heavy not even in January and that low cost airways (easyjet etc) have recently included Heraklion and Athens airports at their network all year long.

The old town of Rethymno is a place where beside the picturesque old buildings and streets (coming from the Venetian and Ottoman period) you can also find a big variety of dinning and entertainment facilities. Take into consideration that during summer period the old town of Rethymno is a pedestrian district so you have to leave your vehicle in a parking nearby (just beside the ferry port is a convenient one) and enjoy walking around. Another recommended way of gadding about is to use one of the municipal bicycles that you can have for free from one of the specific municipal spaces (behind the Town Hall and in the parking place beside the municipal garden are the more central ones).

Do not hesitate to contact me (at www.nakli.gr you can find my complete contact details) wherever you stay, in order to provide any kind of information about where to eat, drink and have fun. I will be back soon with more information about some villages in the countryside around Rethymno that you have to visit.

Regards

Andreas

OMODAMOS CLAY ART- Souliou 5 Rethymno

" Art needs craft more than craft needs art" , as Franz Kafka used to say. Searching for a balanced combination of both we came down to a collection of nine different contemporary Greek ceramists. In our shop you can find a variety of techniques and our collection is renewed every season- or at least every successfully new artistic experimentation!

We can provide efficient and safe shipping service any time of the year and a nice friendly environment when you visit us in Rethymno.
For more information: http://www.rethymnoguide.com/omodamos/

Bicycle ride in the history of Rethymno

The association of people in Rethymno that come from Asia Minor, in cooperation with the association “friends of the bicycle” are organizing a bicycle ride in Rethymno Old Town through the streets, the buildings and the monuments of the first people that arrived in Rethymno as refugees from Asia Minor after the people exchange of 1922.

The bicycle ride will start from Venetian port (where the first refugees arrived) on Sunday 20^th of January 2008, at 11 a.m.

Canterbury Tales in the Venetian Harbour, Rethymnon

From the flyer: SHIP OF FOOLS is a ninety year old seaworthy vessel that continues the good and old tradition of the travelling buffoon. She is an artist's family from many different countries, dedicated to the Arts and to the Seas. Their world travel is an endless pilgrimage in praise of Folly. Their passion is comic theatre. The ship is transformed into an absurd floating sculpture that serves as transport, home and kitchen, as workshop for theatre, costume and film and as scene and backdrop to their show. In 2007 they travel from Barcelona to Istanbul with a typical Azart version of the "Canterbury Tales" that combines comic theatre, comedia dell'arte, object theatre, music hall and operetta with the visual richness of the costumes and the natural setting of the Harbour of Rethymnon.

http://www.azart.org and http://www.azart.org/winter.html