Eleni's colorful world

Minaret

Eleni is creating art since her childhood. When she was little she used to shape objects from the dough her mother made and she was taught copper engraving in elementary school. During her studies at the School of Fine Arts in Athens she took lessons on engraving, set design and photography.

Eleni Pehlivani is a painter. She was born in Germany by Greek parents but grew up in Komotini. Eleni's world is colorful, just like her experiences from three different cultures that helped her evolve as an artist and as a person. Her paintings are expressing the harmony achieved by accepting diversity, since they combine creatively different materials. Paints, threads, even sand cooperate successfully creating patterns that delight the eye and travel the mind.

Elephant

Eleni is inspired by nature, her creatures and shapes. And she loves children. She organized a visual art project for children aged 5-12 at the Benaki Museum in 2010 and at the Museum of Islamic Art in 2011.

Elephant

Fish

She says about her work: "My artistic world is a place of constant meetings, where the decorative forms and varieties of folk art are combined with angular, simple, modern geometrical forms. My inspiration is my hometown Komotini, a town rich of oriental stimuli. My paintings depict the sense of diversity, the various religions and habits of people who live there and produce a special culture. I am collecting elements from this colorful and beautiful place through my visual experiences and childhood memories and I am interested in creating a link between those diversities via my paintings."

Since 2009 until today Eleni has held three individual exhibitions and has participated in many group exhibitions in Greece and abroad. Enjoy more of Eleni's paintings at her personal blog. 

Train

Nature's Pharmacy

This summer on your vacation take with you Nature's pharmacy!

 

Make your own, natural first aid blends with the directions given here.

Ithaca, the island of sage

One of the most famous ancient Greeks worldwide is Ulysses or Odysseus. His adventurous, ten year journey of return to his homeland after the Trojan war, as it was narrated by Homer in his epic poem Odyssey, constitutes the most lyrical and timeless symbolism of every person's struggles in the battle of life.

This summer I spent a few days in modern Ithaca, which will remain a field of research for many scientists until there is clear proof that it coincides with the ancient kingdom of Ulysses. I have to admit that the beauty of this small island has surprised me. Ulysses had every reason to fight with bravery and cunning against the elements of nature, frightening cyclops and seductive sirens in order to return to that earthly heaven!

China scent

It is well known for those who work on alternative therapies that many of them evolved up to a signifacant degree in a country where they are applied even today in full harmony with classical medicine. This country is China. With a history of approximately 4000 years, the civilization of Huaxia (another name often used to represent China) is considered to be one of the most influential in the world.
Recently I had the chance to visit Beijing, the "North Capital" of China with almost 19,500,000 inhabitants, where tradition and contemporary technological achievements, wealth and poverty, vast parks and heavy air pollution, western fast food chains and local snacks, luxurious cars and fanciful modified vehicles coexist. All these and much more compose an extremely interesting scenery which leaves the visitor with the feeling of living in two parallel worlds, so controversial and yet so interdependable.

Revitilization in just three days

Greece is a wonderful country with ideal weather conditions and unique light! It is a place where sea and mountains mingle with harmony creating landscapes of exceptional beauty, capable of satisfying even the most demanding travelers.

Last week I had the chance to make a short yet revitalizing trip. In the heart of winter but with the sun following every step, heating hearts and mood, I have visited within only three days an enchanting island, a group of mountainous, scenic villages and a city full of night life. Greece...such a small country, yet so concise!

Wednesday: Lefkada, Kathisma beach. Temperature is 12oC. The sea is calm, inviting me to fall into her arms. Some, bolder than me, are already swimming. I prefer to walk, breathe in the fresh air and let every trace of iodine reach the alveoli of my lungs. 

I fill up with energy and feel that I have earned at least five more years of life. I promise myself to be better equipped next time I visit this beach. Yoga, meditation, walking, running, swimming or whatever you like doing, on one of the most famous beaches in Greece. If someone believes that islands are not suitable destinations for winter vacations, maybe he/she should review that opinion...

Thursday: Tzoumerka (Kalarites, Sirako). Altitude is 1200 meters, temperature 4oC. The temperature is low but the weather is mild, ideal for long walks through the narrow, stone cobbled roads of the villages. 

The view is breathtaking. 

Wooded ravines, small waterfalls, steep slopes and imposing mountains are composing a landscape that emits exceptional energy. The fresh air is revitalizing and the herbs growing at the area are miraculous: mountain tea, linden, oregano, nettle, chamomile, wild dittany, St. John's wort.

Friday: Ioannina. There are not enough words to describe the capital of Epirus. A city that literally embraces Pamvotida lake, with long history, many worth seeing attractions, vivid night life, exceptional food and friendly inhabitants.

Three invigorating days, full of traveling and resting. Three days full of positive energy and interaction with nature. The best way to start a new year.

My suggestions:

Permanent resident of Greece, the Briton writer Jim Potts manages with his new book The Ionian Islands and Epirus: A Cultural History (Landscapes of the Imagination) to present in an original way two regions of Greece that have made a huge contribution to the culture of the country. He is focusing on beautiful landscapes, legends, traditions and historical events that surround the Ionian islands and Epirus, as reported and recorded by writers, residents, artists and travelers, revealing an extraordinary cultural legacy.

The historical poem Kyra Frossini translated in English. Written by Aristotelis Valaoritis, it is based on the real story of the illegal love affair that took place in 1801 in the city of Ioannina between an astonishingly beautiful Greek woman and the Ottoman son of Ali Pasha. A lyrical story of love, passion, betrayal and tragedy worth reading!

For those who love hiking and wandering in nature, the mountains of Epirus are the perfect place. The detailed, bilingual hiking map about the mountain of Pindus Pindus: Peristeri - Kakardhitsa - Tzoumerka (Greece) 1:50,000 Hiking Map ANAVASI contains information about footpaths, huts, rest areas, spot heights, springs, landscape variations, archaeological sites, monasteries, churches and much more. A must have for every explorer!

Krauterdrogerie

Greetings from Austria!
The green land, full of parks,

delicious sweets,

magnificent buildings,

nice people,

and of course alternative drugstores!

My suggestions:

Made from an old homemade recipe from fresh potato juice, shea butter and chamomile the Potato Hand Balm of the Austrian company Styx which specializes in natural herbal products, is ideal for treating dry, chapped hands. It does not contain harmful paraben and it is quickly absorbed by the skin without leaving an oily residue.

Do not begin a trip to Austria without taking with you the The Rough Guide to Austria 4 (Rough Guide Travel Guides). This guide literally provides accurate and reliable information  about everything you would like to know about this beautiful country. You will find information about the sights, hotels, restaurants, shopping, athletic and cultural happenings of all major cities and touristic villages of Austria.

First aid oils for vacation

Summer is coming closer and our minds are already traveling to summer resorts and beaches.

If I had to choose only a few essential oils to take with me during a journey those would be: lavender, peppermint, ginger, chamomile, tea tree, eucalyptus, grapefruit and citronella.

These essential oils are very effective in treating minor ailments or nuisance that could occur during your vacation, such as:

Protection against the sun

Do you remember the thin red-white ribbon we used to wear as kids from the first days of March until Easter? According to tradition “March” (name of the ribbon) is offering protection against the first intense spring sun rays. If you forgot to wear a “March” this year, don’t worry. There are many natural materials you can use to make your own products in order to relieve and hydrate the skin after exposure to sun.