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Dionysis Savvopoulos and his songs

 Who is Dionysis Savvopoulos?

Dionysis Savvopoulos is one of Greece’s most influential musicians, since he sings, writes lyrics and composes his own songs.
Born in Thessaloniki in 1944, he became known for blending Greek folk music with rock and poetic lyrics, creating a unique sound that marked the cultural awakening of the 1960s and 1970s.  For many Greeks, Savvopoulos is not just a musician but a storyteller who captures the spirit of modern Greece through his words and melodies.

He began his career in 1964, appearing in nightclubs together with Maria Farantouri and Manos Loizos.
Savvopoulos was imprisoned twice during the Greek dictatorship. People fell in love with him straight away, making him and his music very popular in Greece and abroad.
In some of his songs, he combined the music of American musicians such as Bob Dylan with folk music from Macedonia, northern Greece, and lyrics about current political affairs. He has been awarded an honorary doctorate by the Department of Philology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

Ο Διονύσης Σαββόπουλος θεωρείται ο πρωτεργάτης της σχολής των Ελλήνων τραγουδοποιών. Τραγουδοποιοί ονομάζονται όσοι γράφουν μουσική, στίχους και τραγουδούν οι ίδιοι τα τραγούδια
τους. Άρχισε τη σταδιοδρομία του το 1964, και έκανε εμφανίσεις σε νυχτερινά κέντρα με τη Μαρία Φαραντούρη και τον Μάνο Λοΐζο.

Κατά τη διάρκεια της δικτατορίας φυλακίστηκε δύο φορές. Γνώρισε πολύ γρήγορα τεράστια επιτυχία και σύντομα έγινε πολύ δημοφιλής στην Ελλάδα και το εξωτερικό. Είχε συνδυάσει τη μουσική Αμερικανών μουσικών όπως του Μπομπ Ντίλαν με μακεδονική λαϊκή μουσική και στίχους πολιτικού περιεχομένου. Έχει ανακηρυχτεί επίτιμος διδάκτορας στο τμήμα
Φιλολογίας του Αριστοτελείου Πανεπιστημίου Θεσσαλονίκης.

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Autumn in Greece

Autumn in Greece is full of surprises!
Even though summer is probably the most popular season in Greece, for Greeks and non-Greeks, also autumn and winter have much more to offer than you might think!
Since the Tourist Industry focuses on Greece as a typical country for summer holidays, not everyone knows that Greece is more than only beaches and sea.
Here an introduction to different aspects of the beautiful Greek autumn.

Read this article in Greek and listen to the Audio

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The Epidaurus Amphitheatre and Little Theatre | Omilo

When visiting Greece, it is not just about eating delicious food in taverns and going to the beach, but many travelers, including Omilo students,
also love to visit ancient Greek sites, attend Greek concerts, or theatre  productions, while learning more about Greek culture and history.
Well, here is the good news, by visiting the beautiful archaeological site of Epidaurus, as well as the village « Palaia Epidaurus », you can combine it all!
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March 25th: A Greek National Celebration and Independence Day | Omilo

March 25th: A Greek National Celebration and Independence Day. Greece has lived through major historical events and the country was involved in many wars: Persian wars, the wars of Alexander the Great, etc. In modern Greek history, from 1821 till of today, two major wars Greece was involved in, were the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire and the 2nd World War. Every year, Greeks remember these historical events with the celebration of two national anniversaries on October 28th and March 25th. 

Click here to read the article in Greek and listen to the Audio

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How To Travel To Syros Island, From Athens Or Mykonos

How to travel to Syros island, from Athens or Mykonos? Because Omilo organizes Greek Language and Culture courses on the island of Syros during the summer months, this is a question many Omilo students are asking us frequently.
First of all, if you looking for a 1- or 2-week course during summer, then click below and check out the dates and availability

For all the details and course dates of  the 1-week courses, click here

For all the details and course dates of the 2-week courses, click here

Second, here below you find details, tips and useful information on how most students travel from their country to the course location on Syros island.

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Accommodation On Syros Island, Azolimnos

Accommodation on Syros island; where to stay?

If you only intend to visit Syros for just a night or two, we’d suggest choosing a hotel in Ermoupoli, the island’s beautiful capital.
You’d want to spend at least a day in Ermoupoli, doing sightseeing, and exploring this fascinating city.
Also, Ano Syros is a great location to spend two days, but far from beaches, and be prepared to walk a lot of steps.

 Omilo organizes 1- and 2-week courses on Syros island, in  Azolimnos, (4 km south of Hermoupolis)

Therefore, we suggest for our students mostly accommodation close to the course location, in the village of Azolimnos.

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Winter in Greece

Winter in Greece is never boring, and for those who thought that Greece is only a summer country, you couldn’t be more wrong :-).
Due to its varied nature and culture, Greece has to offer something in any season!
In general, we had a  a sunny and warm end of the year,  but we expect any moment the winter to start…
Better be prepared, and get your warm cloths ready…or start planning your winter trip to Greece!

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Wildfires in Greece: How to save your life in case of emergency

Wildfires in Greece, unfortunately occur every summer season. Every Greek knows that high temperatures in combination with strong winds, often lead to wildfires. And this is what happened once again this month of July and August…
We keep our fingers crossed that the existing fires will come to an end soon, and that the remaining summer other forests and villages will be spared from wildfires.
Of course, it is advised to know how to react in case you find yourself close to a fire. Something we unfortunately never learn in school…but it is important!
More info below

Read this article in Greek and listen to the audio

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Ano Syros – A Journey through History and Culture

Visiting Ano Syros is like a journey through History and Culture.

When you visit the island of Syros, do not miss the opportunity to go for a beautiful walk, and witness some traditional Cycladic architecture.  Just a ten-minute taxi or bus ride to Ano Syros, from the capital and the port of the island, Hermoupolis.

Get ready to get lost in its little cobblestone alleys with the whitewashed walls, the colourful window shutters, numerous little churches and the blooming bougainvilleas! It is the perfect location for a walk with beautiful views to the Aegean Sea.

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How to make Greek frappe – the delicious ice-coffee

Do you know how to make Greek frappe?
During warm and sunny days and especially in spring and summer, Greeks prefer to drink the cold coffee instead of the warm  coffee.
There are many versions, but the easiest to make yourself at home, is the « frappe »
Also Omilo students usually love to drink frappe, and learn to make it while in Greece

Click here to read this article in Greek

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