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Halkidiki (sometimes spelled as Chalkidiki) is a peninsula in northern Greece that is found to the East of Thessaloniki. It is 120 kilometers long and has 3 “legs” which protrude into the Mediterranean Sea. Depending on which part of the peninsula you find yourself on, you’ll be surrounded by either beach bars, nightclubs, or centuries-old Byzantine monasteries. The one commonality between every part of Halkidiki is the great wine. Wine has been crafted in Halkidiki since the times of antiquity. In the 20th century, a phylloxera epidemic destroyed many of the grapevines, but the industry has been restored to the glory of its past. The following are the best places to stop on your wine journey through Halkidiki.

Hislop is one of the best-selling authors of her generation and is best known for her book The Island. In Greek, it is known as “To Nisi.” Victoria Hislop first met Greece during her journalism career, when she traveled extensively because of her work. One of her assignments included Spinalonga, Greece’s former leper colony. It was here that she was inspired to write her internationally acclaimed novel.

According to data from the Bank of Greece in the first quarter of this year, the rate of house price growth in Greece is reaching record highs. More specifically, prices rose 14.5% year-on-year in Greece as a whole, and even sharper spikes were seen in Greece’s 2 largest urban centers, reaching 16.5% in Attica (the region which includes Athens) and 16.1% in Thessaloniki. Prices in other large cities increased by 13.1%.

The Elephant Cave in Crete is one of the best-known diving sites in Greece. The Elephant Cave is found in the Red Village, which is 30 kilometers from Chania. More specifically, the cave is in the Drepano area of Akrotiri, which is next to Souda Bay.

The palm forest of Preveli is found below the Monastery of Preveli, next to the Kourtaliótiko Gorge. The beach is known for its extensive forest of the Cretan date palm, which is known as Phoenix Theophrastii. The Preveli palm forest is the second-largest palm forest in Crete behind Vai Palm Forest, which is on the east side of the island of Crete. The forest is not exclusively palm trees but is also home to osiers, reeds, oleanders, and locust varieties. Unfortunately, a fire wiped out a large portion of the palm forest in 2010, but it rebounded quickly, and within a few years, new trees had already sprouted. The Preveli palm forest is a paradise– an oasis compared to the dry terrain which surrounds the area. The Preveli palm forest is found 38 kilometers from Rethymnon and can be reached by car.

Astypalaia is the most western island in the Dodecanese Islands. Astypalaia has a history that is centuries old, villages with some of the most beautiful white houses in Greece, sunny beaches, and dramatic views from its castle. The shape of the island of Astypalaia is unique because it is connected by a narrow landmass that makes the island look like a butterfly from a bird’s eye view. The western part of Astypalaia is called Mesa Nisi, and the eastern side is called Exo Nisi.

Greek inflation slowed to 2.8% in May 2023 compared from 3.0% in April 2023, 4.6% in March 2023, and 11.3% in May 2022. This is according to a statement by the Hellenic Statistical Authority. The drop between April and May of 2023 reflects a rapid fall in energy prices. Namely, prices fell in natural gas (49.6%), electricity (24.1%), heating oil (20.7%), other fuels (16.8%) and telephone services (2.2%).