Argophilia

Αργοφιλία: For the love of the journey.

Eastern Europe

Among the People of Russia: Vitaly Vakhrushev

Phil Butler

We met the man in the Summer of 2016. We noticed him every time we passed the city center on business. In the evenings he was always there, this good-natured 70-year-old, always, always smiling. On our first meeting I stopped just to say hello, this is when I learned his name is Valentin.

Moscow Winters Past and Present

Aleksandr Shatskih

Winter. It is the season when thousands of beach-loving Russians head to the tropics to escape the greyness and what seems like the never-ending cold. I, however, enjoy the fleeting magic of the white kingdom where every day is different and when you can stay comfortably wrapped in a woolen plaid and sip hot tea watching the snowflakes twirl outside the window like elegant ballerinas.

Vacation Under Apano Meria’s Mesmeric Skies

Phil Butler

“It’s spectacular,” someone exclaims somewhere in the distance, and I am lost for words. Spectacular doesn’t even begin to describe what I see. The magic of Apano Meria rendered me silent, and all I can do is stare at that unbelievable sky as it touches the Aegean at the horizon with fiery reds and purples […]

Tomb Echoing Alexander’s Wealth Opened in Thessaloniki

Aleksandr Shatskih

A fascinating Macedonia tomb dated between the late 4th and early 3rd century BC has been restored and opened to the public in Thessaloniki. The tomb is representative of the massive wealth that poured into Macedonia after Alexander the Great’s conquests eastward.

Greece Too Big a Bargain According to Bank of Greece

Aleksandr Shatskih

Greece’s tourism revenues for 2016 slumped below those of 2015 and 2014 according to figures from the Bank of Greece. Traveler spending dropped by double digits, which accounted for the losses even amidst stellar tourist arrivals.

Valentine’s Day at Sheraton Tirana Hotel

Aleksandr Shatskih

For those who are in Albania this Valentine’s Day, the Sheraton Tirana Hotel offers a special package with luxury accommodation and other perks.