Music
Born to be Alive – Patrick Hernandez
This disco song by French singer Patrick Hernandez became a worldwide hit in 1979 and is easy to understand why.
Soul Bossa Nova – Quincy Jones
This instrumental is phenomenal!
Feast of Starlight – Howard Shore (The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug)
This is such an exquisite piece of music! So ethereal and magical that it captures perfectly the blossoming love of the elf-maiden Tauriel and the dwarf Kili.
It’s Now or Never – Elvis Presley
This is one of the greatest love songs performed by Elvis. From the sweet melody to the lyrics that speak of romance everything is utterly atmospheric.
Books
The Silmarillion by J. R. R. Tolkien
The Silmarillion is an account of the Elder Days of Middle Earth. Its tales are set in an age when Morgoth, the first Dark Lord, dwelt in Middle-Earth and the High Elves made war upon him for the recovery of the Silmarils, the jewels containing the pure light of Valinor.
Cartes Postales from Greece by Victoria Hislop
Week after week the postcards arrive, addressed to a name Ellie does not know, with no return address, each signed with an initial: A.
With their bright skies, blue seas and alluring images of Greece, these cartes postales brighten her life. After six months, to her disappointment, they cease. But the montage she has created on the wall of her flat has cast a spell. She must see this country for herself.
On the morning Ellie leaves for Athens, a notebook arrives. Its pages tell the story of a man’s odyssey through Greece. Moving, surprising and sometimes dark, A’s tale unfolds with the discovery not only of a culture but also of a desire to live life to the full once more.
Movies
Encanto (2021)
The Madrigals are a Colombian family helmed by a matriarch whose children and grandchildren (except for Mirabel Madrigal) receive magical gifts from a “miracle” that helps them serve the people in their rural community called “the Encanto”.
When Mirabel learns that the family is losing their magic, she sets out to find out what is happening, to save her family and their magical house.
The Incredibles 2 (2018)
The Incredibles family takes on a new mission which involves a change in family roles: Bob Parr (Mr. Incredible) must manage the house while his wife Helen (Elastigirl) goes out to save the world.
Mary and the Witch’s Flower (2017)
Mary Smith is an 11 year old girl who has recently moved to her Great Aunt Charlotte’s house in the countryside. While on a walk in the forest she finds “fly-by-night”, a mysterious flower that can give her the power to become a witch for only one night.
Jodhaa Akbar (2008)
Set in the 16th century, the film centers on the romance between the Mughal Emperor Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar and Princess Jodhaa Bai who becomes his wife on a marriage of convenience.
Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts (2022)
Cast members from all “Harry Potter” films reunite in a retrospective special to celebrate the anniversary of the first film.
Children Who Chase Lost Voices (2011)
Asuna Watase is an elementary school girl who was forced to grow up quickly ever since her father’s death while her mother works long shifts in the hospital.
She spents her days listening to the mysterious music emanating from the crystal radio receiver her father left her as a memento and soon finds herself deep into a hidden world.
Shops
Ellyz
Ellyz is a pink paradise in the center of Athens that offers amazing vibes and even more amazing cakes and pastries.
Hard Rock Cafe Athens
A classic for all hard rock fans it combines fine music with a wide selection of drinks and delicious food choices. I absolutely loved my Irish coffee and chicken nuggets!
