2013 GREECE - Yίasou!

Cafes in Greece and the Greek Islands are an important part of daily local culture. There are cafeterias in every corner of Greece, from the busiest spot of the town till the most secluded village in the mountains. In small towns and villages, in the central square, is the Greek traditional cafe that is called kafenion. In summer, kafenion are the best places to enjoy a cold afternoon refreshment with friends, extended for hours, discussing daily problems, exchanging news or gossips.

As in other Mediterranean country, drinking is a social event. People drink moderate amounts of wine, beer, and spirits in a social setting as a way to strengthen bonds among friends and family members, and to escape the main preoccupations of daily routines. While Greeks consume incredible amounts of wine, beer, and ouzo, public displays of drunkenness are a rare occasion.

Often, kafenion offers his own wine, but also others varieties. Most often Greeks would order a karaf which is a pitcher of local table wine shared among everyone at the table. Can be ordered either a half-kilo (about four wine glasses) or a kilo pitcher of house wine. Retsina is the wine with the biggest name recognition in Greece. It is a brand of white wine with a distinct resin taste. Traditionally the barrels where the wine was placed were sealed with resin which gave its district odor to the contents.

About the stamps
The first stamp is part of the series Railways of Greece, designed by Myrsini Vardopoulou, and issued on March 30, 2015. They depict four of the most emblematic locomotives used for about a century until the 1970’s.
• S. Th. (theta) 40-45 (1951) (0,20 EUR) - It's on the postcard 2013
• S.E.K. La901-940 (1925-1927) (0,72 EUR)
• S.P.D.S. G401-420 (1915) (0,80 EUR)
• S.P.A.P Z501-517 (1890-1901) (2,50 EUR)

The following two stamps are part of the series Diving Tourism, issued on July 20, 2015.
• Sinking Classical Period (0,10 EUR) - It's on the postcard 2013
• Sinking Antikythera (0,50 EUR) - It's on the postcard 2013
• Skare Byzantine Ship (0,80 EUR)
• Dendromorfoi Sponges (0,80 EUR) - It's on the postcard 1977
• Sinking With Sarcophagus (1,62 EUR)
• Yellow Gorgonians (2,00 EUR)

The last stamp was issued February 17, 2014, to mark the anniversary of the 120 Years of the Opening of Korinthos Isthmus.

References
Drinking Culture in Greece - Greek Landscapes

Sender: Milda Kriukaite (direct swap)
Sent from Drapetsona (Attica / Greece), on 21.10.2015