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I’m Gema . I’m 39 years old . I live in Sant Boi , a big town near Barcelona. I’m married and I have a daughter . I have my own company with my husband and I leave my work every Thursday morning to go to study English with my friends.
I like reading historic novels and I’m not very sportive but I’m trying to learn to play paddle. I only have Sunday to repose and I like going to the restaurant for lunch and in the evening staying at home in my sofa.
One of the most important Catalan celebration is Saint George, 23rd April.
That day it's very common to see, in every corner, street, avenue... in everywhere, people selling roses, and in the main streets and avenues, like Las Ramblas, books stalls selling books, and in some places many writers talking with their readers and signing books.
The traditions says that all boys will offer a rose, usually red, to the girls and the girls will give back a book.
It's a love affair, or maybe it's our Saint Valentine's day.
In fact more than the 10% of the annual books acquisitions are made during this day.
In many schools they prepare for that day "Jocs Florals", which a writing competition, and during the day awards are given, usually the awards are flowers and books. 
Poetry is very popular, there's always a poetry category in the Jocs florals.
Hello everybody! I'm Rita. I was born in Germany. I grew up and studied there. In order to teach german here, I have to extend my knowledge in greek, that's why I am taking part to these classes. I haven't visited Spain yet, but I'd like to.
![wiosna_zoom[1].jpg](http://blog.eun.org/greecetocatalonia/upload/wiosna_zoom%5B1%5D.jpg)
Astronomic spring in Poland begins on 21th March. The first day of spring is celebrated especially by pupils. The old tradition for that day is the drowning of the marzanna ("frost maiden"). For our ancestors, the custom was associated with the everlasting rhythm of life. It expressed their joy at the coming of spring, which meant a rebirth of nature, promising crops and abundance, the marzanna was a representation of winter, a straw female effigy, dressed in white and adorned with coral beads and ribbons. Villagers carried the marzanna from house to house, then stripped her and scattered the clothes over the fields. Eventually she was drowned in a river, pond, lake or simply in a big puddle. Sometimes before throwing her into the water the effigy was set on fire. As the marzanna was carried out of the village one way, on the opposite side the villagers carried in the maik - green branches adorned with ribbons, coral beads and flowers. Over centuries this ceremony evolved into a form of amusement. Today drowning the marzanna is mainly done by children.
Nowadays pupils don't have regular classes on that day, but they do something funny. They play matches, they go to the cinema or anything alse they and the teachers prepare.
Hello all .My name is Gregory.I am 18 years old.I live in Poland and learn here.I like playing football and volleyball.I don't like bad weather.
schoolboy in CKU
My name is Garabelos Giorgos. I come from Oxia Karditsas a village on mountains. I am a student in evening Lyceum of Karditsa. I like reading books and listening to music. I like Spain very much.
Hello everybody. My name is Sakis Simeonidis. I am 23 years old and my job is a technician in aluminium ware. I like pretty women and I dare say that I adore women and especially Spanish women. Actually I have met two Spanish women on a nice island, Samos last summer. We are waiting for you for summer holidays.
Hello my name is Vali and I am 57 years old. i come from Germany but I live in Karditsa for too many years since I got married here and I have a beautiful family,three children, two boys and a girl.I study in the evening school and I really love it. I like flowers, I mean gardening, and I love goingfor rides on my bike.
My name is Giannis Karabekos. Iam twenty four years old.I own a petrol station and I work there. I like travels.My hobby is hunting.I have two dogs , both setter. I love them very much.
Hello everybody. My name is George. I am 35 years old and I live in Karditsa which is a beautiful town in the centre of Greece. I have a diploma as an electrologist and now I finish the third class of the Lyceum of evening school. My hobby is cooking and music. I love fast cars, martial arts, but most of all women.Until we meet again you have my best wishes for a happy time
Hello. My name is Thanasis Koutras. I live in a small village in Karditsa which is among trees and green fields. I am quite handsome. My zodiac is Vergin. Our traditional cousine is very tasty and delicious. You should taste it some time. Iwould like to invite you to our town. I am sure you will have abeautiful time.
Hello. My name is Georgios Georgoulas.I live in a beautiful village on mountains. The name of village is Gelanthi.I am fourty two years old. I like travelling because I want to know new places and countries. I am a farmer. My wish is ti visit Spain especially Barcelona. I would like to watch a football game, live, between Barcelona (my favourite team) and Real of Madrid, but I have to mention that I hate hooliganism. Also I like Spanish music (flamengo) and Andalusian wine.
I am Mary Kritsali. I am 39 years old , I am married and Ihave two children: A boy 20 years old and a girl 18 yearsold. I work as a house keeper every day and I go to the evening school in my town. I am a very good student. My hobby is cooking. My son loves paelia.
Hello. My name is Evangelia Kolovou. I am fourty years old and I live in Karditsa a beautiful town of Greece. I am married and I have two daughters, one eighteen and one sixteen years old. I work as a secretary in a radiologistic private hospital. I take lessons as a student in an evening school. In my free time I like listening to music, going to cinemaand reading literature books.
The capital city of the Podlaskie voivodeship, Białystok is the administrative, economic, educational and cultural centre of the region.
The city is located at the hub of important international overland routes, which, together with Bialystok's neighbouring on Belarus, Lithuania and Russia, fosters the development of economic and cultural relations with both eastern and western European countries.
Within several dozens of kilometers away from Bialystok are beautiful woods of Bialowieża Primeval Forest and the European-class unique Biebrza and Narew National Parks. The city boasts its leafy parks, trimmed squares and green spaces. The specific cultural climate of the city is mainly due to the centuries-old multinational and multireligious tradition whose traces make for the quintessential tiurist attraction Bialystok undoubtedly is.
Sant Boi is near Barcelona.
Hello, my name is Antonia. I live in Sant Boi de LL. I am married, I have two twin daughters, they are married. I work in a shop with my husband, it’s mine. On
Tuesdays I’ve got sevillanas dancing classes. The sevillanas are typical dances in Andalucia .I was Born in Jaén. On Saturday I dance salsa. I like, swimming, Travelling and painting.
The teacher in the class wants us to use English.
Hello my name is Queti
I live in Sant Boi a town of Barcelona, Spain
I work in a hospital of vascular surgery
I live with my parents in Sant Boi
I study English in a school of adults
I Like listening to music, and I Like cinema and the theatre
I’m 44 years old I like knowing and meeting people
I live in Sant Boi, it is a town of Barcelona (Spain). I live in a top flat with my family. My family is my husband and two children, one son and one daughter. In the morning, my children go to school my husband go to work and I go to the school.
I am in a group of students. We study English on Thursday. My teacher wants us to learn English and speak with you. I can't speak very much, but I try.
We want to travel this year to a country where we can practise English. We could go to Greece.
I visited Greece in 1995. I visited Athens, Mikonos, Santorini and Crete. It is a beautiful country. The beaches are very nice and the people are very social.
Hello my name is MªAngeles
I live in Sant Boi a town near Barcelona.
I study English in a school for adults. I like listening to music
I work as a nurse in a hospital in emergencies
I like the cinema and the theatre.
I’m 35 years old . I like knowing and meeting people.
I like travelling around the world.
Hello, my name is Loli. I’m housewife.
I have two children, one 18 and one 14 years old. Two beautiful boys.
My companion is one big father.
I live in Sant Boi de LLobregat . It Is an industrialist city nearby of Barcelona and near of Castelldefels beach.
I like to walk along the beach and in the mountain.
HELLO MY NAME IS LUIJE
I’M STUDYING ENGLISH IN SANT BOI (BCN)
I AM FORTY-YEARS OLD
I’M CATERING TRADE BUSINESSMAN BUT NOW I DON’T WORK BECAUSE IS
NECESSARY TO BUILD A BRIDGE IN MY LIVE.
I HAVE ONE PET HER NAME IN KOTA.SHE IS VERY HAPPY
I LIVE WHIT MY BOY FRiEND
I'MFROM CORDOBA, It IS IN ANDALUCIA, IN THE SOUTH OF SPAIN
Hello.
My name is Nuria. I’m studying English in Sant Boi ( Barcelona).
I AM forty-four years old.
I work in a hospital.
I have three dogs in my house, because my house is very big.
The names of my pets are: Blanquita, Teta, and Xena.
Every spring there is a festival called Carxofada Popular ( Artichoke festival). In the past Sant Boi was an important agricultural place. It was close to Barcelona and many vegetables were cultivated, and today there is still an important agricultural activity. One of the most important vegetables grown in Sant Boi are artichoke. Many tradicional dishes are cooked using artichokes
Greece is a country of south-eastern Europe that is separated in 52 prefectures. One of these prefectures is the prefecture of Karditsa. It is the prefecture that personally I live and work. Karditsa prefecture, with other three neighbouring prefectures constitute the regional apartment of Thessaly.
Thessaly possess the central part of Greece, and Karditsa more concretely her western sector. The Greek nature gave generously in the prefecture the privilege to combine mountain and plain. A union of mountainous arm of “Pindos” with the wider Thessalian plain. A picture that really is magic. Historically, from the 2nd millenium A.C ,in the region, “Pelasgoi” lived. They descended from the ancientest races of Indoeuropean sector. Little later, “Aioleis” went down from northern, installed in the region, and in fusion with “Pelasgoi” created an alloy of population of Thessaly from which today we have the honour to consider ourselves as descendants.
Today, in the plain of prefecture Karditsa, the heart of local economy of region strikes. A region with clearly rural character but also with small industries for the manufacture of rural products. Karditsa and the neighbouring prefecture of Larissa, are considered the backbone of rural growth for the country. Karditsa has immense extents, and is offered for exploitation of dynamic cultures, as cotton, maize, industrial tomata, cane, wheat etc. Thessalian ground give in cultivators rich harvest and in combination with the local factories of rural goods that undertake the trade and export, the rythm of growth of region develops rapidly and standard of living of residents goes up continuously.
The region of flat department of Karditsa is scattered with small and big villages, with bigger municipalities and generally it leads to the city of Karditsa, for which we will report with details. It deserves to remain in the description of region of prefecture making report in his more beautiful piece, the mountainous. The mountain range of “Pindos” is extension of “Deinarikes Alpeis, which in the Greek space begins from Hellenic-Albanian borders and leads to the northern Corinthian gulf.
This gives in the region his more beautiful department. Mountain tops accessible and hospitable. They generously open their embraces in the visitor of mountain, sunk in their vegetation, so much diverse from his rich flora. They are the famous mountains of “Agrafa” (means unwritten). They have a deep green colour in the Spring and summertime. In automnal months colour is changing. The mountains become gold-yellow and brown and they make the landscape resemble as magic paint. In winter they completely change character from the snow and they become shining white. They have nothing to envy from Alpes. These mountains were in past (2 civil war) a place for resistance and shelters of Greek fighters against conquerors of country. For this the name “Agrafa” , because no conqueror could have a full control of mountain residents. So there was not demography on mountains.
These mountains have inhabitants from prehistoric years. Today there are only persons that deal with the livestock-farming and tourism. Persons with love for their place, activated themselves there, in the frames of agri-tourism, a program promoted and economically strengthened from E. U. The result is that visitor there finds all essential in order to pass pleasantly his mountainous vacations.
There are hotels, restaurants, taverns, coffee-shop. The visitor will know the warmth and the hospitality of residents of region. Also there is and a very beautiful place. Lake Megdova or Lake Plastira. An artificial lake in 700 metres altitude where green of mountain is linked with splendid light blue the Greek Sky. A real ornament, creation of vision of local patriot and politician “Nikolaos Plastiras”, for this is said also differently Lake Plastira. Also the one that will choose “Agrafa” for vacations can taste the traditional foods of place, foods that he does not even find in the better restaurants of some cities Also for nature-lovers, the mountain offers places where they can make their walk and cycling. Everywhere the guest can feel peacefulness and calm
The only negative point is that is somehow difficult to drive car here, because the road network is narrow . Finally however there are overwhelmed efforts from local authorities to solve this problem creating new roads. It is also in development, a ambitious plan to build a ski centre in the region “Karava” after some years.
Now we go down from the mountain and go at straight line to the city of Karditsa. It is the soul of prefecture and his capital. A city of 50.000 residents with clearly rural and commercial character. She is built in that point that the Ajoleis established in 1200 A.C a city, “Arni, as “Homer says , capital of their kingdom. It is found in western Thessaly only few kilometres from the fringes of “Agrafa”.
Making a historical retrospection in the past of city we can report concisely that the season of Troian war it covered period of prosperity. With other near to this cities, “Ithomi” , Titanic, Arni, ancient Karditsa took part in the expedition against Troy , participating with big numbers of boats and soldiers. In the period of Persian wars in the 5th century, the city avoided to involve in the conflict with “Perses”, as it avoided also to take part in the big civilian, war “Peloponnisiako”. Abstention from these wars contributed to progress of civilization of city.
One century later, when Great Alexander linked all the Greek cities- states, ancient citizens of Karditsa took part in his big expedition to the distant East, with many soldiers and particularly with their appreciable and well-trained cavalry. It is well-known, that the region of Thessaly had the better martial horses. Later, when in the Hellenistic Kingdoms of Empire of Alexandros befell the decline, the city followed the fate of other Greek cities, with result her conquest by Romen. It was released as other regions of Greece on 3rd century with the foundation of Byzantine empire. The city restarts the period of acne without however to avoid raids and pillages by various North populations as “Gotthoi”, “Vandal, Fragoi, etc. This acne bore up to 1400.Afterwards the city was conquered by Turk.
That kept 400 years. In the period of Ottoman domination it took also her current name as Karditsa. When in 1880 it was released after bloody fights in remainder Greece, it began to find her rythm and to be developed in order to lead to current situation.
It deserves to mark, that Karditsa possesses the following positive point. It is the first city of Europe that was released by ‘nazistiki' possession in 1949, thanks to armed fight that made against German conqueror by the local fighters partisans, while still entire Europe was under “Hitler”.
Current population is Greeks, descendants of “Aioleis” and has the name”Karagounides”. The residents of Karditsa are been famous in the Greek nation for their hospitality, cordiality and warmth of their soul. Because of this, several economic immigrants of other countries live and work in the city. Kardjtsjotes accepted them as their family, as well as and anyone foreigner visitor. In her picture as city, Karditsa, joins two elements. Urban and rural. The first with multi-floor buildings, public services, organisms of common profit, big squares, commercial centres, the second with the detached houses in outer regions and cultivable extents around the city.
The road network in and outside from Karditsa are excellent shaped. Because of his geographically place -it is found precisely in the centre of country- the roads offer in the residents comfortable and fast access in the around neighbouring cities Larissa, Trikala and Volos. In Karditsa a lot of bicycles circulate and for this reason local authorities manufactured in the city special bicycle-roads for their comfortable passage. Because of the big number of bicycles the residents of city named it “Pekino” of Greece.
There are three big hotels Kierion, “Arni and Astro that have the possibility to provide in the visitors pleasant and comfortable stay with services. There are also smaller enterprises of rented rooms.
Friends of the reading can find in the municipal library any book they like. In the effort to upgrade the culture of city, was founded municipal kinimatotheatre and art gallery. In specific, big and known actors of Athens and Thessalonica, honour with their presence, the theatre of city, presenting appreciable work. There are also Archaeological and Folklore museum, where the visitors can admire the archaeological discoveries of region remnants of distant past and the traditionally popular work of art. For the education of young persons, there are many municipal schools and kindergartens, several high schools and lykea, a lot of technical faculties, technical institutes, and a night lyceum, from where I write these words. There are also faculties of superior education, for students of academic study as polytechnic colleges and Veterinary Faculty.
In the centre of city you can find “Paysilypo”, a park of unvaluable natural beauty, one pleasant music of nature, in the concrete character of city. There, one can pass certain hours of quietness and insouciance under thick shadow of the trees, enjoying simultaneously his coffee in the adjacent refreshment stand. For this was given in the park the name “Paysilypo” that means pause of sorrow. Coming out from the Paysilypo you find yourself precisely above in the bigger square of city, plaza Plastira. It was thus named from the local hero of 1st World War and the war of Minor Asia “Nikolaos Plastiras”, later Prime Minister of Country. Plaza gives in small and big moments of game and walk.
The city possesses many commercial shops for the cover of citizens’ needs in the recovery of material goods. There are also enough cafeterias in the pedestrian zones and in the squares to offer moments of relaxation. For the devoted in nightlife, the city abounds in night clubs and in centres with live popular music.
The gastronomic needs of citizens and visitors are fulfilled by the many restaurants with local and European cookery, taverns and numerous fast food stores.
For those who want to escape from the city, the near mountains of Agrafa offer generously their allurements. In addition to those, some of the near settlements allocate various archaeological discoveries to demonstrate to visitors. Such as the near community of Metropolis with the ruins of the temple of Aphrodite, the settlement of “Ethomis” Tower with the walls of the palace of the ancient queen “Ethomi”, the Byzantine castle of the village “Fanari”, a lot of medieval and Byzantine season monasteries and much more archaeological sights. For more information, anyone can be supplied with instructive tourist leaflets from the kiosks of the city or the tourist offices.
The city possesses the advantage of being found in a very small distance from the beaches of Aegean Sea and Pagasitikos gulf. If someone desires a taste of summer, he can take a dip into the sea which can be easily reached by car or by bus into a length of time less than an hour. All of this thanks to the most excellent and brand-new road network.
Finally for the transfers, in the city are disposed many buses of urban transport, enough taxis, as well as certain enterprises of rented cars.
This it is Karditsa, a city alive and cheerful. It deserves at least one visit. During this visit people will meet hospitable simply good-hearted individuals, with cheerful faces.
Anyone who leaves from the city will keep the best recollections and the expectation of return.
(cooperation by Anastasopoulos, , Koutras ,Thomopoulos)
Our city finds itself in the heart of Greece for this it is named Karditsa. It’s a
place full of contradictions, as long as it allocates from the one side the mountains and the lake and from the other the Thessalian plain.
The city of Karditsa that is also the capital of the prefecture is a small, calm city of fifty thousands residents, moderate in growth of technology and modernisation. It is host to three academic faculties (veterinary, constables, and agronomics) and has enough beautiful parks. The biggest is found in the centre of city and it is named Paysilipo, which is one of the most beautiful parts to enjoy your coffee under the shadow of the trees to smooth and to calm down. You have the opportunity to take a beautiful walk to think calmly about your everyday problems seeing peafowls walking beside you and making you company without seeming bothered. A few metres further there is found a playground, where dhildren of all ages, small and big, play, laugh and are defused for a while by the closure of the apartment.
In the centre of the city most squares are found (And most shops, also). Pedestrian zones modern, comfortable and with beautiful flowers connect the 2 bigger of these: the central and the one found in front of the park Paysilipo.
Even if Karditsa is level and squarely city it does not cease having a big circulatory problem, mainly in her centre, because the places of quartering are limited. For this reason the relation of the residents of the city with the bicycle is very good and the Mayor has made special cyclist’s pathways so that local cyclists are served safer.
Modernised, therefore, city with her cyclist’s pathways, parks and pedestrian zones, but also with two folklore museums and a municipal Art gallery, it does not cease being “grey” from the concrete blocks of flats that sprout up daily as mushrooms.
After all, it is a modern city with stressing rhythms that the law of life fixes but with calm rhythms as when someone gets stressed by work, he can enjoy a cup of coffee in one from the many cafeterias that are found in the centre of the city or relax with a drink in a bar.
On the other hand, if you prefer the mountains to the city, then the Lake Plastira, that is found in the mountainous part of the prefecture, is one of the best parts to admire the beauty of the mountain range of Agrafa, where is also found the artificial lake of Nikolaos Plastiras, big general and benefactor of region who envisioned before 50 years her manufacture. He then closed the 2 mountains’ sides and the river’s water could not escape. The result is the artificial lake which is one of the biggest in land artificial lakes and the first that is found in so much altitude by 800 metres up to 1100. In addition the lake helps in the irrigatory channels of the plain as well as in the hydroelectric factory, which is an important source of electric energy.
To the banks of the lake are gathered mountains, which dominate everywhere and for this the tourist growth of region is rapid. The rich services will cater for every selective visitor, as there are numerous of hotels and restaurants for all tastes. Visitors can be occupied with many sports like riding, cycling, jogging and mountaineering.
In conclusion, according the before mentioned, the city has many things to offer to every foreigner visitor.