
AP PHOTOS: Orthodox monks carry on long tradition of monastic life at medieval cliffside monastery
Also known as Simonopetra or Simon's Rock, the Christian Orthodox monastery transcends country-based branches of the faith by embracing monks from across the world, including converts from non-Orthodox nations.
The monastery is one of 20 in the autonomous all-male monastic community of Mount Athos, known in Greek as Agion Oros, or Holy Mountain. The peninsula is no stranger to foreigners. Of the 20 monasteries, one is Russian, one is Bulgarian and one is Serbian, and the presence of monks from other nations is not unusual.
But it is in Simonos Petra where the greatest range of nationalities lies.
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This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
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New York Times
4 hours ago
- New York Times
Dozens of Wildfires Burn in Greece and Turkey as Temperatures Soar
Wildfires are burning across Greece and Turkey, as southern Europe confronts a series of heat waves that have scorched parts of the continent this summer. In Greece, thousands of people were forced to evacuate from their homes over the weekend, including from a village near Athens. Officials said on Sunday that the fire had been contained but warned that swirling embers threatened to rekindle the blaze. Temperatures have soared, reaching close to 111 degrees Fahrenheit, or 44 degrees Celsius, on parts of the Greek mainland on Saturday before cooling slightly on Sunday. The fire service would not have been able to cope if 'there had been another two or three fires like the one near Athens,' Vassilis Vathrakoyiannis, Greece's fire service spokesman, said in an interview. Firefighters were still battling to control major blazes on Kythira, an island popular with tourists, and Messinia, on the Peloponnese peninsula, Mr. Vathrakoyiannis said. In Turkey, firefighters were fighting 84 blazes on Saturday, Ibrahim Yumakli, the agriculture and forestry minister, told reporters, adding that the country would be on high alert until October. 'We are going through risky days,' he said, as he called on people in the country to work to prevent fires from starting. Extreme heat has gripped much of Europe this summer, breaking records, stalling city life and endangering residents. Temperatures have hovered around 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius) in several areas, and reached above 110 in countries, including Portugal, Spain and Greece. Greece faces a challenge as it tries to preserve its image as an idyllic tourist destination while also facing the growing threat of wildfires. Authorities say there has been an uptick in both the number and the intensity of blazes in recent years, which many experts attribute to climate change. Earlier this month, a blaze forced 1,500 people to evacuate from homes and hotels on the popular tourist island of Crete. 'We must do all we can to restrict every possible risk,' Giannis Kefalogiannis, Greece's climate crisis and civil protection minister, said on Saturday. 'We have injured firefighters, human lives were put at risk, homes were burned and forestland destroyed.' Mr. Kefalogiannis said the government had deployed a record number of firefighters to prepare for the fire season. This weekend alone, almost 500 firefighters have had to contend with five major blazes across the country. On Kythira, the Coast Guard had to remove bathers from beaches on Saturday as the fire approached. In Messinia, heat and high winds were continuing to fuel the fire overnight. Greek television coverage of the fire in Drosopigi, the village near Athens, showed residents fleeing by car and explosions at factories containing flammable materials. In the footage, two people on a roof used a water hose to beat back giant flames from a neighboring house. The Greek climate crisis and civil protection ministry said that the wildfire threat would remain high into at least Monday.


Forbes
6 hours ago
- Forbes
Club Med Turns 75, Pivots To Upscale And Grows Mountain Resorts
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When the brand first launched, it called its properties villages and focused on an equality-designed approach where everyone enjoyed the same amenities free of charge. As consumers are becoming more segmented in what they are willing to spend and where, Club Med is adding a higher-end category of resorts and accommodations within existing resorts to appeal to that market. Club Med Gregolimano in Greece recently renovated the entire resort, including its guest rooms and suites. Club Med All-inclusive resorts are booming, but can Club Med elevate its brand positioning to go after the same, high-end customer that is willing to pay for the likes of a Ritz-Carlton resort? Or is it seeking to fill a gap between the traditional all-inclusive and the growing number of luxury properties that may outprice certain millennial travelers ticking destinations off their bucket list. This pivot comes from its new Chinese owner Fosun who has led Club Med on a reinvigoration project to elevate its image and draw in more millennials and well-heeled families looking for luxury. Its financial performance tells the story Club Med in the Seychelles Club Med The company's latest numbers highlight just how in demand all-inclusive really is. Last year alone, its business volume reached $2.38 billion, up 7% over 2023. This year, the first quarter already saw a 5.7% increase when compared with last year during the same time period. It also grew its bed capacity by 5%, all of which was in the premium and luxury category, what the brand calls its Premium (four-star resorts) or Exclusive Collection Resorts (five-star properties). The overall number of guests was up 1% to reach 1.5 million people in total last year, and when it comes to those top-tier properties, occupancy rates reached 75% (a 2% year-over-year increase) with the majority being France, China, Brazil, Canada and the United States. One of the newest resort openings is Club Med Michès Playa Esmeralda in the Dominican Republic. Club Med expansion of our Exclusive Collection, a curated five-star portfolio that includes resorts, spaces, villas and chalets and our legendary French sailing yacht, Club Med 2. The Exclusive Collection properties include Club Med Michès Playa Esmeralda in the Dominican Republic, which has four boutique-style villas catering to those seeking the maximum in privacy, and Club Med Québec Charlevoix with premium lounges offering things like private jacuzzis and a private ski room with dedicated concierge. Club Med in Quebec has quickly become one of the brand's most popular, year-round resorts. Club Med It's these winter properties, some experts say, that are really fueling the growth. According to the South China Morning Post, Fosun Tourism co-president Andrew Xu sees tourist attractions featuring snow and ice to be a major tourist attraction in China, which could be a potential growth region for the brand. This year, Henri Giscard d'Estaing, president of Club Med, announced that the Asia-Pacific region would be key to the brand's growth and announced a restructuring of its executives to help achieve that momentum. Just last month, BusinessToday of Malaysia reported that cold weather-destination bookings from the country have jumped by more than 100%. Club Med Val d'Isère is the newest in its Exclusive Collection of properties. Club Med While many people associate all-inclusive vacations with fun in the sun on the coastline, Club Med has made great strides in growing its winter vacation resorts, which also draw guests during the warmer months for other activities. It has seen a 20% uptick in demand for these destinations, which now accounts for 35% of Club Med's global business. Its mountain properties are not just in the Alps or Quebec's ski destinations. They are also in Vietnam, Japan and China. Its most popular beach properties include locations in Bali and the Maldives. Recent renovations Club Med Gregolimano is fresh from a multi-million-dollar renovation. Club Med Club Med Gregolimano in Greece is one of the newest to show off the shining new effects of this investment. More than $32 million was pumped into this renovation to upgrade interiors with the help of interior designer Jean-Philippe Nuel, including guest rooms, public areas, restaurants and recreational amenities. Among the newest perks are an adults-only pool, padel courts and spa wellness areas. Club Med Cancun has a new sports and wellness island with a dedicated palapa for quiet yoga classes, archery, bocce ball, mini golf, multi-sport courts and the iconic Club Med Circus School where guests can participate in their own trapeze lessons and other daredevil acrobatics. Other changes include a new family play area with its own pool and kids bar, pickleball courts, a Mayan-themed splash park, cinema and kids club activities for ages as young as four months. The pool at Club Med Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic Club Med By the end of this year, Club Med Punta Cana will have an all-new design with newly renovated rooms, upgraded dining venues and a poolside bar inspired by a Dominican casita. Club Med Phuket now offers archery, scuba diving, Thai boxing, and coming soon, a family 'oasis' with a dedicated waterpark and almost three dozen guest rooms for parents traveling with kids. Where are the Americans? Club Med Charlevoix in Quebec Club Med Club Med says all-inclusive experiences are driving 'increased momentum' among American guests, especially at resorts like Club Med Québec Charlevoix and those in the French Alps. Last year, it saw a 16% increase in business volume for North America's mountain resorts. Overall, North America represented a 5% year-over-year increase in business volume highlighting brand awareness among American travelers. The lounge of the Club Med Vittel Golf Ermitage in the France Savoy Alps Club Med The majority of guests at Club Med properties are French, and even the staff usually hail from France or French-speaking countries in addition to the local destination. The fact that Americans have not caught onto the idea of Club Med just yet may be due to the fact its brand name is not as well-known within the U.S. and it does not have a formal loyalty program like its primary competition. What it does offer, however, is European touches no matter where you go, which may appeal to some American travelers looking for something more elevated than an all-you-can-drink pool party. The newly added "Zen" adult pool at Club Med Gregolimano in Greece. Club Med And that's just what Club Med is trying to change about the all-inclusive image. Some properties boast adult-only pools without a bar, like the new pool added to its resort in Greece. Other Europeans are also catching onto the Club Med ethos with British travelers being especially intrigued by the brand's winter destinations, according to an article in The Telegraph. What's next The circus school at Club Med Magna Marbella in southern Spain Club Med All of this growth has also been fueled by home-grown tech tools that it is using to reach a wider range of customers. It launched a WhatsApp channel using artificial intelligence, which Club Med's Richard De Villa tells Travolution addresses over 40% of questions. The brand also launched a comparison tool that helps potential travelers compare different ski resorts. Club Med is counting on courting more American travelers to its resorts. The brand's portfolio includes destinations both near and far from the U.S. with plans to grow in U.S. mountain destinations with all-season resorts in the coming years. The private villa accommodations at Club Med Cefalù in Italy Club Med A new resort at Versant Soleil of Mont Tremblant in Canada is planned for a December 2028 opening, adding to its winter portfolio in the region. Coming soon is a new resort in South Africa, which will provide both beach and safari experiences on the 45,000-acre Hluhluwe game reserve. It will be home to Club Med's first ever surf school. Also on traveler radars are new properties in Oman (Club Med Musandam opening in 2028), Brazil (Club Med Granado opening next year) and Malaysia (Club Med Borneo also opening next year).
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Yahoo
Pregnant Woman Says She's Unsure If She Should Cause a 'Fuss' Because Partner Plans to Go on Cruise Without Her and Their Son
"The cruise line won't accept pregnant ladies at 24 weeks pregnant or more," the expectant mom said A pregnant woman is unsure if she should cause a 'fuss' as her partner is planning to go on a cruise vacation without her or their kids. In a post on Mumsnet, the woman explained that her father-in-law is planning to treat the entire family to a cruise vacation for his girlfriend's 70th birthday. The woman — who has a 2-year-old with her current partner and two teenage daughters from a previous relationship — said that she recently found out that she will be unable to go on the trip because she will be six months pregnant and the cruise line does not permit passengers over 24 weeks pregnant. The original poster (OP) said that while she was 'very upset and disappointed' by the news, she at least thought that her children and partner would be able to go and enjoy the vacation together. However, she said that her partner — whom she has been with for 10 years — informed her that he wouldn't be taking their 2-year-old son because the toddler "would be too much of a hassle and [he] wouldn't be able to enjoy himself and relax.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The OP said that her father-in-law then decided to invite several more friends, meaning that there was no longer room for her daughters on the trip. 'I know he paid for all this, so it's his decision, but it's still upsetting to let them down,' the OP said. 'Am I being unreasonable to kick up a fuss about this? How would other people feel?' she asked at the end of her post. Opinions were divided over whether or not the OP had a right to feel upset about her children being excluded from a vacation that someone else was financing. 'Kick up a fuss about what? It is not your trip,' one person said. 'I don't really blame your father-in-law,' someone else said, adding, 'He can't change the cruise line's policy, and he wants it to be a nice event for his partner's birthday.' The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! 'I think it's a lot to have sole responsibility for three kids when on holiday — bedtimes, food, entertainment, etc. I know single parents would have to cope, but there wouldn't be much downtime at all. I'm not sure what the solution is, though,' added another commenter. Several other people, however, said that they thought the situation raised red flags about the OP's partner. 'I think your partner is a k---,' said one person. 'He can't take his child because he won't be able to 'relax' — what does he think you'll be doing pregnant at home with three kids?' said one person. 'The only person you should have an issue with is your 'partner,' ' said another.. 'You have a [partner] problem,' said a third commenter. 'He clearly doesn't want the 'hassle' of looking after the children, doesn't see the older girls as truly 'his' despite being in their lives for a long time, and doesn't want to have to look after a 2-year-old. Latter is perhaps understandable as that is quite a lot of work and wouldn't make for a relaxing holiday, but not taking the girls is just mean." Read the original article on People Solve the daily Crossword