Crete is experiencing these days under an orange-tinted sky due to the arrival of a mass of Saharan dust driven by the wind. The phenomenon has drastically reduced visibility and altered normality throughout the island. The impact is most noticeable in air transport, with affected operations and diverted flights due to the difficulty of operating safely. Isolated incidents have also been recorded in other services.

"It's very hard work," says Kostas Mattarellis from atop the whisking machine, almost shouting over the noise it makes. Mattarellis lives in Lisvorio, in the center of the Greek island of Lesbos, the land where ouzo, the famous anise-flavored liqueur known throughout the world, is produced. Kostas owns some anise fields, part of the Isododos Arvanitis distillery in Plomari, which he cultivates with the help of his family. "Look," he says, smiling as he takes a handful of seeds from a full sack, "it's perfect, neither damp nor sunburnt." Most of the island's distilleries use anise seeds from Lisvori and compete to acquire the fields, considered the best because of their proximity to the sea and the amount of sun they receive. "Ouzo?" Kostas asks. "I love drinking a bottle with friends, while eating together." In fact, within the island's culture, this is the drink that brings people together. It's served diluted with water, and sometimes ice cubes are added.

With a cover of greenish tones, The headless ear It is an album of the adventures of Tintin that appeared in Catalan in 1965, thanks to the translation of the brilliant Joaquim Ventalló and under the seal of Juventud, the publishing house of Josep Zendrera Data (to whom we dedicate a profile in this series). The story takes place in the republics of Nuevo Rico and San Teodoro, two fictional Andean countries in Latin America. One of the characters featured is an enigmatic businessman named Basil Bazaroff, who may seem like a figment of Hergé's imagination, but is actually a reflection of a real-life figure: the arms dealer Basil Bazaroff, the most important businessman in the world at the time.

The beach managers have put up a giant sign and two photographs next to it: Zorba's Beach. The sign is a bit tasteless. And, in fact, the beach's real name is Stavros, but many tourists ignore this. When you travel around Greece, you could make a list of restaurants, bars, businesses, and spots named after Zorba and you'd come up with hundreds.

In the Greek capital, past and present intertwine in a blend of ancient ruins, modern neighborhoods, and a vibrant culture that make it unique. The Acropolis, the undisputed symbol of Athens, rises majestically above the city, offering a panoramic view that captivates all visitors. This archaeological complex houses the Parthenon, an icon of classical art and architecture, whose majesty transcends the centuries. Strolling through its ruins is like immersing yourself in the history of Ancient Greece and understanding the legacy that has shaped Western civilization as we know it today. Just a few steps away is the Roman Agora, an ancient political and social center where the ideas and decisions prevailing at the time were discussed. Today, its columns and archaeological remains offer a window into Athens' imperial past, perfectly complementing the cultural experience.

After publishing two collections of poems and several short stories, Míriam Cano (Molins de Rei, 1982) suffered from a creative block. Five years later, the poet and translator broke that literary silence with Metamorphosis (L'Avenç), an intimate chronicle of two trips she made to the Greek village of Metamorfosis, which transformed her from within. On the first, Cano is accompanied by two great friends, Borja and Julia, and Julia's daughter, a baby. On the second, the writer shares the stay with Julia and her mother, Nuri, who has just lost her husband. Through them, the book explores friendship and loss, while inviting us to take things one step at a time, enjoying simple pleasures—eating, talking, not overthinking—and accepting ourselves without fear.

A new 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck the Greek islands of Crete and Santorini early Thursday morning. Although the epicenter was located about 82 kilometers from the city of Iraklio, the capital of Crete, the quake was felt in Turkey, Egypt, Cyprus, and Israel. Initially, the Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Center issued a tsunami warning, but Greek authorities eventually dismissed it because the earthquake struck quite far from the coast and at a great depth, approximately 64 kilometers.

"As children, he already enticed his children with stories taken from theOdyssey and the Iliad"Maybe it had its effect," he recalls. Miquel Desclot, pseudonym of Miquel Creus (Barcelona, ​​​​1952), with whom the veteran translator, poet and narrator has signed dozens of books. At his side he has Eloi, with whom he has ended up sculpting together an exceptional and illustrious verse version of theOresteia by Aeschylus (Eleusis, 525-524 BC - Gela, 456-455 BC), the only trilogy of Greek tragedies that has come down, almost intact, to us today.

Theodor Kallifatides (Mololai, 1938) emigrated to Sweden at the age of 25. He had no idea of Swedish, but in a short time he became a successful writer in that language. Now he is a small literary phenomenon in Catalonia and Spain thanks to the translation of books -these written in Greek- in which he recovers the memory of his Greek family and his youth: Mothers and Children, The Past is Not a Dream and Another Life. He has published more than 40 titles. In this interview he talks about Greece and Sweden, his family, and politics.