The Hellenic Navy (HN) (Greek: Πολεμικό Ναυτικό, Polemikó Naftikó, abbreviated ΠΝ) is the naval force of Greece, part of the Greek Armed Forces. The modern Greek navy has its roots in the naval forces of various Aegean Islands, which fought in the Greek War of Independence. During the periods of monarchy (1833–1924 and 1936–1973) it was known as the Royal Navy (Βασιλικόν Ναυτικόν, Vasilikón Naftikón, abbreviated ΒΝ).The total displacement of all the navy's vessels is approximately 150,000 tons.The motto of the Hellenic Navy is "Μέγα το της Θαλάσσης Κράτος" from Thucydides' account of Pericles' oration on the eve of the Peloponnesian War. This has been roughly translated as "Great is the country that controls the sea". The Hellenic Navy's emblem consists of an anchor in front of a crossed Christian cross and trident, with the cross symbolizing Greek Orthodoxy, and the trident symbolizing Poseidon, the god of the sea in Greek mythology. Pericles' words are written across the top of the emblem. "The navy, as it represents a necessary weapon for Greece, should only be created for war and aim to victory."...............The Hellenic Merchant Marine refers to the Merchant Marine of Greece, engaged in commerce and transportation of goods and services universally. It consists of the merchant vessels owned by Greek civilians, flying either the Greek flag or a flag of convenience. Greece is a maritime nation by tradition, as shipping is arguably the oldest form of occupation of the Greeks and a key element of Greek economic activity since the ancient times. Nowadays, Greece has the largest merchant fleet in the world, which is the second largest contributor to the national economy after tourism and forms the backbone of world shipping. The Greek fleet flies a variety of flags, however some Greek shipowners gradually return to Greece following the changes to the legislative framework governing their operations and the improvement of infrastructure.Blogger Tips and Tricks
This is a bilingual blog in English and / or Greek and you can translate any post to any language by pressing on the appropriate flag....Note that there is provided below a scrolling text with the 30 recent posts...Αυτό είναι ένα δίγλωσσο blog στα Αγγλικά η/και στα Ελληνικά και μπορείτε να μεταφράσετε οποιοδήποτε ποστ σε οποιαδήποτε γλώσσα κάνοντας κλικ στη σχετική σημαία. Σημειωτέον ότι παρακάτω παρέχεται και ένα κινούμενο κείμενο με τα 30 πρόσφατα ποστς....This is a bilingual blog in English and / or Greek and you can translate any post to any language by pressing on the appropriate flag....Note that there is provided below a scrolling text with the 30 recent posts...Αυτό είναι ένα δίγλωσσο blog στα Αγγλικά η/και στα Ελληνικά και μπορείτε να μεταφράσετε οποιοδήποτε ποστ σε οποιαδήποτε γλώσσα κάνοντας κλικ στη σχετική σημαία. Σημειωτέον ότι παρακάτω παρέχεται και ένα κινούμενο κείμενο με τα 30 πρόσφατα ποστς.........

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Spain's World Cup celebrations .. [ 1440 ]

World Cup 2010: hundreds of thousands greet Spain in Madrid

Hundreds of thousands lined the streets of Madrid last night to cheer Spain's national team as they paraded in an open top bus displaying the coveted World Cup.

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Crowds cheer the Spanish team on an open top bus in Plaza Cibeles in Madrid
Hundreds of thousands lined the streets of Madrid to cheer Spain's national team as they paraded in an open top bus displaying the coveted World Cup Photo: GETTY
 
Telegraph co.uk.,
By Fiona Govan in Madrid
Published: 10:42PM BST 12 Jul 2010
The victorious heroes arrived to a rapturous welcome as crowds of red and gold covered fans chanted "Campeones! Campeones! Campeones!"
In temperatures soaring to almost 104F (40C) some people had waited for hours along Madrid's main avenues for a glimpse of the players who took Spain to World Cup victory for the first time ever.
 

The squad wore red T shirts with "world champions" emblazoned across their chests, waved flags and took photographs of the adoring fans in an emotional homecoming that saw many onlookers break down in tears of joy.
Giant inflatable red balls bounced across the heads in the crowd as the bus approached. To a collective "Ole! Ole! Ole!" from the fans the Spanish equivalent of the Red Arrows painted a trail of coloured smoke resembling the three stripes of the Spanish flag across the sky as the team turned into Spain's main avenue, the Castellana.
"I cried when the whistle blew last night and again when I saw the team bus," said Tania Garcia Minan, 29, a schoolteacher working in Madrid. "It really is a dream come true."
"This is the best day of my life," grinned 14-year-old Senay Ozkaya from Madrid, her face painted in the crimson and gold stripes of the Spanish flag.
"I am so proud of them and so proud to be Spanish."
Nearby on the Paseo de Recoletos three men whooped and furiously waved Spanish flags as the bus approached.
"We drove up from Valenica for this moment," said David Zaluez, an unemployed truck driver from the city on Spain's eastern Mediterranean coast. The three friends admitted that they had not been to bed since Andres Iniesta scored the winning goal.
"We partied all night, drove here and we will party another night before driving home," he laughed proudly. "This is helping us forget about our worries," he added revealing that he has been unemployed since the start of the economic crisis two years ago.
Earlier the team had been congratulated by Spain's King Juan Carlos II who had been unable to attend the final in Johannesburg on doctor's orders having recently undergone surgery.
"You are an example for new generations for your effort and the spirit you showed in overcoming the odds," the King said in the Royal Palace. "You made our best dreams come true."
Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriquez Zapatero also met with the winners before they set off on their city tour which was due to finish at a specially erected stage on the banks of the river Manzanares.
The party, accompanied by live music, the deafening roar of vuvuzelas and the constant beeping of car horns, was expected to go on well into the night
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