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.........

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Tokyo.Metropolitan buses . [ 1520 ]

Metropolitan buses offer a great way to see the sites of Tokyo


(Mainichi Japan) July 24, 2010 
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Whenever I take a bus ride, I feel excited for some reason. It is interesting to just look at the changing landscape from the window. A long-distance bus trip is nice, but there is an easier alternative -- a city tour on a Tokyo metropolitan bus.

"Tokyo is changing rapidly and it offers new discoveries wherever you go," says Masato Tachiki, 30, a self-anointed "bus geek" who runs the "Toei Bus Museum" website (http://pluto.xii.jp/bus/) for Tokyo metropolitan bus fans.
"I especially like routes that offer both urban scenes and the nostalgic atmosphere of the city," Tachiki added.

Following his advice, I decided to take the "Aki 26" route bus, which connects Akihabara's electronic quarter and Kasai, a commuter town on Tokyo's eastern edge, in a little over an hour. Passengers can have a glimpse of the sunset from Kasai Bridge on the route depending on the time and weather, according to Tachiki.

The bus departed the crowded Akihabara area in the early afternoon and went through the commercial districts of Bakuro-cho and Hama-cho in the Nihonbashi area. People in business suits were on the streets wiping away sweat, but I was feeling good in the bus, with comfortable air-conditioning and the lulling vibration of the vehicle.
After a while, the bus made a stop in front of Kiyosumi-Shirakawa Station, located a short walk from Kiyosumi Garden, where visitors can enjoy beautiful Japanese-style gardens and bird watching. However, I decided not to get off here as the area is also accessible by the Oedo and Hanzomon metro lines.
The bus continued along Kiyosu-bashi Street, passing by taverns and billboards for family restaurants.
Suddenly, the sky cleared up as the bus crossed the 280-meter-long Kasai Bridge, making me filled with a feeling of release. I made up my mind and got off the bus at the stop on the other end of the bridge.

The air had a salty taste to it. The ocean was close. As I went along the street, Gyosen Park appeared on my left-hand side. The park is home to the Edogawa Ward-run Shizen Zoo, where visitors can see various animals, even lesser pandas and giant anteaters.
I found an advertisement for a goldfish festival in the park. Edogawa Ward is known as the producer of goldfish, including ryukin and other high-end varieties.

After a short stroll in the park, I bought a purple sweet potato-flavored ice cream at a nearby cake shop. The sweetness of the ice cream relieved the fatigue from walking.
Before dusk, I jumped on the bus heading back to Akihabara. I had previously seen traces of the sun, but it had already gone down and the sky was covered by thick clouds again. I would have to wait for another chance to see a burning sunset from the bridge, I thought.

On my way back to central Tokyo, I was soothed by an unexpected night view from Kiyosu Bridge. It was a high-rise apartment complex along the Sumida River, of somewhere in the Tsukuda or Tsukishima district of Chuo Ward. The unforgettable scene reminded me of sparkling jewels in a jewelry box.

Another recommended route is the "Ue 26" line, which connects Ueno Park and Kameido Station. The bus goes near the Tokyo Sky Tree, a broadcasting tower currently under construction in Tokyo's Sumida Ward. It also stops by Nezu Shrine and Kameido Tenjin Shrine, which are famous for azaleas and Japanese wisterias, respectively, in the spring. (By Noriko Yamamoto, Home-Life News Group, Tokyo)
Click here for the original Japanese story

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