The Greece-based third installment of the popular romantic film series directed by Richard Linklater and starring Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke opens today in the United States in New York, Los Angeles, and Austin,Texas. A wider release will follow shortly.

The film was secretly shot in Greece in the late summer and fall of 2012, and features Kalamata, the Peloponnese countryside, and the luxury resort of Costa Navarino in the Messinia area.

Here's more on the locations in Greece, plus some pictures from the "Before Midnight" movie.

More: Meet me in Messinia
Picture by Despina Spyrou, courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics. Used by permission

Today is the international "World Turtle Day", where nations throughout the world recognize the many endangered species of turtle. In Greece, the largest sea turtle society, Archelon, stages an event at the marina in Glyfada, just outside of Athens.
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World Turtle Day

Turtle Rescue Efforts Picture Gallery

In 1864, the Greek island of Zakynthos was reunited with Greece, along with the other Ionian islands. The day is vigorously commemorated on Zakynthos, which is also known as Zante.

Zakynthos has a history of being "early" - it established itself as a democracy in very early times, and it also was quick to take up Christianity - supposedly in 34 AD after a visit from Mary Magdalene.

More on Zakynthos

Visiting the Ionian Islands

Shipwreck Cove, Zakynthos. Courtesy Variety Cruises

A couple of years ago, Athenos introduced the "YiaYia" character in its ads for Greek hummus. My blog post on that garnered more comments than any other - mostly strongly pro-YiaYia. (The anti-Yiayia contigent thought she was too much of a stereotype. Most Greeks disagreed.)

Now Athenos has brought a similar series of ads promoting its feta cheese. I still prefer the originals, which were shot in Greece - and I don't know too many Greek women named "Jessica" - but if you've ever wanted to learn exactly how to milk a goat - on your kitchen counter - this is for you. Rated PG-13 for graphic goat ... well, graphic goat something.

Cooking with YiaYia - Where Milk Comes From

What is a YiaYia? Photo copyright Athenos.com. Used by permission