Greek divers discovered a shipwreck off the island of Kythnos in the Aegean with indications it sank after an explosion at its bow.

Researcher Kostas Thoktaridis told Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA) that the wreck was found at a depth of 110 meters, and its stern has also collapsed.

Its bow is facing north, and widely dispersed debris has been found thirty meters from the stern. Metal parts of the ship and the deck have been blown off beyond the wreck, he said, and damage indicates the ship sank quite fast.

Following a review of the wreck with a remote-operated vehicle (ROV), the ship’s length was estimated at nearly forty meters while its profile height appears to be three meters high. An additional unique construction factor is that the frame lines are spaced very close to one another.



Another shipwreck discovered by Thoktaridis and his team

Earlier in 2022, Thoktaridis and his team of divers discovered another shipwreck that has languished in the waters off Cape Sounion, Greece since 1891. The shipwreck was identified as the Italian freighter “Taormina.”

“It is one of the rarest shipwrecks,” said researcher Kostas Thoktaridis, speaking to AMNA. “It seems almost unbelievable, how well the mast has been preserved,” he added.

To read this article in full, please visit: greekreporter.com

Greek islands are experiencing phenomenal growth in tourist numbers with inflow rates already higher than comparable numbers for 2019 before the coronavirus pandemic curtailed travel, several local mayors reported.

As they point out, August will raise the numbers even higher, judging by full hotels or annually expected last-minute bookings for August, while some islands report bookings at high capacity through September. Higher accommodation rates are observed not just at key tourism islands like Mykonos and Santorini, but on several other islands as well including those in the North Aegean.

Besides high rates of domestic tourism – especially for nearby islands like Andros – foreign travelers hail in the main from the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, and the United States, hotel officials told Athens News agency.

Popular Destinations

Mykonos saw a rise in reservations, Andreas Fiorentinos, says head of niche tourism issues in ruling New Democracy and former head of the island’s hotel owners. Based on current and six-month figures, he notes the island expects a lot of last-minute bookings for August, as usual for the month.

Santorini has reached 100% capacity in reservations for August, according to Mayor Antonis Sigalas, who asserts the figures show an impressive rise over 2019 data. He also expects results from the expanded tourism season further into fall, and from an island strategy to encourage tourists to stay all over the island instead of focusing on towns such as Oia, which make it difficult for local residents.

Naxos is fully booked, Deputy Tourism of Naxos & Small Cyclades Vangelis Katsaras tells ANA-MPA. “Arrivals by ship rose 200% in May compared to 2019, and over 94% in June compared to 2021,” he notes.

September Reservations

Paros has far exceeded reservations in terms of 2019 numbers in June, by 40%, Mayor Markos Koveos says, and has welcomed over 120,000 arrivals by air or sea. It also sustained a good rate of inflows even during the two pandemic years. He expects high inflows to be sustained beyond September.

Similar high returns compared to 2019 are reported by officials on Milos, Ios, Andros, Sifnos, and Tinos.

To read this article in full, please visit: greekcitytimes.com

The Greek government will launch a program to subsidize the purchase of e-vehicles such as electric cars as well as electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and e-bicycles in the framework of a strategy to promote the use of electric cars in the country.

The platform for submitting applications opened on Thursday, July 28, 2022.

The subsidy for individuals reaches 30 percent on the retail price of a vehicle (pre-tax) Additional subsidy was offered for the purchase of a home charger or the withdrawal of an old car.

The subsidy covers only the purchase of e-vehicles and not plug-in hybrid cars.

Skrekas said the program has four goals, renewal of car fleet, developing of smart charging infrastructure, reducing CO2 emissions, and saving funds for citizens.

To read this article in full and analytically view the subsidies for individuals and businesses, please visit: keeptalkinggreece.com

Ιnsured citizens from the age of 16 will be able to register with their “personal doctor” as of Monday, August 1st when the platform opens.

The Personal Doctor program entails that a single doctor will constantly monitor a patient, record and update his/her medical history, direct them to other specialists, prescribe medicines and suggest appropriate treatments.

The platform will open in all regions except for Attica and the South Aegean, where the required number of doctors to cover the population has not been met. Registration can be done either through the personal doctor registration platform, using one’s Taxisnet and AMKA codes, in person at a primary healthcare facility, or through a personal doctor.

In the latter case, citizens should have their AMKA number and an identification document, or a photocopy of it. For the two remaining regions of Attica and the South Aegean, registrations will begin on September 1, while doctors’ registrations are extended until August 31.

Originally published on: ekathimerini.com

The BrainReGain – Hellenism in Action initiative to repatriate Greeks who left the country in the previous decade due to the financial crisis will receive a boost with the publication of Greece Country Highlights.

The publication provides information about current economic and social developments in Greece, and all the basic information about the Greek regulatory, legislative, and investment framework.

This information includes everything from economic development indicators and entrepreneurship support tools, to reforms in the functioning of the state and policies for family support and life in Greece.

Apart from the effort to reverse the brain drain of the previous decade and turn it into a brain gain, the project also aspires to attract professionals and scientists from other countries as well.

BrainReGain is a nonprofit initiative bringing together 35 leading Greek companies, 65 top business executives, and 100,000 Greeks from the diaspora.

For some time now it has been systematically engaged in collating all those elements that are worth presenting to Greeks living outside Greece so they can see for themselves that the country they left behind in the previous decade has well and truly changed.

To read this article in full, please visit: ekathimerini.com

A country of azure seas, idyllic sun-bleached villages, and sandy shores, Greece is undeniably one of the top Instagrammable places on Earth. The only problem is that, with so many breathtaking places, you may don’t know where to start!

To make your lives easier, we compiled a selection of the most beautiful spots in Greece to snap the most envy-inducing photographs!

Navagio, Zakynthos


@queencess_m

On the western coast of Zakynthos lies the most famous beach on the Ionian islands. Navagio or Shipwreck beach is located close to the Anafotiria village and was initially called Agios Georgios. It owes its new name to the shipwreck of a boat called “Panagiotis” that was washed ashore in the 80s. Crystal clear turquoise waters surrounded by vertical cliffs of white rocks and a ship emerging from the sand, it’s no wonder Shipwreck is one of the most photographed sights in Greece!

Oia, Santorini


@p_chara

Santorini, the most romantic destination in Greece, is teaming with picturesque villages. The most scenic of them all? Oia! Situated on an impressive cliff, overlooking the volcano and the island of Thirassia, Oia is known for its traditional whitewashed houses, labyrinthine alleyways, and amazing hotels, but more impressive than these are its magical sunsets. If you find yourself in Oia, you won’t be able to put your camera down; every little corner is worth taking a photo of, and you’ll get to capture the most beautiful sunset in Greece!

Sarakiniko, Milos


@lavoyachieuse

Have you ever wondered what it’d be like to walk on the moon? Well, Sarakiniko beach in Milos, one of the most impressive natural locations, with its unique geological profile, is as close as it gets to the moonscape. Long, white rocks surround the sea. With the passage of time, the erosion created small and big hollows all over the rocks, shaping a lunar landscape that offers an otherworldly experience to visitors.

Windmills, Mykonos


@photosophy___

Mykonos, the Queen of the Greek islands, a cosmopolitan paradise packed with international jet setters, VIPs, and celebrities, has much more to offer than its second-to-none party atmosphere. Like all the Cycladic islands, white and blue hues dominate Mykonos. You’ll find yourself wandering the cobblestone streets lined with sun-drenched whitewashed houses. The most quintessential Mykonian feature, though, is the old windmills. They can be seen from every point of Mykonos Chora, reminiscent of the island’s rich virile past.

Balos, Crete


@allincrete_guide

About 60km northwest of Chania, you will find one of the most beautiful beaches in Greece, Balos. As seen from the above, it looks like a lagoon. It’s a long beach with crystalline waters and soft white sand that in many places turns into a lovely pinkish color because of the millions of crushed shells. Opposite the beach, there is Gramvoussa, a rocky island with a steep Venetian castle on top of it. Its exotic setting makes it the most photographed beach in Crete and a favorite subject of all tourist guides for Greece. It’s no coincidence that Prince Charles and Princess Diana visited Balos on their private yacht many years ago!

Athens airport has been crowned the ultimate best in Europe according to rankings from user review ratings on Google compiled by Holidu, a British search engine for holiday rentals.

Being Greece’s main and largest airport, the Eleftherios Venizelos – Athens International Airport scored a whopping 4.4 stars out of 5 from 24,467 reviews.

The ratings placed the airport in top position outcompeting Zürich Airport -Switzerland, Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport – Portugal, Alicante International Airport – Spain, and Malta International Airport in second to fifth positions, respectively.

What is outstanding about Athens Airport?

Located thirty-three kilometers away from the city center, Athens International Airport according to user ratings, “has so much to offer its travelers” revealed Holidu.

In case of a layover, passengers at Athens Airport “can enjoy baggage storage options, airport lounges, archaeological artifacts exhibitions, and a wide selection of restaurants and cafes,” Holidu said.

The airport also offers a conducive play area for children and a health and wellness center, which make makes it outstanding for travelers in Europe.

The above qualities crown the Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport the European aviation giant base for many travelers.

To read this article in full, please visit: greekreporter.com