Athens has joined major metropolitan cities like Paris, New York, and London, to come third in the list of most beautiful night-time cities around the world as ranked by Instagram, reports Daily Travel News.

According to the report, 'when looking at the most popular night-time cities across the globe, it’s the city of love that emerges as favorite amongst users of the social media platform, with over 1,000,000 hashtags for pictures of Paris by night. Following Paris is London, followed by Athens, Rome, and Warsaw.'

European cities dominated the list with only a few countries making it from outside the old continent, such as Dubai, United Arab Emirates with 71,500 hashtags, New York City, USA with 50,000 hashtags, and Tokyo, Japan with 42,700 hashtags.

The Greek capital of Athens ranked third with 182,000 hashtags.

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

Main image: trikaliotis_giorgos

The transformation of Athens into a smart and sustainable city, where citizens enjoy living and working in it, is one of the top priorities of the Municipality. In the last two years, the Municipality of Athens has developed a series of bold interventions, creating new digital infrastructures and services that make the daily life of the citizens easier.

The Municipality of Athens has already created 118 easy-to-use digital services, which cater to the needs of both citizens and local businesses. Thousands of citizens can now receive certificates and documents online, thus avoiding the need to visit state services and helping prevent overcrowding.

In the past month, the Municipality of Athens took another important digital step, enabling residents and visitors of the capital to enjoy free internet access in 11 parts of the city. Available in some of the city’s busiest neighborhoods, these free wifi hotspots allow citizens to save internet data and money.

During the first three months of its operation, the program has offered free wifi access to over 100,000 users with almost 300,000 unique connections recorded so far.

The areas where free internet access is provided are the following: Syntagma Square, Lycabettus Square, Iroon Square (Psyrri Square), Kotzia Square, Seraphio of the Municipality of Athens, Central Library of the Municipality of Athens (Domokou 2), Cultural Center (Akadimias 50), Liosion 22, Karamanou Square, 1st Cemetery of Athens, and KEP Victoria.

Athens’ citizens and visitors can access the WiFi4EU network from the list of available wifi hotspots on their mobile devices. By selecting “WiFi4EU” and pressing “Login”, they gain free internet access for the next 12 hours, without having to enter any personal information to use the network.

"This initiative marks the beginning of a new era, in which free digital services, focusing on citizens, are being developed every day. Our goal is to extend the program to all 129 neighborhoods of Athens, so that every citizen and every visitor of the city has the opportunity, within the framework of equal opportunities, to use the internet. Athens has entered dynamically into the new digital age.", emphasized the Mayor of Athens, Costas Bakogiannis.

Developed as a hobby project in 2008 by Athens-based visual effects artist Dimitris Tsalkanis, the Ancient Athens 3D website presents a series of digital reconstructions of the city through time, from the Mycenaean Bronze Age (1600 BC) to the Early Modern period (AD 1833).

The project’s latest video, launched in November, showcases Classical Athens at the height of its power in the late 5th century BC, in the years before its defeat by Sparta and their allies in the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC).

The 12-minute video, rendered in spectacular detail, takes the viewer on a fly-through of the city’s neighborhoods, circling its famous monuments, temples, civic buildings, and marketplaces. Each monument is accompanied by a short description.

The 5th century BC was a time of unparalleled change in the history of Athens. Partly destroyed by the invading Persian army in the years 480-479 BC, the extensive rebuilding program that ensued, accelerated by the great statesman and general Pericles in the second half of the century, made it the center of the Greek world.

During this period, dubbed the “Golden Age of Pericles,” the arts, sciences, and philosophy flourished in Athens, laying the cultural and political foundations of Western civilization.

Ancient Athens 3D was developed to present photorealistic digital reconstructions of the city and all of its monuments from 1600 BC to AD 1830. The project began with the first experimental 3D models of the Acropolis and the Ancient Agora, based on published archaeological and architectural data from scientific journals.

As the digital technology evolved, further reconstructions were added, and the site’s popularity grew. Great attention has been given to historical and archaeological accuracy in each of the videos, successfully communicating the development of urban planning through the ages.

In his work, Dimitris Tsalkanis has collaborated on projects with the Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports, as well as museums and local municipalities. His 3D reconstructions offer a superb educational platform, bringing ancient Athens to life for a wide range of audiences, from school children to academic researchers.

For more information about these projects, visit the Digital Heritage Creations website.

As we step into the New Year, it's not just about resolutions; it's about seizing the chance for a fresh start, envisioning accomplishments, and making promises that resonate with our practical, day-to-day lives. Let's ditch the theoretical and dive into why setting goals is not just important but downright practical.




1. Goals Are Our Personal Growth Catalysts

Beyond checklists and achievements, goals propel us toward personal growth. Each goal becomes a milestone in our journey, pushing us to learn, adapt, and evolve. It's not just about what we achieve externally, but how we transform internally along the way.

2. Goals Fuel Lasting Motivation

External rewards might provide a temporary high, but internal motivation sustains the marathon. Practical goals force us to tap into our intrinsic desires, igniting a fire that keeps burning. They serve as constant reminders of why we embarked on this journey, fostering enduring motivation.

3. Building Resilience Through Challenges

Goals are not just about success; they're about navigating the hurdles that inevitably arise. In pursuit of our objectives, we build resilience. Challenges become opportunities to learn, adapt, and persevere, shaping us into more resilient individuals capable of weathering storms.

4. Enhancing Focus and Productivity

In a world filled with distractions, goals act as beacons of focus. When we have a clear objective, our energy and efforts are streamlined. It becomes easier to prioritize tasks, say no to distractions, and channel our efforts into what truly matters, boosting overall productivity.

5. Creating a Sense of Purpose

Goals provide a sense of purpose—something to strive for beyond the mundane. They infuse our actions with meaning, offering a clear direction in the chaos of everyday life. A life with purpose is more fulfilling, and goals guide us toward that overarching sense of meaning.

Now armed with a more profound understanding of why practical goals matter, let's not just pursue fulfillment; let's revel in the journey toward our desired results. The weight on our hearts often stems from what we never attempted due to fatigue, fear, or doubts about success. So, let's embrace the practicality of setting goals and make this year truly transformative.

Cheers to a year of purposeful goals, personal growth, and tangible victories!

Christopsomo, or “Christ’s bread,” has been an indispensable part of the Christmas Day table in every Greek household throughout the centuries.

If you are ever fortunate enough to spend a Christmas in Greece, you will be certain to become enchanted by the enticing aromas of baked bread, pastries, cookies, and other foods during the holiday season.

Greek Christopsomo

Some Greek holiday goodies are steeped in ancient regional traditions, while others you will find throughout the entire country, but perhaps with a local twist.

The bread is traditionally baked on Christmas Eve and served on Christmas Day at the table when the whole family gathers to eat together. It is believed that this sweet bread brings blessings to the family during this holy season.

The dough for Christopsomo is divided into two pieces. The first portion, the largest, forms the main base. The somewhat smaller portion is made into a large cross with curled and split ends and several other symbolic shapes.

In the past, symbols represented aspects of the family’s life and professions as well. For example, if the family were fishmongers, images of fish would be shaped and added to the loaf.

In more agriculturally-based times, the surface of the bread would often be covered with flowers, leaves, or fruits, indicating the family’s hopes for a good harvest and healthy herds of animals.

A walnut is placed in the middle of the cross, symbolizing life as well as fertility. The walnut shell can also be interpreted as representing the cave in which the Christ Child was born.

Baking the most elaborate possible Christopsomo is an unspoken challenge for bread makers in Greece. In many parts of the country, “Christ’s bread” has truly become a piece of timeless art, with incredibly beautiful, intricate decorations.

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

My parents have a house in a village, not far from Athens, where we often go on the weekends. It’s a typical Greek village up on a hill with a nice sea view and, very common in Greece, lots of stray cats.

Our daughter, who loves to play with the cats that gather in the yard, has been asking to adopt a cat for quite some time now. After some serious thinking, my husband and I decided to get a kitten as a gift for our daughter’s birthday. We all agreed to get a stray and we started our search from the yard of the house in the village.

There is a little black and white kitten among the cats that visit our yard. The minute she “smells” we arrive she’s there. It’s obvious she wants food. And even though she doesn’t feel too at ease with humans she accepts some petting. When my daughter takes her in her arms you can hear her purring.

So we’ve decided to take her home with us. We bought her food, cat litter, toys, and a cat carrier to bring her home. But first, we needed to take her to the vet. And although she’d spent the whole afternoon in our yard, the next morning when we were supposed to get her to the vet she was nowhere to be found. It’s as if she had just disappeared. Literally disappeared. We did search for her but our efforts were to no avail. Of course, my daughter was disappointed and sad as she had already imagined this sweet kitten as her roommate and expressed her emotions by crying.

We talked about it. It’s possible the cat decided she didn’t want to leave the countryside. This was her home after all. This is where she could wander around and be free. We explained to my daughter that this didn’t mean the cat didn’t like or even love her. It only meant she decided to live where she was.

This may sound egoistic to some but in doing so the cat took care of her own needs first. Cause that’s how she’s happy. Cats love their well-being. It’s of utmost importance to them. They know what they want, what they like, and what they don’t. They know who they want to be with and who they want to avoid. They know when and how to say “no.” And we, humans, cannot but respect their wishes.

Isn’t that what we all need to do for ourselves? Take care of our needs first? Because when we take care of ourselves we give and share easier. We take care of others easier.

This Holiday season offer yourself a special gift. Take this beautiful cat lesson and apply it to your everyday life. Don’t wait for others to do this for you. Like cats, take yourself by the hand and think about how you can take care of yourself first. What is it that you like and what not? How do you want your life to be and what kind of people do you want around you? Remember the sweet black and white kitten who comes to be petted by my daughter but then she wants her peace and quiet.

Originally published on: itsmylife.gr

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Founded in 2019, the Athens English Comedy Club is the first, and only, purely English comedy club in Greece! 

Is the Athens comedy scene “all Greek” to you? Are you on the lookout for English language events which do not require you to read surtitles? Do you want to try your hand at stand up in English? We are here for YOU! 

The Athens English Comedy Club brings you local and international comedians, right in the heart of Athens. 

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About the comedians: 

Dimitri Doukoglou is a Greek-Canadian comedian and illustrator based in Athens. He has been performing stand-up professionally since 2007. He has co-produced and hosted the humorous D&D web series 'Once Upon a Dice' (Μια Ζαριά κι Έναν Καιρό). He is also a science communicator and has produced and hosted several live science comedy shows, as well as the YouTube series 'Sex with Doukoglou' which explores human sexuality. He often forgets to eat. 

Dimitris Dimopoulos is a comedian, librettist, director and translator. He has been performing stand-up comedy since 1996 from “Comedy Nights”, Greece’s first comedy-club, and has since presented three solo shows including “Kafrokrema” which is currently running. He has written librettos for the highly satirical operas “Twilight of the Debts”, “AirRossini”, and “Yasou Aida!”. His passion for comedy and musical theatre culminated in the creation of the show "Stand-Up Symphony" in cooperation with the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra. 

Blink Mike has been performing stand-up since 2013 and stands out for his creative and sharp jokes. In 2013 and 2014 he took part in the Stand Up Comedy Festival competition where he won 2nd and 1st place respectively, while in 2018 he made it to the final of the nationally aired TV program “Greece Has Got Talent”. His first solo show “Technically Forbidden” completed its first country-wide tour this year. 

Odysseas Deniz Ürem is a stand-up comedian based in Athens, Greece and he performs regularly in theaters and comedy clubs in Greece such as the Athens English Comedy Club, Mic Drop Comedy Club and Losantzele Comedy Club. He performs in Greek and in English, his act revolves around subjects such as death, sex, family, racism, religion and among others it also consists of many surrealistic takes on every day life. 

Athina Kefalopoulou, a Greek raised in Russia and Norway, is an actress, arts producer, and sociologist. She delved into performing stand-up comedy in 2019, taking part in the science communication show ‘Science+Comedy’, while she has taken part in numerous productions in Greece and the UK including within the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Athina is the founder of the Athens English Comedy Club. 

Mariem Chaari has the kind of life that qualifies her to be a comedian. Or a serial killer. Never short of content, she found herself one day on the stage of Athens Comedy Club making jokes. Since that day, she realized that making people laugh is the cheapest form of therapy. And strives for more. She likes to explore subjects that have to do with body image, sexism, and her own special way of seeing things (you don't say). On the side she's a successful single mother of two ginger cats, a foodie, and an Artist. 

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We also offer 3 free tickets per show to persons with disabilities or unemployed persons (phone reservation required, and the relevant card/proof will be checked at the box office). 

The theatre is wheelchair accessible. 

Upon entry you will need to provide a vaccination certificate or a valid proof of recovery/antigen test. 

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The Cafe will Feature Seasonal Menus and Holiday Happenings!

This holiday season, Hard Rock Cafe® Athens invites guests to gather ‘round the table and celebrate this glorious time of year together in true Hard Rock style. Throughout the month of December, there will be a limited-time, multi-course holiday menu featuring some of Hard Rock’s most popular culinary options. From the original Legendary® Burger to a full rack of baby back ribs or lighter fare such as grilled salmon or Moving Mountains® Burger for our vegetarian friends. Hard Rock Café Athens has something for everyone in your family.

During the Festive season, there will be various activities available in order to spend these holidays with as much Rock mood as possible!

Christmas Eve

More specifically, on Christmas Eve at 8 p.m. There will be a Live Dj set on the ground floor - in the beautifully decorated main area of ​​the Café - and guests will be able to try the Festive menu of 2 dishes with 1 glass of wine/ beer at €29.95, but also at 9 p.m. the rock band Jitterbugs will play Live and the guests will be able to taste the wonderful Festive menu of 3 dishes, with 1 glass of wine/ beer at €35.95. A children's Roxtars menu with ice cream as dessert is also provided at €15.

New Year’s Eve

At the same time, for New Year's Eve at 8 p.m. there will be a Live Dj set on the ground floor with a Festive menu of 2 dishes with 1 glass of wine /beer & 1 glass of sparkling drink at €32.95 and at 10 p.m. will play Live again the Rock band Jitterbugs with a Festive menu of 3 dishes with 1 glass of wine /beer & 1 glass of sparkling drink 39.95€. A children's Roxtars menu with ice cream as dessert is also provided at €15.

Breakfast with Santa

Finally, for two consecutive Sundays on December 12 & 19, Breakfast with Santa is waiting for its beloved little friends together with the whole family to spend a unique Sunday afternoon (12 pm - 4 pm), to take photos with Santa Claus and to engage in creative activities such as drawing and face painting. Entrance for each child will be 15 € including the children's meal.

The Full Holiday Menu

Sensational Starters:

• Caesar Salad Bruschetta - crisp artisan bread topped with fresh romaine tossed with classic Caesar dressing, candied bacon & parmesan crisps, finished with a sweet balsamic glaze
• Blue Cheese Chopped Salad - chopped mixed greens tossed in a blue cheese vinaigrette with pickled red onions, red peppers, and Roma tomatoes, finished with crispy shoestring onions and blue cheese crumbles

Mouthwatering Main Courses:

• Mushroom Swiss Burger - signature steak burger layered with Swiss cheese, roasted mushrooms, garlic aioli and leaf lettuce, finished with shoestring onions
• Surf and Turf Burger - signature steak burger topped with One Night in Bangkok Spicy Shrimp™ on a bed of spicy slaw
• Original Legendary® Burger - signature steak burger, with applewood bacon, cheddar cheese, crispy onion ring, leaf lettuce and vine-ripened tomato
• Moving Mountains® Burger - 100% plant-based 170gr patty, topped with cheddar cheese and a crispy onion ring, served with leaf lettuce and vine-ripened tomato. Served with seasoned fries
• Grilled Salmon - seasoned & grilled then topped with garlic herb butter and served with fresh vegetables
• BBQ Grilled Chicken - grilled chicken layered with signature spices and our signature barbecue sauce, served with seasoned fries and fresh vegetables
• Full Rack of Baby Back Ribs - seasoned with a signature spice blend, then glazed with house-made barbecue sauce and grilled to perfection
• New York Strip Steak with Marinated Mushrooms - USDA Choice 12 oz NY strip steak, grilled and topped with mushrooms marinated in a smoked bacon and bourbon sauce

Desserts and Drinks to Satisfy a Sweet Tooth:

• Holiday Brownie - warm chocolate brownie topped with caramel and chocolate sauce, served with whipped cream
• Chilled Espresso Martini - Grey Goose Vodka, Kahlúa, fresh-brewed espresso shaken until frothy and chilled

Whether you choose to dine in or take out, Hard Rock Cafe Athens wants to be part of the memories families make this holiday season! Those wishing to dine at Hard Rock Café Athens can make a reservation by visiting hardrockcafe.com or by calling 210 324 5170. Not dining in this year? No problem! These mouth-watering limited-time menu offerings are available for fast and fresh delivery via Wolt App straight to the dining room table by visiting Wolt. 

For more information about the Holiday Menus and Reservations, you can call 210 3245170 or send an email to athens_salescoordinator@hardrock.com. 

The «Ark of the World» is a Charitable Nonprofit Organisation providing special care and protection to mothers and children.

It is first and foremost intended and addressed to young unprotected children, most of whom come from single-parent families, and to many children without parents, who experience difficult circumstances,  neglect, abandonment, lack of medical care and uncertain future.  
 

The Ark fully covers and takes care of unprotected children.. In collaboration with Prosecutors for Children, protection agencies and services for children’s rights, it undertakes to raise children in its four (at present) accommodation homes. They are children (infanthood to adulthood) who have been subjected to abuse, neglect and very bad living conditions. Children live in large homes with instructors and care givers for their everyday life, like a large family, without any reminders of institutional care.

A primary concern of the Ark is not to separate the family when there is parent interest in and capable of taking care of the child. Single-parent families with serious financial and social problems calling on our services can find support for their very basic needs, such as food, clothes, medical care and everything they need to live with dignity. At the same time, families receive counseling services, take part in parents’ groups led by family relations specialists and receive information on training programmes in order to be empowered to take responsibility of their children.

The Ark of the World was established in 1998 in Athens by 26-year-old Father Antonios Papanikolaou, who was armed with love for children, a selfless need to give and the desire to create a nest of affection and care for children, young people and parents in need, living in the crevices of society, in “another” Athens at the region of Akadimia Platonos.

 

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To learn more about the organization click HERE!

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The holiday season is upon us, and considering all that we’ve been through over the past 2 years, and to make up for 2020’s lack of festivities, we wanted to do something extra special (and extra Covid safe) this year.  And so this December, The Meet Market proudly presents our biggest event to date: 10 days of Christmas at the Palio Amaxostatio OSY. 

Come join us for holiday festivities and merry market celebrations as we head for the first time to this super central venue in Gazi, and fill it with 150+ stalls of beautiful products made & sourced with love from designers, artists, producers and selectors from all over Greece.

And because we couldn’t fit all these talented makers in one event, this year’s Christmas Meet Market is essentially 2 events in one.  From Friday 10 – Tuesday 14, we will be featuring our first round of participating brands and exquisite products, and then switching it up with an new artisan lineup from from Wednesday 15 – Sunday 19.  You’ll want to visit us twice to witness the fitness of all these makers, including plenty who will be participating for the first time.

We also be featuring our usual non-stop dj sets from start till finish each and every day, interactive games for all our little friends, Christmas cocktails & Glühwein, street food, gift cards, free prizes, super duper Yultide vibes and a whole lot more!

Opening Hours: (Weekdays 18:00 – 22:00 & Weekends 12:00 – 22:00)
Friday 10/12 from 18:00 – 22:00
Saturday 11/12 & 12/12 from 12:00 – 22:00
Monday 13/12 – Friday 17/12 from 18:00 – 22:00
Saturday 18/12 & Sunday 19/12 from 12:00 – 22:00