The 21st Century Dance Masterpiece, Akram Khan's Giselle, is coming to your home in February from the Christmas Theater On Line!

This new version of perhaps one the most important romantic ballet performances offers  a great opportunity to relive the moving story of love, betrayal and redemption in modern times.

Experience the passion and flame of Flamenco with Carmen, the legendary performance of Antonio Gades and Carlos Saura that sealed flamenco! 

A great choreography showing the explosive power and intensity of emotion in traditional Spanish flamenco. Passion, emotion, love and freedom are synonymous with Carmen. Leading soloist Vanessa Vento lives and breathes Carmen, emphasizing the many faces of this character, a woman, passionate and freedom fighter, but unstable in love as she flirts with men, inspiring desire, rivalry and jealousy between men and women. 

Carmen is undoubtedly the most fascinating opera character of the French composer and pianist Georges Bizet, inspired by the novel of the same name by Prosper Merimee. 

Greece has taken another necessary step to limit the spread of Covid-19, as part of the ongoing lockdown measures. One of the newest changes currently in effect is the 'Click in Shop' method of shopping at all retail stores across the country.

More specifically, all retail stores that sell clothes, shoes, and books - including the ones located in large shopping malls -  will now operate with the Click in Shop process as part of the government's effort to curb overcrowding in public spaces.

Click in Shop means that consumers make appointments in advance to shop in person inside retail stores thus allowing only a limited number of consumers in a store at the same time. All other stores will continue to operate by the 'Click-Away' method which means consumers place their orders from home and then collect their items from outside the store and by appointment only.

Click in Shop requires the customer to select and book the product they wish to buy, either online or via phone. Then, they will make an appointment in order to visit the store, try on the preselected items and make their purchase. They can also browse the store and try on other products as well, as long as they don't exceed the specified time limit for each customer. Appointments are scheduled based on the size of a store and the number of employees working at the time of the appointment, in order to avoid overcrowding. Remember that sending an SMS is still mandatory for leaving your home!

The main advantage of the Click in Shop method is that it actually offers consumers the opportunity to try on products, an option that the Click-Away system does not offer. Although the aim of the try-on option is to minimize the chances of returning products, customers will still be able to do so - strictly by appointment - and all return and warranty rights will still be valid. With regard to payment methods, consumers will be able to pay in cash is they like, with the cash limit set at €500. This is an additional advantage of the Click in Shop method, as the previous system in the majority of cases worked only with credit and debit cards. 

The duration of this new method of shopping will be determined based on the epidemiological data gathered daily by authorities. Retail businesses will work to ensure that all the necessary protection measures and operation regulations of the Click in Shop model are maintained.

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This content has been sourced and translated by Codico Lab.

For many years, Athens has been facing complaints from residents, professionals, and visitors alike about cleanliness. As in any capital around the world, cleanliness is essential, and the objective of every municipality is to design practices that are both substantial and effective.

For the first time, the City of Athens is moving towards a strategy of total cleaning interventions that have shown significant results. For the last 12 months, 37 cleaning operations in 37 different areas have been changing the image of dozens of Athenian neighborhoods.

How Things Are Changing

Every Sunday, entire city areas are sanitized. To achieve the required cleansing result, dozens of cleaning staff gather in a specific area to wash sidewalks, streets, and public spaces with hot water. Due to the current circumstances, they also carry out the required disinfection.

These operations are the pinnacle of everyday cleaning and combined with smaller-scale but equally significant actions, they are changing the city for the better. For example, the group interventions that take place in the squares. During those interventions, a large group of staff take care of the green and wash and repair the equipment within a few hours. The cleaning staff is also in charge of washing-out the bins–that are gradually being replaced by new ones throughout Athens–and organized recycling.

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Street cleanings have been happening every Sunday for about the last year, neighborhood-by-neighborhood, and not just for hygienic reasons during Covid. The Mayor would say 'it’s about returning to the basics of quality of life,' and it’s starting to have a noticeable effect. Attention to neighborhoods outside the touristic center – focusing on the neighborhoods where people actually live – is part of telling people that they are wanted and belong in Athens.

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Equipment

Today, Athens is renewing its old cleaning equipment, but it has also obtained new, modern machinery to make cleaning even more efficient. The cleaning operations rely on modern equipment such as large vacuum cleaners, 20 high-pressure cleaners, water trucks, sweepers, and other equipment for washing and sweeping sidewalks, squares, and pedestrian streets. In other words, the municipality is moving away from superficial cleaning, which may have temporarily given the feeling of cleanliness but did not offer the desired result.

How Often Do Cleaning Operations Take Place?

Every Sunday and in a different area. In every Municipal Community, non-stop. The Municipality of Athens now follows a cleanliness cycle where one cycle closes a new one opens up. The cleaning cycle is supported by daily actions in every corner of the city. "This couldn't go any further, and we all saw it for so many years," explains Mayor of Athens Costas Bakogiannis. "We have the human resources and we are renewing the equipment. We had to, at all costs, find another way to clean Athens. We had to design the cleanliness plan from scratch, avoiding one mistake: Clean it in fragments, without planning, phobically. We've reached a threshold and applied dynamic interventions in the whole city, in entire neighborhoods. And as it turns out, we are winning the bet. We have a lot of work ahead of us, but now we know how to deliver the results that all Athenians want", he adds, talking about the citiy's new cleaning strategy.

Operations By Date

Votanikos- Kato Petralona 19/01/20, Kypseli 26/01/20, Kolonaki - Exarchia 02/02/20, Gyzi- Goudi 09/02/20, Pagrati 16/02/20, Pagrati- Neos Kosmos 23/02/20, Patissia 08/03/20, Omonia 10/05/20, Akadimia Platonos 17/05/20, Neapoli Exarcheion 24/05/20, Probonas 31/05/20, Neos Kosmos 07/06/20, Plateia Amerikis (Filis Street) 14/06/20, Kolonos 21/06/20, Ampelokipi 28/06/20, Metaxourgio 5/7/20, Sepolia 12/7/20, Kolonaki 19/7/20, Plaka 26/7/20, Agios Panteleimon 6/9/20, Exarcheia 13/9/20, Kato Patissia 20/9/20, Kato Patissia 28/9/20, Sepolia 4/10/20, Ano Petralona and Thiseio 11/10/20, Neos Kosmos 18/10/20, Ellinorosson 25/10/20, Votanikos 01/11/20, Agios Pavlos 8/11/20, Lambrini 15/11/20, Omonia 22/11/20, Metaxourgio 29/11/20, Koukaki 6/12/20, Commercial Triangle 13/12/20, Kypseli 10/01/2021, Kypriadou, Ano Patisia 17/01/21, Gyzi, 24/1/21, Kato Petralona, 31/1/21

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XpatAthens extends a warm thank you to This Is Athens and the City Of Athens for sharing with us news and inspiring stories about how Athens is constantly becoming a cleaner, friendlier, and more welcoming city to live in.

From March till May 2020, and from November 2020 until now, we have been spending lots of time indoors due to the COVID 19-related lockdowns in Greece.

Staying at home is very important given the current circumstances, but it doesn’t have to feel dull. We would like to introduce you to a funny and upbeat Greek song about – what else? – staying home and relaxing!

Even though the song Θα Κάτσω Σπίτι (Tha Katso Spiti – I'll Stay At Home) dates back to 1986, nowadays it feels more relevant than ever. The song was originally written and performed by Greek singer-songwriter Loukianos Kilaidonis, while the version you will listen to here is a remake sung by numerous contemporary Greek singers (order of appearance): Violeta Ikari, Giorgia Kefala, Maria Kilaidoni, Christos Mastoras, Panos Mouzourakis, Dimitris Basis, Miltos Pashalidis, Nikos Portokaloglou, and Mariza Rizou.

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It’s a well-meaning initiative to spread the message that people need to stay home (#menoumespiti) whilst looking at the bright side: staying safe and healthy, maintaining a positive attitude, and making the most of these days spent indoors.

Click here to listen to the new cover of Θα Κάτσω Σπίτι (I Will Stay home) and sing along!

To read the lyrics in Greek, as well as the English translation, click here.

Omilo Greek Language and Culture inspires people from all over the world to learn Greek, while exploring Greece. They offer 1- and 2-week courses for adults that combine beautiful course locations, experienced teachers, and a balanced combination of Greek classes with cultural activities. All these make Omilo a place where people enjoy learning modern Greek and have fun.

Besides the courses, Omilo also creates online publications to help adults expand their language skills through Language Books and eBooks for different language levels.

Like most large urban cities, Athens faces many challenges. Illegal tagging and graffiti, run-down schools, and the lack of public green areas are just a few of the effects of the recent crisis in Greece.

The City of Athens aims to deal with these problems by finding straightforward, practical solutions to help Athens recover from the recent economic crisis, as well as the current pandemic. To make Athens a cleaner, more accessible, and more sustainable city, it is essential to build collaborations between citizens and the public and private sectors.

It is this exactly that spurred the launch of the "Adopt Your City" program. The City of Athens is calling for our support to protect, upgrade, and maintain the city's public spaces; urging residents, enterprises, foundations, and organizations to "adopt" a street, a park, a square, a playground, a sports facility, a neighborhood, or even a tree to make Athens a brighter, greener, and friendlier place to live in.

The program includes big and small projects in every part of the city - including the redevelopment of Omonia Square and this pocket park in Pagrati. All interested parties are welcome to contribute ideas, in-kind offers, or donations. The "Adopt Your City" program focuses on areas such as sanitation, lighting, greenery, sustainable development, homeless issues, culture, social welfare, sports, education, and new technologies.

Learn more about this program here. You may also be interested to read about how Novoville is helping facilitate citizen to government communication.

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XpatAthens extends a warm thank you to This Is Athens and the City Of Athens for sharing news and inspiring stories about how Athens aspires to be a clean, friendly, and welcoming city to live in and visit.

More than 500 olive trees, some of which are hundreds of years old, have been saved so far by the under-the-radar efforts of ERGOSE.

ERGOSE, a subsidiary of the Greek Railway Operator constructs and maintains the railway network of the country.

During railway works, a large number of trees that would have otherwise been destroyed have been unrooted, carefully transferred, and re-planted in other areas of the country.

Recently, the company managed to save a 4-centuries old olive tree from a construction site in Patras, Peloponesse. The tree was carefully transferred and planted somewhere else in Greece.

The devastating wildfires in Eastern Attica in July 2018 not only claimed numerous human lives but were an environmental disaster that ruined the landscape in Marathon. A year later, more than 60 olive trees were planted in the cities of Marathon and Rafina, the places most affected by the 2018 wildfires.

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

Do you always do what you say you will? Do you keep your word or do you change your mind? When you make an agreement about something, do you stick with it? How often? Sometimes, always or rarely? When dealing with an adult we tend to keep our word. But what happens when there’s a child on the other side?

How about the times you’ve been angry with your child and you’ve said something like "I will never give you my cell phone again," or "We will never go on a playdate with your friend again," or "Computer games are off," or even "I will never take you anywhere with me." Remember, did you do what you’ve said you were going to do? Did you stop going to their friend's house to play? Did you not give them your cell phone?

As parents it is very important to mean and do what we say we’re going to do; to not make promises that we do not keep. This does not mean we should always have the same behavior as we are human beings and our emotions as well as our moods change. I'm not talking about that kind of consistency. I am referring to how you can put into practice what you say as well as to the content of what you say.

In raising children, it is of outmost importance to keep your word. But first you need to be careful with what you say. Will you really walk the talk? Will you really take your child and leave their friend’s house while you are having a good time with their friend's mom? If the answer is yes, I’m all for it. You will give a much needed and at the same time excellent lesson to your child. But if you said something just because you were angry, remember that at that moment you're giving your child a confusing double message.

If there’s a topic you’re interested in and would like to learn more about you may contact me via email. For more information about me and my work check the XpatAthens Directory or visit my website. Because this is your life!

As of June 3, American Airlines will launch a new service between Athens and New York, JFK airport, for the 2021 summer season.

Flights will be conducted on a Boeing 777-200, and tickets have been available for purchase since January 25.

“We are looking forward to launching our new route between New York and Athens, which will offer enhanced connectivity between these two great cities,” said Tom Lattig, vice president EMEA sales and distribution, American Airlines.

The new route to Athens is a significant milestone of the new strategic alliance between JetBlue and American Airlines. The alliance offers travelers improved connectivity and access to the biggest network in the Northeast.

To read this article in full, please visit: gtp.gr

Some call them digital nomads. To others, they are corona refugees or lockdown migrants. In a time where remote-working is king, Athens has become one of the hottest tickets in Europe to ride out the epidemic and hit reset on life.

This is Athens asked some second wave “corona nomads” to tell us in their own words how Athens has given them the personal and professional lift they were craving and why life is so much sweeter in the Greek capital, even in lockdown.

Chasing A Bright Urban Culture
Letizia Sebregondi, 36, Italian
Digital Wine Consultant

I was in Athens for two months last summer, staying in Mets, near the Kallimarmaro Stadium, and loved it so much. I went back to Milan a bit sad and spent the next month or so wondering, “Should I go back?”. One day, I woke up and said, “I’m going!”. I returned in late October, two weeks before the second lockdown, and plan to stay until July. Then I’ll travel around the Peloponnese and the islands.

I’ve lived abroad a lot: Brazil, the United States, France. What I find amazing about Athens is that it’s an urban city but you can still feel a human touch. Even if it’s not always an easy city, it has a really strong identity that connects you with Greek culture. But on the other hand, there are many young people relocating from Europe, even more so now because of Covid, so there’s this feeling that things are changing. People are coming to Athens to enjoy the exciting energy here.

I come from Florence, but was based in Milan, doing digital marketing for Italian and French wines; helping to create wine clubs and collectives. I still have a lot to learn about the Greek wine scene but I do see great potential in terms of the quality of the production and opportunities for local wineries to develop their sales. I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how good Greek wines are. I’ve discovered a wonderful wine bar in the city centre that focuses exclusively on Greek wines - Heteroclito – and I tried some really good value wines from the north of Greece there, including a well-balanced Assyrtiko from Ktima Voyatsi. I can’t wait to go back there when quarantine is over.

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Milan is probably the most European city in Italy, but it’s somehow too classic; a little too buttoned up, compared to Athens. Athens to me has a young and vibrant spirit, with a laid back quality of life - like maybe Lisbon ten years ago. I’m not saying that everyone here can afford everything, but compared to many other cities in Europe, the urban culture feels fresh and the quality of life is amazing.

So far, the experience of remote-working in Athens has been easy. Athens is an open-hearted city. I made some good friends during the summer: foreign girls like me who all share the same love and appetite for the city. This has helped me feel at home. Every Friday, I go to the farmer’s markets in Koukaki, next to my favourite bakery ever, Mama Psomi in Zaharitsa Street, for their amazing hand-made pies. At the markets, I pick up delicious local honey and have become friends with the fishmongers and the ladies who sell the lovely lemons and capers that I like to cook with. I’ve even managed to get to the seaside a few times during lockdown by walking up through Neos Kosmos to Paleo Faliro.

There’s so much more light in my working day here than in Milan. My apartment in Koukaki has a small balcony with a spectacular view of the Acropolis and gets the sun most of the day. I take my laptop out there to work and enjoy the 360 degree view of the city and the seaside. It’s a luxury that makes me feel so happy every day.

To read more, please visit This is Athens

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Whether you've just arrived in town – or have been here for years – Athens always has new secrets to share! 

This is Athens is the official guide to this captivating city of ancient energies and booming urban culture. Compiled by a team of specialist local writers, This is Athens brings you an authentic and intimate portrait of a living Athens beyond the guidebooks – along with daily curated listings of all the best events and great weekend inspiration all-year round. From must-know neighbourhoods and emerging art hubs, to gourmet hotspots, cool shopping and the buzziest bars, This is Athens will help you to get the most out of living in Athens!

Thank you This is Athens for your contribution as an XpatAthens Partner.