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The Wholesome Goodness Of Greek Cuisine
Tango!
I am a regular user of Groupon, one of those ‘special deal sites’ where you can get dinner or a trip or product for a 30-40-50% discount. I receive their emails (along with their competitors GoldenDeals, OlaDeals and a few others…), and put up with the constant bombardment of offers – since from time to time I see something that I think is irresistible.
Last week I bought a Groupon deal for dinner at El Bandoneon in Thiseio. Not only is it one of the (very) few Argentinean restaurants in Athens, it also offers free tango lessons, and, well, it’s in the neighbourhood. I often walk by and wonder who actually goes there…
Our Groupon was for 50% off the price of a set dinner, with drinks charged extra. Six of us went (including one Argentinean) and I must say we enjoyed the evening. The food was good and definitely passed the ‘minimum standards’ of our Argentinean friend. The ambiance was decidedly un-Athenian – think of your visual impression of a decades-old parlour in Buenos Aires, tango music, candlelight. It was actually a romantic atmosphere – and yes some of the guests even got up in front of everyone and learned to dance tango! At the end of the evening, the view of our group was that it was a very pleasant and ‘different’ experience – but definitely pricier than other nights.
The reason I’m writing this is not to promote the restaurant, but instead to share what I found at the door on the way out. I picked up a map – called ‘Greece Tango Map’. It turns out that tango is incredibly popular in Greece, with venues, events, and ‘milongas’ happening all over. This map shows many of the tango venues around the country. Here are a few I noted in Athens from the map:
TangoFix – tangofix.gr
El Abrazo – elabrazotango.gr
TangoAcropolis 2013 competition – tangoacropolis.eu
In case you’re wondering, I did not take tango lessons that night. I was more interested in catching up with my friends and enjoying the lovely red wine – Chilean wine, since they had run out of their Argentinean Malbec. Go figure.
Groupon (Greece) - www.groupon.gr
El Bandoneon Café-Mate Bar, Akamantos 11, www.bandoneoncafe.com
Until next week,
Jack
In this weekly space, keep up with ‘Jack’ as he navigates daily life in Athens… Anecdotes, stories, hits & misses, the good, the bad and, well, the rest…
Ninnolo - The Home Of Great Gelato
We tried Ninnolo's heavenly ice cream last week and definitely recommend it highly! Whether you're in Kifisia or Agia Paraskevi, head to Ninnolo's for a taste of their homemade gelato - you'll definitely go back again and again. We tried the chocolate, pistachio and pink grapefruit - cant wait to try the rest of the flavours!
Locations:
Kifissia: Agiou Dimitriou 8 - Tel: 21 0801 2765 (around the corner from the AB Vasilopoulos super market on the main street)
Agia Paraskevi: Evergetou Giavasi 13a, 15342 - Tel: 213 0 240 776 - Email: ninnolo.gelato@gmail.com
They are also open for breakfast and brunch.
For further info, visit their Facebook pages here and here.
Do you have a recommendation or recipe to share? Send it to us at ideas@xpatathens.com!
Athens: Most Affordable Hotel Prices In Europe
“Athens is and remains the most inexpensive capital city in Europe based on benchmarking data,” the Athens-Attica & Argosaronic Hotel Association said in an announcement to the press on 12 June in response to recent reports concerning rising hotel prices in the Greek capital.
According to the association, the Greek capital recorded a rise in arrivals during the January-May 2014 period in comparison to the same period last year, exactly due to the fact that the Greek capital’s hotels have the lowest – and very competitive – prices in Europe. During the January-May period, Athens recorded a 25.4 percent increase in occupancy and a 2.7 percent rise in the average room rate compared to 2013.
In the announcement, the hotel association also reminded that the Greek capital had lost 40 percent of hotel revenue and suffered the loss of 87 hotel units since 2008. “The hotel prices in Athens are 24.9 percent lower than the prices of 2008, which was the last good year for Athenian hoteliers,” the Greek capital’s hotel association noted.
The association added that the effort to restore occupancy and prices to levels that ensure the viability of the city’s hotels, must be a common goal as it will ensure job growth and benefit a number of sectors and the Greek capital’s economy in general.
To read more, please visit news.gtp.gr
New Book: My Greek Island Home
In My Greek Island Home Claire Lloyd shares the story of how illness brought to an end her fast-paced London life as a very successful magazine art director, film maker, photographer and property developer, before finding renewed purpose in life when fell in love with the Greek island of Lesvos and the people who live there, and made it both her home and her passion.
Featuring evocative images of the beautiful island, the home which she and her partner have lovingly restored, and the many friends - and animals - who have welcomed them into their lives, My Greek Island Home is a celebration of a way of life that Claire and Matthew have embraced with open arms. They have now bought and restored a second home, Ken's Spiti, also featured in the book, which they offer for personally-tailored holidays to people wishing to experience and be part of 'the real Greece'.
My Greek Island Home by Claire Lloyd will be published by Clearview Books on 28th April.
Raising Awareness Of Duchenne's Disease
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is one of the most common fatal genetic disorders, which affects on average one in every 3,500 newborn boys worldwide. It is caused by errors in the dystrophin gene, the longest gene in the human body. Boys with DMD gradually lose mobility and are wheelchair-bound by the age of 12. In the next period it destroys breathing and heart muscles. The condition carries a life expectancy of 25-30 years and has no current cure.
To mark the day, 500 red balloons will be released after 7 p.m. to represent the 500 boys and men currently living with DMD in Greece.
To read more, please visit: ekathimerini
Refreshing Swimming Pools In Athens
St. George Lycabettus
@stgeorge_lycabettus_hotel
With a breathtaking view of the Acropolis and Lycabettus Hill, the roof garden of St. George may not have the biggest swimming pool, but overall it has many other strengths. Other facilities and amenities include a health studio, sauna, pool bar, and a cool breeze that often blows from the highlands of Lycabettus. On the 7th floor of the hotel, you will find comfortable white chairs waiting for visitors to lounge. With the entrance fee, you receive a free coffee or soft drink and a towel.
Where: 2 Kleomenous, Kolonaki
Telephone: 21 0741 6000
Poseidon
@poseidonhotel
Poseidon offers a nice, clean pool just a step away from the Saronic Gulf. On the 8th floor of the seaside hotel, there is a Gamma-shaped pool complete with sun loungers, a pool bar, and beautiful views of the coast from Piraeus to Glyfada.
Where: 72 Poseidonos Avenue, Palaio Faliro
Telephone: 21 0987 2000
Fresh Hotel
@freshhotelathens
On the 9th floor of the Fresh Hotel, you will find a small swimming pool with large advantages. From the pool, there is a breathtaking view of the Acropolis and the urban, hip style of the centre of Athens makes it ideal for a mini getaway. Upon entrance, each person receives a coffee or soft drink and a towel.
Where: 26 Sofokleous, Athens
Telephone: 210 5248511
Semiramis Hotel
@semiramiscityhotel
Located in the northern suburbs, specifically in Kefalari Kifissia, there is a swimming pool with a funky and innovative pop aesthetic that gives off great vibes. Entrance includes coffee or soft drink and a towel.
Where: 48 Charilaou Trikoupi 48
Telephone: 210 6284400
Radisson Blu Park Hotel
At the beginning of Alexandras Avenue, there is a spacious and wonderful pool with plenty of comfortable seats that ensure a certain comfort and a completely unobstructed view of the green area of the Champ de Mars. Entrance includes a lounger and a soft drink, juice, or coffee.
Where: Alexandras Avenue 10
Telephone: 210 8894500
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The Best Places For A Drink In Kolonaki
Telephone: 210 346 2077
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday 10:00 - 03:00
Telephone: 210 362 3867
Hours: Sunday through Thursday 10:00 - 01:00, Friday and Saturday 10:00 - 03:00
Telephone: 210 363 4583
Hours: Everyday 10:00 until late