German carrier Germania has announced it will launch a new twice weekly service from Dresden to Athens in 2018. The service will be seasonal and will run from May to October 2018.

The great demand for the Greek market is requiring the company to launch a third aircraft in 2018 to cover the increased travel needs for the Greek islands and Athens from Germany.

One-way flights will be available from 69 euros (airport taxes included) and will be soon be available on booking systems.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Travel Pages

From the country that gave the world an enduring urge to 'Keep calm' in WWII, it is only normal to expect the same kind of resilience and inspiration, in an era of uncertainty and terrorist threat. We are talking about the UK, of course, and the message of resilience comes in the form of slogans and famous quotes, written on London underground metropolitan train network noticeboards.

This came to prominence after the terrorist attack in Westminster which left five dead and scores injured; where once service announcements and timetable information appeared, now one can read quotes by famous authors, poets, and philosophers.

Last week, it was a famous quote by Nikos Kazantzakis that was employed to inspire Londoners: "I fear nothing, I hope for nothing, therefore I am free.”

Article Source: Neos Kosmos

Aegean Airlines recently released a video starring the basketball star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who plays for the Milwaukee Bucks. The video called ‘Greece by Greeks’ promotes Greece as a tourism destination around the world and aims to share Greece’s little secrets.

“Aegean Airlines and Giannis invite you to visit greecebygreeks.gr and share the small secrets of our beautiful country with the millions of foreign travelers who visit Greece every year,” Aegean recently said.

Watch the video here!



Photo Source:  GTP

According to the National Meteorological Service, Greece is about to experience the biggest heatwave it has had in a decade, as the next few days temperature will be rising up to 43 degrees Celsius!

Orange Alert has been issued on extreme weather phenomena, warning of rising temperatures that can locally reach extreme levels.

 

Thursday, June 29:  40°-41° C
Friday, July 30: 42°

Saturday, July 1: 43° C

Sunday, July 2: 37°-39° C in Western Greece, 40°-42° C in the rest of mainland

Temperatures will start to drop on Monday.

Perfect opportunity to visit any of these 6 Organized Beaches In Athens or Top 10 Beaches On The Athens Coast!

We are counting down the days for the 5th consecutive event that will be held between October 13-15, 2017 in Messinia and Costa Navarino shortly before the historic Naval Battle of Navarino.

 

“Navarino Challenge” is the sports tourism event with the most Olympic ambassadors, and is hosted once more in Messinia with more than 10 Olympic sports!

 

“Navarino Challenge” promotes the value of “fair play” adopting the purpose of the Olympic Movement, supported by Olympic athletes and Champions who educate young people through sports, without any discrimination. At the same time, the athletes inform them about the benefits of exercise and the Mediterranean diet and prompt the audience to support the cause of the fight against childhood obesity.

 

Registrations for the multiple award-winning sports tourism event are open and everyone can now take part by completing the special entry form HERE!

 

Runners of all ages, starting from Navarino Dunes in Costa Navarino will run a coastal route to Pylos beach, crossing Voidokilia beach and following the trail mapped out, back in Homer’s years, by Telemachus, Ulysses’ son, trying to find his missing father. According to the Homeric tradition, when the son of Ulysses arrived on the beach on a ship, he had with him the goddess Athena disguised as Mentor. On their way, runners will discover the mythical Voidokilia, the most famous beach in Messinia and one of the best in the world, with its unique shape that outlines the letter Omega of the Greek alphabet, written as “Ω”!

 

Participants may select to run in one of the following routes, the exquisite Half Marathon (21,1km), the 10 km route and the 5km run (for running and dynamic walking). At the same day a 1km running route for children will be held. The start and finish points are common. The routes have been designed and edited by the former marathon runner, holder of national best performance on the classical route, running coach and director of All About Running, Nikos Polias. This year, there will be race timing for all runners.

 

For one more year, sea lovers will have the opportunity to swim without competition, in the beautiful Navarino bay at the picturesque port of Pylos, covering the unique swimming route of one mile (1.6 km.) designed by the Federal Technical Director in

 

Swimming, Nikos Gemelos (coach with countless distinctions in the Olympic Games and world championships in open water swimming).

 

Participating athletes will have the opportunity to quench their thirst with the Natural Mineral Water "Vikos" that contributes to the well-functioning of the body during sports. In addition, for the fourth consecutive year, athletes and organizers will move with the safety and efficient engines of the cars of Ford Motor Hellas, the official sponsor of “Navarino Challenge”.

 

Right after, the swimming activity, a Stand Up Paddling race by BIC® Sport will take place for the second consecutive year!

 

“Navarino Challenge” will present at the port of Pylos an innovative sport like Stand Up Paddling (SUP), which quickly became popular worldwide. It is an easy and ideal sport for someone to enjoy in an area surrounded by some of the best beaches in Greece. The entertaining routes for beginners or experts are the best choices for those who wish to experience the peacefulness of the Ionian Sea. One of the most recognized brands in the world, BIC® company with presence in the field of water sports with BIC® Sport since 1979, is supporting this activity. All athletes participating will have the opportunity to test the credibility of the SUP BIC® boards. Stand Up Paddling will be held with the support of the best surf club, Surf Salad!

 

The privileged accommodation packages at The Westin Resort Costa Navarino are now available for those wishing to enjoy the full schedule of “Navarino Challenge”. For further information please click HERE!

 

In order to get advantage of these privileged prices it is necessary to have completed your registration for at least one activity in running, swimming, or SUP (per reservation).

 

“Navarino Challenge” will be held under the Auspices of the Greek National Tourism Organization with the support of Costa Navarino and The Westin Resort Costa Navarino, as well as the Municipalities of Pylos-Nestor and Trifilia.

Website  

Inspired by the career and the ethos of the Antetokounmpo brothers, the Onassis Foundation establishes "One of a Kind", a new undergraduate scholarship for young people who were born in Greece but have still to secure Greek nationality or have received it within the last five years.

 

On Saturday, June 24th, 2017 before a packed house at the Onassis Cultural Centre (OCC), Giannis and Thanasis Antetokounmpo discussed with Afroditi Panagiotakou, Director of Culture at the Onassis Foundation. As announced right from the start, their talk, which has already received over 100,000 views on the OCC's Facebook page, was less about basketball and more about the importance of the journey, about what being 'Greek' actually means, and about the virtues that can help you reach the top. This extraordinary collaboration between the Antetokounmpo Brothers and the Onassis Foundation culminated in the announcement made by Afroditi Panagiotakou as the event neared its end: the establishment of the "One of a Kind" undergraduate scholarship for young people who, though born in Greece, have yet to secure Greek nationality or have received it within the past five years.

In recognition of the Antetokounmpo brothers' contributions to sport and of their successful careers, and in the light of their social starting point, the Onassis Foundation announced that it would be sponsoring a Special Scholarship for undergraduate studies in the Greek Higher Education sector.

Since 1978, the Onassis Foundation has granted 7000 scholarships to students and academics both Greek and non-Greek. The Foundation's Scholarships Programme approves over 200 scholarships per year, some of which go to Greek students undertaking doctoral and post-graduate studies in Greece and abroad, and some to academics from abroad to help them undertake postgraduate studies and research in Greece. The special "One of a Kind" undergraduate scholarship, and the collaboration with Giannis and Thanasis Antetokounmpo, seek to send out a symbolic message: we need to try and change the way we think. Because you do not have to be born Greek—you can become Greek, too.

It wasn't just the Antetokounmpo brothers' success that inspired this collaboration, but also the qualities the two Greek athletes embody: modesty, competitiveness, passion, hard work and an intention to help those who, despite their desire to get ahead in life, find themselves held back by social and economic exclusion.

Giannis Antetokounmpo: Greece loves us because we're good kids, virtuous kids. Wherever we go, Greece comes with us. We promote Greece a lot, and fame hasn't changed us. We're still who we used to be, because we have exceptional parents who raised us right.

Thanasis Antetokounmpo: We are here to help each other. We know times are hard for all of us, but that's the way to survive hard times: by supporting one another.

Giannis Antetokounmpo: We came to talk to you, the Onassis Foundation, because we wanted to learn. You have helped so many people, so many children, and I want, one day many years from now, to be able to do the same.

If you want to get ahead, hard work is the key. And now that we're making it, that we're getting ahead, it's even harder to stay there. It takes even more hard work. People say to us "You've reached the top, you've made it", but I haven't accomplished anything. My goal is to be a champion, an MVP (Most Valuable Player), to be one of the fifty best players ever to play basketball. The work is the crucial thing, you have to keep pushing yourself to your limits. Don't think of yourself as average--you're not average and don't ever let that thought into your head. If you think you're average, that's exactly what you'll be: average. And that will be the end of it. Right now, I think—and I'm not bragging here, I'm not being arrogant - that I am the best player of all time and I know that's what I'll be. Work, work, work.

Giannis Antetokounmpo: You've got to love what you've got. I remember us, myself and my family, having a good time even when times were hard. I saw them every day, we spent all day together, laughing. Now that I'm successful, it's hard to get together. I travel such a lot, it's really hard to meet up so often. So there's 'ugliness' even in success.

Thanasis Antetokounmpo: Everyone has difficulties to face up to. When they tell me “You had it hard”, I always say a lot of people do. Because me not having enough to eat doesn't mean you don’t have problems of your own too. You might not have been able to pay for extra tuition for your kids, you could have lost your job. It's something different for everyone. But you need to seek out the light in the darkness.

The auditorium was awash with emotion when the Greek song The rooster (When, my mistress, I go to the market) was heard — the song the boys' mother, Veronica Antetokounmpo, used to sing to wake her children up every morning. With tears in his eyes, Giannis Antetokounmpo said: "I didn't cry when we lost in the play offs... We started out when we were little and now we're here. Who would ever have believed it? That me, Thanasis and my family, joining forces with you, could ever provide other children with opportunities!"

Thanasis Antetokounmpo: There's no racism in Greece, just hypocrisy. Which is worse. In America, there is racism, but you can be anything you set out to be in your life. Here, there's hypocrisy and that's worse. I've seen negative posts on Facebook about us, posts saying we're not Greek, and then met the same person who posted it in Glyfada with his kid, only for him to congratulate me and tell me I'm a credit to Greece. I lifted his kid up onto my shoulders for a photograph and I thanked him.

Giannis Antetokounmpo: There's the bad side and there's the positive side. We had friends who defended us. When someone said something bad, they’d answer back and stop hanging round with them.

Giannis Antetokounmpo: You don’t have to be born Greek. you can become Greek, too. No one can tell me I'm not Greek. The only thing we can do with people who believe that is love Greece more than they do.

Thanasis Antetokounmpo: I was without a Greek passport for two and a half years. I played friendlies with the Greek National youth, teenage and children's teams and our opponents would ask why I never took part in tournaments, and the reason was I didn't have a Greek passport. And there are a lot of kids like us. Kids who could offer a lot to the country, but who are prevented by the nationality issue. And it shouldn't be like that. When you go to primary school, high school and senior high in a country, you should automatically be given citizenship. You shouldn't have to be the Antetokounmpo brothers to get it.

Giannis Antetokounmpo: If I could go back, I'd tell myself to be patient and to keep on working at it. There were days when I felt dissapointed. But I never stopped believing that I'd make it in the end and be able to help my family. I'd tell myself: "Be patient, keep on smiling, and everything will come to you". If you keep on working hard and believe in your dreams, you can be sure you will get ahead, certain you'll keep on getting better.

Thanasis Antetokounmpo: If I went back, the first thing I'd say would be "Don't cry. Don't feel sad". I grew up feeling sad. People are forever asking why I smile all the time. Well, it's because I grew up feeling upset and sad. I saw my parents struggling, I saw my brothers and sisters, and when you're the eldest, you want to help.

Press Release by the Onassis Foundation

To watch the full discussion (in Greek), please visit: Onassis Foundation

Lemons weren’t always grown in Greece. At some point in Greece’s history, lemon trees found their way to Greece. Now, lemon groves can be found all over Greece, especially in some of the warmer climates, such as on the island of Crete and in the Cyclades. Lemons, along with garlic, olive oil, and Greek oregano, are also one of the most common, and most important, flavoring agents in Greece cooking.

Today, lemons make up about 18% of the total citrus production within the country. Most of the lemons grown in Greece are also consumed in Greece. Lemon exported out of Greece make up a much smaller percentage. The main areas of production include the Cycladic Islands, the island of Crete, and also the Peloponnese.

The reason why lemons are so important as a seasoning agent is because the citrus notes of the lemon pair well with a wide variety of dishes. Salted and preserved lemon wedges are also served to accompany some meze spreads. Most Greeks understand how important it is, which is why slices of lemon wedges accompany nearly every traditional Greek meal, especially those that involve meats and vegetables.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Boston

Green roofs, harvested rainwater, floating stairs, photovoltaics, recycled water, soundproof doors and insulated floors are but some of the cutting-edge bioclimatic architecture technologies that have been introduced at 24 school buildings in Attica thanks to a public-private partnership (PPP) initiative.

“In Thiseio, we redeveloped neoclassical buildings that were being used as squats, while in Keratsini we transformed the old Armenian steam bath into an arts high school,” says Nikos Mantzoufas, the Finance Ministry’s special secretary for PPPs. “We gave students a modern teaching environment, whereas before they had classes in prefabricated structures.”

The projects are also expected to boost property values in the schools’ broader vicinities, while a number of parents have expressed an interest in transferring their children from private schools to these public institutions.

To read this article in full, please visit: Ekathimerini

Monemvasia means “one entrance” and in fact the only access to this castle is via a causeway. This uniquely preserved mediaeval town is carved into the majestic grey rock like a sculpture. The “Gibraltar of the East” or a “stone ship” about to set sail, as the famous Greek poet Yannis Ristos described his birthplace, is calling you for immediate boarding for a journey through time. Wander around the vaulted alleyways, churches and aristocratic mansions.

 

As soon as you walk through the gate, you’ll begin to explore the secrets of this mediaeval castle. First have a coffee in the Agora, on the main cobblestone street in the Lower Town. This was the Byzantines’ Central Avenue, the Venetians’ Market and the Ottomans’ Bazaar, the commercial artery and cultural hub for so many civilisations. Today you’ll see cafes, tavernas, shops and artisans’ workshops.

Monemvasia is an ideal romantic hideaway and honeymoon destination. Boutique bed & breakfasts and luxury hotels with suites boasting Turkish baths, mosaic floors and flowering courtyards will transport you to another time, without sacrificing modern comforts.

To read this article in full, please visit: Discover Greece

Photo Credit: Discover Greece