LIFE & CULTURE
XpatAthens
IWG Sponsored Newsletter 1 - Fall 2019
Locally, many of you may be familiar with IWG as Regus or Spaces, the hip serviced co-working and office rental spaces popping up around Athens and Thessaloniki. We’d like to thank IWG for trusting XpatAthens and we welcome them warmly to our ever-growing international community.
We’re also delighted to tell you that this new relationship sparked the addition of an important new section for us: Work & Business!
This section will bring readers updates on local and international business news, as well as tips, resources and advice on business and entrepreneurship in Greece.
Under-The-Radar Museums In Athens
When a city has something as notable as the Acropolis for a backdrop, it's easy to disregard the modest cultural treasures that will help you to plunge deeper into the intriguing history and culture of Athens. Here are a few of Athens' lesser-known museums that will teach you interesting facts about the city and its heritage.
Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments
The Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments comprises a collection of about 1200 Greek musical instruments, some of which date back to the 18th century. The Museum that is housed in the Lassanis Mansion in Plaka, is the brainchild of musicologist Fivos Anoyanakis was established in 1991 and aims to safeguard and preserve Greece's traditional musical heritage through various activities for adults and children alike. The exhibited musical instruments have a high decorative value and great ethnological and musicological interest.
Address: 1-3 Diogenous, Athens (Get Directions)
Telephone: 210 3254129
Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 09:00 to 16:00 Tuesday Closed.
Digital Museum of Plato
Dedicated to Plato–one of the greatest philosophers of all time, the digital Museum of Plato is one of the newest Athenian museums. Located on the site of Plato's Academy in the center of Athens, this contemporary, interactive venue is the first of its kind in Greece. The history and work of the philosopher dominate the Museum's exhibition, which divided into 3 different sections and is displayed in 3 halls. With digital applications, video screening, maps, and other exhibits, the Museum highlights the historical and archaeological evidence of the Academy and approaches philosophy using the latest technologies.
Address: 1 Alkmeonos, Athens (Get Directions)
Telephone: 210 5142138
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 16:00. Monday Closed.
Political Exile Museum
Over the last 200 years, Greece has endured the Balkan Wars, two World Wars, civil war, and a military junta. During the country's turbulent history, political exile to Greek islands was a common practice. From 1926 to 1967, many Greek islands became home to political prisoners. Political exiles were usually politicians, military figures, and activists, but also poets and artists. Ai Stratis is an island with 210 inhabitants on the North Aegean Sea, which served as a place of exile for approximately 10.000 people. Exile as a means to politically control and violate human rights is the key theme around the Museum of Political Exiles of Ai Stratis. The Museum's collection includes photographs, manuscripts, press clippings, everyday objects, artworks and handicrafts, and much more that will bring guests closer to the hardship of political exiles on the island of Ai Stratis.
Address: 31 Asomaton, Athens (Get Directions)
Telephone: 210 3213488
Hours: Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 13:00. Weekends Closed.
Hellenic IT Museum
A museum which is full of historical IT achievements, rare exhibits, and memories that encourage, educate, and bring emotions! Younger and elders, veterans and amateurs, are welcome to explore the Hellenic IT Museum! Since its launch about a decade ago, the Museum constitutes the first official Greek organization that exclusively exhibits the IT history timeline from 1970 to mid-90s, and it is the only Museum of its kind in Southeast Europe.The first personal computers, the first micro computers, the first portable computers, as well as vacuum tubes, punched cards, first RAM memory and other hardware items are waiting to be discovered or reunited!
Address: 2 Petrou Spiropoulou & Thessalonikis, Moschato (Get Directions)
Telephone: 210 3007010
Hours: Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 16:00. Weekends Closed.
Ready, Steady, Lights: The Illumination Of The Christmas Tree At Syntagma Square
Originally posted on Christmas in Athens, translated by Xpat Athens
The Meet Market - 2 Weekends Of Christmas With Street Food & Tunes
For two weekends, kiosks with sweet treats and many more will be waiting for you with a Christmas twist, right next to the entrance of the Children's Museum.
On the weekends of December 14-15 and 21-22 (from 11:00am to 23:00pm):
- The Meatloaf Extravaganza
- Guerilla Chef
- Madame PhuManChu
- Pakalolo Cannabis Sweets
- My Pasta Flora
- Φ Bakery
- Melikrini vegan & vegetarian gastronomy
- Tiki's Gold Pig
- Falafeladiko
- Siniora Italian Sweets
- The Food Truck
Festive Season At The Acropolis Museum
Duration: 90 mins
Ages: 6-11 years old
Participacion: Participation for children is free. A general admission fee (5€) is required for
parents/escorts
Reservations: For registration, please refer to the Information Desk at the Museum entrance on the same day. First-in first-served (25 children per workshop)
The workshops are held by the Department of Educational Programs – Acropolis Museum and the Department of Information & Education – Acropolis Restoration Service (YSMA).
Gallery talks “The lost statue of Athena Parthenos”
The Acropolis Museum brings to life, digitally, the statue of Athena Parthenos. Made of gold and ivory, this masterpiece was designed by Phidias for the Parthenon. The Museum invites you on a walk of knowledge about its construction materials and techniques, its myths and allegories, its radiance and its adventures.
Days & hours: Saturday 7/12, Saturday 14/12, Saturday 21/12 & Saturday 28/12, at 11 a.m. in English and at 1 p.m. in Greek
Duration: 50 mins
Participation: The gallery talk is free of charge. Only the permanent exhibition ticket is required (5€).
Limited to 30 visitors per session.
For registration, please refer to the Information Desk at the Museum entrance on the same day. First-in first-served.
Gallery talks at the exhibition “Chisel and memory. The contribution of marble craftsmanship to the restoration of the Acropolis monuments”
The temporary exhibition was organized by the Committee for the Conservation of the Acropolis Monuments and the Acropolis Restoration Service (YSMA).
Days & hours: Saturday 14/12, Saturday 21/12 & Saturday 28/12, at 12 noon
Duration: 40 mins
Participation: The gallery talk is free of charge. Limited to 25 visitors per session.
Music and carols at the Acropolis Museum
On Sunday 22 December, at 12 noon, the Acropolis Museum will host the Jazz Octet of the Athens Military Guard for a music concert at the Museum ground floor, including jazz and Christmas world renowned melodies.
On Monday 23 December, at 12 noon, the Vrakoforoi Cretan Dance Group will sing traditional Christmas carols at the Museum ground floor.
On Tuesday 31 December, at 12 noon, the Association of Asia Minor “Nees Kydonies” will sing traditional New Year’s carols at the Museum ground floor.
The Acropolis Museum Charm for 2020
According to myth the tortoise won the race over the hare, the former with his patience and dedication winning over the flippant self confidence of the hare. The ancients considered that the benevolent tortoise protected them from the evil eye and that its blood was an antidote to poison. A tortoise lead weight featuring a tortoise in relief of the 3rd to 1st century BC inspired the Museum’s charm of 2020. You can see the original exhibit in showcase 2 (no.11) of the Gallery of the Slopes at the Acropolis Museum.
Festive meals and Christmas mood at the restaurant
During the festive season, the Museum restaurant will serve traditional festive meals and sweets. Christmas jazz nights are also taking place every Friday night by famous jazz music ensembles. For reservations please contact the restaurant during Museum opening hours on +30 210 9000915.
International Team Of Scientists Explore Undewater Santorini Volcano
The oceanographic research mission consists of 30 scientists from the United States, Greece, Australia, and Germany and is funded and supported by NASA.
The scientists tested new 'intelligent' technologies with Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs). AUVs can be used in the future to explore alien oceans on satellites of Jupiter and Saturn, such as Europe and Enceladus, where submarine traces of life will be investigated in extreme and possibly dangerous circumstances. The researchers were satisfied with the ability of the AUVs to receive and successfully execute orders in an unknown environment such as that of the Kolumbo volcano.
To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Reporter
Where To Taste Great Asian Food In Athens
Mr. Dim
@mrdimathens
Mr. Dim invites you to try the most refined flavors of Asian cuisine. This small friendly restaurant takes its name from Dim Sum, the bite-sized portions of food served in small steamer baskets or plates usually accompanied by tea. Mr. Dim is a tiny restaurant, a few tables outside, and even fewer inside. Don't let its small size put you off; this little treasure serves delicious bao buns, yummy dim sum, and imaginative noodle dishes! What's best is that if you live near Nea Smyrni, Mr. Dim will deliver to your doorstep!
Address: 9 Kratitos & 59 Evridamantos, 117 45, Athens
Telephone: 210 9356041
E&O
@eandoathens
Located on the panoramic rooftop of the Athens Marriott hotel, E&O serves top-quality, delicious pan-Asian food in a stylish but casual setting with exceptional views to the SNFCC. Only the best ingredients are used to create an enticing fusion of flavors from Japan, China, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Malaysia. The food here is innovative, fresh, and beautifully presented. The tasty Thai Beef Salad, the delicious Kimchi Butter Edamame, and the Pork San Choi Bao are only a few of our favorite dishes!
Address: 385 Syngrou Avenue, 175 64, Athens
Telephone: 210 9471234
East Pearl
@eastpearl.gr
Address: 2 Apollonos 2, 105 57, Athens
Telephone: 210 3211218
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Join The Open Day At The British Residence In Athens
On the day of the event, the residence will be open from 10 am to 5 pm, and an email pre-registration is required.
To learn more about this event, click here.
Expat City Ranking: The Best And Worst Cities To Move To In 2020
The Best And Worst Cities To Move To In 2020
This year, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City, and Singapore are at the top of the list, followed by Montréal, Lisbon, Barcelona, Zug, The Hague, and Basel. While expats appreciate each city for different reasons, they have some aspects in common: they typically rank highly in the Urban Work Life, the Quality of Urban Living, and the Local Cost of Living Indices. What is more, expats find it (very) easy to get settled in most of these cities, but not so much in the Swiss cities of Basel and Zug.
Expats are unhappiest in Kuwait City (82nd out of 82) as well as in both Italian cities surveyed, Rome (81st), and Milan (80th). Lagos (Nigeria), Paris, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Lima, New York City, and Yangon (Myanmar) also join the bottom 10 cities worldwide.
The Expat City Ranking is based on the annual Expat Insider survey by InterNations. With more than 20,000 respondents in 2019, the Expat Insider is one of the most comprehensive reports about living and working abroad. In 2019, 82 cities around the globe were analyzed in the survey, offering in-depth information about 5 areas of expat life: Quality of Urban Living, Getting Settled, Urban Work Life, Finance & Housing, and Local Cost of Living. Together, the first four areas make up the Expat City Ranking, which reveals the best and worst cities to move to in 2020.
Expat Life In Athens
In the 68th place, Athens is held back in the Expat City Ranking 2019 by its very poor financial situation and work life.The Greek capital comes last worldwide in the Finance subcategory. Over two in five respondents (41%) feel that they do not have sufficient disposable household income to cover their daily costs (vs. 23% globally), while nearly half (47%) are dissatisfied with their current financial situation (vs. 26% globally). This might be linked to Athens’ poor work life, for which it ranks second to last worldwide, behind only Rome. Almost three in ten expats (27%) are dissatisfied with their job in general (vs. 19% globally), two in five (40%) are unhappy with the job security (vs. 21% globally), and 56% are displeased with the local career opportunities (vs. 27% globally). A US American expat explains that “it is difficult to find steady employment because of the unsteady economy”. Indeed, 68% of expats are unhappy with the state of Athens’ local economy, which is more than four times the global average (15%).
While having significant weaknesses in terms of finances and work life, Athens does rank highly for housing (12th): more than half the expats (51%) find housing affordable (vs. 36% globally), and 60% agree that it is easy for expats to find a home (vs. 50% globally). Expats’ opinions are mixed when it comes to the quality of life in Athens (54th). They are not happy with the availably of healthcare (30% unhappy vs. 13% globally), the local transportation (23% vs. 19% globally), or the political (in)stability (38% negative ratings vs. 17% globally). However, Athens ranks among the top 10 in the Leisure & Climate subcategory (8th). More than three-quarters of respondents (77%) are content with the local leisure options (vs. 74% globally), and over nine in ten (91%) enjoy the local weather and climate (vs. 59% globally). A British expat says that he appreciates the “climate, quality of life, and friendliness of the people.” Indeed, almost three-quarters of respondents (74%) describe the locals as friendly (vs. 64% globally), and 57% believe it is easy to find new friends (vs. 45% globally).
About Internations
With more than 3.5 million members in 420 cities around the world, InterNations is the largest global community and information site for people who live and work abroad. InterNations offers global and local networking both online and face-to-face. At around 6,000 official events and activities per month, expatriates have the opportunity to meet other global minds. Online services include country and city guides created by a team of professional writers, guest contributions about life abroad, and discussion forums to help members with topics such as the local job or housing search.
To read more about this survey, please visit: InteNations.org
Christmas Tree Illumination At Hotel Grande Bretagne
Learn more about the Hotel Grande Bretagne, here.