LIFE & CULTURE

XpatAthens
YES to Sea Tourism Forum 2019
YES Forum is the leading platform for an open dialogue within the Greek Shipping and Sea Tourism Industries among principals, executives, university students, recent graduates and young executives. The main aim of YES Forum is the creation of a comprehensive connection and understanding between young people and our Greek shipping and tourism history. YES FORUM is taking place under the auspices of the Ministries of Shipping, Education, Tourism, GNTO, Hellenic Chamber of Shipping and the majority of Greek Universities.
This year’s goal is to inform young people about the distinctive features of sea tourism and cruising along with the employment prospects and professional trajectories. Once again, all participants will have the opportunity to ask questions before and during the Forum and dialogue directly with the distinguished executives.
The welcoming addresses will be made by: Danae Bezantakou, CEO – NAVIGATOR SHIPPING CONSULTANTS & Concept Founder - YES Forum, Dr. Panagiota Dionysopoulou, Head of the General Directorate of Tourism Policy–Ministry of Tourism, Dorra Giannaki, Special Advisor in the General Secretariat for Youth, Theodore Kontes, President - President Union of Cruise Ship Owners & Associated Members.
This year’s research has been carried out to enable young people to express their opinion on sea tourism and employment prospects. The results will be compared with those of the respective survey answered by companies active in the sea tourism sector in order to compare the supply and demand. Xenia Kourtoglou, Founder & Managing Partner, FOCUS BARI will introduce the data.
Registration at YES to Sea Tourism Forum will be free of charge.
Our Keynote Speaker will be Capt. Paris Dragnis, Founder & President – GOLDENPORT GROUP OF COMPANIES.
Panel Moderator will be Mr. Minas Tsamopoulos, Journalist – Proto Thema Newspaper. Speakers of the panel are Maria Deligianni, Government and Public Affairs Representative Eastern Mediterranean - Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) , -Capt. Vassilis Gkazikas, Marine Operations Director - Celestyal Cruises, Thanos Pallis, Professor of Port Economics & Policy , University of the Aegean, Greece & President of the International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), Alexandros Seremelis, Lecturer – Metropolitan College - Metropolitan College.
The YES to Sea Tourism Forum will also enable executives from the shipping industry to create networking corners on following topics: 1. Operations, Crew, Chartering & HSQE Departments of a Shipping Company, 2. Startups, Innovation & Technology, Service Providers and 3. Masters in Shipping.
i. Crew, HSQE, Operations, Chartering Departments of a Shipping Company
Artemis Kazantzidi, HSQEEn Officer – LATSCO MARINE MANAGEMENT
Katerina Xenou, Crew Manager – ALASSIA NEWSHIPS MANAGEMENT (more speakers will be announced soon)
ii. Innovation, Startups, Technology & Service Providers
Maria Paliothodorou, Happiness Officer – MARINE TRAFFIC
Eleni Polychronopoulou, Vice President- Environmental Protection Engineering (EPE) SA & President - HEMEXPO
Dimitris Sousoudis, Senior Sales Executive - Greece - Cyprus - Middle East – MARINE TRAFFIC
Dr. Panagiotis Nomikos, Business Development Director, DANAOS MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS S.A.
iii. Masters in Shipping
Vicky Apostolopoulou, Business Development Executive, School of Maritime Studies - METROPOLITAN COLLEGE
Prof. Serafeim Kapros, Head of Dept. of Shipping, Trade and Transport - UNIVERSITY OF THE AEGEAN
Pavlou Elias, MSc Shipping Programme Manager – BCA COLLGE
Marianna Bliablia, Administrative Manager - MSc in International Shipping, Finance and Management at Athens University of Economics and Business
Registration at YES to Sea Tourism Forum will be free of charge.
Submit your questions and register now!
At the end of the event, there will be a lottery for a cruise offered by Celestyal Cruises and 100 bilingual albums " Greek Coastal Ships" offered by Greek Shipping Miracle.
SNF RUN 2019: Running Into The Future
The race includes 6K and 10K runs, as well as a 1K run for Special Olympics athletes. The first two races will start at the Panathenaic Stadium, at 20:50 and 21:10 respectively, with runners crossing the city center and then, via Leoforos Syngrou, arriving at the finish line at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center running track.
The run is not competitive in nature, but official times will be kept so that runners can know how they perform. The race’s awards ceremony will be accompanied by a spectacular fireworks display and followed by a concert by the popular Greek singer Alkistis Protopsalti, wrapping up the first day of the Summer Nostos Festival 2019.
Click HERE to sign up for the 6K or 10K races!
Greece Ranks 2nd Worldwide In Blue Flag Beaches
There are 515 Blue Flag beaches along the coasts of Greece, a remarkable number, especially considering the country's size. Greece has earned the 2nd place on the Blue Flag beach map, globally, second only to Spain. Additionally, Blue Flags were awarded to 15 boat marinas, and 4 boats of sustainable boating tourism. According to the BlueFlag program, the cleanest beaches in Greece are in Halkidiki, northern Greece, where you'll find 89 blue-flagged beaches.
Other Blue Flag Beaches in Greece are Koukounaries in Skiathos, the famous Canal d' Amour in Corfu, and Agathopes Beach in Syros. Luckily there are more than 15 awarded beaches in the Attica region such as Astir Beach Vouliagmenis, Eden Beach, and Schinias/Karavi that enable bathers to enjoy a safe swim without even having to leave the city.
A world-renowned eco-label trusted by millions of people around the worlds, the Blue Flag program is operated under the auspices of the Foundation for Environmental Education and is based in Copenhagen, Denmark. To qualify for this prestigious award, beaches, marinas and tour boat must meet and maintain a series of strict environmental, educational, safety-related and access-related criteria.
To discover the cleanest beaches in Greece, please visit: Blue Flag Greece
Opening To The City - Athens Festival 2019
For the third consecutive year, “Opening to the City”, a mini-festival which aims to take us on an unforgettable journey to uncover the city’s hidden gems and secret corners, takes place in Athens and Piraeus, actively promoting art and providing high-quality cultural opportunities. The festival's appeal and huge success were proven by the positive responses from the audience, which participated in performances, public lectures, and other festivities.
Many performances are available at no charge, however, even if the performance requires purchasing a ticket, you can find admission tickets at the cheapest prices. Opening to the City - Free Admission (specific events require entry tickets which you can request from our cashiers' desks)
Oedipus Rex - Sophocles
The plot:
After Oedipus was born, his father, King Laius of Thebes, learned from an oracle that he, Laius, was doomed to perish by the hand of his own son, and so ordered his wife Jocasta to kill the infant. But faith decided differently.
Oedipus Rex is long considered the greatest Greek tragedy and hailed by Aristotle as the tragedy par excellence. It remains a model of what tragedy should be; deftly plotted and perfectly executed, it has a sympathetic protagonist, a crushing climax, inspirational poetry, and a wealth of meaningful themes. The play remains on the very short list of exceptionally and undeniably great world literature masterpieces that are taught all over the world.
About Fimonoi:
“Fimonoi Stage” is a professional theatrical group, with the vision to inspire visitors and spread the message of Classic Greek culture and Ancient Drama to tourists from all over the world. Fimonoi’s vision is for foreigners visiting our country to have the complete cultural experience, watching theater, poetry and music performances, adding up to the overall travel experience, and get to know the role of Athens and Greece in the global cultural life.
From May 30 to September 26, 2019
Every Thursday at 20:30
Athens-Thessaloniki Express Train Service To Be Launched On Monday
Christos Spirtzis, the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, is expected to present the new 450km-long electrified double-track railway line, on Wednesday. The express electric train service will be incorporated into Trainose's daily schedule and will include two stops, one in Lianokladi and one in Larissa.
Initially, the service will be operated by 3 trains offering all necessary amenities for a comfortable trip, including WIFI while two modern trains similar to the Silver Arrow are expected to arrive from Italy shortly.
Article Source: AMNA
To book your train tickets online, please visit: www.trainose.gr
Athens International Airport Among The Top 3 Airports In The World
The Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport in Athens is regarded as the 3rd best airport in the world, according to a survey conducted by Air Help – an air passenger rights specialist.
Based on the opinions of thousands of passengers the survey was based on several parameters; service quality with regards to customer service, on-time performance with regards to flight delays, and the cleanliness of the airports' shops and restaurants.
It is excellent news that–according to the survey–Athens' international airport is third in the entire world, just behind the airports in Doha and Tokyo.
According to the same survey, among the worst airports in the world are: London Gatwick Airport in the United Kingdom, Eindhoven Airport in Holland, and the Henri Coanda International Airport in Romania.
To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Reporter
18th African Cultural Festival
Pint Of Science 2019
After its successful organization in 2018, Pint of Science is back in Athens and Thessaloniki, and for the first time to Heraklion, Serifos, and Volos. Be prepared for 3 nights full of science!
What is the Pint of Science?
It is an original and unique annual celebration of science organized from 2015 around the world with a pint of beer! A major scientific event launched in 2012 by a team of research fellows from Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine in London, in order to disseminate science inside the pubs. The aim is to bring scientists and society together in a simple and direct way in the intimate and friendly environment of a bar. The team's vision is to spread the passion for knowledge and scientific research to the public.
When and where?
From 20 to 22 of May 2019, researchers and scientists from all scientific fields will give short talks at central bars in Athens, Thessaloniki, Heraklion, Serifos and Volos, along with their collaborating researchers in 400 cities from 25 other countries around the world. For three days, the communication of scientists and the public, having ethanol as a catalyst, will mathematically lead to a relaxed conversation.
Pint of Science, addressed to people of all ages, covers a range of scientific topics from hot scientific fields of every day’s life.
The subjects of the talks are divided in 6 sections: Beuatiful Mind, (Psychiatry, Neurosciences and Psychology, Atoms to Galaxies(Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics), Our Body (Biology, Medicine), Planet Earth (Environmental Sciences), Τech Me Out(Technology, Engineering and Computer Science), Our Society (Sociology, Law, History and Political Sciences).
Ιn Athens and Thessaloniki Science Reactors will join the event with their unique and enjoyable Stand Up Science (in the scheme of Stand up Comedy) presentations.
The 5 bars in the center of Athens where the PoS will be hosted are:
- MoMix (Kerameikos)
- T.A.F (Monastiraki)
- Meerkat Cocktail Safari (Koukaki)
- Rabbithole (Lekka str.)
- Lazy Bulldog Pub (Gazi).
An event addressed to the English speaking audience will take place at The Lazy Bulldog Pub, on the 20th of Monday, at 20:00.
Skirt Ride In Athens
MBike Greece and Cities for Cycling will be there to help us check our bikes and talk about safe rides and bike-friendly cities.