A photo of the full moon over the Parthenon and the Propylaea in Athens that was recently posted on Instagram by National Geographic has gone viral, attracting more than 1.2 million likes.

 

The photograph capturing the last full moon of 2018 was taken by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Muhammed Muheisen on December 22. This stunning photo of the Parthenon under the moonlight is one of the most popular photos on National Geographic’s Instagram feed.

The Athens State Orchestra joins forces with Canadian Brass – an award-winning ensemble renowned for its genre-bending versatility and joyous performances – for a special show at the Athens Concert Hall, which also features the Rosarte children's choir.

The program ranges from traditional Christmas tunes, Handel and Bach, to a mini-tribute to The Beatles and the European premier of Jeff Tyzik's “New York Cityscapes.” The performance is being held with the support of the Canadian Embassy. Doors open at 8.30 p.m. and tickets cost 14 to 50 euros.

Click HERE for more information!

The center of Athens is the hub for most of the city’s museums, attractions, and cultural events. One of the newest additions to Athens’ museum and entertainment scene is the Museum of Illusions in Monastiraki which opened its doors to the public last September.

 

Get ready to enter a world of illusion, a world that will confuse your mind and senses. The Museum of Illusions is a visual, sensory, and educational experience that will impress children and adults alike.

 

Be brave enough to jump in an illusion created by the Vortex Tunnel that will drive you crazy and make you believe you’re struggling to make a step forward through the rotating cylinder – on a surface so stable and flat! See a deformed reflection of yourself in the Mirror Room, let yourself free in the Infinity Room, resist the laws of gravity and size ratio, and take pictures of yourself and your friends in every possible pose!

 

Before leaving make sure to visit the Playroom, a room full of intriguing and educational games, puzzles, and brain bashers that are great fun but can be quite frustrating as well.

 

Museum of Illusions

Address: Ermou 119 (entrance from Astiggos 12)

 

Photo Credit: Museum of Illusions

Great news for the environment as the use of plastic bags in supermarkets and grocery stores has dropped by 80% following the measures that were implemented in Greece in 2018. A remarkable 1.5 billion fewer plastic bags were used since the environmental measure came into effect on January 1st, 2018.

 

While plastic bags were given away for free in supermarket and retail stores up to December 2017, in 2018 businesses began charging for plastic bags, beginning at 4 cents for thin bags and going up to 40 cents for larger, thicker ones.

 

The reduction in plastic bag use is expected to be even higher in 2019, as from January 1 the charge for plastic bags will begin at 9 cents.

 

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

Two innovative Greek museums have been shortlisted for the prestigious European Museum of the Year Award for 2019.

 

The Kotsanas Museum is a private museum that holds a collection of 150 functional models and replicas of ancient Greek technological innovations. In the museum visitors will see and comprehend various ancient inventions such as elevating mechanisms, hydraulic systems, measuring instruments, and much more.

 

The Museum of Ancient Eleutherna in Crete was created to house the findings of the excavations in the ancient city of Eleutherna. The museum’s permanent exhibition will be updated periodically, so that it relates to the discoveries of the ongoing excavations on the site.

 

There are 40 nominees on the list, such as the Antonina Lesniewska Museum of Pharmacy in Warsaw, the Mastola Radio & TV Museum in Lahti, Finland, and the British Motor Museum in Warwickshire in the UK.

In Greek culture, the pomegranate fruit has symbolized fertility, luck, prosperity, renewal, and regeneration since ancient times. It has been the symbol of many goddesses, including Hera, the goddess of marriage, Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty, and Persephone, daughter of Demeter and Queen of the Underworld. Since most New Year's day, rituals involve ways to bring luck to a household, it makes perfect sense that the pomegranates are part of these deep-rooted traditions.

The tradition of smashing a pomegranate on New Year's Day dates back to ancient times and originates in the Peloponnese or Serres. In modern times, when the family returns home from church on New Year's Day, the man of the house smashes the pomegranate on the front door. He wishes that the juicy, bounteous ruby-like segments of the fruit fill the home with health and happiness — and joys as many as the pomegranate's arils.  According to Greek tradition, the more seeds that spread all over the floor, the more good fortune will be brought to the house!

The City of Athens has announced that the 2019 New Year’s Eve party will be held along the pedestrian way in the district of Thissio! Hosted by actor Vassilis Haralambopoulos, the evening will open with the City of Athens Philharmonic and the new year will be rung in by Athens Mayor George Kaminis.

Following the impressive fireworks over the Acropolis, the party will continue with live music and dance performances, followed by a DJ set by local radio station En Lefko 87.7.

The countdown to Costa Navarino’s 3rd International Messinia Pro-Am golf tournament to be held from February 20-23, 2019 has begun.

Registrations for the 30 participating teams at the two 18-hole signature pitches, The Dunes Course and The Bay Course of Costa Navarino , will continue through the event’s official website here until January 18, 2019. 

Messinia Pro-Am 2019 golfers will be able to get real-time updates on scores both at team and individual levels through the GolfBox live score service. The 30 participating teams (comprising a professional and three amateurs) will compete with each other at The Dunes Course on Thursday, February 21, The Bay Course on Friday, February 22, and The Dunes Course on Saturday, February 23, 2019. The pros will compete in a 54-hole Strokeplay individual competition at the tournament, claiming a total prize pool of 30,000 euros.

The 3rd International Messinia Pro-Am tournament will further enhance the work of SOS Children’s Villages Greece, a member of SOS Children’s Villages International, that creates families for children in need.  As last year, one can support SOS Children's Villages in two ways: a) through the charity night "A good cause to STRIKE", to be held on February 22 as part of the international tournament and b) online, through Messinia Pro-Am’s website, where one can support the SOS Children's Village project with online donations by clicking HERE!

AEGEAN, a member of Star Alliance, is the official airline partner of the event. Vodafone και Hertz are the official sponsors of the event. Erasmus is the official travel partner coordinating and ensuring the smooth registration & accommodation process. Official supporters of the tournament include J.VOURAKIS SONS EE , Nescafé Alegria and Kalamata Papadimitriou . The tournament is assisted by ECOLAB. The 3rd Messinia Pro-Am is organized in collaboration with the PGAs of Europe and is held under the auspices of PGA of Greece and the Hellenic Golf Federation . 

For special accommodation packages at The Westin Resort Costa Navarino and the full program of Messinia Pro-Am, please click HERE!

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Watch the Messinia Pro-Am 2019 video teaser HERE!

Photo credit: Elias Lefas

On New Year's Eve, SNFCC welcomes Italian soul  - jazz singer Mario Biondi, who, with his trademark deep voice and powerful stage presence will captivate the audience, singing in Italian and in English.  

Born in Catania, Sicily, Mario Biondi has been called “the new Barry White” due to his distinct voice. His father Stefano Biondi was also a singer. Mario´s passion for music began at the early age of twelve when he sang in his church choir. For a while, he worked as a session singer - then in 1988, he appeared as support act to Ray Charles´ Italian dates. His love for soul music helped shape his particular vocal styling that takes its cue from great vocalists like Lou Rawls, Al Jarreau and Isaac Hayes. His first big break came in 2004 with the release of the single "This Is What You Are". Originally planned for release only in Japan, the song got noticed by DJ Norman Jay, who began featuring it on his BBC1 show playlist. 

In 2006, Mario released his debut album Handful Of Soul, which went platinum in less than three months. In November 2007, he released a double album with the Duke Orchestra, called I Love You More recorded entirely live at the Smeraldo Theatre in Milano. In November 2009, he released If. The album shot up the charts and went triple-platinum. He has also released Yes You (2010), Due (2011), Sun (2013), Mario Christmas (2013), Beyond (2014) and Brasil (2018). Mario has taken part in Europe's largest jazz festivals and has collaborated with composers such as Burt Bacharach, and has appeared in sold-out concerts in venues including London's Royal Albert Hall and Rome's Parco della Musica.

His New Year's Eve Concert at the SNFCC will include songs from his latest album, Brasil, which blends jazz, soul and pop elements with well-known Brazilian tunes, as well as songs from his holidays-inspired album, Mario Christmas.

Public transport services in the Greek capital will be reduced over the holidays to allow workers the chance to enjoy Christmas and New Year's with their families, operator OASA has said.

 

On December 31, Athens buses and trolley buses will start pulling-off the streets at around 9 p.m. in order to be in their respective depots by 11 p.m. Between January 1 and 3, buses and trolley buses will run at less frequent intervals, according to the typical Sunday bus schedule.

On New Year’s Eve, the last ISAP electric railway service will be at 10.00 p.m. while the railway will run on a restricted weekend schedule through Sunday, January 6.

 

The same measures apply for lines 1 and 2 of the Athens metro which, on New Year’s Eve, will run its last service at 10 p.m. These changes will also affect service to and from Athens International Airport.

 

Tram commuters are advised that service will be less frequent through January 4, while the last service on New Year's Eve will be at 9 p.m. 

 

For details and schedules, visit www.oasa.gr or call 11 185

Article Source: Greece-is.com