LIFE & CULTURE
XpatAthens
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.
International Museum Day & European Night of Museums 2019
Family Programs
On Saturday 18 May 2019 our little friends who visit the Museum will be able to participate in the two free family programs ‘Experience the Panathinaea Festival with all my senses’ (3-5 years old) and ‘What happened to Athena’s statue from the Parthenon?’ (6-9 years old). The programs will be held in Greek only by the Museum Archaeologist-Hosts.
The cranes of the Acropolis
On the occasion of this year’s International Museum Day, the Acropolis Museum produced, in collaboration with the Hellenic Mint, commemorative medals dedicated to the cranes of the Acropolis. On the cornice of the first Parthenon (570 BC), cranes (geranos, in Greek) were depicted in horizontal flight, rendered in soft colors and in dense formation. For the ancient Greeks, the crane symbolized intelligence, alertness and good fortune. The medals will be available for purchase in the Museum ground floor Shop.
*Photo credit: Discover Greece
Abandoned Bear Cubs Prepare For Life In The Wild
Bradley and Cooper, a pair of orphaned cubs that were rescued by ARCTUROS in Nymfaio, Greece, are being trained to learn how to survive alone in the wild. Even though the cubs are still only 4 months and still bottle-fed, they will soon have to hunt for food alone in the Greek forest. The cubs were found in a sheep pen in a village of Kozani; however, it was too late to reunite them with their mother.
"We teach them what they need to know; where to find food, what they should eat, how they will make their nest in the winter," said Melina Avgerinou, a caretaker at ARCTUROS. "According to the season, we try to teach them what their mother would have taught them in nature," she said.
It will take about a year to teach the bears basic survival mechanisms that will enable them to live alone in the forest. To do so, trainers hide food in the forest for the cubs to find and discourage them from having too much contact with humans.
The bears will hibernate in the sanctuary and will be moved into the forest before waking; to make sure that they can survive in the wild they will be tagged and tracked. Bears that do not manage to adapt to their natural habitat are returned to ARCTUROS.
ARCTUROS' communications officer, Panos Stefanou said he cannot say for sure whether the bear cubs were named after famous actor Bradley Cooper, but he said that they looked a bit "rough and cowboyish" when they were found in the sheep pen.
To read this article in full, please visit: ekathimerini
ARCTUROS is a non-profit, non-governmental, environmental organization (NGO) founded in 1992, focusing on the protection of wildlife fauna and natural habitat, in Greece and abroad.
The foundation of ARCTUROS was driven by the constant need to solve the problem of bear and wolf imprisonment; a common occurrence at the time. It was that need, which led to the creation of a complete action framework, under the umbrella of ARCTUROS.
Click here if you're interested in adopting a bear, a wolf, or a sheperd dog.