XpatAthens
Wednesday, 18 February 2015 12:31
Spotlight On Volos
The city of Volos in Greece sits in a beautiful location, at the foot of Mount Pilion at one end and the Pagasetic Gulf at the other. Volos is where the rich agricultural Thessaly region, breadbasket of Greece, meets the gentle waves of the Aegean Sea. The Sporades islands (Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonissos) are nearby and accessible by either ferry or fast hydrofoil and there are also sea connections to the islands of Chios, Lesvos, Skyros and Limnos.
Further still, Asia and the Middle East can also be reached from Volos, which is Greece’s third major port (after Pireaus near Athens and the port of Thessaloniki).
Built near the neolithic (4,000BC) remnants of Dimini, today’s city of Volos sits on the site of 3 later, ancient Greek cities. One of them, Demetrias, was named after both the local Olympian goddess of harvest and a Macedonian king; another city (Iolcus) was connected to the mythological hero Jason (of Argonauts and Golden Fleece fame).
During the Byzantine era (13-14th century AD) and subsequent Ottoman (Turkish) rule, the city was known as ”Golos”. It became part of free Greece in 1881.
To read more, please visit blog.sunshine.co.uk
By Karen Bryan
Published in
Travel Greece
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Thursday, 19 February 2015 13:29
Greek Premier Promises Tax Cuts, Security
In the final straight of campaigning ahead of critical snap elections on Sunday, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras on Monday promised tax cuts and cast New Democracy as the safe choice for Greece opposite an inconsistent SYRIZA.
In a speech before the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry last night, Samaras said an ND administration would gradually reduce the corporate tax rate to 15 percent from 25 percent and scale back a unified property tax (ENFIA), starting with a 7 percent cut this year.
He lashed out at SYRIZA for a lack of clarity on tax pledges – he claimed the leftists would impose a “barrage of taxes” despite their claims to the contrary – and slammed the party’s plans to rehire sacked civil servants and reverse privatizations.
SYRIZA officials, for their part, insisted the party would introduce a fair tax system and crack down on large-scale evaders along with corruption.
Meanwhile, amid speculation about potential alliances, PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos told Italian newspaper La Stampa he could work with SYRIZA’s leader. “Tsipras is like Harry Potter but if necessary we will cooperate with them,” he said.
To read more, please visit ekathimerini.com
Published in
Local News
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Monday, 28 September 2015 07:00
Arcturos Offers Sanctuary To Bears That Cannot Go Home
The calls of great tits, coal tits and chaffinches are the only sounds that break the silence at the Arcturos Sanctuary, in a forest in Nymfaio, Western Macedonia.
Drops from last night’s rain are still dripping from the beech trees as the morning chill turns jackets into valuable allies for the caretakers of the forest’s 12 ursine residents. And now it’s breakfast time.
“We feed the bears in three different locations. Today’s menu includes apples, cherries, peaches and watermelons,” explains 25-year-old Vasilis Fourkiotis, tour guide and Arcturos caretaker with a degree in environmental sociology. Hailing from a family of stock breeders, Fourkiotis already has four years of experience in the field.
“The animals don’t all live together. They are separated so they can coexist in harmony, as they are naturally anti-social creatures,” says Fourkiotis.
“Moreover, in order for us to lessen the chances of the animals suffering anxiety due to the fact that they are to a certain degree confined, we religiously apply international protocol in respect to large predator management, which suggests that we enforce the animal husbandry principle of behavioral enrichment, providing the bears with environmental stimuli for their optimal psychological and physiological well-being,” he adds.
“In other words, we disperse the food all around the area the bears have access to encourage them to be active. Don’t forget that a bear can walk up to 40 kilometers in search of food,” says Fourkiotis.
Having eaten his watermelon, 15-year-old Manolis stands up on both feet and appears to wave. His brother, Kyrgiakos, continues to munch away at his own watermelon a few meters away, indifferent to our presence. When they were cubs, the two brothers were found by a person who took them in as pets. But when they tipped the scales at 250 kilograms and grew to 2 meters in height, they simply became unmanageable. When Arcturos was called in to help, the two bears were completely used to living with people. It would be impossible for them to live in their natural habitat now, which means they will have to live their whole lives in captivity. However, they could do far worse than the Arcturos Sanctuary, an area of some 50 acres offering food, guaranteed care and optimal living conditions.
“We keep the animals here in order to provide them with the best possible living conditions. However, a bear, just like any other wild animal, needs to live and die free in its natural environment,” explains Vangelis Despotakis, Fourkiotis’s co-worker.
“Here at the sanctuary we have three bears from circuses, five from a zoo, three orphans and one blind bear. Unfortunately, it is now impossible for these animals to live freely in nature. They think that humans are their source of food; that’s why they try to get close to us every chance they get. All the animals are neutered given that we do not want more bears living in captivity. In the wild, cubs stay with their mother and learn from her for a period of two to three years. Under the conditions of a shelter, however, this obviously doesn’t happen,” he adds.
The public seems to have a somewhat distorted view of the Arcturos organization’s role. For example, the NGO’s staff often receive calls from animal breeders, demanding that the organization get rid of bears in the mountains.
“The bears are not our property,” says Despotakis. “We exclusively support bears that can’t survive on their own. We do not interfere with those that live freely, nor do we breed bears in order to release them at a later date.”
The situation in regard to how people treat animals has without doubt improved in recent years. However, as a guide, Despotakis believes that his role is not limited to unlocking gates, showing people the animals and providing information.
“I believe that I am here for a purpose. That is to instill in the public a different philosophy on how we treat nature and animals. We should stop feeling sorry for creatures which have have suffered from a position of power. The protection of wildlife, despite its obvious benefits, should serve as a medium through which we can improve human life as well, by reorienting the meaning of animals for humanity. People should not have the kind of relationship with nature that sees them caring for the environment so long as they can benefit from it, and realize that animals and the natural environment have an innate importance to us as human beings,” he says.
To read more, please visit: Ekathimerini
by
Vassiliki Chrysostomidou
Published in
Travel Greece
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Monday, 07 November 2016 07:00
Greece Unveils First Contemporary Art Museum
"I think this is something that should have happened years ago," the museum’s director said.
Legislation establishing the museum, known as EMST, was passed 19 years ago. The museum is built in the refurbished Fix brewery in central Athens.
Introducing modern art to a culture brought up on marble columns and the galloping friezes of the Parthenon would appear to be a daunting and thankless task, but Katerina Koskinas, the director of Greece's first National Museum of Contemporary Art, was giddy with excitement and lack of sleep on the eve of the museum's opening.
EMST may not fire up the art market directly, since it is not an art broker, but it will make Greek artists more visible.
EMST was conceived in a period of optimism. In the late 1990s, Greece planned its new Acropolis Museum, now the country's most popular attraction after the Acropolis itself. The shift to culture could emerge as Greece's next national project.
To read this article in full, please visit: Al Jazeera
To read this article in full, please visit: Al Jazeera
Published in
Local News
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Monday, 22 April 2019 06:00
Greek Orthodox Easter In Athens
While the islands and villages of Greece are known for their religious festivals during the period of resurrection, spending Greek Orthodox Easter in Athens is as memorable as it is spiritual. Athens is home to some of the most beautiful and historical churches in Greece and the city has its finest moments under candlelight for the traditional services during holy week.
On Easter Saturday, in a ritual conducted for over 1,200 years, the ‘Holy Fire’ is lit at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, where Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected. The light is then flown into Athens on a specially chartered flight and received by the “Metohi tou Panagiou Tafou” church in Plaka where candles are lit and then dispersed to churches throughout the Attica region in time for the start of resurrection services.
How to spend Greek Orthodox Easter in Athens? Hearing the haunting ‘Hymn of Kassiani’ on Holy Tuesday, take communion at a 1,000 year-old church on Holy Wednesday, or hear a Byzantine Choir and follow and a candlelit procession through the streets!
To read this article in full, please visit: Why Athens
Photo Credit: Why Athens
Published in
Greek Traditions
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Wednesday, 08 May 2024 07:00
Roof Gardens With Quality Food & Astonishing Views In Central Athens
Greece boasts over 250 days of sunshine, which is the perfect kind of weather to enjoy a rooftop bar and restaurant. Below are some of the best rooftop bars in Athens, with stunning views, tasty eats, and drinks to satisfy your thirst!
ABOVE Rooftop Bar Restaurant
@above_rooftop_bar_restaurant
One of the best Roof Top Restaurants in the city, “ABOVE” is located on the 9th floor of Wyndham Grand Athens and certainly offers the most breathtaking views of Athens!
The perfect spot in the city center for getting a mouthful of delicious food and an eyeful of amazing scenery, from the Acropolis to Lycabettus hill and all the way down to the Saronic Gulf! Lay back comfortably in your deck chair and sip on refreshing cocktails or cool off under the impressive waterfall in the most stylish designed roof top pool bar of Athens!
Address: Wyndham Grand Athens – 2, Megalou Alexandrou Street
Telephone: 21 6800 9900
Telephone: 21 6800 9900
GB Roof Garden
@hotelgrandebretagne
@hotelgrandebretagne
The GB Roof Garden offers unobstucted views of the Acropolis, Lycabettus Hill and the Parliament in a magnificent setting. For breakfast or lunch, the elegant environment of the GB Roof Garden Restaurant creates a tranquil atmosphere, while dinner is perfect when the city lights come on. For three years in a row the restaurant has been awarded by the Wine Spectator Magazine.
Address: Syntagma Square
Telephone: 210 3330766
Telephone: 210 3330766
Metropolis Roof Garden
@electrametropolis
@electrametropolis
The Metropolis Roof Garden with views of the Acropolis is on the tenth floor of Electra Metropolis Athens and is the ultimate dining experience in Athens. It offers a unique opportunity to enjoy today’s creative Greek cuisine and is one of the newest gourmet restaurants in Athens.
The driving force behind the restaurant is the executive chef, who creates unique dishes with an emphasis on fish or meat. He works to find the perfect balance between Earth and Sea so that his guests can savour truly exquisite results. And you can enjoy all of this while feasting your eyes on the Acropolis, lit either by the famous Greek sun during the day or by impressive flood-lighting at night.
Location: Electra Metropolis Hotel, 15 Mitropoleos, Athens
Telephone: 21 4100 6290
Telephone: 21 4100 6290
A for Athens Cocktail Bar
@aforathensbar
@aforathensbar
A for Athens with its magnificent rooftop terrace, located on the sixth floor of the homonymous hotel, offers one of the most spectacular views in Athens. Enjoy cocktails in unbelievable combinations, as well as a menu created with special care, with emphasis on local and healthy products!
Location: 2-4 Miaouli, Athens
Telephone: 210 3244244
Telephone: 210 3244244
Art Lounge
@artlounge_restaurant
@artlounge_restaurant
Art Lounge, rooftop lounge (7th floor) with a panoramic Athens view serving your favorite food & drinks. Designed to be the ultimate penthouse, Art Lounge features a unique Art library with more than 2000 art book titles. The comfort and scenery of the space is reason enough to visit.
Address: New Hotel, 16 Filellinon, Syntagma
Telephone: 694 637 9500
Telephone: 694 637 9500
The Zillers Boutique Hotel Roof Garden
@the_zillers
@the_zillers
Once you find yourself on the top flor of the Zillers Boutique Hotel and their Roof Garden, you instantly find yourself intergrate in a multifaceted world; an urban roof garden with industrial details and emerald green marbles creates a regreshing atmosphere where you will enjoy your breakfast,luch or dinnner, a coffee or drink an you will feel the ambience of the old merging with the new to create the perfect Athens experience; especially when you have the view of the Acropolis right in front of you!
Address: 54 Mitropoleos, Athens
Telephone: 210 3222277
Telephone: 210 3222277
Air Lounge Bar
Credit: Fresh Hotel
Credit: Fresh Hotel
It’s not only the view that is breathtaking. It’s the whole environment in every detail from the bright colours, right down to the Charles Eames chairs… and, of course, its menu! Their Executive chef is the head creator of their sophisticated Greek and Mediterranean cuisine, transforming sheer inspiration to pure culinary enjoyment.
Located in rooftop terrace of Fresh Hotel Athens, the Air Lounge Bar & restaurant is offering panoramic views of the Parthenon, the Acropolis and Athens skyline, all day long!
Location: Fresh Hotel Athens, 26 Sofokleous, Athens
Telephone: 21 0524 8511
Main Photo Credit: GB Roof garden
Telephone: 21 0524 8511
Main Photo Credit: GB Roof garden
Published in
Pubs, Bars & Cafes
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Monday, 07 January 2019 07:00
A Photo Of The Full Moon Over The Parthenon Goes Viral
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.
Published in
Greece In The News
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Thursday, 12 September 2019 07:00
The Impressive Armata Festival On Spetses Island
Every year, the renowned Armata Festival takes place on the island of Spetses on the second weekend of September. The festival celebrates Panaghia Armata (Virgin Mary of the “Armata”) and commemorates the great Naval Battle of Spetses which took place on September 8, 1822.
This great victory was accomplished thanks to the bravery of Spetsiot Captain Kosmas Barbatsis, who managed to set the Turkish Flagship on fire and blow it up. His brave act is re-enacted every year with dramatizations of this victory culminating in the burning of a Turkish Flagship replica followed by an impressive fireworks show.
Published in
Videos
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Wednesday, 11 December 2019 07:00
XpatAthens Welcomes Nadia Georgiou
XpatAthens works with writers, bloggers, cultural platforms, and local media houses in order to give our readers unique, useful, and up-to-date content.
We are always looking to meet and connect with new content contributors. If you believe that your content would be a positive addition to XpatAthens, click here to learn more about working with us!
We are very happy to welcome Nadia Georgiou
as an official XpatAthens content contributor.
Who Is Nadia Georgiou?
Nadia Georgiou is an international life coach and writer devoted to leading you to a life-changing journey by unveiling your infinite power and unlimited potential.
As a strong believer in "taking my responsibility in order to bring results" she founded "It's my life" life coaching services after more than 25 years in international corporate communications and while on top of her career. The creator of the seminars "Become Who You Really Are" for women and "We Are Not Born Parents. We Become Parents" for parents, she works with women who dare to live life on their terms, with parents who dare to try new approaches and with children of all ages, especially teenagers, who dare to take charge of their life early on - from all over the world.
Working together, like a coach and an athlete, she will be your avid supporter, your close and trusted partner, who listens to you while gently pushing you with care to discover your personal strength, break your fears and move from your "comfort zone" to the area of unlimited possibilities that exist within you. Nadia will give you the tools, know-how, and confidence to conquer your every new goal.
Nadia is also certified in Yoga Laughter, Pranic Healing and Body Mirror System of Healing and Self Knowledge. A Greek-American based in Athens, she's conversant in French and Italian. Trained at the Robbins Madanes Training Center and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, she holds a Bachelor's degree in Marketing Management and a Master's in Communications and Public Relations. Nadia is married and has a daughter; she loves traveling, the arts, children's laughter and red wine.
As a strong believer in "taking my responsibility in order to bring results" she founded "It's my life" life coaching services after more than 25 years in international corporate communications and while on top of her career. The creator of the seminars "Become Who You Really Are" for women and "We Are Not Born Parents. We Become Parents" for parents, she works with women who dare to live life on their terms, with parents who dare to try new approaches and with children of all ages, especially teenagers, who dare to take charge of their life early on - from all over the world.
Working together, like a coach and an athlete, she will be your avid supporter, your close and trusted partner, who listens to you while gently pushing you with care to discover your personal strength, break your fears and move from your "comfort zone" to the area of unlimited possibilities that exist within you. Nadia will give you the tools, know-how, and confidence to conquer your every new goal.
Nadia is also certified in Yoga Laughter, Pranic Healing and Body Mirror System of Healing and Self Knowledge. A Greek-American based in Athens, she's conversant in French and Italian. Trained at the Robbins Madanes Training Center and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, she holds a Bachelor's degree in Marketing Management and a Master's in Communications and Public Relations. Nadia is married and has a daughter; she loves traveling, the arts, children's laughter and red wine.
Published in
Local News
Tagged under
Tuesday, 21 April 2020 18:02
Homeschooling During Lockdown: Adapting To New Conditions
During the early days of the coronavirus, we were careful but a bit more relaxed. Although we were staying home, our schedules had changed. It was almost like a vacation. We were waking up late, leisurely helping our daughter with her school studying, sleeping late, doing everything late. But that's how it got a bit out of hand. The day would pass, and I would still find myself on a chair trying to assimilate the role of my daughter's teacher as the school was sending new material every day. I know she felt secure being with me, but with all the breaks and delays, studying took way too long. Let alone math was not my forte at school.
It was a challenge to persuade her to study as she did when she was still going to school. "But this is our home, it's not school," she would complain. "It doesn't matter if I go to bed later." She was fighting and negotiating for her rights. "We have to have a program." my husband would argue, and of course, he was right, but his critical tone of voice was not much help. So we did have some "battles" in the beginning.
I remember telling myself that neither my daughter nor I deserved such treatment. I wanted to hold her in my arms more, play, and laugh together more. Instead, I had to play a role that didn't belong to me. It didn't take long before I realized that facts had changed and that nothing was the same as before. We were all facing a new situation, and the best we could do was to accept it and then take time to adapt to it. We started with baby steps, and eventually, we found the way – the way that would work for us. The truth is that creating a daily schedule and finding a new routine helped us all a lot. Now we laugh more, hug more, and make the best of our time together.
If there’s a topic you’re interested in and would like to learn more about you may contact me via email. For more information about me and my work check the XpatAthens Directory or visit my website. Because this is your life!
Published in
Parenting
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