For many Greeks, Easter is one of the biggest religious holidays of the year, with celebrations having a direct connection with the Orthodox faith. Preparations have already begun for Easter with Kathara Deutera, or Clean Monday, which takes place 40 days before Easter. This religious holiday has also become a celebration of Spring, the season of hope and rebirth.

There are four main traditions associated with Easter, like the dying of red eggs on Holy Thursday, the funerary procession of the Epitaphios on Good Friday, and so on, but there are some places in Greece that celebrate Easter in their own way. From Greece Is, here are 11 of the most unique celebrations in Greece!

The competition between these two gems of the Saronic Gulf is quite intense. On the island of Spetses, the Epitaphios processions of each of the four main churches of the island converge on the square in front of the Poseidonion Hotel on the evening of Good Friday. The young people strive to lift the heavy, decorated biers as high as they can so they may earn a special blessing.

In cosmopolitan Syros, the two main religious dogmas – Orthodox and Catholic – come together to celebrate in unison. In an atmosphere of solemnity, the Epitaphios of the Catholic Evangelistria and the three Orthodox churches (the Assumption of Mary, the Transfiguration of the Savior and Saint Nicholas) meet at the main Miaouli Square, where they join in prayer. The youths participating in the Orthodox procession often carry spears, or sponges – clear references to the passions of Christ.

Its Easter traditions also differ in that they have a heavy focus on honoring the Virgin Mary. The locals clean and whitewash their houses in preparation for the passing of the icon of Mary. Starting on Holy Saturday, the icon is taken past all the houses to the sounds of fireworks and the exchanges of wishes.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greece Is

On Sunday 3rd of June, the island of Kimolos will host for the first time a race on its traditional paths, offering an alternative opportunity to get to know and explore the island!

Kimolos Trail Race kicks off the Cyclades Trail Cup 2018 event!

It consists of 2 routes (21 and 9kilometers) and will be enriched with parallel cultural events. The start and finish of the routes willtake place in the 'Chorio' settlement. The 21km route offers the participant unprecedentedsolitude, as it does not pass through other settlements or areas with human presence.

Under the new Cyclades Trail Cup Point System, the Kimolos Trail 21km race offers 83 points,while the Kimolos Trail 9km race offers 33 points. The winners of the race will be the first 3 menand the first 3 women in the 21km race, the first 3 men and the first 3 women in the 9km race, aswell as the 1st male and the 1st female athlete from Kimolos.

The bibs of the athletes display the map of the island, the route including the altitude profile andthe refueling stations, and an emergency telephone number for safety reasons. In addition,rescuers of the Hellenic Red Cross and volunteers with first aid knowledge, along with emergencyvehicles, will be located at specific points of the routes.

The prize for the winners of the 1st Mountain Running Run: Kimolos Trail is handmade, symbolicand unique! A wooden plaque with the perforated silhouette of Kimolos' famous “Skiadi” naturalmonument will be given to the 14 winners of the event in a traditional 'dorva' handmade bag,courteously sponsored by the shops: Art Space 'Arzantiera', 'Button', 'Boutique Arzantiera'  and 'Sousta - Vista'

All finishers will receive a handmade commemorative medal with the races logo, designed by thejewelry store 'Kimolitho'. Athletes who did not manage to win a place on the podium will beplaced in a draw for gifts from the Donors.

Each race of the Cyclades Trail Cup is supported by Cultural Events. Beyond its purely sportingcharacter, this year Kimolos Trail will blend Sports with Cinema! On Friday June 1, at 18:00 at the Municipal Council of Kimolos, a Hoteliers and ProfessionalsInforming Conference with the subject: “Cyclades Trail Cup: Management, Online Communicationand Marketing for Upgrading and Increasing Reservations” will be held. The event is being held inthe framework of the Cyclades Trail Cup and in cooperation with our gold sponsor Greek TravelPages, under the auspices of the Municipality of Kimolos.Professional hoteliers and accommodation owners will have the opportunity to be informed aboutalternative sports tourism and the Trail Running movement in Greece, as well as how sportstourism will help extend the tourist season and grow the hiking movement for their island.

Plans and methods on how online communications and hotel marketing can have an impact on therunning community, as well as adjustments to amenities that professionals need to know about,will be presented. Professionals will be informed in clear terms about the techniques that willallow them to increase their bookings, even in low season. Participation in the meeting is free!

In the evening of Saturday June 2nd (depending on the weather), a movie night at a nearby beachwill be held.

Apart from the technical update, a movie with Greek subititles will be featured in arelaxed night by the sea, with local treats!

* Special Tip *

In the same afternoon on Saturday, before the movie night, a traditional marriagewill be held in the Village of Kimolos. It is a good opportunity for everybody attending to witnessthe customs of Kimolos!

Specifically, the schedule of the event is as follows:

18:00 – Hoteliers and Professionals Informing ConferenceSaturday

June 2 nd 2018

10:00 – Reception desk opening in the Municipal Council Hall
19:30 – Race technical update
21:00– Commencement of movie night

Sunday June 3rd 2018

07:00 – Reception desk opening in the Municipal Council Hall
08:00 – Brief race technical update
08:30 – Races start
13:30 – Races end
14:00 – Award ceremony at the Village central square

For the transport of athletes and visitors to and from the island of Kimolos, the organizingauthority in cooperation with the shipping company 'AEGEAN SPEED LINES' offers a 30% discounton the fare of the vessel 'SPEEDRUNNER III'.

In order to book tickets, athletes will have to send ane-mail with their Name, Surname, Phone Number and a 'Kimolos Trail' statement to theorganization’s exclusive partner: TRAVEL ME TO MILOS, to the address: info@travelmilos.comAria Hotels in Kimolos offer a 20% discount for the accommodation of the athletes and visitors forKimolos Trail.

The discount is valid between June 1 and June 3, 2018 and is only valid for directbookings at the following email: kimolos@ariahotels.gr with the subject: “Kimolos Trailaccommodation”.

Online registration will be possible until Friday, May 25, on the official website of the race.

New registrations may also be made to the race secretariat on Saturday 2 June between 10: 00 -18: 00, in the Municipal Council Hall of Kimolos.

Is it your first time in Greece? No need to worry! Let us supply you with a great list of useful Greek phrases to use at any occasion. And if you're looking for exciting places to go, the Museum of Illusions in Athens might just be the perfect day out!

As we approach our first anniversary of living with Covid-19, the word is out that Athens - with its winter sun and sea, warm nature, affordability and strategic location - makes an unbeatable base to weather the pandemic.

Some call them digital nomads. To others, they are corona refugees or lockdown migrants. In this new era where remote-working is king, Athens has become one of the hottest tickets in Europe to ride out the epidemic and hit reset on your life.

Since we first reported on this emerging trend last summer, Greece’s comparatively manageable infection rates and decisive health protocols have kept this new breed of long-haul visitor coming. And with alluring new tax incentives for any foreigner willing to move their tax base to Greece for 7 years, we predict it’s just the beginning. As 2021 gets off the blocks, it seems that everyone knows someone who’s recently relocated to Athens in search of a more fulfilling existence and a fresh start.

We asked some second wave “corona nomads” to tell us in their own words how Athens has given them the personal and professional lift they were craving and why life is so much sweeter in the Greek capital. Even in lockdown.

The Acropolis Addict
Mégane Bambagha, 29, French: Freelance Digital Marketing Consultant

I chose Athens because I am a city girl who likes to be at the centre of the action and I have a weird obsession with the Acropolis! Its history and energy are so beautiful to me. Years ago, I had a Greek boyfriend who introduced me to the neighbourhood of Koukaki. I fell in love with not just the Acropolis but the whole area and its vibe.

I moved here at the end of August from Montpelier because I know Athens has wonderful weather all year long. Even when it’s winter, it’s not really winter. Back in Montpelier, where my family and friends are, I lived just five minutes from the sea. Things were more relaxed there, and if I’m honest, they were also a bit boring.

My life in France was a lot more predictable. You wake up, you work and maybe once a week, you have dinner with friends. Here, there is so much more to see and do; places to go out. Things like parenthood don’t slow Athenians down; they keep on living.

The fact is you have everything in Athens: amazing people, a vibrant city and nightlife, the monuments and the beach. Everybody speaks English (thank God, because my Greek isn't up to scratch yet). Greek men are real gentlemen and handsome too!

The daily rhythm of working in Athens was intense at first but I've come to love it. You never know how your day is going to end here! My working schedule has definitely changed. I used to get up at 5am. Now my day rarely starts before 10 and I go to bed much later. I don’t have breakfast anymore; I have coffee. I’ve forgotten the idea of making plans. In Athens, you better be ready to have an open house at the last minute; or meet friends for dinner instead of lunch. Greek people are very creative too when it comes to entertaining themselves: you don’t need a lot of money to do that here. Athens is definitely teaching me to balance my personal and work existence better, and to stop more often to enjoy life.

My main clients are small businesses in France but I have Greek clients too now. That was another reason I picked Athens. A lot of smaller Greek companies haven’t yet jumped on the train of digital marketing which is what I do. Greece is so beautiful but not always advertised as well as it could be. I see Athens as full of possibilities and huge potential. People here are eager to try new things and experiment: an attitude we completely lack back in France.

At the moment, I’m subletting the apartment of a friend in Koukaki (Makrygianni), one street down from the Acropolis Museum. I have a little balcony and if I put myself in just the right position, I can see the Parthenon. When I’m not working, you’ll usually find me climbing up on one of the big rocks on Philopappou Hill; admiring the Acropolis and taking a moment to reflect on life.

I’ve made some great new friends; a mix of locals and expatriates. When lockdown lifts, I can’t wait to go clubbing again. I love the beach clubs like Bolivar in Alimos. Last time I went, I took my laptop and spent the whole day lounging by the sea with friends, doing some work—and then clubbing into the night.

I try to live like an Athenian. The mindset and lifestyle is different from the French. There’s more of a community feel here. You build a little daily routine of visiting your local deli and bakery, the markets. Everything just flows. Even in lockdown, the life in Athens is so amazing that I don’t feel locked in. I feel reborn.

A Family Affair
Keita Yamada, 33, Japanese: Customer Support at global remote work facilitator Doist

One day last year, while I was working in Costa Rica, an overseas colleague and I started talking about which one place we could both move to where we could work together and enjoy a better lifestyle during the pandemic. She’s Italian but her boyfriend is Greek. They chose Athens and relocated in July. My ex-wife and daughter are also Greek, so we agreed that with Covid, it would be better for us all to be in Athens too, near her parents, to have the extra family support. We bought a one-way ticket and moved in September. I’m renting an air bnb in Piraeus within walking distance of Marina Zea, with a typically Athenian view of rooftops—and a bit of the sea too. I have no plans to leave Athens anytime soon. Working for a company that promotes more fulfilling ways to work and live, I’m very grateful for my job, because it really doesn’t matter where I am—or which hours I work.

In Costa Rica, we lived with similar restrictions to Greece, but when we first arrived in Athens, things felt freer and more normal. Our daughter was able to go to daycare again and I went to work each day at Impact Hub (a popular co-working space in Psirri). Compared to Costa Rica, Athens has a good bus and train system. That has really helped me to move around and see the city, and travel to work.

Before the lockdown, one of the things I enjoyed most about my new Athens life was walking around the different neighbourhoods after work and trying out restaurants and bars that I liked the look of. I must have been to the Strange Brew Taproom in Koukaki about 4 times, sampling all their local craft beers! Now, during lockdown, I am working from home, but I can still enjoy a walk around the sea and visit open places like Marina Zea and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre parklands.

Going to my local laiki down the street to get fresh fish, fruit and vegetables—and pick up a few new Greek words with locals while I’m there—has become my new routine; and I can still get easy access to take-away souvlaki! I also enjoy watching my daughter engage with her Greek identity and the language, and spend quality time with her grandparents.

When lockdown is over, I want to get back to walking around the city; checking out all the great street art, and exploring the ruins. I’m originally from Miyazaki, in south Japan, and also lived in Tokyo for 3 years where it’s far more crowded and busy than Athens. Tourism is much more advanced here than Tokyo. Everything is available in English: signs, menus in restaurants. That’s an important advantage for the Japanese.

Because so many people speak English, compared to other European cities, getting around Athens and getting to know the city is easy. I have found the locals friendly and happy to help, once you ask questions. Any place you go in Athens they take pride in what they do, and explain things in detail. When I went to get my haircut recently, for example, the barber really threw himself into it. I can see that passion in every aspect of Athenian life.

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To read more, please visit This is Athens

Whether you've just arrived in town – or have been here for years – Athens always has new secrets to share! This is Athens is the official guide to this captivating city of ancient energies and booming urban culture. Compiled by a team of specialist local writers, This is Athens brings you an authentic and intimate portrait of a living Athens beyond the guidebooks – along with daily curated listings of all the best events and great weekend inspiration all-year round. From must-know neighbourhoods and emerging art hubs, to gourmet hotspots, cool shopping and the buzziest bars, This is Athens will help you to get the most out of living in Athens!

Thank you This is Athens for your contribution as an XpatAthens Partner.

 

Austerity measures have been bad for Greeks, but good for tourism, which shot up 28.8 percent in the first three months of this year compared with the same period in 2014. Another beneficiary? Artists. Rent for studio space is significantly cheaper than in other European capitals, and the political and economic turmoil have provided plenty of artistic fodder — not to mention a frustrated, attentive audience. In the wake of these woes, artists, curators, critics and nonprofits are finding that contemporary art is having its moment in a city best known as the epicenter of the ancient world.

Iliana Fokianaki, an Athens-based curator and art critic, was considering a move to Paris in 2011 when businesses were shuttering, friends were losing their jobs and thousands took to the streets in protest. But rather than motivate her to head out of the country, this had the opposite effect. She stayed.

“I realized it would be much more useful to have an artistic platform in a city like Athens than another European city,” said Ms. Fokianaki, who in 2013 inaugurated State of Concept, a Greek nonprofit gallery that has a twofold mission to showcase artists through solo exhibitions and provide young graduates with free consultations. “The crisis kind of boosted our energy to do more things, rather than flee the country.”

To read more, please visit: New York Times

Price Waterhouse Coopers has analyzed the trajectory of 30 cities, all of which are capitals of finance, commerce, and culture. This study has ranked the cities based on performance and what makes the cities function best. Among the 30 cities that were studied, Athens was ranked 23.

The study examines and identifies the factors that contribute to a successful city and a resilient urban community, evaluating the selected cities on the basis of 10 indicators, organized into 3 families:

In total, the study uses 10 indicators to map a city’s performance:

 

Intellectual capital and innovation, Technology readiness, City Gateway, Health, safety, and security, Sustainability and the natural environment, Demographics and livability, Transportation and infrastructure, Economic clout, Ease of doing business and Cost.

The indicators that were strong points for Athens were health, safety, security, sustainability and the natural environment, cost, and city getaway.

Mayor of Athens, Yorgos Kaminis commented, "This study is a very useful tool in the hands of the Municipal Authority and we will use it to implement both immediate and long-term priorities for the city. The city of Athens proposes a new model of development and social cohesion, with emphasis on openness, innovation and the creation of new jobs to stimulate the Greek capital city as an exclusive tourist destination.”

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek News Agenda

To view the PWC study, please click HERE.

Greece’s four seasons have been featured in a promotional video of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) titled “Greece – A 365-day Destination” that will be included in the 2nd Tourism Video Competition organized by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The competition will be held from September 11th through the 16th in Chengdu, China and will award outstanding country promotional videos.

This video aims to promote Greece as a year round destination, as part of the Tourism Ministry’s strategy to extend the tourism season.



To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Travel Pages