Workers at all means of public transport in Athens have announced their participation in the 24-hour general strike on Wednesday, September 21, 2022.

The strike will affect: 

Athens Metro Lines 2 & 3, Urban Train ISAP (Metro Line 1), tram, blue buses and trolley buses!

*LATEST UPDATE: September 20, 2022

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For information on how to contact an airline not listed below, click HERE.

AEGEAN AIR:
Customers are kindly advised to check the latest flight details by calling:
From Greece 0801 11 20000
From abroad or mobile + 30 210 6261000 or click HERE.

OLYMPIC AIR:
Olympic Air will attempt to contact with passengers on flights affected to forward them to other flights as well as network and informing them about changes in departure times.

For more information please contact the customer service at: 801 801 0101 (fixed) and 210 3550500 (mobile phones) or click HERE.

Made up of the Tinos, Syros and Andros runs, the ‘Cyclades Trail Cup’ — also known as the Cyclades Mountain Running Championship — is ready yet again with the support of the South Aegean Region, local associations, municipal authorities and media including the Greek Travel Pages (Grand Media Sponsor and tourism advisor to the event), to get down to business and prepare for an active year ahead with the aim to promote both wellness and travel and at the same time highlight the unique offerings of the Greek Cyclades via special routes and treks.

The organizers of the Cyclades Trail Cup once again are inviting athletes from all over the world to participate in the event.

2017 Schedule

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

Please click HERE for more information about the Cyclades Trail Cup.

In this week's newsletter find out everything you need to know about the best Greek superfoods, the reasons why an American woman loves living in Greece and discover the coolest events that are taking place in Athens!

 

Bloode, the first online blood donation community in Greece, was launched in 2014 by Natalia Krichsali, Alexander Sotiropoulos and Panagiotis Sfikas, then fellows at the Athens University of Economics and Business. So far, they have had 3 years of success, especially in 2017. 

 

In 2017, Bloode managed to collect 4,500 volunteer blood donors, fulfill 191 requests for blood, and organize 55 blood donations. And their most important success; they donated more than 1,025 liters of blood for people in need.

Bloode grew to two main groups of 26 new volunteers who are now on staff. In order to meet the efficiency and growing needs to reach their goal, they decided to strengthen its management team by creating a new Board of Directors with President Natalia Krizali, a founding member of the organization, and members of the Business Development Director (ReGerenation), Giorgos Nikolettakis (CEO, 100 Mentors) and Angeliki Papadopoulou (Corporate Affairs Officer, Nestlé Hellas). Alexandros Sotiropoulos, also founding member of the Organization, has also now assumed the duties of General Manager and Secretary General of the BoD.

And finally, they developed partnerships with 10 new companies and 3 organizations to begin blood donation programs, which have also boosted their volunteer activity.

Any company that wants to set up a blood donation program and a blood bank for its employees and to those in need, can contact Bloode to help both organize events and inform those who would like to participate. The same applies to any other organization or group that would like to help their community.

Behind Bloode's effort is the community of blood donors, the volunteers of their team and their sponsors. Bloode is especially grateful for the cooperation with the Bodossakis Foundation and the Onassis Foundation, who helped in their effort to donate more blood.

With a new structure, mood and vision Bloode hopes to save even more lives in 2018!

For more information, please visit: Bloode

Nine Lives Greece is a network of volunteers dedicated to the reduction of the stray cat overpopulation through trap-neuter-return programmes.


Unneutered tomcats can create many problems on the streets - to themselves and also those unfortunate enough to get in their way. Five-month-old Gretel was found with a serious scratch wound on her face. And Snow White, who is only 9 months old, was attacked by an unneutered tomcat, likely either trying to mate with her or scare her off his turf. 

Unneutered male cats spray everywhere to mark their territory, annoying their human neighbours and thus increasing the risk of poisoning. They roam further in search of females to mate with, heightening the probability of being run over and risking the lives of the female cats they chase.

They can father potentially hundreds of kittens in their lifetimes, adding to the overpopulation of stray cats in Athens.

Each February, Nine Lives participates in the Humane Society International’s World Spay Day – a global campaign that spotlights the importance of spaying/neutering. 

Spaying/neutering is a proven way to reduce stray cat populations and improve their everyday quality of life. To mark World Spay Day, Nine Lives issues a challenge to supporters: help spay/neuter as many cats possible in one month!

For as little as €35, you can become a Friend of Nine Lives today and a cat will be spayed/neutered, get anti-parasite treatment and receive much-needed medical attention, all thanks to you! 

Click HERE to read their stories and choose a cat (or cats) that you would like to sponsor!

ACS Athens continuously takes an active stand in civic responsibility and environmental issues.

“The school’s dedication in Serving Humanity drives ACS Athens to seek strong partners who share the same vision for a better world,” said ACS Athens President Dr. Stefanos Gialamas. Such an opportunity presented itself at the World Human Forum Convergence at Delphi, when Dr. Gialamas, met Don Mullan, a renowned social entrepreneur and founder of the Hope Initiatives International project under the DonMullan Organization.

During his recent visit to ACS Athens, Mr. Mullan discussed with Dr. Gialamas the significant synergy potential between the two institutions and announced their partnership regarding Africa’s Great Green Wall, an initiative of the African Union, under the auspices of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

ACS Athens, through its civic responsibility and volunteer programs, that are embedded in its academic curriculum, will involve its community to become active supporters of this cause.

ACS Athens is the first school in the world to partner with the Great Green Wall initiative in order to develop a similar environmental project in Greece according to the needs and biodiversity specifications of its ecosystem.

“Through the collaboration and partnership with ACS Athens we hope that we can inspire schools, colleges and universities around the world to join with us in planting millions of trees worldwide and across the Sahel Region in Africa in an effort to halt desertification, grow food security, restore degraded lands and combat the threats posed by Global Warming.” Don Mullan noted on the foundation of this alliance.

African countries have taken the initiative to restore degraded land and thus prevent the estimated 60-million people fleeing sub-Saharan Africa due to desertification. The Great Green Wall is planned to span 13 countries with 8,000 kilometers from east to west and 15 kilometers in depth.

Inspired by this effort, Don Mullan has initiated a number of projects and has been instrumental in achieving a EUR 1.2 million contribution from the Irish Government for a transcontinental UNCCD inventory of the Great Green Wall with a view to a major upscaling of efforts to ensure this 21st Century New World Wonder is delivered by 2030.

One of the many traditions held in Greece is one known as ''Theofania'' and it is one of the most sacred holidays of the Greek Orthodox Church. Whether you're a local, just visiting the country or has recently moved here, don't miss the chance to learn all about this feast day and many more!

Remember to stay connected with us through our weekly newsletter, Facebook, and Instagram!

The Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment of Connecticut, has acquired a 30-year license to operate a casino at a massive new real estate development project unfolding on the grounds of the former Hellinikon International Airport in Athens. The casino will be part of The Hellinikon Project, an €8 billion development on the Athens Riviera that includes a marina, parks, recreational areas, condos, and sports facilities.

 

"We have already done a detailed job to ensure that we start as soon as possible," said MGE's CEO, Mario Kontomerkos, at an economic forum in mid-June. Kontomerkos, stated that MGE aims to create the premier entertainment destination in southern Europe.

 

Greek Development and Investment Minister, Adonis Georgiadis, said that the initial phase of The Hellinikon Project will begin in July and includes site preparation such as clearing the area and demolishing some 900 buildings and structures. Along with the casino resort, The Hellinikon Project will include luxury homes and condos, a marina, a shopping district, office space, a public park the size of Central Park, and a nearly mile-long beach.

To read this article in full, please visit: pappaspost.com

Heavy snow covered Athens on Tuesday February 16th as was expected by the 'Medea storm' with temperatures reaching well below freezing! 

Even though the Greek capital and its historic monuments looked incredibly beautiful covered in white and Athenians emerged cautiously outside, snapping photos, authorities appealed to the public to restrict their movements and stay inside. 

Outside the Greek parliament, orange-colored snowplows cleared streets of ice, while presidential guards, dressed in traditional pleated kilts and pompom-tipped shoes, were given blue capes to brave the cold. The slippery floor in front of the monument affected the changing of the guard as it was not carried out in the known way with a march, but with a military vehicle.

It is noted that Medea also halted COVID-19 vaccinations in Athens and many other services across the country were brought to a standstill. The heavy snow forced public transport services to stop, while toppled trees caused blackouts in several areas of the capital. Furthermore, sections of Greece's main highways were closed, most ferry services to the islands were cancelled, and flights from regional airports to Athens were disrupted.

All in all, there was an unprecedented amount of snow in Athens this week. It was absolutely beautiful to see, it caused a lot of unexpected disruption, and as we're rounding up our week, the snow has already melted in most parts of the city.

To see some amazing pictures of Athens covered in snow, visit our Facebook page here.

Image Credit: @chromecabrio

Sources:
Greek City Times
CTV News
Euronews

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The comparative advantages of Kos as an emerging biking destination were presented by Deputy Transport Minister Michalis Papadopoulos during an event held recently on the island by local authorities.

According to Papadopoulos, cycling has become an everyday habit for the residents of Kos, an island that for decades has been receiving groups of cyclists who enjoy its numerous cycling routes. He also referred to the climate crisis and the need to use mild transport modes in order to reduce carbon emissions.

“Green tourism has become a trend in many areas of Europe such as Scandinavia. Travelers now choose environmentally friendly modes of transport… Kos can offer all that with the bicycle as a vehicle,” Papadopoulos added.

Greece’s EuroVelo Cycling Routes

During the event, Papapopoulos also referred to Greece’s efforts to establish a National EuroVelo Coordination Center that would promote cycling tourism in the country.

EuroVelo is a cycling network connecting European countries. It includes 17 certified cycling routes that cover 51,000km across 42 countries.

“There are three cycling routes passing by Greece and our ambition is to include Kos in the EuroVelo network as the island fulfills all the requirements: it offers flat terrain, many roads with low-speed limit and traffic, and – above all – special interest routes,” Papadopoulos said.

He also pledged that the Transport Ministry would offer the support and know-how8 in order for Kos to become a prime biking destination.

Kos’ Study For Biking Tourism

Organized by the municipality of Kos, the event also included the presentation of a study for the development of biking tourism on the island. Its main proposals include:

– the promotion of existing cycling infrastructure
– the extension and signage of its cycling routes
– the creation of dirt roads for the promotion of Kos’ mountainous areas
– the development of suburban routes to be included in the EuroVelo network
– the development of an action plan for the promotion of Kos’ biking tourism product in Greece and abroad.

Main image: @cocomat.bike_kos

Originally published on: news.gtp.gr