Travel Bloggers Greece selected to visit the Montanema Handmade Village in Central Greece to experience “another face of Greece” that combined mountain hiking, village excursions, local gastronomy and lake activities.

 

Several outdoor excursions included a guided hike in Agrafa Mountains to its famed waterfalls and horseback riding at the Saloon Stables along Lake Plastiras.  TBG also experienced a “farm-to-table” tour. The bloggers milked sheep, gathered eggs at a family farm in Frago, toured the fifth-generation Pyrotzello flour mill and helped make traditional Greek egg pasta called hilopetes at the Karagouna pasta factory.  Throughout the trip, members dined at Montanema’s Fournia restaurant sampling specialties prepared with local meat, dairy products, herbs, spices, fruits and vegetables. 

 “The idea for the village was planted 15 years ago when the owner was hiking and stumbled upon a little home built in the forest hidden in the lush mountainous landscape.  He envisioned Montanema and today his dream is a reality. It opened last year as a unique accommodation that reflects the natural beauty of this area of Greece. Now, Travel Bloggers Greece can share that experience with their international readers and followers,” said Artemis Kokkinou, Village Hostess of the Montanema Handmade Resort.  

The mountain’s steep slopes meld in harmony with the 33 apartments and suites that were built with an eco-friendly, bio-climatic architectural design.  

“Our travel bloggers loved exploring the mountainous nature of Greece,” said Elena Sergeeva, co-founder of TBG. “Montanema’s hospitality has enabled us share the incredible nature and culture of Central Greece with our photography, social media activity and our travel writing.”

Also at Montanema, TBG member and photography blogger, Dimitrios Asithianakis, taught the group’s first educational workshop: You and Your DSLR Camera.  

 “We aim to collaborate and help educate each other so we can all be better travel bloggers,” said Marissa Tejada, co-founder of TBG. “Like Montanema, we look forward to sharing more authentic experiences on our international blogging and website platforms that focus on travel and culture in Greece.”

About Travel Bloggers Greece (TBG):  TBG is the first blogger networking group established in Greece based on a core set of professional values. Members are Greeks and expats who live in Greece and cover Greece as a travel destination in various languages.  TBG members abide by ethical standards and encourage positive cooperation, education and collaboration.  TBG works with Greece-based businesses to help promote authentic travel and increased awareness of Greek travel destinations. For more information visit: www.travelbloggersgreece.com

The following TBG member blogs participated in the trip to Montanema Handmade Village:

A Greek Adventure http://www.agreekadventure.com

Family Goes Out http://www.familygoesout.com

Life Beyond Borders http://www.lifebeyondbordersblog.com

Meet Culture  http://www.meetculture.com & http://www.meetculture.cn

My Greece, My Travels http://mygreecemytravels.com  

Passion for Greece http://www.passionforgreece.com

Photography Traveler http://photographytraveler.com

The fascinating and maddening metropolis of Athens, bounded on three sides by Mount Hymettus, Mount Parnitha and Mount Pentelicus, apart from Parthenon’s 2500-year-old honey-color marble columns, has much more to offer.

If you have only 24 hours to explore Athens, the beautiful Greek capital city where tradition is exceptionally juxtaposed with modernity, here is a great way to spend the day.

The view of the Acropolis suffused with the light of the morning sun’s rays is the best starting point for a fascinating sightseeing tour of the city center. The neoclassical café Athinaion Politeia is the best place to taste the flavors of an original Greek breakfast. Address:  Athinaion Politeia, 1 Akamantos & Apostolou Pavlou, Thiseio, Athens

Abandon yourself in the disparate colors, scents and sounds of the labyrinthine corners of an area that is nestled under the ancient Acropolis. Browse among the secondhand books, haggle over the price of the antiques, wander through the open-air market stores and try a souvlaki at Bairaktaris Restaurant. Address: Bairaktaris, 63 Metropolis & 88 Metropolis, Monastiraki, Athens

Well-frequented shops, cafes, street vendors and artists crown the length of Ermou Street.  Mitropoleos Street, on the other hand, is a jewel among the architectural creations of the 20th century.  

Visiting the Acropolis Museum Restaurant, you can enjoy panoramic views of the Acropolis and the historic hills of Athens. The restaurant offers a great variety of tasty dishes that are based on authentic Greek recipes.

Opening hours: Monday to Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. (every Friday the restaurant remains open until 12 midnight), Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

To read more, please visit: Greek Reporter

by Katerina Papathanasiou

The Hellenic Initiative (TΗΙ) announces a grant of $50,000 for the support of The Library Project at the Gennadius and Blegen libraries of The American School of Classical Studies (ASCS) in Athens. Through this grant, part of THI’s programs supporting youth education in Greece, two young librarians will have the opportunity to receive training in collections care and management in preparation for a career in library science for a one-year period, contributing at the same time in the strategic plan of modernization and digitalization of the Libraries’ catalogues and archives.

The American School of Classical Studies is a private research center located in the heart of Athens, committed to education, archaeological exploration and scholarly research since 1881. Moreover, the two ASCSA Libraries provide one of the best research facilities to scholars working in Greece. The Gennadius Library is among the most renown in the world for the study of Byzantine, Medieval, and modern Greece, and the Blegen Library is devoted to the study of Greece and Rome. “The Library Project” is a long-term plan to combine and streamline the Blegen and Gennadius Libraries, re-organizing their holdings in order to provide readers with greater access to the collections.

Michael Printzos, THI Director of Programming, stated: “THI support for this project is about the preservation of the past and prepartaiton for the future. The consolidation and modernization of the Libraries and Archives of ASCSA, improving and making more accessible significant chapters of our history from antiquity to the present is an ongoing vital mission. At the same time, we are pleased to give the opportunity to two young professionals to work for one of the most prestigious institutions gaining significant experience for their professional development”.

Dr. Maria Georgopoulou, Gennadius Library Director, added: “The support of The Hellenic Initiative is very important for us, since it enables us to offer work opportunity to two new graduates, who acquire valuable experience in a healthy work environment operating under US standards. We are thankful for THI’s support and hope that it will continue its efforts towards the support of Greek youth.”

For more information, please visit: The Hellenic Initiative and One Greece
For more information about ASCSA, please visit: The ASCSA

---

The Hellenic Initiative and their Mission: Investing in the future of Greece through direct philanthropy and economic revitalization. We empower people to provide crisis relief, encourage entrepreneurs, and create jobs. We are The Hellenic Initiative (THI) - a global movement of the Greek Diaspora.

The American School of Classical Studies at Athens: The American School of Classical Studies at Athens (ASCSA) strives to maintain and enhance its position as the preeminent center for the study of the Greek world from antiquity to the present day. It advances knowledge of Greece in all periods, as well as other areas of the classical world, by training young scholars, sponsoring and promoting archaeological fieldwork, providing resources for scholarly work, and disseminating research. The ASCSA is also charged by the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Tourism with primary responsibility for all American archaeological research, and seeks to support the investigation, preservation, and presentation of Greece’s cultural heritage.

One of the most well-hidden secrets of Athens, the unique Railway Carriage Theater to Treno sto Rouf, is an innovative, boutique, railway cultural venue, inside vintage train wagons. Heralded by 19th century science fiction novelist, Jules Vernes, it was realized in 1997 by the actress and director Tatiana Ligari to host the only train-theater in the world.

The Railway Carriage Theater to Treno sto Rouf consists of nine refurbished antique cars, including an original wagon-restaurant from the 1926 Simplon Orient Express and a refurbished Breda type steam engine, which dates back to 1953, constituting evidence to modern Greek history and industrial heritage. All nine cars have been subsequently transformed, repaired and refurbished accordingly, with great sensitivity to originality and aesthetics, and are now home to a theatre stage, a music stage, a restaurant, a bar and foyer, dressing rooms and utility rooms. Every spring and summer there are tables set out on the station platform, where you can claim a spot in the cool breeze of the open-air bar-restaurant “Apovathra”.

For 22 consecutive years, the venue program mainly consists of artistic productions (theater, music, dance, visual arts, guided tours, educational programs, festivals, art projects, exhibitions, screenings, lectures etc.) equally paired with dining (be it romantic private parties, themed evenings or corporate events), while our bar and restaurant are open to all visiting guests.

Athens 2017 - The final countdown for the 1st international golf tournament Messinia Pro-Am taking place in Costa Navarino has already begun!

 

The Westin Resort Costa Navarino is ready to open again, welcoming the new tourism season and the top professional and amateur golfers globally!

Within the last months, the interest of the teams for the tournament peaked. 6 remaining places are now open before the final completion of all the teams!

Messinia Pro-Am 2017 is an occasion to highlight the hospitality element, for which Messinia is famous from the Homeric years! 30 teams, each consisting of one professional and three amateurs will compete on February 21-24, 2017 in the 1st Messinia Pro-Am for the first place! Among them many distinguished international professional athletes will play, such as the Dutch Ralph Miller (who recently won the PGA's of Europe Individual Championship), the Portuguese Hugo Santos (3 times champion of the PGA Professional Championship of Europe), the Italian Emanuele Canonica (Champion of European Tour, 2005), the British, Graham Fox (No. 2 in the ranking of the PGA in Scotland), and the famous Italian Lorenzo Gagli (featured in the top 150 of the Official World Golf Ranking), as well as top Greek Pros including Adam Kritikos, Eugene Papadopoulos and Panos Karantzias!

On Sunday, February 19, the teams will receive their participation bags and confirm their participation in the tournament’s registration office at House of Events, The Westin Resort Costa Navarino. On Monday, February 20 they will be able to have their first unofficial practice.

Tuesday, February 21 is the first official practice day of each team, with the opportunity for athletes to work out in the two award-winning Costa Navarino golf courses. The tournament kicks off on Wednesday, February 22 with the 1st round being held at The Dunes Course. The 2nd round will be held on Thursday, February 23 at The Bay Course. The third and final round of the game will take place on Friday, February 24 at The Dunes Course, while the award ceremony of the tournament will take place at the end of day. The Messinia Pro-Am 2017 detailed schedule is available here.

Messinia Pro-Am aims to promote golf tourism in Greece. The sponsors supporting this goal are the official airline partner AEGEAN, member of the global airline alliance, STAR ALLIANCE, the official sponsor, Loux, which is the largest Greek soft drinks and juices company and Vodafone, Poseidonia, MyTransfer and CU BOX that equally support the tournament as official sponsors.

The company J.VOURAKIS SONS EE, official supporter will craft the golfers’ prizes. METAXA, Kyvernitis Travel and ΤοmTom Sports are also official supporters.

The contribution of the tournament helpers is particularly significant, as their benefits ensure the smooth running of the event. The Helpers include Kalamata Papadimitriou, the brands Stolichnaya and Fever-Tree, Predaris with the Cu Wrap brand and Dimiourgies.

The 1st Messinia Pro Am is organized under the auspices of the PGAs of Europe, the PGA of Greece, the Hellenic Golf Federation and the Hellenic Olympic Academy.

Please click HERE for the Messinia Pro-Am website.

Santorini is one of the most popular destinations in the world for couples and honeymooners looking for a romantic getaway. It’s not a place that comes to mind for a lot of families, but thanks to Santorini Dave’s fantastic guide, you can feel confident about traveling to Santorini with your kids!

These are 2 wonderful historical towns with a maze of walkways and alleys. Pyrgos is built on a hill with an old castle on top. Emborio is flat and smaller, but both offer plenty of opportunities to get happily lost.

Santorini’s unique beaches can be enchanting or disappointing, or both, depending on your tastes. On one hand the dark black sand is cool to look at and makes for a very unique beach experience.

There is a simple but fun water park at Perissa beach with 3 pools, 3 water slides, and a kids’ play area. It’s the only truly kid-friendly attraction on the island so make use of it.

To read this article in full, please visit: Santorini Dave

The City of Athens in cooperation with C40 cities initiative and the Walking and Cycling Network are planning to expand the city's bicycle lanes to include the areas of Ambelokipi, Exarchia, Kolonaki, Kypseli, and Petralona. The project aims to reduce traffic and pollution, while making Athens a more cyclist-friendly city. The new bicycle lanes will be added to the existing route that connects Gazi, a downtown neighborhood, to Faliro on the southern coast of Athens. In the meantime, plans to connect Gazi to Kifissia, are already in progress.

 

According to the municipality, the main goal of the project is to create a functional and user-friendly network of cycling routes that will eventually expand to include even more areas in the city Athens.

Source: ekathimerini

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and Athens is about to be filled with love!

We wanted to make sure that this year is extra special so we've teamed up with Clio Muse Tours – an award-winning, local Greek self-guided audio tour app - and L'Audrion Wine & More - one of Athens' best wine bars in Plaka - to bring you a wonderfully romantic experience in Athens - dinner and a tour! 

First you'll enjoy a self-guided English audio walking tour in central Athens called "Love as Chimera | Α Valentine Tour in Athens" that follows the steps of four passionate stories. All Clio Muse tours are written by accredited professionals in the unique Clio Muse ‘storytelling’ manner. All you need to do is download the tour to your smartphone device (Android & iOS), plug in your headphones, and head out to discover some of the most fascinating Athenian love stories! This romantic tour will take you to some of the city's most exciting locations such as the Acropolis Museum, Ermou, Psiri, and the National Archaeological Museum area. (*See note at bottom).

Learn more about Clio Muse on their website, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

L'Audrion Dinner For 2 - Early Evening Reservation

 
Having set the mood with love filled stories from the city's fascinating past, head to L'Audrion - a most romantic French restaurant and one of Athens' most talked about wine bars, to indulge in a delicious meal prepared by Chef Alain Parodi! Your dinner will include 2 glasses of Crémant sparkling wine, a first course to share, a main course of your choice (each), a Valentine's dessert, water and coffee. (*See note at bottom)

Learn more about L'Audrion on their website, Facebook, and Instagram.

---

Note to Participants:

* The Clio Muse audio tour does not include a tour guide, earphones/headphones, transportation to/from attractions, food and drinks, hotel pickup and drop-off, or entrance fees to museums and sites. It includes offline content with offline interactive map to avoid roaming charges and to enjoy at your own pace, anytime. The app is not compatible with Windows phones.

Whether you’re living in Athens under lockdown – or are reading this from afar - it’s safe to say that we’re all missing the Athens we know and love. Keep the flame burning bright during this month of Cupid by watching some Love Athens video postcards and see just how much she’s feeling missed too. 

Please click HERE to view this issue of our newsletter!

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