LIFE & CULTURE

XpatAthens
Athens Flying Week 2021
Greece Announces Lifting Of Covid-19 Restrictions For Summer Tourism Season
Greece's vital summer tourism season has officially begun. With the country expecting high numbers of visitors this year, the decision to lift COVID-19 restrictions throughout the summer tourism period was made and authorities will consider reinstating them in September.
Click here to learn more about how to protect yourself, symptoms, and where to seek medical treatment.
Click here to read about how to get vaccinated for COVID-19 in Greece.
New Measures
- As of May 1, 2022, the public will no longer need to present coronavirus vaccination or illness certificates to enter indoor or open spaces such as restaurants.
- Students will no longer be required to regularly present negative self-tests starting May 1, 2022.
- Unvaccinated employees will have to present 1 negative Rapid Antigen Test per week to access their workspace as of May 1, 2022.
- From May 1 until August 31, 2022, all venues will be able to operate at full capacity (100 percent).
- Wearing masks indoors will no longer be mandatory as of June 1, 2022 with some exceptions that will be announced shortly
Article sources used above: gtp.gr and naftemporiki.gr.
Where To Drink Ouzo Like A Local

Photo Credit: Eleni Veziri
Address: 2 Themistokleous, Omonia, Historic Centre
Telephone: 210 383 8485
To Ouzeri tou Laki

To many Greeks and foreigners, ouzo and a table of mezedes are best enjoyed by the sea, watching boats come and go. In Athens, Lakis’ ouzeri is about as close as you can get to having that experience, though the surroundings are landlocked. A kaiki (fishing boat) rudder stands by the entrance, a ship’s wheel hangs on one wall, nautical motifs decorate others, and the ceiling lights resemble seashells. An open refrigerator displays an exciting array of fresh fish and seafood, brought in daily from Kymi and Skyros. You can choose your own fish to complement unusual dishes such as chickpea fritters, mackerel with caramelized onions and sardine moussaka. Many customers are regulars, sipping from 16 different brands of ouzo and toasting the sign opposite the entrance: “All the world is a madhouse, but this is the headquarters.”
Address: 16 Elpidos, Victoria Square
Telephone: 210 8213776
Hohlidaki

Photo Credit: Eleni Veziri
Most mezedopolia have a generous selection of ouzo brands, but Hohlidaki probably holds the record with 130 in their collection. The bottles are arranged on and above the counter that separates the cosy, funky dining area, with its vintage posters, photos and ancient (functioning) jukebox, from the kitchen. It might take a while to taste them all, but the menu offers so many appetisers, you’ll find it hard to choose. Not only does this 30-year-old ouzeri serve scores of standard delicacies, it also changes its menu at least twice a year to focus on a specific region of Greece. Last time we were there, it featured dishes from the Ionian islands—lentils and eel from Lefkada, baked eggplant from Zakynthos, Corfiot sofrito, and Cephalonian meat pie. Eating here is always a gastronomic adventure, a way of exploring foods you would ordinarily have to travel extensively to savour.
Address: 31 Adrianiou, Neo Psychiko
Telephone: 210 674 6661
To read this article in full, please visit: thisisathens.org
Greece Is The Tourism Recovery Champion Of Europe
Greece has emerged the real winner in the battle for the recovery of the tourism sector in Europe according to a recent Financial Times story.
Whilst tourism has seen a drop in once popular destinations like Spain, Greece is making a remarkable recovery despite the pandemic and the recent fire devastation.
Citing data from are travel data company OAG, the “FT” piece noted that despite the fact that seats on flights scheduled for August in Europe were reduced by 31% compared to the corresponding month of 2019 on routes to Greece, traffic in August has exceeded pre-coronary data, and is up 2%.
This positive news comes in sharp contrast to drops observed in other popular European tourist destinations, such as Spain, one of the most important Mediterranean destinations, which saw corresponding flight seats reduced by 25%.
As the “FT” reports, “the constant messaging from Greece that it is open to tourism seem to be bearing fruit.”
According to the same data, the main factors for the recovery of tourist flows to Greece are the great interest from Germany, France and Switzerland.
According to OAG, the scheduled capacity of flights from these three markets has increased by 25%, 31% and 26% respectively compared to August 2019, despite the fact that 2019 was a record year in terms of arrivals in Hellas.
Originally published on: greekcitytimes.com
How To Cope With Back-to-School Stress
COVID-Related Concerns
For students who spent months out of traditional in-person classrooms due to the COVID-19 pandemic, going back to school may feel extra intimidating or even scary.
Sometimes, kids are anxious or worried about the upcoming school year because of experiences with bullies. For many kids, this time away from school was a welcome reprieve from mean behavior and cutting remarks. So, as the new school year approaches, they may begin to worry that they will have to go through the same experiences again.
Foster Familiarity
As the school year approaches, it's important to help your child feel more comfortable about their new school environment. One of the things that can cause back-to-school anxiety for kids is not knowing what to expect.
One way to help ease anxiety and stress about starting school is to remind your kids about what makes going to school great. Aside from learning new things and participating in extracurricular activities, there is a lot that is good about school.
Remind your kids that they're not the only ones who may be nervous about starting school again. Other students are likely to be just as anxious as they are about the first day of school. Reassure them too, that the teacher knows kids are nervous, and will probably spend time helping students feel more comfortable as they settle into the classroom.
One of the best ways to combat anxiety and stress is to address eating, sleeping, and exercise habits. Make sure kids get enough sleep and eat a balanced diet. Getting adequate sleep and eating healthy food, especially a balanced breakfast, is important for brain function, mood, and the ability to focus and pay attention in school.
To read this article in full, please visit: verywellfamily.com
Melitzanosalata: Greek-Style Eggplant Dip
Cooking Instructions
- Wash the eggplants and pat dry. Pierce them with a fork all over and place them on a baking tray on the top shelf. Broil for 30 minutes, then flip them and broil them for another 20 minutes, until they go very soft and the skin turns wrinkly and charred.
- Remove from the oven and allow them to cool for 15-30 minutes. Once cooled down and easy to hold, carefully scoop out the softened eggplant from the charred skin using a spoon and discard most of the seeds.
- Place on a colander, add salt, and allow the insides to strain for at least 10-15 minutes. Gently press them with your hands to remove any excess water and finely chop them or pulse them using a food processor.
- Place the eggplant into a bowl and add in the chopped scallions and garlic, the peppers, the olives, the yogurt, and the herbs. Mix well. Gradually add in the olive oil, and then add the lemon juice, cumin, some pepper and adjust the salt if necessary. Mix well with a spoon. Transfer into a bowl, drizzle with some extra olive oil and serve.
Tip 2: Let the eggplant strain well before you blitz it.
For more tips and details, please visit: culinarybackstreets.com
Sculpture Culture: Urban Statues In Athens For Your Instagram


Photo Credit: Thomas Gravanis
The eight-meter-high figure of a runner formed by staggered plates of green glass is as much a feat of engineering as aesthetics. It’s by no means the only work of sculptor Costas Varotsos, a Fulbright scholar, but it’s certainly the most visible and best-known. Originally installed in Omonia in 1988, this highly-snappable landmark was moved to its current location in 1994. It’s an apt site as it signals runners on the Athens Classic Marathon that they’re just minutes from the finish line. By using a universal symbol—the human form in perpetual motion—Varotsos makes post-modernist art more relatable to the public, underscoring his belief in art’s dynamic as a vehicle for social change.

Photo Credit: Thomas Gravanis

Photo Credit: Thomas Gravanis

Photo Credit: Thomas Gravanis
Whether you've just arrived in town – or have been here for years – Athens always has new secrets to share!
Work Begins On Syntagma Square Makeover
The makeover is based on a plan adopted in light of the 2004 Summer Olympics.
For more information, please visit: ekathimerini.com
Led Zeppelin Symphonic - Odeon Of Herodes Atticus
With all the regulations and measures in place to protect the health of spectators, it's time to revel again at an amazing concert under the Parthenon!!!
City Garden - All Legends Festival
Every Wednesday during September, a legendary musical tribute awaits on the City Garden Festival's stage, ready to take you back in time to listen to unforgettable songs that you definately love!
In the first year of this new festival, the outdoor area of the Christmas Theater will transform into a cool summer music hall ready to welcome the following musical tributes directly from London's West End:
Majesty Queen - A Tribute To Queen
Wednesday, September 1st 2021
One Night Of Elvis - A Tribute To Elvis Presley
Wednesday, September 8th 2021
One Night Of Tina - A Tribute To Tina Turner
Wednesday, September 15th 2021
Absolute BOWIE - A Tribute To David Bowie
Wednesday, September 22nd 2021