Although indulging in a satisfying meal is a pleasure for most people, Greeks in Athens take their food even more seriously.

Unlike some of the spicier specialties found in other parts of the world, Athenian dishes are mild and flavorsome. For the most part, the seasonings used in Greek cooking are the ones you already y have in your spice rack. Another benefit is that Greek cuisine consistently uses olive oil instead of the unhealthy oils that can harm our circulatory systems and hearts.

We’ve chosen 5 of our favorite dishes that you should make sure to taste whenever you find yourself in Athens.

These crispy deep-fried balls come in many varieties depending on what part of Greece you visit. For example in Santorini, keftedes are made from juicy local tomatoes, and in Sifnos from chickpeas. However, the most typical varieties are meatballs, cheeseballs, and fishballs.

Melitzanosalata is the Greek alternative to Babaganoush, a delicious eggplant dip/spread typically accompanied by crunchy bread or pita bread.

Baked and similar to eggplant parmesan but without as much tomato sauce. The dish contains cinnamon, eggplant, ground beef, onions, oil, potatoes, topped with a thick bechamel sauce.

Pastitsio is much like lasagna but not as saucy. The dish consists of layered bucatini-style pasta, ground beef, tomato sauce, and toppings similar to moussaka but not as thick.

Stifado, one of the most flavorsome stews in Greek cuisine, can be made with beef, octopus, or rabbit– a delicious stifado calls for lots of whole small onions, tomatoes, vinegar, wine, and spices.

Although these are our top 5 picks of dishes to try in Athens, countless other dishes are just as tasty and well worth trying.

Not all desserts have to be chocolate, right? Try these vegan olive oil and orange cookies, which align perfectly with the healthy mediterranean diet. This recipe is a great way to give in to your sweet tooth without feeling guilty.

Ingredients:

The museum of Contemporary Art will be fully operational within 2018 and fascinating Van Gogh exhibition takes place in the city. Click to find out everything you need to know about Athens' Latest News & Updates!

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Animal adoption is something we pay close attention at and treat very carefully here at XpatAthens. That's why we would like to raise some awareness towards our community regarding a recent concern and also make it easier for you to adopt an animal, with a list of some of the most trustworthy  organisations.

Ten months before the event with 50% discount!

Professional and amateur running and open water swimmingathletes from all over the world will feel a rush of adrenaline at the top sports tourism event “Santorini Experience”, which will be held for a 5th consecutive year, on 4-6 October 2019.

“Santorini Experience” opens its registration 10 months before its implementation, in order to serve the high demand from abroad, in the best possible way. Specifically, participants will be able to take advantage of the early bird prices, with a 50% discount on their registrations, if they complete them by 31/3/2019.

Those who decide to travel to Santorini to compete, should hurry up in order to take advantage of this offer, as in the second registration period, from 1/4/2019 the discount will be 25% per activity. The third and final registration period will be activated from 1/7/2019until the day of the event, setting the final registration cost per activity.

Register now HERE!

Santorini Experience collaborates in registrations for a second consecutive year with Travelotopos Ltd, the most innovative software solution company in tourism. Since its foundation in 2014, the company has designed and launched in the market four booking systems covering all sectors of tourism with great success and acceptance from the industry. In 2016 it had been awarded as the Best New Solution for Tourism in the Tourism Awards.

“Santorini Experience” participants will get the special designed technical T-shirt of the event signed by its Official Sports Supplier Luanvi, while at the same time they will receive even more gifts and surprises by the official sponsors. Specifically, participation packages in running include bag, t-shirt, medal, entry number and timing chip, while in swimming, bag, t-shirt, swimming cap, medal, tattooed entry number and timing chip.

The event’s entire collection will be available soon at Alafouzos Sport store in Fira, Santorini and online through the official site of Luanvi. Luanvi, the leading company in the
sportswear industry in Spain, with more than 35 years of history and a great number of partnerships with professional teams from all team sports, is also the official sponsor of the Spanish Paralympic team and Spanish Tennis Federation. Luanvi excels in the area of running, providing technical shirts and high quality sportswear to almost 40 big sporting events per year (indicative of this is the company’s exclusive partnership with Valencia Marathon).

The Spanish sportswear manufacturer will cooperate for the second time with Santorini Experience.

Watch the video teaser of Santorini Experience 2019 HERE!

On Saturday October 5 th 2019, runners will have the opportunity to enjoy the three established routes on the Caldera, overlooking the enchanting images of the volcano and the background scenery of Imerovigli, Firostefani and Oia. Specifically, the 5km “Aristides Alafouzos” route is ideal for running and dynamic walking, the 10km is addressed to the most experienced in distances and the 15km route to those who love strength, endurance and adrenaline. All routes start from the desalination plant in Oia, including parts of trail track, and finish in Oia.

On Sunday October 6 th 2019, participants will have the opportunity to swim from the volcano to the old port of Fira, having the imposing view of the island in front of them, in
the 1.5 miles (2.4 km) race. Organization will provide amateur athletes with a high-quality safety lifeguard buoy, giving them extra motive to choose “Santorini Experience”. Swimming route will take place with the upmost safety in the enchanting sea of Santorini (average water temperature of 20-22 degrees Celsius). Once again, experienced lifeguards will contribute in safety measures, providing staff as well as lifeboats. Different categories will be formed depending on the final participation entries, while a separate category for those wearing wetsuits will be added.

For yet another year, Luanvi is the event’s official sports supplier, while Athina Luxury Suites is the official sponsor.

Official Supporters include: Santorini Hoteliers Association, Meltemi Hotels & Resorts, Boatmen Union Santorini and Avance Rent A Car.

The following hospitality sponsors will support the event: Santorini Hoteliers Association, Meltemi Hotels & Resorts, Athina Luxury Suites and Sienna Resort. “Santorini Experience” is a co-organization of Municipality of Santorini, Municipal Sports Cultural Environmental Organization of Santorini (DAPPOS) and Active Media Group.

More info at: www.santorini-experience.com
Official Sports Supplier: Luanvi
Official Sponsor: Athina Luxury Suites
Official Supporters: Santorini Hoteliers Association, Meltemi Hotels & Resorts, Boatmen
Union Santorini, Avance Rent A Car
Hospitality Sponsors: Santorini Hoteliers Association, Meltemi Hotels & Resorts, Athina
Luxury Suites, Sienna Resort

Official Hashtag: #SantoriniExperience

Photo credit: Elias Lefas 

When looking for somewhere to base your business, what are your non-negotiables? Location? Price? The right kind of atmosphere? Free coffee? If you could create your dream office from top to bottom, what would it be like? A one-size-fits-all approach isn’t good enough – a flexible workspace brings your business bespoke products and services.

Our expectations from our workspaces have increased, with our sensitivity to how our office environment can affect our mental state, improve productivity and more. Businesses invest time in weighing their options, as the right base can help build networks, strike a better work/life balance by reducing the commute, and deliver value for money with useful services to avail as per requirements.

IWG - which owns an array of flexspace brands including Regus & SPACES – aims at catering to various working styles and kinds of companies. 

A flexible working space allows companies to review the workspace they are leasing – to upscale or downsize in line with their business outlook – so they’re only using and paying for resources that are actually needed.

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Having office-management services included – think cleaning, IT support, and friendly receptionists – allows teams to focus on the work at hand rather than the hassle of maintaining an office. While these services are part and parcel of a Regus membership, there are other products that businesses can opt for to customise their experience further. 

Flexspace can be your safety net, with Workplace Recovery Solutions, if your main office becomes unusable due to unforeseeable circumstances, and the Virtual Office Service which can make one of our location YOUR local business address.

There are more than 3,300 locations worldwide, and our 2.5 million plus members are able to drop into them when they need – whether it’s to meet an overseas client in a private meeting room, or to send off a contract from the comfort of a business lounge or a co-working space before catching a flight home.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister of Development & Investments Nikos Papathanassis stated that indoor seating is not allowed before the first half of June.

To read this article in full, please visit: amna.gr

The Acropolis Museum has created a website especially for its little friends. ​The “Acropolis Museum Kids” has been designed for children between six and twelve years old. It invites them to become acquainted with the fascinating world of the Museum while having fun. Inspiring games, amusing videos as well as a series of inventive activities prompt children to think, discover, play, experiment and make their own creations.


Fun Activities At The Acropolis Museum Kids Website

1. Digital Horse Memory Game

 

Find 2 matching photographs of the Museum's horses

2. Cooking Class – Ancient Edition!

Prepare an easy snack that was also eaten by the children in ancient Athens thousands of years ago!

3. Make A Iynx, An Ancient Greek Toy With A Special Sound

Spin it, stretch it, and then let it go! That’s how you play the so called iynx, a kid’s game that was particularly popular in ancient Athens with a really curious history.


For more information and fun activities, please visit: acropolismuseumkids.gr

Located off the coast of Alonnisos, a verdant island part of the Sporades archipelago, Greece's first underwater museum was inaugurated last August and has now reopened its doors for the 2021 summer season. The Museum's main attraction is the Classical-era shipwreck dating back to 500 BC, but visitors will also admire the rich marine life surrounding the shipwreck. 

In 1985, a local fisherman discovered the shipwreck near the rocky coastline of the uninhabited island of Peristera. Since then, numerous excavations have been carried out, uncovering interesting details about the ship and its precious cargo. The ship is believed to be an Athenian vessel, one of the biggest merchant vessels of the time, that sunk in the area in 425 BC, due to a yet unknown cause. It carried 4,000 wine amphorae from the Greek cities of Peparithos (Skopelos) and Mendi (Halkidiki), both well-known for their great wine, and it was also loaded with black-glazed bowls, cups, plates, and tableware. All these items were essential parts of the symposia, Ancient Greece's drinking events hosted by aristocratic men. 

Except for its great historical importance and its unique artifacts, the Museum also boasts unparalleled natural beauty, as it's part of the National Marine Park of Alonissos and Northern Sporades, the largest marine protected area in Europe. The park is home to monk seals, dolphins, sperm whales, loggerhead turtles, about 300 fish species, and the rare red coral.

Until recently, this underwater paradise was accessible only to archaeologists, but now divers are welcomed to take a plunge into the water and, at a depth of about 30 meters, encounter the so-called Peristera, named after the neighboring island. Upon diving, you'll probably feel like you're entering a fascinating and mysterious world of wonders, where colorful fish and sea sponges are nestled in well-preserved ancient amphorae. 

There is yet so much more to learn from the wreck and no one knows the treasures that might still lay buried, but one thing is for sure; the Peristera shipwreck truly is a diver's paradise!