Delta Air Lines’ nonstop double daily flights between Athens and New York-JFK are now on sale for travel in summer 2016, an announcement said on Monday 5th October 2015.

Flights will begin five times weekly from March 27, 2016, increasing to a daily service from May 24, 2016 using an Airbus A330-300 aircraft with 292 seats.

From May 27, 2016, an additional flight will be added which will also operate on a daily basis with a Boeing 767-400 aircraft with 245 seats, bringing the weekly total to 14 flights.

During the peak summer months, Delta will offer over 7,500 weekly seats between Greece and the United States.

All services from Athens are operated in conjunction with joint venture partners Air France KLM and Alitalia.

“Our investment in our New York-JFK hub means we offer greater connectivity for customers travelling to the United States and beyond from Greece,” said Nat Pieper, Delta’s senior vice president for Europe, Middle East and Africa."

To read more, please visit: Greek Travel Pages

- Born in Smyrna, Asia Minor on November 18, 1906 – Died on October 2, 1988 

- Greek designer of cars, known as the "Greek God" and for creating the Mini, which was launched by the British Motor Corporation in 1959.

- In 1999 the Mini was voted the second most influential car of the 20th century, behind the Ford Model T, and ahead of the Citroen DS and the Volkswagen Beetle.

To read more about the designer of the Mini Car, please visit: Greek Gateway

Out of 1,100 applicants, 3 Greek businesses have each received a Hellenic Entrepreneurship Award at the awards ceremony at the Onassis Cultural Center in Athens.

The businesses, which include Blueground, Bubbllz, and Raymetrics, received their awards from Prokopios Pavlopoulos, the President of the Hellenic Republic. The 3 business represent a range of sectors, from hospitality to social media marketing to meteorology.

The winning companies will share prize funding of 1.250.000 euros, be provided with an expert mentor and a range of business support services including legal, accounting, marketing, IT, communications and HR services.

Ongoing support by the HEA and its partners — helping these start-ups to implement their business plans successfully — is an integral part of the award programme’s mission to identify and encourage Greece’s most promising new business ventures.

The announcement of the 2016 results brings the total number of winners to 14 since the award programme was launched by the Libra Group on behalf of The Hellenic Initiative (THI) in 2012, which has committed 10 million euros to the programme.

The Hellenic Entrepreneurship Award was founded in order to stimulate entrepreneurial spirit by supporting Greece’s most promising new businesses. Between one and five winners are declared each year.

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

At XpatAthens we're all about living well and experiencing everything that the great city of Athens has to offer. In our effort to connect locals and visitors with experiences in the city, we are especially excited to announce our cooperation with E-table.gr!

E-table.gr is Greece's top service provider for free online restaurant reservations in English! E-table.gr has connected 150,000 diners with more than 1,700 restaurants in 24 cities around Greece and users have written more than 20,000 confirmed restaurant reviews.

 

Now you too can find the best restaurants in Greece quickly and easily, 24/7, as well as get exclusive privileges and discounts. Check out E-table.gr’s dining suggestions and experience all your culinary desires across the city of Athens and beyond!

If you have any questions or would like to get in touch with us, drop us a line at info@xpatathens.com.

Enjoy!!

Special prices for international flights through Qatar Airways!

The "Navarino Challenge" will take place between the 13th and 15th of October 2017, in Messinia and Costa Navarino, as part of its overseas promotional strategy and is renewing the cooperation with Qatar Airways.

Qatar Airways, the national carrier of the State of Qatar, is proud to be “Going Places Together” with travelers across its more than 150 business and leisure destinations. A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways has been awarded World’s Best Airline, World's Best Business Class, Best Business Class Airline Lounge and Best Airline Staff Service in the Middle East by international air transport rating organisation Skytrax. Qatar Airways proudly supports a range of exciting international and local initiatives dedicated to enriching the global community that it serves. Qatar Airways sponsors world-leading sports events, like “Navarino Challenge” reflecting the values of sports as a means of bringing people together, something at the core of the airline’s own brand message “Going Places Together”.

A short while ago, in New York, the 1st Greek Panorama exhibition took place with great success, aiming to promote Greece to the US market. Thousands of New Yorkers, as well as tourists from around the world, visited the expo at the most central station in Manhattan, the Grand Central terminal.

The “Navarino Challenge” will take place for another year with the support of Costa Navarino and The Westin Resort Costa Navarino as well as the Municipalities of Pylos-Nestor and Trifilia.

Please use the promo code ATHNAVCH to book an exclusive offer for roundtrip tickets to Athens from over 150 places, via the following link: http://www.qatarairways.com/gr/el/cugs/navarinochallenge.page Offer valid from 3 to 15 October 2017 included (Outbound) and (Inbound) to be completed on or before 25 October 2017. This offer refers to roundtrip tickets to Athens from more than 150 destinations, including New York, USA.

More information will be announced in the next few weeks.

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Hashtags: #navarinochallenge #costanavarino #eatwell #runwell #livewell

Official Airline Partner: Qatar Airways
Official Sponsor: “Vikos” natural mineral water
Official Supporters: BIC®, BIC® Sport, Wyndham Grand Athens, Poseidonia, Surf Salad
Assisted by: Navarino Outdoors, Swim Academy, Navarino Racquet Academy, Apia
Strategic TV Partner: National Geographic

Photo:  A view from the cocktail “A Night to Remember by Qatar Airways” in Navarino Challenge 2016.
Photo credit: Elias Lefas

The Athens Public Transport Organization (OASA) has recently announced a buy-10-get-one-free deal for its paper tickets in a bid to boost sales. The offer is valid for regular 1.40-euro tickets and discounted 0.60-cent tickets.

The offer aims to raise awareness for the introduction of electronic ticket technology that will replace paper tickets on buses, trolleys, trams, the metro and ISAP trains.

Article source: Ekathimerini

The Ministry of Culture has announced that on Monday October 28, museums and archaeological sites will waive entrance fees in celebration of the Greek National Holiday known as 'Oxi Day'. This Greek National Holiday is an excellent opportunity to explore the city, experience the festivities, and then head to one of your favorite museums or landmarks.

One of our favorites and one of the best in the world – The Acropolis Museum – brings to life the statue of Athena Parthenos, made of gold and ivory, designed by Phidias for the Parthenon. The Museum invites its visitors on a walk of knowledge about its construction materials and techniques, its myths and allegories, its radiance and its adventures. Presentations about the lost statue of Athena Parthenos will be held by ​Museum Archaeologists-Hosts​ in Greek (​at 12 noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m. & 4 p.m.​) and in English (​at 11 a.m. & 3 p.m.​).  Please note that the presentations are on a first come, first served basis and limited to 30 persons per talk. Therefore, we strongly advise you to register at the museum's information desk on the same day.

Even if you are not able to visit a museum on October 28, keep in mind that entrance to Greek museums, landmarks, and archaeological sites is free on the first Sunday of the month from November to March!

Although the measures for COVID-19 have eased, we are still very cautious. We avoid social contact and do not visit friends yet. That's because we adults can keep the necessary, safe distance, but children cannot. Last week we planned a "date" with one of my daughter's friends and her mom in the park. We would all walk together, two moms and two kids, keeping a safe distance between us.

 

We discussed with the children in advance and set the rules upfront about what is and what's not allowed. Of course, we had to remind them several times: "Don't get too close, come closer to me, don't touch this." It was going well until the children decided they wanted to hug, but that was out of the question. My daughter started to cry long and loud! That's certainly not what I would call a relaxing walk.

 

The same thing happened when she met her grandmother; she wanted to run into her arms. And I, the "bad" mom apparently, did not let her. My daughter could not understand why since we've been in the house for so long without meeting anyone and since the measures have started being less strict. "I'm heartbroken that I can't hug my grandmother," she told me and burst into tears. In our family, we have people belonging to the high-risk group, so we are more than careful.

 

Several worrying thoughts came to my mind: "Have we perhaps become hypochondriacs?" "Is it possible we are more afraid than we allow ourselves to feel?" "And how much has all this fear affected us?" I took my daughter in my arms and let her cry as much as she wanted. I wasn't talking to her; I was simply holding her in my arms. When she stopped, she wiped her tears and said: "I know, mom, that this coronavirus won't let us do what we want. Fortunately, I can at least see my grandmother even if it's from a distance."

 

A recent study attempting to date the Homeric Epics compared the natural phenomena described in the epics with astronomical phenomena and has verified the historical accuracy of the narrative.

"We believe that the myth revolves around real events," says Panagiota Preka-Papadima, a Professor of astrophysics at the University of Athens.

She and a team of scientists have published articles in various international scientific journals and concluded that some of the events described in the Epics are real, while the natural phenomena mentioned, correspond to the time of their narration.

"Odysseus arrived in Ithaca on October 25, 1207 B.C.," they wrote. "Five days later there was a 75% solar eclipse covering the Ionian Sea and then the murder of the suitors happened," they continue.

NASA maps describing natural phenomena from 4500 B.C. to 10,000 A.D. have verified the October 25, 1207 B.C. eclipse.

Furthermore, another eclipse, which took place on October 30, 1207, from 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm, is believed to be reflected in the Odyssey. In Rhapsody Y, just before the murder, Homer describes Theoklymenos saying to the suitors:"... and the sun was gone from the sky, and a heavy darkness spread everywhere!".

"This is a description of the eclipse that covered 3/4 of the sun's disk," says Mrs. Papadima. "The date of the eclipse, October 30, 1207 B.C., is in complete agreement with the Homeric descriptions of the weather, autumnal country life, and the noontime of the murder of the suitors," continues Ms. Papadima.

Researchers have concluded that there is a historical core to the myth of Odysseus and this is a compelling revelation for science and Greek culture alike!

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

Greeks are known to be philosophers and innovators. However, there is another side to the Greeks: the side where traditional beliefs, many of which are rooted in ancient times, overtake all sense of reason.

Here are some of the funniest and weirdest Ancient Greek beliefs and traditions!


1. Sneezing Prevents You From Getting Pregnant

This isn’t just some old wives’ tale, you see. Soranus, an ancient Greek physician, actually believed that women sneezing would act as a form of contraception, thus preventing pregnancy. After making love, he instructed women to squat, sneeze, and rinse.

2. Magical Sweat Was A Cure-All

Ancient Greeks admired their athletes and saw them as celebrities of a sort. Not only were they revered, but they were also thought to have magical sweat. How it worked: The athletes all performed naked and were rubbed with olive oil, and the sweat which they expelled during competitions was considered to have magical healing powers.

Slaves would scrape the sweaty skin of athletes after competitions. This sweat/oil mixture was called “gloios.” The gloios was in turn bottled and sold as an all-healing ointment for aches and pains.

3. There Is Evil In The Air

There is one ancient Greek superstition that is even now completely interwoven into the society of modern Greece. Generations upon generations have passed down the belief of the evil eye, or “mati.” There is evidence of the evil eye having an influence on the traditions of Greek society as far back as the 6th century BC when it commonly appeared on drinking vessels.

It is believed that someone can cast the evil eye onto another person out of envy (either good or bad) and jealousy. You are said to be hexed with the evil eye if you are dizzy or if you have a headache and yawn a lot. The good news is that you can have the “spell” broken by someone who knows how to perform a special ritual involving oil, water, and prayers.

4. The Island Of Mykonos Is A Breeding Ground For Vampires

Before the Age of Enlightenment in the 18th century, there were creatures endemic in Greek folklore who were considered to be dangerous. These “walking dead” creatures were called vrykolakes.

As the legend goes, vrykolakes would leave their graves at night and knock on the doors of their presumptive victims, saying their names aloud. If there was no answer after the first knock, no harm came to the innocent.

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