Price Waterhouse Coopers has analyzed the trajectory of 30 cities, all of which are capitals of finance, commerce, and culture. This study has ranked the cities based on performance and what makes the cities function best. Among the 30 cities that were studied, Athens was ranked 23.

The study examines and identifies the factors that contribute to a successful city and a resilient urban community, evaluating the selected cities on the basis of 10 indicators, organized into 3 families:

In total, the study uses 10 indicators to map a city’s performance:

 

Intellectual capital and innovation, Technology readiness, City Gateway, Health, safety, and security, Sustainability and the natural environment, Demographics and livability, Transportation and infrastructure, Economic clout, Ease of doing business and Cost.

The indicators that were strong points for Athens were health, safety, security, sustainability and the natural environment, cost, and city getaway.

Mayor of Athens, Yorgos Kaminis commented, "This study is a very useful tool in the hands of the Municipal Authority and we will use it to implement both immediate and long-term priorities for the city. The city of Athens proposes a new model of development and social cohesion, with emphasis on openness, innovation and the creation of new jobs to stimulate the Greek capital city as an exclusive tourist destination.”

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek News Agenda

To view the PWC study, please click HERE.

Messinia could be an island, as it is embraced by the Ionian Sea on the one side and the Messinian Gulf on the other, and it possesses 140 km. of coast. The leading sport tourism event ‘Navarino Challenge’ highlights the unique natural beauty of the area in which it takes place, by showcasing water as the dominant element of this year’s event!

Unique swimming activities will take place each and every day of the duration (9-11/9) of 'Navarino Challenge' in Costa Navarino and at the outstanding facilities of The Westin Resort Costa Navarino.

---

With the assistance of the Swim Academy, of the federal technical coach of swimming and holder of countless Olympic and World distinctions in open water swimming Nikos Gemelos, and the Olympic and World Champion in open water swimming Spyros Gianniotis, the activity of baby swimming will be presented this year for the first time (for babies from 3 months and children up to 3 years old).

In the hands of their parents, babies come in contact with the water element, get familiar with it and accept all the calming effect under the instructions of qualified personnel by Swim Academy.

Adults and children will also have the opportunity to participate for the first time in the aqua aerobic program. The most popular aerobic exercise comes in “Navarino Challenge” to help you burn calories, keep your body in shape and tone your cardiorespiratory system.

‘Navarino Challenge’ offers water sports lovers the opportunity to enjoy exciting moments under the warm Messinian sun. According to the values of Costa Navarino for sustainable development and our commitment to protect the environment, all water sports are non–motorized, with a wide range available to choose from and enjoy the mild climate of Messinia all seasons with safety above all!

For the third consecutive year ‘Navarino Challenge’ will be supported by Allianz Greece within the general effort to ensure the safety of the event. The company is sensitive to issues related to health care and supports reinforcing the message of protection of health and the adoption of a healthier lifestyle through exercise and proper nutrition. Principles and values that are inextricably linked with those of the organization.

Besides the premises of Costa Navarino, water activities will be hosted in the municipality of Pylos-Nestor, whose name comes from the legendary king and mythical hero of ancient Pylos, Nestor, the wisest of the leaders of the Trojan War, as recorded in the Homeric years.

On Saturday, September 10, 2016, sea lovers will have the opportunity to swim without competition, in the beautiful Navarino bay at the picturesque port of Pylos, covering the unique swimming route of one mile (1.6 km.) designed by Nikos Gemelos.

On the same day (Saturday 10/9), the lights will also turn in the Stand Up Paddling race by BIC® Sport!

For the first time, ‘Navarino Challenge’ will present at the port of Pylos an innovative sport like Stand Up Paddling (SUP), which quickly became popular worldwide. It is an easy and ideal sport for someone to enjoy in an area surrounded by some of the best beaches in Greece. The entertaining routes for beginners or experts are the best choices for those who wish to experience the peacefulness of the Ionian Sea. One of the most recognized brands in the world, BIC® company with presence in the field of water sports with BIC® Sport since 1979, is supporting this activity. It was created by Baron Bich, a man passionate with the sea and sailing. The company was established very quickly in manufacturing Windsurf, SUP, Surf and kayak boards, maintaining credibility, simplicity, ingenuity and an affordable profile. All athletes participating will have the opportunity to test the credibility of the SUP BIC® boards.

For the first time, sea lovers will discover the underwater secrets on the pirates island, Proti, with the assistance of the Aqua Divers Club and Scuba Hellas.

The most skilled in the activity of scuba diving will have the opportunity to explore the underwater life in the blue waters of Messinia and to follow the steps of the famous pirate Katoulas in the island, in search of the lost treasure on the Ionian Sea. Respectively, in the facilities of The Westin Resort Costa Navarino beginners will have the opportunity to make their first acquaintance with diving and special prices will apply to all who follow this activity.

Saturday sea-day, will conclude with a demonstration race with Optimist and Laser boats from Maritime Athletic Pylos Association 'Nestor' with the assistance of the Municipality Pylos-Nestor, the Port Authority of Pylos, Pylos Association of Enterprises for Tourism Development and Explore Messinia.

An easy and delicious breakfast treat; the Greek fried egg! Greek Boston shares their recipe on how to get a perfect Greek fried egg every time.

The secret is to use plenty of olive oil and then constantly baste the eggs with the hot oil until the egg was cooked perfectly.

 

 

 

Serves: 2-4
Difficulty: Easy
Cooks in: 5 minutes

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 4 large eggs
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Bread, for dipping

To read this recipe in full, please visit: Greek Boston

 

Hot air masses from Africa that reached Greece on Sunday will affect the weather until Wednesday, according to the National Observatory's Meteo weather service.

Temperatures are expected to drop significantly on Thursday.

Click here for central Athens forecast.
Click here for northern Athens forecast.
Click here for southern Athens forecast.

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

Nowadays, as the negative impacts of smoking become more prevalent and people are opting to quit, more restaurants, cafés, and bars are joining in the fight for smoke-free restaurants!

Since the 2009 law, smoking is supposedly forbidden in all public indoor places and all businesses supposedly comply. That’s why, in most places, you will see non-smoking signs – even though the owners will inform you that smoking is in fact allowed – and why you won’t see any ashtrays – even though you will be offered some sort of improvised ash dispenser, (like a plastic cup or a small plate) on the sly, if you profess to be a smoker. As one complying owner said to me “this was not a war on smoke, but a war on ashtrays.”

Following is a list of Athenian downtown spaces which are smoke-free in theory and in practice, and where exceptions are never made. However, bear in mind that in the summer most places have their doors and windows open and smoke from outside often creeps in.

Address: 3 Kolokotroni
Telephone: 694.824.2455 
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 12:00 – 02:00, Sat-Sun 12:00 – 03:00
Website: Click here

The owner of one of the most respected cocktail bars in the city is a smoker, and yet he doesn’t want his workspace full of smoke. His clients respect that and step outside for a cigarette, socializing with other smokers in the process. Wood paneling, art deco elements and subdued lighting set the tone for a unique experience at bar 42, where what you end up drinking may be the result of a psychotherapeutic encounter with the barman. According to a footnote on the menu, all you need to do is tell him a few things about yourself and your preferences, and he will come up with a cocktail tailored just for you.

Address: 15 Herodotou
Telephone: 210.721.2253
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 08:00 – 22:00, Sat-Sun 09:00 – 21:00
Website: Click here

Cake used to be a tiny bakery in Kolonaki, one of Athens’ most posh areas, with delicious American-style cakes. About eight years ago it changed location and became a café while, a year ago, it changed owner. However, it still remains one of the cutest coffee & cake places in the city with a wide selection of cakes catering to all tastes. The owner recommends a slice of carrot cake, or his all time favorite, the ‘Red Velvet.’ Cake is an ideal hangout after a visit to one of the museums or galleries in the area and religiously smoke-free for the sake of its clients, who, in the mornings, are mostly elderly people.

Address: 23 Nikis, Syntagma
Telephone: 211.406.7032
Opening Hours: 12:00 – 23:00
Website: Click here

Makalo opened four years ago and has become a popular haunt because of its fine cuisine at affordable prices. Smoke-free because the owners wanted their customers to enjoy their food without the taste of smoke, they initially met with a lot of opposition from smokers, but now have regulars, who will always choose quality of food over smoke. Favorite dishes among the regulars are the chicken fillet in tomato sauce with mushrooms and Greek trahanas (cracked wheat with fermented milk) and the grilled salmon fillet with sauté zucchini, lime sauce, peppermint and brown rice. The chef recommends spinach pesto tagliatelle with almonds, fresh tomato, olives and feta cheese and make sure you try their homemade lemonade.

4. MAMA ROUX

Address: 48 Eolou
Telephone: 213.004.8382
Opening Hours: Mon: 10:00 – 18:30 (breakfast 10:00 – 12:30), Tue-Sat 10:00 – 00:30 (breakfast 10:00 – 12:30), Sun 12:30 – 18:00 (brunch only)
Website: Click here

Mama Roux, on the pedestrian Eolou Street, opened in 2011 with a multi-cultural staff and a multi-ethnic cuisine, and quickly became a favorite among locals who enjoy its food and easy-going atmosphere. For John, its American owner who moved to Greece 12 years ago, having a non-smoking establishment was more about taking a stand than complying with the law, and even though, during the first weeks, many clients fought against his choice, he also received good press for making a serious commitment. For him, it was also an aesthetic and ethical issue; he wanted his employees to work in a smoke-free environment and his clients to be given a smoke-free option. Mama Roux is a popular destination for Sunday brunch, but make sure you make a reservation ahead of time.

Address: 31-33 Voulis
Telephone: 210.324. 3545
Opening Hours: Tue-Sat 13:00 – 00:00, Sun 12:00 – 17:30
Website: Click here

Named after Christopher Nolan, the owner’s favorite director, this downtown restaurant has opened quite recently and yet customers are already swooning over the fusion dishes of its Greek-Japanese chef. Marble, mosaic, wood and metal create the set for a multi ethnic culinary journey via an inspired menu; where a Vietnamese chicken soup can co-exist harmoniously with Nolan’s version of fried chicken (NFC) and a dish of shrimps with Greek stamnagathi (a leafy green) and Turkish soutzouki (a kind of sausage). Kostas, the owner, a fanatic smoker, opted for a non-smoking restaurant because food and smoke simply do not go together and “any restaurateur who claims that he does not forbid smoking for fear of losing his clientele, is simply trying to hide his shortcomings. If what you offer is good, you will always have clients.”

For more suggestions on Athenian hangouts without smoke, please visit: Greece Is

You may also like to read: Scenic And Smoke-Free Cafes In Athens

Athens is the capital and the largest city in Greece. It is one of the most ancient cities in the world, and its documented history spans over 3400 years.
 

Athens was initially called "Akti or Aktiki" from Aktaeus, the first King of Athens, and later it was called "Cecropia," a name derived from King Cecrops.

Cecrops succeeded King Aktaeus after marrying his daughter. According to Greek mythology, the lower part of his body was the same as that of a dragon. During Cecrops' reign, Athena and Poseidon competed for the protection of the city, each offering gifts.

Poseidon struck his trident on the rock of the Acropolis to reveal a spring of saltwater and a horse ready to serve the Athenian people; Athena, on the other hand, offered an olive tree.

According to legend, Athenian men voted for the gifts of Poseidon, and the women voted for the gift of Athena. Because there was one woman more than there were men, the goddess Athena was preferred, and from that day onwards, the city has been known as Athens.

Originally posted on: e-istoria.com

Mother of 2, blogger Celeste from Family Goes Out, has been living in Athens for more than 16 years. Here, she shares with us her tips for exploring Athens in 24 hours with kids!

As parents we all know that traveling and exploring with young children has it’s limitations. It is not possible to visit the ‘Top 5 Athens Favorites’ in just one day. If your baby is small enough for a carrier or your toddler sleeps in the stroller, you could actually spend a whole day and evening outside your accommodation. But even the most active child cannot walk all day long.

I suggest a walking tour that I have often done myself with my young children. It is a realistic and real itinerary that is flexible and suitable for the whole family. It can start around 9am and ends around 7pm.

Syntagma Square
Syntagma square is our starting point. Here your family can enjoy the Greek Parliament Building. They can also witness the amazing changing of the ‘evzones’ guards at the Tomb of the Unknown soldier right. This takes place every hour, your kids will be fascinated! They will also enjoy feeding the pigeons here.

The National Gardens
From Syntagma Square it takes about 5 minutes to enter the National Gardens at the entrance on Amalias Avenue. Here your family can enjoy the little zoo, the turtle pond or have a break at the playground. Older children will enjoy the children’s library or discover the amazing selection of trees and plants in the botanical gardens.

Coffee Break
It is time for a break at Aegli Zappiou restaurant inside the National Gardens. It is a good chance to see another Athenian monument: the Zappeion Megaron. If you sit outside at Aegli, you have a wonderful view on the Acropolis. There are no cars so kids can run around on the terrace and you will still be able to see them. Aegli is family friendly and offers lots of healthy choices in both food and drinks.

To read this itinerary in full and for more of Celeste's suggestions, please visit: Family Goes Out

Meeting the Odyssey is a social and artistic collaborative project sailing from the Baltic to the Mediterranean Sea. Each summer from 2014 to 2016, artists and organizers from different European countries travel together, giving workshops and performing theatre pieces.

 

The project combines elements of the Odyssey, contemporary themes relevant to Europe and stories collected through exchanges with the local population. But Meeting the Odyssey is also a journey in and of itself: bringing people together through long term collaboration and discovering new artistic landscapes and cultural attitudes to develop synergies at the European level.

In 2014, the ship Hoppet sailed in the Baltic Sea, in 2015 in the Mediterranean Sea and this year, the tour will take place in Greece.

Here is what the Project Manager, Matilda von Weissenberg, had to say:

It is time for this project to reach its last tour. It is time to set sails and reach the final destination: Greece, the home of Odysseus himself, the origin of so many myths and legends, philosophers and artists.

When we planned the Meeting the Odyssey project in 2012, we decided that the last tour would happen in Greece as a tribute to all culture, arts, civilization and heritage that we can thank Greece for. Another reason was to show solidarity with the in times of economical crisis. We wanted to go against the trend of blaming the south for the crisis. We wanted to do something that would unite Europeans instead of dividing us. Meeting the Odyssey was our answer to those first signs of EU’s internal crisis that were discernible already back in 2012 – with a ship filled with theatre we wanted to enhance intercultural dialogue and overcome prejudices.

We have sailed many seas and performed in many ports since those planning days. Almost 19000 people have seen the performances in 25 places all over Europe. Meeting the Odyssey started its journey 2014 in St.Petersburg in the middle of very difficult relations because of the Crimean crisis. After a rainy and cold tour on the Baltic Sea, the project reached Central European places like Prague, Opole and Berlin. In 2015 the tour went around Italy, France and Malta, stopping also at Lampedusa, the island where so many migrants have landed after a dangerous trip from the African continent. All along, this project has been somehow present in the places of concern in Europe. The same pattern continues as we reach the final tour in Greece.

The European spectrum has changed during these years. We started out focusing on the collaboration and dialogue within Europe. We end up confronting us with a situation far more complex, where all of Europe is trying to deal with the arrival of thousands of people from outside Europe, people who represent different cultures, religions and languages. How can Meeting the Odyssey face these challenges? How can we, as artists, contribute to a better understanding between cultures and traditions? Can we do anything at all?

We think we can. We have a beautiful sailing ship called Hoppet to take us around in the Adriatic, Ionian and Aegean Seas and we have over 50 artists from all over Europe ready to perform fantastic theatre productions as well as Instant performances and workshops. Here we come Greece!

For more information, please visit: Meeting The Odyssey

The most ubiquitous symbol of summer, beyond blue skies, tan lines and flip-flops, must be the endless stream of top 10 lists – top 10 summer patios, top 10 rooftops, top 10 summer cocktails, top 10 best beaches – and the list goes on…

 

I seem to read these lists every day – my Facebook feed has precious little else these days, apart from kitten videos and the like… We all have our own top 10’s, our favorite spots and our favourite ‘locals,’ but I often find myself trying to find these lists again and again, when I’m looking for an interesting activity or asked for a recommendation.

 

So here you have it – my ‘Top 15 list of Top 10 Lists’ – some in English, some in Greek, but you’ll get the point I’m sure. Check these out to see what you might be missing:

So take your pick, make a plan, and get out and enjoy the glorious summer sunshine… Before you know it, we’ll be looking at Top 10 Ways to Escape Winter…

 

Until next week,


Jack

*We'll work on getting the Greek into English and bring you an update of all the above very soon!