Do you remember those times when a good laugh was all you needed to change your mood and become more joyful? We all know that laughter is like medicine. In fact, research has shown that a good laugh has the power to relieve stress, improve your immune system and shift your perspective.

Think about it. You cannot feel stressed when you laugh, can you? On the contrary, you may feel relieved even if it’s for the short term. I’m sure you’ve noticed how easy and how often children laugh out loud.

Among others, laughter is a powerful communication tool. It brings people together and strengthens relationships. Here are some practical ideas to increase laughter in your life:

• Watch a comedy, a funny TV series, or a funny video on YouTube. There’s plenty to choose from.
• Share a good joke with friends, family, and colleagues. A good sense of humor is essential so all parties involved have fun.
• Play with your pet. Dogs may show a more playful and joyful attitude but cats can be lots of fun too.
• Watch your favorite stand-up comedian. Whether in a live show or not they will definitely make you laugh.
• Tell funny stories with your kids. It can be something that happened to you or to someone near you during the day or a story from your childhood. Make sure you have a screen-free environment.
• Laugh at your mistakes. This may be tough sometimes but learning not to take yourself too seriously takes out some weight off your shoulders.
• Look at funny photos. They can be photos of your children or from your childhood. Even better, share them with your funny friends.
• Spend time with people who bring you joy. Get your distance from grumpy people and choose to be around those who understand the value of good, authentic laughter.

Don’t wait for something big or fancy. Make up a reason, any reason, and just laugh.

Originally published on: itsmylife.gr

If there’s a topic you’re interested in and would like to learn more about you may contact me via email. For more information about me and my work check the XpatAthens Directory or visit my website. Because this is your life!

Is the Athens comedy scene “all Greek” to you? Are you on the lookout for English language events which do not require you to read surtitles? Do you want to try your hand at stand up in English? We are here for YOU!
 

• Sunday Novembr 13th

  10 comedians, 5’ each, all in English.
  
  MC: To be announced!

  It'll be a mix of everything. A potluck of comedy. ​Colourful, comedic, chaos.

  Experienced and new comedians trying out their best new jokes. Some of them will be good, some of them will be great, and some will never see the light of day again. It's up to you!
  
  
  

  Time: 21:30pm (Doors open 20:45)
  Tickets: €12 early-bird til November 6th / €14 general admission / €17 at the door
  Duration: 1h15
  Reservations: 6987994689 // athensenglishcomedyclub@gmail.com

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Come and laugh! Nay! Come and chortle. Or better yet, guffaw!

The world is full of magical things patiently waiting for us to discover them.

At the end of the 19th century, the art of magic as a form of entertainment became famous all over the world. The one and only Houdini and other famous magicians of the time laid the groundwork to create the type of entertainment called a Magic Show. It became so popular that it managed to earn a place on Broadway and Las Vegas shows in no time.

The Magic Show maintained its popularity well into the television era, with magicians such as David Copperfield and David Blaine successfully modernizing the art of magic.
And the story continues to this day. All these years Las Vegas continues to attract the best magicians from around the world.

For three years now, the Christmas Theater has hosted the Las Vegas Magic Festival, a show that presents every year famous award-winning magicians, with impressive performances that are sold out. It's time for another unique experience. Las Vegas Magic Festival 4!

FokiaNou Art Space is pleased to present a solo show of photographic works by Susan Daboll, an American artist living in Greece since 1999. Daboll explores the notion of sensuality, not only that of human sexuality but also in visually seductive motifs in the physical environment. The show consists of three groups of images:  fireworks, bodies, and landscapes, where evidence of the erotic can be found.  Her point of view, personal and slightly mysterious, transforms the ordinary into something else.

 

Susan Daboll is a visual artist who lives and works in Paros, Greece and NYC. After receiving a BFA in printmaking and photography at Syracuse University, she moved to New York City, where she graduated from the International Center for Photography/New York University Master’s program. For more than a decade, she taught photography at NYU. Daboll has had work in many exhibitions including the Brooklyn Museum, University Art Museum in Boulder Colorado and the Monmouth Museum. Earlier this year she spent February at an artist’s residency in Italy, and most recently, her work was featured in the 25th Anniversary exhibition at the Holland Tunnel Gallery in Newburgh, NY, and Paros the Lovely at the Holland Tunnel Gallery in Paros. Her work is in many collections including the Arkansas Art Center, Brooklyn Museum, Portland Museum of Art, Chicago Art Institute, AT&T and Pfizer.

FokiaNou Art Space is an artist-run project space in the intimacy of a small apartment in an old building in the center of Athens. The space encourages collaborative creative efforts between Greek and foreign artists, thereby promoting and supporting the local art community. Since 2016, under the direction and curatorship of visual artists Mary Cox and Panagiotis Voulgaris, over 50 exhibitions have been held, as well as workshops and talks.   www.fokianou247.gr

“Touch Me”, photographs by Susan Daboll
Opening:  Thursday, 10 November, 18.00 – 21.00
Duration:   10 – 26 November, 2022
Hours:  Thursday – Saturday 17.00-20.00
FokiaNou Art Space, Fokianou 24, 7th Floor, Pagrati  Metro:  Evangelismos 

Just 40 minutes from Athens, the mountain air of Parnitha clears the mind and awakens the senses. We hike in the firs and pines on a passable route of well-maintained paths without steep slopes and inaccessible places.

During the hike in Parnitha we learn to "read" the traces of the animals and to understand their behavior in the forest as well as the flora of the forest with 1,100 recorded species of plants, it is considered equally fascinating.

We don't miss the opportunity to make stop in natural springs and places, where the view reaches eastern Attica and the southern Evian gulf. A hike that gives us unique images and experiences!

Our final stop is the Bafi Mountain Refuge at an altitude of 1,161 m. As part of our hiking trip we offer our hikers drinks, snacks and homemade pies.

For those who wish they can also enjoy a rich bean soup, village sausage, spaghetti with minced meat and many other homemade delicacies, enjoying the beautiful courtyard of the Refuge with the wonderful view to the peaks touching the clouds.

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Visit TrekkingHellas.gr to learn more about the tour!

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Winter Garden City Lounge of Hotel Grande Bretagne brings its grandiose brunch experience to the heart of the city. Weekends at Winter Garden, curated by Executive Chef Asterios Koustoudis, returns featuring a renewed menu with fresh baked goods created daily basis in the new in-house bakery of the historic hotel. 

 

The journey begins with a lavish breadbasket including handmade sourdough creations inspired by talented Pastry Chef Alexandros Koufas. Freshly baked butter and chocolate croissants, brioche with oriental spices and fermented baguettini make a perfect match with the local fresh butter, homemade jams, vanilla and choco-hazelnut praline flavored creams as well as the Greek strained yogurt. These elegant delicacies excellently accompany a cup of coffee or tea or a glass of fresh juice. 

The experience is followed by an exquisite selection of special and signature dishes uniquely prepared by the hotel’s culinary team; starring smoked and marinated salmon with caviar and quail egg, spinach tart with gorgonzola and forest mushrooms, omelette with aged kasseri cheese, Florina pepper and prosciutto, homemade fresh pasta filled with veal, truffle sauce and bechamel with goat cheese as well as the all time favourite organic farm-fresh eggs ‘benedict’ with lobster, asparagus and ‘hollandaise’ sauce. 

A glass of French champagne under the soft sounds of Winter Garden’s warm embrace crafts the finest harmony while the masterpiece dessert creations of the menu seal the experience in the most delightful way. 

Sharing moments of relaxation and warm gatherings with friends and family has found refuge in Weekends at Winter Garden.   

 

Discover the menu HERE!

HOTEL GRANDE BRETAGNE, ATHENS
SATURDAY & SUNDAY | 11.00-14.00

More than 3,000 participations and world-class athletes in this year’s top world sports tourism event

Europe’s top sports tourism and wellness event, Navarino Challenge, celebrated its 10th anniversary on October 21-23, 2022, presenting a schedule of more than 40 activities, 16 Olympic sports and 15 Olympians at Costa Navarino and Pylos.

With the central message, “Sports Unites People” and embracing the purpose of the Olympic Movement, this year’s Navarino Challenge had more than 3,000 participations, with people of all ages, from 1 month old to 90 years old as well as people of all abilities, with more than 20 athletes with disabilities, who participated in the activities, in a full schedule that hosted the participants at The Westin Resort Costa Navarino, The Romanos, a Luxury Collection Resort and W Costa Navarino.

 

Navarino Challenge became a part of the amateur and professional athletes who participated, as they all shared the same values, in the presence of Olympians, having the magnificent Messinian landscape and the Navarino bay as their background scenery. The unique sports tourism celebration gathered athletes, families and children from 23 countries such as: U.S.A., Argentina, South Korea, Russia, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Finland, Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Austria and Turkey, with sports as their common denominator.

 

Meeting with top Ambassadors & Instructors

Navarino Challenge is probably the only event apart from the Olympic Games, in which important sports personalities and Olympians such as the athletes of the event’s Grand Sponsor, Stoiximan, Lefteris Petrounias, Miltos Tentoglou, Stefanos Ntouskos, Vasiliki Millousi, Thodoris Vlachos, Dimitris Diamantidis, Georgios Printezis, Christos Volikakis, Maria Prevolaraki, Kristian Gkolomeev, can meet and do sports together, while giving the participants the opportunity to meet Nasos Ghavelas, Grigoris Polychronidis, Makis Kalaras, Periklis Iakovakis, Panagiotis Giannakis, Evina Maltsi, Joe Arlauckas, Konstantine Dean Karnazes, Michalis Triantafyllidis, Georgia Kaltsi, George Lazaridis, Grigoris Souvatzoglou and to train with Nikos Gemelos, Christos Gatsis, Dimitris Moros, Alexandros Nikolaidis, Christina Flampouri and Mandy Persaki.

 

A night dedicated to the 10 years of Navarino Challenge

On Saturday night the awards ceremony for the event’s 10-years anniversary took place, filled with memories, emotions & sports stars. The ceremony was presented by the actress and TV presenter Nadia Kodogeorgi. The event said goodbye to a friend but mainly a human, a top athlete but also a role model, the two-time silver Olympic medalist in Tae Kwon Do, Alexandros Nikolaidis, with a special and emotional message from his wife Dora Tsambazi, who united all the people with a huge hug. The ceremony was greeted by the Hall of Famer, Olympian & European Basketball Champion, Panagiotis Giannakis, as well as the Greek-American ultramarathon Konstantine Dean Karnazes. 

The following athletes were awarded: 

• Lefteris Petrounias, Miltos Tentoglou, Stefanos Ntouskos, Vasiliki Millousi, Thodoris Vlachos, Dimitris Diamantidis, Georgios Printezis, Christos Volikakis, Maria Prevolaraki, Kristian Gkolomeev, were awarded by the Founder & CEO of Kaizen Gaming Mr. George Daskalakis
• Konstantine Dean Karnazes with his parents Fran & Nick were awarded by the co-founders of Navarino Challenge, the former Executive Director of The Hellenic Initiative, Mr. Peter Poulos and the CEO of ActiveMedia Group, Mr. Akis Tsolis
• Nasos Ghavelas was awarded by the President & CEO of Samsung Electronics Hellas, Mr. Theofilos Shin Byungmoo, for the gold Olympic medal that came to Pylos, 109 years after Tsiklitiras
• Lefteris Petrounias and Vasiliki Millousi were awarded by the Marketing Manager of Europa, Ms. Maria Michalopoulou for promoting sports as a family role-model
• Thodoris Vlachos was awarded by the Key Account Manager of Vikos SA, Mr. Michael Evdemon with the ethics award, representing the Greek national water polo team
• The international football player of Liverpool FC, Kostas Tsimikas and the CEO of Prosport, Mr. Paschalis Tountouris, who represented the athlete were awarded by the Managing Director of Miele Hellas, Mr. Thanos Kyriazis
• Grigoris Souvatzoglou was awarded by the Country Manager of The North Face, Elias Kanakis
• The ambassadors Grigoris Polychronidis, Periklis Iakovakis, Evina Maltsi, Michalis Triantafyllidis, Nikos Gemelos, Joe Arlauckas, Christina Flampouri, Georgia Kaltsi were awarded by the Market Access & Public Affairs Director of Novo Nordisk, Ms. Mary Karageorgou 
• The instructors Mandy Persaki, Christos Gatsis, Dimitris Moros and Alexandros Nikolaidis were awarded by the owner of Sportadore & exclusive distributor of Luanvi in Greece, Mr. Manos Sifakis 
• the Pylos-Nestor Mayor, Mr. Panagiotis Karvelas who represented the Municipality of Pylos-Nestor, the President of Pylos Association of Enterprises for Tourism Development and Poseidonia Restaurant owner in Pylos, Mr. Vasilis Vrettakos and the owner of the Karalis Beach Hotel and the Karalis City Hotel, Mr. Dionysis Karalis were awarded by the Facilities Management Director of Costa Navarino, Mr. Giorgos Panageas. 

Amateur and professional runners, clubs, as well as athletes with disabilities from the sports club DiaforoZO took part in the running routes of this year’s Navarino Challenge. The participants ran in the Half Marathon powered by Miele, in the 10km powered by Stoiximan and in the 5km powered by Samsung even with their pets, while hundreds of children ran in the 1km powered by Vikos.

Unique gifts, the richest ever, were given to all participants. In particular, Samsung Electronics Hellas offered the unique Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro wireless headphones to the 5km finishers, Miele offered a t-shirt finisher, while all participants received the event’s official t-shirt designed by Luanvi, Official Sports Supplier of Navarino Challenge, which featured the design of a Griffin. At the same time, 10 lucky winners won the unique Miele Triflex Cat & Dog vacuum cleaner.

Vikos natural mineral water was once again next to all the athletes taking care of their hydration, while the Half Marathon runners empowered their strength with the ReCharge Gel energy gels and the MoiMüv Protein Flapjacks of GymBeam. Target Security took care of the participants’ safety, while Fysiotek undertook the rehabilitation and recovery of the athletes at their finish.

All running races were co-organized with Messiniakos Gymnastic Club and EAS SEGAS Peloponnese Region.

You may see the results of all running routes here: https://bit.ly/3DuOBCs 

 

Throughout the event, the registration area was transformed into a unique exhibition space where attendees had the opportunity to experience the possibilities of the fourth generation Galaxy Z Flip4 and Fold 4 foldable smartphones, which push the boundaries of technology, as well as Samsung’s largest tablet to date, the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. In addition, all participants got to know the top wearables of Samsung Electronics Hellas, Official Technology Sponsor of the Navarino Challenge, the brand-new Galaxy Watch5 smartwatches and the Buds2 Pro wireless headphones, for immersive sound on the go. At the same time, the participants admired the unique high-quality household appliances of Miele Hellas, the event’s Official Sponsor, Luanvi’s unique collection of clothing and sports equipment, while they got to know the new “Orophographia” series of Kois Optics, which combines excellent quality and high aesthetics.

 

Moreover, Europa, one of the most powerful extrusion companies, supported the event as Official Sponsor, highlighting sports and Olympic spirit as well as the participation of athletes of all abilities and ages by bringing to the forefront the noble virtues and sports values, that Europa supports ​​for years through its extensive social responsibility program, Europa Cares.

 

More than 40 sports activities

This year’s Navarino Challenge schedule was the richest ever in its 10-year history. The following activities were presented: 

• tennis demonstration powered by Miele with the participation of George Lazaridis
• basketball demonstration with wheelchair athletes powered by Samsung with the participation of the wheelchair basketball team of Maroussi, Georgia Kaltsi and Makis Kalaras
• 4on4 basketball tournament powered by Trace ‘n Chase with the participation of Joe Arlauckas and Evina Maltsi. A tournament dedicated to the memory of the two-time silver Olympic medalist of tae kwon do Alexandros Nikolaidis, with all participants wearing the jerseys of Aris basketball team with his name and the number 6.
• tennis induction powered by Miele  
• bike ride to Voidokilia powered by Stoiximan with Christos Volikakis 
• high intensity training
• kick boxing lessons powered by Samsung
• baby swimming lessons
• boxing lessons
• rowing lessons powered by Stoiximan with Stefanos Ntouskos
• spinning challenge powered by Vikos
• pilates lessons powered by Samsung
• yoga powered by Messinian Spa
• men’s & women’s round robbin tournament with UTS format powered by Miele
• sea kayaking to Sphacteria island
• basketball lessons powered by Iroes with Dimitris Diamantidis, Georgios Printezis, Joe Arlauckas, Evina Maltsi
• half day kids camp
• padel tournament powered by Stoiximan
• beachathlon powered by Europa
• F45 Barrio Salamanca Heavy Cardio Workout 
• Tsimikas Football Clinics powered by Prosport
• climbing lessons powered by The North Face
• King of the Court Beach Volley Tournament men, women and mixed powered by Europa
• CrossFit
• long jump powered by Stoiximan with Miltos Tentoglou
• golf lessons powered by Bombay Sapphire
• gymnastics powered by Stoiximan with Lefteris Petrounias
• gymnastics powered by Iroes with Vasiliki Millousi
• wrestling lessons powered by Stoiximan with Maria Prevolaraki
• “Feed the Fish” golf exhibition game powered by Samsung
• Swimming lessons powered by Stoiximan with Kristian Gkolomeev
• Half Marathon run powered by Miele 
• 10km run powered by Stoiximan 
• 5km run powered by Samsung 
• 1km run for children powered by Vikos

During this year’s event, the global pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, as the event’s Strategic Healthcare Sponsor, organized a seminar to inform and raise awareness among the audience about the chronic issue of obesity and its recognition/emergence as a disease. Key speakers of the seminar were the Greek-American ultramarathon Konstantine Dean Karnazes, the EuroLeague Legend and European Champion with Real Madrid Joe Arlauckas and the ultramarathon from Messinia Vasilis Koumanakos, while the Market Access & Public Affairs Director of Novo Nordisk Ms. Mary Karageorgou greeted the audience and referred to Novo Nordisk’s campaign #PameNaXasoume.

 

Athletes and ambassadors of the event moved with the safety of Sixt cars of MOTODYNAMICS group, the event’s Premium Mobility Partner.

 

At the same time, the participants in the tennis and padel tournaments received rich gifts from Dunlop.

 

Stoiximan was the event's Grand Sponsor.

Samsung Electronics Hellas supported the event for another year as its Official Technology Sponsor. 

Europa and Miele were the event’s Official Sponsors.

Novo Nordisk was the Strategic Healthcare Sponsor.

Vikos Natural Mineral Water was the Official Water. 

Luanvi was the Official Sports Supplier.

Sixt of the MOTODYNAMICS group was the Premium Mobility Partner.

Costa Navarino and The Westin Resort Costa Navarino were the Official Hospitality Sponsors.

Poseidonia Restaurant, Karalis Beach Hotel and Bombay Sapphire were Navarino Challenge’s Official Supporters.

Trace ‘n Chase was the Sports Memorabilia Partner.

Kois Optics were the event’s Official Optics Partner.

Messinian Spa was the Official Beauty Partner.

The North Face was the Outdoor Partner.

Athens Medical Group was the Medical Partner. 

Pilia Express, the transportation company based in Pylos, Pylos-Nestor Municipality, Phee, Target Security, GymBeam, Dunlop and Fysiotek were the event’s Partners.

pi3 was the Sustainability Partner.

SKAI was the Premium TV Partner. 

Deree - The American College of Greece was the Educational Partner.

Concept2, Explore Messinia, FitnessArt, F45 Barrio Salamanca, Mouratoglou Tennis Center – Costa Navarino, Navarino Golf Academy, Navarino Outdoors, Pilates by Mandy, Red Swim Academy, Swim O’ Clock, Triantafyllidis Beach Arena, Vizantinos target sport club were Navarino Challenge’s Athletic Partners.

The event was assisted by Vita N Travel, Alpha Estate, Kayak, Karalis City Hotel & Spa, Pylos Association of Enterprises for Tourism Development, Rania’s Flower.  

Discount Partners were Anazoe Spa, Kessaris, Mouratoglou Tennis Center – Costa Navarino, Nargile, Panellinios Agora Games.

A Sustainable Event

The event ensured the implementation of sustainability principles, contributing with its actions to the protection of the environment.

In particular, PHEE is the first company in the world to use as its main raw material the dead leaves of the Posidonia Oceanica plant, and Navarino Challenge is the first event in the world to give participants a medal made of seagrass, as were also the plaques given to the honorary awards. A Greek product, from a company based in the Peloponnese that innovates by promoting the principles of “green” entrepreneurship and the reuse of natural resources. At the same time, participants were given bags from recycled plastic, registrations were made with Samsung tablets replacing the use of paper, and with the assistance of the π³= Plastic Pollution Prevention powered by Miele team, they took care of the event’s zero footprint, also undertaking the cleaning of the running routes. The event’s vision is the maximum possible contribution to sustainable development in harmony with nature.

 

The true meaning of volunteering

The volunteers of Deree - The American College of Greece offered a significant support by encouraging all runners. Athens Medical Group supported the running activities as a Medical Partner, while the contribution of the Hellenic Rescue Team - Messinia Prefecture, which helped in the Navarino Challenge running races, was also of key importance. 

 

Research on Greek sports tourism

For another year, the event conducted research on the financial impact of sports tourism in collaboration with Deree - The American College of Greece, the findings of which will be presented in the coming months. 

 

Sharing Is Caring

Navarino Challenge, like every year, will once again contribute to society with the action of Sharing Is Caring. The items of the online sports auctions will be offered via Silent Auctions and the total revenue will benefit the following 10 non-profitable organizations - CSR Partners: A Little Shelter, Diaforozo, Dogs’ Voice, Fylakas Angelos, HOPEgenesis, Karkinaki, Mikros Prigkipas, the Social Kitchen “The Other Person”, π³= Plastic Pollution Prevention, “Shedia” street paper – “Diogenes Non Profitable Organization”.

 

Navarino Challenge took place under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism and the Greek National Tourism Organization.

The event joined the Greek actions of the #BeactiveHellas 2022 program of the European Commission which is held under the auspices of the General Secretariat of Sports. 

The event was organized by ActiveMedia Group which was also responsible for the event’s Sports Production.

 

The hashtag #navarinochallenge was the number one trend of the weekend with people uploading unique moments from the event on social media.

 

#navarinochallenge #costanavarino #sportsunitespeople #10yearsNavarinoChallenge #eatwell #runwell #livewell

The 39th Athens Marathon. The Authentic’ will be held on 12-13 November 2022 by the Hellenic Athletics Federation (SEGAS) with the support & sponsorship of the state as well as the private sector.

This year’s race will accept even more runners than the 2021 race, which was limited due to the pandemic. A total of 15,000 entries will open for the Marathon Race, 15,000 for the 5km Road Race and 12,000 for the 10km Road Race.

For the first time this year, the Universities Night Run will take place on Saturday 12 November, with a participation limit of 3,000 people. All the activities of this race, as well as the international conference that SEGAS is preparing, will be presented in detail in the coming weeks.

This year, the 1,2km Kids’ Race returns to the program of the event, in which 900 children will participate.

Greece has become the top country in the world in improving the business environment over the last few years, a report by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) found recently.

Compared with the fourth quarter of 2019, Greece’s business environment ranking (BER) increased by 16 places, the report says.

“This significant improvement reflects its poor starting point, given a long-delayed recovery from the government debt crisis that began in 2009, but also the impact of a pro-business majority government that has undertaken reforms, cut taxes, and restored confidence in the country,” the EIU adds.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis hailed the report's findings, saying that it is very encouraging to see our efforts to reform the economy recognized.

The business environment in Greece was aided by “reforms, tax cuts

Chief economic adviser to the Prime Minister of Greece, Alexis Patelis said that the significant improvement reflects its poor starting point, but also the impact of a pro-business majority government that has undertaken reforms, cut taxes, and restored confidence in the country.

The EIU report says the most significant improvements over the past three years since before the ructions caused by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, are in the business environments of Greece, Qatar, the US, and the UAE. The biggest deteriorations are in Latin America, the lowest-ranking region, as well as in Russia and Ukraine.

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

 Ancient Greece was the birthplace of Western civilization and democracy. The information we have about the life of the ancient Greeks, their celebrations, and their religious beliefs has been preserved in a series of ancient texts, which have survived, and today are part of the world's cultural heritage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Translated by: Codico Lab