BUSINESS CENTRE
XpatAthens
The 14 Best Greek Islands For Families
January 9th - Travel Greece In 2018!
Remember to stay connected with us through our weekly newsletter, Facebook, and Twitter!
A Festival Of Light Comes To Life At SNFCC
How To Become A Trireme Rower For A Day
For the fourth consecutive year, the Hellenic Navy is planning a rowing trip that will allow people to discover what it was like to be a rower on this famous ship and sail in the waters of the Saronic Gulf on a 2-hour journey through time.
The navy will also be hosting a series of interactive tours of the trireme, where people of all ages can visit the vessel and learn all about its history. Furthermore, visitors will be able to sit in a rower's seat and row in a static mode.
Reservations for both activities can be made by phone on 6940471218 until Friday, July 19 (except Monday, June 17) and from Monday, September 2 to Wednesday, September 11 from 09:00 to 13:00. Rowers will additionally need to register online. Tickets cost 3 euros, with no discounts.
Summer 2019 Activities Schedule
The rowing trips will take place from 10:00 to 12:00 on the following Sundays: June 23, June 30, July 14, July 21, and September 8.
The interactive tours will take place from 17:00-19:00 on the following Wednesdays: June 19, June 26, July 3, July 17, September 4, and September 11.
For further information, please visit: Averof Floating Naval Museum
Stefanos Tsitsipas Makes History!
Tsitsipas has earned $2,656,000 in prize money and 1,300 ATP Rankings points in five matches this week and is the first tennis player since David Nalbandian in 2005 to recover from losing the first set and claim the title.
To read this article in full, please visit: ATP
Image Credit: @Stefanos Tsitsipas
New Tourism Campaign Urges Travelers To Stay Safe And Plan Ahead
To read this article in full, please visit: GreekReporter.com
The Epigraphical Museum: A Cultural Gem In The Center Of Athens
Did you know that the largest Epigraphic Museum in the world is located in Athens? The Epigraphic Museum hosts in its permanent collection 14,078 inscriptions, which cover the period from early historical times to the Late Roman era. Even though the Museum is housed on the ground floor at the south wing of the National Archaeological Museum, it has a separate entrance from Tositsa street.
The Museum's purpose is scientific research, study, registration, protection, preservation, publication, photographic documentation, and promotion of the ancient Greek inscriptions. The Museum also aims to create a specialized epigraphic library while the inscriptions have already bee digitally cataloged. It hosts temporary exhibitions regularly and organizes art exhibits inspired by Greek script and the ancient inscriptions.
When Was The Museum Built?
The main building dates from 1885, with an extension added in the 1950s.
Why Is The Museum So Important
The ancient Greeks' detailed and diligent record-keeping provides excellent insight on life and society.
Must-See Exhibits
At first glance, the Epigraphic Museum might seem too specialized; however, a complete cost-account of the Parthenon's construction and a prototype voting machine used in the election of state officers in Athens, circa 162 BC will fascinate visitors.
Fun Fact
The detailed financial data chiseled on ancient marble slabs have an odd similarity to a modern-day computer printout.
Address: 1 Tositsa, Athens (Get Directions)
Telephone: 210 8217637 & 210 8232950
Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 09:00 to 16:00 Tuesday Closed.
Discover Some Of The Best Under-The-Radar Museums In The City
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
Church Of Kapnikarea - One Of Greece's Oldest & Most Historical Churches
Let's uncover some of its secrets!
How did it get its name?
In 1689, Athens was firebombed by the Ottomans. Legend has it that although the fire reached the church, the icon of the Virgin Mary survived, but the wooden frame and Mary's face were charred. Kapnikarea comes from the words "kapnos" (smoke in Greek) and "kara" (face, head).
But most people believe the truth behind the church's strange name lies elsewhere. In 802 AD, a tax was imposed on the smoke coming out of the chimneys in Byzantine Athens. Each resident, according to the number of chimneys his house had, paid the corresponding tobacco tax. The tax collector who collected these taxes was called "Kapnikarios," and such a person built the church.
Kapnikarea is a complex tetragonal inscribed cruciform with a dome. Inside, one can find the works of Fotis Kontoglou, created in the mid-20th century. Kapnikarea consists of several parts, with the main part dating back to the 11th century, while the exonarthex and the propylon date back to the 12th century. The one-room chapel of Agia Barbara was built even later.
Why is it located in the middle of the street?
The temple was to be demolished to make way for Ermou Street, according to the new urban planning plans for Athens in 1834. However, King Otto's father, Ludwig King of Bavaria, saved it, and so the street was created around Kapnikarea. Later there were again proposals to demolish it, however, it survived once again thanks to the decision of Theophilos I Vlachopapadopoulos, the Metropolitan bishop of Athens.
This temple could have been destroyed over the years, leaving only its ruins. However, it is still standing and open to visitors. People pass by without realizing that they are next to a monument that has witnessed some of the country's most important historical events.
Originally published in Greek on: youweekly.gr
Blue Skies and Bikes
When the temperature in February hits 19 degrees (seriously…), and there are oranges falling off the tree outside your house, you know that you’re living in the right place. All other arguments aside, some other places we might be living are buried in mountains of snow and skating on rivers of ice… Suckers.
So when the mercury hits 19, and the sun is high in the sky, what is left to do but jump on one’s bicycle and push oneself to the point of exhaustion, on the first 36km ride of the year… City-centre to Piraeus, around to Faliro and back. In 2 hours. We’ll put that one in the ‘should’ve gone for coffee’ category.
Given the sorry state of my muscles after that, and the urgent need for coffee, I ventured out to meet two friends at a ‘newish’ café-bar we had noticed in Plaka. It’s called ‘Off White’, and I really like it. It’s at the end of Plaka leading up from Monastiraki, on the far side of the ‘Hadrian’s Library’ site.
It’s a small creative space, housed in an old building, with whimsical décor (bar tables made of bicycles), painted ceiling and columns, and a cool musical soundtrack (reggae to big band and everything in between) – for a decidedly chill ambiance. Good coffee, good service. Something different…
The first time I went there was on a Saturday evening for a glass of wine – and they had live music in the form of a saxophonist. I believe they have live music most Saturdays – very cool. The lower level is an ‘art gallery’ of sorts – but it’s more of an afterthought, worth a glance on your way to the loo… The whole place is quite cool. Oh – and strong wifi. ;)
Check it out for a change!
Off White
Aiolou 10
211 408 7310
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/ouyqfcx
Until next week,
Jack
In this weekly space, keep up with ‘Jack’ as he navigates daily life in Athens… Anecdotes, stories, hits & misses, the good, the bad and, well, the rest…