Many studies have advocated drinking coffee to receive numerous health benefits – and now a new study suggests that Greek coffee may be the key to living a longer life.

Researchers from the University of Athens Medical School in Greece analyzed the link between Greek coffee and its potential benefits on cardiovascular health and found those who drank boiled Greek coffee had significantly better heart function, Counsel & Heal reported.

According to the study, only 0.1 percent of Europeans live past the age of 90.  However, on an island off the coast of Greece called Ikaria, the number of people living past the age of 89 is 10 times higher than the rest of the European population.  The Athens Medical School researchers were curious to understand if the islanders’ coffee consumption played a role.

To read more, please visit: Fox News

Elena Syraka created her first pieces of jewellery while at school, without realising this would ultimately be her calling. After studying at the Veloudakis Fashion School in Athens, she went on to ESMOD in Paris, where she decided to focus on jewellery design. Her official debut into the field was in 1995 and about a decade later, she decided to focus exclusively on fine jewellery. Her designs balance between opposite elements, such as the masculine and the feminine, the strict and the fluid.

With a passion for ancient civilisations and a deep interest in Greek history and heritage, Elena offers a contemporary interpretation of classical symbols.

Elena’s jewellery is handcrafted in Athens and various collections come in limited edition numbered pieces. She has now reached her 20th anniversary as a jewellery designer and is proud to see her Nour collection being exhibited in major museums around the world.

To read this article in full, please visit: Why Athens

‘What happened next? What happened to the boys?'

Once upon a lifetime, twenty-five years ago or more, I wrote a book called A Foreign Wife. In it I recorded my experiences during my first five years in the Peloponnesian village to which I had unexpectedly migrated in 1980.’

Life in the Peloponnese continues to delight and challenge Gillian Bouras. Seeing and Believing resumes the narrative as her sons create their own families and time delivers a fresh crop of joys and heartaches, to which she tries to adjust.

Acutely responsive to what she calls ‘the conspiracy of beauty in Greece,’ she celebrates the natural world in prose that indicates a lifelong engagement with words. Global events send her to historians for enlightenment, while tragedy closer to home —fire, unexpected death— prompts reflection on the solace of contrasting creeds. In between she observes the human comedy with dry humour.

Gillian Bouras was born in Melbourne in 1945. She worked as a teacher in Australia before moving to Greece with her husband and children in 1980. Her first books were about this experience. She lives in the Peloponnese, Greece, as well as maintaining ties with Australia. Her journalism has been published in six countries.

For more information, please visit: Gillian Bouras.

 

For world famous basketball player Giannis Antetokounmpo, Greece holds a special place in his heart.

Because of his love and ties to the country, the Minister of Tourism, Elena Kountoura, invited Mr. Antetokounmpo to become an ambassador of Greek tourism and help promote the country to the world. 

The Minister of Tourism was very emotional when she saw how much the NBA star loves Greece, who accepted her invitation straight away. Unofficially, Giannis has been promoting the country through his succesful achievements.

Giannis, of course, wanted to thank the Minister of Tourism for her effort to strenghten Greek tourism and stated that he and his family will do anything to boost the beauty and culture of his beloved country.

Furthermore, the Milwaukee Bucks player ran for a good cause on July 7th, 2018, encouraging solidarity in Greece.

The video below shows the tourism campaign by Visit Greece where Antetokounmpo invites you to his beautiful country!



Originally posted in Greek on Athens Voice
Translated by XpatAthens

Greece has proven many times again what an ideal holiday destination it is. This year, the country ranks 2nd in Blue Flag beaches worldwide and the Athens Airport just landed a spot in the Top-3 best airports in the world. Have you booked your ticket to Greece yet?

These days my 7-year-old daughter wants to play 'hospital' all the time. We pretend to be the nurses helping patients who are infected with the coronavirus and have to be operated. At first, no one survived; everyone died at once. "We can't go on like this, I need to change the scenario," I thought to myself. As I was given the role of head nurse, I changed the story, and from that point on, everyone recovers from their illness! Hooray!

News about the coronavirus is everywhere, and children hear it all. Our new living conditions, the fear of what has already happened topped with the fear that "we haven't seen the worst yet," affect them directly. You need to talk to your child in a way that makes him or her feel safe so that they don't get more scared than they may already be. So how are you going to do this?

First, you start with an open discussion about the virus. After all, your child does see people in masks and gloves. It's an excellent opportunity to talk about precautions and to put things into perspective. Don't forget that you're the one filtering the news for your child.

You give information according to your child's age. Talk to him or her about their concerns. Ask them about what they already know, what they believe will happen, and how they feel about it. Maybe they have questions. Your answers need to be honest.

If you are concerned about the situation, make sure you calm down first before you talk to your child. Panic doesn't help anyone.

As children are self-centered, it's easy for them to think they will get the virus. If this is the case with your child, reassure them by saying that children cannot catch the virus as easily as adults and go through the precautions they need to take. Children feel empowered when they know what to do to protect themselves.

Follow a routine, especially now that schools are closed. Routine gives children a sense of security. Regular meals and sleeping hours help children stay healthy and happy.

Keep the communication channel with your child open. It is perfectly ok to admit that you do not know everything, that you do not have the answers to every question, and that you will keep your child up to date on any critical developments.

Remember, you're setting an example for your children. That's why you're staying home!

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!

 

The award-winning sports tourism event Navarino Challenge, with a high sense of responsibility towards its participants and visitors, announces the postponement of the event to October 15-17, 2021, taking into consideration the epidemiological data and current health conditions prevailing in our country, despite designing and getting the necessary approvals for the strict health protocols.

Registered athletes and participants will receive relevant email communication from the event, whereas those interested can learn news and read all announcements directly through Navarino Challenge’s communication channels.

Navarino Challenge is held under the auspices of the Greek National Tourism Organization, with the support of the Pylos-Nestor Municipality. Navarino Challenge has joined the Greek actions of the #BeactiveHellas 2020 program of the European Commission and is held under the auspices of the General Secretariat of Sports. All running races are co-organized with Messiniakos Gymnastic Club and EAS SEGAS Peloponnese Region.

Samsung is the Official Technology Partner.

Vikos Natural Mineral Water is the event’s Official Sponsor.

Luanvi is the Official Sports Supplier.

Pylos-Nestor Municipality, Poseidonia, Karalis Beach Hotel are Navarino Challenge’s Official Supporters.

Messinian Spa is the Official Beauty Partner.

On is the Official Shoe Partner.

Nestlé FITNESS® is the Official Breakfast Partner.

Target Security, Fysiotek Sports Lab are the event’s Partners.

Avance is the Official Car Rental Partner.

SKAI is the Premium TV Partner.

National Geographic is the Strategic Partner.

24MEDIA is the Premium Media Partner.

Deree - The American College of Greece is the Educational Partner. 
Explore Messinia, FitnessArt, Navarino Golf Academy, Navarino Outdoors, Navarino Racquet Academy, Pilates by Mandy, Red Swim Academy, Swim Academy, Triantafyllidis Beach Arena, Vizantinos target sport club, Marathon Team Greece are Navarino Challenge’s Athletic Partners.

Navarino Challenge is assisted by Vita N Travel, Karalis City Hotel & Spa, Lifeguard Patrol, Pylos Association of Enterprises for Tourism Development, Maritime Athletic Pylos Association “Nestor”, Pilia Express, Kayak.

Anazoe Spa, Attica Selections, Kessaris, Nargile, Panellinios Agora Games are the Discount Partners.

Active Media Group is responsible for the event’s Sports Production.

Photo Credit: Elias Lefas

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After a long and extensive remodel, Greece’s most important historical art gallery is now open to the public again, with essentially double the space. The sleek glass-clad site, just across from the Hilton Athens, houses the country’s largest single collection of modern art and sculpture, dating from the post-Byzantine era to the present. For the first time in nearly a decade, visiting art lovers can trace Greece’s artistic progress over the course of its modern history, all under one roof.

With a heady haul of iconic works from great Greek artists such as Yannis Tsarouchis, Konstantinos Parthenis, and Dominikos Theotokopoulos (better known as El Greco), chronologically organized over three gleaming floors, you’ll need hours to take it all in properly. To help you cut to the chase and make your visit more meaningful, we’ve scoured the permanent collection to share some of our favorite highlights. 

Portrait of Mrs. Serpieri by Nikephoros Lytras (1869)

Credit: Thomas Gravanis

The son of a famed marble sculptor from Tinos island, Nikephoros Lytras is himself billed as “the father of modern Greek painting”. His most well-known portrait is Greece’s first royal couple, Otto and Amalia. But it’s this sumptuous, large-scale oil, immortalizing the wife of a prominent industrialist, that planted him on the radar of his peers. The globally renowned Greek artist Takis used to say that “Mrs. Serpieri was the first Greek portrait” (he greatly admired the textural qualities of her wine-colored velvet gown). Lytras’ portrait phase was characterized by a very studied style and lavish gold frames that sometimes cost more than the paintings. It was an affirmation of the affluent new society emerging in Greece who all wanted their portraits painted. As one of the pioneering members of the Munich School of Greek artists championed by King Otto, Lytras was in particularly hot demand.

Collecting the Nets by Konstantinos Volanakis (1871)

Credit: Thomas Gravanis

Greec\ce’s legendary bright light inspires endless artistic expressions. But it wasn’t always ideal when it came to the development of Impressionism in this country: no clouds to create the genre’s trademark luminosity. Konstantinos Volanakis triumphs nonetheless in this dreamy depiction of fishermen pulling the nets at sunrise. The sky is flooded with melancholy light and the rippling sea pulsates with life and variation; demonstrating Volanakis’ firm grasp of Impressionism’s primary lesson: a deep comprehension of the essence of things. This accountant-turned-artist grew into one of Greece’s most important seascape painters, known for his lyrical and atmospheric compositions of momentous naval battles and harbor scenes.

The Betrothal of the Children by Nikolaos Gyzis (1877)

Credit: Thomas Gravanis

Another leading light of the esteemed Munich School of Greek artists who studied in Bavaria, Nikolaos Gyzis opens a poignant window into life under Ottoman rule. The Turks used to take young boys from their families to raise them as Muslims (their sons would often return as young men to fight against their former villages). In a bid to escape this cruel fate, families betrothed their children from the age of 10. Here, in a typical village home, the priest places a ring on a bemused boy’s finger; while the girl appears to shy away from the priest’s entreaties. A relative kitted out in the traditional Greek fustanella kilt, likely one of the fathers, stands by to toast the union from a gourd-like vessel. Notice how remarkably this prized genre painter captures the color and texture of the utensils and fabrics: from the gleam of the copper pot to the rich sheen of the silk garments.

Exodus from Messolonghi by Theodoros Vryzakis (1878)

Credit: Thomas Gravanis

One of the most tragic and recounted episodes of the Greek fight for freedom is meticulously portrayed here by Theodoros Vryzakis (himself orphaned by the Greek War of Independence when his father was hanged by the Turks). On the night of April 10, 1826, the inhabitants of Messolonghi in Western Greece fled a year-long siege to be slain by the waiting enemy. Vryzakis unites heavenly and earthly axes to show an enthroned God in a golden cloud blessing the romanticized Greek fighters; while angels with laurel wreaths prepare to coronate the heroes. Mothers and children lie wounded or dying as armed Turks breach the city walls on a ladder. You can almost hear their cries and feel the uproar and terror. As one of the founders of the Munich School of Greek artists, Vryzakis’ paintings fuelled patriotism among Greeks - and Philhellenes - who believed their cause was rightful and had God’s backing.

Grandma’s Favourite by Georgios Iakovidis (1893)

Credit: Thomas Gravanis

The intimate bond between grandparent and grandchild is one of Greece’s most endearing cultural touchstones. Georgis Iakovidis, among the last great champions of the Munich School, carved out a name for himself as “the painter of childhood”. Many of his works, such as this delightful example, inimitably captured the primal relationship between grandchildren and their elderly grandparents. Here, the bronze fruit plate cements the artist’s mastery of still life techniques; while the infant’s red socks nod to Impressionism. What shines brightest though is Iakovidis’ profound insight into the psychology of the connection between these two diametrically opposed life stages. Fun fact: Iakovidis would later become one of the first directors of the newly-established National Gallery.

On the Terrace by Iakovos Rizos (1897)


Credit: Thomas Gravanis

We might have guessed that Iakovos Rizos studied art in Paris. This luxurious painting, set on the terrace of a neoclassical abode in Plaka, oozes the euphoric spirit of the Belle Epoque and the artistic milieu of the late 19th century. Rizos’ oeuvre of “beautiful, elegant women in palaces or gardens” marks a dramatic gear shift from the predominant themes of war and Hellenism that defined Greek art in previous decades. Here, a winsome sunset cloaks the Acropolis, casting its blushing light over a trio of leisurely protagonists who represent the wealthy bourgeois life. A handsome Cavalry officer recites verse to the evident delight of two stylish Athenian ladies (some say it’s Prince Nikolaos, potential heir to the throne, and known for his romantic pursuits). Rizos may sidestep the Impressionist doctrines employed to great effect by his contemporaries, but the enduring charm of this painting lies more in the wonderful feeling it evokes.

To read this article in full, please visit: thisisathens.org

Whether you've just arrived in town – or have been here for years – Athens always has new secrets to share! 

 

Ellinopoula, an award-winning digital platform, solves the problem for Greek diaspora parents and teachers who want their kids to learn Greek from the comfort of their home.

As we celebrate International Greek Language Day on February 9th, Greek diaspora parents worldwide face the challenge of how to pass on the Greek language and heritage to their children.

Ellinopoula is an award-winning e-platform that aims to give second and third-generation Greek kids the opportunity to learn the language in a fun and modern way by harnessing technology.

Many parents want their kids to learn Greek but do not have the means or the time to devote to language lessons. This is where Ellinopoula comes into play. Integrating learning Greek with Greek mythology, history, and culture in fun games, engaging videos, and interactive activities to inspire kids to learn Greek.

The platform’s innovative approach has led to its winning gold at the Education Leaders Awards for the past two years in a row. In 2021, it was recognized as the best Online and Distance Learning Platform, and also won gold awards for Digital Education and Innovation in Teaching.