The particular geography of Athens has endowed it with great vantage points from which to admire the city from above, not to mention the distinctive blue tones of Attica's sky and sea. Athenians place the city’s hills and Attica’s sandy beaches at the top of the list for best spots for a first date. Whether or not you're enjoying the scenery with someone else, you are surely going to fall in love with the view from these incredible spots around Athens!

Ardittou Hill
Verdant Ardittou Hill lies in the centre of Athens just above Kallimarmaron Stadium. Of enormous archaeological value due to its position, Ardittou Hill is a favorite spot among Athenians for romantic strolls as well as a great spot for jogging. It probably has the best views of the Acropolis, Lycabettus Hill, and the Columns of Olympian Zeus. A night walk along its cool paths reveals many charming secrets, both ancient and modern.  Continuing along these paths brings you to Mets, an area with a growing reputation for fun and entertainment. What better way, in fact, to end your meander down lovers’ lane than with a drink in-hand soaking up the atmosphere with other Athenian fun-seekers!

Strefi  Hill
Climbing up the picturesque steps of Kallidromiou Street in Exarhia, picking your way through the playfully cunning cats who’ve made this place their domain and admiring neoclassical buildings of exceptional beauty, you will find yourself on Strefi  Hill. This particular hill is one of the favourite haunts of the Athenian young, and it’s not uncommon for parties to be held there, just below the little stone theatre. The night, as we all know, is made for romance, but if you prefer something less intimate, during the summer months you have the option of “Exostrefis”, one of the best known restaurants in Athens which serves excellent food and wine. The panoramic view of the city from the hill is invigorating, its trees, shrubs and flowers offer a breath of cool fresh air.

Lycabettus Hill
Perhaps the most iconic hill in Athens, second only to the Acropolis, Lycabettus is the highest point of the Athens basin, standing at 227 metres above the city. Access to this wonderful hill can be on foot but the most popular way is the picturesque cable car. Romanticism without the weariness of the climb and the whole of Athens at your feet! Atop the hill of Lycabettus sits St. George’s chapel in its whitewashed splendor, as if on permanent loan from the Cyclades. Before you decide to visit the hill, check if there is a concert on that day, as the theatre of Lycabettus is one of the most popular open air venues, and its stage has hosted top acts from the international music scene. However, even without musical accompaniment the climb to the top of Lycabettus is well worth it because of the unrivalled view when you get there. Sprawling Athens is at once tiny and vast, its myriad of lights is a starscape to match the heavens.

Philopappou Hill
Named after the monument discovered there, Philopappou Hill is one of the most beautiful spots in Athens. With a strong flavour of ancient Greece, full of olive trees and in full view of  the Parthenon, Philopappou Hill seems to encapsulate huge swathes of Greek history, ancient and modern, in a single image. Besides the Parthenon, you can cast your eyes down on the Acropolis Museum, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the whole of Apostolou Pavlou Avenue and the Observatory. On a clear day you can see the sea. Especially at night Philopappou Hill is transformed into an Athenian beacon, its monument  bathed in a single orange spotlight. After a romantic walk on Philopappou, there are many districts resting in its shade to discover. Theseion, Monastiraki, Koukaki, Petralona. Pick one and have fun until the stars disappear from the sky.

Temple of Poseidon, Sounion
On the southernmost tip of Greater Athens lies the headland of Sounion, with its iconic Temple of Poseidon, which adorns the clifftop 60 metres above the sea. Sunsets at Sounion are cinematic to say the least and have served many a passionate liaison with a sumptuous mauve and orange backdrop. So if you are in Athens, don’t miss the opportunity to visit Sounion at dusk so you too can marvel at the sun’s majestic descent into the Saronikos gulf and – if you are lucky – perhaps a bright full moon rising a little later on. In the summer months don’t miss out on a night dip on one of the nearby beaches. The sea, an ancient floodlit temple and you. A leisurely jaunt down the coast from the city and this paradise can be yours.

To learn about more great spots around Athens, please visit: Discover Greece

Those interested in renting out their properties, homes or flats in Greece on Airbnb must meet the following requirements as set out by the economy, finance and tourism ministries.

According to a recent government decision effective November 1, 2015, interested parties can lease properties that meet the standards of self-catering accommodation (furnished villas and rooms/apartments) subject to the provisions in article 46 of law 4179/2013 (A ‘175), without possessing the special accommodation sticker and with no set duration. Previously, in order to lease accommodation for less than 30 days, the special sticker was required.

Additionally, should owners of any of the above accommodation types provide services (cleaning, catering, protection) these will be taxed accordingly as income and be subject to the applicable laws as laid out by the finance ministry.

According to the current tax system, income from renting properties is taxed according to the following scale: for income less/equal than 12,000 euros, the tax rate is 11 percent, while for income over 12,000 euros, the rate is 33 percent. These rates may change once new tax legislation is voted in parliament.

Owners wishing to engage in business activity and lease their property solely as a tourist accommodation [Article 1 of Law 4276/2014 (A 155)], must obtain legal authorization by local licensing and supervisory boards and obtain the special operations sticker. Different tax rules apply to properties registered as “tourist accommodation.”

Source: Greek Travel Pages

Trip to Greece is a colourful workbook with an interesting narrative in English, and Greek keywords to practise and learn. Each page offers multiple fun opportunities for your child to hear, speak, read and write Greek (activities vary on the child’s age and language ability).

As technology continues to connect the World, the skill of speaking a second language becomes more relevant and advantageous to our younger generations.

An Australian children’s’ educator and author has just created a unique tool for children in the Diaspora, bringing some fun and travel to the process of learning a second language.

Relocation to different countries for various reasons has also become very common, and these days, many people immigrate to countries with cultures and languages very different to where they were born and raised.

Children’s’ Multicultural Educator and Consultant, Melina Mallos, recognises the importance of promoting intercultural understanding among children, as well as promoting a firm connection with and appreciation of their own original cultural heritage.

Ms. Mallos, who was born and raised in Greece until the age of 6, is a high profile blogger and commentator on the subject of childhood intercultural understanding and appreciation for a number of years. She published her first bilingual children’s picture book in 2015, titled 'Catch that Cat!'

“We are fortunate to speak English here in Australia, a universal language, and therefore a lot of doors around the world automatically open for us. However, fluency in a second language will open up a whole new world of possibilities to your child. And there are reported health, social and intellectual benefits as well,” she said.

Ms. Mallos assures parents that there are multiple benefits for the child, aside from the obvious advantages of expansive life experiences, such as sharper brain functions, including listening, memory recall, better problem solving, improved critical thinking, greater cognitive flexibility, verbal and spatial abilities.

To purchase 'Trip To Greece,' please visit: Melina Mallos

About The Author

Ms. Mallos is a passionate writer, researcher and teacher with over 15 years’ experience working as a child educator in art museums in Australia.  Ms. Mallos is also a frequent presenter at conferences, schools, libraries and community events.  Her work has been featured in international journals, television and on the radio. In 2010, she was awarded a prestigious Queensland-Smithsonian Fellowship to research early learning programs in Washington D.C.

For the 12th consecutive year, the esteemed NY Times put together its annual ‘Places To Go’ article by receiving feedback from regular contributors, many of whom live overseas, as well as having ‘marathon-length’ meetings to narrow down their suggestions. This year, Athens was recognized for its art scene and put on the ’52 Places To Go In 2017’ list!

 

Coming in at number 28, Athens is described as ‘a post-crisis art boom in an ancient capital.’

‘Prices have dropped, but the Greek debt crisis has not dampened Athens’s thriving arts scene. Recent years have seen a surge of galleries, collectives and nonprofit art organizations built for leaner times, like Radio Athènes, which hosts pop-up lectures and performances, and the immigration-focused Nomadic Architecture Network.’

A few notable and up-and-coming destinations also made the list including Tijuana, Mexico, Detroit, Michigan, and Greenville, South Carolina. And of course, classic cities like Madrid in Spain, Osaka in Japan, and Napa Valley in California were also listed among the top places to go in 2017.

To view the NY Times list of ’52 Places To Go In 2017’ in full, please visit: NY Times

Meet Culture, the culture company founded in Athens, was invited by the Consulate General of Greece in Shanghai to attend the Reception of Greek National Day. Miao Bin – the Founder and CEO, Chang Jing – the Artistic Director and Zhang Di – the Music Director met with the Consul General Mr Vassilis Xiros in Yuyuan, Shanghai.

In August 2016, Meet Culture organized the Aegean Music Tour in China, including several cities such as Lishui, Chengdu, Nanjing, Wuxi and Shanghai. In the concert in Shanghai, Meet Culture invited Mr Vassilis Xiros to join the Chinese and Greek musicians with his bouzouki to perform the Greek traditional music. Since then, Meet Culture has kept close relationship with the Consulate on the culture projects.

Based on the great contribution to the culture exchange between Greece and China, Chang Jing was awarded the Cultural Ambassador by the Consulate General of Greece in Shanghai.

As said by Mr. Consul General, Music unites the two civilizations. Chang Jing has been contributing to the culture exchange between China and Thailand as the teacher of the Princess of Thailand, and now she devote her efforts to the relationship of Greece and China.

Chang Jing invited Miao Bin, the founder of Meet Culture, to the stage to present the gift from Meet Culture to the Consulate General. This is gift is the calligraphy from Mr Xie Qianhong, the calligrapher in Chengdu.

To read this article in full, please visit: Meet Culture

The Epidaurus Lyceum – International Summer School of Ancient Drama will be active for the third year in a row in Epidaurus on 2 – 16 July 2019, in collaboration with the Theatre Studies Department of the School of Fine Arts of the University of Peloponnese, which also accredits the programme with ECTS credits.

Prospective students can now apply. For more information, terms and conditions, and application forms, prospective applicants may click HERE! 

This year’s theme, Reinventing ancient drama on the contemporary stage will pervade all Lyceum classes and related events.

The 2019 teaching staff will include the following: Xu Jiali, actress and professor of Chinese Opera at the Shanghai Theatre Academy; Ichinosuke Umekawa, teacher and actor of Kabuki theatre; the dance group known as Sine Qua Non ART (Jonathan Pranlas – Descours and Christophe Beranger); Kamila Klamut, director, co-founder of ZAR Theatre and collaborator of the Grotowski Institute; Christiane Pohle, award- winning director and head of programme of the Academy of Performing Arts Baden- Wuerttemberg; Andrea De Rosa, director; Gabriele Vacis, director, writer and theatre scholar; Vangelis Theodoropoulos, director, and Anastasios Karakatsanos, composer and music teacher. Lectures and masterclasses will be given by the following: Kostas Georgousopoulos, writer, translator and theatre critic; Konstantinos Markoulakis, actor and director; Efimia Karakantza, assistant professor at the Department of Philology, University of Patras; George Sampatakakis, assistant professor at the Theatre Studies Department, University of Patras; Anna Tsichli, member of the special teaching staff at the Theatre Studies Department, University of Peloponnese; Maria Mikedaki, assistant professor at the Theatre Studies Department, University of Peloponnese, and Georgina Kakoudaki, director and theatre scholar.

The programme is realized with the support of the Institut Français de Grèce, the Istituto Di Cultura – Atene, the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities in Italy, the Municipality of Epidaurus and the Ephorate of Antiquities of Argolis. The Epidaurus Lyceum is a member of the International Network of Ancient Drama of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports.

The Acropolis Museum celebrates 10 years of operation and throughout this period over 14,5 million local and international visitors have passed through its doors and enjoyed its exhibits. The Museum publicly expresses its thanks to all of them. On the occasion of its ten years anniversary, the Museum invites visitors to the following celebrating events:




Temporary exhibition ‘CHISEL AND MEMORY. The contribution of marble craftsmanship to the restoration of the Acropolis monuments’
11.06.2019 – 31.10.2019

Since opening its doors ten years ago, the Acropolis Museum has highlighted the close relationship between the famous sculptures it displays and the monuments from which they originate. It is with great pleasure that the Museum is hosting an exceptional exhibition of photographs of the marble craftsmen of the Acropolis at work. Imbued with a new curatorial spirit, the exhibition was initially organized by the Committee for the Conservation of the Acropolis Monuments and the Acropolis Restoration Service. The exhibition takes place in the ground floor Temporary Exhibition Gallery. Entrance will be free.

Lecture “The true colors of the Parthenon sculptures: evidence for traces of original polychromy and its interpretation”
Thursday, 13 June 2019, 7 p.m.

The Acropolis Museum will host a lecture of the Italian professor Giovanni Verri on the polychromy of the Parthenon sculptures, which has long been the subject of scholarly research and this debate has continued now for almost two centuries. Giovanni Verri is a Reader at the Courtauld Institute of Art, London. He holds a PhD in Physics from the University of Ferrara in Italy, and an MA in Conservation of Wall Paintings from the Courtauld Institute of Art in London. Throughout his career, he has endeavored to develop scientific techniques for the analysis of color, in particular on Greek and Roman antiquities. The lecture will take place in the ground floor Auditorium and entrance will be free.

Music concert ‘Stavros Xarchakos – Instrumental’
Wednesday, 19 June 2019, 9 p.m.

The Acropolis Museum invites its visitors to a unique instrumental concert by the great Greek composer Stavros Xarchakos and an orchestra of eight renowned Greek soloists. Stavros Xarchakos and the orchestra will take visitors on a musical journey comprising familiar compositions of Stavros Xarchakos, Mikis Theodorakis, Vasilis Tsitsanis, Markos Vamvakaris and Manos Hadjidakis. On this day the Museum will extend its opening hours until midnight. Entrance will be free from 8 p.m. onwards.

10 Years Acropolis Museum Celebration
Thursday, 20 June 2019

Celebrating The Acropolis Museum’s birthday, entrance to the exhibition areas will be free from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.

From Friday 21 June 2019 onwards, the archaeological excavation will be open to the public with the general admission fee ticket. The excavated area of 4,000 sq. meters comprises houses, workshops, baths and streets of an ancient Athenian neighborhood that existed from the classical to the Byzantine years, in successive phases. This impressive archaeological site will soon be enriched with the most representative findings of the excavation. Architectural ruins will be organized in a unique exhibition set that sheds light on the everyday life of an ancient neighborhood that existed in the shadow of the Acropolis. On this day the Museum exhibition areas will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

It's no secret that podcast listeners want to educate themselves, think deeply, and broaden their horizons. One of the major highlights of podcasts is that you can listen to them while simultaneously doing something else be it cleaning, exercising, or working!

One of the hardest things about podcasts is finding the ones that appeal to you most, so we've collected some absolute favorites. We hope that they will help to increase mindfulness and knowledge about the world, improve your well-being, and encourage you to think big! 

Stuff You Should Know: This award-winning, fascinating podcast educates listeners on a wide variety of topics, often using pop culture as a reference to add a comedic sense. 

The Tim Ferriss Show: In each episode, Tim Ferriss deconstructs world-class performers from different areas to extract the tactics, tools, and routines you can use such as morning routines, exercise habits, time-management tricks, and more.

The Model Health Show: Tune in for a fun and enlightening look at health and fitness, where you'll learn how to burn fat, get healthier and optimize your life for greater success.

The James Altucher Show: This show brings you into the lives of peak-performers who forged their own paths, found freedom and harnessed the power to create more meaningful and fulfilling lives. 

Revisionist History with Malcolm Gladwell: In each episode, Malcolm Gladwell goes back, trying to reinterpret something overlooked and misunderstood from the past: an event, a person, an idea. 

Everyday Ayurveda and Yoga: This series offers the tools you need to support your well-being, inspiring you to live a more holistic and balanced lifestyle. 

The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast: Focusing primarily on philosophical and philological topics, the podcasts include audio versions of the most popular Dr. Peterson's YouTube videos and interviews, with some of the world’s most compelling thinkers. 

The Practical Stoic Podcast: Stoicism is one of the most effective philosophies for a well-lived life and Simon Drew shares practical ancient Stoic advice that can still be applied today. 

The Daily (New York Times): A daily news podcast and radio show hosted by Times political journalist Michael Barbaro. Its episodes are based on the Times' reporting of the day with interviews of journalists from the New York Times.

CBC News: This weekly podcast has it all; from politics to pop culture and intelligent conversations to world-class original reporting from across the globe. 

All of the podcast recommendations have been ‘tried and tested’ by our friend and contributor Eleni Maria Georgiou. Thank you, Eleni!

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About Eleni Maria Georgiou

Eleni Maria Georgiou is an independent writer and publishing professional devoted to creating books that are creative, original, and modern.  

Passionate about Athens and all the city has to offer, for four exciting years, I co-managed XpatAthens. This experience inspired me to write my first book, Eleni’s GREEK PHRASE BOOK: A Beginner's Guide to Greek Culture and the Greek Language in 2018, sparking the birth of Lenacke Press. I continue to write, think about, and publish creative and original books, adding to the Lenacke Press collection. 

In addition, since 2004, I have been running fixyourenglish.com, a business that provides Editing, Proofreading, and Translation services.

I currently live in Athens, Greece with my husband and two kids. I am fluent in both English and Greek and interested in learning more languages. I like organizing and attending community group events, reading, listening to podcasts and audiobooks, writing, lifting weights, and going hiking.

 

Greek Maritime Golf Event, the most successful golf tournament for the shipping community, returns for the 7th year booking its annual appointment with the Greek and world shipping industry, on September 3-5, 2021, at Costa Navarino , in Messinia.

The best golf event in Greece and Cyprus, as distinguished with a Gold award at the 2020 Sports Marketing Awards, is expected to bring together more than 80 leading shipping executives, forming 20 teams of four. Participants will compete at a team level, in a shotgun scramble that will take place on Saturday, September 4 th . Golfers will have the chance to play in the two signature 18-hole courses, The Dunes Course and The Bay Course, in an idyllic landscape full of centuries-old olive trees with stunning views of the Ionian Sea, the historic Bay of Navarino and the picturesque port of Pylos.

Participating teams will claim the significant prizes for the top three positions in the overall standings; while special awards will be given to individual players who will achieve the best scores in the “Longest Drive” and “Closest to the Pin” categories.

In the context of this year’s Greek Maritime Golf Event, the tournament’s organizer Mr. Thanos Karantzias highlighted: “After the highly successful and safe implementation of our event in 2020, in the Golf Course of Glyfada, with the realization of the strict health measures we had set against the pandemic, we begin our planning in September, at Costa Navarino with the Greek Maritime Golf Event”. 

The tournament will bring together representatives of the Greek and world shipping industry, who will have the opportunity to enjoy their favorite sport, golf, in a completely safe destination, with the necessary approvals of the Health Scientific Committee of the General Secretariat of Sports, taking into account the strict specifications set by the Hellenic Golf Federation.