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Athens To Host A Party At Syntagma To Welcome 2023
Starting at 11am on Saturday December 31st, Athens’ municipal radio station, 98.4, will drive its vintage van around the city making stops in different neighborhoods to offer Athenians and visitors the opportunity to share their wishes, dedications and song requests on air.
The Greek capital will welcome the new year at Syntagma Square, with a show presented by Hellenic Broadcaster Corporation’s (ERT) presenters Fotis Sergoulopoulos and Jenny Melita.
The Athens Municipality Philharmonic Orchestra will launch the event at 10:30pm with a concert of classic Christmas tunes followed by the main festive event headlined by internationally-acclaimed Greek singers Mario Frangoulis and George Perris.
Frangoulis and Perris will be accompanied by a ten-member symphonic orchestra and will take the audience on a musical journey with songs and melodies that have stood the test of time.
Just before midnight, Athens Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis will join Athenians and visitors to welcome 2023 and kick off a festive party running into the small hours.
The high energy cover band, Bejeezus, will bring their energy to 2023’s first open air party with pop, swing, latin και rock ‘n’ roll sounds at Syntagma, while a few hundred yards away, the Varvakeios Municipal Market will host some of the most prominent representatives of the Greek electronic dance music scene during a party that will transform Athens’ historic market into a dance club filled with light and joy.
This Christmas season, the Municipality of Athens has organized more than 120 noel family events and more than 30 music shows across 129 neighborhoods.
Furthermore, municipal authorities managed to decorate the city with LED technology lights, lowering energy consumption by 80 percent, when compared to previous years.
Originally published on: news.gtp.gr
Exploring History & Culture: 8 Must-Visit Museums In Athens For Family Fun!
Acropolis Museum
Location: Dionysiou Areopagitou 15, Athina
Telephone: 21 0900 0900
Opening Hours: Monday–Thursday: 9:00–17:00 Friday: 9:00–22:00 Saturday & Sunday: 9:00–20:00
National Archaeological Museum
As one of the largest and most important archaeological museums in the world, the National Archaeological Museum is a treasure trove of ancient Greek artifacts. From the golden Mask of Agamemnon to the intricate Antikythera Mechanism, there's no shortage of awe-inspiring exhibits to discover. Kids will love the museum's interactive displays, including a virtual tour of ancient Athens and hands-on activities where they can try on replicas of ancient armor and clothing. With its vast collection spanning thousands of years of history, the museum offers a truly immersive experience for visitors of all ages.
Location: 28is Oktovriou 44, Athina
Telephone: 21 3214 4800
Opening Hours: Tuesday: 13:00–20:00 Wednesday-Monday: 08:30–15:30
Nestled in a neoclassical mansion in the heart of Athens, the Benaki Museum offers a fascinating journey through Greek history and culture. From ancient artifacts to modern art, the museum's diverse collection spans centuries of Greek art and civilization. Families can explore beautifully decorated rooms adorned with intricate textiles and exquisite jewelry, gaining insight into the daily life and customs of Greeks throughout the ages. Highlights include a stunning collection of Byzantine icons, Ottoman-era textiles, and folk art from rural Greece.
Location: Koumpari 1, Athina
Telephone: 21 0367 1000
Opening Hours: Monday-Wednesday-Friday-Saturday: 10:00–18:00 Thursday: 10:00–00:00 Sunday: 10:00–16:00
Museum of Cycladic Art
Step into the world of the Cycladic civilization at this unique museum dedicated to the art and culture of the Cyclades islands. Featuring a remarkable collection of Cycladic figurines, pottery, and artifacts, the museum offers a glimpse into the life and customs of this ancient civilization. Kids will be captivated by the minimalist beauty of the Cycladic sculptures, while parents can appreciate the museum's serene atmosphere and insightful exhibits. Don't miss the opportunity to marvel at the iconic marble figurines dating back to the 3rd millennium BCE, which continue to inspire artists and art lovers around the world.
Delve into the fascinating world of coins and currency at the Numismatic Museum of Athens. Housed in the former mansion of archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann, the museum's elegant rooms are filled with rare coins, medals, and banknotes spanning thousands of years of history. Kids can embark on a treasure hunt through the museum, searching for hidden gems and learning about the evolution of money along the way. Highlights include ancient Greek coins depicting mythological figures and historical events, as well as rare specimens from civilizations around the world.
Location: El. Venizelou 12, Athina
Telephone: 21 0363 2057
Opening Hours: Wednesday – Monday: 08.30–15.30
Music lovers won't want to miss the Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments, located in the picturesque neighborhood of Plaka. Here, visitors can discover the rich musical traditions of Greece through a diverse collection of instruments, from lyres and lutes to bagpipes and drums. Families can even try their hand at playing some of the instruments themselves, making for a truly interactive and memorable experience. Highlights include traditional instruments used in folk music festivals and religious ceremonies, providing insight into the cultural heritage of Greece's diverse regions.
Location: Diogenous 1, Athina
Telephone: 21 0325 0198
Opening Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday: 08:30 - 15:30
Greek Donkeys
Maybe I'm way behind the times, maybe I walk around in a daze most days, maybe as a 'non-driver by choice' I simply miss these things... Outside my front door there is always a tightly packed line of cars, parked nose to tail, on both sides of the street. It is notoriously difficult to find parking in the Thiseio neighbourhood, especially on weekends. So finding a spot is a real coup and brings instant joy to the winner.
Of course, we have also all seen the utter creativity of Athenian drivers, in making their Renaults fit in the most awkward of spaces, or in discovering space where I am fairly sure there was no space before. Thus, when I returned from a leisurely coffee on Saturday afternoon, I was not so shocked to find a little grey Toyota sticking out diagonally from the corner, having parked nose-first up on the curb, blocking the sidewalk completely, blocking the other cars from leaving, and generally proving the miraculous skill and total arrogance of certain drivers. It was also bold to the point of offense, and (I assume) completely illegal.
Here comes the good part: on the front windshield someone had stuck a bright orange sticker that read in Greek 'Είμαι γάϊδαρος! Παρκάρω όπου γουστάρω' ('Ι am a donkey (read: jack*ss), Ι park wherever Ι please') - with a cartoon drawing of a smiling donkey sitting in a car.
This brought a huge smile to my face! Finally someone taking action against parking hoodlums, someone saying exactly what we are all thinking, in bold neon orange.
In this city of seemingly low accountability and precious few consequences (especially concerning cars and parking), this 'sticker shaming' movement is better than the alternative - the alternative being 'nothing'. So I snapped a photo and posted it to my Facebook. A couple hours later, the car was gone and the sticker was not thrown on the ground, as I had expected it would be. I'm hoping the driver got the message and perhaps was showing the sticker to his/her friends... Who am I kidding, he probably didn't even notice it on the windshield...
I'm not sure if this 'public ridicule' works, nor how widespread this practice is in Athens. Something tells me that 'public shaming' actually has an an effect in this culture - but if so, then maybe an orange sticker doesn't go far enough....
I'm less interested in the outcome (the 'driver'), than in the original action (the 'stick-er'). In an economic and social climate where the state does not/cannot take effective action on all fronts, this is a sign of thinking outside the box, of an 'entrepreneurial' mindset, of making change from the bottom-up, of creative protest, without violence or extremes. It is really a small action in the grand scheme of change, but it's different than what came before and I think its great.
So fair warning: if you are looking for parking in Athens, be careful how creative you are, lest you be stuck with a jack*ss on your windshield.
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…
Discover The Island Of Agkistri
Only 19 nautical miles away from Piraeus, Agkistri is an easily accessible Argosaronic Gulf paradise. Azure waters, pine trees and lush vegetation (where many bird species find refuge) are the main characteristics of this tiny, yet charming, island of less than 1,000 inhabitants! There are three large settlements on the island: Megalohóri (or Mýlos), Skála and Limenária.
Apart from the little church of Ayioi Theódoroi, other things to see on the island are Metopis and an 1812 windmill at Megalohóri. Don’t miss the opportunity to follow beautiful walking routes through the island’s dense pine forest.
The most known beach of the island is the sandy sparkling beach at Skála; other beaches worth exploring are Limenária, Drayonéra, Maréza, Apónisso, Mýlos (consists of two beaches, one sandy and one with pebbles) and Halkiáda, an isolated beach with white pebbles, mostly preferred by nudists.
To read more, please see visitgreece.gr
Greece Ranks 29th Among 50 Countries In Innovation
Greece ranks 29th among 50 countries included in Bloomberg’s 2015 world innovation index, the data showed on Friday. The country finds only Portugal behind it among Western European countries, while it leads over Eastern European countries.
The ranking focuses on six tangible activities that contribute to innovation: research and development, manufacturing, existence of high-tech companies, post-secondary education, research personnel and patents.
Interestingly, Greece ranks first in the post-secondary education as a percentage of college-age population (a sub-category in education in which South Korea tops the list again), which shows that while education may be necessary for innovation, it’s clearly not sufficient.
To read more, please visit greekreporter.com
By A. Makris
Coupepe Bake & Shake
It's cute and fun – The restaurant’s names decorates the bar made up of childrens’ toy letters onto a retro-train and is famous in the northern suburbs for its delicious pizza. From the tables of the restaurant out on the cool square of Nea Penteli, you can see the open kitchen, the refrigerator with all the goodies and the oven in which about 25 different types of pizza are made.
They are divided into three categories: Red (classic tomato sauce and mozzarella) , white or bianca (no tomato sauce) and sweet pizza (with chocolate, Oreo cookie and wild cherry, pear, cookies, almond biscuit and more.
Address: Iroon Polytechniou Square, Nea Penteli
Tel: 210 8100 040
To read more, please visit athinorama.gr
Church Offers Property To Help Raise Funds For Debt
The Orthodox Church is a powerful institution in Greece and owns more land than anyone except the state, including prime real estate in Athens.
"Come, let's develop (the property) for Greece," Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens told Greek TV in an interview during the Greek Orthodox Easter holiday. "If needed by the state to cooperate, we're here."
Asked if the Church would consider selling off property, he said: "No, I would say let's work together and (the state can) use the revenues to repay all its debts ... but the plots of land will remain Greek, in Greek hands."
He did not say what kinds of business developments he had in mind.
It is unclear how much property the Church owns as its structure is decentralized and Greece has no central land registry.
To read more please visit: Reuters
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