Τhe “authentic spirit of rock and roll” has come to the Greek capital with the recent opening of Hard Rock Cafe Athens.

Located at 52 Adrianou Street in Monastiraki, just a stone’s throw away from the historic city center with stunning views of the Acropolis, the new Hard Rock Cafe Athens is poised to become a must-see for both visitors and locals alike.

Guests can enjoy fresh, high-quality food from the bar’s Little bites menu, especially created for the Café-Bar area, including HRC Sliders, Nachos, wings and much more. Hard Rock Cafe’s food items, are complimented by an extensive, award-winning drinks menu that includes Hurricanes, Blue Lagoons, Margaritas, signature favorites and Alternative Rock (alcohol-free) beverages, all available in Hard rock souvenir glassware. Hard Rock’s cocktails are handcrafted, just like its cuisine and as authentic as the memorabilia on the walls.

To read more, please visit: Greek Travel Pages

The game of Tavli is one of the most common and popular forms of leisurely board game playing in Greece. It's a game played by almost everyone, but it is especially common among men at the local kefeneio, a Greek coffee shop. Tavli literally means ‘board’ and is basically the Greek version of Backgammon…with a lot more shouting! The game is generally played for fun, but sometimes also for money.

Tavli is a very old game, which comes from the Eastern Mediterranean and the civilizations of Mesopotamia. Although there are many mentions in history and in archeological findings, the origin of Tavli has not been researched in depth and most conclusions are quite arbitrary.

Nevertheless, the traditional backgammon games that are played in Greece, were born in Greece. There are even mentions of this table top game by Homer. From the moment it was recorded, Tavli has been the mouthpiece of at least a thousand oral traditions of Greek civilization.

1. Portes – most similar to Western backgammon

2. Plakoto – a game where one checker can trap another checker at the same point

3. Fevga – (which has a Turkish origin) where one checker by itself can block a point

The games are played one after the other, in matches of 3, 5 or 7 points.

To read this article in full, please visit: Ekaterina's Greek Expectations

It's common to hear about men from Classical Greece who had an impact on society, but rarely do we hear about bold and fascinating women from this time who changed history in her own way. Here are just a few women known for her their boldness and impact on Greece's history.

Agnodice of Athens (4th century BC)
No woman’s life and work was considered more scandalous and shocking at the time Agnodice, who was the first female doctor in ancient Athens and whose challenge to the male-dominated profession changed the laws regarding women practicing medicine.

Women had always been allowed to perform the services of midwife and could even attend patients, until it was alleged that they were helping their female patients procure abortions. After that, women were not allowed to practice medicine, and the penalty for doing so was death. Agnodice cut her hair and disguised herself as a man in order to study medicine and even traveled to Egypt, where women were held in higher regard and could be doctors, in order to learn her craft. Still in her guise as a man, she returned to Athens and began to treat people.

She became so popular among female patients (who knew she was a woman) that she was accused by a group of men (who thought she was a man) of seducing them. She was put on trial in the Areopagus and, in defending herself against the charge, revealed she was a woman. The men then threatened to execute her for breaking the law by practicing medicine while pretending to be a man. She was saved by her female patients who shamed the court into acquitting her. It seems as though they pointed out how Agnodice had been successfully practicing medicine for some time now and that the male doctors were simply jealous. After her trial, the laws were changed so that women could practice medicine equally with men.

 

Of the poets listed with Anyte in Antipater’s list of earthly muses is Telesilla of Argos who, though famous for her poetry, became more so for defending her home city against the invading Spartans in 494/493 BC.

After Cleomenes I of Sparta decimated the Argive forces, he marched to the city of Argos. Telesilla took down the ornamental arms from temples in the city, raided the armory for whatever was left, and equipped a force of the city’s women with arms and armor. Her organized women defense team inflicted heavy losses on the Spartans and ultimately defeated them, as Sparta withdrew its army, and Argos was saved.

Hydna of Scione was trained to swim by her father, Scyllis, a diving instructor and expert swimmer who taught the art of swimming for a living. He instructed his daughter from a young age, and she became well known for her ability to dive deeply and swim long distances.

During the Persian invasion at Salamis, Hydna and her father swam more than 16 km to dive under the Persian ships and cut the moorings loose, causing the ships to drift and damage other vessels. The Persian navy wanted to destroy what was left of the Greek force, but thanks to Hydna and her father, Greece defeated the Persians at Salamis and Greece was saved.

To read more about these fascinating women and others, please visit: The Pappas Post

Image credit: Acropolis Museum.

We are thrilled that XpatAthens has made the 2016 Expat Focus list of recommended blogs for expats in Greece! Expat Focus’ mission is to find resources on the web that will help prospective expats adjust to a new country.

We love sharing information about our city and will continue to do our very best to enhance the expat experience in Athens! Stay connected with us through our weekly newsletter, on Facebook and on Twitter.

 

The international golf tournament Messinia Pro-Am will take place in Costa Navarino, the award-winning golf destination in Europe, from 21 – 24 February 2017. Professional and amateur golfers are rushing to ensure their participation in the tournament. Please see the teaser video here!

The 30 teams participating in the first tournament have been almost completed while registration will continue until January 20 2017.

Costa Navarino is renowned for being an ideal destination at any time of year and participants in the tournament are expected to enjoy the exceptional Messinian climate and mild winter in February.

Mr. Bernhard Langer, former two times US Masters Champion, Ryder Cup Captain and designer of The Dunes Course, Costa Navarino mentioned:

"Following the two recent awards that Costa Navarino received this year both by IAGTO and IGTM, it is super exciting that the 2017 season kicks off with the Messinian Pro-Am Golf Tournament! Launching the Messinia Pro-Am at a time that golf has once again become an Olympic sport for the first time since 1904, Costa Navarino proves its devotion and dedication to golf and golf tourism. A new tournament to discover and hopefully a well-established annual golf event in the near future, the Pro-Am presents a great opportunity to mingle among top golfers from around the globe, while play golf at a world-class golf destination of unprecedented natural beauty, historical and culinary legacy. I am sure that alongside the tournament, participants will experience a rich program of entertaining events, on top of the warm and genuine hospitality of the Messinians. This cannot be missed!”

The tournament will be held at both golf courses The Dunes Course and The Bay Course. In The Dunes Course, athletes will play golf amongst olive trees over 100 years old and enjoy stunning views of the Sellas River and the Ionian Sea. Similarly, in The Bay Course, athletes will follow a spectacular path among hills and olive groves overlooking the historic bay of Navarino. Costa Navarino has recently been recognised by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) and presented with the prestigious European Golf Resort of the Year 2017 award.

Each team will play a total of 54 holes, 18 holes per day, while the three best professional players and the three best teams will be awarded for their success. In addition, special awards will be given in both men and women’s categories.

Golfers’ prizes have been crafted by the company Vourakis, the official supporter of the first Messinia Pro Am. In addition, Loux, the largest Greek soft drinks and juices company will support Messinia Pro Am tournament as official sponsor highlighting its authentic flavors and Greek qualitative raw materials with the most effective way. AEGEAN Airlines, member of STAR ALLIANCE, the leading global aviation alliance will be the official airline partner of the event, while the company Kyvernitis Travel will also be an official supporter of the event.

Registration and participation forms for the 1st Messinia Pro Am continue for a few more days at the official page of the event.

For those who are interested in staying at The Westin Resort Costa Navarino and enjoy the full experience of the Messinia Pro Am 2017, special accommodation packages are available.

The 1st Messinia Pro Am will be held under the umbrella of the PGAs of Europe, the PGA of Greece, the Hellenic Golf Federation and the Hellenic Olympic Academy.

Website: messiniaproam.costanavarino.com

 

Photo Credit: The Dunes Course, @Costa Navarino 

Greece’s Benaki Museum in Athens was recently announced as a winner of the TripExpert 2017 Experts’ Choice Award, which recognizes the best attractions around the world based on reviews by journalists and professional travel writers.

According to TripExpert, less than 2% of all attractions worldwide receive the award and the Benaki Museum is one of these.

As one of the top attractions in Athens, Benaki Museum has also received TripExpert’s Best of Athens Award.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Travel Pages

Photo Credit: Greek Travel Pages

Sara Toscano met her Greek husband in the Netherlands in 2013 during the Erasmus Program and after living abroad for a few years, she and her husband finally decided to settle in Athens in 2015. This is her story!

In 2015, our daughter was born and I decided to create together with the group Anumati, “Θα βγω Απ'το Αυγό” (Out of the Egg), a theatre performance for babies from 4 to 18 months, which is playing for the 3rd consecutive year in the Avaton Theatre in Athens. As a dancer I love performing arts and I believe that babies love it too if we give them the chance to see it.

One year during our summer holidays in Portugal, my husband, who is also a performer, and I took our daughter to see a concert for babies. The experience was so pleasant that we decided to bring the concept to Greece and develop it further. This is how “Musical Seasons” began.

As soon as we arrived in Athens we spoke with Dionysis Giampanas, the composer of the project, and we decided to combine classical music with percussion and dance. I had worked extensively with young children before and I was thrilled to have both babies and their families as an audience. These initiatives suited my new life, being a dancer and a mum, and also made it possible for me to work despite the language barriers, since my Greek is still at an intermediate level. Through these performances, I also come in contact with many young parents and these interactions make me realise how Greeks are so similar to the Portuguese, which makes me feel closer to home.

 

Click here for ticket information.

 

Greece has been a part of my life for many years. Although I have only settled in the country in 2016, I've been coming to Greece very often since 2005.

I am originally from Portugal. I grew up in Lisbon, which is my home town.

In 2003 I did the Erasmus exchange program in the Netherlands, where I met my Greek husband. We lived for a few years in Amsterdam and in Portugal until we finally decided to settle in Greece.

There are many things I love about living in Greece, like the weather and the delicious Mediterranean food, but most of all I like the Greek people, who I find both hospitable and generous. I like the fact that Greeks are expressive, proud and slightly philosophical in their every day life. I also love the fact that they always have a wish for every circumstance like “happy week”, “happy month” or even “enjoy it with health,” which they say to someone who bought a new pair of shoes or has a new haircut.

Yes, I live in the city-centre of Athens.

The Greek language was – and still is – a big challenge to me. Greeks have a rich vocabulary and their grammar is complex. They can have several words to say one simple thing or have one simple word that carries many meanings. When I first moved to Greece the expression “it's all Greek to me” was a constant reality!

Generally speaking, Greeks are extremely lively people. They sing and dance, laugh-out-loud, complain about their dislikes and are expressive with their words and gestures. In Portugal, we tend to be more quiet and sober so I was delighted and inspired by the energy and expressiveness of the Greeks. As a dancer I was specially surprised to see how much Greeks from all generations still dance and keep their music traditions alive.

I believe that the biggest challenge when you move abroad and live in a different country is to be willing to get to know the culture of your host country, beyond the clichés. For me it was extremely helpful and interesting to read about ancient and modern Greek history because it helped me understand the Greeks better, to empathize with their social codes and respect them more. It helped me integrate!

The Greek island of Santorini is unique in that there are not many places in the world where you can enjoy clear waters while perched on the rim of a massive active volcano in the middle of the sea. Because Santorini has such a strong brand and presence in Greece and abroad, places like Turkey, Latin America, and South Korea have created their own cities to emulate the Greek island.

For example, in the Turkish town of Izmir, Park Life Santorini occupies an area of 21,000 square meters and borrows features from Santorini, like the windmill. Some critics say its features resemble Mykonos or Holland, rather than Santorini.

Located in Uruguay, is the "Santorini of Latin America." The Casapueblo, a magical sculptured hotel and museum, sits on a high rocky point jutting over the sparkling water of Punta Ballena, Uruguay. The Cycladic-inspired architecture and Punta Ballena's stunning sunset is what gives the Casapueblo a Santorini-feel.

To read this article in full, along with pictures, please visit: Greek Reporter

 

Photo Source: Wikipedia

The registrations for Costa Navarino’s 3rd international Messinia Pro-Am golf tournament have been completed, with professional and amateur golfers from more than 20 countries forming 30 teams. Participants will compete in the two 18-hole signature courses, The Dunes Course and The Bay Course from February 20-23, 2019.

The tournament will be even more competitive this year, as top names will mark their presence. For the first time, the Quest Golf Academy’s acclaimed British golf professional Peter Finch, who has one of the most popular YouTube channels on golf tips and exercises, will act as pro in the tournament and will be the main presenter in awarding the Messinia Pro-Am prizes. He said: “I’m very excited to play in Greece for the first time, especially at such an incredible looking venue. To compete in the event, soak up the atmosphere and capture some awesome content is something I’m very much looking forward to.” Mike Tindal, a former rugby player, who in his 17-year career has represented England 75 times and 5 times as team leader, participates in the tournament as an amateur.

Other distinctive professional golfers include the Italians Emanuele Canonica (European Tour 2005 Champion), Alessandro Tadini (4 Challenge Tours, 2 PGA and 3 National Opens) and Federico Elli (1st Messinia Pro-Am champion), Swede Henrik Engdahl (PGA Greece, winner of two Aegean Pro-Ams in 2007 & 2018), British Stuart Boyle (PGA Great Britain & Ireland, winner of the first two Messinia Pro-Ams at group level), Slovakian Peter Svajlen (Title holder of 4 PGA Slovakia), Portugal’s Thomas Gouveia (Portuguese Championship and Cup), Belgian Valérie Van Ryckeghem (Title holder of 1 Ladies European Tour), Israeli Asaf Cohen (2 nd in Messinia Pro-Am 2018) and top Greek pros including Adam Kritikos, Eugenios Papadopoulos and Chryssanthos Diakou.

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For special accommodation packages at The Westin Resort Costa Navarino and the full program of Messinia Pro-Am click HERE!

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AEGEAN , a member of Star Alliance, is the official airline partner of the event.

Vodafone , Eclectic Greece by Kyvernitis Travel , Athens International Airport and Hertz are the official sponsors of the event.

Luanvi is the official sportswear partner.

Official supporters of the tournament include J.VOURAKIS SONS EE , Poseidonia , METAXA , Luc Belaire , The Blue Beetle , Nescafé Alegria , Kalamata Papadimitriou and ECOLAB Fysiotek is the physio partner of the event.

The tournament is assisted by Stoli , Fever-Tree and BiancoNero .

Erasmus is the official travel partner coordinating and ensuring the smooth registration & accommodation process.

The 3rd Messinia Pro-Am is organized in collaboration with the PGAs of Europe and is held under the auspices of PGA of Greece and the Hellenic Golf Federation .

Hashtag: #messiniaproam

Christmas is a wonderful time and Greece has a lot to offer! Explore some of the best restaurants in Athens for a festive dinner, learn how to make the most popular Greek Christmas cookies and if you had some shopping in mind, we've got you covered!

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