The newly-sworn in President of the Republic, Prokopis Pavlopoulos, said on Friday that everyone has to contribute to help the country exit the crisis, during a handover ceremony with outgoing President Karolos Papoulias at the Presidential Mansion.

Papoulias received Pavlopoulos with a handshake and went to the outgoing president’s office where they had a brief conversation. "I am certain you will make an excellent President. You served in important ministries, you were an excellent professor. You take over at a difficult time; there are many problems and many issues at stake; mostly the issue of achieving a national consensus,” Papoulias said.

"I am certain you will do everything in your power to create a stable ground for achieving national reconciliation,” he added.

"We all have to contribute to help the country exit from the deep crisis, to fight the two scourges of poverty and unemployment and especially youth unemployment,” Pavlopoulos responded, and spoke of a difficult fight which is shared by all political parties, not just in Greece, but in Europe as well.

Pavlopoulos praised Papoulias tenure, saying it was “an exceptional honour” to succeed him.  "You exercised your duties perfectly, especially in the last difficult period … and its extremely important for one to leave the Presidency with this knowledge, with this legacy.”

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Even though there are may recreational pools in and around Athens, water safety is often the reason why parents decide to enroll their infants and children to swimming lessons. However, swimming provides many other benefits during early childhood. In fact, studies have shown that swimming is good for the health, for body development, for balance and coordination, and social and emotional aptitude.

Do you feel that your child is ready to thrive in the pool? Before you start researching teaching pools in Athens and the suburbs, check-out the list below for some of our favorites.

Holmes Place

Holmes Place, one of the most upscale fitness clubs in Athens, offers swimming lessons for both babies and children. Children get familiarized with the water and learn the 4 swimming techniques. For more information on the kids swimming classes, please contact one of the Holmes Place clubs or visit Holmes Place online.

Address: Voukourestiou & 4 Stadiou, Athens
Telephone: 210 3259400

Dais Athletic & Cultural Center

Dais Athletic & Cultural Center Maroussi offers a variety of sporting activities for the young and old. Dais offers an excellent baby swimming program for infants aged 1 and a half to 3 and a half years old. The 25-minute baby swimming lessons take place twice a week in a 31-degree-warm small pool, and the presence of a parent is not necessary. Swimming lessons for older children take place at the 5-lane 25 meters long pool under the supervision and guidance of qualified swimming instructors.

Address: 151 Mesogeion, Paradeisos Amarousiou
Telephone: 210 6186050

Aqualife Sport & Health Center

Located in the northern suburb of Anoixi, Aqualife Sport & Health Center is one of the best teaching pools in Athens. Infants can join a baby swimming class together with a guardian in the indoor baby pool, while children aged 3 years and up swim in one of the large indoor pools. Apart from traditional swimming lessons, Aqualife also offers water polo, synchronized swimming, and competitive swimming classes for children.

Address: Agiou Athanasiou & 17 Souliou, Anoixi
Telephone: 210 8004438

Panda Sto Nero

Literally meaning Panda In The Water, this teaching pool is one of the very few exclusively for babies and toddlers up to 4 years old. You can start taking your baby to Panta Sto Nero from 3 months old. The lessons are conducted by certified baby swimming instructors and you will be expected to dip into the pool with your child. 

Address: 42 Grammou, Vrilissia
Telephone: 210 8047817

Here's what you need to know before joing a pool in Athens.

• 8-12 halves of walnuts
• ½ tsp of salt
• 1 tsp of sugar
• 6 cups of trimmed arugula
• 1 ripe persimmon that must be sliced or spooned
• 4 ounces of Greek feta cheese

• 1 tbsp of Greek honey
• 5 tbsp of extra-virgin Greek olive oil
• 2 tbsp of balsamic vinegar
• 2 tsp of mustard
• A pinch of pepper

• 4 tbsp of walnuts
• 1 tsp of Greek honey
• ½ cup of bulgur
• ½ cup of water
• 1 garlic clove
• ½ cup of chopped mint leaves
• 1/3 cup of chopped parley
• 2 tbsp of raisins
• 4 chopped dried Greek figs
• 2 tbsp of grated Parmesan, or Kefalograviera
• 4 chicken breasts
• 1 large carrot
• 1 onion
• 3 tbsp of fresh orange juice
• 1 tbsp of balsamic vinegar (preferably made from figs)

• 2/3 cup of chopped walnuts
• 2/3 cup of chopped pistachios
• ½ cup of brown sugar
• 1 ½ tsp of cinnamon
• ½ tsp of ground cloves
• 1 tsp of grated orange
• 2 tbsp of melted butter
• A touch of pepper
• A touch of nutmeg

• 1 ¾ cup of flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ cup of granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 3 tbsp. of extra-virgin Greek olive oil
• 2/3 cup of Greek yoghurt
• 75 ml of milk
• 125 ml of Greek honey for the topping