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Qatar Airways has launched new daily flights to and from Auckland, New Zealand. The first flight took place on February 6th, 2017 and was the world’s longest commercial flight, taking 17 hours and 30 minutes.

The new service will give passengers from New Zealand the opportunity to travel to the more than 150 destinations on the airline’s global network via its hub, Hamad International Airport, in Doha.

Other new destination launches planned by the airline for 2017/18 including Yanbu and Tabuk in Saudi Arabia; Dublin in the Republic of Ireland; Nice in France; Skopje, FYROM; Chiang Mai in the North of Thailand; Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia Herzegovina; Libreville, Gabon; Douala, Cameroon; Rio de Janeiro in Brazil; Santiago, Chile; Canberra, Australia; Medan, Indonesia; and Las Vegas, U.S.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Travel Pages
Tuesday, 19 September 2017 09:55

The Schedule Of Santorini Experience 2017

Running takes place on Saturday 7/10 & swimming on Sunday 8/10!

The top sports tourism event “Santorini Experience” organized for the 3rd consecutive year in the enchanting Santorini on October 6-8, 2017 is ready to excite all professional and amateur swimmers and runners from around the world!

This year’s schedule begins on Friday, October 6th 2017 with a focus on children. More specifically at 10:00am in the morning the 1km kids running race will be held at the Indoor Hall DAPPOS, in Fira.

On Friday, at 12:00pm the established Meet & Greet will be held with the presence of silver Olympic medalist Alexandros Nikolaidis, the Olympic & World Champion in 400m. with hurdles Periklis Iakovakis, the World Champion in open water swimming Kelly Araouzou as well as top athletes from the Greek open water national team, at Alafouzos Sport store (official sponsor of the event supporting “Santorini Experience” for a third year in a row) at Fira.

Respectively, the twice Silver Olympic Medalist, Alexandros Nikolaidis will undertake for one more year to introduce the secrets of TaeKwonDo martial art to beginners (at 15:00pm) and advanced athletes (at 16:00pm) at the Indoor Hall of DAPPOS, at Fira.

Running and swimming are the dominant activities in “Santorini Experience” for another year!

On Saturday, October 7, 2017, professional and amateur runners will have the chance to run and live the adrenaline of the Caldera with the starting of the 10km and 15km running routes taking place at 08:15am in the morning, and the starting of the 5km “Aristides Alafouzos” route at 11:00am.

All routes start from the desalination plant in Oia.

On Sunday October 8, 2017, professional and amateur swimmers will be able to feel their energy erupt and the atmosphere of the volcano with the imposing view of the island in front of them! The 1.5 mile (2.4km) unique swimming race of “Santorini Experience”, will start at 11:00am from the volcano and finish at the old port in Fira. The swimming route will be carried out with absolute safety in the magical waters of Santorini, under the auspices of the Hellenic Swimming Federation and under the technical direction of the Federal Technical Coach, Nikos Gemelos who has designed this unique route. The race will be held with the participation of the World Champion in open water swimming, Kelly Araouzou as well as athletes from the Greek open water swimming national team.

You may find the detailed schedule HERE!


Registrations in swimming and running continue with an undiminished pace until September 28th through the official page of the event HERE or at the official sponsor Alafouzos Sport store at Fira (in Santorini).

From ThursdRegistrations in swimming and running continue with an undiminished pace until September 28th through the official page of the event HERE or at the official sponsor Alafouzos Sport store at Fira (in Santorini).

From Thursday, October 5 to Saturday, October 7, 2017, all participants will be able to receive their numbers from Alafouzos Sport store (hours: 09:00-21:00).

Alternatively the running participants may also receive their numbers one hour before the start of their route on Saturday October 7, 2017, from the desalination plant in Oia while the swimming participants may also receive their numbers one hour before their start on Sunday October 8, 2017, from the old port in Fira.

Samsung will stand by the event’s side for the first time as the official technology partner, with the eco-system of Samsung Galaxy devices. Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+, combined with the camera Gear 360 and Gear VR, will enrich the experience of the participants and the spectators of the event with unique 360 degrees content.

VitaNTravel, as the official travel agent of the event, will take care and assist all athletes and escorts with information about the ferry routes, ferry tickets, car rentals and accommodation in the island. For more information click here!

The hospitality sponsors supporting the event are: Aqua Vista Hotels, Athina Luxury Suites, Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa, Vedema A Luxury Collection Resort Santorini, Canaves Oia, West East Suites, Desiterra Luxury Suites & Villas, 270 Oia's View, Central Fira Hotel, Memories Hotel, Loizos Stylish Residencies, Fanouris Condo, Monolithia Hotel, Esperas Santorini, Sienna Residencies, Hotel Rivari Santorini, White Pearl Villas.

“Santorini Experience” will take place under the auspices of the Greek National Tourism Organization and the Hellenic Swimming Federation with the co-organization of the Municipality of Santorini, DAPPOS and Active Media Group.

Website
Facebook Page
Twitter Account
YouTube Channel 
Instagram

Official Hashtag: #SantoriniExperience
Official Airline Partner: Ryanair
Official Sponsors: Blue Star Ferries, Alafouzos Sport, Athina Luxury Suites
Official Technology Partner: Samsung
Official Supporters: Ford Motor Hellas, “Vikos” Natural Mineral Water, Avance Rent A Car, Aqua Vista Hotels, Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa, Wyndham Grand Athens, Santorini Boatmen Union
Hospitality Sponsors: Aqua Vista Hotels, Athina Luxury Suites, Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa, Vedema A Luxury Collection Resort Santorini, Canaves Oia, West East Suites, Desiterra Luxury Suites & Villas, 270 Oia's View, Central Fira Hotel, Memories Hotel, Loizos Stylish Residencies, Fanouris Condo, Monolithia Hotel, Esperas Santorini, Sienna Residencies, Hotel Rivari Santorini, White Pearl Villas
Assisted by: Sunset Oia Sailing Cruises, Alios Ilios, Lifeguard Patrol, National Lifeguards of Santorini, Aegean Divers
Official Travel Agent: VitaNTravel

Under the Auspices of the Greek National Tourism Organization

Every once in a while, we all deserve a break from our daily routine, and there's nothing better than enjoying a quick and easy getaway! Because time and money are always at the top of the list, we've put together our favorite road-trip destinations around Athens that are easy and won't break the bank. These three recommendations are ideal to visit all year around and will surely give you the much-needed break you deserve!



Athens to Sounio

Approximately one hour from the city center 

Sounion
Temple of Apollo, Sounion. Photo credit: @instavier
 
Sounio is located 69 km southeast of Athens at the southernmost tip of the Attica region of Greece and is an area of great archaeological importance. Visitors can see the Temple of Poseidon, an impressive structure built in 444 BC that was dedicated to Poseidon - God of Sea - who held a high position in the hierarchy of Greek mythological gods. It was there that Aegeus, the King of Athens, leaped to his death when he thought his son Theseus died. As a result, the Aegean sea was named after him.

Once you arrive at Sounio and have explored the archaeological site, you can relax at the site's cafe or head to one of the many traditional Greek tavernas in the area. The view from the temple is simply breathtaking and during the winter months, visitors enjoy a reduced entrance fee rate. Last but not least, if you time it perfectly, you'll be lucky enough to enjoy one of the most incredible sunsets in Greece!
 
Athens to Mycenae & Epidavros

Approximately 1.5 hours from the Athens city center

Epidavros
Epidavros. Photo Credit: @lupasconadia
 
Mycenae is about an hour and a half away from Athens and used to be a major center for Greek civilization. It was home to the kingdom of Agamemnon, a legendary hero in the Trojan War. Once at the site, visit the tomb of Agamemnon, the palace, and the lion's gate, which once served as the city’s main entrance.

After exploring Mycenae, head about 45kms to the world-famous Epidavros - home to the Ancient Theater of Epidavros. Constructed in the 4th century BC and dedicated to Asclepius, the God of Medicine, Epidavros is regarded as the best-preserved ancient theater in Greece. It was here that the works of well-known ancient Greek writers and poets debuted their work!

Athens to Nafplio

Approximately 1.5 hours from the Athens city center.

Nafplio
Nafplio and Bourtzi island. Photo Credit: @tripsy.mk
 
Nafplio is one of the most romantic destinations in Greece and a town of great history, as it was once the country’s capital city (from 1823 to 1834). Syntagma Square is at the heart of the town where you can admire many historical buildings like the first Greek parliament and the archaeological museum.

The city’s most important sight is the prominent Palamidi Castle, which can be reached by climbing its 999 steps(!) but also by car and footpath. At this famous castle, Theodoros Kolokotronis, hero of the Greek revolution, was kept imprisoned. Across the city's port is a small island called Agioi Theodoroi on which stands the beautiful Venetian fortress called Bourtzi. Except for the many cultural sites, Nafplio is also famous for its restaurants, cafes, and bars, its impressive natural scenery, but most importantly its authentically Greek atmosphere.

 
Novoville is a comprehensive civic engagement platform that facilitates end-to-end communications between local governments and citizens. With the help of the Novoville App, the Municipality of Athens aims to strengthen its digital strategy and significantly improve communication with its citizens, and above all, ease of service and delivery.

Novoville offers citizens the opportunity to submit requests about issues related to the city's operation either via a mobile app or the Athens Municipality website. Citizens or visitors can report - in real-time - issues they encounter in their neighborhood. For example, potholes, broken street lights, abandoned vehicles, even emergencies requiring municipal assistance. Every citizen can contact local authorities directly from their smartphone for free, and without having to go through time-consuming bureaucratic procedures.

The Adopt Your City program facilitated a real example of how this works in a recent 'pocket park' development in Pagrati in central Athens.

Requests can be submitted either by downloading the free app, for IOS and Android, or by visiting the Municipality of Athens webpage.

There are 4 simple steps: 
  • Choose your location
  • Choose a request category
  • Add a photo
  • Send the request to the Municipality of Athens
Then, your request will be received by the relevant department and you will get notifications on the progress. In this way, the services of the Municipality of Athens are fully aware of the city's issues and can be held accountable for their actions. Every time an issue is resolved, the citizen receives a live notification on their phone. At the same time, with the help of the app, citizens can be informed about events, important news, and announcements.

Citizens can also address issues by contacting the city directly at 1595 or 210 5277000 on a 24-hour basis throughout the year. 

XpatAthens extends a warm thank you to This Is Athens and the City Of Athens for sharing news and inspiring stories about how Athens aspires to be a clean, friendly, and welcoming city to live in.
After over a year of delay, the new trains brought to Greece from Italy will take to the tracks on May 15 on the Athens-Thessaloniki route, rail operator TrainOSE announced.The new trains, the “Arrows”, will reduce the traveling time to 4 hours.

The company said the journey with the ETR 470 will take 3 hours and 36 minutes, which includes a stop at Larissa. Normally, the travel time between the capital and the major northern city takes close to 6 hours.

The new ETR470 trains will have nine wagons, including a restaurant/bar and three first-class wagons. Each train has a seating capacity of 600 people.

ETR470 trains will run twice a day in each direction:

– Leaving Athens at 07:22, it will stop at Larissa at 09:58, and arrive in Thessaloniki at 11:20. The next one, in the afternoon, will leave Athens at 17:22, stop at Larissa at 20:00, and arrive in Thessaloniki at 21:21.

– Leaving Thessaloniki, ETR470 will leave the station at 07:08, stop at Larissa at 08:09, and arrive in Athens at 11:03. The next one, in the afternoon, will leave Thessaloniki at 17:08, stop at Larissa at 18:08 and arrive in Athens at 21:04.

To promote the event, TrainOSE is offering a 20% discount for tickets booked in the next 20 days, with travel time between May 15 and June 3. For schedules and ticket prices please visit the TrainOse website.

Originally published on: keeptalkinggreece.com

 

The Attica Forest Fire Protection Volunteers (EDASA) group announced the start of fire watch patrols on Parnitha mountain on Wednesday and called for more people to join the effort of protecting one of the Greek capital’s most valuable natural habitats.

“We call every active citizen to participate. There is no need for equipment or special knowledge; all you need is time and willingness,” EDASA said in a press release, noting that teams are always headed by an experienced volunteer firefighter.

“June started rough and with the first heatwave, we saw the first fires. Instead of ‘boiling’ from the heat and the distress of seeing forests burn, EDASA invites you to Parnitha for a night of cool temperatures and voluntary service,” the agency quipped.

EDASA, which is an independent, non-governmental, non-profit organization, has been carrying out patrols on Mount Parnitha every summer since 1987. Its patrols take place around the Skipiza lookout tower.

Originally published on: ekathimerini.com
Thursday, 05 February 2015 13:04

My Week in Athens… Jun 14

The weather has been wonderful – the Canadian in me will never complain about the heat!

My mother is still in town – and we decided to take a ‘city road-trip’ on Saturday. We left the house around 9:00am, stopped at our local Grigoris for a coffee for the road, and went on our way…

We headed out of the city on the Attiki Odos and made our way towards Marathon. Our first stop was Nea Makri and the Monastery of St. Ephraim, a ‘controversial’ saint who lived in the 14th century. It is a small monastery, where you can see the mulberry tree where he is believed to have been hanged by the Ottomans.

We left Nea Makri and headed towards Leoforos Souniou, eventually turning towards Vouliagmeni. What a great day to be at the beach… We stopped in for a bite of lunch at En Plo in Vouliagmeni – nice menu, sea-side views - well worth it if you’ve never been…

Later on, we jumped back in the car and drove across the city on the Paraliaki (beach road) and ended up in Piraeus! A pit-stop in Mikrolimano and a quick look at the cool-looking seafood restaurants around the little harbor, put Mikrolimano firmly back on my ‘to do’ list…

With the gas tank quickly heading towards empty, we headed back north on the Ethniki highway and made Kifissia our final destination. A coffee on the perfect little patio at Casa was the last stop on our city road-trip – one of my favourite corners of the city…

How’s that for a full day on the road?? We loved it.

Until next week,

Jack

En Plo
www.en-plo.gr/en

Casa
www.estiatoria.gr/estiatorio/767/casa_restaurant

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…

Monday, 16 February 2015 10:39

Mono Restaurant In Plaka

Mono in Plaka, very close to the Athens Cathedral is an attractively decorated locale, specializing in original Mediterranean tastes, with vivid colors, simple but unique. The restaurant aims for excellent quality, using fresh and healthy ingredients cooked with the least possible fat and with special attention to natural flavors. Try the tapas with cherry tomatoes, barley rusks or grilles sardines, or enjoy a crisp salad choosing the ingredients yourself.

For a more substantial meal there are delectable choices like risotto, pasta, grilled sea bass, pan fried salmon, braised lamb, grilled chicken marinated with honey. For dessert the marshmallow vanilla served with hot chocolate sauce and the chocolate crumble served with seasonal fruits and basil are just mouthwatering. Gluten free choices on the menu include salmon tartare, veal liver, salad with watermelon, avocado and tuna, salad with lettuce, onion and fish, tuna, salmon and veal for main dishes.

By Nelly Paraskevopoulou

10best.com

Do you have a recommendation or recipe to share? Send it to us at ideas@xpatathens.com!

Wednesday, 18 February 2015 15:03

Arcadia

Arcadia has its present-day capital at Tripoli. It forms the largest prefecture on the Peloponnesian peninsula. It currently covers about 18% of the entire peninsula, although it once extended to about 20 to 25% of the peninsula. The prefecture has a skiing resort on Mount Maenalus, the Mainalon, located about 20 km Northwest of Tripoli. The Greek National Road 7 (E65) highway, which was extended after 1997 and in 2003, runs through Arcadia on a north-west to south-east axis and nearly forms in the southwest the end of the highway. A thermoelectric power station which produces electricity for most of southern Greece, operates to the south of Megalopolis, along with a coal mine.

In agriculture, potato farms (dominant in central and north-central Arcadia), mixed farming, olive groves, and pasture dominate the plains of Arcadia, especially in the area around Megalopolis and between Tripoli and Levidi.

Towns & Sights

Tripoli, the capital of the prefecture, is built at a height of 665m. It is the commercial and cultural center of Arkadia. Modern Tripolis was created in 1770 near the ruins of the ancient cities of Pallantron, Tegea, and Mantinea, hence its name 'Tripolis' = 'three cities', presumably chosen to explain the medieval name. Before the Greek Revolution, it had a large Muslim and Jewish population, but also served as the central point for Ottoman occupation and rule over Greece. Today it is the seat of the recently founded University of the Peloponnese with two departments of the Sciences and Technology School and one department of the Economics and Administration School.
 
Astros is a breathtaking town by the sea built upon a hill called the " To Nissi " An open theater is operating there during the summer months. There is also a sailing school for adults and children and the harbor full of little sailing boats is a sight to behold.
The town is also home to the Astros Archaeological Museum, founded in 1985. The museum contains mostly ceramics from cemeteries dating back to the Hellenistic period, architectural parts of the villa of Herodes Atticus at Eva Dolianon, and small coins, inscriptions and pieces from Kynouria.

Dimitsana has been characterized as a traditional village with its tall stone houses and churches. Dimitsana stands at an altitude of 960-1080m on the ruins of the ancient town of Tefthis. Don 't forget to visit the six gunpowder mills, the houses of Patriarch Grigorios the 5th and Bishop Palaion Patron Germanou, as well as the Museum of “hydrokinetic”.

Vytina is situated on the firry Mount Menalo (44km from Tripoli) and on an altitude of 1033m. It is a place with a majestic view and healthy climate that gathers many vacationers and visitors throughout the year. Much of the houses were stone built until the 1960s. Electricity arrived in the same year. Vehicles arrived in the 1970s, the pavement of the main road and television arrived in the 1980s and computer and internet are rarely known in the beginning of the 21st century and up to date technology is not seen.

In the wintertime, snow-covered Vytina offers a unique and astonishing sight.

Lagkadia is a very picturesque Arcadian town. Situated on a mountainous august landscape with fresh water springs, it offers an imposing sight to every visitor. The two and three storey stone houses that are amphitheatrically built on a steep slope create the impression of a stone-built work of art. The Central Square of the village stands on the edge of a deep ravine rich in walnut trees, plane trees and fresh water streams. At this point Thoa canyon begins and stretches crossing a big part of Gortynia and eventually ending up at river Ladona. Lagkadia is also known for its developed local weaving mill handicraft.

Megalopoli
is a town in the western part of the prefecture of Arcadia. It is located in the same site as ancient Megalopolis. "Megalopolis" is a Greek word for Great city. When it was founded, in 371 BC, it was the first urbanization in rustic and primitive Arcadia. Megalopolis is famous for its ancient ruins situated northwest, which include an ancient theatre that used to hold up to 20,000 people and was 30 m tall. Other landmarks include the Thersileon with 67 pillars and a temple.

Stemnitsa is considered one of the most beautiful villages in Arcadia. The village's name comes from a Slavic word meaning "a thick forest shaded with trees". It has a folklore museum which includes various exhibitions regarding the traditional way of Stemnitsa life in the past including how candles were made, a jeweler's workshop, a shoe repair shop and a copper tinning representation. It also houses an extensive selection of Byzantine icons, old costumes, copper- ware, guns and jewelry.
Seven kilometers from Stemnitsa, down by the ravine of the river Lousios one can find the monastery of St. John the Forerunner (Prodromos) built, according to some sources, around 1167, on the side of the mountain rock. It served as a center of faith and education for the enslaved Greeks during the Ottoman rule.

Source: Peloponnesetravel.com

Friday, 20 February 2015 19:48

Greek Mac And Cheese

I got a little inarticulate when confronted with this Greek mac and cheese. All I could say to myself was: Looks good. Looks really, really good. Um, do I have any feta? This recipe puts a spin on mac and cheese. In some ways it's straightforward: there is a béchamel sauce of cheese, milk, and flour, and the pasta is familiar macaroni.

But then we get mix-ins of gently cooked shallots and spinach, and a healthy helping of dill. The whole dish is finished with toasty breadcrumbs and crumbled feta cheese.


INGREDIENTS

3 slices crustless white bread, torn into small pieces
9 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
Kosher salt, to taste
200 gr hollow pasta, preferably elbow macaroni
1/4 cup flour
3 cups milk
4 cups grated graviera or kefalotyri cheese (about 350 gr)
3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
8 large shallots, finely chopped
16 oz. baby spinach, roughly chopped
8 scallions cut into 1/4"-thick rounds
1/3 cup roughly chopped fresh dill
1 3/4 cups crumbled feta (about 350 gr)

INSTRUCTIONS                

1. Put bread into the bowl of a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Put bread crumbs and 3 tbsp. butter into a small bowl and combine; set aside. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until cooked halfway through, about 3 minutes. Drain pasta, rinse with cold water, and set aside.

2. Heat remaining butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and cook, whisking constantly, for 1 minute. Still whisking constantly, slowly drizzle in milk and cook until sauce has thickened and coats the back of a spoon, 10–15 minutes. Remove pan from heat. Stir in graviera, cinnamon, and nutmeg and season with salt and pepper; set béchamel sauce aside.

3. Heat oven to 180°. Heat oil in a pot over medium heat. Add shallots and cook, stirring often, until soft, 3–4 minutes. Add spinach and scallions and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until wilted, about 3 minutes. Stir in the reserved béchamel sauce, the dill, and the reserved pasta and transfer mixture to a 22cm x 30cm baking dish. Sprinkle evenly with reserved bread crumbs and the feta. Bake until golden brown and bubbly, about 30 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving. Serves 8–10.

For more information, please visit Sources: www.thekitchn.com and www.saveur.com

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