XpatAthens

XpatAthens

Monday, 24 October 2016 07:00

Lemnos - Home To Greece’s Unique Desert

Lemnos is a magical place. A small island in the northern Aegean, the place where the three continents of Europe, Asia and Africa meet. Another reason why Lemnos is so special is that according to several people the island is the home of the only European desert.

People who have not visited the beautiful Greek island of Lemnos may think that it is a place of exile, a place resembling the moonscape, but that is only because they had not had a chance to explore the majestic island.

On the north side of Lemnos, in an area called Gomati, visitors have the chance to witness a unique and unexpected sight, a small desert. The 7 hectare area is located away from the sea full and it’s full of sand and dunes constantly changing shape, just like in the Sahara desert, depending on the direction of the wind.

The ever-changing terrain and landscape of the sand dunes accompanied by the deep-blue colors of the Aegean Sea make for an unforgettable sight.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Reporter 
Since fleeing their home countries with their families, young refugees have been adapting to life in Athens and facing many challenges along the way. To help ease the transition and learn techniques to face these challenges, Free Movement Skateboarding was created to teach children and teens how to 'get back up' through skateboarding. NBC News reports on this Athens based charity and gives us a glimpse into the lives of young refugees learning how to ride.

"In a third-floor apartment in Athens’ graffiti-covered Exarchia neighborhood, the British trio behind the charity recently prepared for another long and loud afternoon."

"One of them, Ruby Mateja, 26, gathered roughly a dozen banged-up donated boards and replaced the metal trucks one by one. She then fastened the polyurethane wheels, scratched and blackened from carrying enthusiastic young boys and girls."

To read this article in full, please visit: NBC News
TripAdvisor's Traveler's Choice Awards recently named AEGEAN Airlines the Best Regional Airline in Europe for 2018! 

Last year was the first year TripAdvisor included an airline category for the Traveler's Choice Awards. AEGEAN was also listed as one of the best for the 2017 Traveler's Choice Awards. To continue the success this year, they honored 69 airlines that provide exceptional value and service across the world. Singapore Airlines was named number one in the world. 

The Traveler's Choice Awards for airlines recognize carriers who exceed passenger expectations and receive great reviews from travelers. The winners of the 2018 Traveler’s Choice Awards for Airlines were determined using an algorithm that took into account the quantity and quality of airline reviews and ratings submitted by travelers worldwide on TripAdvisor Flights from February 2017 to February 2018.

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

Please click HERE to view TripAdvisor's Top 10 Airlines in the World for 2018.
According to a research team at the Institute of Technology of Agricultural Products, Hellenic Agricultural Organization DEMETER in Athens, Greek feta cheese could turn probiotic. This would help meet the demand for food to be 'functional' and healthy.

The researchers began with the bacterial strain Lactobacillus planetarum T571 to produce probiotic feta. The results were of a high quality cheese, with characteristics very similar to traditional feta.

The scientists stated to the Dairy Reporter, "In today's global food industry, the probiotic market is encountering an unprecedented growth to conform with the consumer demand for new products with health benefits. Considering the global demand, L. planetarum strain is a promising adjunct candidate to develop functional feta."

To read this article in full, please visit: The Dairy Reporter
Tuesday, 25 September 2018 07:00

Wanderlust Greece - The Love-List Of Crete

After spending 15 days on the island of Crete, Discover Greece recently released their 4th season of Wanderlust Greece, promoting the island's extraordinary beauty. The aim of their campaign is to increase the average spending of tourists, as well as to encourage longer stays to see more of Crete. After watching this video, it wouldn't be hard to do just that.

The video below showcases Crete's greatest assets, including its mountains, ancient Minoan culture, and of course, the beaches. Check out the amazing video below.



Article source: Greek Reporter
Santorini returns dynamically to the sports action for the 5th edition of “Santorini Experience” that will attract the worldwide interest of professional and amateur athletes of running and open water swimming on October 4-6, 2019.

Santorini’s sports tourism event, “Santorini Experience”, which every year exceeds the country’s borders, recently received recognition from the international institution Travel & Hospitality Awards. In particular, the co-organization of the Municipality of Santorini, the Municipal Sports Cultural Environmental Organization of Santorini (DAPPOS) and Active Media Group were honored for “Santorini Experience” as the Unique Tour Company of the Year 2019.

You may watch the video teaser and get a taste of the energy and adrenaline to be offered by Santorini Experience 2019 HERE.

Runners will have the opportunity to enjoy the three established routes on the Caldera, overlooking the enchanting images of the volcano and the background scenery of Imerovigli, Firostefani and Oia. Specifically, the 5km “Aristides Alafouzos” route concerns the running and dynamic walking, the 10km is addressed to the most experienced in distances and the 15km route to those who love strength, endurance and adrenaline.

All routes start from the desalination plant in Oia, including parts of trail track, and finish in Oia. The running routes are designed by the former marathon runner, Greek classic route record holder, running trainer and director of All About Running, Nikos Polias.

Open water swimming will have an honorable position in this year’s schedule as well. Specifically, the participants will have the opportunity to swim from the volcano to the old port of Fira, having the imposing view of the island in front of them, in the 1.5 miles (2.4 km) race. Organization will provide amateur athletes with a high-quality safety lifeguard buoy, giving them extra motive to choose “Santorini Experience”.

Swimming route will take place with the upmost safety in the enchanting sea of Santorini (average water temperature of 20-22 degrees Celsius), under the technical direction of federal coach with Olympic and World Championship distinctions, Nikos Gemelos, who has designed this unique route.

Once again, specialized lifeguards will contribute in safety measures, providing staff as well as lifeboats. Distinguished age categories will be formed depending on the final participation entries, while a separate classification for those wearing wetsuits will be added.

Talented Greek tennis star, Stefanos Tsitsipas is on his way to the 3rd round at Roland Garros for the first time. Tsitsipas won against Bolivian Hugo Dellien, in a 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 7-5 match that lasted over two hours and 49 minutes.

Tsitsipas admitted, "I started thinking what went wrong in the first set. That [bathroom] break helped me. So I went inside mentally prepared to fight more, and I was aware of the situation I was at. Once I got myself into the right mindset, things seemed to flow my way. And from there, winning the [second] set 6-0 was good confidence boost for me. Obviously, after that, he didn't want to give up. He fought as much as he could. But I seemed to prevail at the end."

In the next round, the Greek tennis player is scheduled to face Filip Krajinovic of Serbia and everyone in Greece will be cheering him on!

Good luck, Stefanos!

To read more, please visit: ATP Tour

Photo Credit: @StefTsitsipas

Thursday, 21 November 2019 08:13

Moving Toward A Smoke-Free Greece

It seems like Greece is finally moving toward a smoke-free future. Earlier this week, the Ministry of Health officially presented the National Action Plan Against Smoking.

During the presentation, the prime minister stated: "The smoking ban is a bold initiative to protect public health. A symbolic move to modernise and refine our daily lives. But it is also an exercise in mutual respect that ultimately strengthens social cohesion."

The Greek administration sympathizes with the 84% of citizens who consider the failure to implement anti-smoking laws a "cultural degradation" and the 76% who declare themselves outraged.

"We are responding to this displeasure with a national strategy and a strict ban on smoking in public spaces, in private work areas, in spaces where there are children, in cars where children are passengers...but also with a good and extremely inventive information and awareness campaign. Our aim is not to divide but an alliance for health. To highlight the individual responsibility that will lead to collective harmony." he said.

Health Unites us: Alliance For A Better Life Without Smoking

The anti-smoking campaign, whose central message is "Health unites us: Alliance for a better life without smoking" marks the start of a nationwide effort, which is also back by strict fines.

The campaign focuses on 4 lines of action

  1. Creating a non-smoking culture that emphasizes on prevention.
  2. Respect for non-smokers.
  3. Care for smokers by increasing medical support for stopping smoking.
  4. Evaluating new tobacco products and regulating their circulation on the market.

Finally, an anti-smoking g information and support hotline has come into operation since Tuesday. By calling 1142, citizens can learn more about the anti-smoking law and what it entails, get help to quit smoking, and report any anti-smoking law violations.


To read more about the anti-smoking campaign, please visit: AMNA
Microsoft Corp. has announced its "GR for GRowth" initiative, a significant technology commitment to support the people, government, and businesses of all sizes in Greece with the technology and means to create new growth opportunities.

As part of the plan, Microsoft announces its intention to build new data centers in Greece, adding the country to Microsoft's massive global infrastructure map and delivering low-latency, enterprise-grade access cloud services. Furthermore, Microsoft has announced its plan to train approximately 100,000 professionals in Greece in digital technologies by 2025.

The initiative was announcer by Microsoft President Brad Smith at the Acropolis Museum in the presence of the Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and the General Manager of Microsoft Greece, Cyprus, and Malta, Theodosis Michalopoulos.

"Today's commitment to the people and businesses of Greece will position the country among the digital leaders of Europe. A Microsoft data center region provides a competitive advantage to our digital economy. At the same time, it is a long-term investment and a vote of confidence in our country's potential. The cloud is transforming every industry and sector. The investment in skilling 100,000 citizens will empower Today and tomorrow's Greek workforce," said Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Microsoft's "GR for GRowth" initiative is a vital step for Greece, with technology as a catalyst for growth, providing people and businesses the tools and expertise to thrive and innovate in the digital era.

To read this article in full, please visit: news.microsoft.com
Thursday, 02 September 2021 07:00

Great Autumn Weekend Escapes From Athens

The end of summer signals the end of beaches and the invocation of mountains and the start of weekend village escapes – clean air, stone taverns with the local flavors, and hikes between pristine streams and fir trees.

From the dozens of beautiful and picturesque destinations, there are four villages which are located near Athens that make the perfect autumn weekend escape for those who wish to walk through picturesque alleys and visit stone chapels.

Dimitsana

Dimitsana
@vaiad•

It may be known for its role during the Greek War of Independence from the Ottoman Empire, but its beauty with special architecture and the gorge of Lucius is what brings visitors to its doorstep today. You can wander the streets of the village and visit one of the monasteries of Lucius. Traditional taverns and cafes are not missing either, as well as shops with pure local products. The historic library and the ecclesiastical museum are interesting and you can always take a walk through the Open Air Museum of Hydrokinesis.

Zachlorou

Zachlorou
@zoepelos

If you are looking for a truly magical place for your getaways, look no further. Take the car and head to Zachlorou, a village built in the gorge of Vouraikos. The village was built during the Turkish occupation when Epirotes were forced to flee to the Peloponnese. There is a lot of wild beauty – streams, trees, and rocks create a cinematic landscape. The unique Cave of the Lakes is definitely worth a visit!

Zarouchla

Zarouchla
@kostasxwl

In Orini Akrata is Zarouchla, a village that retains its old, traditional character despite the growing number of visitors. Green is all around and gracious stone covers streets, shops, and houses. This is the main feature in the hotels you will stay at for the weekend, but also in the cafes and taverns where you will try delicious, local dishes. If you love nature, Zarouchla is an ideal weekend destination for you, since there you can take walks among the fir trees and the streams. Leaving, take a walk along the beautiful lake Tsivlou, which although owes its existence to a deadly landslide that occurred in 1913, is of incomparable beauty.

To read this article in full, please visit: greekcitytimes.com





















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