Next time you see the waves crashing onto the beach, think of the goddesses of the oceans, rivers, lakes, fountains, streams, and underworld sea monsters noted in Greek mythology who create those swells.

There are two deities in particular who love to play in the sea and surf the waves, Benthesikyme and Kymopoleia, the daughters of the famed god of the sea, Poseidon.

Known as the 'lady of the deep swells' Benthesikyme was nymph of the African sea and later went on to become the first known queen of Ethiopia.

Kymopoleia was a goddess of the waves and was known as a ‘haliae,’ or nymph of the sea who made waves, violent sea storms and earthquakes.

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

The restaurant Hytra, whose name derives from the ancient Greek terracotta vase, first opened in 2004 in Psiri, one of the oldest districts of Athens.

Six years later in 2010, Hytra was awarded its first Michelin star and has retained it ever since. In 2012, Hytra was then awarded a second Michelin Star, the first for ‘Blue Hytra’ restaurant, hosted at the Westin Resort in Athens.

The restaurant has since relocated to the 6th floor of the Onassis Cultural Centre in Syngrou Avenue and was recently redesigned by award-winning architectural firm Divercity. In warmer months of the year, the restaurant moves to the 7th floor of the building, offering a unique outdoor setting with panoramic view of the Acropolis, Lycebettus hill and the city skyline.

Hytra’s philosophy is that of high quality service and hospitality expressed through a number of different services, its advanced aesthetic, the warm and homely atmosphere, and its relationship with the cultural activity of the Onassis Cultural Centre. Hytra is also committed to providing the best of Greek cuisine through Greek raw materials and recipes.

To read this article in full, please visit: Living Postcards

What a better place to enjoy summer than Greece? From beatiful destinations off the beaten track, to top holiday picks in the Aegean and Ionian sea. Discover each one of them in this week's newsletter!

How delightful is it that things in Athens appear to be changing for the better? Athenians may now take advantage of the Mobile Library, which visits neighborhoods in the city and offers free books in different languages, but also the Mobile Laundry service aiming to help people in need with their clothing. So stay tuned for upcoming good news in our future newsletters!

On Friday October the 5th, Athens Culture Net invites you to wander around the city from sunset till late at night. Discover events and surprise activities all to do with art and narration. Take part in a crime literature workshop at a Kolonaki bookshop, while at the Puskin Institute learn in central Athens you can learn all about the Russian language.


2) ΦantastiCon 2018

On the 6th and 7th of October, ΦantastiCon invites you to a two-day festival at the Hellenic-American Union. All sorts of creatures will transform the place into a forest, while elves and unicorns will meet brave warriors and wizards. The person of honour will be the writer, poet and actor Makis Panorios. The event will last from 11:00 to 21:30.

Due to this year's unprecedented circumstances, Katerina Evangelatos, Artistic Director of the Athens & Epidaurus Festival, unveiled the original concept and planning behind the 2020 program privately, through a moving video. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, performance dates are not included in the press kit.

We all hope that this year's Festival will come to fruition as soon as circumstances allow it, with as few disruptions as possible.

 

 

The Athens & Epidaurus Festival is Greece’s leading cultural event and one of the oldest performing arts festivals in Europe (1955). Each year, the Athens & Epidaurus Festival presents performances from acclaimed artists in theatre, dance, and music and attracts large audiences from around the world.

 

The festival takes place annually in the months of June, July, and August. More specifically, the Athens Festival performances are held between June 1st and mid to late July while the Epidaurus performances are held every Friday and Saturday, from early July to mid-August.

 

In Athens the festival is held at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Peiraios 260, and Opening to the City. In Epidaurus it takes place at Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus and the Little Theatre of Ancient Epidaurus. Site-specific performances are presented in various neighbourhoods of Athens and Piraeus, including outdoor spaces and archaeological sites, thus expanding the Festival’s scope and audience and encouraging spectators’ active engagement.

 

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XpatAthens is proud to be a Media Sponsor of the Athens Festival

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Greek yogurt is considered one of the world’s best superfoods and a nutrient-packed snack that has so many health benefits, it is the ideal dairy to add to your everyday diet!

It’s different from other yogurts as produces add an extra step to their process so that excess water, lactose, and minerals drain out. What’s left is a creamy, rich yogurt with less sugar and more carbs. The acidity also makes it easier for your body to absorb other nutrients.

A cup of plain Greek yogurt can help you meet the recommended dietary guideline of three daily servings of low-fat or non-fat dairy products. People who are lactose intolerant may also find Greek yogurt easier to digest because of the bacterial breakdown of the milk’s sugars.

The benefits of consuming Greek yogurt include supporting weight loss, keeping the intestinal system healthy, regulating blood pressure, increasing bone density, boosting immunity, aiding the digestive system, and promoting thyroid function. Other benefits include supporting blood production, supporting muscle growth, preserving oral health, and improving mood.

Here are some detailed reasons to add Greek yogurt to your daily diet:

Power of Protein: Yogurt has a much higher amount of protein than milk. Your body uses protein to build bones, muscles, cartilage, skin, hair, and blood.

Helps You Lose Weight: Greek yogurt contains almost twice the amount of protein found in standard protein products and a lot less sugar, which will make you feel satisfied for longer!

Prevents Yeast Infections: Greek yogurt contains a high quantity of probiotic bacteria, which is essential for the wellbeing of your natural flora, helping keep this infection at bay.

Helps Regulate Blood Pressure: High sodium intake is frequently the most common cause of high blood pressure, however, Greek yogurt supplies some of these blood pressure-regulating minerals, such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium.

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

Melbourne Museum’s new exhibition ‘Open Horizons: Ancient Greek Journeys’ will be opening on Saturday, April 23.

Melburnians will be able to dive into the trade, spirituality, art, ideas, and culture of ancient Greece in an Australian-first exhibition that brings precious artifacts from Greece exclusively to the Melbourne Museum.

Melbourne famously has the third largest Greek population of any city in the world after Athens and Thessaloniki, and Open Horizons: Ancient Greek Journeys is set to set to engage Melbourne’s Greek community, in addition to the wider Victorian population, in just how crucial ancient Greece has been to humanity’s development.

Melbourne Museum and Greece’s National Archaeological Museum have collaborated on the exhibition, which will take attendees on a journey through the golden age of Greek politics and philosophy, through to the present day. It offers a telling reminder that Greece continues to influence culture, politics, and sport on a wide scale, despite the nation’s population of approximately 10 million people, despite the nation’s deeply troubled economy and position at the forefront of Europe’s struggle with the ongoing migrant and refugee crisis.

Open Horizons will showcase 44 treasures from the Early Bronze age through to the Roman period. Highlights include a 2,500-year-old marble sphinx depicting a female head with the body of a winged lion and a collection of artifacts depicting Heracles, the greatest of all Greek heroes.

“We are excited to be collaborating with the National Archaeological Museum to bring some of the most remarkable artifacts direct from Athens for audiences in Melbourne to enjoy,” Museums Victoria CEO Lynley Crosswell said. 

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

Main image: @melbournemuseum

Greece’s capital city Athens is among the top destinations in Europe that offered the best value for money during the month of June, according to a new study released last week.

Conducted by Mabrian, a leading tourism intelligence company, the study analyzed air connectivity, the average hotel price, and the levels of satisfaction and perception of visitors.

With regard to air connectivity, Mabrian looked at the number of seats on scheduled flights and the number of cities and countries with which each destination has a direct connection.

The analysis of visitor satisfaction is part of the Mabrian indices that measure the level of satisfaction and perception that visitors have with destinations in general and regarding the most relevant areas such as security, climate, accommodation, and the tourism product offer.

According to the study, the destination that offered the best value for money during the month of June was Zagreb, located in northwestern Croatia. Despite being among the last in terms of air connectivity, it has a very high level of satisfaction in most of the areas analyzed.

In second place was Athens, Greece, which is better connected than Zagreb but with a slightly higher average price and lower satisfaction levels than the Croatian city.

Large European capitals drop positions

London and Paris, despite being better connected, are penalized by a very high average hotel price among the destinations analyzed. In addition, the two capitals showed lower levels of satisfaction. Visitors are particularly dissatisfied with the hotel service in London and with the offer of tourist products in Paris.

Other big tourist cities such as Berlin, Barcelona and Amsterdam are at the bottom of the list for their high hotel prices and for the level of satisfaction, which remains low.

To read this article in full, please visit: news.gtp.gr