They are a poignant symbol of Europe’s refugee crisis: Mountains of life vests strewn on the beaches of Lesvos, and piled high at dumps on the Greek island that doesn’t know what to do with them.

Now some of those refugees are working on a solution.

A group of volunteers at a refugee shelter on the island has launched a project to make handbags, totes, and messenger bags out of the brightly colored vests, hoping to raise money for charity efforts on the island.

At a tiny makeshift workshop, Afghan tailor Yasin Samadi works with a sewing machine to make a small orange dispatch bag, as children and other curious onlookers wander in and out, drawn by the bursts of noise from the machine.

"If there’s work here, I will stay here," says the 27-year-old from Kabul, who’s been living with his family at the shelter, known as the PIKPA camp, for 18 months. "If not, we'll need to leave."

Lesvos has been at the center of the refugee crisis that escalated dramatically last year. More than 500,000 refugees and other migrants arrived to the island in 2015, nearly half the total number of people who traveled to Europe.

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The Athens Ring is back in service from Monday, September 30, 2019, to Friday, July 17, 2020. The Athens Ring or 'Daktylios' in Greek is a specified area in central Athens controlled by an odd/even traffic system to curb traffic congestion and pollution in the center of the city

 

Essentially, private vehicles and trucks are alternately allowed in the center of Athens depending on the current date and the last digit of their registration plate. For example, cars whose registration plates end in an odd number will be allowed in the center of the city on the odd days of the month and vice versa.

 

The measure is implemented from Monday to Thursday from 07:00 am to 8:00 pm and on Fridays from 07:00 am to 3:00 pm.

 

The Athens Ring is indicated with a ‘Δ’ street sign and is bordered by the following streets: L. Alexandras, Zaharof, L. Mesogeion, Fidippidou, Michalakopoulou, Spyrou Merkouri, Vryaxidos, Ymittou, Ilia Iliou, Amvrosiou Frantzi, L. Syggrou, Hamosternas, Peiraios, Iera Odos, L. Konstantinoupoleos, Achilleos, Plateia Karaiskaki, Karolou, Marni, 28 Oktovriou (Patission), L. Alexandras.

A family road trip has never been easier in Greece, especially with the help of Kids Love Greece and their mythological road trip itinerary! There are so many places to see and do and the time it takes to drive is never too far. This road trip begins and ends in Athens and covers the major archaeological sites, significant places of interest, and even some UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The road trip begins in Athens, and our pro-tip here, is to leave as early as you can in the morning, preferably on a Saturday or Sunday in order to avoid the traffic. The first stop on the agenda is the mountain town of Arachova. This is a lovely place to spend some time, with great views and an intimate feel. You might even choose to spend the night here, or even two nights if you use this as your base to explore Delphi.

The next stop is the archaeological site of Delphi. If your kids read the Percy Jackson books, then they can probably tell you all about it! Delphi was considered to be the center of the ancient Greek world, and was home to the famous oracle. It is worth spending at least a couple of hours at the site, and there is also a museum to be visited.

To read this article in full, please visit: Kids Love Greece

Located in Glyfáda, NAMI Sushi is fairly new on the Athens scene, opening in April 2017, but there's already buzz surrounding this Japanese Sushi Bar. NAMI has gotten rave reviews about the amazing flavors they offer, the freshness of their sushi, and the spectacularly clean and friendly environment. While they are regularly open for dinner at 19:00, they also host events with live jazz and a lively atmosphere.

The menu is large with appetizers, salads, and many kinds of sushi, including Temaki, Hosomaki, Urumaki, Gunkan, Nigiri, etc. For non-sushi lovers, there's a choice of egg, buckwheat, or ramen noodles, as well as main dishes like Salmon teriyaki and shrimp and vegetable tempura. For the adult beverages, Nami has the basics covered with wines (white, red, and rose), a selection of spirits, and of course, Sake. Where they really stand out is with their collection of speciality cocktails with names like Jazzmine, a bombay gin infused green tea with jasmine flowers or the Hattori Hanzo, another bombay gin with fresh kumquat and quarto. So whether you like sushi or not, NAMI Sushi has something for everyone.

Website
Address: Kyprou 65, Glyfáda
Telephone: 210 898 5555
Hours: 19:00-00:30

Photo Credit: NAMI Sushi

As if we needed any more excuses to visit (or live in) Greece! From CNN Travel, here are their picks of the most beautiful places of Greece.

The largest island of the Cyclades, Naxos, combines Caribbean-looking sugar-sand beaches for sun-worshippers and a 3,000-foot mountain for hikers.

This island's wild landscapes are only matched by its unique ethnic culture. The village of Olympos is so cut off from the rest of the island that women still wear traditional embroidered dresses.

Andros is a green, lush island close to Athens and the birthplace of 20 ship-owning families who have endowed it with museums and art collections. Today in Andros, it's easier to navigate around the island by boat than car.

Knossos, according to tradition was the capital of the Minoan civilization, the first in Europe, and was inhabited from the Neolithic period (7000 BC) until Roman times. One of the few archeological sites in Greece to be partially restored, its big draws are the Throne Room and the remarkable frescoes still adorning the walls.

Mycenae, setting of the Homeric epics, became one of the first excavated sites in Greece when archeologist Heinrich Schliemann discovered several grave mounds in the 1870s.

To read this article in full, please visit: CNN Travel

At the beginning of time, when gods and monsters roamed the earth, the Titans fought the Olympians for control of the Universe. During the ten-year battle, the Titans gained strength by drinking from the Acheron River. Enraged, Zeus cursed the river which, according to Greek mythology, was the gateway to the underworld.

This is only one of the origin stories of the river. In fact, the 52 km-long Acheron River in Epirus, northwest Greece, is far more than the fame it had in mythology.

Teeming with life, the river enchants the visitors with a complex ecosystem of gorges, lakes, and waterfalls. In riverside villages, nature lovers discover wildlife, learn about the local history, and adrenaline junkies can engage in a range of adventure sports.

Many villages have access to the river, but most travelers head to Ammoudia, Mesopotamo, and Gliki. Located 5 kilometers east of Ammoudia, the settlement is the home of the old Acherousia lake, which ancients believed was the entrance to Hades.

Today’s visitors can combine a stop at the nearby ruins with a visit to Ammoudia, where boat trips explore the wetlands along the river, lined with water lilies and trees. About 20 kilometers up from Ammoudia, Gliki is known for its adventure sports and hiking trails. It also combines swimming with rock climbing.

In addition to the many outdoor activities, Acheron supports a habitat that hosts rare and endangered animals and plants, endemic to the area. In the Straits of Glyki, there are endangered birds such as golden eagles, vultures, and Egyptian vultures. In total, the 11,440 acres surrounding the Acheron Straits and wetlands zone are part of the European Commission’s NATURA 2000 network of protected areas.

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The Greek Maritime Golf Event, the best golf tournament in Greece according to the Sports Marketing Awards, is just around the corner for its 8th year and is once more expected to gather distinguished executives of the Greek and global maritime industry, on September 8-11, 2022, at Costa Navarino, Messinia.

 

This year’s event will be held with a new competition format as participants will compete for the top positions in a two-day shotgun scramble. The first round will take place on Friday, September 9, at 10:00am at The Hills Course, and the final results will derive after the second round, which is going to be held on Saturday, September 10, at 10:00am at the International Olympic Academy Golf Course.

More than 100 leading executives from the maritime industry will play in the two new 18-hole signature golf courses designed by two-time Masters champion and Ryder Cup legend José Marίa Olazábal at Navarino Hills. Players will compete in an idyllic landscape full of centuries-old olive trees with stunning views of the Ionian Sea, the historic Bay of Navarino and the picturesque port of Pylos, in order to claim the top three positions in the overall standings, whereas special awards will be given to individual players who will achieve the best scores in the “Longest Drive” and “Closest to the Pin” categories.

Non-golfers will be able to attend a golf clinic on Saturday, September 10, at 12:00pm and participate in the putting competition that will be held at The Dunes Course.

 

On Friday, September 9, the event will welcome all participants to the Cocktail by Marine Tours at 19:00pm.

The Greek Maritime Golf Event will support the Non-Profit Company HOPEgenesis through its actions. On Saturday, September 10, during this year’s award ceremony, participants will have the opportunity to directly contribute with their desired amount at the designated area. The total amount to be collected will be given to the Non-Profit Company HOPEgenesis, operating in the health and social welfare sector, which aspires to reverse the trend of declining birth rates in Greece with the aim of providing complete medical care to women, from the moment they become pregnant until the day of their birth. For more information about HOPEgenesis: www.hopegenesis.org 

 

Aspiring to make all athletes better through passion, design, and the constant need for innovation, Under Armour offers a wide range of technological apparel and footwear products for the everyday & professional athlete. From its foundation to today, Under Armour has been a pioneer in the field of performance technological products with gear specifically designed to keep athletes cool, dry and light during training. The company firmly and dynamically declares its presence in sports events, embracing every form of sport.

 

Greek Maritime Golf Event is attended by some of the leading shipping companies from Greece and Cyprus, as well as various other important companies that support the event.

 

IRI/The Marshall Islands Registry is the event’s Platinum Sponsor.

Mainline Shipping Company, Jotun Hellas and Onego Shipping Company are Golden Sponsors. 

DNV, Arrow Hellas and Marine Tours are the Silver Sponsors. 

Optima Shipbroking is the Official Sponsor. 

Standard Club, Bacardi and Poseidonia Restaurant are the event’s Official Supporters.

 

Greek Maritime Golf Event is organized by Birdie Events, through an initiative of the recognized Greek PGA golfer, Mr. Thanos Karantzias. The award-winning sports marketing agency of ActiveMedia Group has undertaken the event’s Golf Production. The tournament is addressed exclusively to distinguished executives of the Greek shipping community. 

  

Messinian Spa is the event’s Official Beauty Partner. 

Minoa Water is the event’s Official Water.

Karalis Beach Hotel, Hellenic Grocery, Spitiko, Kayak and Athi Rodi are the event’s Partners. 

Boo Productions is the Audio Visual Partner.

 

The event will be held under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism and the Hellenic Golf Federation.

Hashtags: #greekmaritimegolfevent #costavarino #navarinohills

Photo Credit: Mike Tsolis

The huge port city of Marseille in southern France was founded by Greeks back in 600 BC when the first immigrants arrived in the area and established a trading colony.

The Greeks are well known for their ancient tales of glory and tragedy, as well as their civilization’s innumerable contributions to the very foundations of our modern world.

However, what is lesser-known is that throughout the centuries, they founded scores of cities across the Mediterranean which not only exist today but thrive and play a crucial role in their region’s affairs.

One of these cities is the huge port city of Marseille, the second-largest city in France and definitely among the oldest in Europe.

This was at a time when many Phocaeans left their homeland in today’s Turkey (then Greek-speaking Asia Minor) and reached the northern shores of the Western Mediter-ranean.

They found a locale which could easily accommodate a large port and in a few years’ time, a new Greek colony had been established. Its name was ”ΜΑΣΣΑΛΙΑ” (”Massalia”).

The Greek myth of Marseille

The Greek philosopher, Aristotle, informs us about the myth concerning the foundation of Massalia.

According to this tale, Protis, the son of Euxenous from Phocaea, married Gyptis, the daughter of a King of a Celt tribe named Segobriges or Segusiavi, who lived in Gaul, ancient France. This marriage was the beginning of the story of Marseille.

When the Greek man married this rich and beautiful Celtic woman, the local King gave him the right to obtain a piece of land and build his town. This small settlement was the foundation of what was to become the well-known city of Massalia.

The greater Mediterranean region, ca. 800-550 BC

However, this well-known legend may have been disproven since, according to archaeological evidence, the Phocaeans were not the first Greeks to arrive on the northern shores of the western Mediterranean Sea.

The entire coastal region comprised of the modern regions of Catalonia, Spain, and France had seen the arrival of many Ionian Greeks before that time during their expeditions to the West to find new places to live and people with whom to trade.

Nonetheless, the city of Massalia itself was indeed established by Phocaeans, as they were the first to permanently settle there.

Other neighboring Greek colonies

The “Massaliotes,” as the Greeks of Marseille were known, first established good relations with other neighboring Greek colonies in the region beginning in the early stages of their colonization.

These colonies included the cities of Agde (Agathe Tyche, meaning ”Good Fortune”) in France; Antibes; Emporiae (the modern city of Empuries in Catalonia); Rhoda (the modern Roses in Catalonia); and, of course, the well-known cities of Nice (Nikaia) and Monaco, the modern-day cosmopolitan principality.

Originally published on: greekreporter.com