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Emirates is expected to successfully fill a gap and undertake an important role in the Greek market. On Monday, the airline announced that it will launch a new daily service from Dubai to Newark Liberty International Airport, via Athens, starting on March 12, 2017.

Emirates’ new Dubai-Athens-Newark flight will provide a year-round non-stop daily service between the United States and Greece.

Emirates flight EK209 will depart Dubai at 10:50 local time, arriving in Athens at 14:25 before departing again at 16:40 and arriving into Newark at 22:00 on the same day. The return flight EK210 will depart Newark at 23:45 local time, arriving in Athens the next day at 15:05. EK210 will depart once again from Athens at 17:10 bound for Dubai where it will arrive at 23:50.

According to Athens International Airport studies and surveys, the substantial indirect traffic flows between Athens and US exceed 570,000 passengers annually, while only last summer (2016) the direct passenger volumes to NYC (seasonal services) grew by 52 percent, reaching 156,000 passengers. Thus, the ATH-NYC market size represents a unique opportunity within Europe for year round services development to US.

The United States is also home to the largest overseas Greek community in the world, numbering approximately 1.3 million, and the New York City metropolitan area has the largest community of Greek Americans in the country.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Travel Pages
In an effort to improve the quality of life in the city center, the City of Athens is proceeding with its scheme to revamp Athens commercial district. Two new pedestrianized streets, Vyssis and Kairi in the area of Psyrri will be accessible to Athens’ residents and visitors.

According to an announcement by the City of Athens, traffic will be diverted and drivers will be able to reach Athinas street through Mitropoleos and Karagiorgi Servias streets. Xrysospiliotissis street is now banned to cars from the junction of Praksitelous street to Vyssis street.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Travel Pages
Tuesday, 31 October 2017 09:33

Mikres Kyklades - From Island To Table

Born and raised on Schinoussa island, Antonis Kovaios came to Athens when he was 12 years old, returning to Schinoussa every year for holidays. After opening a successful beach bar in 1995 on Schinoussa, Antonis expanded his culinary dreams into Athens, and in 2005 opened Mikres Kyklades (Small Cyclades) in Ilioupoli. Culinary Backstreets tells Antonis’ story of how he incorporated his island upbringing to his Small Cyclades-inspired taverna in the city.

“Just like the seafood tavernas on the islands, Mikres Kyklades is small, warm and simple. Besides the white tablecloths (you’ll find disposable table covers at most island tavernas), the only other sign that you’re not on an island is the restaurant’s location on a quiet, residential street – nowhere near the sea.”

“Antonis is almost always there, with an islander’s smile on his face and a permanent suntan, making sure everything runs smoothly. In the kitchen, you’ll find Stavros Spanelis in charge; another inspired islander (this time from Lesvos), Stavros shares Antonis’s obsession with high-quality and fresh ingredients.”

To read this article in full, please visit: Culinary Backstreets

Photo Credit: Culinary Backstreets
Tuesday, 25 September 2018 12:51

Santorini's Experience Schedule 2018

“Santorini Experience” is approaching, as in October 5-7, the thrilling running and swimming races will take place for the 4th consecutive year in Santorini, the world-famous tourist destination of unparalleled beauty.

Santorini Experience will attract once again the public interest, where both professional and amateur athletes will participate in running and open water swimming races. The running races will take place on Saturday October 6, 2018 and the open water swimming with the breathtaking view of the island on Sunday October 7, 2018.

In particular, on Saturday 06/10, the races of 15 km and 10 km will start at 08:15 am, while the 5 km “Aristides Alafouzos” race will start at 11:00 am. All races have as a starting point the desalination plant located in Oia.

On Sunday 07/10, action will be transferred in the old port of Fira. The swimmers will feel the intense atmosphere of the volcano with the imposing view of the island in front of them. The starting point of the unique Open Water Swimming by Vikos will be the volcano and the race will finish in the old port of Fira. The race will start at 10:00 am and the route is 1.5 miles (2.4 km).

The swimming race is always implemented with absolute safety, with the approval of the Hellenic Swimming Federation and following the FINA regulations. Attila Manyoki, the prestigious Hungarian swimmer, who excels in open water races and is a member of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (IMSHOF) is going to take part in the swimming race once again. The British two times silver Olympic medalist, Jazz Carlin, will also join Attila Manyoki in the swimming race, providing extra value in the event. In addition, it is worth to highlight the participation of the twin Greek expatriates racing with the colors of the national team of Netherlands, George and Timos Skotadis.

Watch an impressive video of the Open Water Swimming by Vikos HERE!   

In terms of the social events, Municipal Sports Cultural Environmental Organization of Santorini (DAPPOS) will host an open concert with C:Real, in the surrounding area of the Indoor Hall DAPPOS, on Saturday October 6, at 20:00 pm. At 19:15 pm the International Dancing Group of Santorini “Stamatina Xiarchou” & Association of Pontians Eptamyloi Serres “Akrites” will open the concert.

More information about the schedule HERE!

On Friday, October 5, at 12.00 pm on the occasion of Santorini Experience, Samsung (as the official technology partner), in cooperation with the local Kotsovolos store, will organize the event “Kotsovolos and Samsung present the Hotel of the Future” at the conference hall of DAPPOS informing the island’s hoteliers of all the latest developments and the benefits of technology in their industry.

From now on, registrations can only be made at the store of events’ official sponsor, Alafouzos Sport, in Fira. Particularly, from Thursday 4/10 to Saturday 6/10, participants can receive their racing kits and registration numbers from Alafouzos Sport store (open hours: 09:00 – 21:00). Otherwise, runners and swimmers can receive their registration numbers one hour before the start of their race from the starting point of their races, on Saturday 6 October and on Sunday 7 October respectively.

Innovation is part of our event and this is proven by our new promising partnership.

Luanvi, the leading company in the sportswear industry in Spain, with more than 35 years of history and a great number of partnerships with professional teams from all team sports, is also the official sponsor of the Spanish Paralympic team and Spanish Tennis Federation.

Luanvi excels in the area of running, providing technical shirts and high quality sportswear at almost 40 competitions per year (indicative of this is the company’s exclusive partnership with Valencia Marathon). The Spanish sportswear manufacturer will cooperate for the first time with Santorini Experience. As the event’s official sports supplier, Luanvi will offer an extremely innovative sports T-shirt to all participants.

DNA Travel, as the official transport partner of the event, with a view to facilitate the transportation of all athletes and running participants to Oia and swimming participants to the old port of Fira, will implement the routes below:

On Saturday, October 6, two routes will be put into practice. The boarding point of the first route will be the Church of Timios Stavros, in Perissa, at 05:45 am with one stop in Fira (opposite to the old health center) at 06:30 am and final destination the desalination plant (Oia). The second route will start at 07:45 from Perissa (Church of Timios Stavros), with one stop in Fira (opposite to the old health center) at 08:30 am and the same final destination. When it comes to the participants return, another route has been scheduled at 12:30 pm from Oia to Fira and Perissa.

In addition, on Sunday, October 7, the participants of the open water swimming race will be transferred from the Church of Timios Stavros, Perissa at 08:00 am to the starting point of the race in the old port of Fira. The transportation of swimmers from the old port of Fira to the volcano will start at 09:30 am. DNA Travel has arranged another route at 14:00 pm from Fira (opposite to the old health center) to Athinios port (the main port of Thira). 

Discounts and exclusive packages for the event can be seen HERE!

Samsung is the official technology partner of the event. Ryanair is the official airline partner. Official sponsors are for one more year, Ford Motor Hellas, Natural Mineral Water “Vikos”, Blue Star Ferries, Alafouzos Sport, Athina Luxury Suites and Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa. Official Supporters are Santorini Hoteliers Association, Meltemi Hotels & Resorts, Aqua Vista Hotels, Boatmen Union Santorini and Avance Rent A Car. DNA Travel is the official transport partner and National Geographic the Strategic Partner.

 “Santorini Experience” is a co-organization of Municipality of Santorini, Municipal Sports Cultural Environmental Organization of Santorini (DAPPOS) and Active Media Group. The event is held under the auspices of the Greek National Tourism Organization and approved by the Hellenic Swimming Federation.

More info at  www.santorini-experience.com

Official Technology Partner: Samsung
Official Airline Partner: Ryanair
Official Sports Supplier: Luanvi
Official Sponsors: Ford Motor Hellas, Natural Mineral Water “Vikos”, Blue Star Ferries, Alafouzos Sport, Athina Luxury Suites, Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa
Official Supporters: Santorini Hoteliers Association, Meltemi Hotels & Resorts, Aqua Vista Hotels, Boatmen Union Santorini, Avance Rent A Car
Official Transport Partner: DNA Travel
Strategic Partner: National Geographic
Assisted by: Lifeguard Patrol, Assyrtico Wine Restaurant Café, Hellenic Recovery Recycling Corporation, Voluntary Lifeguards of Santorini, Mediterranean Dive Club, Santorini Nautical Club, Department of Sports Organization & Management from University of Peloponnese
Hospitality Sponsors: Santorini Hoteliers Association, Meltemi Hotels & Resorts, Aqua Vista Hotels, Athina Luxury Suites, Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa, Canaves Oia, Santo Houses, West East Suites, Desiterra Luxury Suites & Villas, 270 Oia’s View, Fanouris Condo, Monolithia, Casa Iphigenia, Sienna Resort, Esperas Santorini, Casa Iphigenia, Loizos Stylish Residencies
Official travel agent: VitaNTravel
Official Hashtag: #SantoriniExperience

Photo credit: Elias Lefas
Thursday, 03 December 2020 07:00

Interesting Facts About Greek Olive Oil

Greek olive oil is famous all over the world for its quality, rounded flavor, and unique health benefits. Many Greek olive oils have won awards at highly acclaimed international olive oil competitions.

Olive oil is an essential ingredient in Greek cuisine and an integral part of the Mediterranean diet – which is considered the healthiest in the world!


A few interesting facts about olive oil, to help you fully appreciate Greece's 'liquid gold.'

1. Greece is the 3rd largest olive oil producer in the world and the biggest exporter of extra virgin olive oil. Greek extra virgin olive oil is even exported to other oil producing countries such as Italy and Spain.

3. Each Greek person consumes an average of 26 liters of olive oil a year!

4. A mature olive tree will produce 15- 20 kilos of olives each year. It takes about 5 kilos of olives to make a liter of oil; therefore, an olive tree yields 3-4 liters of oil each year.

5. Extra virgin olive oil has a delicious, clean flavor and is produced from the first pressing of the olives without any use of solvents, and in specific temperatures that will not degrade the oil.

6. The fresher the olive oil is, the better it tastes. After about a year, it's best to use the oil for cooking, while keeping the fresher oil for dressing salads and other cold uses.

7. Olive oil has a high content of monounsaturated fats; studies have shown that replacing saturated fats with monounsaturated fats, can lower the risk of coronary heart disease.

8. It is a proven fact that olive oil helps reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) and increases the level of good cholesterol (HDL).

9. Olive oil is very high in oleic acid, which helps reduce blood pressure and contains several antioxidants such as vitamin E, carotenoids, and oleuropein.


This content has been sourced and prepared by Codico Lab

Summer in Greece is beautiful, but it's not a piece of cake! Here are some useful tips on how to protect yourself from the scorching Greek sun and of course... mosquitoes! 

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A team of international scientists researching the submerged Kolumbo volcano off the island of Santorini discovered unknown hydrothermal fountains around which bacterial communities are flourishing.

The oceanographic research mission consists of 30 scientists from the United States, Greece, Australia, and Germany and is funded and supported by 
NASA.

The scientists tested new 'intelligent' technologies with Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs). AUVs can be used in the future to explore alien oceans on satellites of Jupiter and Saturn, such as Europe and Enceladus, where submarine traces of life will be investigated in extreme and possibly dangerous circumstances. T
he researchers were satisfied with the ability of the AUVs to receive and successfully execute orders in an unknown environment such as that of the Kolumbo volcano.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Reporter
Even though many Greek museums previously received negative reviews for lack of innovation and modernism, it seems that a lot has changed.

Lately, 31 of the country’s public museums have earned TripAdvisor’s 2020 Traveler’s Choice badge, in recognition of consistently great user reviews.

Indeed, in the past few years, both public and privately owned museums have been striving to improve their communication skills, offer more activities and adapt to new technologies. Now, Greek public museums great excellent reviews from visitors and rank among the top 10% of recommended places to visit this year.

The Association of Greek Archaeologists published the list of the 31 museums that were awarded the “Traveler’s Choice 2020” badge on their website:


To read this article in full, please visit: greece-is.com
Dr. Peter Metrakos is the Greek leader of a research team that uses breakthrough artificial intelligence (AI) technology to improve the survival rates of cancer patients. 

Based in Canada, the team of physicians are working to help patients with colorectal cancer survive this shockingly deadly disease, which currently has a five-year survival rate of just 12%.

The research team is working with the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) to develop personalized medicine in the colorectal cancer field and the whole project is based on Metrakos’ 2016 research into colorectal cancer cells’ relationship to blood vessels.

The Greek doctor and his team will use liquid biopsy methods to isolate the constituent sections of a cancer patient's blood in order to figure out which ones are linked to the disease. This information will be given anonymously to MIM, a Montreal-based AI company, which will attempt to identify patterns in patients' blood.

Using the data obtained through AI, researchers should be able to create customized treatment plans for patients who would otherwise not respond to conventional therapies.

To read this article in full, please visit: greekreporter.com
Wednesday, 22 September 2021 07:00

One Man’s Trash: Greek Designers Go Green

Environmental awareness in Greece is slowly on the rise. The single-use plastic bag charge levied at supermarkets since January 2018, gives shoppers pause. Prince Charles’ televised refusal of a plastic straw for his cold coffee while visiting Athens split commentators between admiring his eco-credentials and mocking his froth mustache.

But even before the reduce, reuse, recycle movement hit the headlines, young Greek entrepreneurs have been saving throwaways from sea or landfill and using them to create homeware and accessories that are as alluring as they are ethical.

Rokani: As Wood as it Gets

Rokani
Credit: Thomas Gravanis

At street bins around Athens, you’ll frequently see old drawers, bedsteads, and pallets waiting to be landfilled. Rokani gives this junk a new lease of life. “It started when one of us was renovating his own home. We experimented with upcycling some of the pallets, and then thought, why not take this further?” says Stratos Hadjiyiannakis, one of Rokani’s five founding members. “We all came from a technical background. After the economic crisis we were looking for an opportunity to start something for ourselves.”

They set up in a small workshop, started salvaging pallets, door-frames, and other pieces of wood. After cleaning, filing, and sanding them, they refit them as bookshelves, beds, cupboards, tables, lamps, and even toys. As well as a small store in the Stoa Emboron arcade, they also do made-to-order pieces. If you see something you like online, send a photo to Rokani and they will send you an estimate and create it for you. If your space or style changes, they welcome back old items you have purchased from them—in any condition—and offer you 30% of the current value to buy something else. “As well as promoting recycling, we also promote a cyclical economy,” says Hadjiyiannakis. “Instead of throwing it out, give it back to us. We will find something to do with it.”

Prices: €25-30 for a bookshelf; €150-400 for a table.
Address: 8-10 Voulis, Merchant's Arcade Historic Centre
Telephone: 695 535 0143

Thela: Circles of Life

Thela Circles Of Life
Courtesy: Thela

Moving from Mumbai to Athens in 2017 gave graphic designer Diti Kotecha the chance to plant a seed that had been rattling around in her head for 20 years. Starting afresh in a new country where plastic bags were handed out like there was no tomorrow, she combined her skills in crocheting, her creative background, and her dedication to sustainability by launching Thela. A vibrant-hued collection of accessories, each piece is made entirely from discarded plastic bags. They are washed, dried, cut into yarn, and then crocheted into brooches, earrings, coasters or floor mats.

The glorious slate-grey and yellow circular Chatai mat uses almost 60 second-hand plastic bags, rescued from ending up on beaches, fields, in oceans, or landfills. And saving some of the estimated 1 million animals killed by discarded plastic bags each year. Nothing is wasted; Kotecha uses the bag handles and seams (which are not usable for yarn) to stuff pom-poms. Thin plastic bags are photodegradable. While crocheting makes the yarn resilient, Kotecha refrains from adding UV coatings, as these are highly toxic and prevent further upcycling.

Prices: from €10 (brooches) to €80 (floor mats).

Think Sea: Nautical and Nice

Think Sea
Courtesy: Think Sea

Think Sea invites donations of ‘retired’ windsurf sails at its base on the island of Paros. The design team transforms them into trendy and durable phone/tablet cases, bags, and wallets. Sounds esoteric? Indeed. But as windsurfing sails are not recyclable, every new rig discarded after a summer of wear and tear was ending up in a landfill. Who knows, that bold color-block duffel bag you are eyeing up might once have carried champion windsurfer Nikos Kaklamanakis to Olympic victory!

Prices: from €25 (iPhone cases) to €78 (duffel bags).

Shedia Art

Shedia
Credit: Thomas Gravanis

Chris Alefantis has his social and environmental awareness hat on. You may have noticed people standing outside metro stations throughout the city in red Shedia vests selling a magazine by the same name. Aimed at empowering people in poverty, Shedia does much more than sell street papers. The leftover issues are used to create art objects, from lampshades to flower pots to clocks to delicate bracelets, necklaces, and earrings, by people over the age of 50 who previously had difficulty finding employment. “We’re making the invisible visible again,” Alefantis says, referring to both the people that are being helped and the magazines that would have otherwise been thrown out for recycling. Check out their store on Kolokotroni street, which also just opened as a café and restaurant or the offshoot in the nearby Merchants arcade. Affordability and responsibility is the new black.

Prices: from €2 (fridge magnet) to €100 (large handmade lampshade).
Address: 56 Kolokotroni Street, Monastiraki, 105 60
Telephone: 213 0231220

To read this article in full, please visit: thisisathens.org

Whether you've just arrived in town – or have been here for years – Athens always has new secrets to share! 

This is Athens is the official guide to this captivating city of ancient energies and booming urban culture. Compiled by a team of specialist local writers, This is Athens brings you an authentic and intimate portrait of a living Athens beyond the guidebooks – along with daily curated listings of all the best events and great weekend inspiration all-year round. From must-know neighbourhoods and emerging art hubs, to gourmet hotspots, cool shopping and the buzziest bars, This is Athens will help you to get the most out of living in Athens!
 
Thank you This is Athens for your contribution as an XpatAthens Partner.
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