City activist group atenistas are placing signs throughout the historic center of Athens in efforts to make walking the Greek capital easier for residents and travelers.

Under the motto: “WalkAthens!”, the signs have initially been placed in 15 key points across the city center, including at the Archaeological Museum, Omonoia, Syntagma, Monastiraki, Thissio, Psiri and Vathi squares.

The green signs feature directions to six surrounding locations in Greek and English, bearing a directional arrow and the estimated walking timeas well as info on nearby metro stations.

To read more, please visit: Greek Travel Pages

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens will reopen its gates on 2 July after several years of restoration. The restoration project, which was affected by earthquakes and stalled the project, will include an installation of external lighting to bring out the Cathedral’s best features.

The installment of external lighting was the last project left before the completion of the Cathedral’s restoration, static enforcement, and conservation of decoration.

The head of the Technical Service of the Archbishop of Athens, Theodoros Chamalis, said the sanctification of the restored church will take place on 2 July, with a Holy Mass taking place on 3 July, which will be the first mass in seven years.

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

Please click HERE to view this issue of our newsletter!

Remember to stay connected with us through our weekly newsletter, Facebook, and Twitter!

After the devastating fires in the Attica region of Greece, in the areas of Mati and Rafina, as well as Agioi Theodoroi and Kineta, people across the country are coming together to offer aid and help where possible. Below we have sourced as much information as we possible in the last day in order to provide the community with emergency information, and how to help the victims of this devastating fire. If you have information that can be added to this article, please email us at ideas@xpatathens.com.

• General Help Line - call 108*
  
  
• Additional Line and missing persons reports - call 199
  
  
• Animal Help - 2108013302
  
  
• Medical Aid - If you know people that are diabetic and are in need of the drugs Lantus or Novorapid, please call +30 6970459926

• Major hospitals in Athens and in the surrounding areas are in need of blood. Please get in touch with your local hospital or the National Blood Donation Center for more information on how to donate blood.

• For expats who want to offer their home to victims, please click here. 
  
  
• Airbnb is asking anyone with available housing in the area indicated on the map (in the link), to please consider making their home available. Click here for more info.
  
  
• The stadium of Megara is open to those seeking shelter (tel. 229 608 1088).
  
  
• Free shelter and food in La Playa Marathon.
  
  
• Free shelter in hotel Nireas in Nea Makri (tel. 229 409 1214).
  
  
• Shelter provided at the 1st and 2nd primary schools of Agioi Theodoroi.
  
  
• Shelter provided at the Mayor's office "Dimarchio" and Cultural Center of Pnevmatiko Kentro in Rafina.
  
  
• Shelter and help at the Kineta and Megara Retirement Centers.

• The Municipality of the Rafina - Pikermi, along with Piraeus bank, created the following bank account to support all those in need.
  • Bank name: Piraeus Bank
  • Bank account: 5186092291418
  • ΙΒΑΝ: GR20 0172 1860 0051 8609 2291 418
    
    
• Hellenic Red Cross - In order to facilitate all individuals or companies willing to offer financial support in favor of the people affected by the wild fires, they have opened the following bank account. Click here.

• The central Sklavenitis supermarket in Rafina provide water and food.
  
  
• In the center of Pikermi, the cafés Grigoris and Everest provide food and water.
  
  
• Cultural center of Nea Makri with water /food and First Aid.
  
  
• Food and water collection - Nea Makri (Avenue Marathon 104).

• For the people in Kineta, they can bring the animals to the courtyard of the Agioi Theodoroi church.
  
  
• In case of stray animals near any fire affected areas, please collect them and call 6975664142 to ask for further information.
  
  
• Nine Lives Greece is organizing a search-and-rescue mission this Friday (27-07) and Saturday (28-07) in the fire-stricken areas. They will need foster care for animals that they find. If you can offer any space to the affected animals, please email ninelivesgreece@gmail.com or message their Facebook page. Additionally, if you would like to offer transport help, cages, traps, leashes, cat or dog food, and/or basic medical supplies, please let NLG know.

---

The above information has been sourced from: Local community members, Greek Reporter, Peempip Facebook page, and the Foreigners Living in Greece Facebook group. We have tried our best to communicate this important information, but XpatAthens cannot take responsibility for inaccuracies.

 

We are deeply saddened by this devastating occurrence and hope to help in any way we can.

Photo by Matt Artz on Unsplash.

 

 

According to scientists, the re-examination of the skull fragments discovered in Greece in the 1970s could overthrow the current theories about when humans first arrived in Europe.

“Not a lot of attention was paid to it,” said Katerina Harvati of the University of Tuebingen in Germany, who was invited to study the fossil.

To establish the age, scientists analyzed bits of bone from the fossil; to identify what species it came from, they compared a virtual reconstruction to the shapes of fossils from known species.

According to Katerina Harvati, it’s not clear if scientists will be able to collect DNA or proteins from the fossil to verify its identity.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greece-Is.com

The European Commission, in collaboration with the President of the European Council, has put forward a Joint European Roadmap for the gradual lift of measures that were taken during the COVID-19 outbreak.

 

With the lifting of restrictions on travel-related activities, citizens are expected to gradually resume domestic and intra-EU travel. However, lifting measures too quickly may cause a sudden increase in infections, so until a vaccine is available, the need for travel and tourism should be weighed against the risks of a resurgence of the virus.

 

While drafting the 'roadmap,' the protection of the health of citizens, tourism workers, and tourists remains the key priority.

The guidance provides criteria and principles for the safe and progressive restoration of tourism and for the development of health protocols for the hospitality sector.

The EU Guidance for health protocols in hospitality establishments proposes policies to guide Member States in the design and implementation of infection prevention, control measures, and protocols for hospitality services providers, such as hotels and other hospitality establishments, to ensure the health and safety travelers as well as workers in the hospitality sector.

Epigramamatically, the guiding principles are the following:

a) Epidemiological situation, b) The health and safety of guests and workers is a key priority, c) Local arrangements, d) Action Plan in case of infection, e) Training, f) Management of staff, g) Information for guests, h) Physical distancing and hygiene, i) Infection prevention and control measures (IPC measures) such as: Respiratory etiquette, Hand hygiene, Use of face masks, Ventilation, Cleaning and disinfection, j) Potential infections among guests or staff

The European Commission will continue collaborating with the Member States' officials, tourism stakeholders, and international organizations to expedite the implementation of this guidance.

To read the full set of guidences, please visit: ec.europa.eu

The Hellenic American Union and the Museum of Greek Children’s Art have joined forces to hold two online creative workshops for primary school children this weekend. During the workshops, young children are invited to make their own Christmas tree decorations and cards for friends and family.

 

The first workshop is called "I’m home, but here’s my ornament...” and will take place on Saturday, December 19, at noon, and the second one is called "I’m home, but here’s my card..." and will be held on Sunday, December 20, also at noon.

The workshops will be led by Athanasia Sklirou, artist and curator at the Museum of Greek Children's Art.
To read this article in full, please visit: amna.gr

Remember to stay connected with us through our weekly newsletter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn

Citizens of the world can now enjoy a taste of Ancient Olympia, home to the Olympic Games, in the form of its olive oil.

The Hellenic Ministry of Tourism and Sports, along with the Office for the Promotion of Cultural Goods (ODAP), seeks to preserve a different aspect of the region. This collaboration will garner high-quality, Greek agricultural products from the archaeological sites of Ilia; most notably, from the grounds of Ancient Olympia and Ancient Ilida.

This first harvest and olive oil product is part of a pilot program that hopes to extend well into the future. Ilia is known for its olive oil, in fact, the region produces approximately 15,000 tons of olive oil annually and Olympia has 260,000 acres of olive groves.

ODAP focuses on the connection between olive oil and the Ancient Olympic Games.

In antiquity, olive oil offered more than nutrition, it was a useful product with which athletes lubricated their bodies before going down to the track. In the future, ODAP plans to create special packaging for its olive oil in the shape of exact copies of ancient works.

The packaging will include information about the product, the historical period, as well as facts about the history of the Olympic Games.

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