XpatAthens

XpatAthens

When looking for somewhere to base your business, what are your non-negotiables? Location? Price? The right kind of atmosphere? Free coffee? If you could create your dream office from top to bottom, what would it be like? A one-size-fits-all approach isn’t good enough – a flexible workspace brings your business bespoke products and services.

Our expectations from our workspaces have increased, with our sensitivity to how our office environment can affect our mental state, improve productivity and more. Businesses invest time in weighing their options, as the right base can help build networks, strike a better work/life balance by reducing the commute, and deliver value for money with useful services to avail as per requirements.

IWG - which owns an array of flexspace brands including Regus & SPACES – aims at catering to various working styles and kinds of companies. 

A flexible working space allows companies to review the workspace they are leasing – to upscale or downsize in line with their business outlook – so they’re only using and paying for resources that are actually needed.


REGUS IWG20167 35946 Regus Spaces Digital Banners Grxpat 90x728px


Having office-management services included – think cleaning, IT support, and friendly receptionists – allows teams to focus on the work at hand rather than the hassle of maintaining an office. While these services are part and parcel of a Regus membership, there are other products that businesses can opt for to customise their experience further. 

Flexspace can be your safety net, with Workplace Recovery Solutions, if your main office becomes unusable due to unforeseeable circumstances, and the Virtual Office Service which can make one of our location YOUR local business address.

There are more than 3,300 locations worldwide, and our 2.5 million plus members are able to drop into them when they need – whether it’s to meet an overseas client in a private meeting room, or to send off a contract from the comfort of a business lounge or a co-working space before catching a flight home.

 

Find out more about building a customized workspace portfolio with IWG.


This content has been sponsored by IWG - an XpatAthens Brand Partner.
Originally published at Regus

 

Greek cafes and restaurants have opened again, following a 2-month hiatus due to the measures against the coronavirus pandemic.

Cafes and restaurants will operate following a safety protocol that dictates a distance between 70 cm to 1.7 meters between seats, and a maximum of 6 customers per table.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister of Development & Investments Nikos Papathanassis stated that indoor seating is not allowed before the first half of June.

To read this article in full, please visit: amna.gr
The Acropolis Museum has created a website especially for its little friends. ​The “Acropolis Museum Kids” has been designed for children between six and twelve years old. It invites them to become acquainted with the fascinating world of the Museum while having fun. Inspiring games, amusing videos as well as a series of inventive activities prompt children to think, discover, play, experiment and make their own creations.


Fun Activities At The Acropolis Museum Kids Website

1. Digital Horse Memory Game
 
Find 2 matching photographs of the Museum's horses

2. Cooking Class – Ancient Edition!

Prepare an easy snack that was also eaten by the children in ancient Athens thousands of years ago!

3. Make A Iynx, An Ancient Greek Toy With A Special Sound

Spin it, stretch it, and then let it go! That’s how you play the so called iynx, a kid’s game that was particularly popular in ancient Athens with a really curious history.


For more information and fun activities, please visit: acropolismuseumkids.gr

 

 

Located off the coast of Alonnisos, a verdant island part of the Sporades archipelago, Greece's first underwater museum was inaugurated last August and has now reopened its doors for the 2021 summer season. The Museum's main attraction is the Classical-era shipwreck dating back to 500 BC, but visitors will also admire the rich marine life surrounding the shipwreck. 

In 1985, a local fisherman discovered the shipwreck near the rocky coastline of the uninhabited island of Peristera. Since then, numerous excavations have been carried out, uncovering interesting details about the ship and its precious cargo. The ship is believed to be an Athenian vessel, one of the biggest merchant vessels of the time, that sunk in the area in 425 BC, due to a yet unknown cause. It carried 4,000 wine amphorae from the Greek cities of Peparithos (Skopelos) and Mendi (Halkidiki), both well-known for their great wine, and it was also loaded with black-glazed bowls, cups, plates, and tableware. All these items were essential parts of the symposia, Ancient Greece's drinking events hosted by aristocratic men. 

Except for its great historical importance and its unique artifacts, the Museum also boasts unparalleled natural beauty, as it's part of the National Marine Park of Alonissos and Northern Sporades, the largest marine protected area in Europe. The park is home to monk seals, dolphins, sperm whales, loggerhead turtles, about 300 fish species, and the rare red coral.

Until recently, this underwater paradise was accessible only to archaeologists, but now divers are welcomed to take a plunge into the water and, at a depth of about 30 meters, encounter the so-called Peristera, named after the neighboring island. Upon diving, you'll probably feel like you're entering a fascinating and mysterious world of wonders, where colorful fish and sea sponges are nestled in well-preserved ancient amphorae. 

There is yet so much more to learn from the wreck and no one knows the treasures that might still lay buried, but one thing is for sure; the Peristera shipwreck truly is a diver's paradise! 

Wednesday, 06 April 2022 07:00

Great Video Games With An Educational Value

 
One of the most common concerns parents have is whether their children spend too much time surfing the net, mindlessly scrolling on social media, watching YouTube videos for hours on end, or playing video games. Indeed, the misuse of technology can have negative effects, but moderate internet use is unlikely to do any harm, while it may also appear to have some benefits. 
 
If you know where to look, you can find video games that are useful for children. Such video games help children develop specific skills, enhance their creativity, teach concepts such as fair play and competition, inspire interest in learning, and can bring parents closer to their children if the parents themselves decide to be part of the game process.
 
Minecraft
 
Minecraft is a building game that allows players to go on adventures, raise resources, and create tools. The game has different modes - survival, creativity, adventure, and multiplayer - so players have flexibility on how to approach it. Creative freedom and self-direction are not the only things the game offers. Minecraft teaches teamwork and motivation, while it can improve reading and math skills.
 
National Geographic Challenge 
 
The National Geographic Challenge is a quiz game for the whole family. The game has a fairly wide range of low, medium, and high difficulty questions that cover different regions - North America, Europe, Asia, South America, Africa, and Australia. Start the game by selecting an avatar, and then you can try to answer 40, 60, or 80 of the game's timed questions. During the game, children will have the opportunity to see stunning photos and videos from the National Geographic archive.
 
Nancy Drew Interactive Mysteries
 
This game allows children to play as Nancy and become amateur detectives who solve mysteries. They will interrogate suspects, solve puzzles, and discover clues until they finally catch the culprit. Through play, children learn without even realizing it. They learn about historical figures, discover different cultures, and develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
 
World Rescue 
 
Developed by ZU Digital in collaboration with UNESCO, the game takes place in Kenya, Norway, Brazil, India, and China. There, children are asked to help five heroes solve problems such as diseases, deforestation, drought, and pollution. In addition to geography, children learn concepts such as sustainability and activism while being informed about global problems and how they can be solved.
The green light was given for the start of the tendering procedures and subsequent implementation of the construction of a bicycle and pedestrian lane linking the suburbs of Kallithea and Voula on the southern coast of Athens.

The relevant cooperation agreement was signed by Attica Regional Governor Giorgos Patoulis and the appointed adviser of the State Property Development Fund, Panagiotis Stamboulidis. The “Athenian Riviera Urban Walk” has secured funding as it is already included in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan Greece 2.0 with a budget of 24.7 million euros.

The network of pedestrian and cycle paths will cross seven municipalities (Kallithea, Palaio Faliro, Alimos, Elliniko, Argyroupoli, Glyfada, and Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni). The estimated total length is 13.5 km. The project is expected to be delivered at the end of 2025.

Originally published on: ekathimerini.com
Wednesday, 18 February 2015 13:29

Tzoumerka

The Tzoumerka mountain range or the Athamanian mountains, as it is also known, is located in Central Pindos, between the rivers Arachthos and Aspropotamos. The Tzoumerka mountain range consists of the natural frontier between Epirus and Thessaly. Many peaks of Tzoumerka have an altitude of more than 2000m. Verdant forests, abundant running waters, rivers, waterfalls, steep slopes create a scenery charming and at the same time wild and imposing.

There are 47 villages scattered on the mountain range of Tzoumerka with common cultural and historical background, the so-called ‘Tzoumerkochoria’ (villages of Tzoumerka).

According to tradition (there’s no written source found) these villages were built between the 14th and the 15th century, during the Turkish occupation (possibly for reasons of defence) and played an important role in modern Greek history.

The area is an attraction for nature lovers and also for the lovers of extreme sports, as it has a rich ecosystem that impresses the visitor and also two rivers, Arachthos and Kalarrytikos (tributary of Arachthos), which offer magnificent routes for rafting and canoe - kayak. Additionally, river Acheloos (also called Aspropotamos) flows in the confines between the region of Tzoumerka and Thessaly.


To read more, please visit tzoumerka.info

Friday, 20 February 2015 15:31

Rustic Lamb Kleftiko Recipe

Kleftiko – from what I have read up about this dish it originated in Greece in the 1800s during the revolution when bands of guerillas would  steal a lamb or goat from the hillside and then cook it over glowing hot stones and embers in a hole in the ground with soil packed over the top to stop any smoke or steam escaping and giving them away. The dish would cook for up to 24 hours!

 

 

Ingredients:

1.5 kg Free Range Lamb Knuckles

100 ml extra virgin olive oil

10 mls Butter

8 Shallots or small onions – peeled and left whole

6-8 Fat cloves garlic – left unpeeled

1 Clove Garlic – peeled and finely grated or crushed

2 Tbs Fresh Rosemary – removed from stalks and chopped

1 Tbs Fresh Lemon Thyme – picked from stalks

4 Sprigs Fresh Oreganum -  left on the stalks

1 Fresh Bay leaf – use dried herbs if you don’t have access to fresh but remember to use much less of the dried

1 Lemon – juice and finely grated zest 

8-10 Baby Potatoes – washed  I used regular potatoes as that was all I had in the house. Just cut them into quarters or smaller depending on size

250ml Boiling Water

10mls NoMU Lamb Fonds -  stirred into the boiling water. I love this product but if you don’t have access to it use your stock of choice

10ml Runny Honey

Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

 

You will need:

A deep large casserole dish or oven proof saucepan with a good fitting lid

Aluminum Foil

 

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 150 degrees Celsius

2. Heat half of the oil and all the butter in a large, heavy frying pan over a medium heat

3. Add the lamb a few pieces at a time and brown on all sides. Remove from pan and drain on paper towel

4. Line your casserole dish with a large sheet of aluminum foil so that it overlaps on all sides

5. Place your browned meat into the casserole, sprinkling over a good grinding of salt and pepper

6. Add the potatoes and onions to the dish and tuck in the whole garlic cloves

7. Sprinkle over the zest, crushed garlic, herbs, lemon juice and drizzle over the honey

8. Tuck in the herb sprigs, pour over the hot stock

9. Bring the sides of the foil up around the contents to make a an airtight parcel

10. Place another sheet of aluminum foil over the top so that it slightly overlaps the edges of the casserole dish

11. Place the lid on tightly then pop it into the preheated oven for 6 hours. Don’t open until the 6 hours are up

12. Remove from oven, open up the parcel and drain off the liquid into a smallish saucepan skimming off most of the fat and oil

13. Reduce rapidly over a high heat until thickened into a nice rich sauce

I served my Kleftiko simply, over a bed of just al dente Risoni pasta, some fresh Italian Parsley and a lemon wedge….HMMMMMMM!!! Sticky, moist, lemony, falling off the bone, rich and delicious! Be sure to squeeze the sweetly roasted garlic out of the skins onto your meat and ENJOY!!

browniegirl xx

Friday, 06 March 2015 12:46

SkyGreece Authorized To Fly

SkyGreece Airlines SA has announced that the Canadian Transport Agency (CTA) has given its permission to the airline company to schedule international flights between EU member-states and Canada. 

“We are extremely happy with the CTA decision and it simply shows our determination to meet and surpass the requirements of the agency as well as the Canadian and Greek consumers,” said Nikolaos Alexandris, accountable manager and co-founder of SkyGreece Airlines SA.

SkyGreece Airlines SA is the only Greek transatlantic airline. The private company founded in October 2012 by a team of Greek-Canadian entrepreneurs with extensive backgrounds in aviation and tourism, is based in Athens, Greece, while there are offices located in Montreal, Toronto and New York.

The company’s main mission is to connect the Greek Diaspora to their homeland by offering non-stop flights between Greece and North America, with eventual plans to also offer flights to South Africa. Additionally, the airline’s aim is to offer “authentic Greek hospitality.”

To read more, please visit greekreporter.com

By Ioanna Zikakou

Monday, 06 July 2015 07:00

Athens War Museum

Housed in one of the more unusual looking buildings in Athens, The Athens War Museum is spread out over four floors and exhibits weapons and memorabilia connected with the Greek Armed Forces.

Few countries have known so much conflict and instability since their creation than Greece.  The Greek War of Independence, The Balkans War, World War's I and II, the Greek Civil War.  For over 140 years, it barely seemed to get a moment's peace.  It's hardly surprising, then, that the Athens War Musum is considered such an important place - and serves as a poignant reminder of the struggles of the past.
 
It's not hard to find - located on Vassilissis Sofias Avenue - closest metro Evangelismos - just look for all the military planes outside, it's pretty hard to miss.  No tanks, however.

Current opening hours are 09:00 - 19:00 in the summer, and until 17:00 in the winer, but closed on  Monday's.  

To read more, please visit: Dave's Travel Pages
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