The celebrated London Philharmonia Orchestra, whose past conductors have included legendary maestros such as Toscanini, Klemperer, Karajan and Mutti, resumes as of this year its prolific artistic activity, having as its principal conductor the promising Finnish maestro Santtu-Matias Rouvali, whose consummate musicianship has won the Orchestra’s trust. Under his direction, the Orchestra promises a reading full of dynamism of Tchaikovsky’s passionate Fourth Symphony and Rossini’s Semiramide Overture. Today’s concert also features South Korean pianist Seong-Jin Cho, winner of the 2015 International Chopin Piano Competition, who will be performing a true pianistic feat, playing the soloist’s part in Prokofiev’s extremely demanding Second piano concerto.

Wine, the gift of Dionysus! What was the relationship of the ancient Athenians with wine? How did they drink it and what did they accompany it with? But more generally, what did their diet include? Which products were local and which were imported? And what role did they play in the religious life of the city?

These and many other questions are answered by the archaeologists of the Acropolis Museum in an out-of-the-ordinary tour of its collections. A unique experience that is completed in the restaurant on the second floor with views of the Acropolis, with a meal prepared especially for the occasion accompanied by wine tasting with the support of the “Vivlia Chora” Winery.

Date & time: Thursday 12/5, tour on ancient diet (7pm-8pm), tasting at the restaurant (8pm-10pm)

The event is held on the occasion of the "This is Athens City Festival" of the Municipality of Athens.

 

 

From the launch of Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite, which on 4 October 1957 emitted a robotic repeating pattern every 0.3 minutes, to the “cinematically” exciting landings and future flights to the moon by private spacecraft, we will follow step by step the global adventure of human activity outside the Earth, summed up in the phrase “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”.

Who were the early pioneers of this new interplanetary experience, who withstood accelerations of 13G? Through interviews, documents, testimonies, research we will explore the passion, hard training and incredible heroism of space conquerors from the dawn of the space age to the present day, through the first announcement of Apollo 11: “Huston, this is Tranquillity Base, the Eagle has landed”.

Estimated Age: From First Primary and above.

Opening Hours: Morning at 09: 00-13: 00 and afternoon at 16: 00-18:00.

Sunday 08/05 : 09: 00-13:00

I remember when I was attending elementary school, it must have been 5th grade, our teacher asked us to write an essay about the upcoming Mother’s Day. At the time I had great difficulty with essays of any kind. I never knew how to start and it would take me ages to figure out the first paragraph. So I came up with what I thought was a brilliant idea: I would simply find an essay that I liked, copy it, and hand it in. And so I did.

As this was part of my homework, my mom obviously wanted to read it. She was so enthusiastic and proud of her daughter’s writings. She was also moved by the strong emotions vividly described in my essay. My teacher however had the complete opposite reaction, as she understood exactly what had happened. She even knew where I had “borrowed” the text from. Oops! It’s not difficult to imagine how I felt…

Today? No, I don’t need to read any books in order to write how I feel about my mom. I love my mom, and that’s not just by default. I love her for her big heart, for her warm hug, for always being there for me, and for her talent to make us laugh. Of course, we’ve had fights and disagreements. Of course, I don’t agree – even now – with the way she’s handled some situations. However, being a mom myself today, I can certainly understand and acknowledge the challenges she’s faced and her efforts.

I know how a mom feels towards her child but I also know how a child feels towards their mom. I read two quotes that pretty much describe both sides: “Life doesn’t come with a manual, it comes with a mother” (unknown) and “The mother’s heart is the child’s schoolroom” (Henry Ward Beecher).

Now I know it’s not an easy ride. Motherhood is not a given. It is beautiful and hard at the same time. It can be elevating and demanding, heartbreaking and heartwarming. As much as it may be scary though it is an undeniable force of life.

Just last week we celebrated my mom’s 88th birthday. In a beautiful garden full of roses, orange trees, and lemon trees. We were all there, the whole family, all in great shape. What a blessing!

Originally published on: itsmylife.gr

If there’s a topic you’re interested in and would like to learn more about you may contact me via email. For more information about me and my work check the XpatAthens Directory or visit my website. Because this is your life!

FokiaNou Art is pleased to present “Collage Remix”, a group show curated by Mary Cox and Panagiotis Voulgaris. The increasing popularity of collage among artists and art-appreciators is due to its ability to describe the world in a multifaceted way. Often using mass-produced images, it mirrors the historical and political context in which it is created. Because of the juxtapositions used in collage, the medium can avoid both linear thinking and traditional binary dichotomies. Additionally, by using found or readymade images or objects, the medium subverts the traditional importance of the idea of the lone creative genius, while also acting as a democratic, low-tech medium accessible by most people.

 

Seventeen artists were invited to submit analog and digital collage work, in 2 and 3 dimensions. Participating artists:  Nola Abboud, Mary Cox, Kelly Koumarianou, Helen Kyrkilis, Loula Levedi, Annette Luycx, Dimitra Maltabe, Konstantine Matsoukas, Dionisios Pappas, Nikos Podias, Geeta Roopnarine, Fiona Spathopoulou, Giorgos Spyropoulos, Christina-Sylvia Simantira, Panagiotis Voulgaris, Piyi Wong, Kiveli Zachariou.

Curated by Mary Cox and Panagiotis Voulgaris

 

FokiaNou Art Space is an artist-run project space in the intimacy of a small apartment in an old building in the center of Athens. The space encourages collaborative creative efforts between Greek and foreign artists, thereby promoting and supporting the local art community. The space hosts exhibitions, workshops and projects under the direction of two artists, Mary Cox and Panagiotis Voulgaris. 

Opening: Thursday, 12 May, 17.00
Duration: 12-28 May 2022. 
Hours: Thursday - Saturday 17.00 – 20.00

Five of Europe’s best rooftop bars are located in Greece: in the city of Athens and on the island of Santorini, according to a study released by entertainment site MrQ.

To determine its 2022 European Rooftop Bar Index, MrQ analyzed 145 rooftop bars in 30 European cities. Based on five metrics that can “make or break” a great rooftop bar experience, the study examines average rating, number of reviews, the popularity of Instagram hashtags, and average temperatures in the summer.

MrQ includes five Greek rooftop bars on its Top 10 list:

3rd spot – PK Cocktail Bar, Santorini


@pkcocktailbar 

PK Cocktail Bar, Santorini’s longest-running cocktail bar ranks third. Clearly popular with its customers, PK Cocktail Bar has secured an impressive five-star rating and the hashtag #pkcocktailbar has been used 2,583 times, MrQ says.

7th spot – Thea Terrace Bar, Athens


@athenshotspots

Thea Terrace Bar may be one of Athens’ hidden gems, with just 134 Instagram hashtags, however, reviewers rate it 4.5 stars.

8th spot – V Lounge Cafe & Cocktail Bar, Santorini


@santorini_vlounge_cocktailbar

On the top floor of the Panorama Boutique Hotel, V Lounge Cafe & Cocktail Bar ranks in eighth place and gets reviewed well, scoring 4.5 stars with 1,092 reviews.

9th spot – Metropolis Roof Garden, Athens


@electrametropolis

With just 138 reviews so far and 187 hashtags on Instagram, Metropolis Roof Garden has secured a near-perfect 4.5-star rating.

10th spot – Acropolis Secret Bar Restaurant, Athens


@divanipalaceacropolis

Rounding off the top 10 is another location in Athens, the Acropolis Secret Bar Restaurant with breathtaking views of the Acropolis Museum. Another one of Greece’s best-kept secrets, this rooftop restaurant located on top of the five-star Divani Palace Acropolis, has a fantastic rating (4.5 stars).

Originally published on: news.gtp.gr

Main image: @santorini_vlounge_cocktailbar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two Greek hiking trails feature on a list of what can be considered the most scenic trails in Europe, based on online reviews and social media.

The list of beautiful trails, which was put together by workout equipment company Onbuy Treadmills, was compiled with the help of various experts and Tripadvisor reviews. The trails on the final list were then ranked according to the number of times they’ve been tagged on Instagram. Europe is home to thousands of hiking trails, and the two Greek trails on the list were ranked as number 27 and 28.

The Samaria Gorge trail, the most famous hiking route on the island of Crete, is placed number 27. A big draw for tens of thousands of visitors each year, especially during the summer, it’s a 16-kilometer hike that takes from five to eight hours to complete depending on your shape and experience, all downhill.

This ruggedly beautiful canyon is not only instagrammable, but a place you’ll remember. The trail begins at Xyloskalo, more than 1200 meters above sea level, on a steep, rocky path downward (a walking stick is a good idea here), and continues along the Tarraios river, through the abandoned village of Samaria and the natural habitat of endangered wild goats, through the narrowest part of the gorge known as the “Gates,” where the steep rock walls stand only a few meters apart.

The second Greek trail on the list, in 28th place, is perhaps less famous among hikers, but all the more recognizable in photos due to its iconic views. This is the Fira-Oia trail on Santorini – a path connecting the two famous villages running along the edge of the caldera. 10.5 kilometers long, it is a moderately challenging route that takes around 3 hours to complete regardless of the direction you choose, featuring some more demanding, steep sections with loose gravel.

To read this article in full, please visit: greece-is.com

Main image: @girlwith.thecamera

“Athenian Itineraries”, a program organized by the Athens Culture Net, returns this May with five fascinating thematic walking tours of Athens available in Greek and two available in English.

 

The Athens Itineraries program first started in 2018. It was received with great enthusiasm and continued until the breakout of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was briefly revived in the autumn of 2021 and has been running again on a monthly basis since April.

 

The aim of the program is for participants to get to know special parts of the city, familiarize themselves with obscure corners and hidden gems, as well as discover unknown stories of Athens from the past through to today.

 

The program will start on Sunday, May 8, and will end on Sunday, May 29, 2022. The two itineraries available in English are the Return to New Athens, scheduled for May 8th, and Dark Athens, scheduled for May 29th. This is the first time that some of the Athens Itineraries will be available in English. 

Hosted by author Nadia Georgakopoulou, Return to New Athens invites participants on a historical and experiential journey through the first 100 years of modern-day Athens as the capital of a new state. Starting from Hadrian's Gate, the route will stop at emblematic Athenian buildings and public spaces of the 19th century, while the narrative will focus on the architecture, the history, and the words of their protagonists. Participants will also visit Zappeion, the National Gardens, Syntagma Square, the Numismatic Museum of Athens, the Ophthalmology Clinic, the Catholic Church, and the emblematic Athenian Trilogy.

Dark Athens by Arthur Antonopoulos highlights the transformation of Athens into a modern metropolis. Dark Athens is a fascinating crime adventure taking place in the streets of the city, starring the hidden symbols and the historical monuments that adorn it. Following in the footsteps of the heroine of Antonopoulos’ book, who tries to shed light on a conspiracy, the route starts at the Athens City Hall and continues to Klafthmonos Square and the Old Parliament.

 

Pre-booking is necessary to participate in the free tours. 

This is Athens City Festival, a new annual festival that kicks off this May, is a celebration for locals and visitors of the city of Athens, inviting them to a one-month, multi-layered buffet of more than 300 exciting events!

As part of the activities, museums, cultural institutions, organizations, and businesses will open their doors to welcome Greeks and foreign visitors, while, at the same time, concerts, themed hiking and bike tours, gastronomic nights, and various sports events will take place. 

Every event will highlight a different area of Athens with the aim to bring residents and visitors closer to the city through powerful and original experiences: from an all-day picnic at Plato Academy to a street party at the Varvakios market, a walk to the National Observatory of Athens or a jazz concert at the Acropolis Museum.

This is Athens City Festival is an event of “This is Athens”, the official guide for promoting the city abroad, organized by the Athens Development and Destination Management Agency (EATA) with the participation of businesses, collective bodies, and foundations active in the field of culture. 

To learn more about the events taking place, please visit our What's On section. 

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