The Athens Urban Transport Organization (OASA) worker’s unions declared that they are planning a 24-hour strike on Wednesday, June 29. The union will also organize a demonstration outside the OASA headquarters demanding that a tender with privately operated KTEL intercity buses is not extended.

“It is inconceivable that, without providing any information to its employees, there are ‘plans’ to address transit with constant contracts with KTEL, a fact that does not promote the public nature of urban transport,” stated the union in its announcement.

Originally published on: ekathimerini.com

When thinking about summer in Greece, one of the first things that pop into your mind, except for the sandy beaches and turquoise waters, is the unsurpassed sunsets of the Greek islands. Indeed, sunsets in Greece are utterly romantic, blissful, and relaxing.

But, you probably don’t know that you don’t have to travel to a Greek island for a memorable golden hour experience. Sunsets in Athens are equally indescribable, unsurpassable, and unforgettable. Here’s a list of 5 places in the Greek capital that every sunset chaser like us will fall in love with!

Areopagus


@iamsmark

Located northwest of the Acropolis, this prominent rock used to be the supreme court of ancient Athens. Today it is just as fascinating, providing panoramic views of the whole city. A beloved hangout spot for locals, there you will see groups of friends and couples chatting and taking in the spectacular vistas any time of the day (or night!).

Kastella


@3_k_0_t_s

Set on a hill overlooking the Port of Mikrolimano, Kastella is, without a doubt, the most picturesque district in Piraeus. As you make your way to the top of the hill, meandering through the narrow, scenic streets, you will encounter impressive neoclassical buildings, architectural gems, and the Veakeio Theatre, until you reach the church of Profitis Ilias where the views over the Saronic Gulf will leave you speechless.

Lycabettus Hill


@chiara.zagli

Gracefully standing 277 meters above sea level, Lycabettus Hill is the highest point in Athens. You can get there by taxi, the funicular, or on foot, but, no matter what, the views from the top are rewarding. Go all the way up until you reach the Holy Church of Saint Isidore, a chapel of striking beauty, and enjoy the mesmerizing views of the islands of Salamina and Aegina.

Temple Of Poseidon At Sounio


@Tibortokai

At the end of the Sounio Peninsula, at the southernmost point of Attica, lies the Temple of Poseidon, a site of worship of the sea god Poseidon, built during Athens’ Golden Age. Today, it continues to enthrall visitors who, except for the bewitching views, can swim in crystalline waters while marveling at the marble-white columns of a 5th-century BC temple. A combination you can’t miss!

Parthenon


@manon_alzieu

Of course, a visit to Athens isn’t complete until you go all the way up to the temple of Parthenon that dominates the hill of the Acropolis. Undeniably Athens’ most famous historical landmark, a symbol of democracy, and a masterpiece of ancient architecture, Parthenon is the perfect place to enjoy the sunset, just like Athenians did 2.500 years ago!

The Ministry of Culture and Sports has announced a decision that will give recreational scuba divers access to 11 historic shipwrecks in Greek territorial waters. Organized visits to the wreck sites by accredited dive schools and tour operators will only be permitted following the submission of the necessary paperwork to the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities, the department responsible for safeguarding the country’s submerged cultural sites.

Scuba diving has become an increasingly popular recreational activity in Greece in recent years, drawing thousands of tourists each year eager to explore the country’s spectacular variety of underwater sites. This is especially the case for wreck diving, which, until recently, was largely prohibited due to concerns over the looting of priceless antiquities.

The following wrecks have been made accessible:

HMHS Britannic, Kea (British ocean liner and sister ship of the famous Titanic, sank in 1916); SS Burdigala, Kea (German ocean liner, sank in 1916); SS Patris, Kea (paddle steamer, sank in 1868); SS Artemis Pita, Milos (Greek cargo steamer, sank in 1943); SS Sifnos, Milos (Greek cargo steamer, sank in 1941); SS Minnewaska, Marathi, Crete (British steamer, sank in 1916); SS Mytilene, Bay of Kypsa Kassandra, Halkidiki (German cargo ship, sank in 1961); the Turkish shipwreck at Kalamitsi, Chalkidiki (sank in the first two decades of the 20th century); SS Creteland, Aghios Georgios, Evia (Greek cargo steamer, sank in 1930); SS Pioneer I, Lichades, Evia (cement ship, sank in 1944); SS Volos, Lefteris reef, between Pelion and Skiathos (German steamer, sank in 1931).

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

Greek Maritime Golf Event, returns for the 8th year with the participation of distinguished executives of the Greek and global maritime industry, on September 8-11, 2022, at Costa Navarino, Messinia. 

 

The best golf tournament in Greece, as it has been distinguished in recent years, will present for the first time a new competition format, as its participants will compete on a team level, in a two-day shotgun scramble on Friday, September 9, at The Hills Course and on Saturday, September 10 at the International Olympic Academy Golf Course. More information on the competition format can be found here.

 

More than 100 leading executives from the maritime industry will play at the two new 18-hole signature courses and “cross” their golf clubs to win 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. It should be noted that the final results will materialize after the completion of the event’s 2nd day of competition on Saturday, September 10.

 

Golf & Maritime Industry join forces for a good cause

The Greek Maritime Golf Event is a tournament that is always distinguished for its social work, amongst other things. This year, the leading golf event will strengthen through its actions the Non-Profit Company HOPEgenesis. More specifically, during this year’s award ceremony to the winners, and winning teams respectively, on Saturday, September 10, 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

 

In the context of this year’s event, HOPEgenesis Chairman, Dr. Stefanos Chandakas said: “We thank the Greek Maritime Golf Event for the valuable collaboration aimed at supporting families in Greece and especially women living in remote areas and remote islands of our country, to give birth to their children. We know that the organizers’ social awareness is long-standing and significant, and we are grateful that this year they chose to contribute to our work against infertility”.

 

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.

Poseidonia Restaurant is the event’s Official Supporter.

Karalis Beach Hotel and Kayak are the event’s Partners. 

Boo Productions is the Audio Visual Partner.

 

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.

 

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 Meet Market returns to the old Amaxostasio, right in the heart of the city center, on June 25th & 26th!

Join us for a super summery weekend of meets, market, dj sets, kids activities and street food, all under one industrial roof.  Expect to find exquisite creations and innovations from 100+ local designers, artists, collectors and producers from all over Greece as they leave their workshops, studios and ateliers and head to the Meet Market to meet you all in person and share their talents.  You can find a bit of everything in this summer edition event including a wide range of style and techniques in jewelry, clothes for the beach or daytime or night time partying, accessories such as bags and shoes and sunglasses and more, furniture and deco for your home, kids products for our little friends, vintage & retro collectables, tasty tidbits to savour, art, prints, books and lots more…

There will also be plenty of refreshing cocktails and summer spritzes, locally brewed beer, savory street food from Greece and abroad, and some sweet treats to treat yourselves too.  Non-stop back to back djs sets from our beloved DJs will keep the vibe festive and don’t forget to bring your little friends, because we have all sorts of free inter-activities for them to join throughout the weekend.

So head on down before you head off for holidays to our summer edition Meet Market at Amaxostasio.  And make sure you stop by the central info point to pick up a poster or a pin, or try your luck at the grand raffle prizes featuring 3 HUGE baskets full of goodies from our makers, for 3 lucky winners.

Shop small & support local.

Opening Hours: Saturday 16:00 – 00:00 / Sunday 15:00 – 23:00

The award-winning musical that has been loved by millions of viewers around the world, for the show itself, but also for its great songs, one of the most entertaining feel-good musicals of all time, is coming this summer at the City Garden Festival.

The sunny, happy, and moving story by Catherine Johnson unfolds on a Greek paradise island. Donna's daughter, Sofia, is about to get married but before that, she needs to discover the unknown identity of her father.

Secretly reading her mother's diary, she realizes that she has 3 potential dads whom she invites to her wedding to find out who the real one is. A fascinating story with plenty of ABBA songs and music!

Love, joy, laughter, friendship, and emotions are entangled in a seductive story that, through the lyrics and timeless music of ABBA, invites spectators to a unique summer party!

Starring: Nadia Kontogeorgi, Alexandros Bourdoumis, Aphrodite Liantou, George Chraniotis, Ivan Svitailo, Doretta Papadimitriou, Penelope Anastassopoulou, Ian Stratis

In just a few days, on June 23 and 24, SNF Nostos Health will be here, inspired by the SNF Health Initiative to focus this year on humanity’s most valuable resource: health.

In 2016, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) initiated a process of investigating areas of possible support for public health in Greece. Building on a long track record of grantmaking in the area of health since 1996, SNF engaged experts to identify and map community needs and held dedicated discussions with the Greek state. As an outcome of the latter, in September 2017, SNF officially announced its intention to fully support a series of major projects to enhance the country’s public health sector. On March 21st, 2018, SNF and the Greek State signed a Memorandum of Understanding marking the start of SNF’s Health Initiative in Greece.

To date, the Health Initiative encompasses 17 constituent projects, with the Health Initiative S.A. serving as the special purpose vehicle set up by SNF to facilitate their coordination and implementation as well as a transparent and participatory process at every stage.



To learn more about this new initiative visit snfhi.org

Summer is already here, and the summer holidays are fast approaching. So, if you plan to enjoy them with your family, it would be great to have some activities planned. As you know, children (and adults!) tend to get bored easily, so if you have a pre-planned activity program, you can enjoy quality time together and break your cell phone addiction! 

 

Of course, this does not mean you have to stress over doing everything on the list. Remember that a trip with the whole family can be challenging, so you don’t need the extra stress. Just slow down, relax, and embrace the summer season with your loved ones! 

Beach Picnic

 

Sea whets the appetite, so a picnic on the beach provides the perfect opportunity to enjoy a meal together and refuel your bodies after a swim!

Swimming

Muscle strengthening, improving the cardiorespiratory system, relieving stress, and promoting socialization are just a few benefits of swimming.

Visiting Museums & Archeological Sites

With children entitled to reduced admission to most museums, visiting museums and sightseeing, in general, is both educational and economical for children and parents!

Sailing

Sailing is a great sport for children to learn to love the sea and overcome their fear of water.

Reading

Reading is not just an individual activity. You can read a book together, as a family, one chapter at a time. Reading will automatically become more interesting for both you and the children.

Board Games

All-time classic, beloved, mystery, strategy, or fantasy, board games sharpen the mind and encourage fair play.

Cooking

Cooking is a great way to spend time together and help children express their creativity and feel that they contribute to the family dynamic.

Hiking

Hiking is one of the best hobbies you can start as a family, as it allows you to explore breathtaking places and improve overall well-being by promoting physical activity.

Open-air Cinema

In Greece, every neighborhood has an open-air cinema, ideal for those who want to enjoy a movie under the starry sky.

Diving

Diving is an exciting activity for everyone. You and your children, accompanied by a professional diver, can become underwater explorers and discover the seabed's magical secrets.

Cycling

Everyone knows that some of the best childhood memories feature bikes as perfect companions for all of our adventures.

Camping

Nature, less screen time, spending quality face-to-face time with other campers, and the overall feeling of pure relaxation are a few reasons you should try this unique experience.

Ball Games

Sports are essential for the mental and physical health of children and adults. A family game of basketball, football, or any other sport, is a great way to promote sportsmanship.

Theater Show

Theatrical education should be an integral part of children’s extracurricular education as it positively contributes to increasing concentration, attention, and empathy.

Kayaking

Kayaking can be done on rivers, lakes, or the sea and is an experience you will surely love.

2021 has been a remarkable year for the startup ecosystem in Greece as the country climbed six places to 48th in the world according to StartupBlink’s “Startup Blink Global Ecosystem Report for 2022”. At the same time, Greek startups raised over €500M in 2021 -almost triple compared to last year’s disclosed investments- while the country entered for the first time the “unicorn” club. Unicorn companies are those that reach a valuation of $1 billion without being listed on the stock market and two Greek companies have recently reached this status.

StartupBlink Global Startup Ecosystem Map

According to the StartupBlink world index, Greece ranked number 48 globally climbing 6 places since last year with an upward trend that is expected to be recorded in the next report. Greece’s rise is mainly due to the rising startup ecosystem of Athens, as the Greek capital is high on the list of the top 100 ecosystems in the field of recreation, in 51st place. Athens is the top-ranked Greek city in an index of 1,000 cities ranking at 132. Greece also ranks at number 18 for startups in Western Europe and is an ideal place to locate Social & Leisure, Transportation, and Foodtech startups.

According to the Startup Blink report, Greece remains resilient, despite the financial crisis of 2008 and the pandemic of 2020. Greece is an EU country located at the intersection of Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa having at the same time the advantage of a highly-skilled English-speaking workforce. In 2021 startup funding was increased and important exits were registered including two unicorn companies. This has attracted worldwide attention to the Greek startup ecosystem and its technological capabilities as the country has the potential to become a regional technology hub.

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