LIFE & CULTURE
XpatAthens
Monday, 11 July 2022 07:00
Athens Named Best Brunch Spot In Europe
This we know: Athenians love to brunch. Over the last decade, brunching went from a trend to a concept wide open for experimentation, to a standard meal worthy of its own menu at almost every café and restaurant in the city. At first, it was all about typical American dishes like pancakes and sliders, but before long, chefs realized the potential of traditional homestyle Greek foods which, dressed up, found their way back to the tables; trahana got paired with poached eggs, and sourdough bread topped with Myconian lountza (cured pork tenderloin). Unlike some food trends that come and go in the span of a couple of years, locals have embraced brunch wholeheartedly, and it’s not surprising, considering that few Greeks have big breakfasts, thereby leaving room for a breakfast-like meal ahead of lunch.
In fact, Athens has risen to the best city in Europe for brunch, according to new research by Uswitch.com. Amazingly, the Greek capital appears to have surpassed even places with a long-established brunch culture, like the UK.
To establish their rankings, the company analyzed data from Tripadvisor for all major cities in Europe, taking into account the number of restaurants and their ratings, as well as prices. Besides the many options and high average quality of the food served in Athens, the affordable rates secured its spot. “With 1,136 restaurants to choose from, the average price of a brunch in the ancient city is just €16.66 on average, the fifth cheapest of all capitals analyzed,” a press release for the study stated. For true lovers of the pre-midday munch, these low prices make brunching an option for every day, rather than just a Sunday tradition. Meanwhile, cities like Copenhagen, known as a foodie’s paradise with gourmet options for the meal in question (Smørrebrød anyone?), received lower ranking due to their high rates.
Athens climbed from second to first place this year, having placed just below Tirana in the same study last year.
Originally published on: greece-is.com
In fact, Athens has risen to the best city in Europe for brunch, according to new research by Uswitch.com. Amazingly, the Greek capital appears to have surpassed even places with a long-established brunch culture, like the UK.
To establish their rankings, the company analyzed data from Tripadvisor for all major cities in Europe, taking into account the number of restaurants and their ratings, as well as prices. Besides the many options and high average quality of the food served in Athens, the affordable rates secured its spot. “With 1,136 restaurants to choose from, the average price of a brunch in the ancient city is just €16.66 on average, the fifth cheapest of all capitals analyzed,” a press release for the study stated. For true lovers of the pre-midday munch, these low prices make brunching an option for every day, rather than just a Sunday tradition. Meanwhile, cities like Copenhagen, known as a foodie’s paradise with gourmet options for the meal in question (Smørrebrød anyone?), received lower ranking due to their high rates.
Athens climbed from second to first place this year, having placed just below Tirana in the same study last year.
Originally published on: greece-is.com
Published in
Greece In The News
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Monday, 11 July 2022 07:00
Samothrace: The Most “Un-Greek” Island Of Greece
Samothrace (or Samothraki) is a little-known Greek island in the northern Aegean sea. The island boasts many breathtaking waterfalls and is surrounded by crystal clear waters.
Despite being slightly off the beaten track, Samothrace is a must-visit for nature lovers who want to immerse themselves in paradise!
Geography of Samothrace Island
Samothrace is one of the most rugged Greek islands, with its highest peak, Mt. Saos, rising 1,611 meters into the sky. The island is a paradise for those interested in alternative forms of tourism because it offers countless activities and possibilities, all against a breathtaking natural background of cliffs, forests, and water.
Samothrace is unique for its landscape combining mountainous terrain, fresh springs, and the bluest seas. The island is full of beaches, archaeological sites, rivers, and streams, making it an idyllic choice for summertime exploration. Visitors often come to Samothrace to hike and camp, making an effort to visit all of the stunning natural wonders on the island.
The rich vegetation and waterfalls of the island add to its beauty with the most famous waterfalls being Kleidosi (created by the stream Fonias) and Kremasto with its cave. The waterfalls on the island are a big draw, as naturally occurring waterfalls are not particularly common across Greece.
Things to do on Samothrace
The port of Kamariotissa, the most crowded part of the island, is connected to Alexandroupolis via ferries. Kamariotissa has a number of amenities, including supermarkets and banks, as well as a number of restaurants and cafes. Fishing is one of the island's primary industries, and a lovely array of traditional wooden fishing boats can be seen at the port.
The Sanctuary of the Great Gods is the main tourist attraction of the island. It was well-known during Ancient Greece due to being a gathering place for a “mystery religion.” Mystery religions were religious schools that only allowed participation by initiates, keeping the faiths themselves shrouded in mystery.
To read this article in full, please visit: greekreporter.com
Despite being slightly off the beaten track, Samothrace is a must-visit for nature lovers who want to immerse themselves in paradise!
Geography of Samothrace Island
Samothrace is one of the most rugged Greek islands, with its highest peak, Mt. Saos, rising 1,611 meters into the sky. The island is a paradise for those interested in alternative forms of tourism because it offers countless activities and possibilities, all against a breathtaking natural background of cliffs, forests, and water.
Samothrace is unique for its landscape combining mountainous terrain, fresh springs, and the bluest seas. The island is full of beaches, archaeological sites, rivers, and streams, making it an idyllic choice for summertime exploration. Visitors often come to Samothrace to hike and camp, making an effort to visit all of the stunning natural wonders on the island.
The rich vegetation and waterfalls of the island add to its beauty with the most famous waterfalls being Kleidosi (created by the stream Fonias) and Kremasto with its cave. The waterfalls on the island are a big draw, as naturally occurring waterfalls are not particularly common across Greece.
Things to do on Samothrace
The port of Kamariotissa, the most crowded part of the island, is connected to Alexandroupolis via ferries. Kamariotissa has a number of amenities, including supermarkets and banks, as well as a number of restaurants and cafes. Fishing is one of the island's primary industries, and a lovely array of traditional wooden fishing boats can be seen at the port.
The Sanctuary of the Great Gods is the main tourist attraction of the island. It was well-known during Ancient Greece due to being a gathering place for a “mystery religion.” Mystery religions were religious schools that only allowed participation by initiates, keeping the faiths themselves shrouded in mystery.
To read this article in full, please visit: greekreporter.com
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Travel Greece
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Sunday, 10 July 2022 12:40
Embassy Of South Africa In Greece
Email: athens.info@dirco.gov.za
Telephone: 003 021 06178020
Location: 60 Kifissias Avenue, Marousi, 15125
More information can be found in French and Greek on the embassy's official website.
Follow the South African embassy on Facebook.
Telephone: 003 021 06178020
Location: 60 Kifissias Avenue, Marousi, 15125
More information can be found in French and Greek on the embassy's official website.
Follow the South African embassy on Facebook.
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Embassies
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Sunday, 10 July 2022 12:31
Embassy Of France In Greece
Telephone: 21 0339 1000
Location: Leof. Vasilissis Sofias 7, Athens
More information can be found in French and Greek on the embassy's official website.
Follow the French embassy on Facebook.
Location: Leof. Vasilissis Sofias 7, Athens
More information can be found in French and Greek on the embassy's official website.
Follow the French embassy on Facebook.
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Embassies
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Sunday, 10 July 2022 12:21
Embassy Of Australia In Greece
The Australian Embassy in Athens is also accredited to Bulgaria and Romania.
The Embassy in Athens is open for telephone and email requests from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday to Friday except for public holidays.
Passport interviews and notarial services are offered on an appointment-only basis.
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Embassies
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Saturday, 09 July 2022 21:05
Embassy Of Canada In Greece
The Embassy of Canada provides services to Canadians visiting and living in Greece.
For more information visit the embassy's official website
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Embassies
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Saturday, 09 July 2022 20:55
U.S. Embassy & Consulate In Greece
The mission of the United States Embassy is to advance the interests of the United States, and to serve and protect U.S. citizens in Greece.
The embassy is charged with diplomacy and Greece–United States relations. The United States Ambassador to Greece is the head of mission of the United States to Greece.
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Embassies
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Saturday, 09 July 2022 20:25
Embassy & Consulate Of Great Britain
The British Embassy in Athens maintains and develops relations between the UK and Greece and is open to the public by appointment only.
For more information visit the embassy's official website
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Embassies
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Monday, 05 September 2022 18:49
City Summer Vibes and Asian Bar Bites @ BAR8
On the 8th floor of the Hotel Grande Bretagne, summer comes alive in the iconic Bar8, the ideal open-air bar for gatherings in the heart of Athens. In lush surroundings with modern aesthetics, the hotel’s expert team of bartenders prepares unbeatable cocktails with imposing Lycabettus Hill in the background.
At the live food station, Executive Chef Asterios Koustoudis in a spirit of renewal takes you on a tasty journey while preparing splendid Asian style Bar Bites in his open kitchen. Accompany your drink with individually prepared bites including crispy nori with fish tartar, citrus and caramel glaze, grilled onigiri and smoked eel with white eggplant, miso and carob honey, sea bass nigiri with calamansi and green tea cream, Hida Wagyu tataki as well as an exquisite fresh oyster selection. Embracing the new popular drink trend, the bartenders propose original Japanese sake, Asian cocktails and beers as the perfect food pairing.
Every evening join the City Summer Vibes events at Bar8 featuring live DJ sets in collaboration with radio stations Pepper 96.6, En Lefko 87.7 and Hit 88.9 and get your evening plans all wrapped up. Do not miss the upbeat tunes performed by the impressive saxophonist Dionysia Georgiadou every Tuesday to Saturday.
Escape to the ultimate summer place-to-be and enjoy a unique experience overlooking the sunset in Athens.
BAR8 AT THE GB ROOF GARDEN RESTAURANT
Operating hours: Daily 19:00 - 00:00
Telephone: +30 210 33 30 766
Operating hours: Daily 19:00 - 00:00
Telephone: +30 210 33 30 766
HOTEL GRANDE BRETAGNE
Vasileos Georgiou 1 A, Athens, 105 64
Vasileos Georgiou 1 A, Athens, 105 64
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Food & Drink
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Friday, 29 March 2024 18:54
Cleopatra's Sponges
This is not another marketing tale, but the real history written by the people of the Aegean Sea.
Sponge diving and trading are perhaps one of Greece’s oldest industries. From the days of Plato to the grandeur of the Byzantine empire until its last days of prosperity, but a few decades ago, sponge trading shaped the very economical and socio-political nature of Greece. Islands such as Kalymnos and Symi enjoyed a wealth that has left a legacy to this day.
Yet greed and misfortune befell this once great industry; overfishing and a succession of diseases brought these natural sea sponges to the very verge of extinction resulting in the collapse of the entire industry. An ecological tragedy, it also proved to be an economic and social disaster; 20,000 jobs were lost along with millions of dollars in export revenue. Following the collapse of the Greek sponge industry, many sponge divers migrated to Tarpon Springs, Florida, where new sponge bearing fields were discovered. Those who remained in Greece turned to fishing as their livelihood and sponge diving became a profession of the past.
Today only a few sponge divers are left on the island of Kalymnos, once an island considered to be the sponge capital of the world. Sponge diving and the ancient cultural heritage that it represented was considered a skill consigned to a fading few and the exhibitions of museums...
Until Cleopatra's was born.
Where it all began...
Anargyros is a student-entrepreneur and diver who has held a lifelong love of the sea and its hidden treasures. From a young age he became fascinated with the legends of Greek sponge divers and their tales of deep sea exploration.
In 2016, resolved to revive this fading industry and the dying sponge population he made his first journey to Kalymnos.
Interviewing the remaining sponge traders of the island he hoped to understand the problems that had plagued the industry and caused its’ demise. It was in Kalymnos that a retired sponge diver, Captain Antonis, presented him with an authentic Mollissima sponge. The Mollissima is widely acknowledged as the finest sponge in the world and is found only in certain sponge bearing fields in the Aegean Sea. Immediate excitement was tempered as the Captain explained that this particular sponge was all but extinct by a combination of a disease that had struck 30 years ago and continuous over fishing. As a consequence, it was no longer available for purchase.
From this moment on Anargyros decided to focus his efforts on saving the Mollissima species and reintroduce it to the market. Thus ensuring that the future generation will also be able to enjoy the unsurpassed softness and velvety texture of this underwater treasure that transform every-day skin care to a trully luxurious experience.
Today, almost 2 years after that first trip to Kalymnos and after many trials and tribulations we are proud to be the only company in the world to sustainably produce and offer you the Aegean Mollissima: the finest of all the sponges. These sponges of fine and unbeatable quality have been harvested in a sustainable, cruelty-free way that is highly beneficial to the local marine ecosystem.
With your support we succeed, every day, in our mission to save the Mollissima sponge whilst preserving the ancient cultural heritage of sponge diving and supporting local island communities. We offer the finest sponges in the world, harvested with love, from the depths of the Aegean Sea to you.
Cleopatra's Sponges. P.C. is an awarded company, that started as a romantic idea of a university student. A simple idea that grew to change an entire industry.
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Greek Brand Stories
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