Commuters in the Greek capital will have to pay their regular fare when travelling along Athens' Public Transport Network as of Wednesday, 15th July 2015 when the temporary measures of free public transport ceases to apply.

It is reminded that public transport (metro, electric railway, tram, buses and trolleys) in Athens was free since June 29th once the Greek government launched a "bank holiday", which remains in force.

Source: Greek Travel Pages.

If you have already visited Greece for your holidays, then you are fully aware of how your children can really have the time of their lives here. But if this is your fist visit, here's a list we’ve made for you to choose your favourite family destination! Either way, mums and dads, be prepared to relax and have a good time in a country where family is still a strong bond that holds us Greeks together!

'Paidiá, kalosírthate!' (Children, welcome!) is what you and your children will hear when you come to Greece. Your family holidays begin with a hearty, warm welcome in a country where children can enjoy memorable adventures in the past and present. Here, they will find themselves in places where their favourite heroes lived, like Xena, Hercules, Alexander the Great, and the 300. They can learn about Troy and run around the track at the birthplace of the Olympics.

But, let’s see what else your children –and you, of course– will love in Greece:

 

• sunny sandy beaches with crystal-clear waters and azure seas filling rocky coves and caves

• classic ruins in romantic settings

• olive, orange and lemon groves and important nature reserves

• delicious kid-friendly food cooked with the most nutritional ingredients of the Mediterranean diet: virgin olive oil, fresh fish, fruit and vegetables, etc.

• water parks, beaches and spectacular swimming pools open all day long, and

• above all, safety and warm hospitality.

Ok, it’s time to present you with our selection of Greece’s summer destinations which we think will live up to your family’s expectations.

Here are just six Greek islands to help you get an idea of how you and your family could spend your summer vacations in Greece!

 

Where: In the Aegean Sea, part of the Dodecanese island group.

Why: One of the most visited Greek islands teeming with history and adorned with numerous sandy beaches, most of which have been awarded Blue Flags thanks to their excellent water quality, environmental management, and safety.

Must visit: The beautiful medieval city of Rhodes, the ancient town of Líndos, the castles near Monólithos and Kritinía, the other Dorian city-states of Kameiros and Ialyssos, and Prassoníssi, one of the best windsurfing spots in Europe.
Where to stay: At family-oriented resorts with numerous swimming pools, open-air theatres where children’s plays and music and dance extravaganzas are organised daily, or smaller guest houses scattered around the island, in the villages, near secluded beaches.

Join in with: Music, cinema, art and dance festivals, and the medieval festival held in September.
An extra tip for kids: Visit the Aquarium and Butterfly Valley.

 

Where: In the Ionian Sea, part of the Ionian group.

Why: Often called the “Garden Isle”, Corfu is full of olive groves, cypresses, bushes, colourful anemones, orchids and a number of endemic flowers. Even the long sandy beaches provide a good example of marine flora. During the summer, electric blue thistles, sea squill (of the lily family) and flowering shrubs bloom.

Must visit: The beautifully preserved Old Town of Corfu, a UNESCO world heritage site, filled with Venetian, French and British monuments and remarkable works of architecture. The sites that used to be the old aristocracy’s favourites: Mon Repos and Achilleion Palaces, Paleópolis, etc.

Where to stay: Five and four-star hotels offer accommodation specially designed for families and daily activity programmes to entertain children (such as competitions, animation programmes, etc.). Family-run, beachfront guesthouses also offer all the comforts you and your family need.

Join in with: The International Corfu Festival dedicated to promoting the rich musical heritage of the island. Concerts are held in Duomo, Achilleion Palace, the Fortress, several museums and art cafés.

An extra tip for kids: Enjoy your favourite cartoon movies at the open-air summer cinemas in the city.

 

Okay, we’re cheating here! Halkidiki isn’t actually an island. It’s a peninsula on the mainland jutting out into the sea. But with so many superb beaches, it feels like an island!

 

Where: a peninsula in northern Greece, part of Central Macedonia

Why: Halkidikí is home to countless superb beaches, almost all of them blue flag winners, lush green forests and a rich gastronomic and cultural heritage.

Must visit: Mount Athos (unfortunately, no women allowed), the cave of Petrálona, one of the most important caves in Europe, Stágeira, the home land of Aristotle.

Where to stay: Rent a room in a traditional seafront guesthouse, or choose from a wide selection of major hotel complexes. There also hotels that offer specially organised activities for youngsters of all ages (from 4 months to16 years old), so that parents can enjoy spa treatments while their kids are being looked after by specialist child minders. Special prices depending on your child’s age are also on offer.

Join in with: Open-air festivals that feature world-class jazz, classical, ethnic and folk music.

An extra tip for kids: Enjoy pool games and water polo in pools specially designed for you!

To read more, please visit: Visit Greece

Often thought of as a British dish, this pie tastes delicious with feta cheese and philo pastry.
Don't use the dark green part in the cooking of this recipe, unless you want a stronger flavour.

Leeks are of the onion/garlic family and the reason for cutting them down the middle and rinsing the insides is to rid them of dirt.  

• ⅓ cup olive oil
• 2-3 medium leeks, cleaned (see video) and chopped - you’ll need 3 cups chopped*
• 1 shallot, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, pressed
• salt
• pepper
• ½ teaspoon chopped dill
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
• 1 cup crumbled feta
• ½ cup shredded parmesan
• 2 eggs
• 1lb box phyllo**
• ⅓ cup butter, melted

To read more and to see a video preparation, please visit: Lemon & Olives

On Syntagma Square in Athens, Greece, six young ballerinas in full Giselle costume execute graceful romantic sequences in the midst of traffic, whilst on Omonoia Square, traditional Black Sea dancers, their hands clasped, dance rhythmically in file next to rushing buses and perplexed passers-by. Is this a protest of a different kind? For director Jevan Chowdhury, these images from his latest film Moving Cities: Athens could be read as such; for him, and many others, dancing in public spaces is an act of sovereignty.

Chowdhury launched his Moving Cities project in 2014 as - he told Yatzer - a ''collection of cities that are interesting or significant today.'' Following Paris, London, Brussels, Yerevan and Prague, the Moving Cities project travelled to Athens, Greece, in January 2015 where, over the course of three days, some 60 dancers were filmed improvising in the city’s streets, squares, back yards and rooftops. In the monochrome style and constantly moving camera flow that is consistent throughout the Moving Cities project, Chowdhury’s film visits several locations across the city, from the busy Piraeus port to the touristy Acropolis, accompanied by a powerful music score by composer Danny Odom.

For Chowdhury, ''the locations were very important .....All the dancing you see in the video was the result of the location. We did a casting in collaboration with the Athens Video Dance Project (AVDP), got in touch with several dancers and asked them to respond to certain locations through dancing. This way the dancers tapped into the atmosphere of the place and also expressed in their own way how they felt at that particular time. I chose mostly tourist areas because they are very transient places, but also quite generic in a way. Because these films are also a reference to how all the cities we live in are the same, and how it’s actually the people that make the difference.'' To read more, please visit: Yatzer

Greece's debt crisis is making headlines around the world, but that doesn't mean the country's tourism industry is crubmling, experts say.

Major banks in Greece are closed, and citizens face restrictions on ATM withdrawals in light of the country's economic crisis, the latest of which involved a rejection of a bailout deal.  Withdrawals of cash are limited to €60 per Greek citizen per day, though that amount may decrease in coming days.

But travelers should be able to enjoy their vacations in Greece without major problems.

First of all, foreigners are not subject to the same ATM withdrawal restrictions.  "So far, tourists in Greece have been unaffected by recent economic developments," Christos Stergiou, founder of Greek luxury travel company True Greece, told the Huffington Post.  "Foreign credit cards continue to be functional, even with the banks closed."

As a precaution, Stergiou says visitors to Greece should arrive with the full amount of Euros they'll need in cash, as ATMs may run out of money or have long lines. He also suggests that visitors use credit cards whenever possible during their stay.

To read more, please visit: The Huffington Post

It has been a couple of weeks since I last wrote anything in this space - and what a couple of weeks it has been...  Apart from the total confusion and uncertainty that I think all of us have experienced, I have personally experienced a range of emotions, unlike any I have felt before. What does the expat community make of everything that is happening in our adoptive home?

What stands out for me, beyond the material impact of profound crisis, is the intensity of what I have been feeling for the past 10 days. I was raised in Canada, a place where crisis seems impossible, where the system is never far from 'perfect', where 'intense emotionality' reads as cursing under your breath when someone breaks the speed limit.

So to live in Greece during the past weeks has been nothing short of jaw-dropping for me. There have been moments where I just sit motionless, unable to think clearly or act. Like, how is this all possibly happening? What's coming next...?

I learned early on that intensity of emotion was a basic part of life in Greece - from screaming matches with taxi drivers who cut you off to the daily screaming matches on television news to the life-ending reactions when January temperatures hit 0 degrees. Greece is not a land of subtle response. But until the events of the past week, I've experienced this mostly as an observer.

This week... I've felt sad, frustrated, shocked, angry, afraid, tired, confused, ashamed, panicked - intensely so, and often all at once. I am completely emotionally drained. Writing this, all I want to do is sleep. Reading the wide variety of (mis)information and opinions from various news sources and social media - including those of people who have never set foot in this country, and those of people who have never set foot outside this country - made all the above much (much) worse. And this from a guy who has the luxurious option of hopping on a plane and going back 'home' at any moment. I worry deeply about the societal costs of all this 'crisis', the impact on the nervous system of a nation and a culture...

I'm not sure where all this will lead - nor even where I think it should lead. Maybe everything gets somehow fixed next week; maybe we all wake up back in Kansas; maybe 'it gets better', as the saying goes... And maybe it doesn't.

There has been an eerie calm around town the last few days, like we are collectively holding our breath waiting for the next act to begin. If I am the example, then we are simply drained and have used up our reserves of 'intensity'... Who would have thought that possible in this country? Maybe we are just resigned to accept whatever happens next, too exhausted to do anything else...

While I waited in the ATM line to get my €50 early this morning, I recalled some of the reasons I moved here in the first place: to feel the sun on my skin, to dive into the sea as often as possible, to soak in the beauty of the land, to be part of a unique and ancient culture, to experience life more fully, to feel intensely. Κουράγιο...

Until next week,

Jack

Austerity measures have been bad for Greeks, but good for tourism, which shot up 28.8 percent in the first three months of this year compared with the same period in 2014. Another beneficiary? Artists. Rent for studio space is significantly cheaper than in other European capitals, and the political and economic turmoil have provided plenty of artistic fodder — not to mention a frustrated, attentive audience. In the wake of these woes, artists, curators, critics and nonprofits are finding that contemporary art is having its moment in a city best known as the epicenter of the ancient world.

Iliana Fokianaki, an Athens-based curator and art critic, was considering a move to Paris in 2011 when businesses were shuttering, friends were losing their jobs and thousands took to the streets in protest. But rather than motivate her to head out of the country, this had the opposite effect. She stayed.

“I realized it would be much more useful to have an artistic platform in a city like Athens than another European city,” said Ms. Fokianaki, who in 2013 inaugurated State of Concept, a Greek nonprofit gallery that has a twofold mission to showcase artists through solo exhibitions and provide young graduates with free consultations. “The crisis kind of boosted our energy to do more things, rather than flee the country.”

To read more, please visit: New York Times

International travel company TUI Group said on Tuesday, that Greek tourism is still strong and called on sector authorities and government officials to focus on maintaining the momentum and tapping into the needs of visitors to the country.

In Tuesday’s statement to the press, the Hannover-based company said the number of bookings to Greece were higher than last year, demonstrating that “Greece continues to be a very popular holiday destination”.

TUI added that despite the referendum and the extensive media coverage of the country, it expects a record number of arrivals in 2015, stressing that 56 percent of tourists visit Greece in the summer months between July and September.

Highlighting the importance of tourism to the Greek economy, the company said it was prepared to deal with the political instability and has since June organized special informative events on the island of Crete to present its program to international media and tour operators.

To read more, please visit: Greek Travel Pages

Off the beaten track alternatives to Rhodes, Corfu and Santorini.

Looking for untouched beauty, seclusion and quiet for your next holiday? There are a whole host of Greek islands overlooked by tourists that make for an off-the-beaten-track island escape in Europe.

Forget the hordes of holidaymakers in Kos and Corfu. These undiscovered hideways offer picturesque harbours, authentic villages and traditional Greek cuisine. Love beaches? The pebbly and sandy stretches on these remote islands are just how you like them: tranquil, unspoilt and totally sun-drenched . There's no shortage of ways to stay active on your Greek island getaway, either, as the nature and wildlife on these islands are just waiting to be explored: think waterfalls, hiking trails with sunset views and thermal springs.

If you're in need of a true island escape in Greece, these are the secret places for you. Folegandros (pictured) boasts sugar-cube whitewashed houses, pristine beaches and one of the most appealing clifftop villages in the Cyclades. In unique Chios, you can observe the beautiful village of Pyrgi, with its buildings finely decorated in grey and white geometric shapes. For those who appreciate a pretty harbour, don't miss Symi. This island has one of the most picturesque harbours in Greece, showing off impeccable architecture, cafes and a slow pace of life, unlike its neighbour Rhodes.

Want to experience the Greek islands without the crowds? Here's where you should go...

Kastellorizo
The pretty island of Kastellorizo, which lies 110km east of Rhodes, has a main town that unfolds around the natural harbour with unique architecture and colourful houses. The island's is home to a cluster of islets and offers a wealth of marine life to discover in its clear blue seas. Around the island you'll find cafes, tavernas and shops. The medieval castle and archaeological and folklore museums are several top attractions to visit when you're not at the beach. As tourism is yet to develop you'll only find a selection of hotels - a good place to experience true Greek island life.

Chios
The lesser-known isle of Chios is a unique gem in the north-eastern area of the Aegean Sea. It is best known for its cultivation and production of mastic, an aromatic resin that comes from trees that grow in the Mastihohoria region and forms in teardrop shapes. Pyrgi is one of the island's most beautiful villages, characterised by the fine decoration of its houses featuring grey and white geometric shapes.

Hydra
One of the most romantic places in Greece, Hydra overlooks the Argosaronic gulf and is home to traditional stone mansions, narrow cobbled streets and secluded squares. Cars are banned so people get around by donkey and its heart is the waterfront, featuring picturesque streets, museums, churches and cafés. Hydra is a popular day trip destination from Athens and its best beaches include Limnioniza, Spiliá and Ayios Nikolaos.

Karpathos
Karpathos is part of the Dodecanese complex and lies east of Crete. It is one of Greece's best-kept secrets, a mountainous island full of fresh water springs, vineyards and pine-tree forests. Karpathos' rock caves are home to Mediterranean monk seals and around the island there are marvellous hiking paths, secluded beaches and pretty villages, such as Othos and Olympos.

Schinoussa
Schinoussa is a small island that lies to the south of Naxos and boasts stony landscape that is both beautiful and unspoilt. It is part of the Minor Cyclades group of islands and has just three villages: Chora, Messaria and Mersini. As the island's port, Mersini, once a hideout for pirates, is a haven for small boats and a popular mooring spot for sailing enthusiasts. While on the island, enjoy hiking to observe the unspoilt natural beauty of the island, discover the 15 idyllic beaches and don't miss a walk through the picturesque village of Chora.

To read more, please visit: TravelAol