XpatAthens

XpatAthens

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.
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.
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.


For more information visit the embassy's official website

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


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.


For more information visit the embassy's official website


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



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

HOTEL GRANDE BRETAGNE
Vasileos Georgiou 1 A, Athens, 105 64


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.
A historical hike in the ancient trail connecting the port of ancient Kirra with the Oracle of Delphi.

Once you arrive to Delphi, a professional guide will welcome you with a tour in the Archaeological site and the museum. Afterwards we will be transferred to Arachova village for an early dinner in a Greek tavern. Arachova is a mountain village, on the slope of Parnassos mountain, featuring stone houses, narrow alleys and fresh water springs. Despite its huge tourist growth due to the ski resort, its heritage has been well preserved. The region is famous for its agriculture, cattle breeding and boasts high quality products like olives and olive oil, tsipouro, formaella & feta cheese, yogurt, opsimotiri cheese, halvah, frumenty and noodles. Arachova is also famous for its handmade, pure woolen textiles, which are made using traditional looms and natural colors.

Having enjoyed your meal and a stroll in the village you will then return to Athens.


Visit TrekkingHellas.gr to learn more about the tour!


Thursday, 30 June 2022 18:15

Foodie Walk Tour 

Foodie Walk Tour is a fun walking tour designed for foodies and anyone curious enough to explore downtown Athens and indulge in its culinary delicacies. 

A “fun-tastic” way to acquaint yourself with the buzzing part of the city. 

We will taste savory and sweet delicacies from family-owned stores, sustainable, locally sourced foods (usually a small batch), and artisanal cheese from the Greek islands during our walk. We will be introduced to authentic old-school vendors who boast about their all-around knowledge while we move on to how Greek traditional food adapts to today’s fashion. 

Shopping arcades, hidden backstreets, and colorful markets will awaken your senses during the walking tour while your guide will explain the Greek culinary customs. Your impressions of the tour will be discussed with your guide, who will happily advise on further foodie recommendations and tips on where to find your ideal edible souvenirs to take back home. 

 


Visit TrekkingHellas.gr to learn more about the tour!

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