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Friday, 05 August 2022 07:00
Large Pod Of Dolphins Enjoy The Crystal Clear Waters Of Greece
A large pod of dozens of adult and young dolphins enjoyed the blue waters of Theologos in Fthiotida, Central Greece, offering a spectacular natural show.
The spectacle was captured by a drone of UpStories.
The spectacle was captured by a drone of UpStories.
The bay of Theologos is a well-known refuge for the dolphins in the Evia Gulf. The crystal clear shallow and warm waters, combined with the swarms of fish that often appear in the area, create the ideal conditions for dolphins to swim there almost all year round.
Originally published on: keeptalkinggreece.com
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Monday, 25 March 2024 09:00
Nea Koroni: A Geometric Gem Amidst Greece's Architectural Landscape
In the prefecture of Messinia lies a hidden treasure, Nea Koroni, a village that defies conventional urban planning norms. Nestled near the Messinian coastline, this architectural marvel stands as a testament to meticulous design, resembling an artist's geometric masterpiece rather than a traditional settlement.
Originally an extension of the historic village of Koroni, Nea Koroni's symmetrical layout unveils itself majestically when viewed from above, as showcased in a captivating video by the Up Stories YouTube channel.
This geometric wonder is a rarity in Greek architecture, yet its genesis becomes less astonishing when considering its relatively recent establishment compared to the haphazard growth of many Greek communities during the nation's formative years.
The video offers a bird's-eye perspective of Nea Koroni's radial network of eight roads, gracefully emanating from a central roundabout to meet the encircling ring road, forming a flawless square with intersecting diagonals and medians.
Beyond mere aesthetics, these images serve as a compelling model for future urban planning endeavors, urging us to embrace organized and harmonious structures in shaping our communities. Nea Koroni stands as a beacon of inspiration, demonstrating the beauty and functionality that can emerge from thoughtful design.
Originally published on: reader.gr
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Wednesday, 18 February 2015 12:31
Spotlight On Volos
The city of Volos in Greece sits in a beautiful location, at the foot of Mount Pilion at one end and the Pagasetic Gulf at the other. Volos is where the rich agricultural Thessaly region, breadbasket of Greece, meets the gentle waves of the Aegean Sea. The Sporades islands (Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonissos) are nearby and accessible by either ferry or fast hydrofoil and there are also sea connections to the islands of Chios, Lesvos, Skyros and Limnos.
Further still, Asia and the Middle East can also be reached from Volos, which is Greece’s third major port (after Pireaus near Athens and the port of Thessaloniki).
Built near the neolithic (4,000BC) remnants of Dimini, today’s city of Volos sits on the site of 3 later, ancient Greek cities. One of them, Demetrias, was named after both the local Olympian goddess of harvest and a Macedonian king; another city (Iolcus) was connected to the mythological hero Jason (of Argonauts and Golden Fleece fame).
During the Byzantine era (13-14th century AD) and subsequent Ottoman (Turkish) rule, the city was known as ”Golos”. It became part of free Greece in 1881.
To read more, please visit blog.sunshine.co.uk
By Karen Bryan
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Travel Greece
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Thursday, 19 February 2015 13:29
Greek Premier Promises Tax Cuts, Security
In the final straight of campaigning ahead of critical snap elections on Sunday, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras on Monday promised tax cuts and cast New Democracy as the safe choice for Greece opposite an inconsistent SYRIZA.
In a speech before the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry last night, Samaras said an ND administration would gradually reduce the corporate tax rate to 15 percent from 25 percent and scale back a unified property tax (ENFIA), starting with a 7 percent cut this year.
He lashed out at SYRIZA for a lack of clarity on tax pledges – he claimed the leftists would impose a “barrage of taxes” despite their claims to the contrary – and slammed the party’s plans to rehire sacked civil servants and reverse privatizations.
SYRIZA officials, for their part, insisted the party would introduce a fair tax system and crack down on large-scale evaders along with corruption.
Meanwhile, amid speculation about potential alliances, PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos told Italian newspaper La Stampa he could work with SYRIZA’s leader. “Tsipras is like Harry Potter but if necessary we will cooperate with them,” he said.
To read more, please visit ekathimerini.com
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Monday, 28 September 2015 07:00
Arcturos Offers Sanctuary To Bears That Cannot Go Home
The calls of great tits, coal tits and chaffinches are the only sounds that break the silence at the Arcturos Sanctuary, in a forest in Nymfaio, Western Macedonia.
Drops from last night’s rain are still dripping from the beech trees as the morning chill turns jackets into valuable allies for the caretakers of the forest’s 12 ursine residents. And now it’s breakfast time.
“We feed the bears in three different locations. Today’s menu includes apples, cherries, peaches and watermelons,” explains 25-year-old Vasilis Fourkiotis, tour guide and Arcturos caretaker with a degree in environmental sociology. Hailing from a family of stock breeders, Fourkiotis already has four years of experience in the field.
“The animals don’t all live together. They are separated so they can coexist in harmony, as they are naturally anti-social creatures,” says Fourkiotis.
“Moreover, in order for us to lessen the chances of the animals suffering anxiety due to the fact that they are to a certain degree confined, we religiously apply international protocol in respect to large predator management, which suggests that we enforce the animal husbandry principle of behavioral enrichment, providing the bears with environmental stimuli for their optimal psychological and physiological well-being,” he adds.
“In other words, we disperse the food all around the area the bears have access to encourage them to be active. Don’t forget that a bear can walk up to 40 kilometers in search of food,” says Fourkiotis.
Having eaten his watermelon, 15-year-old Manolis stands up on both feet and appears to wave. His brother, Kyrgiakos, continues to munch away at his own watermelon a few meters away, indifferent to our presence. When they were cubs, the two brothers were found by a person who took them in as pets. But when they tipped the scales at 250 kilograms and grew to 2 meters in height, they simply became unmanageable. When Arcturos was called in to help, the two bears were completely used to living with people. It would be impossible for them to live in their natural habitat now, which means they will have to live their whole lives in captivity. However, they could do far worse than the Arcturos Sanctuary, an area of some 50 acres offering food, guaranteed care and optimal living conditions.
“We keep the animals here in order to provide them with the best possible living conditions. However, a bear, just like any other wild animal, needs to live and die free in its natural environment,” explains Vangelis Despotakis, Fourkiotis’s co-worker.
“Here at the sanctuary we have three bears from circuses, five from a zoo, three orphans and one blind bear. Unfortunately, it is now impossible for these animals to live freely in nature. They think that humans are their source of food; that’s why they try to get close to us every chance they get. All the animals are neutered given that we do not want more bears living in captivity. In the wild, cubs stay with their mother and learn from her for a period of two to three years. Under the conditions of a shelter, however, this obviously doesn’t happen,” he adds.
The public seems to have a somewhat distorted view of the Arcturos organization’s role. For example, the NGO’s staff often receive calls from animal breeders, demanding that the organization get rid of bears in the mountains.
“The bears are not our property,” says Despotakis. “We exclusively support bears that can’t survive on their own. We do not interfere with those that live freely, nor do we breed bears in order to release them at a later date.”
The situation in regard to how people treat animals has without doubt improved in recent years. However, as a guide, Despotakis believes that his role is not limited to unlocking gates, showing people the animals and providing information.
“I believe that I am here for a purpose. That is to instill in the public a different philosophy on how we treat nature and animals. We should stop feeling sorry for creatures which have have suffered from a position of power. The protection of wildlife, despite its obvious benefits, should serve as a medium through which we can improve human life as well, by reorienting the meaning of animals for humanity. People should not have the kind of relationship with nature that sees them caring for the environment so long as they can benefit from it, and realize that animals and the natural environment have an innate importance to us as human beings,” he says.
To read more, please visit: Ekathimerini
by
Vassiliki Chrysostomidou
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Travel Greece
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Monday, 07 November 2016 07:00
Greece Unveils First Contemporary Art Museum
"I think this is something that should have happened years ago," the museum’s director said.
Legislation establishing the museum, known as EMST, was passed 19 years ago. The museum is built in the refurbished Fix brewery in central Athens.
Introducing modern art to a culture brought up on marble columns and the galloping friezes of the Parthenon would appear to be a daunting and thankless task, but Katerina Koskinas, the director of Greece's first National Museum of Contemporary Art, was giddy with excitement and lack of sleep on the eve of the museum's opening.
EMST may not fire up the art market directly, since it is not an art broker, but it will make Greek artists more visible.
EMST was conceived in a period of optimism. In the late 1990s, Greece planned its new Acropolis Museum, now the country's most popular attraction after the Acropolis itself. The shift to culture could emerge as Greece's next national project.
To read this article in full, please visit: Al Jazeera
To read this article in full, please visit: Al Jazeera
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Local News
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Monday, 22 April 2019 06:00
Greek Orthodox Easter In Athens
While the islands and villages of Greece are known for their religious festivals during the period of resurrection, spending Greek Orthodox Easter in Athens is as memorable as it is spiritual. Athens is home to some of the most beautiful and historical churches in Greece and the city has its finest moments under candlelight for the traditional services during holy week.
On Easter Saturday, in a ritual conducted for over 1,200 years, the ‘Holy Fire’ is lit at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, where Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected. The light is then flown into Athens on a specially chartered flight and received by the “Metohi tou Panagiou Tafou” church in Plaka where candles are lit and then dispersed to churches throughout the Attica region in time for the start of resurrection services.
How to spend Greek Orthodox Easter in Athens? Hearing the haunting ‘Hymn of Kassiani’ on Holy Tuesday, take communion at a 1,000 year-old church on Holy Wednesday, or hear a Byzantine Choir and follow and a candlelit procession through the streets!
To read this article in full, please visit: Why Athens
Photo Credit: Why Athens
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Greek Traditions
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Wednesday, 08 May 2024 07:00
Roof Gardens With Quality Food & Astonishing Views In Central Athens
Greece boasts over 250 days of sunshine, which is the perfect kind of weather to enjoy a rooftop bar and restaurant. Below are some of the best rooftop bars in Athens, with stunning views, tasty eats, and drinks to satisfy your thirst!
ABOVE Rooftop Bar Restaurant
@above_rooftop_bar_restaurant
One of the best Roof Top Restaurants in the city, “ABOVE” is located on the 9th floor of Wyndham Grand Athens and certainly offers the most breathtaking views of Athens!
The perfect spot in the city center for getting a mouthful of delicious food and an eyeful of amazing scenery, from the Acropolis to Lycabettus hill and all the way down to the Saronic Gulf! Lay back comfortably in your deck chair and sip on refreshing cocktails or cool off under the impressive waterfall in the most stylish designed roof top pool bar of Athens!
Address: Wyndham Grand Athens – 2, Megalou Alexandrou Street
Telephone: 21 6800 9900
Telephone: 21 6800 9900
GB Roof Garden
@hotelgrandebretagne
@hotelgrandebretagne
The GB Roof Garden offers unobstucted views of the Acropolis, Lycabettus Hill and the Parliament in a magnificent setting. For breakfast or lunch, the elegant environment of the GB Roof Garden Restaurant creates a tranquil atmosphere, while dinner is perfect when the city lights come on. For three years in a row the restaurant has been awarded by the Wine Spectator Magazine.
Address: Syntagma Square
Telephone: 210 3330766
Telephone: 210 3330766
Metropolis Roof Garden
@electrametropolis
@electrametropolis
The Metropolis Roof Garden with views of the Acropolis is on the tenth floor of Electra Metropolis Athens and is the ultimate dining experience in Athens. It offers a unique opportunity to enjoy today’s creative Greek cuisine and is one of the newest gourmet restaurants in Athens.
The driving force behind the restaurant is the executive chef, who creates unique dishes with an emphasis on fish or meat. He works to find the perfect balance between Earth and Sea so that his guests can savour truly exquisite results. And you can enjoy all of this while feasting your eyes on the Acropolis, lit either by the famous Greek sun during the day or by impressive flood-lighting at night.
Location: Electra Metropolis Hotel, 15 Mitropoleos, Athens
Telephone: 21 4100 6290
Telephone: 21 4100 6290
A for Athens Cocktail Bar
@aforathensbar
@aforathensbar
A for Athens with its magnificent rooftop terrace, located on the sixth floor of the homonymous hotel, offers one of the most spectacular views in Athens. Enjoy cocktails in unbelievable combinations, as well as a menu created with special care, with emphasis on local and healthy products!
Location: 2-4 Miaouli, Athens
Telephone: 210 3244244
Telephone: 210 3244244
Art Lounge
@artlounge_restaurant
@artlounge_restaurant
Art Lounge, rooftop lounge (7th floor) with a panoramic Athens view serving your favorite food & drinks. Designed to be the ultimate penthouse, Art Lounge features a unique Art library with more than 2000 art book titles. The comfort and scenery of the space is reason enough to visit.
Address: New Hotel, 16 Filellinon, Syntagma
Telephone: 694 637 9500
Telephone: 694 637 9500
The Zillers Boutique Hotel Roof Garden
@the_zillers
@the_zillers
Once you find yourself on the top flor of the Zillers Boutique Hotel and their Roof Garden, you instantly find yourself intergrate in a multifaceted world; an urban roof garden with industrial details and emerald green marbles creates a regreshing atmosphere where you will enjoy your breakfast,luch or dinnner, a coffee or drink an you will feel the ambience of the old merging with the new to create the perfect Athens experience; especially when you have the view of the Acropolis right in front of you!
Address: 54 Mitropoleos, Athens
Telephone: 210 3222277
Telephone: 210 3222277
Air Lounge Bar
Credit: Fresh Hotel
Credit: Fresh Hotel
It’s not only the view that is breathtaking. It’s the whole environment in every detail from the bright colours, right down to the Charles Eames chairs… and, of course, its menu! Their Executive chef is the head creator of their sophisticated Greek and Mediterranean cuisine, transforming sheer inspiration to pure culinary enjoyment.
Located in rooftop terrace of Fresh Hotel Athens, the Air Lounge Bar & restaurant is offering panoramic views of the Parthenon, the Acropolis and Athens skyline, all day long!
Location: Fresh Hotel Athens, 26 Sofokleous, Athens
Telephone: 21 0524 8511
Main Photo Credit: GB Roof garden
Telephone: 21 0524 8511
Main Photo Credit: GB Roof garden
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Pubs, Bars & Cafes
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Monday, 07 January 2019 07:00
A Photo Of The Full Moon Over The Parthenon Goes Viral
A photo of the full moon over the Parthenon and the Propylaea in Athens that was recently posted on Instagram by National Geographic has gone viral, attracting more than 1.2 million likes.
The photograph capturing the last full moon of 2018 was taken by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Muhammed Muheisen on December 22. This stunning photo of the Parthenon under the moonlight is one of the most popular photos on National Geographic’s Instagram feed.
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Greece In The News
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Thursday, 12 September 2019 07:00
The Impressive Armata Festival On Spetses Island
Every year, the renowned Armata Festival takes place on the island of Spetses on the second weekend of September. The festival celebrates Panaghia Armata (Virgin Mary of the “Armata”) and commemorates the great Naval Battle of Spetses which took place on September 8, 1822.
This great victory was accomplished thanks to the bravery of Spetsiot Captain Kosmas Barbatsis, who managed to set the Turkish Flagship on fire and blow it up. His brave act is re-enacted every year with dramatizations of this victory culminating in the burning of a Turkish Flagship replica followed by an impressive fireworks show.
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