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XpatAthens

United Airlines resumed its daily nonstop seasonal service between Athens International Airport (AIA) and New York/Newark.

Flight UA125 departs Athens Airport daily at 12:15 pm, arriving at Newark Liberty International Airport at 4:15 pm the same day. The return flight, UA124, departs Newark daily at 5:15 pm, arriving in Athens at 10:10 am the following day (all times local).

United’s service from Athens to New York/Newark is currently operated with Boeing 767-400 aircraft and as of May 7, the route will be operated with Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner aircraft.

The service is planned to operate until October 29 and will be joined next month by United’s daily nonstop seasonal service from Athens to Washington D.C., set to start on May 7.

Seasonal service between Athens and Washington D.C.

Flight UA983 will depart Athens daily at 11:50 am, arriving at Washington Dulles at 3:15 pm the same day. The return flight, UA982, will depart Washington daily at 5:10 pm, arriving in Athens at 9:55 am the following day (all times local).

United’s service from Athens to Washington Dulles will be operated with Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft.

To read this article in full, please visit: news.gtp.gr
Wednesday, 06 April 2022 07:00

Great Video Games With An Educational Value

 
One of the most common concerns parents have is whether their children spend too much time surfing the net, mindlessly scrolling on social media, watching YouTube videos for hours on end, or playing video games. Indeed, the misuse of technology can have negative effects, but moderate internet use is unlikely to do any harm, while it may also appear to have some benefits. 
 
If you know where to look, you can find video games that are useful for children. Such video games help children develop specific skills, enhance their creativity, teach concepts such as fair play and competition, inspire interest in learning, and can bring parents closer to their children if the parents themselves decide to be part of the game process.
 
Minecraft
 
Minecraft is a building game that allows players to go on adventures, raise resources, and create tools. The game has different modes - survival, creativity, adventure, and multiplayer - so players have flexibility on how to approach it. Creative freedom and self-direction are not the only things the game offers. Minecraft teaches teamwork and motivation, while it can improve reading and math skills.
 
National Geographic Challenge 
 
The National Geographic Challenge is a quiz game for the whole family. The game has a fairly wide range of low, medium, and high difficulty questions that cover different regions - North America, Europe, Asia, South America, Africa, and Australia. Start the game by selecting an avatar, and then you can try to answer 40, 60, or 80 of the game's timed questions. During the game, children will have the opportunity to see stunning photos and videos from the National Geographic archive.
 
Nancy Drew Interactive Mysteries
 
This game allows children to play as Nancy and become amateur detectives who solve mysteries. They will interrogate suspects, solve puzzles, and discover clues until they finally catch the culprit. Through play, children learn without even realizing it. They learn about historical figures, discover different cultures, and develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
 
World Rescue 
 
Developed by ZU Digital in collaboration with UNESCO, the game takes place in Kenya, Norway, Brazil, India, and China. There, children are asked to help five heroes solve problems such as diseases, deforestation, drought, and pollution. In addition to geography, children learn concepts such as sustainability and activism while being informed about global problems and how they can be solved.
Friday, 03 November 2023 07:00

The Best-Kept Secret Of Acropolis

The Acropolis of Athens naturally sends eyes skyward to take in the glories of the Parthenon and other buildings atop it, but its best-kept secret is a chamber inside the sacred rock.

The secret chamber of the Acropolis is actually a Byzantine church. Restored in 2017, the Acropolis, once a place of worship, burrows deep into the base of Athens’ most renowned mountain. Above the Dionysus Theater, is the church called Panagia Spilotissa, or the Virgin Mary of the Cave, which was converted from an archaic temple.

Ironically, the church originated as a temple to celebrate the ancient Greek god of festivity and religious madness. Dating back to 320 BC, the cave was a temple dedicated to Dionysus, built by Thrasyllos. Two Ionian pillars still stand on top of the entryway, easily spotted from the pedestrian walkway, the Dionysios Areopagitis, that borders the Acropolis.

Acropolis’ Secret: First an Archaic Monument, Then an Alternative Church

The monument was erected to celebrate Thrasyllos’ victory as the benefactor of a chorus that performed in the annual dramatic festival that honored Dionysus. After the victory, Thrasyllos had the monument constructed. It was again modified in 297 BC, following his son, Thrasyklis, victory to include inscriptions.

The cave was most likely considered sacred long before the construction of the monument. It may have been dedicated to Artemis, the goddess of the hunt. The rock face was cut back to form a flat vertical surface, and the mouth of the cave was enlarged into a rectangular opening. Two broad stone steps led up to the entry.

A Doric marble portico was set at the front of the cave, in imitation of the Propylaea, on the southwest wing of the Acropolis. The structure would have been surmounted with three bronze tripods that served as the actual prizes in the annual competition that involved drama, comedy, and musical performances. The tripods were eventually replaced with a statue of Dionysus.

Best-Preserved Examples of post-Byzantine Hagiography

The fresco decoration of Panagia Spiliotissa comprises the best-preserved examples of post-Byzantine hagiography in the area of the Acropolis and its slopes,” according to Dr. Konstantinos Boletis. Boletis serves as a restoration architect for the Department/Ephorate of Antiquities of the City of Athens.

The church was one of the “alternative” places to worship that began to emerge in Athens during the sixth century following the decrees sent down by the Byzantine emperors.

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



Although we know Greek history and mythology is loved all over the world, probably not many would guess that a Greek Mythology Museum exists in South Korea. What makes this museum all the more interesting is that it’s not even on the Korean mainland, but on the holiday destination of Jeju Island.

The museum itself is modeled after classical Greek architecture, featuring a row of columns outside and replicas of ancient Greek statues and famous paintings depicting scenes from Greek mythology.

The impressive museum is divided into seven large galleries that are all focused on one aspect of Greek mythology, such as the “Olympus Galley,” the “Love Gallery,” and the “Hero Gallery.”

Each gallery features spectacular white-plaster replicas of imposing ancient sculptures, as well as information regarding Greek mythology and history in both Korean and English.

It even features a replica of an ancient Greek village that visitors can explore, as well as historically accurate costumes they can wear, which help to transport them through time back to ancient Greece.

In the “Olympus Gallery,” replicas of famous ancient Greek sculptures of the gods line the room, along with copies of famous paintings depicting stories from Greek myth. Visitors can learn about each of the twelve gods and admire the artwork displayed in the museum.

The site is also home to a number of replicas of important items from Greek mythology, such as the Trojan Horse, albeit on a smaller scale. The museum also features interactive displays about zodiac signs and the constellations and even explains the Greek myths behind many of the constellations.

To read this article in full, please visit: greekcitytimes.com
Thursday, 03 March 2022 14:53

An Air Of Spring

From outdoors activities to some of the best cycling routes, see what's included in this week's newsletter! 

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Tuesday, 01 March 2022 14:49

Ready, Steady, Fly & Kali Sarakosti!

It's Clean Monday in Greece  bringing Carnival celebrations to an end, inviting everyone to leave behind the 'sinful' attitudes associated with Carnival festivities and non-fasting foods!
 

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Sunday, 20 February 2022 14:35

A Season Of Traditions

Our favorite time of the year is just around corner with Tsiknopempti and many other traditions being celebrated! 

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Saturday, 12 February 2022 14:28

Celebrate Love, Celebrate Greece

We're celebrating love in this week's newsletter as Valentine's Day approaches! 

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Saturday, 05 February 2022 14:26

Say Freeze!

The snow storm name 'Elpida' (Hope in English) covered Athens with an unusual amount of snow on Monday. Temperatures dipped below freezing, and the Greek capital's historic monuments looked beautiful in white!

 
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Friday, 04 February 2022 14:22

Have An Ice Weekend

Elpida weather storm will be bringing low temperatures and snow in Athens! Stay safe and cozy! 


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