XpatAthens
Man Plays Bouzouki While Undergoing Brain Surgery
Greece To Ban Development In Mountain Areas To Protect Habitats
Making the transition to green energy a key priority, the conservative government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has promised to shut down nearly all its lignite-fired plants by 2025 and protect areas with native plants and animals.
Following devastating wildfires fuelled by a protracted heatwave last summer, the government has also promised to build better climate change defenses to protect its forests, which have a key role in reducing greenhouse emissions and attracting visitors.
“We have witnessed extreme weather phenomena and disasters in recent years which pose a great risk for nature and mankind,” Skrekas told an online news conference.
For that reason, Greece will not allow any new roads or any other kind of human construction in six mountains on the islands of Crete and Samothrace, on the Peloponnese peninsula, and in central Greece – which have a huge environmental value and are an integral part of our tourism, he said.
Mitsotakis has pledged to transform Greece’s economy through better use of its natural resources but has been forced to strike a balance between expanding wind parks in mountain areas with the need to protect forest habitats.
Environmental groups and locals have long opposed plans by private companies to build roads and allow the installation of wind turbines in mountain forests, arguing they would scar some of the country’s last remaining virgin areas.
Any permits of different stages for wind turbines that have been issued for wind projects in those mountains will be canceled, Skrekas said.
Originally published on: greece-is.com
5 Amazing Spots To Enjoy Sunset In Athens
But, you probably don’t know that you don’t have to travel to a Greek island for a memorable golden hour experience. Sunsets in Athens are equally indescribable, unsurpassable, and unforgettable. Here’s a list of 5 places in the Greek capital that every sunset chaser like us will fall in love with!
Areopagus
@iamsmark
Located northwest of the Acropolis, this prominent rock used to be the supreme court of ancient Athens. Today it is just as fascinating, providing panoramic views of the whole city. A beloved hangout spot for locals, there you will see groups of friends and couples chatting and taking in the spectacular vistas any time of the day (or night!).
Kastella
@3_k_0_t_s
Set on a hill overlooking the Port of Mikrolimano, Kastella is, without a doubt, the most picturesque district in Piraeus. As you make your way to the top of the hill, meandering through the narrow, scenic streets, you will encounter impressive neoclassical buildings, architectural gems, and the Veakeio Theatre, until you reach the church of Profitis Ilias where the views over the Saronic Gulf will leave you speechless.
Lycabettus Hill
@chiara.zagli
Gracefully standing 277 meters above sea level, Lycabettus Hill is the highest point in Athens. You can get there by taxi, the funicular, or on foot, but, no matter what, the views from the top are rewarding. Go all the way up until you reach the Holy Church of Saint Isidore, a chapel of striking beauty, and enjoy the mesmerizing views of the islands of Salamina and Aegina.
Temple Of Poseidon At Sounio
@Tibortokai
At the end of the Sounio Peninsula, at the southernmost point of Attica, lies the Temple of Poseidon, a site of worship of the sea god Poseidon, built during Athens’ Golden Age. Today, it continues to enthrall visitors who, except for the bewitching views, can swim in crystalline waters while marveling at the marble-white columns of a 5th-century BC temple. A combination you can’t miss!
Parthenon
@manon_alzieu
Of course, a visit to Athens isn’t complete until you go all the way up to the temple of Parthenon that dominates the hill of the Acropolis. Undeniably Athens’ most famous historical landmark, a symbol of democracy, and a masterpiece of ancient architecture, Parthenon is the perfect place to enjoy the sunset, just like Athenians did 2.500 years ago!
The Oldest Weather Station In The World Is In Greece
Originally published in Greek on: newsbeast.gr
The Wholesome Goodness Of Greek Cuisine
Tango!
I am a regular user of Groupon, one of those ‘special deal sites’ where you can get dinner or a trip or product for a 30-40-50% discount. I receive their emails (along with their competitors GoldenDeals, OlaDeals and a few others…), and put up with the constant bombardment of offers – since from time to time I see something that I think is irresistible.
Last week I bought a Groupon deal for dinner at El Bandoneon in Thiseio. Not only is it one of the (very) few Argentinean restaurants in Athens, it also offers free tango lessons, and, well, it’s in the neighbourhood. I often walk by and wonder who actually goes there…
Our Groupon was for 50% off the price of a set dinner, with drinks charged extra. Six of us went (including one Argentinean) and I must say we enjoyed the evening. The food was good and definitely passed the ‘minimum standards’ of our Argentinean friend. The ambiance was decidedly un-Athenian – think of your visual impression of a decades-old parlour in Buenos Aires, tango music, candlelight. It was actually a romantic atmosphere – and yes some of the guests even got up in front of everyone and learned to dance tango! At the end of the evening, the view of our group was that it was a very pleasant and ‘different’ experience – but definitely pricier than other nights.
The reason I’m writing this is not to promote the restaurant, but instead to share what I found at the door on the way out. I picked up a map – called ‘Greece Tango Map’. It turns out that tango is incredibly popular in Greece, with venues, events, and ‘milongas’ happening all over. This map shows many of the tango venues around the country. Here are a few I noted in Athens from the map:
TangoFix – tangofix.gr
El Abrazo – elabrazotango.gr
TangoAcropolis 2013 competition – tangoacropolis.eu
In case you’re wondering, I did not take tango lessons that night. I was more interested in catching up with my friends and enjoying the lovely red wine – Chilean wine, since they had run out of their Argentinean Malbec. Go figure.
Groupon (Greece) - www.groupon.gr
El Bandoneon Café-Mate Bar, Akamantos 11, www.bandoneoncafe.com
Until next week,
Jack
In this weekly space, keep up with ‘Jack’ as he navigates daily life in Athens… Anecdotes, stories, hits & misses, the good, the bad and, well, the rest…
Ninnolo - The Home Of Great Gelato
We tried Ninnolo's heavenly ice cream last week and definitely recommend it highly! Whether you're in Kifisia or Agia Paraskevi, head to Ninnolo's for a taste of their homemade gelato - you'll definitely go back again and again. We tried the chocolate, pistachio and pink grapefruit - cant wait to try the rest of the flavours!
Locations:
Kifissia: Agiou Dimitriou 8 - Tel: 21 0801 2765 (around the corner from the AB Vasilopoulos super market on the main street)
Agia Paraskevi: Evergetou Giavasi 13a, 15342 - Tel: 213 0 240 776 - Email: ninnolo.gelato@gmail.com
They are also open for breakfast and brunch.
For further info, visit their Facebook pages here and here.
Do you have a recommendation or recipe to share? Send it to us at ideas@xpatathens.com!
Athens: Most Affordable Hotel Prices In Europe
“Athens is and remains the most inexpensive capital city in Europe based on benchmarking data,” the Athens-Attica & Argosaronic Hotel Association said in an announcement to the press on 12 June in response to recent reports concerning rising hotel prices in the Greek capital.
According to the association, the Greek capital recorded a rise in arrivals during the January-May 2014 period in comparison to the same period last year, exactly due to the fact that the Greek capital’s hotels have the lowest – and very competitive – prices in Europe. During the January-May period, Athens recorded a 25.4 percent increase in occupancy and a 2.7 percent rise in the average room rate compared to 2013.
In the announcement, the hotel association also reminded that the Greek capital had lost 40 percent of hotel revenue and suffered the loss of 87 hotel units since 2008. “The hotel prices in Athens are 24.9 percent lower than the prices of 2008, which was the last good year for Athenian hoteliers,” the Greek capital’s hotel association noted.
The association added that the effort to restore occupancy and prices to levels that ensure the viability of the city’s hotels, must be a common goal as it will ensure job growth and benefit a number of sectors and the Greek capital’s economy in general.
To read more, please visit news.gtp.gr
New Book: My Greek Island Home
In My Greek Island Home Claire Lloyd shares the story of how illness brought to an end her fast-paced London life as a very successful magazine art director, film maker, photographer and property developer, before finding renewed purpose in life when fell in love with the Greek island of Lesvos and the people who live there, and made it both her home and her passion.
Featuring evocative images of the beautiful island, the home which she and her partner have lovingly restored, and the many friends - and animals - who have welcomed them into their lives, My Greek Island Home is a celebration of a way of life that Claire and Matthew have embraced with open arms. They have now bought and restored a second home, Ken's Spiti, also featured in the book, which they offer for personally-tailored holidays to people wishing to experience and be part of 'the real Greece'.
My Greek Island Home by Claire Lloyd will be published by Clearview Books on 28th April.
Raising Awareness Of Duchenne's Disease
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is one of the most common fatal genetic disorders, which affects on average one in every 3,500 newborn boys worldwide. It is caused by errors in the dystrophin gene, the longest gene in the human body. Boys with DMD gradually lose mobility and are wheelchair-bound by the age of 12. In the next period it destroys breathing and heart muscles. The condition carries a life expectancy of 25-30 years and has no current cure.
To mark the day, 500 red balloons will be released after 7 p.m. to represent the 500 boys and men currently living with DMD in Greece.
To read more, please visit: ekathimerini