XpatAthens
Wednesday, 27 January 2016 07:00
The Many Faces Of Hellenic Culture By Billy Cotsis
The new book by Sydney / London writer Billy Cotsis: The Many Faces Of Hellenic Culture is a collection of tales from the author's own experiences of magical locations from across the globe that even the history books have forgotten. They're 'magical' because what the people of these Helenic communities have achieved seems to defy belief: Hellenic culture surviving against the backdrop of a dwindling Diaspora and the abscence of government assistance; and the Hellenic language enduring despite native speakers being a rarity in many of these regions.
This book covers stories gathered by Billy Cotsis in a range of Hellenic communities located in Albania and Ukraine and almost 'everywhere' in between!
You can find out more about the author through his website here.
Available on Amazon in print and Kindle version.
Available on Amazon in print and Kindle version.
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Books
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Tuesday, 01 November 2016 07:00
Greece Among Europe's Most Charming Villages
A popular travel website, AFAR, recently named the 13 most charming villages in Europe and Greece made the list! Ano Mera is a quiet and colorful Cycladic village in Mykonos and is actually one of the oldest villages of the island. Visitors often explore the Panagia Tourliani church and the Paleokastro Monastery, which are centuries old. In addition, there are graves of the ancient Geometric era of Greece in Ano Mera.
To name a few, AFAR's list also included Les Bateliers in France, Glen Country House in Cork, and Vernazza on the stunning Amalfi Coast. Mykonos came in at number 4.
To read this article in full, please visit: AFAR
To read this article in full, please visit: AFAR
Published in
Greece In The News
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Tuesday, 28 March 2017 07:00
Greece Featured In April's Edition Of National Geographic Traveller
In the new April edition of National Geographic Traveller, Greece is featured in ‘A Modern Classic,’ titled ‘Greece - A Creative Renaissance,’ where art, innovation, and fresh ideas are the focus.
The feature story highlights the arts scene of Athens and Thessaloniki, as well as the modernization and uniqueness of the Greek islands.
As the author writes, ‘In every crisis there are green shoots, and despite - or perhaps because of - its financial woes, Greece is enjoying a cultural bloom.’
Please click HERE to view Greece’s feature in National Geographic Traveller.
Source: Greek Travel Pages
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Greece In The News
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Monday, 15 May 2017 07:00
Athens To Host Conference On 'Innovation In The Mediterranean'
Enterprise Greece and ANIMA Investment Network have stepped up cooperation on innovation in the Mediterranean and have organized ‘The Next Society,’ a European and Mediterranean Innovation Conference this May 2017.
The conference marks the launch of ‘The Next Society,’ an initiative supported by public and private innovation, investment and economic development players with the support of the European Commission. It aims at mobilising entrepreneurs, innovators and corporate ecosystems to overcome the innovation and sustainable development challenges faced in the Mediterranean, in the North as much as in the South. ‘The Next Society’ wishes both to improve the frameworks and ecosystems and to develop the value creation and concrete solutions for a shared prosperity among the Mediterranean countries.
Thirty sectoral institutions from eleven countries, as well as companies and entrepreneurs, will have the opportunity to learn about the latest developments in innovation, to discuss aid measures, to explore possible partnerships, to draw inspiration from the achievements of others and to expand their network both in the Mediterranean and in the wider European area.
To read this article in full, please visit: Greek News Agenda
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Local News
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Sunday, 23 July 2017 07:00
Incredible Artwork Made Entirely From Banned Books
The 74-year-old conceptual artist Marta Minujín has recreated her seminal installation – initially constructed in Buenos Aires in 1983 – with thousands of banned books that have been donated by the public.
Marta Minujín's monumental installation "The Parthenon of Books" is one of the highlights of this year's Documenta in Kassel, Germany.
Marta Minujín's monumental installation "The Parthenon of Books" is one of the highlights of this year's Documenta in Kassel, Germany.
The installation in Friedrichsplatz perfectly mimics the grandeur and scale of the Parthenon at 10 meters high by 70 meters long and 30 meters wide.
On each of the 46 columns, up to 100,000 books which have been forbidden in various countries for numerous reasons (like Goethe’s romantic novel, The Sorrows of Young Werther, that led to a wave of suicides across Europe) have been attached to the metal scaffolding replica in plastic bags.
To read this article in full, please visit: The Culture Trip
Photo Credit: Maxie Fischer from documenta 14
Published in
International Travel
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Thursday, 30 May 2019 07:00
Cocktail Time In Athens
Partly fueled by growing tourist numbers according to the Huffington Post UK, Greece and especially Athens is booming with speciality cocktail bars and “mad mixologists.” One travel and drinks writer takes us to two bars who serve some of the most unique drinks in Athens.
“Look up Kerameikos in most guidebooks and you'll be told about the famous cemetery there, that this was once the home of ceramicists and is where we get the very word ceramics from. But it's also where you'll find the MoMix Bar Kerameikos, which opened in November 2012 and has been so successful there's now a MoMix in the Athens seaside suburb of Glyfada, joined this summer by MoMix Bar Santorini.”
“It's in the Kerameikos original that you'll find MoMix co-founder Aris Chatziantoniou performing the molecular mixology that gives the bar its name. The cocktail menu is a cube that lights up when you move it and has such weird wonders as cocktail bubbles, cocktail tubes, magic needles and a Saganaki Cocktail.”
“Aris is far from being the only mixologist making his name on the Greek cocktail scene. A ten-minute walk from Syntagma Square, a bar called The Clumsies opened in 2014. In less than a year it was ranked number 22 on The World's 50 Best Bars list, and in 2016 it rocketed to number 9. That's not so surprising when you learn that it was founded by two award-winning Greek bartenders, Nikos Bakoulis and Vasilis Kyritsis.”
To read this article in full, please visit: Huffington Post UK
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Pubs, Bars & Cafes
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Tuesday, 24 April 2018 20:17
April 17 - Athens Old & New
Athens is the perfect place when it comes to combining old and new. Learn all about a new exhibition displaying ancient artifacts inside the city's metro and a mindblowing 3D video on how the Parthenon was built!
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Newsletters
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Monday, 17 June 2019 07:00
Summer Camps For Children Around Athens
Summer is already here, and those of us with children want to find something fun for our kids to do before and/or after our summer vacation. With schools in Greece being closed until the beginning of September, it is imperative for children and teenagers to have something fun, creative, and adventurous to do during the warm summer months.
We've created a list with summer camps taking place in Athens this summer. If you know of a good summer camp, please send us an email with detailed information at ideas@xpatathens.com.
Are you running a summer camp and want to let everyone know about it? Create an XpatAthens Profile and upload your event today!
Pierce Summer Camp
The Summer Camp aims to develop the athletic and artistic skills of children 6-14 years old who want to spend their time creatively after the school year has ended. The children are divided into groups according to their age and knowledge level. The program is primarily in Greek but the English language is also used by the instructors.
When: 5 weeks (June 17 – July 19, 2019)
Time: Monday to Friday (09:00 – 17:00)
Where: The American College of Greece
Price: Prices start at € 325 per child per week
Email: camps@acg.edu
The well-established tradition of the ACS Athens Summer Youth Camp will once again give the opportunity to children (4-14 years old) to experience fun, innovative and engaging activities. These activities are designed to appeal to the participants’ interests, talents, needs, and different personalities. The range of the offered activities has now expanded and is in line with the educational and technological evolution of the new era!
When: Session 1: June 18 - 28 (2 weeks) Session 2: July 1– 5 (1 week)
Time: Monday to Friday (09:00 – 15:30)
Where: ACS Athens
Price: Prices start at € 495 per child
Email: summeryouthcamp@acs.gr / paterakig@acs.gr
Time: Monday to Friday (09:00 – 15:30)
Where: ACS Athens
Price: Prices start at € 495 per child
Email: summeryouthcamp@acs.gr / paterakig@acs.gr
This camp was establshed in 1961 in Ekali as the first sports camp in Greece. Because of its long-standing tradition, the small number of children, the specialised personnel, the excellent living conditions and the organised program, the Camp guarantees a high quality level of services, giving it a family character with emphasis on care, safety and entertainment of children.
When: Session 1: June 16 - July 7 Session 2: July 8 - July 29 Session 3: July 30 - August 20
Time: Live in
Where: Saronida Summer Camp, Anavissos
Price: N/A
Email: info@saronidacamp.gr
Time: Live in
Where: Saronida Summer Camp, Anavissos
Price: N/A
Email: info@saronidacamp.gr
Summer Camp at the Museum of Cycladic Art
The Museum of Cycladic Art has arranged six five-day terms in June and July that will fascinate the young friends of the Museum and make the summer in the city a creative adventure full of discovery. Packed with interactive guided tours, screenings, storytelling, painting, construction and sculpture crafts, group games and activities, the Museum of Cycladic Art's 'summer camp' is an alternative summer activity for children 5-9 years old.
When: 6 Terms: June 24 - June 28, July 1 - July 05, July 8 - July 12, July 15 - July 19, July 22 - July 26, July 29 - 2 August
Time: Monday to Friday (10.00-13.00)
Where: The Museum of Cycladic Art
Price: N/A
Email: museum@cycladic.gr
Astrocamp | Travelling From Earth To Space
Through experiential workshops, constructions, puzzles and educational games, children will obtain new knowledge about our planet, our sun, our planetary system, and space missions. This magical journey will end with the recognition of constellations and the way they are connected with mythology. The Astrocamp will be conducted in Greek and is suitable for children 8-12 years old.
When: July 1- July 5
Time: N/A
Where: National Observatory | Thissio Visitor Center
Price: N/A
Email: visitorcenter@noa.gr
Stay tuned for more!
Published in
Kids Life
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Tuesday, 03 December 2019 09:00
Expat City Ranking: The Best And Worst Cities To Move To In 2020
InterNations, an extensive expat network with 3.7 million members worldwide, has published the Expat City Rankings for 2019.
The Best And Worst Cities To Move To In 2020
This year, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City, and Singapore are at the top of the list, followed by Montréal, Lisbon, Barcelona, Zug, The Hague, and Basel. While expats appreciate each city for different reasons, they have some aspects in common: they typically rank highly in the Urban Work Life, the Quality of Urban Living, and the Local Cost of Living Indices. What is more, expats find it (very) easy to get settled in most of these cities, but not so much in the Swiss cities of Basel and Zug.
Expats are unhappiest in Kuwait City (82nd out of 82) as well as in both Italian cities surveyed, Rome (81st), and Milan (80th). Lagos (Nigeria), Paris, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Lima, New York City, and Yangon (Myanmar) also join the bottom 10 cities worldwide.
The Expat City Ranking is based on the annual Expat Insider survey by InterNations. With more than 20,000 respondents in 2019, the Expat Insider is one of the most comprehensive reports about living and working abroad. In 2019, 82 cities around the globe were analyzed in the survey, offering in-depth information about 5 areas of expat life: Quality of Urban Living, Getting Settled, Urban Work Life, Finance & Housing, and Local Cost of Living. Together, the first four areas make up the Expat City Ranking, which reveals the best and worst cities to move to in 2020.
Expat Life In Athens
The Best And Worst Cities To Move To In 2020
This year, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City, and Singapore are at the top of the list, followed by Montréal, Lisbon, Barcelona, Zug, The Hague, and Basel. While expats appreciate each city for different reasons, they have some aspects in common: they typically rank highly in the Urban Work Life, the Quality of Urban Living, and the Local Cost of Living Indices. What is more, expats find it (very) easy to get settled in most of these cities, but not so much in the Swiss cities of Basel and Zug.
Expats are unhappiest in Kuwait City (82nd out of 82) as well as in both Italian cities surveyed, Rome (81st), and Milan (80th). Lagos (Nigeria), Paris, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Lima, New York City, and Yangon (Myanmar) also join the bottom 10 cities worldwide.
The Expat City Ranking is based on the annual Expat Insider survey by InterNations. With more than 20,000 respondents in 2019, the Expat Insider is one of the most comprehensive reports about living and working abroad. In 2019, 82 cities around the globe were analyzed in the survey, offering in-depth information about 5 areas of expat life: Quality of Urban Living, Getting Settled, Urban Work Life, Finance & Housing, and Local Cost of Living. Together, the first four areas make up the Expat City Ranking, which reveals the best and worst cities to move to in 2020.
Expat Life In Athens
The Cons
In the 68th place, Athens is held back in the Expat City Ranking 2019 by its very poor financial situation and work life.The Greek capital comes last worldwide in the Finance subcategory. Over two in five respondents (41%) feel that they do not have sufficient disposable household income to cover their daily costs (vs. 23% globally), while nearly half (47%) are dissatisfied with their current financial situation (vs. 26% globally). This might be linked to Athens’ poor work life, for which it ranks second to last worldwide, behind only Rome. Almost three in ten expats (27%) are dissatisfied with their job in general (vs. 19% globally), two in five (40%) are unhappy with the job security (vs. 21% globally), and 56% are displeased with the local career opportunities (vs. 27% globally). A US American expat explains that “it is difficult to find steady employment because of the unsteady economy”. Indeed, 68% of expats are unhappy with the state of Athens’ local economy, which is more than four times the global average (15%).
The Pros
In the 68th place, Athens is held back in the Expat City Ranking 2019 by its very poor financial situation and work life.The Greek capital comes last worldwide in the Finance subcategory. Over two in five respondents (41%) feel that they do not have sufficient disposable household income to cover their daily costs (vs. 23% globally), while nearly half (47%) are dissatisfied with their current financial situation (vs. 26% globally). This might be linked to Athens’ poor work life, for which it ranks second to last worldwide, behind only Rome. Almost three in ten expats (27%) are dissatisfied with their job in general (vs. 19% globally), two in five (40%) are unhappy with the job security (vs. 21% globally), and 56% are displeased with the local career opportunities (vs. 27% globally). A US American expat explains that “it is difficult to find steady employment because of the unsteady economy”. Indeed, 68% of expats are unhappy with the state of Athens’ local economy, which is more than four times the global average (15%).
While having significant weaknesses in terms of finances and work life, Athens does rank highly for housing (12th): more than half the expats (51%) find housing affordable (vs. 36% globally), and 60% agree that it is easy for expats to find a home (vs. 50% globally). Expats’ opinions are mixed when it comes to the quality of life in Athens (54th). They are not happy with the availably of healthcare (30% unhappy vs. 13% globally), the local transportation (23% vs. 19% globally), or the political (in)stability (38% negative ratings vs. 17% globally). However, Athens ranks among the top 10 in the Leisure & Climate subcategory (8th). More than three-quarters of respondents (77%) are content with the local leisure options (vs. 74% globally), and over nine in ten (91%) enjoy the local weather and climate (vs. 59% globally). A British expat says that he appreciates the “climate, quality of life, and friendliness of the people.” Indeed, almost three-quarters of respondents (74%) describe the locals as friendly (vs. 64% globally), and 57% believe it is easy to find new friends (vs. 45% globally).
About Internations
With more than 3.5 million members in 420 cities around the world, InterNations is the largest global community and information site for people who live and work abroad. InterNations offers global and local networking both online and face-to-face. At around 6,000 official events and activities per month, expatriates have the opportunity to meet other global minds. Online services include country and city guides created by a team of professional writers, guest contributions about life abroad, and discussion forums to help members with topics such as the local job or housing search.
To read more about this survey, please visit: InteNations.org
Published in
Local News
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Thursday, 02 April 2020 16:18
Summer 2020: Follow The Sun In Greece
Imagine waking up in a new place each day, and not even having to unpack your bags—a vacation where you follow the sun in privacy and safety. There is no better way to enjoy some of the world's top destinations than from the water, and Greece is a fascinating destination for a sailing vacation. Here you'll go off the beaten path and get the opportunity to discover more than 2,000 scenic islands and coastlines that Greece has to offer!
You'll instantly forget the winter blues with the turquoise waters of Kimolos island in the Cyclades, or the magical islands of the Ionian.
There are many benefits to going on a sailing holiday. Vacationing on a yacht offers exceptional freedom and endless relaxation. Spending a few days on-board will bring you closer to nature than you've probably ever been before (think countless hours of snorkeling and exploring stunning untouched beaches.) Depending on your chosen itinerary, you'll have the chance to experience a different destination every day, and to learn the basics of sailing on-board a private skippered catamaran!
New Horizons Yachting Co. offers a collection of high-end, customized Catamaran yachts that will meet your every need, helmed by experienced, knowledgeable Captains, catered by talented chefs, and manned by a professional, discrete crew. Each Cat-Yacht has been carefully selected, customized, and equipped with personal touches and warmth. The New Horizons bookings team will help you find the best yacht to fit your specific needs based on budget and number of guest arrangements, and relevant availability.
New Horizons Yachting Co. is owned and operated by a Greek ex-pat family, that initially started visiting Greece through the eyes of a tourist. Trying to make every moment count for the limited time they had in their motherland, they began yachting. Sailing in a catamaran offered them the holidays they'd always dreamed of and thus began their journey into the yachting industry.
This summer, say goodbye to routine, work stress and world problems and hello to early morning swims, and simple, flavourful and convivial meals al fresco, surrounded by your loved ones.
Discover new horizons and unique experiences in Greece - learn more New Horizon's yachting holidays here!
This content has been sourced and prepared by Codico Lab.
Published in
Travel Greece
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