XpatAthens

XpatAthens

Wednesday, 26 May 2021 21:21

Santorini Walking Tours

Santorini Walking Tours offer a fun, educative and active way to experience the island with all your senses. We have designed small group and private tours, allowing you to enjoy Santorini in an authentic, meaningful, safe and pleasurable way.

Our philosophy is to support ecological and economic sustainability by using environmentally and socially responsible practices, working together with local businesses and communities. Our desire is to share with you the beauties of the island, with outmost respect and care for its fragile ecosystem, engaging your body, soul and mind. In an effort to minimize our impact, we only accommodate a maximum amount of 6 guests on each tour.

All of our tours are designed by Nikos Boutsinis, an established hospitality and travel professional, with international education and work experience. He is a keen traveler and outdoor enthusiast, who fell in love with this unique and multifaceted island. Santorini Walking Tours was sparked by his passion to offer a sustainable touring experience, immersing visitors in the true Santorini.

Explore Santorini, walking, breathing and tasting it just like a local. Join us, and take a walk on the wild side!
The Greek word Philoxenia, literally translated as a “friend to a stranger,” is widely perceived to be synonymous with hospitality.

For Greeks, it is much deeper than that. It is an unspoken cultural law that shows generosity and courtesy to strangers.

Greeks are enormously generous when inviting others to their home, or being invited themselves. In villages, it is not uncommon for villagers to show up at the door of a resident foreigner (or even a temporary visitor renting a room) with a sack full of fresh tomatoes, or even a bottle of local olive oil.

Philoxenia today can be as simple as a smile, helping a stranded motorist, buying a meal for a homeless person, or opening your home to friends and family.

Zeus Xenios
This cultural law has its origins in Ancient Greece. The ancient Greek god Zeus is sometimes called Zeus Xenios — as he was also a protector of travelers. He thus embodied the religious obligation to be hospitable to travelers.

The beautiful story written by the Roman poet Ovid in 8 A.D of Zeus and Hermes disguised as poor travelers, narrates the sacred relation between host and guest, embodying the ancient Greek tradition.

The two ancient Greek Gods, the story goes, visited many villages in search of refuge for the night. A poor elderly couple — Baucis and Philemon welcomed them as guests in their home and generously served them food and wine.

After refilling her guests’ cups many times over, Baucis noticed that the wine jug was still full. Philemon then realized the visitors were actually gods and she offered to kill their only goose to feed them. Touched by this gesture, Zeus rewarded their generosity by transforming the humble cottage into a beautiful stone temple.

Zeus also granted the couple their ultimate wish: to be the guardians of the temple, die at the same time, and stay together for eternity as they were turned into trees, guarding each side of the temple’s door.

Trojan War

According to legend, even an event as momentous as the Trojan War began because of a guest’s violation of xenia. The Trojan prince Paris was a guest of King Menelaus of Sparta when he abducted Menelaus’ wife, Helen.

Both the Odyssey and the Iliad are filled with episodes in which xenia is either honored or ignored and the subsequent consequences are notable. For instance, when Odysseus sails to the island of the cyclops, the monster’s treatment of Odysseus and his sailors is a violation of the custom of xenia. The cyclops are punished for the transgression. Odysseus blinds his “host” and escapes. The cyclops episode depicts an abuse of xenia.

In another story, Odysseus’ wife Penelope is forced by custom to entertain an entire household of suitors. The guests not only make unreasonable, burdensome requests that were impolite for guests but they do so with the assumption the host himself is no longer alive. The conclusion of the poem involves Odysseus’s slaughter of the suitors. This violent ending can be seen as retribution for egregious abuse of xenia, or conversely, a violation of its very precepts.



To read this article in full, please visit: greekreporter.com
Athens is one of the main metropolises of the world, both historically and socially. It is a living museum so vibrantly full of people and life. If you're thinking about moving to Athens, it's a magical place that has something to offer to everyone!

Here are some of our favorite neighborhoods to live in Athens, from the ones close to the city center to the northern and southern suburbs. This amazing city has so many options to choose from.

Nea Smyrni

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@tenarinsthlm

Included on The Guardian’s list of 10 of the best city neighborhoods in Europe, Nea Smyrni deserves to be on this list. Its convenient location between the center of Athens and the southern coastal suburbs is just one of its key highlights. It’s also up high on the list of the most family-friendly neighborhoods of Athens. The heart of Nea Smyrni beats at the car-free central square packed with fountains, shops, restaurants, trendy cafes, and bars to suit all ages. Another thing we love about it it’s the Nea Smyrni Grove, a green oasis featuring a jogging track, an outdoor gym, and a café.
 
Petralona

Petralona
Credit: @yiannisassiouras_photography
 
Set at the foot of the Philopappou Hill, between Thissio and Koukaki, Petralona is a neighborhood with a strong bohemian vibe, truly Athenian at heart. Split between Ano Petralona and Kato Petralona, the area has been enjoying a boost in popularity in recent years, especially among young people, who have invested all their creativity into making the neighborhood one of the coolest ones in Athens. This resulted in various alternative businesses popping up here and there, from old-style tsipouradika with a modern twist to socially conscious cafes, all adding to the distinctiveness of the area.
 
Voula

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Part of our beloved Athenian Riviera, tucked between its more famous neighbors, Glyfada and Vouliagmeni, Voula is a coastal suburb that has it all. Apart from the pleasures of seaside living, such as enjoying scenic walks along the coast and visiting the beach, Voula also provides a feeling of rural peace, even though it’s bustling with activity, especially in the summer. All the action is centered around Voula’s high street, Vasileos Pavlou, where you will find the main square. Sprawled across the square and on the surrounding side streets, you will find numerous restaurants, bistros, bars, and cafes.
 
Kifisia

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 Credit: @katerinafakinou87
 
The queen of Athens' northern suburbs and one of the capital’s oldest neighborhoods, Kifisia conveys an aura of elegance, old-world charm, and sophisticated splendor. A 30-minute train ride from downtown Kifisia with its tree-lined streets, picturesque parks, and groves, provides a refreshing alternative to the hustle and bustle of the center. One of the things that make Kifisia unique is its architecture. Neoclassical mansions standing along the quiet streets, horse-drawn carriages, upmarket boutiques, everything contributes to creating a sense of nostalgic romanticism.
 
Pangrati

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Credit: @wabitop
 
Located a stroll through the National Gardens away from Athens’ iconic Syntagma Square, Pangrati is a middle-class neighborhood turned into one of Athens’ hippest areas due to an influx of young residents, still holding on to its family-friendly reputation, though. Pangrati is a flourishing hub of arts and culture teeming with museums, small boutiques, cafes, and cutting-edge restaurants scattered throughout the neighborhood’s many vibrant squares. Pangrati is also home to the spectacular Panathenaic Stadium, one of the capital’s main historic attractions and the only stadium in the world made entirely of marble!

Chalandri 

Polydrosoy
📍Credit: @varasovas
 
A 20-minute metro ride from central Athens, the up-and-coming northern suburb of Chalandri is the perfect place to spend your Sundays with your friends or family. Its buzzing bar and café scene and the fact that it is one of the hottest shopping suburbs are only a few of all the things that make Chalandri stand out. Around the main square and the church of Aghios Nikolaos leafy pedestrian streets invite you to casually stroll through the neighborhood. Another plus is that Chalandri is located just beneath mount Penteli, allowing you to get your dose of fresh air in a jiffy!
 
Koukaki

Koukaki
📍Credit: @frederieklommen
 
Lying comfortably beneath the Acropolis, Koukaki is arguably considered one of the most eclectic and charming areas of Athens. It has plenty to offer, from art galleries to themed coffee shops and international eateries. In the pedestrian zone from Koukaki Square along Georgaki Olympiou Street, you will certainly feel a laidback atmosphere and an undeniable village feel hugging you. It’s probably the overhanging trees that hid the concrete buildings, making you feel like you are in the countryside for a little while. Koukaki is also home to a variety of great museums, the most popular of them being the National Museum of Contemporary Art.
 
 
One of the most popular types of privately owned limited liability companies in Greece is the IKE – Idiotiki Kefalaiouxiki Etaireia. It requires a minimum of one euro in capital to start and is highly flexible, making it suitable for both small SMEs and larger businesses.




What Are The Main Features Of An IKE Company?

The main features of an IKE (Private Limited Company) in Greece are outlined below, highlighting why it is an attractive company structure businesses:
  • Separate Legal Entity:
    An IKE company is a completely separate legal entity, distinct from its owners. This separation is critical from a legal and liability perspective, as it allows the company to incur debts and conduct business in its own name, offering significant protection to its members.
  • Scope of Members:
    An IKE company can have one or more members. A single-member IKE company is known as an SMPC (Single-Member Private Company).
  • Company Duration:
    The default duration of an IKE company is 12 years. However, this can be modified through amendments to the company’s articles. Members can also vote to extend the duration beyond 12 years.
  • Capital Requirements:
    Only 1 euro is required to establish an IKE company, making it accessible. Contributions can be made in various forms, including non-cash assets.
  • Limited Liability:
    Members have no financial risk beyond their contribution, except in very limited cases where administrators may be personally liable for tax or social security debts.
One thing to keep in mind with an IKE company is the cost of compliance and maintenance. In some cases, the process is more complex than for other company types, leading to higher monthly and yearly costs for tax and accounting services. It’s essential to have sufficient income or revenue to justify these expenses.

The Process For Creating An IKE Company

To create an IKE company, you need to draft a private document and register it through the General Commercial Registry (GEMI) “One-Stop Shop.” A notarial act is required only if a partner contributes real estate or in cases of specific legal requirements.

If all the documentation is correct, the process can be completed on the same day. Note that a website must be registered within one month of the company’s formation.
Any changes to the company’s regulations, address, purpose, or articles of incorporation are generally completed through the GEMI portal.

Does An IKE Company Headquarters Have To Be In Greece?

When establishing an IKE company, you must list its headquarters in the Statute. While the company can conduct business overseas, it can maintain an administrative office in Greece. The Statute, which is the foundational document of the company, outlines all the rules, regulations, and structures. A standard template is often used, but this can be amended to suit specific agreements or requirements when forming an IKE with other shareholders or personnel.

What Is GEMI & How Do You Use It?

The GEMI (Geniko Emboriko Mitroo) is a 12-digit business number used for government record-keeping and streamlining business processes. It grants access to “One-Stop Shops,” making it easier to manage business registration and compliance.

Is An IKE The Best Company Structure In Greece For Expats Or Overseas Companies?

There is no definitive answer to this question and we highly recommend considering other company types too. The suitability of an IKE depends on various factors, including the nature and structure of your business, expected turnover, liability concerns, and plans for listing or raising funds.

It’s essential to carefully evaluate these factors and consider the costs of maintaining the company and its accounts before making a decision. Of course, we’re here to help you and support you with whatever you need throughout the process - feel free to reach out to us with your questions!

This content has been created in collaboration with our trusted partner Tsaks Consulting.
Wednesday, 18 February 2015 12:50

Eastern Pelion

According to Greek mythology Pelion was the mountain of the Centaurs and also the summer resort of the 12 Olympian Gods. It is one of the most beautiful places in Greece, with wonderful forests and green slopes. This mountain is also associated with myths about Hercules, Achilles and Jason, as well as with the myth of Paris, who gave the ‘Apple of Discord’ to the most beautiful goddess and this brought about the Trojan War.

Pelion today is a perfect tourist destination for all seasons and tastes, as it combines mountain and sea beauties in a unique way. Its tourist infrastructure is constantly growing whereas there’s marvelous nature and picturesque villages.

Eastern Pelion is the part of Pelion facing the Aegean Sea, a place where nature is ‘wild’, rough and the vegetation is so lush that it slopes down to the sea

Information:

• Eastern Pelion embraces villages both on the mountain, like Zagora or Tsangarada, and near the sea like Horefto or Agios Giannis.
• Visitors can access the area through Western Pelion, and, depending on where they want to go they have to pass by Chania, Milies, Argalasti or Lafkos.
• The climate is influenced by the Aegean Sea, so it is cooler in summer and colder in winter than the one in Western Pelion.

Infrastructure:

• There are lots of big and small hotels, guesthouses and let rooms. There are also tourist camps.
• There are small marinas for sailboats and yachts to dock
• There is a bus service connecting the area with the rest of Magnisia prefecture.

Eastern Pelion offers:

• A unique combination of mountain and sea settings, in a most beautiful landscape all year round.
• A wide network of marked trails, ideal for all those who love hiking, at any age.
• Exceptional beaches in the waters of the Aegean Sea, organized ones for the many, and secluded for the few.
• Possibilities for alternative tourism activities.
• A variety of choices regarding accommodation, dining and entertainment.
• Lots of traditional villages built in the traditional architectural style of Pelion.

To read more, please visit  inthessaly.gr

Thursday, 19 February 2015 14:07

Greece, Eurozone Fail To Agree On Next Steps

Wednesday's Eurogroup ended without agreement between Greece and its eurozone partners but also without a joint statement on how to move forward. "We explored a number of issues, one of which was the current program," Eurogroup president Jeroen Dijsselbloem told a news conference in the early hours on Thursday in Brussels.

"We discussed the possibility of an extension. For some that is clear that is preferred option but we haven't come to that conclusion as yet. We will need a little more time."

It appears that the two sides had agreed to release a joint statement but that last minute objections from the Greek delegations, which was led by Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis and Deputy Prime Minister Yiannis Dragasakis, led to the process being abandoned.

Dijsselbloem said that the all the eurozone finance ministers would reconvene on Monday, which is the last planned Eurogroup meeting of the month, to reassess the situation but there would be no discussion between experts or visits to Athens in the meantime.

Varoufakis made a brief statement to reporters after the meeting and played down a failure to reach a common position. He said he believed a "healing deal" could be reached on Monday.

He denied that the sticking point had been an insistence from Greece's eurozone partners to extend the existing bailout and said there were no threats towards Greece during the meeting.

"We explained whey this bailout is not working," he said. "We want a new contract with Europe."

To read more, please visit ekathimerini.com

Stragalia (στραγάλια)  are a delicious, very healthy, totally addictive snack that are so simple to make and a fantastic on-the-go option for work or school too!  With coriander and fennel seeds, fresh ground black pepper, salt and garlic, this recipe is the perfect combination of traditional Greek spices. The secret to getting crunchy, nutty good bites every time? A very hot oven!

Because of the high heat necessary for good crunchy chickpeas, it's best to stay away from using dried herbs in this recipe.  Dried herbs will often burn and can leave behind an awful, acrid taste.  You can safely add dried herbs (Greek oregano or mint) after the chickpeas are cooked and cooled.

The spices are key here so, when you can, toast and grind them yourself. Lightly toast the fennel, coriander and cumin seeds for just a minute or two in a hot pan before grinding coarsely in your mortar and pestle or spice grinder. Grinding the spices all together helps to combine the flavors most evenly.

Then mix the ground spices with olive oil until you get the consistency of a loose paste. Take a sec here, hold your head over the bowl and inhale – the aromas are absolutely intoxicating!

To read more, please visit: The Greek Vegan
A way of communicating that only 6 people know how to understand, BBC Travel goes behind the scenes of Greece’s disappearring whistle language. The whistle language, also known as Sfyria and only existing in a tiny village in Evia, Greece called Antia, is one of the rarest and most endangered languages in the world.

A BBC journalist meets a 45-year-old farmer named Yiannis Apostolou and delves deep into the world of the whistles. Such precise, musical notes, have been passed down from generation to generation, but when a village population disappears, so does its language.

To read the full article and watch a video of the whistle language, please visit: BBC Travel
Sunday, 08 September 2019 21:46

Art Athina 2019 Aftermath

Art Athina 2019 ended on September 16th at Zappeio Hall and the aftermath can only be described as positive, with a great number of visitors and loads of art!

Throughout these 4 days, the biggest art festival in Greece organized by the Hellenic Art Galleries Association and Art Director Stamatia Dimitrakopoulou, managed to impress the public with its artists and galleries. It wasn't just a festival showcasing Greek modern art, but a celebration.

Even from the first hours after the big opening, Zappeio Hall was filled with people. However, the biggest moment was that of the opening where the President of The Hellenic Republic, Mr. Prokopis Pavlopoulos, was present and supported Art Athina mentioning that the organizers have contributed a lot to art, in Athens and Greece in general, but even more to culture. He was also aware of the conditions under which the institution was created and, above all, was kept alive and thrived even during the crisis. For him, cultural creation is an act of resistance against any kind of corruption that threatens man.

Also present at the opening was Mayor of Athens, Kostas Bakogiannis, while amongst the visitors were many high-profile people, such as the Minister of Education and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Art Athina will be present once again, for artists and visitors, at Zappeio Hall in September 2020.

The galleries that participated in the 24th Art Athina:

a. antonopoulou.art (Athens), Agathi Kartalos (Athens), Alibi (Athens), Alma Contemporary Art Gallery (Athens- Trikala), Anna Pappas Gallery (Μελβούρνη), Argo Gallery (Athens), Αrt Appel Gallery (Athens), Arusha Gallery (Scotland), Astrolavos Art Galleries (Athens), Cheapart (Athens), Citronne Gallery (Athens), Crux Gallerie (Athens), Donopoulos International Fine Arts (Thessaloniki), ekfrasi-yianna Grammatopoulou (Athens), Eleftheria Tseliou Gallery (Athens), Eleni Koroneou Gallery (Athens), Epsilon Art Gallery (Loutraki), Evripidis Art Gallery (Athens), Gallery “7” (Athens), Gallery Art Prisma (Pireaus), Gallery d’ Arte (New Jersey) Genesis Gallery (Athens), i-D Projectart (Athens), Ikastikos Kiklos Sianti (Athens), Ileana Tounta Contemporary Art Center (Athens), Kalfayan Galleries (Athens-Thessaloniki), kaplanon5 art gallery (Athens), Mihalarias Art (Athens), N, Papatzikou Gallery (Veria), PeriTechnon Karteris (Athens), Renatino Gallery (Cyprus), Skoufa Gallery (Athens), Skoufa Gallery Mykonos (Mykonos), Τechnohoros  Art Gallery (Athens), The Breeder Gallery (Athens), Zina Athanassiadou Gallery (Thessaloniki). 




Wednesday, 06 May 2020 14:37

Welcoming The Digital Citizens' Academy

What is the Digital Citizens' Academy?
 
It is a cutting edge initiative to gather, on a single platform, educational content aimed to improve the digital skills of citizens. The platform combines content from 29 different thematic units and includes 156 courses, more than 1500 teaching hours, from 23 vendors.
 
 
How Can I Use The Academy To Improve My Digital Skills?

Joining is free and does not require a complicated registration. All you need to do is select a category, a thematic unit, and a course that suits your interests and level of knowledge, which you can complete online at your own pace.
 
How Was The Content Selected? Is It Valid?
 
The content has been selected by a team of experts from the Ministry of Digital Governance in collaboration with Greek academics and experts in digital education. Greek and International experts warrant a) the quality of the content and structure of the educational platform and, b) the simplicity of use.
 
Will I Be Able To Find Courses That Meet My Needs?
 
The Digital Citizens' Academy is a dynamic platform, and the number of topics and courses will continue to grow, covering even broader educational needs. More and more vendors will contribute educational content, enabling citizens to make more extended use of the Digital Citizens' Academy.
 
Soon, the Digital Citizens' Academy will be offering self-diagnostic tools so that every citizen can assess the level of their digital skills. Depending on the results of the self-diagnostic tools and the personal goals of each trainee citizen, the platform will offer personalized 'educational paths,' combining courses from various providers.
 

Originally posted in Greek on nationaldigitalacademy.gov.gr
Translated by Codico Lab



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