XpatAthens

Friday, 20 February 2015 15:28

Local Fruit & Vegetables Among The Safest In The EU

Greek crops have been added to the list of the safest fruit and vegetables in the European Union, in regards to excessive use of pesticide residue, according to data released by the Food and Feed Safety Alerts (RASFF), for the first half of 2014.

Commenting on the statistics, the special advisor to the Association of Greek Export and Consignment Enterprises for Fruit, Vegetables and Juices INCOFRUIT – HELLAS, Giorgos Polichronakis, said: “Turkey showed the most cases of excessive use of pesticide residue in fruit and vegetables during the reported period, with 38 cases (34 of which were peppers) followed by Egypt with 16. Ranked third, with 12 cases, are countries such as India, the Dominican Republic and Nigeria. Spain has been reported with 5 cases, while the Netherlands and Morocco have 5 and four 4 cases respectively.”

The most notices for excessive use were submitted in Bulgaria (35), followed by Italy (21), the Netherlands (19), the United Kingdom (19) and France (18).

To read more, please visit greenmed.eu

Published in Greek Food & Diet

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Friday, 06 March 2015 12:34

Halkidiki Introduces Itself to Europe

There is an old joke that Greeks tell among themselves. A Northern Greek gets to swim in the sea of paradise, but once he comes out of the water and is asked whether he enjoyed it, his reply is "It was nice, but not as good as Halkidiki." People in Halkidiki do not brag for nothing. Home of Aristotle and Mt. Athos’ monastic community, founded in the 9th century, the region’s three peninsulas stand out for their natural beauty, history and spirituality.

Local agents boast an industrious campaign to boost tourism in the area. During the last East Med Tourism Exhibition, in Istanbul (22-25.01), local authorities had forty B2B meetings with Turkish business people, in an effort to raise arrivals above 3,000, which was recorded in 2014. A charter flight from Ankara is expected to accommodate this target. Direct flights seem to have worked well also in the case of the Netherlands.

Halkidiki was visited by 3,500 Dutch in 2014 but the figure is expected to double in the current year. A direct flight from Amsterdam to Thessaloniki made it easier for tourists to reach the peninsulas.

To read more, please visit greeknewsagenda.gr

Published in Travel Greece

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Thursday, 02 July 2015 07:00

Athens' Best Garden Cafe & Restaurant Hideaways

In terms of greeness, Athens doesn't even come close to other European capitals with their verdant parks and blossoming gardens. The truth is, modern urban development has not been particularly gentle with this city. Numerous concrete buildings, along with poor road designs, hem in inhabitants and visitors with featureless views. Thankfully, there are some oases in the cement desert that offer the hungry local or tourist a lush respite in which to enjoy a meal or drink.

Just behind Parliament lies the Ethnikos Kipos, or National Gardens, the indisputable green heart of the city. Back in 1836, Queen Amalia had envisaged the Royal Gardens to follow the European models of the era, and so agronomist Frederick Schmidt, director of the gardens for almost 30 years, planted native flora from Cape Sounion and the island of Euboea, as well as many species from abroad that were suited to the Attica climate. Today, the gardens are home to more than 50,000 trees and shrubs and are open to visitors from morning to dusk. The gardens' cafe sits at the Irodou Attikou entrance, with retro green tables arraying symmetrically in the relaxing shade of the alleyway. After a morning walk, why not enjoy a cup of Greek coffee? The menu offers dishes such as tzatziki, octopus stewed in vinegar sauce marinated anchovies and meatballs with potatoes. It's pretty pricey though - be warned.

A few steps from Syntagma metro, a heavy iron gate stands guard over the former residence of the German archeologist Heinrich Schliemann. Desinged by none other than the eminent Ernst Ziller, the architect of many of Athens' royal and municipal buildings, the Renaissance-inspired structure was named Iliou Melathron, or Trojan Mansion, in tribute to the owner's passion for the mythical city of Troy (also known as Ilion). Iliou Melathron is now home to the Numismatic Museum, and the beautiful garden, where Schliemann spent hours planting and tending his trees, still includes many species of of Greek flora, with reproductions of ancient Greek statues peeking through the folige.

To read more, please visit: Culinary Backstreets

Published in Pubs, Bars & Cafes

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Thursday, 08 October 2015 07:00

Top Flea Markets In Athens

In the heart of buzzing Athens there are a lot of open markets selling anything from food and spices to vintage clothing, antiques and souvenirs. Even if you don’t want to shop a walk into the flea market is a great way to get the real vibe of Athens.

Here is a list of the top flea markets in the centre of Athens:

Monastiraki Flea Market

Monastiraki flea market starts next to Monastiraki metro station. It's not an actual flea market, but a collection of small shops. Here you can buy almost anything, form clothing, jewellery, cheap souvenirs like t-shirts, toy exzone soldiers, marble Greek statues, postcards and quality souvenirs like backgammon sets, Byzantine icons, traditional Greek products, musical instruments and leather goods. In Monastiraki flea market you will find almost everything. Near the flea market there ar ea lot of cafes where you can stop for a refreshment and watch the people passing by. Early in the morning and late at night when the shops are closed, all the shop fronts are covered with street art, which is totally worth checking out.

Platia Avissinias Flea Market

Every Sunday at Avissynias Square, just off Ifaistou Street, the central street of Monastiraki flea market, there is a bazaar. There are vendors selling antiques from furniture to old books and recornds to anything you can imagine. Some have no value at all, but you can also find a lot of bargins. There are some cozy cafes at the square and Avissynias restaurant with live Greek music and traditional food where you can have a bite and watch all the action of the square.

To read more, please visit: Travel Passionate

Published in City Discovery

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Tuesday, 16 February 2016 07:00

Top Things To Do In Metsovo, Greece

Metsovo is a picturesque town situated in the slopes of Mount Pindos in Epirus. The small town stands at an altitude of 1156 metres and is surrounded by beautiful nature and lush vegetation. Metsovo is a very popular destination in Greece as it's a place that has kept its character over the years with traditional stone and wood houses. It offers visitors a variety of activities all year. Here, Travel Passionate offers her suggestions in things to see and do in Metsovo.

Admire art at the Averoff museum

The museum houses a vast collection from the works of famous Greek painters and sculptors from the 19th and 20th century.

Visit the museum of Folks Art

The museum is housed in the restored Tositsa Manor. On your visit you will be able to see how a traditional house of Metsovo was organized. It has an invaluable collection of old objects.

Walk around the village

Explore the village on foot, walk in the stone alleyways and admire the traditional architecture of the houses and the views of mount Pindos. Make sure you stop at Metsovorama cafe and bar for a coffee and admire the incredible view of the surrounding mountains. There are a couple of churches worth visiting like the church of Agia Paraskevi at the central square of the village and the church of Agios Nikolaos with rare byzantine icons.

To read more, please visit: Travel Passionate

Published in Travel Greece

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Tuesday, 27 December 2016 07:00

Glug Glug Bang Bang - Borsalino Bar

Enter Borsalino Bar, an intriguing addition to Kolokotroni street serving fine spirits and cocktails with soul and jazz on the speakers. Inspired by the 1930s-set French gangster film of the same name, Borsalino's atmosphere and decor harken back to an era where men wore hats non-ironically. As a result, the cocktails you'll find here are smooth and sophisticated. Try the Borsalino Blues — the seductive libation of bourbon, port, banana, camomile and buttermilk will have you hooked. At Borsalino, just when you think you're out, you get pulled back in.

Address: Kolokotroni 59, Plaka, Athens

Hours: Daily, 9 a.m.-3 a.m.

Telephone: 210 323 2222
Facebook Page

To read this article in full, please visit: Savoteur

Published in Pubs, Bars & Cafes

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Thursday, 01 June 2017 07:00

The Dalliance House Restaurant In Kifisia

The Dalliance House Restaurant in Kifisia is in a neoclassical building of 1890 and was originally used as a bourgeois house. The all-day bar restaurant that is now in operation, has iron constructions and plasterboards largely covering the treasure of memories which were trapped underneath and that had to be totally dismantled. Today, three generations later, The Dalliance House in Kifissia, houses the space created by Lefteris Bakopoulos and his colleagues, so we can enjoy it by morning, noon, or evening.

In the main entrance, guests have a general view of the site as it evolves 180 degrees, revealing from left to right, the bar, the corridor leading to the second floor of the building and the petrol blue room. On the left side of the main entrance lies the space of the bar. The playful lights of the bar have lots of personality!

The elements that characterize The Dalliance House are intimate, comfort, and a tendency to create a space where privacy and sociability are combined. It plays on the dichotomy that takes place between the space and its world.

Address: Kiriazi 19, Kifisia
Telephone: 210 62 30 775

To read this article in full, please visit: Living Postcards

Photo Credit: The Dalliance House Facebook

Published in Restaurants In Athens

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Monday, 04 September 2017 13:50

Maximum Cash Withdrawal Limit Rises As Capital Controls Ease

New regulations easing capital controls and raising the maximum monthly cash withdrawal limit to 1800 euros came into effect on September 1st, 2017. The measure was announced and passed as an act of legislative content in early August.

In addition, sums transferred to a bank account from abroad after September 1, 2017 can be taken out of the country once again in full, though only half can be withdrawn as cash.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Reporter

Published in Local News

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Wednesday, 13 March 2019 00:43

March 13 - Springtime Outings In Athens

It may sound like a joke, but a Vietnamese chef, a French architect and a Greek musician have joined forces to create the funkiest Vietnamese restaurant in Athens. And if you're looking for a more relaxing way to enjoy your coffee, we have put together a list with some fabulous Bookstore cafes in the city!

Please click HERE to view this issue of our newsletter!

Remember to stay connected with us through our weekly newsletter, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

Published in Newsletters

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Wednesday, 06 January 2021 17:02

The Celebration Of Epiphany In Greece

On January 6th, Greek people celebrate “Ta Phota” or “Theofania” or “Epiphania,” which stands for the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan River. It is a significant Greek celebration and the last one of the 12-day celebration period, starting on Christmas day. It is also a National Holiday, so public services, most shops, and businesses are closed.

In case you happen to be in Greece on January 5th and 6th, then here is what you can expect or experience: In the morning of January 5th, Greek children sing–once again–from door to door. The song they sing is not that known as the Christmas’ or the New Years’ carols, but also beautiful.

Click here to listen to the song. If you are curious to see how children sing the Epiphany carols, click here.

On the morning of January 6th, people gather at a specific waterside location where the priest throws the cross in the water. Depending on the region, the cross is thrown in the sea, river, or lake. In mountainous areas or in Athens, the cross can also be thrown in a fountain.

Young men will dive or jump in the water and try to catch the holy cross. The person that will catch it, will have a lot of luck this year. Take a look at this video, to get a better idea.

The Epiphany tradition goes back to ancient Greece, and particularly to a feast which was called “Plintiria” (=washing machines). During this feast, the Athenians carried the statue of Athena to the coast of Faliro (close to Piraeus) to wash it in the sea, to make sure it would keep its magic powers.

Don't forget that on January 6th, a lot of people have their Name Day as well: Fotis, Foteini, Theofanis, Theofania, Fani, Ourania, Iordanis. You can wish them: Xronia Polla! Χρόνια Πολλά!

If you want to learn other Greek wishes you can use for Name Days, National Holidays or Social Occasions, you are welcome to download the “Greek Wishes For Social Occasions” FREE eBOOK, including Audio for the correct pronunciation.

About OMILO

Omilo Greek Language and Culture inspires people from all over the world to learn Greek, while exploring Greece. They offer 1- and 2-week courses for adults that combine beautiful course locations, experienced teachers, and a balanced combination of Greek classes with cultural activities. All these make Omilo a place where people enjoy learning modern Greek and have fun.

Besides the courses, Omilo also creates online publications to help adults expand their language skills through Language Books and eBooks for different language levels.

Published in Greek Traditions

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