XpatAthens

Thursday, 25 June 2020 13:26

Amorgos - The Big Blue

Did you know that the 1988 movie The Big Blue with Jean Reno was shot on the island of Amorgos, at the southeastern edge of the Cyclades? Parts of the island reach a considerable height above sea level, offering superb views out over the Archipelago, Amorgos is one of the most impressive Cycladic islands, boasting marvelous beaches with azure waters, gorgeous caves, ideal spots for diving, scenic bays and ancient footpaths leading through its steep rocky terrain.

Inhabited since the Protocycladic Era, as indicated by archaeological finds brought to light in the area, Amorgos has a long cultural history and tradition. Step off the beaten track and visit an island that has preserved its traditional color, where the locals welcome you with a smile on their face and make you feel at home!

Town of Amorgos (Hora)

Built at the center of the island and surrounded by rocky hills, the maze-like Hora of Amorgos is considered to be one of the most picturesque in the Cyclades! Here you can admire a breathtaking setting with scenic squares, traditional Cycladic houses with bougainvillea trees in their courtyards, and Lilliputian whitewashed alleys. In the morning you can wander around the narrow streets, visit the 13th-century castle and the monasteries or relax at a local coffee shop; in the evening pick one of the cozy bars and tavernas scattered around Hora’s streets and squares and enjoy local specialties accompanied by a shot of “psiméni” raki! Don’t be surprised if you come across a big group of people enjoying an impromptu feast - it is a very common event on the island- feel free to join in!

Katapola

Katapola is the main harbor of the island as well as a haven for boats and small cruise ships. Set off on a boat trip from Katapola and explore the island’s sun-kissed beaches!

Aigiali

Aigiali, the second harbor of Amorgos, is popular with young people as it is the site of the island’s campsite. Along its lively waterfront, you will find plenty of cafes and restaurants. Perched on a mountain behind Aigiali there are three picturesque villages: Tholaria, Lagkada, and Potamos; visit them at the end of the day when the sunset is beautiful.

To learn more about Amorgos, please visit: visitgreece.gr

Published in Travel Greece

Tagged under

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

Tagged under

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

Tagged under

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

Tagged under

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

Tagged under

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

Tagged under

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

Tagged under

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

Tagged under

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

Tagged under

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

Tagged under