The lights of Greek tourism, culture and gastronomy will flash in the heart of Manhattan, New York, USA in May 2017 for the highly anticipated first exhibition 'Greek Panorama!'

The first 'Greek Panorama' exhibition focused on Tourism, Culture and Gastronomy exclusively for Greece is organized by Hellas North American Events Inc. in collaboration with the company North Events and will be held in the iconic Grand Central Terminal Station, which is one of the most important historic buildings of Manhattan, in the city center, on 11-13 May 2017.

It is the first time that such a dynamic and integrated organized promotion and advertisement action for Greece takes place in this area, at a spot where over 750,000 daily residents, workers and foreign visitors of New York pass through!

With three American companies flying directly to Athens and the daily flight of Emirates, all year round, the exhibition steps forward to bring Greece closer to the American traveling audience and America, an audience that has doubled its arrivals in our country within the recent years.

The exhibition will take place at the Vanderbilt Hall of Grand Central Terminal (42nd Street and Vanderbilt Avenue junction) and will include presentations for each tourist destination in Greece and the exposure of sectors such as luxury tourism, Greek gastronomy, real estate, shopping, yachting & cruises etc.

On Friday, May 12, 2017 and Saturday, May 13, 2017, the exhibition will be open to the public for free.

The opening of the exhibition is scheduled for Thursday, May 11, 2017, which will be dedicated exclusively to professionals from the US and the Greek market with b2b meetings at a central hotel in New York, with the aim of cultivating professional relationships and networking of both sides. Key members of the US tourism market will be in contact with representatives of Greek tourism.

Similarly, in the evening of the same day professionals and exhibitors will have the opportunity to attend the official dinner of the 'Greek Panorama' with guest representatives from Greek and American tourism market, as well as numerous journalists and participants.

'Greek Panorama' exhibition is organized with the support of the main tourism operators in Greece and abroad.

The Greek community stands once again, on the side of this important initiative, as well as the entire Greek American community. Great personalities will be present in the exhibition while many surprises should also be expected for the participants.

One of them is the interview of the –maybe- top Greek basketball player, in the new Greek American magazine Hellas Blu, which will be released just before the opening of the exhibition. The first festive edition will have some additional surprises such as the famous ultramarathon Konstantinos (Dean) Karnazes.

The magazine will be published three times a year and will be distributed at key points and specially selected recipients while its content will be exclusively dedicated to Greece. It will include among others, extensive special editions focused on selected destinations in Greece, interviews with key persons of the Greek American community and distinguished Greeks and Americans from the political, business, sports and artistic world, columns devoted to gastronomy, culture and specific forms of tourism, as well as news, proposals and useful information about Greece, its tourism, services, products, events, etc.

'Greek Panorama' exhibition and its parallel events are one of the main axes of the strategy of Hellas North American Events Inc. for the Northern American market as the plan designed includes actions and respective initiatives throughout the year.

It should be emphasized that North Events organizes with great success the 'Grecka Panorama' tourism exhibition in Poland and the unique tourism exhibition 'Grekland Panorama' in Sweden.

Please visit Greek Panorama for more information.

Consumers in Greece will be required as of January 1^st, 2018 to pay 4 cents per plastic bag as the country prepares to harmonize its relevant law with EU guidelines, according to a draft bill being drawn up by the environment ministry and set to be tabled in parliament.

The aim is to reduce the number of bags per consumer to 90 per year per person in the next two years, and to 40 by 2025. According to Research Institute of Retail Consumer Goods (IELKA) findings, consumers in Greece use a total of 4.3 billion plastic bags per year of which only 1 percent is recycled.

Greece holds the top spot in Europe in terms of per capita use of plastic bag exceeding the EU average of 175 per person.

It  has also been announced that from January 1^st, 2019 the cost per plastic bag will increase to 9 cents!

The 36th Athens Authentic Marathon was held with great success yesterday, November 11th. This year the race brought together more than 55,000 runners from 106 countries. The 42,195m race is more than just a sporting event, it’s a tribute to Greek history, human willpower, solidarity, friendship, and social responsibility. A total of 18,70 runners took part in the historic Marathon race, while thousands joined the 3 & 5 & 10 kilometer road races, the kids' fun runs, and the Special Olympics Hellas Fun Run.

The Marathon area is of great historical significance, as it was the site of the famous Marathon battle that took place in 490 BC. After the battle was won by the Greeks, a soldier named Pheidippides was sent to Athens to deliver the news. Pheidippides ran all the way to Athens and managed to say, "We have won," before he collapsed and died. That was the first marathon in history and to this day the runners of the Athens Authentic Marathon follow the exact same route.

 

'The legend continues. Each year the Athens Marathon gets better and better,' said Paco Borao, President of AIMS, the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races, at the press conference for the 'Athens Marathon. The Authentic.'

The city of Athens looks forward to welcoming even more runners from around the world for the Athens Authentic Marathon in 2019!

Photo Credit: @chromecabrio

A cleaner future awaits the city of Athens as the new Athens Partnership initiative will see 20,000 m2 of graffiti tags and illegal posters disappear. The anti-tagging initiative aims promote and restore the charm of Athens’ historic center."

Many people presume that items such as plastic bags and coffee cups can be recycled when they can't. Here are some do's and don'ts for more efficient recycling!

Lately, consumers are increasingly willing to recycle their household waste, but are falling behind when it comes to some basic rules of recycling, which means that a lot of recyclable waste ends up in the landfill.

 

Typical mistakes include putting tissue boxes in the recycling bin without first removing the plastic insert. On the other hand, people often wrongly think that an empty deodorant aerosol container cannot be recycled.

Here is a list of some of the most common misconceptions about what can and cannot be recycled.

Things That CAN'T Be Recycled

• Liquid soap pump dispenser tops
• Kitchen roll
• Non-paper gift wrap
• Coffee cups
• Plastic bags
• Tissues
• Glass cookware
• Window glass
• Straws
• Greasy takeaway pizza boxes
• Soft plastic/laminated foil packaging such as pet food and baby food pouches
• Photo paper
• Nail varnish bottles
• Crisp packets
• Post-it notes
• Shampoo bottles and food containers that have not been rinsed
• Tissue boxes where the plastic insert has not been removed
• Plastic toys
• Mirrors
• Cutlery
• Pots and pans

Items That CAN Be Recycled

• Kitchen foil and foil trays that are used but still clean
• Empty deodorant aerosols and hairspray with the plastic cap
• Empty surface cleaner bottle with the trigger spray
• Metal lids
• Empty bleach bottles
• Envelopes with windows

The monumental side of Athens comes at you like fireworks frozen in time, but if showstoppers like the Acropolis dazzle the first-time visitor, they also form part of the daily tapestry of life for regular Athenians. Tuning into the local rhythms is not necessarily an exercise in what's 'Instagrammable'. Rather, as a resident observer of this pulsing city, I’ve found that some of the best things about Athens are those little backstage sights and sounds that add up to an urban experience that can border on the theatrical. A tangible modern energy mixes with ancient allure, and despite some disruptions caused by the recent lockdowns, life goes on in a modified Athenian style. Here’s how to claim some of that celebrated Athens groove for yourself and feel more like a local (though you might have to be patient for just a little while longer to experience a couple of these suggestions):

Stroll Through Mets To Pangrati

Mets is one of the quietest central Athens neighbourhoods—and not just because it's home to the historic First Cemetery of Athens (where you’ll find the elaborate tomb of Heinrich Schliemann, the archaeologist who excavated ancient Troy). The streets here are an alluring jumble of townhouses in pastel shades with abundant pink bougainvillea flowers fluttering about. Some of the side roads, like Nikiforou Theotoki and Klitomachou, seem to leap right off of a 'Welcome to Athens" movie screen. Wander over to Varnava Square, where Mets flows into the bohemian heart of Pangrati. The little oval-shaped square is lined with traditional restaurants and hipster cafes--grab a takeaway coffee from Oliver Nuts & Flavours (20 Empedokelous) and take in the scene, even if it's somewhat more subdued right now.

Go To The Same Bakery Three Days In A Row

At the time of the first lockdown in spring 2020, I was heartened to see bakeries listed as essential businesses. The fournos, or bakery, is indeed an indispensable ingredient of Athenian life. Nearly every fournos sells the same staples but many have specialty items too, and some are quite posh—especially in upscale neighbourhoods like Kolonaki. Find one that you like and go there a few mornings in a row. After around the third day, they will likely start to recognise you and maybe even offer you a sample of that morning's fresh baked specialty. My current faves are Queen Bee at 45 Patriarchou Ioakim in Kolonaki (for the almond croissants), Afrato at 13 Evridamantos in Neos Kosmos (best cinnamon buns in town) and, slightly further afield in Ano Glyfada, Special Cakes (168 Dim. Gounari) for a whimsical atmosphere and heavenly layer cakes.

Take A Walk On The Fancy Side

New York has Park Avenue. Athens has Irodou Attikou Street - which is much shorter, but packs in more pomp and circumstance as the home of both the Presidential Palace and Maximou Mansion, official seat of the Greek Prime Minister. Tucked between Vassilis Sofias Avenue (on the north) and Vasileos Konstantinou and the Panathenaic Stadium on the south, the street straddles the National Garden and at all hours of the day or night, you'll clock Evzones dutifully standing guard at their posts along the street.

Go Higher Than The Acropolis

On most fair weathered weekends, many Athenians make a dash for Mount Ymittos. At 1,026 metres, this popular green escape is about seven times taller than the Acropolis. The ridge, which they call Trellos (the "crazy mountain"), forms the long eastern spine of the Attica basin and actually supplied fountains with drinking water in ancient Athens. Today there are hiking trails galore, but it's even worth commandeering a taxi if you have to, for your dose of sylvan splendour and the mesmerizing views of city and sea.

Swap Plaka For Mitropoleos Street

Most visitors make a beeline for the sinuous lanes of charming Plaka and rightly so. But as you’d expect, it's not where Athenians go to shop. For a more native retail experience, head one block south of bustling Ermou Street - the pedestrianized retail artery of global and Greek brands stretching from Syntagma Square - to the quieter and prettier Mitropoleos Street. This slender street is home to the impressive Metropolitan Church of Athens with its pretty plaza and is also packed with interesting one-off shops. There’s Dangerous Minds, where you can pick up cool street-rooted labels , Greek gourmet hotspot, the Ergon House food hotel; plus the "secret" back entrance to Hondos Center, the Greek emporium where locals go to stock up on their beauty and grooming staples (the main entrance is on Ermou).

Get A Greek Haircut

Speaking of… Athenians are obsessed with good grooming and it sometimes seems like there are more barbershops and hair salons in Athens than there are Athenians. Getting your locks styled or bangs trimmed is arguably as much a social exercise as an aesthetic one in the Greek capital. Of course, these days, you need to make an appointment in advance, but go on and give it a try. I can't speak for the ladies, but for a great gent's cut I'm partial to Music Barber Shop in Pangrati (21 Eratosthenous).

Potter About The Pnyx

The Pnyx hill is the storied place where ancient Athenians gathered for their ekklesia, the early democratic assemblies, and the ruins of the big carved steps and stone speakers' platform are still there. With the Parthenon in the background, this forested spot is truly beautiful – especially at sunset - but still tends to be better known among locals than visitors who generally flock to Philopappou instead.

Go to Piraeus—But Skip The Ferry

You may know Piraeus as the hectic port of Athens and the place where you go for that mad dash to the ferry, but did you know you can also get some of that Aegean island flavour without so much as stepping foot on a boat? Sunny weekend days and summer evenings after work see Athenians sidling up to breezy cafes and tavernas to enjoy fresh seafood by the water's edge in the atmospheric Piraeus 'hood of Mikrolimano. This poetic round harbour is just a short taxi ride from the center of Athens. Behind it, Kastella hill affords stunning views of the Saronic Gulf from the top. Or venture to elegant Zea Marina. There, on the south side of this horseshoe-shaped harbour, the yachts come in all shapes, sizes and colours: Greek sea daydreaming guaranteed.

This content was originally published on This is Athens

Written by: Anthony Grant
Photo Credit: Thomas Gravanis

---

Whether you’ve just arrived in town – or have been here for years – Athens always has new secrets to share! This is Athens is the official guide to this captivating city of ancient energies and booming urban culture. Compiled by a team of specialist local writers, This is Athens brings you an authentic and intimate portrait of a living Athens beyond the guidebooks – along with daily curated listings of all the best events and great weekend inspiration all-year round. From must-know neighbourhoods and emerging art hubs, to gourmet hotspots, cool shopping and the buzziest bars, This is Athens will help you to get the most out of living in Athens!

Thank you This is Athens for your contribution as an XpatAthens Partner.

Nothing says Christmas like a steaming cup of delicious hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and marshmallows! 

 

Add a fireplace, some cute Christmassy pajamas, and a bit of Mariah Carey and you've got yourself the perfect festive night.

 

 

• 480g soy milk
• 2 - 4 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 4 tablespoons cocoa powder 
• 50g chocolate couverture, finely chopped 

• whipped cream
• marshmallows
• chocolate couverture, melted
• hazelnut chocolate spread, grated

• Heat the milk in a saucepan over medium heat.
• Pour half of it into a mug. Set aside and keep warm.
• Add the sugar and cocoa powder to the remaining milk in the saucepan.
• Heat until it comes to a boil while whisking continuously.
• Lower heat and cook the mixture for another 2 minutes, until the sugar and cocoa powder have melted and are completely incorporated.
• Remove from heat. Add the chocolate and stir until it melts.
• Add the rest of the milk and stir until completely combined. 
• Serve with whipped cream, marshmallows, melted chocolate, and sprinkle with grated chocolate.

Recipe source: akispetretzikis.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Betty’s Bakery

 

  

Kora Bakery

 

  

 

 

For the 12th year, the Region of Epirus and the Municipality of Zagori hosted the biggest mountain running race in Greece and one of the top in Europe, which is an initiative of My Adventure, on July 21-23, 2023. Stone-built villages, traditional bridges, unique sights such as the imposing Vikos Gorge, Skala Vradetou, the Voidomatis River, the protected area of the natural wealth of the Vikos-Aoos National Park as well as the region’s rich biodiversity, created the ideal setting for this year’s Zagori Mountain Running. Participants had to encounter the high temperatures of the three days and the new challenges of the modified, for this purpose, routes and starting times.

 

More than 2,500 young and old athletes and more than 10,000 visitors found themselves in Zagori. They lived this unique celebration of mountain sports tourism, shared unprecedented experiences, and created memories for a lifetime in the place beyond the mountain. The athletes who took part were from 35 countries and 5 continents, such as U.S.A., Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Egypt, Morocco, Djibouti, Pakistan, Lebanon, Great Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, Northern Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Hungary, Russia, Estonia, Ukraine, Austria, Malta, Serbia, Slovakia, Lithuania, Israel, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Cyprus, North Macedonia, and Greece. 

 

On Saturday, 22 July, the first race started at 04:30 in the morning from the manorial village of Tsepelovo, with the modified, due to the high temperatures, TeRA 60km race offering countless joys and thrills to the participants. In the men’s category, Fifth Element athlete Alexandros Tzoumakas finished first with a time of 6:34’:43’’, Evangelos Noulas was second with 6:37’:43’ and Charalambos Kalaboukas finished third with 6:45’:16’’. 

In the women’s category, the Austrian Sophia Schnabl finished first with a time of 8:08’:07’’, Niki Zioga was second with 8:16’:51’’ and Nikoleta Tzavara of The North Face was third with 8:42’:43’’. 

See all TeRA results here.

 

The top mountain running event of the summer continued with the Marathon+ 44km taking place at Voidomatis Springs, Megalo Papigo, and Astrakas Refuge. In the men’s category, Dimitrios Eleftheriou finished first with a time of 4:43’:36’’, Vassilis Balamotis was second with 4:46’:29’’ and Konstantinos Giannopoulos was third with 4:53’:36’’.

In the women’s category, the Olympic rowing bronze medalist Christina Giazitzidou finished first with a time of 5:21’:52’’, Georgia Kanouta was second with 6:34’:25’’, and Irini Gioti finished third with 6:49’:54’’.

See all Marathon+ 44km results here.

 

On Sunday, July 23, the competitive and more massive mountain routes were held. The Half Marathon 21km started from Tsepelovo, with the athletes running to the Tymfi mountain complex and passing from the Kipoi village, the three-arched bridge, the Kokkoros bridge, and Koukouli village. In the men’s category, Emmanuel Pourikas finished first with a time of 1:49’:02’’, which was also an event record, Nikos Ponireas was second with 1:52’:14’ and the French Laurent Vicente finished third with 1:55’:49’’.

In the women’s category, Lemonia Panagiotou finished first with a time of 2:23’:49’’, Chrysanthi Sfakianaki was second with 2:42’:28’’ and the Serbian Tijana Panic was third with 2:44':17''.

See all Half Marathon 21km results here.

 

The Entry Race 10km took place afterward, with participants swarming about the route, facing the unique view of the Vikos Gorge and passing through the Skala Tsepelovo. In the men’s category, George Kalapodis finished first with a time of 0:44’:22’, George Dimoulas of The North Face was second with 0:44’:42’’ and Stavros Ginis finished third with 0:44’:57’’. 

In the women’s category, Stavroula Papadopoulou finished first with a time of 1:00’:48’’, Evangelia Gialamatzi was second with 1:01’:08’’ and Thalia Zoi finished third with 1:01’:12’’.

See all Entry Race 10km results here.

 

On Saturday afternoon, Tsepelovo was filled with smiles, children’s voices, and families who introduced their children to sports. The children’s ZAGORAKI Race by ZAGORI Natural Mineral Water brought together more than 300 children, 3 to 12 years old, who ran the 1km distance with their favorite water as their ally in hydration! The children were warmed up by the fitness trainer Emmi Siouzou with a pleasant dynamic exercise program with music. At the end of the ZAGORAKI Race, 3 gifts for outdoor activities were raffled off to 3 lucky little runners while all the children enjoyed non-carbonated GREEN orangeades. As part of the children’s race, 3 children’s books “Trechontas o Teri egine xefteri” by Leftheris Plakidas, and 1 book, “Swimming beyond the limits” by the ultra-swimmer Spyros Chrysikopoulos, were also raffled.   

 

ZAGORI Natural Mineral Water supports sports and fair play as an ally and helper of Greece’s biggest mountain running race, the Zagori Mountain Running. The event’s Grand Sponsor offered all athletes the necessary hydration and rejuvenation. Throughout these challenging races, runners drank the ZAGORI Athletic Natural Mineral Water, while at the finish, they had the opportunity to enjoy GREEN COLA and GREEN orangeade. Of course, all the visitors enjoyed this celebration of sports with cool ZAGORI Natural Mineral Water and delicious iced GREEN COLA and GREEN orangeade.

ZAGORI Mountain Running race is an integral part of the society and culture of Zagorochoria. Of the “place beyond the mountain”, that offers the ZAGORI Natural Mineral Water. Because in this place, we call water ZAGORI! 

 

The top outdoor clothing & gear company, The North Face, participated for another year as a Grand Sponsor. As a premium outdoor brand, The North Face offered a unique experience to all athletes who encountered the challenges of the races. More specifically, the athletes who completed the TeRA and Marathon+ 44km races received unique gifts from the company, which reminded them of the incredible adventure they faced and completed. The North Face, which has supported the event since its beginning, is known for the quality and credibility of its outdoor products. People had the opportunity to visit The North Face’s iconic 2-Meter Dome tent while the company’s booth showcased its pinnacle Summit Series trail running collection, both in clothing and footwear. In collaboration with the brand ambassador George Dimoulas, trail runner and mural artist, he created live a big mural on the theme of The North Face’s motto “NEVER STOP EXPLORING” and the preservation of the wealth of nature as a legacy for the next generation. Finally, the company allowed the little explorers to test their capabilities for one more year and have fun safely on its climbing wall.  

 

Since the event’s first year, Fifth Element, the fully specialized store of sports activities, has been the race’s Grand Sponsor. This year, Fifth Element gave away a -10% off coupon valid on all their new products with every race registration. The company actively contributes to the protection of nature, concerning the environment, strengthening the work of the Vikos - Aoos National Park and allocating part of its income for this purpose. At the same time, this year’s collectible Buff®, with its unique design, was dedicated to the rich and rare flora of Zagori and was available for purchase from Fifth Element’s online and physical store. 

 

In the context of this year’s Zagori Mountain Running, the owner of My Adventure and Fifth Element and race’s organizer, Mr. Vassilis Tzoumakas, stated: “I feel proud of this great event that we had despite the adverse conditions and high temperatures we faced, as we adapted immediately with the safety of our athletes in mind. We saw thousands of participants and visitors full of smiles, which is our biggest reward. I would like to thank the Region of Epirus, the Municipality of Zagori, all the sponsors who stood by us from the very beginning, as well as all our partners and above all our hundreds of volunteers. We continue even stronger for the 13th year of Zagori Mountain Running on July 19-21, 2024”. 

 

The organization of Zagori Mountain Running supported Make-A-Wish this year to fulfill the wishes of children with serious illnesses. In particular, the event’s collective wristband was offered for purchase to participants and visitors, and all proceeds were allocated for the active support of the vital work of Make-A-Wish Greece.

 

This year, the prizes for the Zagori Mountain Running 2023 winners were handmade clay sculptures, crafted with love and artistry by the artist Renevi Polonyfi, of the School of Fine Arts of the University of Ioannina. These unique works of art were truly special and represented the natural beauty of the Zagori region. The theme chosen by the sculptor for the prizes was the “birth of the flower,” which perfectly aligns with the race’s philosophy and the prevailing atmosphere of this year’s event. 

 

ZAGORI Natural Mineral Water, The North Face, and Fifth Element were the event’s Grand Sponsors.

JEEP AUTOLINEA Ioannina was the Sponsor.

NOMAD Premium Greek Honey, Melissa, Costa Coffee, Neversecond, Tailwind, Ready, Anthrax, Dole, Green Cola, Myelements, Dodoni, Ifantis, Igloo, Comodo, Ostracon, Astrakas Mountain Refuge were the Official Supporters.

Zagori Mountain Running was organized by My Adventure with Co-organizers the Region of Epirus and the Municipality of Zagori.

Institutional Supporters were the Northern Pindos National Park and the Vikos-Aoos Geopark. 

The event was held under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism.

Critical was the support offered by the Volunteers Samaritans Corp of the Regional Department of Hellenic Red Cross of Ioannina, the Cultural Association of Tsepelovo “Anastasios Tsouflis,” and all the volunteers who helped during the races on the routes, at the aid stations and the finish. 

 

#zagorirace2023 #zagorimountainrunning #zmr2023 #theplacebeyondthemountain

Photo from the start of the ZAGORAKI Race for children (photo by Zagori Mountain Running)

 

A significant addition to the world of museums opened its doors yesterday, Wednesday, June 26, 2024 both to Greek citizens and international visitors. Nestled beneath the renowned Acropolis Museum, this new exhibit space, the Excavation Museum, showcases a fascinating collection of 1,150 artifacts. These objects, unearthed during the extensive excavations conducted for the construction of the Acropolis Museum and the Athens Metro "Acropolis" station, bear witness to over 4,500 years of human history.

The grand opening of the Excavation Museum was celebrated on Tuesday, June 25, presided over by Her Excellency, the President of the Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou. This new museum offers a unique perspective on the past, presenting artifacts in a way that connects visitors directly with the lives of ancient inhabitants.


A Walk Through History

Upon entering, visitors are greeted by a striking display: 1,150 artifacts arranged in a 35-meter-long showcase. This exhibit resembles a luminous fissure in time, a crack in the spatial continuum that represents the latest layer above the archaeological strata visible around you. The items on display span various periods, each telling a story of the people who lived, worked, and worshipped in this historic area. Memories of Destruction and Revival The journey continues with a section dedicated to the memories of Athens' destruction by Sulla in 86 BC. This part of the exhibit poignantly captures the city's resilience and the enduring spirit of its people.


The Pantheon of Gods & Philosophers

The museum culminates in an enclosed hall, adorned with statues and reliefs of gods and mortals. Here, visitors can marvel at representations of Athena, Artemis, Cybele, Aphrodite, and Asclepius—deities who were central to the lives of Athenians, invoked for the protection of the city, the health and growth of children, love, and the healing of human suffering. In addition to these divine figures, the hall features portraits of renowned philosophers like Plato and Aristotle, as well as a likeness of Empress Eudocia, bridging the ancient and the more recent past.