Athens International Airport saw a significant increase in number of travelers during March 2018 with a recorded 1.52 million passengers. That is a 10.4 percent increase compared to March 2017. According to AIA, domestic traffic dropped by 4.4 percent.

For the first three months of 2018, the international airport's traffic reached 4 million, surpassing previous years by 8 percent. The number of domestic travelers dropped again, while international travelers saw an increase of 15.9 percent.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Travel Pages

Still a fairly quiet island, Tinos is only a 20-minute ferry ride from the 'glitz and glitter' of Mykonos, but worlds away when it comes to attitude and appearance. Elizabeth traveled to Tinos recently for a photography workshop and shares her experience of exploring the different beaches, the gastronomy scene, and other things to do, where to stay, and what to eat.

"Near the fairy-tale hamlet of Koumaros, introduced to us by Greece Photo Workshops leader Maria, the rocky cliffs of Kolibithra form a perfect horseshoe-shaped bay cradling a sandy crescent beach. With its reputation for having the best breaks on the island – a rarity in a country better known for its still waters – Kolibithra has become a popular yet laid-back spot among Greek surfers."

"On the beach, a guy with a man bun staffed the bar, a repurposed vintage Volkswagen van, from which emanated the Eagles classic, Hotel California. The surfers hung around hoping for a swell, their boards propped against a thatched roof lean-to. Other beach-goers sipped mojitos by the bar, swam or lounged under quirky mushroom-shaped wicker parasols."

"Since anyone arriving on Tinos has to come through the chora, Tinos is an island whose powers of seduction are not immediately apparent, but venture beyond and you will soon fall under its spell."

To read this article in full, please visit: The Globe and Mail

For the 5th consecutive year the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs celebrates French gastronomy with a unique culinary celebration that will take place around the globe from 21 to 24 March 2019. Good/Goût de France is a gourmet festival to celebrate French gastronomy held across the globe! Thousands of dinners “à la française” on the five continents and nation-wide gourmet initiatives. This year’s focus is on socially and environmentally responsible cuisine. The festival was first introduced in 2015 following the inscription of the ‘Gastronomic Meal of the French’ on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. 

 

In 2018, 83 restaurants in Greece took part in the Good/Goût de France event and created original menus to promote French gastronomy in Greece. The event is organized under the auspices of the French Embassy in Greece.

 

For further information, please visit: The French Embassy in Greece

Schools have been closed for a while now, and unfortunately, both kids and parents are finding it rather challenging to discover ways to stay entertained during times of social distancing. Here are some fun activities to tackle boredom and keep kids entertained while schools are closed!

2. Enjoy Your Favorite Board Games & Puzzles
It's challenging to be stuck indoors due to weather (or virus) conditions but with a bunch of snacks, and a stack of games and puzzles staying indoors can be a ton of fun! On the upside, surely you'll stimulate family bonding and create some happy family moments!

3. Make DIY Puffy Paint
Painting is fun, but painting with puffy paint is even better. Young kids love this sensory paint and will spend hours creating their puffy masterpieces! For DIY puffy paint, you will need 3/4 cup shaving cream, 1/4 cup white glue, 1/4 cup flour, food coloring. Mix the ingredients until they are thoroughly combined—Color the paint with food colorings. Use squeeze bottles for delicate artwork or paintbrushes for a thicker texture. Make sure to use thick cardstock instead of plain paper– to avoid sogging–and to let the artwork to air dry for a few hours.

4. Make Rock Candy
Rock candy is a delicious, fun recipe that also doubles as a science experiment because you get to watch the sugar crystals form. Get creative with endless flavor and color combinations that will delight children and grownups alike! One of the best things is that it takes time and patience. It can take up to a week for the rock candy to form, which makes it an ongoing project for the next few days! Learn how to make rock here.

5. Have Fun With A DIY Indoor Bowling Game
This DIY indoor bowling game is fun to have on hand as a great boredom buster. Children can help out with making the pins and use their counting skills to set up the game. Create a simple bowling game with recycled bottles for some stay-at-home fun! The only things you'll need are 10 small water bottles numbered from 1 to 10 with stickers or labels, and a small ball. Place the water bottles in a triangle shape in the garden or at the end of a hall.

6. Make Salt Dough
Use 1 cupful of plain flour (about 250g), half a cup of table salt (about 125g), and half a cup of water (about 125ml). Knead the dough, cut out different shapes, and cook in the oven for 3 hours in low heat. When your creations have completely cooled down, paint them with colors and glitter to create little masterpieces!

7. Make Rainbow Rice
Follow these easy steps to create colored rice without using rubbing alcohol. You will need 1 cup of long-grain white rice, 1/2 tsp vinegar, several drops of liquid food coloring, and a food storage container. Put the rice, food coloring, and vinegar in a food container and shake very well. Open the box and leave the rice to dry for a couple of days. You can make batches of different colored rice. Rainbow rice is excellent for sensory bins and craft projects.

8. Make A Sensory Ice Bucket
Add water in a plastic food container or bucket and toss in small plastic toys such as plastic animals or lego bricks. Let it freeze in the freezer and then ask your children to break the ice and discover what's hidden inside!

9. Make An Indoor Obstacle Course
Use your creativity to put together an obstacle course inside your home. The goal of an obstacle course is to get your child moving. Use any variation of the items below for your toddler's obstacle course. You can use pillows, blankets, sofa, chairs, masking tape, a basketball and hoop, boxes, step stool, a tunnel, and a ball pit. While setting up your obstacle course, include activities such as shooting a ball into a basket, climbing on pillows, crawling under a row of chairs and through a tunnel, and much more. The indoor obstacle course will keep your little ones happy for a long while!

10. Get Reading
Being read to is usually a toddler's favorite time, while older kids also love diving into a good book. Make an effort to read your way through The Book Trust's 100 Best Books– a list of the 100 best children's' books from the last 100 years.

11. Make A Habitat Diorama

Kids love to learn and explore, so help them recreate the habitat of their favorite animal, think of its natural habitat, its food, and its habits. Not everything in a habitat diorama needs to come from nature, leaves can be made out of paper, trees might be made of plaster, and the entire animals can be made from plastic! Use a shoebox, glue, and all your favorite materials to make something truly wonderful.

This content has been sourced and prepared by Codico Lab

As one of Greece's most beloved instruments, you may listen to the bouzouki sound everywhere you go in the country from koutoukia, Greece's underground taverns, to live music performances by Greek rebetiko artists. Would you think though, that bouzouki can even be heard in a hospital's corridors? If you answered no, think again because that's exactly what happened in AHEPA hospital. 

37-year-old Dimitris Kyrtsos, had a tumor removed from his head a few months ago all while playing his favorite musical instrument, the bouzouki, right there in the operating room! As the man explains, he saw videos on YouTube with other people playing instruments during their surgery and he liked the idea. He was under partial anesthesia, which means he remained conscious during the procedure, and he totally nailed the Greek song "Mavromata Mou", which he dedicated to his wife! 

Greece will forbid new road building and development in six of its mountain areas, taking the first step to protect its last remaining virgin habitats, Environment Minister Kostas Skrekas said on Tuesday, January 18th. 

Making the transition to green energy a key priority, the conservative government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has promised to shut down nearly all its lignite-fired plants by 2025 and protect areas with native plants and animals.

Following devastating wildfires fuelled by a protracted heatwave last summer, the government has also promised to build better climate change defenses to protect its forests, which have a key role in reducing greenhouse emissions and attracting visitors.

“We have witnessed extreme weather phenomena and disasters in recent years which pose a great risk for nature and mankind,” Skrekas told an online news conference.

For that reason, Greece will not allow any new roads or any other kind of human construction in six mountains on the islands of Crete and Samothrace, on the Peloponnese peninsula, and in central Greece – which have a huge environmental value and are an integral part of our tourism, he said.

Mitsotakis has pledged to transform Greece’s economy through better use of its natural resources but has been forced to strike a balance between expanding wind parks in mountain areas with the need to protect forest habitats.

Environmental groups and locals have long opposed plans by private companies to build roads and allow the installation of wind turbines in mountain forests, arguing they would scar some of the country’s last remaining virgin areas.

Any permits of different stages for wind turbines that have been issued for wind projects in those mountains will be canceled, Skrekas said.

Originally published on: greece-is.com

When thinking about summer in Greece, one of the first things that pop into your mind, except for the sandy beaches and turquoise waters, is the unsurpassed sunsets of the Greek islands. Indeed, sunsets in Greece are utterly romantic, blissful, and relaxing.

But, you probably don’t know that you don’t have to travel to a Greek island for a memorable golden hour experience. Sunsets in Athens are equally indescribable, unsurpassable, and unforgettable. Here’s a list of 5 places in the Greek capital that every sunset chaser like us will fall in love with!

Areopagus


@iamsmark

Located northwest of the Acropolis, this prominent rock used to be the supreme court of ancient Athens. Today it is just as fascinating, providing panoramic views of the whole city. A beloved hangout spot for locals, there you will see groups of friends and couples chatting and taking in the spectacular vistas any time of the day (or night!).

Kastella


@3_k_0_t_s

Set on a hill overlooking the Port of Mikrolimano, Kastella is, without a doubt, the most picturesque district in Piraeus. As you make your way to the top of the hill, meandering through the narrow, scenic streets, you will encounter impressive neoclassical buildings, architectural gems, and the Veakeio Theatre, until you reach the church of Profitis Ilias where the views over the Saronic Gulf will leave you speechless.

Lycabettus Hill


@chiara.zagli

Gracefully standing 277 meters above sea level, Lycabettus Hill is the highest point in Athens. You can get there by taxi, the funicular, or on foot, but, no matter what, the views from the top are rewarding. Go all the way up until you reach the Holy Church of Saint Isidore, a chapel of striking beauty, and enjoy the mesmerizing views of the islands of Salamina and Aegina.

Temple Of Poseidon At Sounio


@Tibortokai

At the end of the Sounio Peninsula, at the southernmost point of Attica, lies the Temple of Poseidon, a site of worship of the sea god Poseidon, built during Athens’ Golden Age. Today, it continues to enthrall visitors who, except for the bewitching views, can swim in crystalline waters while marveling at the marble-white columns of a 5th-century BC temple. A combination you can’t miss!

Parthenon


@manon_alzieu

Of course, a visit to Athens isn’t complete until you go all the way up to the temple of Parthenon that dominates the hill of the Acropolis. Undeniably Athens’ most famous historical landmark, a symbol of democracy, and a masterpiece of ancient architecture, Parthenon is the perfect place to enjoy the sunset, just like Athenians did 2.500 years ago!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Translated by: Codico Lab

When it comes to embracing a healthy lifestyle, one cannot overlook the culinary delights of Greece. Renowned for its rich history, stunning landscapes, and ancient culture, Greece also boasts a culinary tradition that goes beyond mere taste—it's a celebration of health and well-being. But what makes Greek food one of the most nutritious and wholesome cuisines in the world?

Greek cuisine owes much of its healthful reputation to the Mediterranean diet, a nutritional powerhouse celebrated for its benefits. Loaded with fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and heart-healthy olive oil, this diet forms the backbone of Greek gastronomy. The careful balance of these elements not only tantalizes the taste buds but also promotes overall well-being.

One of the secrets behind the healthfulness of Greek food lies in its reliance on fresh, locally sourced ingredients. From succulent olives and juicy tomatoes to crisp greens and aromatic herbs, Greek dishes are a testament to the use of seasonal, homegrown produce. This commitment to quality not only enhances flavor but also ensures a higher concentration of essential nutrients.

Greek cuisine, with its extensive coastline, incorporates a generous amount of seafood. Fish, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, takes center stage, contributing to heart health and overall vitality. From grilled octopus to classic Greek salads with anchovies, the Greek culinary repertoire harnesses the goodness of the sea for a wholesome dining experience.

Greek cuisine relies heavily on a myriad of herbs and spices, each with its own set of health benefits. Oregano, rosemary, thyme, and sage not only add depth to dishes but also bring antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties to the table. These natural flavor enhancers not only elevate taste but also contribute to the holistic well-being of those savoring Greek meals.

Health and pleasure need not be mutually exclusive. The marriage of fresh, quality ingredients, time-honored recipes, and a culture that values the joy of eating creates a culinary experience that not only delights the taste buds but also nurtures the body. So, the next time you savor the goodness of Greek food, know that you're not just eating a meal – you're indulging in a celebration of health and vitality. Opa!