XpatAthens

XpatAthens

Friday, 01 October 2021 13:49

Autumn Scents

Autumn scents all around Athens!

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Greek-American ultramarathoning legend Constantine “Dean” Karnazes has been appointed by the Greek Ministry of Tourism as the Ambassador of Greek Tourism for the promotion of sports tourism, physical wellness and the Greek Mediterranean diet.
 
The title is awarded for a period of two years. Constantine Dean Karnazes is a frequent traveler throughout Greece. His father is from the Peloponnese and his mother is from the longevity island of Ikaria. He proudly accepted the appointment as Ambassador of Greek Tourism by the Greek Minister of Tourism, Μr. Vassilis Kikilias, stating: “It is a tremendous honor to serve in this role and I see a bright and vibrant future for Greece, which is birthplace of the Olympics and the marathon.” 
 
About Constantine “Dean” Karnazes
Named by TIME magazine as one of the “100 Most Influential People in the World,” Greek-American ultramarathoning legend Constantine “Dean” Karnazes once ran 50 marathons, in all 50 US states, in 50 consecutive days. This NY Times bestselling author has raced and competed around the world, including running 135-miles nonstop across Death Valley and running a marathon to the South Pole. He has twice carried the Olympic Torch and is a recipient of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition Lifetime Achievement Award. 

Photo credit: Loukas Hapsis
Monday, 09 February 2015 10:57

Kae International Movers

International Movers is an expert removal company, specialized in packing, storing and transporting household goods and office effects both domestically and internationally. We have an extensive range of moving services which we provide to organizations and private individuals.

Kae International Movers has affiliated offices worldwide through the representation of Euromovers International and IAM memberships. Kae International have their own offices in GREECE and the CZECH REPUBLIC. Our vision is to become the preferred choice for moving individuals, corporate and organizations by providing our clients with cost-effective, high-level quality services in global moving and relocation.

We aim to achieve this through:

 Creating transport solutions that match the requirements of each client.

  • Operating in a cost effective manner to deliver "value for money"
  • Employing the highest standards of work and commitment to our customers to ensure a smooth, seamless, safe operation that delivers and surpasses our customers’ expectations.
  • Partnering with same quality service providers which reach all parts of the globe.
  • Recruiting, training and developing people who have the desire to serve.
Wednesday, 18 February 2015 13:12

Epidavros – A Quick Day-Trip from Athens

Amidst the blue of the Saronic Gulf, well protected on its own smaller gulf, where the scent from the valley's orange blossoms meets the sea breeze in its picturesque friendly port, Ancient Epidavros, traditional yet modern, both tranquil and cosmopolitan, is always ready to welcome travelers whatever the season. Midway along the east coast of the Argolida district, easy to reach by highway via the Corinth Canal, the little town is built on the site of the ancient city-state of Epidavros.

Quiet pleasant people, occupied in fishing, tending orange groves and tourism, a mild climate, beautiful surroundings and a sound infrastructure provide the framework for all that one needs for a quick get-away from Athens.

Its sheltered location and natural surroundings, the beauty of the landscape and fertility of the soil, attracted not only men but also gods. It was here that Asklepios' most splendid sanctuary was situated. Here yet another important nucleus of ancient Greek civilization was created.

Some History

The first inhabitants of the area were the Carians and then later the Dorians. The city took part in the Trojan War; it fought against the Persians at Plataea and Salamis and found itself on the side of the Spartans in the Peloponnesian War. Good sailors and merchants, the people of Epidavros founded colonies and raised their town to a high level. Their civilization came to light during excavations on the peninsula that bisects the Bay of Epidavros, the "island" as the locals call it today.

We can find remains from the Acropolis with Roman walls, ruins of a palace and houses, columns from the Doric temple and nearby, Mycenaean tombs; while under the sea, not very deep, lies a section of the ancient city. Its jewel however can be found on the west side of the peninsula: the ancient theatre, or the "little one”, as it has been dubbed, to distinguish it from the "big one” in the Sanctuary of Asklepios. Built in the 4th century BC, it was dedicated to Dionysos, but for centuries remained buried under six meters of earth. In 1971, archaeologists began their digs. And today, elegant with its stone seats, it not only reaffirms the achievements of ancient civilization it also plays host to marvelous concerts.

Some Ancient History

Epidaurus was independent of Argos and not included in Argolis until the time of the Romans. With its supporting territory, it formed the small territory called Epidauria. Reputed to be the birthplace of Apollo's son Asclepius, the healer, Epidaurus was known for its sanctuary situated about five miles (8 km) from the town, as well as its theater, which is once again in use today. The cult of Asclepius at Epidaurus is attested in the 6th century BC, when the older hill-top sanctuary of Apollo Maleatas was no longer spacious enough.

The asclepieion at Epidaurus was the most celebrated healing center of the Classical world, the place where ill people went in the hope of being cured. To find out the right cure for their ailments, they spent a night in the ‘enkoimeteria’, a big sleeping hall. In their dreams, the god himself would advise them what they had to do to regain their health. Found in the sanctuary, there was a guest house for 160 guestrooms. There are also mineral springs in the vicinity which may have been used in healing.

The Famous Ancient Theater

The prosperity brought by the Asklepieion enabled Epidaurus to construct civic monuments too: the huge theatre that delighted Pausanias for its symmetry and beauty, which is used once again for dramatic performances, the ceremonial Hestiatoreion (banqueting hall), baths and a palaestra. The theater was designed by Polykleitos the Younger in the 4th century BC. The original 34 rows were extended in Roman times by another 21 rows. As is usual for Greek theatres (and as opposed to Roman ones), the view on a lush landscape behind the skênê is an integral part of the theatre itself and is not to be obscured. It seats up to 15,000 people.

The theatre is marveled for its exceptional acoustics, which permit almost perfect intelligibility of unamplified spoken word from the proscenium or skênê to all 15,000 spectators, regardless of their seating. Famously, tour guides have their groups scattered in the stands and show them how they can easily hear the sound of a match struck at center-stage. A 2007 study by Nico F. Declercq and Cindy Dekeyser of the Georgia Institute of Technology indicates that the astonishing acoustic properties are either the result of an accident or the product of advanced design: The rows of limestone seats filter out low-frequency sounds, such as the murmur of the crowd, and amplify/reflect high-frequency sounds from the stage.

Source: Epidavros.net

 

Friday, 20 February 2015 15:01

Gluten-Free Greek Halva Recipe

Greek halva refers to halva with semolina flour (course wheat flour), which is my personal standard of halva. In Greece, if one receives unexpected special guests whether at one’s home or at a taverna (causal restaurant), halva is one of those desserts that can be whipped up within 30 minutes and the ingredients are always in one's pantry. How to describe it? Something new, yet familiar; almost pudding-like, but can cut like a cake; reminiscent of childhood with the texture and aromatics of cinnamon and cooked cereal.
 
I like to toast pine nuts for the halva, and garnish it with chopped pistachios for great flavor and eye appeal. Nuts are something you can customize in your halva or leave out completely. It is your choice.

INGREDIENTS

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 ½ cups Cream of Rice
3 heaping tablespoons Spanish pine nuts or blanched and shredded almonds (optional)
1 ½ cups sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon plus ½ teaspoon, for garnish
¼ teaspoon cloves, ground
¼ teaspoon salt (none if using salted butter)
2 cups boiling water
½ cup chopped pistachios, for garnish

DIRECTIONS

In a large heavy saucepan, heat the butter until melted over low heat. Add the Cream of Rice, stirring continuously. When the mixture begins to turn golden, add in the pine nuts/almonds and stir until the mixture is golden brown. Stir in sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Add in the boiling water with caution, stir until blended and cook for 2-3 minutes until the syrup is absorbed. Remove from heat and cover for about 15 minutes.

Turn into an 8-by-8 inch dish, press down firmly and even out with a spatula. While it is still hot, garnish by sprinkling on a light dusting of cinnamon and the chopped pistachios. Gently, but firmly press with hands. Allow to cool slightly, and then cut into 16 pieces. Serve. Any leftovers can be stored in refrigerator, covered.

Recipe Details

Makes 16 servings
Time: 30 minutes

By Erin Swing
 

The government was on Tuesday morning expected to submit a final version of its reform proposals to the country’s creditors following several hours of discussions with officials in Brussels on Monday aimed at hammering out a set of measures acceptable to both sides. The list of reforms must be approved by Greece’s creditors to seal last Friday’s agreement foreseeing a four-month extension of the country’s loan agreement.

A government official said on Monday that drafts had been exchanged and that the final version would be ready by Tuesday morning, after a Monday night deadline set by creditors.

Eurozone finance ministers are scheduled to discuss the final document during a teleconference on Tuesday afternoon.

According to sources, the Greek proposals include a crackdown on tax evasion and corruption as well as measures to help taxpayers pay their dues and to tackle nonperforming loans. There were indications that the list would also include a reference to privatizations and plans to crack down on fuel smuggling, which costs the Greek state billions of euros every year.

“We have shown a responsible stance vis-a-vis the people and the creditors, we expect the same from Europe,” government spokesman Gavriil Sakellaridis told Skai TV earlier in the day.

The government is keen to get the green light to move ahead with its proposed reforms instead of a raft of austerity measures agreed to by the previous administration – including further pension cuts and an increase to VAT on the islands.

Sources indicated that the list of measures to be submitted by the new Greek government will not contain a cost-benefit analysis, which would help creditors gauge their potential impact on the budget. The letter is rather likely to set out the broad policy proposals and express the government’s commitment to a much-delayed crackdown on tax evasion.

To read more, please visit ekathimerini.com

Hailing from the UK, I took for granted the eclectic mix of culinary delights there.  I mean, in my father’s small West Country town of Tiverton, there are at least four Indian restuarants, a Thai restaurant and any any number of Chinese restaurants.  Surprisingly, I didn’t find that much choice in Athens – OK, there are the Indian restaurants near Thissio Metro station in the touristy area, but then I came across the Red Elephant near my local neighbourhood.

At a Glance
Cuisine: Indian
Address: 42 Larisis St, Panormou (on the blue line of the Metro)
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 6pm-1am, Sat-Sun 2:30pm-1am. Kitchen closes at 00:00
Seats: 35
Dress Code: Smart-casual
Average Price: €12 – €15 (excluding drinks)
Payment Options: Cash
Take-away: Available (collection only)
Nearest Tube: Panormou
For reservations please call: 2106924421. Due to space limitations, they only accept reservations up to 4 people.

But what’s the food like?
I’ve been several times now – both as a take away and as a sit down meal with friends.  The place is pretty small, but interestingly it doesn’t feel crowded.  And you know, sometimes, in a small enclosed space the smell of cooking can permeate everything: your clothes, hair, etc…no, not here.

Dishes
The menu is vast: Curries (obviously) with your choice of strength of spiciness.  Choose from chicken, lamb, beef or prawn. Samosas, onion bhaji’s and my favourite, Korma (yes yes, I know: my curry choices are not very exciting).  Plus a choice of rices such as mushroom basmati or vegetable pulao.

To read this article in full, please visit Life Beyond Borders.
Sunday, 13 November 2016 18:16

Confessions Of A Greek Marathon Legend

Nikos Polias, multi-times Panhellenic Marathon champion and record breaker, talks about his passion for running the classic route.

From an early age, running was an important part of my life. In the vacant lot in the neighborhood I grew up in and, later, on the track at Karaiskakis Stadium, in my hometown of Piraeus, running became more than a sport for me. It was a way to relax, to express myself as well as to socialize. I still have friends who used to be running buddies back then.

I tried my legs at sprinting for a while, but soon realized that my true potential lay in endurance running. Despite its difficulty, the Classic Marathon route enchanted me from the first time I ran it, back in 1993. It was my first marathon ever and I ended up a Greek champion, much to everyone’s surprise, including my own.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greece Is
Sunday, 12 November 2017 12:34

October 3 - Autumn Colours

Learn everything you need to know about Athen's online English Supermarket, find out the top 3 reasons to buy property in Greece and discover some of the best wineries in Attica!

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Wednesday, 08 January 2020 07:00

Diverse Teams Drive Better Outcomes

“Diverse teams drive better outcomes.” IWG’s Chief Customer Officer and Chief Sales Officer talk female leadership and diversity.

On average, only 33% of women living and working in the European Union are likely to hold a management position. When it comes to the world’s largest corporations, only 24% of women (4.8%) are CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, with female professionals accounting for less than a quarter (24%) of senior roles globally, according to the 2018 Fortune list. In practice however, attitudes are changing.

A 2019 survey by Ipsos reveals that globally, 75% of respondents said they would be comfortable with having a female boss. And following a 2018 IWG gender gap report, it was revealed that 69% of upper middle management roles at International Workplace Group (IWG), the operating brand of Regus, Spaces, HQ, Signature and No. 18 are occupied by women, and women represent close to half (41%) of top paying roles at the company.

For Lorraine Veber and Fatima Koning, Chief Customer Officer and Chief Sales Officer respectively, the reason lies in IWG’s unique company culture in which diversity, flexibility and balance are core values.
Veber, a New York resident, has spent over 20 years nurturing her career with IWG. When she joined Regus – now the largest operating brand of IWG – the company hadn’t opened a single flexible workspace location in the United States. In her new job, she was given the green light to build from scratch.

“The first few months were full-on but being thrown in the deep end allowed me to see the company’s potential and the part I could play within it. Instead of getting carried away by the current, I laid down an anchor, defined what I wanted to achieve, then committed to reaching my goals.”

Veber cites several factors that helped her progress. Build relationships. “Talk to people, especially those you don’t work with directly. Chances are they’ll help you solve a problem by looking at it from a different angle.” Expect as much from your boss as they expect of you. “I need a boss who is always 50% ahead of me in the game. Your boss can demand a lot of you, and that is good, but you can demand a lot of them in helping you grow in return – and you should.”
Above all, Veber holds, you need to strike a balance between what you know and what you don’t.

“I was once asked to manage a finance team and didn’t know the first thing about what they did. I had to tell them: ‘Guys, I’m not going to help you grow in your knowledge, but what I can do is challenge you to see things differently.’ Rather than squeezing myself into a role that didn’t suit me, I used what I did know to best serve the team at hand. It’s another sign that diverse teams complement each other and lead to better outcomes.”
A belief in the value of diversity is also shared by Fatima Koning, a long-term resident of the Netherlands with Moroccan heritage. Koning joined IWG as a Sales Director in 2015 before managing a national market in 2017; she was promoted to Global Senior VP of Sales Transformation the same year before finally beginning her current role in 2018.

“From the moment I stepped through the door, I was struck by the employee diversity. In the Barcelona office alone, almost 40 languages are spoken. It was such a pleasant surprise – I knew I’d joined a company that shared my own values.’”
As a boss, she has made a conscious effort to continue the legacy. “I believe in diversity and the impact of diverse teams on performance. It is my mission to build teams with this outlook, and giving female leaders a fair chance to step up. I’ve definitely had a chance to achieve this while working for IWG.

“It would be great if every single female leader out there commits to supporting the career development of another talented female professional. Women must help other women grow.
“When I hire people, I’m never concerned that because they are a mother, or because they might have to look after someone at home, they won’t be capable to deliver a great job. It just never crosses my mind. At IWG, flexibility is at the top of the agenda.”

With IWG’s recent Global Workspace Survey concluding that 83% of professionals would turn down a job without flexible working, Koning’s mission to promote flexibility and fairness at work is timely.
“As technology is truly enabling flexibility, it’s about time we make use of it and let our people work flexibly. If a boss gives employees the time and space to get their home life totally under control, it fosters loyalty, job satisfaction and ultimately the kind of employee productivity that drives results.”


This content has been sponsored by IWG - an XpatAthens Brand Partner.
Originally published at International Workplace Group





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