Registrations are open: 6th Poseidon Athens Half Marathon

6th Poseidon Athens Half Marathon

The 6th Poseidon Athens Half Marathon, the great athletic event aiming to raise awareness regarding diabetes and obesity, will be held on Sunday, April 26, 2015.

With the phrase “Everyone’s a winner” as its moto, the event includes several races apart from the Half Marathon race such as a Relay Half Marathon race (2 runners), a quarter Marathon race, a Fun Run and a Power Walking race.
The courses make their way past the most beautiful spots of the coastline at Faliro area. In the case of the Half Marathon race, these include among others the Nautical Tradition Park, the battleship Averof, the trireme “Olympias”, the Water Square, the Park of Kallithea and the Peace and Friendship Stadium.
The finish line for all races is in the track of the Cultural and Sports Centre of the Municipality of Palaio Faliro.
Apart from the races, various other events will also take place from April 24 to April 26, inviting everyone to participate.
The event is under the auspices of the Municipality of Palaio Faliro, the Hellenic Association of Mass Popular Sports & Ultra Running Clubs (EOSLMA-Y), the European Federation “Sports for All” (UESpT) and the Hellenic Diabetes Association (EDE).
For more info: www.poseidon-athenshalfmarathon.com
 

26/04/2015 - 26/04/2015

Location: ATTICA ATHENS

(source:visitgreece)

Hours - Comments

Date: 26/04/2015. Area: Athens. Place: Faliro bay area. Start. T.: 08:30 (Half Marathon race, Relay race, ¼ Marathon race), 08:45 (Fun Run, Power Walking), 09:00 (all other races).

Amphipolis most searched word by Greeks on Google

The uncovering of the Alexander the Great-era tomb at Amphipolis in northern Greece is the subject that most intrigued Greek web users, according to statistics made public on Tuesday by Google.
According to the search engine, Amphipolis was the most searched word on Greek Google this year.
Elections featured heavily in the top 10, with three references: “Elections 2014,” “Where do I vote” and “Interior Ministry” – the latter being the government department that publishes details of polling stations and results.
State broadcaster NERIT was the third most popular search, followed by this year’s edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. The 2014 World Cup and the iPhone 6 also made it into the top 10.
(source: ekathimerini.com)

Christmas wishes

Santa Claus in aquarium Crete! (video)

With immersion suit with the red costume appeared in the Aquarium of Crete Santa Claus offering a unique spectacle for those found in Thalassocosmos.

Up Christmas at regular intervals will make the "dive" in the Aquarium, it feeds the fish and turtles while providing unique moments in thousands of children are expected to go through the Thalassocosmos.

In the company of the Aquarium will be added besides Santa Claus and ... Mermaid that the coming days will make its presence felt in areas of Thalassokosmos.

 (source:cretapost-youtube)

Wine routes link vineyards to ancient sites

Visitors can learn more about wine and antiquity, seeing how the two are linked..

 

Attica vineyards have created a non-profit urban company “Wines of Athens”. Through this co-op they hope to promote local varieties of wine and link these to the Athens’ archaeological sites and attractions.
These “wine routes” aim to produce quality vintages and highlight the local Savvatiano grape that grows in the Attica region.
The vineyards participating in the “wine routes” are open to visitors to allow taste tests of their wines. They also offer visitors the chance to buy wines on the spot.
The initiative also includes some historic wine makers in the area, including the Kokotou Estate, Anastasia Fragou Wineries, Markou Vineyards, Papagiannakou wineries and Mylona Microwinery.
(source:protothema)

European Travel Commission: Greece Among Top Destinations in Europe!!

The European Travel Commission (ETC) has included Greece among Europe’s top 10 destinations by international tourist arrivals for the first three quarters of 2014.
In its latest report “European Tourism–Trends & Prospects”, the ETC noted that Greece has grown by a “stunning” 16 percent, partly thanks to the recovery of business travel.
According to the report, data for the first three quarters of this year paint a very positive picture for destinations in Europe, with growth spread across virtually all reporting destinations.
Among Europe’s top 10 destinations by international tourist arrivals, Spain, the second most visited destination, has grown by 9% through August, on top of nearly 61 million visits reported for 2013. Turkey, ranked number four, mirrors this performance with a seven percent increase. Germany, Europe’s fifth most visited destination, has continued its strong track record with current performance at five percent. Greece ranked number 10 among Europe’s top destinations for the first three quarters of the year.
In addition, the ETC found that European tourism grew strongly throughout 2014, with data up to August pointing to a four percent increase in foreign visits. Growth in large destinations in Southern and Northern Europe exceeded expectations, and strong two-digit growth was reported by a large number of smaller destinations.
Also, data points to a rebound of short breaks on top of main holidays, backed by increased consumer spending power in key source markets, the ETC noted in the report.
Europe is the world’s No. 1 tourist destination with 563 million international arrivals and more than 50 percent of the market share of worldwide tourism.
(source:gtp)

Traditional holiday food

Holidays are coming and very few people can resist the seductive aroma of gingerbread cookies, roast turkey, Christmas pudding and other delicacies traditionally prepared and consumed this time of year.

Greece has its own traditional holiday dishes and it is a great Christmas destination for foodies, especially for those who have a sweet tooth. These are the top 5 traditional holiday foods you simply must try!
Christopsomo
This Greek bread, which translates as “Christ’s bread”, is decorated with an early form of the Christian cross and is sometimes served with honey on Christmas Eve.

Melomakarona
The melomakarono is an egg-shaped Greek dessert made mainly from flour, olive oil, and honey.

Kourabiedes
Kourabiedes resemble a light shortbread, typically made with almonds. These pastries are shaped either into crescents or balls, then baked till slightly golden. After they cool, they are usually rolled in icing sugar.

Vasilopita
Vasilopita is a New Year’s Day bread or cake in Greece which contains a hidden coin or trinket which gives good luck to the receiver.

Diples
Diples is a Greek dessert, made of thin sheet-like dough. The dough is rolled into long, thin strips, frie, folded in hot oil and then dipped in warm honey, chopped nuts and cinnamon. Diples are typically served in New Year’s celebrations.(source:protothema)

Gavdos wins a place amongst the 10 hidden paradise islands of the world!!

Gavdos wins a place amongst the 10 hidden paradise islands of the world

Thrillist site publishes a list of 10 hidden paradise islands of the world which remain unknown to many – Historical Gavdos is one of them.

Gavdos – Greece

With fewer than 50 residents and a free naturism camping, the island attracts campers and naturalists from all over the world. Only a few know the island since  It is accessible only by boat and most tourists choose the most popular and closest Crete.

Saba – Caribbean
It has fewer than 2.000 inhabitants and has only one road. There aren’t any sandy beaches and luxurious resorts in this little paradise of 12 square kilometers, but only a potentially active volcano.

Staniel Cay – Bahamas
The only  5 square kilometers island does not offer many accommodation options. On the other hand the lovers of the sea can explore its amazing underwater caves.

Palmyra Atoll – Pacific Ocean
An unspoiled garden of Eden with attractions of damaged shipwrecks and a legend for a buried treasure.

 Utila – Honduras
A tiny island with white beaches, plenty of parties and 12 organized dive spots for those who want to swim with the harmless, but scary whale sharks.

Lamu – Kenya
Accessible only by wooden boat. Lamu is a strange window into the past, where donkeys are the main form of transportation, the locals live off the fish they catch in the evening and the houses are made of coral and shells, creating a truly exotic getaway.

Palm Jumeirah – Dubai
An artificial creation with sand and stones in the shape of a palm, which includes luxury villas and shops like Beverly Hills.

Vieques – Puerto Rico
For over 50 years the US Navy used about two thirds of the island for free shooting, but now is a calm paradise with stunning reefs, free semi-wild horses and striking plants.

Fernando de Noronha – Brazil
An ideal place for snorkeling and diving or observing wildlife, with very friendly dolphins that swim in the water.(source:protothema)

Survey: Only Quarter of Britons Want UK to Keep Parthenon Marbles..

Only 26 percent of Britons believe that the sculptures that once adorned the ancient Parthenon in Greece should remain in London’s British Museum, according to a recent opinion poll conducted by international market UK research firm, YouGov, on behalf of The Times newspaper.
The poll was conducted a few days after the British Museum decided to lend a Parthenon sculpture to Russia’s State Hermitage Museum – an action that angered the Greek government.
The poll found that nearly one in two Britons (49 percent) believe that the Parthenon Marbles should be returned to Greece, while 24 percent did not express an opinion.
When asked if they agreed with the decision of the British Museum to send the Parthenon sculpture on a loan to Russia, 39 percent of respondents said they agreed with the decision, while 37 percent disagreed.
Generally on the issue of lending exhibits displayed in British museums to other museums around the world, 57 percent of respondents said they were in favor against 25 percent who argued that sculptures could be damaged that way.
The marble statues that once decorated the Acropolis in Athens have been the subject of dispute since they were taken from the Greek capital by the Earl of Elgin in 1803 and later housed in London’s British Museum.
The opinion poll took place between 7 and 8 December and among 1,589 Britons.
 A caryatid from the Erechtheion, stands alone, displayed at the British Museum.
(source:gtp)