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10 best beaches to visit in Greece this summer

The Greek Herald
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10 best beaches to visit in Greece this summer

Greece is home to many of the world’s best beaches known for crystal blue waters, beach coves and lively sea-side restaurants and taverns.

With thousands of beaches to choose from on the inhabited Greek islands and waters of the Ionian and Aegean Sea, Greece is a beach lovers paradise.

Here are Greece’s 10 best beaches:

Navagio Beach. Photo: The World Travel Guy

Navagio Beach, Zakynthos

Navagio Beach, sometimes referred to as “Smugglers Cove,” is on the coast of Zakynthos, in the Ionian islands of Greece. Visitors can only visit the island by ship to see the famous shipwreck lying on sand close to the water. The wreck of “Panagiotis” has been on the island since 1980 and is visited by millions of tourists.

Sarakiniko Beach.

Sarakiniko Beach, Milos

Sarakiniko is also known as Moon Beach, due to its clear waters surrounded by moonlike white landscapes, cliffs and coves. Located on the north shore of the island of Milos, the volcanic rock has been shaped over time by the northern winds creating a moonscape. The locals refer to the beach as Lunar.

Elafonissi Beach.

Elafonissi Beach, Crete

Elafonisi in Crete is a popular tourist destination known for its pink sand beach and clear, blue waters. Tiny deposits of microorganisms living in a symbiotic relationship with native seaweed in combination with ocean movement create the pink beach sand. The beach is part of the Natura 2000 Protection Program to protect the seashells and natural wonders of the island. 

Voidokilia Beach.

Voidokilia Beach, Messinia

Voidokilia Beach, Messinia is a nature lovers paradise and only a 2.5 hour trip from Athens. This beach has symbolic meaning naturally carved in the sand dunes. The sand on the beach forms a semi-circular strip of dunes in the shape of the Greek letter Omega, symbolising endings. Very close to Voidokilia beach, a lagoon with over 254 species of birds is considered an important bird sanctuary. 

Voutoumi Beach.

Voutoumi Beach, Antipaxos

Voutoumi Beach in Antipaxos is a blue oasis with rock formations and cypress trees to resemble the true Mediterranean spirit. Situated in the Ionian islands in the city of Corfu, the beach has two small taverns perfect for an evening out after a day by the beach.

Plaka Beach.

Plaka Beach, Naxos

Plaka Beach on Naxos is a popular choice as it’s quieter than other tourist destinations on the Greek islands. Covered in milky white, soft sand and surrounded by trees called “tamarisks,” the Plaka beach is an exotic relaxing destination by the ocean. 

Platys Gialos Beach.

Platys Gialos Beach, Mykonos

Platys Gialos Beach on the popular Greek island of Mykonos is a family friendly and scenic place to relax. Located approximately 5km from the town centre, this lively beach is close to other popular beaches in the area and close to good hotels.

Balos beach.

Balos beach, Crete

Balos beach in Crete is a shallow blue lagoon suitable for all ages. The sand leads all the way to a rocky mound resembling an ancient fortress. To visit the beach, a ferry will take you from Kissamos to Balos, where you can spend the day exploring. 

Paleokastritsa Beach.

Paleokastritsa Beach, Corfu

Paleokastritsa beach on the island of Corfu is known as one of the best beaches in the area for its emerald water and surrounding, deep green trees on the hills. With bars and food located on the beach front, it’s a place to kick up your feet and treat yourself to an ocean side day.  

Astir Beach.

Astir Beach, Athens

Astir Beach is a private beach in Athens approximately 20 minutes from the airport. The beach is surrounded by pines along a 400 meters long sandy beach. 

Source: Escape.

 

‘Saved me’: George Taleporos on Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme

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‘Saved me’: George Taleporos on Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme

This week marked 10 years since Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) was created to support people with disabilities.

According to the ABC, the interim findings of a long-running review of the NDIS were released on Friday, and one of five key challenges it identified was that far more children were on the scheme than expected. 

The full report will be delivered in October and many of those with disability are afraid that changes to the scheme may lead to cuts, despite the federal government’s assurances.

One of the advocates who fought for the scheme 10 years ago was Dr George Taleporos. He lives with spinal muscular atrophy, a severe physical disability that means he relies on round-the-clock support.

Dr Taleporos said pre-NDIS support was “grossly inadequate” and akin to “competitive misery.”

“Parents were on the brink of abandoning their kids at respite centres and people were forced to live in nursing homes,” he said. “You basically had to relinquish your child to the state to get any support.”

Photo by alexandre saraiva carniato. Pexels

Dr Taleporos is a doctor of psychology and hosts a podcast called Reasonable and Necessary, named after two of the NDIS’s key criteria for support. It’s focused on helping participants and their families navigate the system.

He said the NDIS “saved [his] life.”

“I can live in my own home in my own community… I can decide who supports me,” Dr Taleporos said. “It means I can work and pay taxes. I’ve got a PhD… I love my life.”

But for all the scheme’s successes, it’s been far from perfect. Fraud and bureaucracy have plagued the system for years. Annual spending on the NDIS has grown to more than $35 billion.

The NDIS Minister Bill Shorten this year said the government can make sufficient savings by cracking down on issues such as fraud and price gouging, rather than by targeting participant plans.

“We need to see the NDIS as an investment in people’s lives. It is not a frivolous expense,” Dr Taleporos said.

Source: ABC

Footballer Terry Antonis signs for Melbourne City FC

The Greek Herald
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Footballer Terry Antonis signs for Melbourne City FC

Midfielder, Terry Antonis, has signed for Melbourne City FC for the 2023/24 season.

The 29-year-old brings added experience to City’s squad, having made 144 A-League Men’s appearances across stints with Western Sydney, Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC.

Antonis has already made 12 appearances in AFC Champions League, which City will compete in for the second time this season. He has scored two goals and assisted a further four in the competition.

Melbourne City FC Director of Football, Michael Petrillo, said: “Terry is a player highly motivated and driven to get back to playing football to the level he has previously.”

“We have done our due diligence and know that he is in excellent physical condition,” Petrillo added.

“We have seen the quality of Terry’s game in previous seasons; he has a great attacking mindset, excellent technical ability and the physical capacity to become an important part of our midfield.”

Photo: keepup.com.au

Terry Antonis said: “Melbourne City has been the most successful club in Australia in recent years, so obviously things are going right. When my agent came to me with the move, I saw it as a really exciting opportunity and I’m looking forward to working with Rado again.”

“I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of a few Champions League campaigns both in Australia and while playing in the K-League, so that’s an opportunity I’m really looking forward to having again,” Antonis said.

“I’m hoping I can add some experience to the squad and I’m really excited to play for this great Club alongside some great players.”

All defendants in Alkis Kampanos’ murder case found guilty

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All defendants in Alkis Kampanos’ murder case found guilty

All 12 defendants who went to trial over the killing of 19-year-old Alkis Kampanos in Thessaloniki in February last year, were found guilty of murder by a mix jury court on Thursday.

According to kathimerini.com, the jury found seven of the 12 youths guilty of manslaughter with possible intent – lowered from an initial charge of premeditated murder – and five guilty of complicity.

Kampanos was beaten and stabbed in the upper thigh and bled to death while two of his friends, aged 19 and 20, were injured in a deadly attack by a gang of youths on February 1, 2022.

Tributes flow for Alkis. Photo: InTime News.

Before the attack, the defendants had asked the three friends, who were sitting outside an apartment building in the Harilaou district, which football team they supported.

They were then attacked with knives, clubs, metal pipes, crowbars and a folding sickle – with murderous intent, the prosecutor’s report said.

The trial had begun in mid-January this year.

Source: kathimerini.com

New Dior couture collection inspired by Greek statues

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New Dior couture collection inspired by Greek statues

The Christian Dior label opened Haute Couture Fashion Week 2023 with designs inspired by Greek statues at Rodin Museum in Paris on Monday. 

The runway Dior designs paid homage to the classical-era statues in ancient Greece. A long white woollen dress with a matching cape was the first piece to kick off the show.

Models wearing Christian Dior designs inspired by Greek statues.

Models were draped in simple, sophisticated designs with flat sandals to embody the classical essence of ancient Greek statues.

Dior designer, Maria Grazia Chiuri, told AFP: “This collection is not for the red carpet as we imagine it today. These are not items that are necessarily designed to be seen by others. They are more for the person who is wearing them.”

Photo: Acielle / StyleDuMonde.
Braids by Guido Palau. Photo: Vogue.
Hairstyles for the show.

Hairstylist, Guido Palau, and team braided the model’s hair into teardrop-shaped braids adding a classical element to the collection.

“Maria Grazia loves femininity and beauty, and was looking at ancient Greek references where the women looked so strong but romantic,” Mr Palau said, according to Vogue.

Greece’s Prime Minister pledges to ‘fix sins of the past’

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Greece’s Prime Minister pledges to ‘fix sins of the past’

Re-elected Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has pledged his conservative government would “fix the sins of the past” and over the next four years cut taxes, boost wages and pensions, and repay bailout debts earlier than expected.

According to kathimerini.com, the leader of the centre-right New Democracy party said in his first parliamentary address since the election that his party received a mandate to move fast with reforms.

Mitsotakis pledged to help the country achieve robust growth, regain this year an investment grade credit rating, and repay earlier than expected bilateral loans from Greece’s first bailout agreement with the eurozone.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

The Prime Minister promised to give pensioners a one-off annual bonus again this year, extend measures to shield households from a cost-of-living crisis and increase a tax-exemption threshold by 1,000 euros for households with children from next year.

Mitsotakis also said the monthly minimum wage would be raised to 950 euros from 780 euros currently, while social security contributions would be cut by one percentage point. A business tax on the self-employed would be gradually reduced.

Mitsotakis says Greece, still the eurozone’s most indebted nation, can achieve primary surpluses of around 2 per cent annually, despite the relief measures.

Source: kathimerini.com

2000-year-old Greek altar found in Sicily

The Greek Herald
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2000-year-old Greek altar found in Sicily

A 2,000-year-old Greek altar was discovered at the archaeological site of Segesta on the island of Sicily, Italy on June 29. 

The site of Segesta was an ancient Greek city in the mountains known for its 5th century BC temple.

Sicilian authorities said the Greek altar was used by families for worship before the rise of the Roman empire in the first century Before Christ (BC). 

Archaeological Park of Segesta, Italy.

Regional culture minister Francesco Paolo Scarpinato told Economic Times: “The Segesta site never ceases to amaze us.”

“Excavations continue to bring to light… pieces that add new perspectives and interpretations to a site where multiple civilisations are stratified,” Scarpinato added.

Source: Economictimes

Greek escape room voted best in the world

The Greek Herald
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Greek escape room voted best in the world

A Greek escape room Lockhill, located in the west Athens district of Nea Ionia, was voted number one in the world by Top Escape Rooms Project Enthusiasts (TERPECA) for 2023.

The escape room was number one among 929 rivals in 28 countries around the world. 

Greek escape room Lockhill in Athens. Photo: Lockhill.

Lockhill was described as one of the best escape rooms because of its scary “Chapel and Catacombs.”

Greek and foreign escape room enthusiasts also noted that the props, scenery and audio-visual effects with live actors added mystery and suspense, setting Lockhill apart from other escape rooms.

Lockhill.

The owner and creator of Lockhill, Vasilis Dalitsikas, told AMNA.gr: “It is truly an honour for me that one of my creations was awarded by a very large section of people in Greece and abroad as the best escape room in the world.” 

“When people who have experience with more than 1,000 escape rooms worldwide tell you that yours is the best they have played, this is incredibly rewarding. It gives me the energy to make more and new rooms-experiences,” Dalitsikas added.

Greek streets among the world’s most beautiful

The Greek Herald
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Greek streets among the world’s most beautiful

A Southeast Asia news website, Seasia.Stats, has ranked two streets in Greece among the “The World’s 20 Most Beautiful Streets.”

In first place was Symi Harbour at Livadia, with Anafiotika in Athens coming in seventh place.

Anafiotika under the Acropolis.

From Symi Harbour, people can see a coastal village studded with pastel-coloured houses all piled on top of one another. 

Anafiotika, on the other hand, is nestled under the Acropolis and forms part of the old historical Athenian neighbourhood called Plaka. It is known for its white-washed houses and colourful features. 

Greece to set up ‘visitor zones’ at Acropolis to tackle long queues

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Greece to set up ‘visitor zones’ at Acropolis to tackle long queues

Greece’s Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said visitor zones will be implemented at the Acropolis in Athens to address the problem of long tourist queues.

This comes after Mendoni confirmed that visits to the ancient monument have increased by 80 per cent compared to the corresponding period in 2019.

Photos have also emerged recently on social media of long queues of tourists waiting in the sun to visit the Acropolis.

Photo: kathimerini.gr

According to Mono News, Mendoni said the zones program has been designed since last October and is 95 percent ready to be applied. The visitor zones will be in place in July.

The zones will involve a specific number of tickets for specific hours, something that mainly has to do with big group visits, such as cruise visitors who cover the mornings until 2pm.

Shade as people wait in queues, as well as drinkable water outside the entrance of the archaeological site, will follow soon.

Sources: kathimerini.com, mononews

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