Greece launched its tourism season Friday amid a competitive scramble across the Mediterranean to lure vacationers emerging from lockdowns.
“We’re all vaccinated, the tables are outside and spread out, with hand sanitizers on each one. We’re ready. Now we wait,” Kapri, owner of the Naxos beachside restaurant ‘Gorgona’, said. During a six-month lockdown, Gorgona closed for the first time in its 50-year history.
The European Union has yet to roll out its cellphone-friendly travel pass system. But southern member-states, driven deeper into debt by the pandemic and highly dependent on tourism revenues, are not waiting.
A worker places chairs at a tavern in Plaka beach, on the Aegean island of Naxos, Greece, Wednesday, May 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Croatia has already reopened, as has Cyprus, joined Friday by Greece where residents were allowed to leave home without an electronic permit for the first time in six months.
Last year, the number of visitors to Greece plummeted by 78.2% to 7.4 million — from a record 34 million in 2019 — according to official data, with a corresponding drop in tourism revenues.
Greece is hoping to claw back half the 2019 visitor level. It’s vowed to finish vaccinating its entire island population over the next six weeks and will even waive test requirements for tourists who have received vaccines made in Russia and China that are not approved for use domestically.
A company of tourists pose for a photograph as the sun sets in Chora, on the Aegean island of Naxos, Greece, Thursday, May 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Other Mediterranean countries are also looking for an edge. Malta is promising visitors vouchers to go diving and cash rebates to high-end hotel customers.
In Turkey, visitors from abroad have been exempt from stay-at-home orders applying to Turks, thus enjoying an empty Istanbul, and little-populated beach resorts. Starting Monday, travellers from China, Britain, Australia, and 13 other countries will be allowed in without even having to present a negative COVID-19 test.
Portugal is the only southern European country to so far make Britain’s so-called Green List of quarantine-free destinations.
In neighboring Spain, Trade and Tourism Minister Reyes Maroto said her government was in “constant” consultations with Britain to try to have its travel status upgraded. Some 18 million U.K. holidaymakers traveled to Spain in 2019.
Italy is expected to drop a five-day quarantine requirement for travelers from the EU, Britain and Israel this weekend, but many in the hospitality industry are still bracing for another tough year.
“I think (tourism) is going to increase but very slowly. For this year we have to accept whatever comes,” said Elisabetta Menardi, manager of the Ca’ Foscolo apartment hotel in Venice.
Written and performed by Alex Lykos, Jawbone is a provocative, bold, and controversial dark comedy which examines the mythology of the modern day “successful man.”
By the modern definition, a “successful man” has a high-paying job, is married, 2 kids, an investment property and takes the family on regular holidays. Tim hasn’t achieved any of these milestones. His family, friends and society see him as a failure – as does he. It’s at this rock-bottom state where he breaks from the shackles of his own comatose existence and begins living on the edges – standing up to his more “successful” married brother, quitting his job, gambling, drinking, exploring his sexuality and finding love.
Alex Lykos is the writer of Alex & Eve feature film and stage trilogy, festival darling feature film Me & My Left Brain, critically acclaimed Better Man, A Long Night, The Negotiating Table, It’s War and Australia’s Game The Musical.
JAWBONE will also double as the 15 year anniversary of Marrickville Theatre Company with a gala opening night on the 26th of May celebrating 15 years of independent modern Australian storytelling.
The Greek Herald sat down with Lykos to discuss his upcoming show:
Jawbone is unique because it is a one man show, written and performed by yourself. Why did you choose to make it a one man show?
When Covid hit, we didn’t know what the future held for us, particularly for those of us in the arts industry. Our previous shows had an average cast size of 8 or so. I knew that trying to put on a show with a cast that size was dangerous. So I examined the one-person show format because at least I could rehearse at home during lockdown. I began writing the show in March last year and by July I started collaborating with composer George Ellis who wrote the music for the piece.
The story plays on the life of a “successful man”. What was the influence and reasoning behind this and can you describe the process in making it into an interesting, intriguing story?
I am in my 40s now and many times when I attend a social gathering, it feels more like, excuse the language, a “dick-swinging” contest. Men are constantly competing over who has more money. Someone actually told me the success of a man is measured by the number of square metres he owns and the number of kids he has. This person’s definition of success I guess haunted me in many ways. In a city like Sydney, if you don’t have money, you can easily feel like a complete failure.
So telling a story from the perspective of someone who is essentially a failure and is now in a position where he has nothing to lose, opened the story up.
You’ve mentioned that writing and performing the show has been quite cathartic. Can you explain why?
I personally went through a very difficult period during covid, both personally and professionally. The way I coped was by writing this story. It was an outlet of sorts which allowed me to release the angst, the anger I had towards myself and in the character of Tim, felt like I had someone who could confide to.
What do you want the audience to take away from your performance?
I want the audience to laugh, cry, feel and perhaps stimulate discussion about the serious themes that are being examined.
You’ve written feature films, theatre shows and now a one man stage performance. What has been your favourite thing to write and is there a sense of excitement when writing new and compelling stories?
Each story I have written has been pleasing for different reasons. Alex & Eve was pleasing because it played at a time when the communities wanted a story about the power of understanding and acceptance so it was pleasing to see, on a nightly basis, Greeks and Lebanese in the audience coming together enjoying a piece of work.
Jawbone led me to composer George Ellis. You don’t ever really know how a collaboration will go with another creative. But there was a magic between us from the first moment. We just clicked. It just happened. And the most memorable aspect of creating this story was the sessions I had with George. I’d go over and perform bits of the show and he would create and play music right there and then in front of me, it was extraordinary. We’d then break, have a glass of wine(white), and talk about life. It was just a memorable experience. The music he created is beautiful and it stirs the emotions(and makes my job as an actor so much easier). It’s been one of my best and most treasured collaborations.
When the Preston project team heard about a bare white wall at a local school, they sprang into action to come up with a plan to help reimagine the space.
The team brought in local artist Efrossini Chaniotis to work with students from the school to look at how they can brighten up a once-dreary wall in the student lounge.
Highlighting the importance of family, and fondly referred to as the ‘Preston Louvre’, the artwork represents a gallery wall with more than 60 3D frames of multiple sizes and shapes, filled with colourful artwork.
Efrossini Chaniotis with a St John’s College student. Photo: Supplied.
“With the Louvre wall, I wanted to create a concept and artwork that had artistic integrity with combined multi purpose for school: symbolically and as a teaching tool,” Chaniotis said to The Greek Herald.
“Believing strongly in the power of art and the image, in 10 days I created more that 70 individual artworks (emulating framed, hung paintings in a Louvre style gallery) that refected art history, Hellenism, Greek, creative learning, Orthodox faith, multiculturalism, the school’s history and environment.”
“Colourful empty frames were also included so that students artworks could be interchanged within the gallery wall throughout the year. A mirror was also added so students can see their own reflection amongst the wall of powerful images of identity and culture”
The project took around two weeks to be completed, with the entire school community adding ideas to the piece, from students and parents to teaching staff.
“My favourite painting is the peace dove. Peace is what we need in this world, we need to be kind to one another. It’s great to have this at our school,” St John’s College primary school student Georgia said.
The collage of different themes means the school can use the mural as a teaching tool during art lessons, with some picture frames left empty for art students to complete at a later date.
Efrossini Chaniotis. Photo: Supplied.
“The idea of this project is to really encapsulate who we are, here at St John’s College, but also the broader Australian community and the Greek community,” Anna Urban, Principal of St John’s College, said.
“We celebrate Greek Orthodox Easter where we celebrate faith, and our family values. This artwork is really important as it captures so many things that are important to us, it’s significant to us culturally.”
“The mural will be here for us forever to enjoy and to use in our teaching and learning, as well as in our cultural celebrations within our community.”
St John’s College students. Photo: Supplied.
Upon it’s completion, the Local Member for Northcote, Kat Theophanous, as well as VicTrack and Alliance representatives, came to observe the incredible wall of art.
The level crossing removal project team enjoyed collaborating with the school and will be sure to keep an eye on the ‘Preston Louvre’ as construction on the rail project progresses.
The reported ‘toxic culture’ spreading within Adelaide City Council will be revealed in a tell-all report to be released to the public within a month-and-a-half.
Two months ago, the council voted to keep the report secret until 2028 on the basis of staff advice. The findings of the investigation by external contractors have not even been revealed to the council’s elected members.
Deputy Mayor Mary Couros pushed for the release of the report and received the unanimous support of her colleagues on Tuesday night.
The report was commissioned by the council last year after its dominant Team Adelaide faction raised concerns about strained relationships between some elected members and the council’s administration.
It is understood the report details the extent of the problems between councillors and staff, as well as investigating dissatisfaction among staff with the overall administration of the council and the behaviour of some councillors.
Adelaide City Council acting chief executive Claire Mockler said she had already engaged lawyers to prepare the report for public release.
Ms Couros said releasing the report would “end this discussion” and stop “lingering” scuttlebutt about the culture of the council.
Veteran Adelaide City Councillor Anne Moran. Picture: AAP / Russell Millard
Adelaide City Councillor Phillip Martin. Picture: The Advertiser / Morgan Sette
Cr Alex Hyde said the treatment of some staff had been “heartbreaking to say the least”
“I think our staff deserve better, I think our staff deserve to be heard,” Cr Hyde said.
“I think any bad behaviour that may or may not be present … should be aired and it should be aired publicly.”
Cr Phillip Martin declared a conflict of interest on the basis that Cr Couros previously suggested he was mentioned in the report, while Cr Anne Moran – who has regularly clashed with other councillors – was not in the room.
A special event was organised by Victoria’s Greek National Day Committee on Tuesday at the traditional tavern “ELIOS”, holding an honorary dinner for the new Consul General of Greece in Melbourne, Emmanuel Kakavelakis.
The event was also honoured by the presence of Fr Evmenios Vasilopoulos, representing the Holy Archdiocese of Australia.
During the evening, all presidents and representatives of Victoria’s parish organisations and federations, as well as the principals and managers of the Greek day schools, were given the opportunity to welcome the new Consul General. At the same time, they had the opportunity to exchange views on the effective work of the Committee, also discussing future activities the Committee will be able to undertake with the aim of further promoting the Greek Parish.
The President of the Victorian Committee for 2021, Tony Tsourdalakis, welcomed the official guests and members of the Committee. Tsourdalakis referred in detail to the rich program of the 200th anniversary marking the beginning of the Greek Revolution, in which the Greek Parish participates as a whole. The President also spoke about future plans in the foreground for the Committee, while thanking the sponsors who financially helped carry out the program.
Tsourdalakis, on behalf of the Committee, handed over a commemorative frame to the Consul General which depicts all the historical events of Greece during the last two hundred years.
The Consul General, in his short but rich greeting, congratulated the Victorian Committee of 2021 for the commendable work they perform in conveying ideas for the future.
Finally, he wished good continuation in future activities while promising the Committee and the Consulate will continue to work together to cooperate on issues concerning the future.
Stefanos Tsitsipas overcame Italian No. 1 Matteo Berrettini 7-6(3), 6-2 to reach the Internazionali BNL d’Italia quarter-finals, where the Greek will face World No. 1 Novak Djokovic.
In a first set dominated by serve, Tsitsipas rallied from 1/3 down in the tie-break with six consecutive points. The Greek attacked Berrettini’s forehand and took advantage of consecutive volley errors to move a set from victory.
Tsitsipas created six break points across his opening two return games in the second set, breaking through at 1-1 to increase his advantage. Tsitsipas closed the match with a second break and a love service hold to finish the match.
“I had to deal with very serious business today,” Tsitsipas said. “Matteo was applying a lot of pressure with his serve, being very precise and accurate and that was the most difficult [part] of the match today… In the tie-break, I found my footwork which helped me transform my game and feel more comfortable playing the rallies. I was happy. I fought like I always do. I never gave up. I saw [my] opportunity and grabbed it.”
The fifth seed won seven of his eight net points and capitalised on Berrettini’s low first-serve percentage in the second set (32%) to advance after one hour and 36 minutes. Tsitsipas has reached the quarter-finals at eight of his nine tournament appearances this season.
ROME, ITALY- MAY 11: Images Stefanos Tsitsipas from Greece during his first round match on day 4,
photo by Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour
Tsitsipas owns a 2-4 ATP Head2Head record against Djokovic. In the pair’s most recent meeting, Djokovic outlasted Tsitsipas 6-3, 6-2, 5-7, 4-6, 6-1 to reach last year’s Roland Garros final.
“[Djokovic] has won here a lot of times. I am just expecting to go out there [and] give my best performance,” Tsitsipas said in his post-match interview.
“He can play on all surfaces. We played each other at Roland Garros. I see this as an opportunity for me to do something better this time. I hope to be able to play the same tennis that I have been playing so far and be a challenge for him.”
Peter Poulos was officially sworn into the NSW Parliament in a ceremony earlier this week, also joining the powerful Regulation Committee and Public Accountability Committee of the NSW Parliament on Thursday.
Present in the gallery for his induction were members of Mr Poulos’ family, including his wife Vicki, three children Maria, John and Christina and brother Emmanuel, who watched on as Mr Poulos took the Pledge of Loyalty before the President and signed the Roll of the House.
“I feel very humbled and privileged to have the honour to serve the people of New South Wales. My commitment remains to work every day to contribute to the success of the Berejiklian Government and help ensure our state remains safe and prosperous,” Mr Poulos said.
Peter Poulos and family. Photo: Supplied
Born and raised in the St George area, Mr Poulos attended Bexley North Public School and Sydney Technical High School, in the area which he still calls home with his wife and children.
“I grew up in a small business family, which lost almost everything in the Keating recession, this has been a driving force in my advocacy for all small businesses. I will fight to continue cutting red tape, to help small business to grow and prosper creating more local opportunities,” Mr Poulos said upon announcement of his preselection.
Having served as a Rockdale Councillor for twelve years, and Deputy Mayor for a year, Peter has been dedicated to delivering services and infrastructure needs of the local community – ensuring an improved financial position that allowed the Council to deliver town centre improvements, new and upgraded playgrounds and foreshore improvements.
“The Government’s record of strong economic management and ongoing investment in our health and education systems, as well as our infrastructure, has placed us well to respond to community needs during these unprecedented times,” Mr Poulos added.
The murder of a young British mother in her suburban Athens home has prompted the Greek government to increase the term convicts spend in prison for heinous crimes.
Speaking to Skai TV on Thursday, Justice Minister Konstantinos Tsiaras said the issue has “already been discussed” among the members of the Criminal Code monitoring committee.
“There is an intention to toughen the sentences, especially for heinous crimes, sex crimes [and] all that have received a lot of publicity lately,” Tsiaras told TV channel Skai.
“With the new legislation, anyone sentenced to life in prison will spend more years [incarcerated] than today.”
Caroline Crouch and her husband Charalambos Anagnostopoulos / Social Media
The legislation, which will be presented in the summer, he will ensure criminals who receive a life sentence will have to spend a minimum of 20 years behind bars instead of the current 16 years.
Caroline Crouch, 20, was strangled in front of her baby daughter earlier this week by armed burglars who had bound her husband, Babis Anagnostopoulos, to a chair after breaking in. Crouch is believed to have been tortured for up to an hour as the thieves tried to coerce her into revealing the location of thousands of pounds of cash and jewellery, which they then made off with.
“We are all shaken up and personally I am shaken up,” Michalis Chrisochoidis told the annual Delphi Economic Forum on Tuesday. “We rarely encounter such brutality in Greece, both in Greek society and in crime.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo and his girlfriend, Mariah Riddlesprigger, are expecting a second child, with Riddlesprigger announcing the exciting news via an Instagram post.
On her @sincerelyymariah Instagram account, Riddlesprigger posted Wednesday that “Oh and I forgot to mention baby #2 is on the way and I’m in for even more life lessons! My kids are my biggest blessing and my greatest lesson!”
The girlfriend of the NBA MVP showed gratitude not only to her husband, but for her son who has given her “purpose” in life.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and his first child, Liam. Photo: Getty Images
“I know it’s a cliché statement, but it’s the truth! Becoming a mom has helped me realize what I am capable of; physically, mentally and emotionally. My son has taught me more about patience, perseverance and passion in these past 15 months than I have ever known,” she wrote.
“But most importantly he’s opened my eyes to my true potential. I’ve made it through sleepless nights, teething and the beginning of toddler tantrums, and at this point I feel invincible.”
On February 10, 2020, Riddlesprigger gave birth to their son, Liam Charles. Giannis and Liam were famously photographed observing the Acropolis last year, with the NBA star saying, “My goal in life is to show you the world”.
The Milwaukee Bucks player won his second NBA MVP award last year, making him the first Greek to ever receive two of the prestigious awards. Last year he also announced a new five-year contract extension with his current NBA team.
After 16 years as chief executive of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies (JBOD), Vic Alhadeff has decided it’s time for him to finally step back from leading the community organisation. But as he stresses to The Greek Herald, this decision is ‘resignation not retirement.’
“My intent is to continue to make a contribution in the areas in which I can. 16 years is a long time and it has been a passion,” Mr Alhadeff tells The Greek Herald exclusively.
“Essentially what drove me was the need to do whatever was within my ability to make NSW a more harmonious society, which meant denouncing bigotry in all its forms through the prism of the Jewish experience.”
To do this effectively, Mr Alhadeff has had to ‘build mutually beneficial and respectful relationships with other faith groups, politicians, media and groups across civil society.’ One of these particularly special relationships is with the Greek Australian community as the chief executive actually has a personal connection to Greece.
Vic Alhadeff’s Greek roots:
When I ask Mr Alhadeff about this connection, it’s clear he is very proud of his Greek roots. He stresses that the Alhadeff family was ‘one of the largest Jewish families on the Greek island of Rhodes,’ and both of his parents were also born there.
Vic Alhadeff (right) with the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Mr Christos Karras (left). Photo supplied.
“But in 1938, a year before WWII erupted, anti-Semitic decrees were passed in many parts of Europe banishing Jews from civil society, which meant for example that Jews could no longer own businesses or go to public schools,” Mr Alhadeff says.
“There were 4,000 Jews living on Rhodes at the time and approximately half of them left… and went to [places such as] the United States and South Africa.”
Mr Alhadeff’s father went to Zimbabwe, then known as Rhodesia, with the aim of bringing out his parents, his teenage sisters aged 14 and 16, and his fiancé Becky. But sadly, WWII eventually broke out and no one else was allowed to travel.
“In July 1944, German forces arrived on the island and the 1,700 Jews who were still on Rhodes were put on three ships and sent to Auschwitz, which was the largest of the Nazi death camps,” Mr Alhadeff explains.
“My father’s parents were murdered at Auschwitz, as were 151 Alhadeff’s. My father’s sisters both survived.”
In the case of the fiancé, Mr Alhadeff says that although his father was told Becky had also been killed in Auschwitz, it turns out she wasn’t.
“25 years ago, my father was on holiday in Cape Town, South Africa, in a restaurant no less, and he overheard his fiancé’s name, discovered she had survived and was a grandmother living in Belgium… He contacted her and they spent one hour together at Brussels airport,” the chief executive says.
But of course, it must be mentioned that whilst Becky survived WWII and the Holocaust, the same can’t be said for a large majority of the Jewish population on Rhodes.
“Essentially, because of the Holocaust, the Jewish community of Rhodes was decimated and today, there are about five Jewish families left on Rhodes,” Mr Alhadeff stresses.
“In fact, there is also still an Alhadeff street and Alhadeff park on Rhodes named in honour of my family.”
Championing Greek causes:
With such strong ties to Greece, it’s no surprise then that in his 16 years as CEO of the NSW JBOD, Mr Alhadeff has worked very closely with Greek community groups in Australia.
Mr Alhadeff frequently talks at Greek community events. Photo supplied.
In fact, over the years, Mr Alhadeff has not only spoken at Greek community events, but he has also led the ‘Keep NSW Safe’ initiative with the help of multicultural organisations across NSW, including Greek ones. This is something he is incredibly proud of.
“I was the spokesperson for the campaign and we achieved legislative reform in that the state government passed a law on June 27, 2018, and that law says it is a crime to incite violence on the basis of race, religion, gender and sexual preference,” he explains.
“That campaign was approximately 200 meetings and media interviews over three years and like I said, friends in the Greek and Hellenic communities were an integral part of that campaign.”
More recently, Mr Alhadeff has also advocated for the Federal Government to officially recognise the Greek, Armenian and Assyrian genocides.
“We have a monthly meeting of members of the JBOD and the theme of the April meeting was the need to recognise the Greek, Armenian, Assyrian genocides and there were speakers from all of those communities,” Mr Alhadeff says.
Mr Alhadeff after speaking at a Greek Genocide Commemoration event. Photo supplied.
“At the end of the night, a resolution was put forward and passed unanimously to endorse a policy of our federal counterpart, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, which calls on the Australian government to recognise the genocides.”
Of course, these are small steps, but they make a world of difference and Mr Alhadeff has no plans to stop advocating for the cause.
In fact, he says that because he comes from a Jewish community which itself has suffered a genocide, he feels even more strongly that the Greek, Armenian and Assyrian genocides need to be acknowledged.
“It’s something that I personally and the Jewish community… feels very strongly about because it’s bad enough that the community has suffered a genocide, but for recognition to be denied is to just inflict even further pain and injustice on that community,” he concludes.
Powerful words which clearly show that despite the fact his days at the helm of the NSW JBOD are coming to an end, Mr Alhadeff will continue championing worthy causes, including those relevant to the Jewish Australian and Greek Australian communities.
