Why on earth would a 70-plus Englishman, who’s terrified of traffic, hop on a decrepit 50cc “papaki” bike named Harley and embark on a road trip from his village in Evia, all the way to Mount Athos? John Mole’s charming latest book, Harley and the Holy Mountain, is Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance with creaky knees, lashings of h...
Read moreHer haunting bass voice and rousing lyrics of hope and inspiration were wartime anthems for Greek troops. On the anniversary of her death, Insider celebrates the courageous chanteuse Sofia Vembo, who defied German orders to entertain young Greek soldiers - often undercover - and remains a national treasure for generations of Greeks; still...
Read moreManto Mavrogenous was a freedom fighter from Mykonos who captained Greece to liberation. It cost this educated-aristocrat-turned-rebel her personal fortune and the love of her life. Mykoniot-resident Stacey Harris-Papaioannou profiles this captivating and tragic Greek heroine. [caption id="attachment_9583" align="alignleft" wi...
Read moreGreece's Russian-doll like lockdowns within lockdowns now extended to March 16. Stricter measures to be reinforced starting Thursday, March 4 from 6am onwards. All schools and retail stores to remain closed. Only supermarkets, essential services and food take-away services to remain open. What you need to know: As throug...
Read more“Everything originates from love.” To artist Pavlos Samios, who lost his battle with illness last week, painting was merely “daily life seen in a metaphysical way”. His intimate canvasses oozed vitality and old-world elegance – much like this prolific and treasured artist himself. Like his large...
Read moreFor more than twenty centuries, Thessaloniki gave shelter and a new sense of home for the persecuted Jews of Europe. During the Holocaust, more than 80 per cent of this vibrant Jewish community were exported and slaughtered. Insider revives the rich legacy of a forgotten people. As the city of Thessaloniki remembers and mourns...
Read moreGreece aims to be one of the first EU countries to end single-use plastics, effective February 1. The current government has successfully managed to put a ban on smoking in public places and hopefully, the single-use plastic ban will have a trickle-down effect on plastic consumption by citizens too. The February 1 regulation p...
Read moreLockdown measures to continue until January 7 but mandatory quarantine for all visitors to be reduced from 10 days to 3 days. All travellers visiting Greece until January 18 need to: fill their PLF form 48 hours before flying to Greece have negative results of a PCR test before flying to Greece undergo a rapid test on arrival and an ...
Read moreIf we needed a coda to end this strange year, it would be in the form of a no-deal Brexit. Time is running out, so make sure you have your paperwork ready! 31 December 2020 is upon us, and while most of us will be celebrating the end of what has been universally voted as The Worst Year Ever, for British citizens travelling...
Read moreLet this purveyor of good taste be your holiday shopping guide. If you're dropping hints to Santa, let Nikos Kontopoulos nudge you in the right direction with his personal wishlist of holiday goodies from cool-kitsch Dutch décor to sought-after lamp icons from Italy. As Publishing Director of the Greek editions of Casaviva and Esquire mag...
Read moreThe second lockdown in Greece was initially meant to last until November 30. An extension upto December 7 followed. The Greek Government has now taken the decision to extend lockdown measures until (and including) January 7. The cases in Greece have been galloping since late October, necessitating these stringent measures. In practical terms it...
Read more"It was on his plane that democracy returned to our country and with his support that it joined the European family. With gratitude and emotion, Greece bids farewell to its great friend, Valery Giscard d' Estaing," Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said, paying tribute to the memory of the former French President, Valery Giscard d'Estain...
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