Athens Hosts European Day of Languages Event in Greece

Photo Credit: Council of Europe: © Council of Europe

If you are in the #Greek capital on September 26  then a heads up on the fun day in #Athens when the British Council, as a member of EUNIC (the European Union National Institutes of Culture) in Greece, invites you to participate in this year’s European Day of Languages festivities at Klafthmonos Square in the heart of the city between 10.00 to 15.00….more

The New Look of the Europa Series 10 Euro Banknote

Photo Credit: New €10 "Europa" Series Note: © European Central Bank

Be prepared for the new "Europa" series €10 banknote. It is now in circulation in Crete, Greece and the other 17 eurozone countries from September 23, 2014. This is the second release in the new banknotes with enhanced security features. The Europa €5 banknote, the first in the series, started general circulation in May 2013. All notes have a common design based on the Greek mythological god "Europa" after which the continent was named, and signed by Mario Draghi, Governor of the European Central Bank.

Greeks Favour Chania as their Top Domestic Holiday Destination

More Greeks are staying within the country for their holidays. The number one choice and therefore favourite place for Greeks in Greece to take their holiday on the island of Crete, specifically Chania in western Crete. That is according to the online travel booking system, Trivago. The travel firm researched its own database to find that Chania has come out on top of the bookings for domestic Greek tourism.

Domestic Destinations - "Top 10"

The top-10 "Destinations in Greece" list are all on islands except one - Parga (Preveza)!:

• 1. Chania, Western Crete
• 2. Skopelos
• 3. Skiathos
• 4. Agios Georgios, Naxos
• 5. Parga, Preveza
• 6. Adamas, Milos
• 7. Chora, Naxos
• 8. Nikiana, Lefkada
• 9. Parikia, Paros
• 10. Rhodes

Just for reference, more than 2 million Brits and Irish visit Greece each year. About 50 per cent favour Crete and many of those choose the Chania area for their fun playground. So it is not just the Greeks that sing the praises of Chania. end

The British Government (GOV UK) is fast off the blocks to inform us at Brits in Crete of their latest Greece Travel Advisory noting the first incident of the West Nile Virus for this Summer in the country. The GOV UK's advisory said on Aug 14 that this mosquito carrying disease has claimed its first victim in Greece this year. This was just one day after Greece's own Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KEELPNO) confirmed the first incident of West Nile Virus.

KEELPNO's version said the first Greek suffering from an infected mosquito bite is an 85-year-old from Attiki. He had not travelled outside his local area. His condition was not stated, just he was in hospital.

KEELPNO expresses concern at the growing threat across Greece from this disease that was first reported in 2010 in the country when 35 deaths were recorded from 262 cases. By last year 2013 there were 86 cases, of which 11 were fatal.

Left: Sir Nicholas Houghton, Chief of the Defense Staff of the United Kingdom laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Syntagma Square, Athens. Photo Credit - British Embassy, Athens.

In this the 100th anniversary year of the start of the First World War (1914-1918) General Sir Nicholas Houghton, Chief of the Defence Staff of the United Kingdom visited Greece on July 16 at the invitation of the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, General Mikhail Kostarakos.

General Houghton's visit to Athens is in keeping with the long tradition of excellent relations between the Greek and British Armed Forces and the close cooperation of the two countries within NATO. Greece's role is to guard the front line defense of the southeastern flank of Europe.

The General made a respectful point to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Syntagma Square, Athens paying tribute to the brave Greek men and women who lost their lives in action. He later had meetings at the Defence Ministry and the Hellenic National Defence General Staff.

The visit to Greece of the British armed forces chief is just weeks ahead of the upcoming major NATO gathering of military chiefs that takes place in Cardiff on September 4th and 5th. This will be the largest gathering of international leaders ever to take place in Britain and a feather in Wales' cap. (click below for full story)