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Athens receives Best Emerging Culture City award for 2017

Europe's cultural capital

Athens achieved a big international distinction as the Leading Culture Destination Awards organisation declared the Greek capital Best Emerging Culture City of the Year 2017.

The award was received by Athens Mayor Giorgos Kaminis. “Our city is attractive, safe and open to innovation,” he said, adding that it is ready to host new cultural events. Kaminis also said that Athens had been bestowed a “great distinction” by being named UNESCO’S World Book Capital for 2018, beginning in April.

Corinth canal bungy-jump while on tour !

An amazing and breathtaking experience.

Spectacular bungy-jump over the Corinth canal bridge last Sunday.

I've had a group of happy travelers from Maryland, USA.The tour was private and the destinarttion Corinth, Epidaurus, Mycenae and Nafplio. Pick-up was as planned at 08:30 from the Divani Caravel hotel of Athens. In our previous e-mail contacts they asked if it was possible to add a bungy-jump at the Corinth canal. My suggestion was negative, since I am usualy focusing more in to the sight-seeings, history, mythology and important sites. Driving through Athens heading to west, I've spoted the famous Athens attractions, the philosophical schoolls of Aristotle Lyceum and Plato's Academy.

Wildlife seen while city-tour in Athens center !

Pleasant surprise on Lycebettus hill

An Athens city-tour sighseeing, on near the top of the Lycabettus hill, we found a wild turtle, just in the middle of the street

President Obama in Athens tour

President Obama historical visit at the Acropolis

At the Acropolis, Parthenon. and new Acropolis museum. The president was very well informed and  seriously interested in the Greek culture.He stated: "One of the great joys being the president, is the ability to travel and see different cultures and meet different people. That’s important for our national security but it’s also important for us to understand ourselves and our place in the world."  Wise words of the president...

Opening event of Stavros Niarchos cultural center

Spectacular openings event of the cultural center Stavros Niarchos

Few Athenians believed that the new landscaped park and cultural center will ne completed within the schedulled time.

Stavros Niarchos cultural center in Athens

The latest jewel of Athens

In less than 5 years the amazing construction of the new cultural center Stavros Niarhos is completed. The complex is in the bay of Phaliron in Athens , includes new facilities for the Greek National Library  and the National Opera, as well as the 210,000 m² park. The Center was designed by architect Renzo Piano and is being built by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. The €580 million project was completed in 2016, cost almost equal as the Parthenon of Acropolis, and is donated to the Greek state in 2017.