Timothy Jay Smith’s Fire on the Island unveils the complex layers that guise the sun-drenched, bougainvillea-tinted Greek isle, blighted by declining tourism and the seemingly intractable refugee crisis. There are family feuds and a corrupt clergy. There is racism and homophobia. But there is romance, humour and mystery too! An engaging s...
Read moreJohn Carr mirrors the collective psyche of a country eager yet cautious to crawl back to near-normalcy. As I find when I rub the fuzz Of sleep from eyes and stagger to The place where the first thing I do Is look in the mirror with a start And ask myself, "Who's this old fart And why doth he still walk the earth...
Read moreThe Greek government announced a gradual easing of its lockdown measures, to be reviewed daily for public safety. The magic date is May 4, but the relaxation of measures comes with constant urging to remain vigilant and to follow safety guidelines - compulsory masks, use of gloves, use of antiseptic gel and mandatory 2-metre distancing. ...
Read moreAnthimos Ntagas reveals the everyday humour and magic that Athens hides, through his mind-bending compositions. He speaks to Sudha Nair-Iliades on the art of ‘capturing chance encounters between the city, its people and its street art.’ A day on the beach in the Pe...
Read moreWHAT: The Greek National Opera continues broadcasting some of its most successful operas on ERT2. Tune in through www.nationalopera.gr the GNO channel on YouTube, GNO’s Facebook page or on ERT2 and ERT's WEBTV. WHEN: Saturday 25 April at 23.00: Nabucco on ERT2, ERT's WEBTV & nationalopera.gr Sunday 26 April at 20.00: Mikado at nationalopera...
Read moreCrime novelist Jeff Siger – whose 'trouble in paradise' murder mysteries get under the seamy underbellies of whitewashed Greek isles, presents his 10th book in the Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis series, Island of Secrets, set in his beloved Mykonos. Congratulations! “The Mykonos Mob”—now available in paperback as “Island of Secr...
Read moreThe fast-forward freefall of March has given way to a rewound, frozen April and the anxiety of groping our way back into our changed reality. What are the take-aways? While grappling with one pandemic, are we exacerbating another? From discarded gloves to fast fashion will we shield ourselves behind masks or finally embrace conscious chan...
Read moreJohn Carr baits you into his virus-obsessed world with an ode to the invisible crown-shaped bug. 'Tis four weeks now this lockdown weighs So heavily upon our days, As we all huddle as in hiding Awaiting that oh-so-glad tiding That Covid 19 has at last Been sent the way of viri past. But let's not soak in gloom and doom...
Read more“Ask not what you can do for your country, ask what’s for lunch.” Orson Welles’ cheeky quote was the inspiration for Vassilenas restaurant, celebrating its centennial anniversary this year, as they decided to open their kitchens by cooking for the most vulnerable section of Athenian society, the homeless, during the quarantine period. ...
Read moreAlmost seven weeks into quarantine, Athens Insider asked its readers what new skills were mastered - the answers were hilarious! You would have thought the super-achievers amongst us would have come up with smug answers on how they used this time optimally to master an obscure language or took an online course in Victorian plu...
Read moreERT had us hooked with the 6 o’clock broadcast for daily updates, so it was only a question of time before they decided to go the Netflix way and offer us prime content for free. A savvy move by the state broadcaster to capitalise on its high ratings and captive audience to up its game. Just when you thought you’d run out of s...
Read moreWHAT: Browse through the exhibition, held to mark the museum's 30th anniversary in 2016, that showcases the structure of Cycladic society during the Early Bronze Age (3200 to 2000 BC). Discover the natural environment in which they lived, the occupations of the inhabitants, their social or religious customs and beliefs. In Greek and English WHER...
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