Inside Greece


PLAN AHEAD IN GREECE allet


The Greek National Op- era Ballet gives you the biggest dreamer and hero of them all, ‘Don Quixote’. After having read many, many books on chivalry, Alon- so Quixano knights him- self Don Quix- ote and sets off on a jour- ney is search of great ad-


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ventures, in the company of his faithful servant Sancho Panza. Seven performances between 11-20 March. Olympia Theatre. 59-61 Akadimias Street, Athens. Starts at 8:00pm. For more info, click here.


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ainting Painting exhibition by Greek artist Dimitris Korovesis at Adam Gallery, N. Vamva 5. From Thurs- day 17 March to Saturday 9 April 2011. Open Tuesday to Friday from 9:30am-2:00pm and 5:30- 8:30pm, Saturday from 9:30am- 3:00pm. Tel: 0030 210 360 1779.


Business with a giant


The Greek Maritime Affairs, Islands and Fisheries Minister, Yiannis Diamantidis completed an of- ficial visit to China from 19th to 26th February. In Beijing he held talks with banking officials, representatives of shipping companies as well as Wei Jiafu, the president of Cosco Group that holds substantial investments in Greece.


Mr Diamantidis was ac- companied by 20 Greek ship-owners and shipping companies’ executives in order to activate the agreement of funding by


the largest Chinese banks. The amount of $5bn is expected to be given to Greek ship-owners for the completion of the building of their new


Bringing China closer


Greek-Chinese relations have been further enhanced by the announcement of Air China for a new regular flight linking Ath- ens and Beijing via Munich.


The flight will start operating on 11th May.


Deputy Culture and Tourism Minister George Nikitiadis wel-


Little paradises uncovered


The Archipelago of the Small Cyclades, one of the least travelled treasures of the Aegean, featured in a special tribute of January’s is- sue of Conde Nast Traveller magazine.


In an article titled ‘Pure Bliss, Four Perfect Little Isles in Greece’, the magazine travels


to the tiny islands of Koufonisia, Schinousa, Iraklia and Donousa in search of idyllic beau- ty and the perfect Aegean beach.


The magazine’s lucky reporter described what he discovered as an unaffected rural way of life and “utter tranquillity”.


A visit to… Patra! V isual Arts


B&M Theocharakis Founda- tion is hosting ‘Obsessions and Intimacy: the Body in Contem- porary Austrian Drawings’, the works of 13 contemporary avant- garde Austrian artists that ex- plore psychoanalytical approach- es and narrations of the human body. The exhibition is held under the auspices of the Austrian Am- bassador in Athens and will run until 3rd April. 9 Vassilissis Sofias Avenue & 1 Merlin Street.


Patra (or Patras), Greece’s third largest city on the north coast of the Peloponnese, has emerged as a true enchantress, competing with Athens and Thessaloniki for the title of the most vibrant urban centre in the country.


First inhabited in around 1100BC, it is now a sophisticated city, sprawled with leafy ar- cades, neoclassical buildings and spacious squares to complete the vividness of the countless cafes, tavernas and bars in Psila Alonia area, the “balcony of Patras”, as well as the great variety of shops, run by people who are passionate about what they offer.


With its port, a gate to Western Europe, the im- pressive St. Andrew’s cathedral (capacity of 8,000 worshippers), the Roman Odeon which still hosts summer performances and its im- posing castle, Patra provides for the most de- manding visitor.


But what Patra is really famous for is its car-


comed the airline’s decision. He also said that the link between the two countries may soon grow from two weekly indirect flights to a direct daily service.


ships in China’s shipyards.


During the visit the two sides signed an action plan detailing the cooperation on shipping, the protection of the marine environment and piracy, as it was initially agreed during a visit of Chinese officials to Greece last October.


For the second part of his trip, the Greek minister trav- elled to Shanghai where he was received by the city’s mayor, the chairman of the Stock Exchange and bank- ers specialised in shipping.


He also visited Shanghai’s port and dis- cussed bilateral issues with the heads of the country’s biggest shipyards.


nival, the real European answer to Rio along with Venice. It attracts around half a million people mid-January to mid-March, with the Treasure Hunt being the highlight, when hun- dreds of teams of fancy dressed revellers comb the city for hidden prizes. Vasilias Kar- navalos, the king puppet, leads the final, wild procession on the day before Orthodox Lent. After a solemn farewell, he is burnt on Agios Nikolaos Pier, as fireworks ignite the sky and the gulf.


FEBRUARY 2011, ISSUE 140, Page 2


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