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The best of Athens
Written by: Anita Lišková & Todd Shaw
Photo by: Rene Jakl and archiv
Just mention the name Athens, and one conjures up images of gods
and goddesses, warriors and poets. With its ever-present sea and
sun, amazing sights, and welcoming populace, the "Paris of
the Mediterranean" is a dream destination for pleasure-seekers
and business travelers alike.
Lenka Běláková
legal representative, Viamare
Favorite hotel: King Jason, 26, Kolonou str.
10437, tel: +30-1-5234 721
Favorite restaurant: Plaka, Traditional tavernas
in the old town
Favorite night club: Casino Mont Parnes, 1601
Acharne, tel: +30-1-2469 111
Favorite attraction: Akropolis, National Archaelogical
Museum, Patission 44 st., tel: +30-1-8217717
Best-kept secret: Lycavittos - café and restaurant
with a beautiful view over the Acropolis
Favorite shop: Athenian gift shops - Plaka,
Kolonaki and Ermou Streets, you can find the best shops there
Advice: Remind the taxi driver to turn the
meter on! |
Josef
Matějka
diplomat at the ministry of foreign affairs of the Czech Republic
Favorite hotel: Athens Plaza Hotel, Vasileos
Georgiou A2, Syntagma Square, tel: +30-1-335 2400
Favorite restaurant: Gerofinicas, Pindarou
str. 10. tel: +30-1-360 2719
Favorite attraction: Akropolis, National
Archaelogical Museum, Patission str., tel: +30-1-8217 717
Best-kept secret: Archeon Gevsis (Tastes
of Ancient Greece), Kondratou str. 22, near Karaiskaki sq.,
tel: +30-1-5239 661, In this restaurant they serve dishes
cooked according to ancient recipes
Favorite shop: Obchodní ulice Ermou u náměstí
SyntagmaThe shopping street Ermou near Syntagma square
Advice: Be extremely careful while driving
in the rain. Water and dust on the asphalt road mixed with
marble rubble create a greasy emulsion and the road surface
is like ice.
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leonidas Zikos
import manager, Pemap Přerov Favorite
hotel: Grande Bretagne Hotel, Constitution sq. 1,
tel: +30-1-333 0000
Favorite restaurant: Taverna Tou Psara, Eretheos
16, Plaka, tel: +30-1-3218 734, I can recommend any of the
typical Greek taverns near the Acropolis
Favorite attraction: Akropolis, National
Archaeological museum, Patission 44 str., tel:+30-1-8217717
Best-kept secret: Lycavittos - A somewhat
forgotten place with a beautiful view over Athens.
Favorite shop: I can recommend typical small
greek shops in Pireum; avoid the big supermarkets.
Advice: Do not travel by car into the center
of the city, particularly during the rush hours. |
Emmanouil Emmanouil
marketing manager, Fiat Greece Favorite
hotel: Astir Palace Vouliagmenis, Apollonos 40, Vouliagmeni
16671, tel: +30-1-890 2000, Nice sunset by the sea
Favorite restaurant: Ithaki, Apollonos 28,
Laimos Vouliagmenis, tel: +30-1-8963 747, For a romantic view
over Saronikos
Favorite night club: Island, Limanakia Vouliagmenis,
tel: +30-1-9653 563, best summer shots, Momos and Banana Moon
at Kallimarmaron, two winter classics
Favorite attraction: Acropolis, Plaka, Lycabettus
Hill, Sindagma
Best-kept secret: Athens is a very open and
lively city, unfortunately there are not many places still
remaining a secret. However, you can go to Psirri, a very
popular place, but one where you can still discover small
and cozy places to sit for a drink without being crowded.
Favorite shop: Vardas, Kolonaki 24, Iridotou
str., tel: +30-1-7297 900, Karouzos, Prince Oliver, all of
them at Kolonaki square, or the same shops in Kifissia, which
is a very aristocratic suburb
Advice: Avoid going to the center of Athens
in the rush hours. It is better to go for a walk in the evening.
During the day, I prefer to go for a walk across the shores
of Faliro, Glyfada, Vouliagmeni or Voula.
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Basic facts
Location: Attica, Greece.
Population: 3,507,000 (metropolitan
area).
Ethnic mix: Vast majority Greek with
small minority of other nationalities.
Religion: 97% Greek Orthodox majority;
Muslim, Roman Catholic and Jewish minorities.
Time zone: GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from
last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50 Hz;
round two- or three-pin plugs are standard.
Average January temp: 9.5° C (49°
F).
Average July temp: 27.5° C (81.5°
F).
Annual rainfall: 376 mm (14.5 inches).
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Where on the web?
For further information, we suggest the following websites dedicated
to Athens:
http://www.worldexecutive.com/cityguides/athens/
- as the URL suggests, this site specializes in helping executive
travelers find the best deals on hotels, while offering a perfunctory
guide to the city.
http://www.abasefortravelinfo.com/athenscitytourism.html
- a bland but useful portal page, where users can find many other
related sites with more in-depth info.
http://athens.cybercityguides.com/mainindex.html
- an easy-to-use, but somewhat sterile guide to the city, via links
in various categories.
http://www.gogreece.com/travel/select.asp?CityID=46
- part of the slightly more hip "go Greece" travel guide
series.
http://www.athensguide.com/
- the "Athens Survival Guide" offers the site moderator's
insider tips to places to stay, things to see, and where to eat
and drink .
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Prices
one-liter bottle of mineral water: EUR 0.40
33-cl bottle of beer: EUR 0.90
Financial Times newspaper: EUR 2.50
36-exposure color film: EUR 4.50
city-center bus ticket: EUR 0.40
adult football ticket: EUR 9-44
three-course meal with wine/beer: from EUR
29.50
100 Greek Drachma (GRD 100) = EUR .29
EUR 1 = USD .98; CAD 1.54; CZK 30.41; GBP .63 (currency
conversion rates as of press time)
Source:
http://www.cityguide.travel-guides.com
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Business PROFILE
The public sector is a dominant force in Greek economy. Tourism
is the largest industry, with turnover estimated at USD 10 billion,
accounting for about 8.5% of GDP.
Greece is a key link to the emerging markets in the Balkans and
the eastern Mediterranean. As the only EU state in this part of
Europe, the country is regarded as a zone of relative economic and
political stability within a volatile region.
Greece has the largest merchant marine fleet in the world, with
an 18% share of international commercial tonnage. The Athens metropolitan
area accounts for most of the country's industry: tourism, textiles,
machine tools and shipping are among the key sectors.
The award of the 2004 Olympic Games is prompting a surge of investment
as well as major construction projects to accommodate the influx
of visitors.
The working day in Athens is fairly flexible. In general, offices
are open 8:30-16:30, although shops and banks may have different
hours (smaller organizations still close for a siesta in the afternoon
during summer).
Source: www.cityguide.travel-guides.com
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