Words: Philippa Dimitriadi / Photos: Eftychia Vlachou

You may have heard a lot of things about Athens. Every travel guide will tell you to visit Acropolis, the Ancient Agora and the scenic streets of Plaka, but no travel guide will tell you about Athens’ street art.

Apart from the historic centre, someone may say that Athens is full of cement and gray, dull walls. That is not true. It just takes a little time to dig out the well hidden diamonds of this city. Street art is now an inextricable part of Athens, so if you are going to visit this city, you had better dedicate a sunny morning for a street art walk.

Starting from one of the most interesting parts of Athens, the area of Psiri, you will come across the sad black and white princesses of Sonke in Pallados Street. Right above Heroon Square, you will see the huge and quite impressive mural of Alexandros Vasmoulakis aka Vasmou, that doesn’t stay the same for very long, since every now and then the artist adds something to his work. Continuing up to Piraeus Street, one of the main roads of the city, you will see the breathtaking hands. Is Athens praying to God, or God praying for Athens? Who knows what the students of Athens School of Fine Arts had in mind when making the famous painting of Albrecht Durer “The Praying Hands” backwards.

Down to Technopolis two other marvelous works of art make their appearance. The cool baby of STMTS and the gigantic eye of “iNo”, which watches day and night all people passing by Piraeus Street. Along with this paintings you will also meet two Greek words– at times with huge letters, other times with smaller ones- decorating the buildings of Athens. “Vasanizomai” and “lathos” are the mystery of Athenian street art. No one has ever seen the artist while working on them and some believe that it’s not the same person who does them, even though the style of both murals looks similar.

The list is endless. Hope with his conceptual works, and B with his yellow girls dancing on the walls of Ierofanton Street at Gazi are must-sees. No matter how big or small, these wonderful paintings are out there. Keep your eyes open and don’t forget to look through rusty doors of abandoned plots, or inside outdoor parking lots, cause, Athenian street artists love restricted places.

Words – Philippa Dimitriadi / Photos – Eftychia Vlachou

A place well worth discovering! Check out our flights here.

The modern design is what better identifies Denmark, its trademark, with high quality classic and modern objects and colourful furniture. These are not relevant only for the original aesthetic; these are elegant objects that offer intelligent solutions for the daily needs.

Among the best Danish designers, who experiment and conduct functional ideas, names like Børge Mogensen, Arne Jacobsen, Hans Wegner, Finn Juhl, Poul Kjærholm, Poul Henningsen or Verner Panton stand out. This is because, before functionality was trendy, Danish were already using natural and high-quality materials.

For instance, the best house in the world is a work by Danish architect Bjarke Ingels, awarded at World Architecture Festival in the housing category. His work, House 8, is located at the Ørestad district in Copenhagen. Kaare Klint, considered the father of furniture design, has mythic creations such as the Safari Chair, the Propeller Stool or the Church Chair. Poul Henningsen, better known as PH, started creating lamps in the 50s but his designs are never old-fashioned. You can purchase them at Louis Poulsen or in Illums Bolighus

Considered the best city to live, according to the prestigious magazine Monocle, Copenhagen is the perfect destination to gift yourself with a modern whim - a home accessory, an object on Scandinavian style or a sample of Danish fashion – while you do tourism.

To start discovering this universe, get to Bredgade street. Here you will find a great variety of shows from famous brands, like Georg Jenseny and Arne Jacobsen, or Design Museum of Denmark with the greatest design exhibition in Denmark.

Made in Denmark offers high-quality Danish design. Founded by Asger Daugbjerg and Brian Engblad, the shop is located in Brolæggerstræde since 2011 and it quickly became a success.

Normann Copenhagen is located at the old cinema of Østerbro area. Its products are sold to many countries. Started in 1999 by Jan Andersen and Poul Madsen, they offer their own designs and collaborate both with well-known and new designers from around the world.

In the area of Kongens Nytorv there is a great variety of interior design stores from the most vanguard designers. For instance, here is the main store forBang & Olufsen. 

In Bredgade street you’ll find great antiques and many distributors for Danish furniture. This is the place to get, for instance, a classic from Arne Jacobsen or Finn Juhl. Or in Læderstræde, where besides the cosy cafés, you can get exclusives jewels or vanguard clothing.

TV-series likeForbrydelsen, Danish version of ‘The Killing’, made famous the Peruvian alpaca fiber sweaters that the main character dresses often. They’re from the brand Gudrun & Gudrun and come from the Faroe Island, which belongs to Denmark. They’re hand-made and warm, perfect to get through the cold Nordic winters.

A place well worth discovering! Check out our flights here.

The geographical beauty of Scotland is known worldwide. Its identity, landscapes, moors, mists or castles, make this land a unique place with its own great personality. But if there is something Scotland is well known for is for the loch, a symbol for the country, where traditions, tales, myths and legends merge the waters with the character and personality of the Scots. The characteristic topography and landscape of this country cannot be understood without them.

Why don’t we take a swim in some of the most beautiful lochs in Scotland?

Loch Rannoch: Located in Perth and Kinross, this loch is over 14 km long. The River Tummel begins at the eastern end and the Tay Forest Park lies along the southern shore. The lake and its surroundings offer good places for fishing and walking. The small village of Kinloch Rannoch is on the eastern end of the loch, and near the western end a crannog, an ancient artificial island, can be found.

Loch Lomond: The largest in Scotland with its 37km long and 8km wide. There are a big number of islands inside the loch, many of which are artificially created in ancient times to be inhabited.

Loch Ness: This is the lake of Scotland, the best known and most visited. The legends and tales told about its waters have become worldwide famous. It is about 39 km long, it forms part of the Caledonian Canal and has one of the most visited and photographed ruins of Scotland, Urquhart Castle. If you have good luck, maybe you’ll see Nessie.

Loch Tummel: One of the most famous viewpoints in Scotland is the Queens View, on the north of Edinburgh. The views over Lake Tummel and surrounding mountains are spectacular. Also, very close, in the town of Pitlochry, every October you can find the sound and light show known as the Enchanted Forest, which attracts thousands of visitors.

Loch Duich: The Eilean Donan Castle, one of the most famous and photographed castles in Scotland, located between lakes Alsh and Duich, makes this large lake one of the most visited in the country.

Loch Coruisk: The trip to this lake is one of the most beautiful of Scotland. Located between the "Munros" of Sgurr Alasdair, Sgurr Dearg and Bla Bheinn, to access it you have to take a boat from Eigol and just get carried away by the landscapes that go through a half-hour drive along the bay until you reach the dock. Curiously, depending on the season, you can see colonies of seals sunbathing or swimming in the lake.

Image from Jacob Martin

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The most touristic of the Greek Dodecanese Islands is the beautiful Kos, with about 48 kilometers long and eight wide, which is very close to the coast of Turkey. It is normal then that their simple and tasty cuisine is influenced by their neighboring country.

One of the most popular choices is to ask for mezze or meze (very common in the Middle East and in this part of the Mediterranean), a varied selection of dishes that are accompanied with ouzo (or similar drinks like raki, tsipouro or tsikoudia), an alcoholic beverage made in Greece. It is usually prepared with all kinds of ingredients such as eggplant, tomatoes, chickpeas, cucumbers, fish, cheese, peppers, olives or seafood.

Although the mezes are accompanied with ouzo, it doesn’t mean that you have to take them without measure. You are supposed to eat and drink slowly, enjoying the company and the lively conversation.

Try for instance the Gavros Marinatos (anchovies marinated in oil, lemon and salt), the grilled octopus or the Kalamarakia (fried squid), the saganaki (Kefalotyri cheese fried in olive oil), the tirokafteri (made from a softer cheese like feta mixed with yogurt, olive oil and lemon) or the keftedes (fried meatballs seasoned with mint and onion).

Other typical recipes of the island are the noodles in broth called "pitaridia" the "dolmades” (grape leaves stuffed with rice), the "pastitsio" (pasta with vegetables), the "katimeria"(pancakes with mizithra cheese served with honey and cinnamon), and the "lampropites' (pies filled with a cheese called prosfa). There are plenty of different restaurants on the island, from typically Greek food with traditional flavors to international restaurants, bars and nightclubs, with guaranteed fun until the wee hours of the morning.

Nick de Fisherman
Georgiou Averof 21
One of the most popular places to eat fish and only fish, mostly because you will not find meat dishes in this restaurant run by a fisherman and his family since 1942.

Barbouni
Georgioy Averof 26
www.ilovebarbouni.com
Fresh seafood dishes, assorted meze, fish coming directly from the sea and some of their wonderful cocktails to finish.

Agkyra
Averof 14, Kos
Family business with views of Kos’s Harbour.

Dihtaki
Georgiou Averof 30
Seafood and some vegetarian options in this delightful place with a terrace facing the sea.

El Gallo
Georgiou Averof 12
Great Greek and Spanish tapas facing the sea in the city of Kos.

Psarovarka
Antimahoy 1 Kos
Although it was opened recently,this restaurant has earned a reputation as one of the best on the island. Home-made dishes cooked with local products, seafood mezes, salads and high quality fish. They have hammocks on the beach where they serve drinks.

Taverna Mike
Eth. P. Polemiston, Lambi
www.mike-kos.eu
Let yourself be advised by Mike and Gina on the best food and wine of the place. A spacious and welcoming restaurant to taste the specialties of the island.

La Prima
Plaza Diagoras, Kos
www.laprima-kos.com
Pasta, some vegetarian choices and the best saganaki mussels (Greek recipe for mussels with onions, tomatoes and feta cheese).

Picture mezze por Banu

A place well worth discovering!Check out our flights here.