Weekly supplement by Insider Publications • insider-publications.com • facebook.com/insiderpublications • No 88 • Friday, December 18, 2015 OPERA THE SNOW QUEEN
COMMUNITY CAROL SING-ALONG
Who’s afraid of the Snow Queen? One of Hans Christian Andersen’s most powerful tales – the story of friendship and the triumph of love over wickedness – has been turned into a heart-warming family opera this Christmas season (Dec 22-30) at Onassis Cultural Centre, 107-109 Syngrou, sgt.gr.
Enchant your children with all their festive favourites at one of the season’s most atmospheric annual events, the Christmas Carol Sing-Along at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Filellinon and Amalias (Syntagma Metro), this Sunday December 20, at 6pm. A traditional carol service will also be held at 6pm, Christmas Eve.
INTERVIEW
The Man who would be
Greek
UPCOMING EVENTS
Approaching the final year of his Athens posting, the British Ambassador to Greece, Mr John Kittmer, grants Insider’s Amanda Dardanis an exclusive audience. It’s a preternaturally fine Autumn day. The Sir Patrick Leigh Fermor – a journey he British Ambassador for Greece, John Kitt- says on his blog that he had longed to repmer, poses in the garden courtyard of the licate ever since reading, Fermor’s “Mani: Residence, which once housed Eleftherios Travels in the Southern Peloponnese” as Venizelos, for Insider’s photographer. an undergraduate. Outside the tall wrought-iron gates of this ‘For me the serious pilgrim takes to his feet grand statesman’s residence in Kolonaki and measures the spiritual experience in – never far away – come the sounds of or- real time, far from the car and the clock,’ ganized unrest. Greece’s prolonged Winter he wrote afterwards. of Discontent. This Autumn, the Anglican Kittmer, who asAngry students – about 3000 - are en- sumed office here in January 2013, also gaged in noisy protest against government returned to one of his most revered parts of reforms nearby, burning an EU flag for the Greece, Athos, to sate a parallel interest in cameras en-route to Parliament House. monasticism and Orthodox spirituality. Next to where Ambassador Kittmer stands Like his fellow Philhellenes, Patrick Fermor out on the sunny courtyard, is a small, and Lord Byron – whose famous portrait by cheerful conservatory filled with well-or- Thomas Phillips hangs inside, in the drawdered lines of pots and thriving ferns. Re- ing room - Mr Kittmer, 48, has brought to calling the fondness that many British men his role an entrenched passion for Greece summon for their gardens, I ask the Am- and the “Greek condition”. As a young bassador if perhaps this is his meditation man, he studied classics at Cambridge room: the place he comes to switch off and and Oxford Universities, then almost two seek inspiration for the myriad complex decades later, Modern Greek studies at issues that his term as British envoy has Kings College. Currently, Mr Kittmer, who collided with. Political instability. Capital is fluent in Greek, is competing a doctoral Controls. Refugee Crises. thesis at Kings on the celebrated Greek ‘No,’ he laughs, clearly enjoying the image poet Yannis Ritsos As he approaches the of himself as some kind of Alan Titchmarsh final year of his posting, the British Ambasin Athens. ‘It is actually just the nursery. sador granted Athens Insider an exclusive But this is my meditation room,’ he admits, interview about his enduring connection gesturing at the tranquil terrace around us. with Greece, and the unprecedented chalWhen deeper introspection and clarity is lenges he believes this country still faces: called for, Ambassador Kittmer embarks Ambassador, your posting here comes at on one of his epic Greek journeys. Always a uniquely testing juncture for Greece. on foot, in the spirit of the ancients whom Furthermore, you have had to carry out he has spent much of his academic life your diplomatic duties against a backstudying. Last summer, for example, the drop of intense media interest in Greece. Yorkshire-raised career diplomat complet- How challenging has that been? ed an ambitious four-day hike from Mystras Of course, all my colleagues back in London to Mani, in honour of the great travel writer are very much aware of the situation here.
Everyone is being constantly bombarded, confronted, with so much information. Essentially, my role is to give a flavour to the Prime Minister David Cameron and his ministers, and to the Exchequer about what’s really happening in Greece and also to give them advice on how to best manage the relationship between our two countries. The thing about this crisis is, that it could have happened to any number of other Eurozone member states. What have been the most pressing issues on your agenda throughout 2015? The most pressing item this year has been dealing with Greece itself. I am actively involved in trying to understand the direction that Greece is currently taking, just as everybody else is. This relates across all areas: political reporting, economic reporting, interpreting Greece as a brand. What are your hopes for Greece’s immediate future? Now that we have had what is surely the last general election this year - fingers crossed! we are hoping that there will be more stability and that the government will have more time to start thinking about how to sell Greece to international investors. And of course ambassadors have a role there. I have targets for British trading into Greece and we are always keen to attract investment from Greece into the UK. Many people want to invest in Greece now – in its property and tourism. So selling Greece as a brand is very important. But at the moment, I feel that Greece isn’t really sure what its brand is. With Greece hopefully nearing the end of recession, how are you working to further trade ties and investments with Britain? We are making the classic sort of “pitch” that investors make: that the government needs to establish conditions for political stability, fiscal and regulatory stability, because investors need a degree of predictability. To know what sort of return they can expect to make. And if the goalposts are continually widening or narrowing, then you can’t properly do your due diligence. This is difficult presently, because there’s a strong adjustment programme underway, causing and driving change. But it’s change which should liberalise the economy, and help trade inwardly and outwardly. Does Greece still remain a favoured destination for British holidaymakers?
EXHIBITION ANCIENT INVENTIONS See extraordinary ancient Greek inventions, including Philo’s “robot-servant” (the world’s first robot) and Aeneas’ hydraulic telegraph, displayed at “Amazing Inventions of the Ancient Greeks,” an exhibition housed at the Herakleidon Museum Annex until January 10, Apostolou Pavlou 37, Thiseio, 210.346.1981, herakleidon-art.gr.
In all honesty, the UK has enjoyed robust growth now for over 3 years. Our economy is doing well. For two years, we have had impressive growth in the British market into Greece, which has been increasingly popular despite the crisis. Competing destinations in the Mediterranean have had their own problems and the Greek travel market has become more competitively-priced finally. British people by and large have money in their pockets and can probably afford quite a nice holiday. What kind of impact has living in Greece – and being immersed in the Greek lifestyle - had on you personally? This is the sort of job that comes your way but once in a lifetime. I always wanted to serve as a diplomat in Greece and I had hoped that if I played my cards right, when I was a doddery old guy in his late 50s or early 60s, it might happen. Then I got posted here in my 40s! I couldn’t ask for more. It’s been a difficult time for Greece and it pains me to see that. Because I’ve seen Greece in times of growth, in times of confidence and prosperity. I really hope that over the next few years Greece returns to that feeling of confidence and positive forward-moving vision. And to a sense that the Greek people themselves can get themselves out of this situation. And finally, Ambassador, what is the best perk of being stationed in Greece? The weather! I returned to London in late 2002 – after being posted in Brussels for four years. By the end of 10 years, I had had enough of the “grinia” and “melancholia”, caused by the London climate. Here, we have the “liakatha” – the mellowness that the Mediterranean sunshine provokes. And with that, comes the whole culture! The full version of this interview appears in the current issue of Athens Insider magazine, on newsstands now. www.insider-publications.com/
NEIGHBOURHOOD HERO
Say Cheese!
KITCHEN NIGHTMARES 6
Chef Ramsay attempts to save a Brooklyn restaurant from itself in this highly-watchable episode. Wednesdays at 22.40 on Foxlife.
Kolonaki newcomer Kostarelos is a high temple to all things dairy – but above all else, glorious Greek cheese. Taste irresistible recipes from well-known chef Chrysanthos Karamolegos, in Kostarelos’ cosy and charming space, then fill your basket with elite traditional produce from all over Greece. The centerpiece is a “wall of cheese” at the rear of the store – a nostalgic relic from a former cheese-making factory. Bid goodbye to bland ham and cheese toasties with exciting lunch options such as roasted mushrooms and bacon with mayonnaise truffle; salads like “arugula, cherry tomatoes, oil nuts, katsiki and vinaigrette molasses”, and sinful desserts including
THE GRINDER
A new comedy starring Rob Lowe as a famous TV lawyer who decides to move back home and join his family’s real law firm – despite having no formal experience. Sundays at 21.25 on Foxlife. Watch FOX on OTE TV
CINEMA THIS WEEK
JOY
Joy is the story of a family across four generations and the woman who rises to become founder and matriarch of a powerful family business dynasty, starring Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper.
chocolate and sweet Black Cherry mousse (ideally accompanied with a fine Greek wine or rare micro-brewed beer!). Don’t leave without trying the outstanding twelvemonth maturation feta. Kostarelos is open Monday to Friday, from 9am-9pm, and Saturday 9am - 8pm. Find them at Patriarch Joachim 30-32, Kolonaki, 210.725.9000, www.kostarelos.gr
THE VISIBLE UNIVERSE Wander among the stars, nebulae and farreaching galaxies of our universe at this otherworldly astrophotography exhibit, until January 3, at “The Visible Universe Through Telescopes and Cameras Skinakas Observatory”. Each photograph is accompanied with a description in Greek and English, Eugenides Foundation, Leoforos Sygrou 387, 210.946.9600, eugenfound.edu.gr
Home Suite Home
And all that Jazz…
cember 18 (those not dining, may enjoy a drink or dessert instead), at Dionysiou Areopagitou 15. To reserve your spot visit www.theacropolismuseum.gr or phone 210.900.0900. Meanwhile, Matsuhisa Athens, blessed with one of the most heavenly locales on the Athenian Riviera, is ushering in the holiday season by hosting a Sunday Jazz Project for two Sundays (December 13 and December 20). Alongside their regular a la carte menu, the famed seafront restaurant will also offer a “Chef’s Choice Menu” featuring six dishes – comprised of sushi, Nobu Special hot dishes
TV THIS WEEK
WORLD’S APART
Three separate narratives each following a love story between a foreigner and a Greek. Each story represents a different generation falling in love during a time of socioeconomic turmoil that dominates Southern Europe.
PHOTOGRAPHY
CELEBRATION
Athens is alive with the mellow sounds of jazz this December. Whether you’re more of a sea or a city lover, there’s no better way to unwind on a winter weekend than listening to lively jazz rhythms while nursing a glass of ruby red and admiring a killer view! And Athenian jazz lovers have two stellar venues to get their fix this December. Visitors to the Acropolis Museum’s scenic gourmet restaurant can cosy up to the tunes of well-known jazz trio – Elisavet Mitsou on guitar, Pantelis Benetatos on piano and Charris Pantazis on contrabass - each Friday evening until midnight, until De-
A truly contemporary circus experience as Canada’s Cirque Eloise brings its spectacular show ID – a blend of classic circus arts with urban breakdance and hip-hop - to town from December 15-20 at Megaron Concert Hall, Vass. Sofias and Kokkali, megaron.gr
BOOK LAUNCH
EXHIBITION CHRISTMAS FACTORY 2015 Athens’ biggest and most magical Christmas theme park returns today for the third year at the Gazi Technolopolis, Kerameikos, spreading festive joy to young and old, and featuring games, toy workshops, creative performances and a Christmas bazaar, Peiraios 100, thechristmasfactory.gr
DANCE CIRQUE ELOISE
or popular Donburi options – at a price of €55. All to the accompaniment of blissedout jazz sounds from the 1950s and 60s. Matsuhisa Athens, Apollonos 40, Asteras Vouliagmenis, 210.896.0510 or visit www.matsuhisaathens.com.
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Hotels are in the blood for avid traveler Tonia Vassilopoulou, who works for the family business at luxury properties, St George Lycabettus, in Kolonaki, and Paradise Andros. Swoon over some of the planet’s most heavenly holiday retreats in her beautifully-edited new collection “Suite Home Escape”. Your family has been in the hospitality industry for generations. What’s the first thing that strikes you when you walk into a hotel? Ambience, aesthetics and… smell. After that, service , attention to detail and human relations play an essential role. What are the greatest sins that would completely put you off as a hotel guest? Complain management is very important at hotels. There are always going to be some complaints but you need to turn that around into a positive experience and then guests tend to be more loyal than before. How did your book Suite Homes come about? And what criteria did the properties have to meet to pass muster? Suite Home Escape is a collection of unique accommodation suggestions and
tips for the discerning traveler. They are selected in regard to their location, design and aesthetics, authenticity, facilities and service, sustainability, culture and heritage. These hotels have been a source of inspiration for me. Upon my return from every trip, I used to note down the new things I saw, heard and thought of. I believe traveling offers the opportunity to reflect upon our lives from a height we could not have reached in the midst of our everyday lives. That’s why every hotel description is accompanied with some ‘Room for thought’ –brief mottos - that can help travelers escape their ‘habits of mind’ and adopt a travelers and ‘citizen of the world’ philosophy back home.
If it’s a choice between amenities and service, what trumps for you? Service. Above all. Is location, location, location still a valid parameter for judging a hotel? I think so, yes. But I must admit, I have travelled to destinations motivated by the fact that a nice hotel was there. Nice hotels can, and should, promote destinations as well. What are some of the new trends one can hope to see in the hospitality sector? Personalization and new integrated technology, emphasis on art, sustainability and social responsibility. In a fiercely competitive environment, what must hoteliers do to keep guests happy and make them regulars? Pay attention to detail and provide good, innovative and personalized service. We have a saying that our guests arrive as residents, leave as friends and return as family. Suite Home Escape, Tonia Vassilopoulou, Fereniki Publications, www.suitehomesc.com