My kingdom for parking spot!
My kingdom for parking spot!
They're so useful during flash floods, some people would pay half a million for one
When I am by the sea, everything else in the world looks small.
Weekly Spotlight
This week, we’re back to the weather, because we are living in a world where the weather has been upgraded from a tedious, small-talk topic to a headline. The storm Atena not only caused flash floods in Athens, and it damaged this year’s production of mastiha (which just happens to be one the main ingredient of one of my favourite drinks), but now, that Atena just left, Boris it coming - which areas will it affect?
In other news, the government just announced a series of social and economic measures to support families and address demographic decline in Greece, that include:
New benefits for families with three or more children, such as lifelong recognition of triplet status and increased public recruitment quotas, tax exemptions for new parents and expanded funding for nursery schools were also introduced.
Initiatives aimed at increasing the minimum wage, reducing insurance contributions, and reforming unemployment benefits.
Free fertility testing for women aged 30-35, simplifying the process for assisted reproduction.
But because I’m usually skeptical of these types of grand announcements, so I don’t have much more to add to it, I’d like to leave you another other bit of information, which I found just plain sad: around 100 students from the Santorini branch of the National Conservatory are losing access to their music lessons after the building they used for classes was converted into an Airbnb.
News You Can Use
School has started and with it, the traffic jams! As, the smell of exhaust fumes in the morning.
The great undergrounding of Athens: how will Sepolia look after the transformation?
Houses in Attica now cost about 88% on average more than they did in 2017.
But how much do small furnished apartments up to 50 sq.m. cost? A list of prices by area.
And, while you’re at it, you might want to take a look at the the most dangerous and safest areas of Athens, according to Reddit.
Meanwhile, in Kifissia, a parking space was sold for 500,000 euros. So, probably on the dangerous, list if you’re willing to pay that much to protect your car :)
And some good news on this front: Athens will finally halt issuing Property Registration Numbers (AMAs) for short-term rentals from January 1, 2025, in central areas to curb housing shortages. The ban starts December 31, 2024.
Soon, no more paper tickets on the metro, buses, trams and trolleys in Athens. And some news on the metro in Thessaloniki: at what intervals will the trains run and how much the ticket will cost.
Starting January 1, 2025, the Golden Visa will also be available to investors who put at least €250,000 into Greek startups. Good, bad? I’m curious what your take is on this.
Greek authorities are enhancing the "Renovate-Rent" program, raising the renovation subsidy from 40% to 60% and increasing the cap to €15,000. Vacant homes rented long-term will receive a 3-year tax exemption.
Starting September 11, 2024, the Digital Work Card measure is piloted in the tourism and catering sectors.
One for the drivers: starting mid-October, the Athens vehicle ring (Daktylios) will be reinstated, limiting access to downtown based on vehicle registration plate numbers and the date. Even-numbered plates can enter on even dates, and odd-numbered plates on odd dates. Restrictions apply weekdays, excluding weekends and public holidays. Exemptions include electric, hybrid, and EURO 6 vehicles with low emissions.
And good news for scooter owners like me: lane-splitting in traffic jams is finally legalized in the new traffic code - plus some other changes that might also interest folks with cars.
The Ioanamobile is happy!
The housing allowance application system for the 2023-2024 academic year is now open until September 18, 2024, for those who missed the initial deadline. Applications can be submitted here or on gov.gr using Taxisnet credentials.
Eight people died of the West Nile virus last week. Watch out for those mosquitoes.
A question for the ages: will the metro of Athens reach Salamina?
And, finally, the swimming ban in Volos was finally lifted.
The Long Reads
What happened after Tempe? The gap in psychological support for relatives and survivors of the train crash
Wanderlust
Escape to Nafpaktos this September.
The Jazzet International Jazz Festival debuts this Friday at the Petra Theater in Petroupoli (13-15 september).
The Flame Festival will transform an old bus depot in Athens into a food festival with live music from top DJs, from September 12 to 15.
Tinariwen and Bombino are playing at the Lycabettus Theater next week, on September 19. They’re really worth seeing, so I’ll just end with this:
Have a great weekend and do write back. Even if it’s just to complain.
Ioana