DestinationsPlanningInspirationShopSearch SavesOpen main menuShutterstock / Dimitris Panas Ancient Messini was founded in 371 BC after the Theban general Epaminondas defeated Sparta at the Battle of Leuctra freeing the Messinians from almost 350 years of Spartan rule Built on the site of an earlier stronghold the new Messinian capital was one of a string of defensive positions designed to keep watch over Sparta Epaminondas himself helped to plan the fortifications which were based on a massive wall that stretched 9km around the surrounding ridges and completely enclosed the town Ancient Messini was also favoured by the gods Zeus was born here – not in Crete – and raised by the nymphs Neda and Ithomi who bathed him in the same spring that gives the modern village its name The first construction you come across is the large theatre The path leads past the tiered Fountain of Arsinoe building which supplied the ancient city with water with remains of long stoas (columned porticoes) a Doric temple dedicated to the deified patron of the city The Greek general Philopoemen was held prisoner by the Messinians here in 183 BC and dispatched to the other world with poison the spiritual centre that lay at the heart of the ancient city consisting of a rectangular courtyard fringed with Corinthian columns this was not so much a healing centre as a repository of cult statuary This extensive complex was centred on a Doric temple that once housed a golden statue of Ithomi The modern awning west of the temple protects the Artemision where fragments of an enormous statue of Artemis Orthia were found The structures on the east side of the Asclepion include the ekklesiasterion which looks like a small theatre but once acted as an assembly hall the steel roof protecting the mosaic remains which is surrounded by a forest of restored columns You can see where the Romans closed off part of the athletics track are the VIP seats – the ones with backs and with lion paws for legs near the rebuilt gate of the enormous gymnasium are round holes in stone slabs – Roman public toilets positioned over a stream The gymnasium itself includes a washroom with very well-preserved basins around it The curious building near the toilets is a grave memorial to an important Messinian family and the Doric temple at the far end of the stadium is a mausoleum of the Saithidae ContactGet In Touch27240 51201 http://​odysseus​.culture​.gr​/ Mystras Spread over a steep mountainside and surrounded by verdant olive and orange trees this former Byzantine capital and fortified city is the single most… Nestor’s Palace The best preserved of all Mycenaean palaces lies 17km north of Pylos and is a thrilling sight It's described in Homer's 'Odyssey' as the court of the… Temple of Epicurean Apollo isolated spot overlooking rugged mountains and hills this World Heritage–listed temple is one of Greece’s most atmospheric… Prodromos Monastery This monastery clings to the cliff face in memorable fashion The monastery church is adorned with frescoes while up the hill where the road ends is a… Open Air Water-Power Museum This excellent little museum is an entertaining romp through the region’s pre-industrial past It occupies a complex 1.6km south of town (signposted),… Museum of the Olive & Greek Olive Oil This beautifully designed museum initiates you into the mysteries of the olive from its initial appearance in the Mediterranean in 60,000 BC to the… Ancient Sparta Though few buildings are standing that date back to the height of Sparta's greatness it's an atmospheric stroll around this hillside Neo Kastro The more intact and accessible of two castles that lie on either side of Navarino Bay Neo Kastro was built by the Turks in 1573 on the hilltop at the… View more attractionsNearby Messinia attractions1. Museum of Ancient Messini houses some wonderful statuary from the site – including a copy of one of the best-known statues… 2. Arcadian Gate It’s well worth heading 800m along the road from Mavromati village past the museum to the celebrated Arcadian Gate 3. Chora Archaeological Museum This old-style museum houses finds from the palace site and other Mycenaean weaponry jewellery and pottery from tombs around Messinia 4. History & Folklore Museum of Kalamata This quaint eggshell-blue building holds an exquisite collection of donated local artefacts – from tools and looms to household items and clothes – that… 5. Archaeological Museum of Messenia child-friendly museum focuses on treasures found in four regions – Kalamata 6. Kastro Looming over the town is the 13th-century kastro (fort) it survived the powerful 1986 earthquake that levelled the city 7. Church of Ypapantis Kalamata's massive 19th-century cathedral is home to the icon after which the town takes its modern name Pilgrims visit for its miracle-working icon of… 8. Military Museum One for war buffs, this museum's displays depict Greek military history from the Turkish occupation to the Greek Resistance to Nazi occupation and 21st… No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission Between Nov. 9 and 16, Simon Gietl and climbing partner Vittorio Messini established a new line on the northwest face of 2,952m Sass Pordoi in the Dolomites it is an ice and mixed route that combines several old routes on the wall Then they climbed five more pitches until the pair had to decide whether to go left or right they went left to the summit in a staggered manner to avoid falling ice Simon Gietl works his way up to partner Vittorio Messini The new route also combines Snowboard (established Jan. 19, 2022, by Josef Hipold and Norbert Weiss) and Avatar (established Dec Details of the route and marked the previous lines on the northwest face of Pordoi Gietl and Messini have been friends and climbing partners for many years the two South Tyroleans established another route they made the first ascent of Shiva’s Ice a new route on 6,543m Shivling in the Indian Himalaya and Simon Gietl after topping out on Sass Pordoi KrisAnnapurna is a writer with ExplorersWeb Kris has been writing about history and tales in alpinism Sign up to receive ExplorersWeb content direct to your inbox once a week which with its imposing shape dominates the valley below towers above the western part of the Schober massif in East Tyrol So far though this mountain has attracted relatively little attention of mountaineers the most popular outing is definitely the West Ridge which has some pleasant sections up solid rock In recent years the North gully has become increasingly popular as the lack of snow at the start of winter makes this an ideal destination for beginners Isidor Poppeller managed to climb a new route solo up the North Face of Lower Prijaktes which I’ve summited the mountain several times while guiding clients up the classic routes always wondering if one could climb a more direct line.. After a brief inspection from the west ridge however I quickly abandoned this project the rock was too moss-covered to have fun in the summer What would be needed here were decent winter conditions For the past three winters I’ve always made my way up to the Hochschober Hut at least once in order to observe the face but the snow was always too poor or there was too little ice while talking to Simon Gietl about nothing very much we agreed to climb something up a north face Where we’d go didn’t really matter Maybe conditions up there were good I thought to myself and gave myself 50-50 odds since none of us had been in the mountains after last week’s torrential rains One elegant new route on Torre Trieste — a rarely climbed hulking limestone tower on Mount Civetta in the Dolomites — would be cause for celebration But when two accomplished groups of climbers both put up a route at the same time in the same place that’s worth pausing for some details and Nicola Tondini’s “Enigma” is a 28-pitch climb on the south face of the tower the three climbers created the line between September and early November and I dream of the spring to go back for the one push,” the Italian guide wrote on Instagram A post shared by Alessandro Baù (@ale.bau.mountainguide) “A great adventure on a great wall with great friends,” Nicola Tondini added in a post of his own A post shared by nicola tondini (@tondininicola) Meanwhile, climbers Simon Gietl, Vittorio Messini, and Matthias Wurzer were putting up a route of their own. According to Planetmountain and Wurzer’s 20-pitch climb originates from the same starting place as two of the earliest routes on the formation: “Carlesso-Sandri” and “Cassn-Ratti.” Those lines went up in 1934 and 1935 The website says that the two parties were a little surprised to find each other on the wall they “managed to work well together and encouraged each other to complete the lines.” the 5928 high peak that dominates the valley After some slight acclimatisation problems the trio set off on 17 October and established advanced base camp at 4600m They departed at 4:00 the next morning and started up the NW face through deep snow and against high winds and roped up on steeper sections to reach the summit at 13:00 After the obligatory summit photos they descended via the line of ascent to ABC During the ascent they came across three belays and according to their research these may have belonged to a Korean expedition that climbed the West Face before abseiling down the more inviting NW Face climbed by the Tyroleans the trio returned to BC the next morning and celebrated their successful ascent The alpinists then set their sights on the expedition's main objective the 800m high granite pillar called Stiffler's Mum attempted in 2010 by a French expedition After climbing the first 4 pitches further to the right of the line chosen by the Frenchmen the trio were pinned down by good but freezing conditions and were forced to abandon the attempt The weather remained stable but cold and they quickly switched objectives to climb the striking needle located between Stiffler's Mum and Melcyr Shan The first six pitches had been climbed in 2012 by the German Youth expedition and Gietl steep ice and then perfect granite to reach the 5860 m summit is located in the Hohe Tauern massif in Austria's East Tyrol and extends from east to west along several remote three-thousand-meter peaks The rock on this exposed ridgeline is predominately brittle and is compact in only a few sections and this is one of the main reasons why these peaks - local climbers apart - are rarely visited apart In winter the loose rock freezes tight and with the appropriate snow and weather conditions Sigi and Romed Girstmair appreciated this fact in the eighties and managed to cross the Virger Nordkette (from Bonn-Matreier Hütte to Ochsenbug) for the first time from 28 - 29 December 1984 Our story actually begins about 20 years later In the years 2005-2007 I was often out and about with my former climbing partner Martin Mariacher (Alois Mariacher’s son) and of course we also spent a lot of time in his backyard mountains above Virgen and Prägraten We often talked about tackling the project because back then winter seemed too difficult for us We never knew though when the right time had come.. we never made it because Martin lost his life far too early in 2007 while descending from Mittereggerspitze towards Galtenkogel This tragic event still leaves us all speechless to this day Over the years I kept thinking about this project but somehow it wasn't to be until this winter After a cool ice climbing trip in the western Alps in mid-February my colleague Matthias Wurzer and I talked about doing something together again a few days off enabled us to tackle the Virger Nordkette project we started skinning at 2:00 am from Zedlach near Matrei and slowly made our way uphill towards the Wodenalm Although we tried our best to take only the most important things with us We stashed our skis just after Wodenalm because the snow was hard enough to ascend with crampons to Hintereggerkogel We passed wild avalanche debris as we crossed the simple ridge to reach our first summit From here on it was important to be careful because although the ridge that leads to Ochsenbug is not difficult the most popular mountain in the Virger Nordkette range Here the ridge levels off for a moment before it drops down into the Firschnitzscharte gully We climbed the gully and after a couple of cool mixed pitches we reached Mittereggerspitze where we pitched our small tent and enjoyed an incredibly beautiful sunset before dinner Even if one doesn't usually sleep too well in a bivy but it usually takes a while to get going again we did not downclimb the first section from Mittereggerspitze but instead we made two long abseils down into the couloir Here the character of the traverse changes considerably because the climbing becomes more sustained which meant we gasped for breath as we broke a trail on the north face We could feel the fatigue setting in as we climbed the last ridge to Galtenkogel and we were happy to finally reach the Galtenscharte col The two towers after Maurer Röte had to be tagged in order to reach the deepest point of the col It often takes years to prepare yourself mentally for a project In the early afternoon we took the quickest route down into the valley to Obermauern close to Virgen, where a good, somewhat worse for wear friend was waiting for us with beer and Schnapps by the car. But that's another story...by Vittorio MessiniLink: FB Vittorio Messini, Salewa a small side valley of Kals am Großglockner in Austria’s East Tyrol is home to some beautiful mountains of the northern Schober group Among them there’s the relatively unknown Ralfkopf as well as the highly popular (from the south) Glödis also dubbed the "Matterhorn of East Tyrol" The following year Amraser and his client were able to forge the first direct line on Ganot which In autumn 2018, when conditions on the north faces across the Eastern Alps were great (resulting in the likes of Sintflut on Mt. Prijakt) Vittorio Messini and client established Holiday on Ice a new route up the NE Face of Ralfkopf that follows striking gully due to time constraints the duo abandoned the gully at half-height by breaking off to the right while this year the continuation turned out to be the more difficult variant there were exceptionally good snow and ice conditions high up in the mountains this autumn Approaches were consequently easy and quick After about 200m trudging through snow (50-55° gully) they were greeted with 4 outstanding It comes as no surprise that after the first posts on Instagram at least one party climbed this route every day for the next 10 days… The route was baptised Sundays for future and the name indicates that those in the Eastern Alps don't necessarily have to always drive 1000km to Chamonix in order to climb beautiful couloirs A few days later, Messini and Isidor Poppeller took advantage of the good conditions once again and established White gold about 100m to the left of Sundays for future A little more difficult and sustained than its neighbour but according to those who have already repeated it another "brilliant climb".Kalser LesachtalAccess: from Lienz drive to Huben and continue on to Kals am Großglockner Turn right at the village Lesach and follow signs towards Lesachtal Park in front of the barrier.Approach: ideally with e-bike to Lesachalm then continue on foot along the hiking trail towards Kalser Törl From here either continue right across the moraine up to the Ralfkopf and Ganot faces or further left to reach the NW Face of Glödis.Ralfkopf 3106mLost in PollywoodV except for a few pegs at the belaysGear: 1 set of cams,double medium size 50m ropesDescent: abseil 2x50m on the west face then continue down to the hiking trail and back to the starting point all belays were established with pegsGear: 1 set of cams 300mIn-situ gear: only a few pegsGear: 1 set of cams, double small sizes 60m ropesDescent: abseil down Sundays for future Inspired by my latest long route Mehr denn je Hintersee and by the two new big icefalls Peter Ortner and I first ascended (Goaskogelfall WI6 200m and Turbine M6 WI6 180 - a mixed variant of Schleierfall) on 23 December Isidor Poppeller and I once again made our way into the Felbertal valley This time we had a "pure" ice line in our sights a little further to the right of the Hexenkessel and Tauernwind Since this route has some sections that require walking it is very exposed to avalanches and therefore it rarely comes into condition wading through the deep snow is often very hard work After less than an hour's walk from Lake Hintersee (a perfect place to park our e-bikes;-)) we reached the base of the route a new ice and mixed climb up the NE Face of Hochbirghöhe (2767m) A new route has been climbed up the famous North Face of Cima Grande di Lavaredo that deserves closer inspection. The climb is called Das Erbe der Väter - the legacy of our ancestors - and was put up by Simon Gietl and Vittorio Messini and shares the starting pedestal of the famous Comici - Dimai the symbol of the Dolomites established in 1933 by Emilio Comici and the brothers Giovanni and Angelo Dimai Where the Comici route traverses left the new route runs independently and carrell to the summit The new route was climbed without bolts and Gietl and Messini began forging the route ground-up in autumn 2015 and the first free ascent was carried out at the end of july 2016 after having breached difficulties up to IX- tell us how your new route up the North Face of Cima Grande di Lavaredo came about Whenever I guided clients up the famous Comici route I always looked to the right and wondered: "What routes climb that section Eventually curiosity got the better of me I decided to see for myself A few days later I met my friend Vittorio Messini and over a beer I told him about my idea and he laughed: “I’d thought exactly the same thing" he replied So a couple of days later we set off together towards the north face From the photos the line looks very logical That’s a good question and we asked it ourselves :-) Our line is independent and the closest it gets to Via Comici is about 10 So let's go straight to the point: what makes this route so particular without using bolts and without crossing other routes During four very cold days we put up the first four pitches and left a fixed rope We returned in spring 2016 and invested another four days On 28th of June we topped out on the ledge using a mix of free climbing and aid climbing and had we got to a point where we weren’t able to continue without bolts we needed hours and hours just to climb those 40m The rock is very compact there and consequently it’s difficult to place pegs And it wasn’t easy to judge the solidity of the flakes whether we could weight them or if they would snap off On the seventh pitch we wanted to climb a yellow corner but towards the top of this we came across loose rock and we couldn’t get any further then traversed right for a further 10 meters to reach another corner and this proved to be the right way upwards and so after a further two days of cleaning and attempting the pitches I was ready to try the redpoint but after 5 pitches we were forced to retreat because of the rain I placed all the pro as I climbed and at round 16:00 we reached the ledge The route is called Das Erbe der Väter We succeeded in establishing a new route up the most famous north face of the Dolomites we are happy and proud to have done so without bolts We have enormous respect and admiration for what they did in traditional style on the steep yellow faces of the Drei Zinnen Coming up with a name for our climb was simple With our new creation we wanted to honor the really important climbers of the early development of the Drei Zinnen at the start of the 20th century After returning from our expedition to China, Vittorio Messini and I set off on our new mountain adventure. On set off early in the morning on 25 November, up through the Gelltal valley, next to Rein in Taufers. Following the light of our headtorches, we talked and joked about our China experience where, together with Daniel Tavernini we had made the first ascent of Tirol Shan After 2.5 hours we reached the base of the Wasserkopf our new project Our aim was to climb a new line directly up the North Face and at 8:00 we were ready to go The first three pitches proved demanding and Vittorio exclaimed "If the climbing continues like this We saw that only 20 metres separated us from the gully we'd noticed from below The first three metres were difficult to judge and my crampons didn't get any good purchase Only my ice axes were more solid than I initially thought But when one began to slip out of the hold I told Vittorio to move to the side since I was battling for every centimetre right above his head 5 seconds later I fell into the snow next to him good morning!” Suddenly I was wide awake and shot up the pitch without falling A snow gully led us to the first snow field which we traversed rightwards to reach the upper edge After a short rest Vittorio took over the lead Although the terrain wasn't much easier than before Vittorio forged on ahead without any hesitation whatsoever on which we'd traced a possible line of ascent Matthias Wurzer and Isidor Poppeller climbed Mehr denn je Hintersee on Hochbirghöhe in the High Tauern of Austria The big new 800-metre route goes at M7+ WI6+ we trudged across snow slope that led to the line we had in mind Messini and Poppeller then climbed a new 1,200-metre WI5 they called Pinzga Stier up Hochbirghöhe Their route is to the right of the classics Goaskogelfall WI6 200m and Turbine M6 WI6 180m Conditions were ideal with less-than-usual snowpack and lots of ice The team forgot their V-threader so decided not to rappel their new route Instead they climbed to the summit and rappelled down Mehr denn je Hintersee “A few short WI3 steps led us to a hidden section of the route “Although structure-less, the ice was nevertheless soft enough and a good 60-metre pitch paved the way for the upper section of the route.” Read more about the new route here Get the digital edition of Gripped for your chosen platform: Known citywide for their hulking pita wraps this homey Mediterranean restaurant is an affordable staple for Danforth locals and visitors alike A quick takeout service with a family friendly sit-down environment the establishment has made a name for itself since it first opened in 2002 and to this day maintains its Greek Swiss Chalet-style appeal with fast service and ultra-comforting meals Though Greek cuisine no longer makes up the disproportionate majority of restaurants on this strip Messini's owner Marino Dafnas remembers a time when there were over 30 restaurants serving plates of rice and Messini's was one of the only restaurants that stayed open until 6 a.m to fuel the Ouzo-dazed patrons of Danforth's nightlife and after 13 years of operating into the wee hours of the morning Messini now closes up shop at a sensible 11 p.m. But walk by the restaurant's stall during the neighbourhood's annual Taste of the Danforth festival and you'll find that Messini's reputation still reigns supreme with lineups for their gyros dwarfing others on the block and $6.50 for chicken or pitas filled with a mix of both Arriving in massive pitas stuffed with french fries these hulking wraps will easily fill you up for lunch or dinner All meat is tender and shaved from the spit; lamb and beef gyros are available for $8 as well carb-filled meal with a classic Greek salad ($7 for small and Messini's version is a satisfying $5 plate of round potato slices baked with feta cheese on top Larger plates are still incredible affordable: a chicken souvlaki dinner portion ($12.45) comes with a skewer of grilled chicken and your choice of french fries The chicken souvlaki ($12.45) is just as tender and the roasted potatoes are perfectly greasy Each dish comes with an overflowing container of tzatziki Despite the fact Messini gets packed during dinner with patrons hankering for a hearty gyros you won't have to wait too long to get your order Service here is lighting fast and meals come cheap and quick Italy’s Simon Gietl and Austria’s Vittorio Messini have now established an interesting new route that winds its way up between these two routes to join up with the 1980 Japanese route (Fujita-Kubo-Yamamoto) Gietl and Messini travelled to the Himalayas at the end of September Abundant snowfalls in the Garwhal made approaching the mountain hard work but also resulted in a line of snow and ice to the left of Shiva's Line After climbing a 50° gully and stashing gear at 5500m the mountain guides returned to the base camp at 4300m to rest then over two days they climbed up to 5900m and fixed ropes on the steepest sections before descending to base camp and resting once again On 9 October the two left base camp for their summit bid After spending a night at 5500m they climbed up the fixed ropes and at circa 6000m they joined the North Pillar climbed by Hainz and Kammerlander The original idea was to climb the steep headwall tackled by Shiva's Line but due to the biting cold they headed off right and later joined the Japanese route Shortly after midday on 11 October they reached the summit After spending a third night on the mountain and is similar to the Colton McIntyre route on the Grandes Jorasses Pertl 1953) then continues along via Niagara (Heinz Mariacher Luisa Iovane 1978) to reach the huge curtain of ice that formed thanks to last year’s bizarre autumn The climb totals 600m in height and covers circa 80m of origin terrain on rock and 120m meters on ice This is in likely to be the first time that this combination has been ascended as a mixed climb in winter this is definitely one of my best climbs ever Well I was in Austria with Vittorio as we were considering climbing a project there when we received a message from a good friend of ours we immediately realised that he was on to something very special Explain Isidor told us that this season the icefall to the left of Ghost Dog was exceptionally fat and with Michael Amraser he went to check it out They reached icefall from the ledge close to the summit and abseiled down in to see if the ice was in condition They climbed three pitches and then contacted me because his enthusiasm quickly made me realise that this was an absolute plum line We immediately changed our plans and headed for the Sella massif as quickly as possible What style and tactics did you want to adopt for this route especially in winter Vittorio had never climbed on Pordoi before but I myself know the mountain a bit because in 2013 I made the first repeat of Ghost Dog the mega route immediately to the right put up by Jeff Mercier and Corrado Pesce the week prior to my ascent Back in 2013 I climbed Ghost Dog with Adam Holzknecht in a single day but for our new route Vittorio and I we were certain we’d need more time Also because at this time of year the days are very short The problem is that we both had different commitments a finding a 2-day break that suited both of us was difficult but since we wanted to see if our project was realistic or a dream we climbed the first pitches fix some ropes fixed and return at a later date Our first impression was that this was something huge We later found out that they were Santiago Padròs and Francesco Rigon and had started maybe 3 or 4 hours before us and were making good progress Vittorio and I looked at each other and didn’t think twice: we were there for the route whether we were the first or last to climb it was irrelevant what mattered was experiencing the adventure This is why we decided to stick to our initial plan Maybe it wasn’t that easy to descend knowing that others had eyed the same line and were already high above you Firstly because it was forced retreat; we had ice axes and crampons but we hadn’t taken any ice screws because we just planted on climbing the pedestal what was really important to us was climbing the route They continued for another two more pitches they’re a really strong partnership and were progressing rapidly Initially we thought because they wanted to find a better place for a bivy but then we saw them abseil down to the base Maybe they retreated because it was late in the day in any case it would have been a really tough bivouac Regardless of their attempt we knew clearly that we wanted to continue as planned This time with all the gear for a definitive attempt and a bivouac We left the car at 4 am and it was clear that we were letting ourselves in for a huge adventure We got a good warm up by ascending the fixed ropes then at certain point we deviated away from Via Abram and headed rightwards We reached their highpoint and with short rappel we managed to join via Niagara I have to say this descent caught us off guard it wasn’t planned but it was the only way we could reach the corner Alternatively we could have climbed a smooth slab but that appeared very difficult and it didn’t seem the wise thing to do without a rucksack but with the tag line for the haulbag I’d say that we had to establish about 90% of the belays We also placed 4 pegs which we left in-situ It gets dark early at this time of year Yes We reached a good place for a bivy but we wanted to push on and see if it was possible to reach the ice so we stashed our gear on the ledge and kept on climbing Then at 19:00 we returned to the ledge and pitched the tent We obviously didn't know if we’d be able to use it but while examining old photos of Pordoi in winter we’d noticed that there was always some snow on the ledge We were hoping to find a good place to spend the night and were super lucky We could have bivouacked a bit further down but being in a tent together is far better Down in the valley we saw some cars stopping probably because they’d noticed our lights high on the mountain so I called Andrea Oberbacher to tell him that we were fine and that if someone called the mountain rescue we couldn’t complain in the slightest Yes we were finally there where we wanted to be We reckoned the next pitches would be the crux also because we already knew from Isidor that the upper section was feasible We were in the right place at the right time Then all of a sudden we came across signs of Isidor's ascent and we knew at this point that we’d make it We reached the huge ledge after 4 more pitches There was so much fog that we hardly ever caught sight of the base of the face It had snowed slightly during the night and it continued to snow during the day I have to add that despite the fact that it was snowing it was +2°C so the Föhn wind had started to blow and throughout the ascent I never got a bad feeling up on the circular ledge We took some photos and were as happy as two children below a Christmas tree but we also knew that the adventure was not over yet Also because we’d stashed all the gear at the ledge that's why we’d left everything there When we reached our gear we then rappelled not down the route but directly down the fall line At some point it started to get dark and we turned on our head torches The raps went smoothly and at 19:30 we were back at the car This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page my ideal summer holiday is made up of lazy days by the pool But what happens when an avowed poolside aficionado decides to trade in the sun lounger for a paddleboard and the cocktail for a sunrise yoga session on the beach I’m a self-proclaimed beginner in the world of active holidays, who embarked on a transformative journey at Neilson’s Messini Beachclub in Kalamata that shattered her preconceived notions of what a holiday should be My quest for a sun-kissed tan took an unexpected turn when I chose to fully immerse myself in every activity available on my few days away From early morning wake-up calls to adventurous water skiing, engaging tennis sessions with none other than Andy Murray’s former coach, Mark Petchey and tranquil beachfront yoga sessions at sunrise I didn’t just break a sweat – I shattered my comfort zone The hotel itself has 180 rooms across two areas: hotel and garden The hotel rooms are in the main building next to the restaurant and the pool the garden rooms are located in a cluster of small two-storey blocks surrounded by lawns There are countless activities on offer: dinghy sailing if you do just want to find a quiet spot on the sand to read your book in peace As the sun cast its first golden rays upon the tranquil shores of Kalamata I dove straight into my active holiday adventure The day kicked off with a serene yoga session at 8am on the beach where the gentle lull of the waves and the warmth of the rising sun created a picture-perfect backdrop It was a far cry from my usual poolside escapades yet an experience that set the tone for my journey of exploration I headed to the resort’s inviting buffet restaurant for a hearty breakfast fuelling up for the day’s upcoming activities I then joined a ‘green’ – beginner’s – tennis session on one of the resort’s many well-maintained courts under the guidance of enthusiastic instructors – including Mr Petchey – I found myself returning serves and rallying with the spirit of a true tennis pro (or that’s how I looked in my head) We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. 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Read our Privacy Policy it was time for some serious core work in the resort’s gym where a sweaty and challenging ab session left me feeling both accomplished and exhilarated as a game of pickleball with friends – the latest sporting phenomenon – awaited me Laughter and friendly competition filled the air as I took my holiday pals on in this addictive sport showcasing my newfound enthusiasm for all things active The following day brought a different kind of adventure one that blended relaxation with excitement I began my morning with a pampering facial at the resort’s luxurious spa embracing the tranquillity that enveloped me It was a moment of pure indulgence amidst my active holiday a reminder that self-care can be just as vital as the pursuit of adventure I ventured into unchartered territory – water-skiing It was my first attempt at this exhilarating water sport I managed to defy gravity (and all expectations) and stand on the skis if only for a few moments before faceplanting into the ocean The thrill of gliding across the azure waters of Kalamata’s coast left an indelible mark and I couldn’t help but celebrate my accomplishment As the sun reached its zenith, I decided to unwind further at Buca another nearby and smaller adults-only Neilson resort basking in the Mediterranean sun and savouring the idyllic atmosphere wrapped up in my adventure with a game of beach volleyball a perfect blend of competition and camaraderie The unspoiled beauty of Kalamata’s beaches and the passion of the Neilson staff added a unique charm to each day of my journey In a world where vacationers often seek solace in relaxation my adventures serve as a testament to the transformative power of embracing new experiences and pushing one’s boundaries Active holidays offer something for everyone if the thought of breaking a sweat on vacation leaves you feeling apprehensive Neilson’s offerings are as diverse as its picturesque landscapes order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive Daily Express uses notifications to keep you updated this autumn the imposing Torre Trieste on Mount Civetta in the Italian Dolomites was the object of desire of not one but two excellent parties who found themselves vying for two parrallel but completely independent routes on the huge limestone tower that dominates Val Corpassa The two climbs were established on the section of the south face already explored by the Carlesso-Sandri first ascended in 25 hours from 7-8 August 1934 by Raffaele Carlesso and Bortolo Sandri established in 27 hours by Riccardo Cassin and Vittorio Ratti between 15 and 17 August 1935 established by a team led by Jerzy Kukuczka between 23 and 26 July 1972 are among the most prolific: on the one side Alessandro Baù they established their lines that cross each other the first ledge of the south face Beber and Tondini established a 28-pitch outing Messini and Wurzer climb starts from the ledge where the aforementioned Cassin and Carlesso start Both routes were climbed all the way to the summit just before the onset of bitingly cold temperatures hence the first free ascents are still outstanding While awaiting the details of these important new additions to Civetta it's worth underlining how after an initial moment of surprise and incredulity at finding themselves "contending" precisely the same face at precisely the same time the two teams managed to work well together and encouraged each other to complete the lines More than two centuries after the first ascent of the Grossglockner back in 1800, the highest mountain in Austria still holds some surprises in store, especially - in this case - for those who know this peak better than most. In early April in fact Vittorio Messini and Matthias Wurzer the small town located at the foot of the "roof of Austria" established a new route up a narrow couloir on the South Face Messini and Wurzer left the Stüdlhütte hut early on 5 April and reached the base of the mountain where they stashed their skis and continued wading up through the snowy gully for 250m to reach a first ice terrace offering "winter climbing akin to that found in Scotland." They joined the South Ridge but instead of continuing along this classic route they abseiled for 20m followed the Pillwax Rinne for 100m and then diverted off right following another independent gully to the top "It's incredible to think that after the first ascent of this mountain in 1800 we still managed to find a new line" Messini wrote The new route is called Südwandwächter WI4+ Messini and describes the route as "characterized by modern mixed climbing presumably one of the hardest of the mountain." three ski mountaineering itineraries in the Upper Tauern came up with the idea during an ice climbing trip to Canada and after having found a suitable location this winter 400m long tubes were laid in order to transport water from River Tauern to the lip of the crag and spray this onto the rock When fully developed the crag will host circa 50 ice climbs from WI2 to WI6 and also two drytooling routes grade M4 and M8 that reach up to 50m in height Eispark Osttirol was officially inaugurated last weekend during the first Osttirol Ice Festival while a few days earlier the Austrian Mountain Guides used the venue for their mountain guide’s training course THERE are two types of holidaymakers in this world Those who are full of energy and get up at sun rise and then the more chilled ones who prefer to spend their day loafing around the pool drinking strawberry daiquiris until my recent activity break with Neilson Holidays I was staying at the beautiful Messini Beachclub, one of the travel company’s seven energy-pumping beach resorts, close to Kalamata in southern Greece (yes Its getaways, which are dotted around Europe STAY SAFE Urgent UK travel warning over disease fears at beach popular with familiesThere are plenty of slope-side packages for beginners and even hardcore winter sports fans What about sailing You can book a trip on the water where you’ll be able to spend days island-hopping and diving into the ocean with your snorkel whenever you please Then there are the beach resort getaways, like ours, which have practically everything else from cycling to surfing. And with no set agenda, you can really do as much or as little as you want. no matter your circumstances — and solo travellers friends and families are all extremely well catered for as well as little ones who have the use of kids’ clubs I was visiting with my friend Lisa on a seven night club-board holiday which included a buffet-style breakfast and lunch every day plus dinners on four of the evenings — meaning we had some freedom to potter into town and dine at some of the local tavernas on some days We spent our first night at Messini’s poolside barbecue which is out of this world with an abundance of delicious cooked and cold meats As the sun set over the beachside resort, Lisa and I raised a glass of ice-cold Aperol Spritz to our break while a live band hummed away in the background After sinking a few (too many!) more spritzers our contemporary room in the main building was a blissful place to recharge ahead of a day of exploring all the activities included in the price of our stay In the morning we wandered down to the beach where the water-based sports on offer include wakeboarding The sea was crammed full of those energetic types mentioned above and it did seem a little overwhelming for a novice like myself But the experienced instructors teach based on ability and are extremely patient Lisa had never waterskied before but was a natural and was soon skiing one-handed to whoops of encouragement from the instructor back on dry land there are plenty of activities to engage in from the gentle yoga and stretch classes to more high-octane fitness sessions — including a particularly punishing spin class — to release those feel-good endorphins The tennis courts are shared with Buca Beach Club and there’s a volleyball area next to the pool which often sees rather rowdy but good-natured tournaments between staff and guests There’s even a rock climbing wall to scale if you’re feeling brave enough you could always indulge in a treatment at the spa and wellness centre — I told myself it was technically an activity I’d opted for a Drift Away massage which comes highly recommended and does exactly what it says on the tin The resort also has e-bikes for when your legs are a little tired One day our group assembled to cycle into Kalamata to explore the city and grab a glass of something cold in the sun Make sure to swing by the breathtaking Kastraki-Meteoro restaurant while you’re here too Either by accident or someone else’s clever design we arrived just in time to watch the sun go down which was truly magical and a memory that will stay with me forever then Messini still has a huge pool to laze around followed by a couple of hours of soaking up the rays with a strawberry daiquiri in hand (as I said I’m not a fully reformed character) was just what we needed after a busy few days and after seven days of bonding with your fellow holidaymakers you’re treated to an awards ceremony at the poolside bar It’s a lively affair with lots of laughter dancing and swapping of numbers — the perfect way to round off our active break The company’s mantra is #goodenergy — and they couldn’t have chosen a better phrase to describe what to expect if you chose to holiday with them Don’t get me wrong — I certainly won’t be invited to join Team GB anytime soon but this experience has changed my view on fly-and-flop holidays Just as long as the odd strawberry daiquiri is still on offer GETTING/STAYING THERE: Five nights’ club board costs from £599pp including flights from Gatwick on October 17 and transfers See neilson.co.uk. Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/ DestinationsPlanningInspirationShopSearch SavesOpen main menu© kiev4/Getty Images/iStockphoto The best preserved of all Mycenaean palaces lies 17km north of Pylos and is a thrilling sight It's described in Homer's 'Odyssey' as the court of the hero Nestor who took part in the voyage of the Argonauts and sent 90 ships to fight in the Trojan War and from the raised walkways and explanatory text you get a good idea of the layout of a Mycenaean palace complex The main palace was a building of many rooms was where the king dealt with state business In its centre was a large circular hearth surrounded by four ornate columns that supported a balcony a bathroom with a terracotta tub still in place Archaeologists found small ceramic cups used for bathing and ladling aromatic oils still in place The palace was destroyed by fire in around 1200 BC and burned ceramic debris in another room clearly reveals where a shelf of crockery collapsed The remains of an earlier palace are alongside as are buildings revealed to have been workshops and a wine cellar In an information kiosk on your way to the ticket office is good background including information about the famous decipherment of Linear B which was revealed to be an ancient form of Greek Many of the finds, including fragments of the palace frescoes and copies of some of the Linear B script tablets – the first to be discovered on the mainland – are housed in the museum in the nearby village of Chora Near the car park is an impressively reconstructed tholos (Mycenaean beehive-shaped tomb) ContactGet In Touch27630 31437 Ancient Messini The remains of this vast ancient city are as extensive as those of Olympia and Epidavros yet Ancient Messini receives only a fraction of their visitors… Kastro a great example of 15th-century Venetian military architecture Voidokilia Beach This perfect sandy crescent with clear waters is presumed to be Homer’s ‘sandy Pylos’ where Telemachus was warmly welcomed when he came to ask wise… Paleokastro & Nestor's Cave which the Franks built in the 13th century on the site of the acropolis of Ancient Pylos Kastro Arcadian Gate View more attractionsNearby Messinia attractions1. Chora Archaeological Museum 2. Voidokilia Beach 3. Paleokastro & Nestor's Cave 4. René Puaux Exhibition this collection of pictures depicts the War of Independence with a focus on the Battle of Navarino 5. Neo Kastro 6. Kastro 7. Ancient Messini 8. Museum of Ancient Messini The compact museum, by the turn-off for Ancient Messini, houses some wonderful statuary from the site – including a copy of one of the best-known statues… This year's Seoul Jazz Festival (hereinafter referred to as Seo Jae-pe) will be held as an indoor performance at the GS Art Center and Pat Messini will be on stage from May 23-25 is a legendary jazz guitarist who has been active with jazz musicians since the age of 15 He collaborated with Herbie Hancock and David Bowie and was named the NEA Jazz Master the highest honor in American jazz in 2018 we will perform a special stage that has not been seen anywhere Pianist Brad Meldau has built a reputation by collaborating with world-class artists reinterpreting songs such as The Beatles and Radiohead to encompass classical and popular music is also the artistic director of the Newport Jazz Festival 2020 Grammy-winning drummer Marcus Gilmore continues his various activities by participating in the soundtrack of the Pixar animated film "Soul" and challenging orchestra composition The three artists are leading the flow of jazz in various areas [This article is about Mail Business City Life No ※ This service is provided by machine translation tool sustainability leader at Deloitte Luxembourg (left) and John Psaila Deloitte Luxembourg established the Deloitte Foundation a charitable organisation funding community projects in Luxembourg and the greater region Yusuf Yassin: What motivated Deloitte Luxembourg to establish the Deloitte Foundation with the firm doubling in size approximately every eight to ten years Our primary focus is on the impact we create or the growth and development of our employees we have numerous sporadic initiatives within both the marketplace and the communities we operate in We felt the time was right to focus these initiatives in a foundation to take a more structured approach and really push these initiatives to the next level What are the key objectives of the foundation and what impact do you hope to achieve through the foundation’s initiatives JP: We’re in a business where our biggest asset is our people Around 2,800 people currently work for the firm This is an asset we can put to the best use for our community So we want the foundation to act as a conduit for putting those skills at the disposal of the wider communities there’s a pecuniary aspect because as a financial player we do also make significant contributions to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on the marketplace making sure that those means--be they financial or pro-bono hours--are allocated to areas where we believe we can make a real impact these primarily being in education and climate our sustainability strategy is already running initiatives The foundation is crucial for our sustainability strategy engage our talented workforce and ensure a systematic and consistent approach It serves as a well-structured platform with strong governance that aligns our actions with the United Nations’ sustainable development goals (SDGs) our employees will play an important role and their commitment is integral to the foundation’s mission How does Deloitte Luxembourg currently engage with organisations in the philanthropic sector the platform and the structuring around that nurturing and expanding our relationships with NGOs and associations By transitioning from occasional collaborations to long-term initiatives we can create a lasting impact that is systemic and can be measured in our upcoming impact report We are currently working on our fourth impact report JP: The creation of the foundation is just one in a number of steps that have been taken over the past few years we’re about to issue our fourth impact report we’ve put greater focus on the impact we make in our communities rather than talking about our financial performance but not to the communities in which we operate If you look at the way we’ve announced our results over the past years we’ve put the emphasis on our impact report and on what we’ve been doing in our communities The foundation is the next step of taking this purpose-led approach to the next level John Psaila says employees are encouraged to volunteer their time to Deloitte Foundation projects Is there going to be a board that oversees the foundation’s activities there will be a board that includes myself We have already formed a task force that will be responsible for the day-to-day decisions a taskforce and a sounding board which will ensure our talents’ involvement and suggestions are reflected in the foundation’s initiatives Tell us more about the existing relationship with NGOs and why it’s important to have a foundation FM: Deloitte Luxembourg has actively collaborated with approximately 30 NGOs and associations over the past three years primarily focusing on local and regional initiatives These engagements are typically project-specific and conducted on a case-by-case basis The establishment of the foundation will strengthen these relationships facilitating longer-term projects through call for project proposals This approach involves understanding the needs of NGOs and providing them with support We also want to contribute our time and expertise we may also make financial donations when necessary recognising that certain cases require investment The idea is to nurture our relationship with NGOs and be more consistent in our approach Could you give us some insight into the scope and process for identifying the causes and projects that the foundation will support FM: As I mentioned we are currently working with 30 different NGOs The causes vary and range from young entrepreneurship to cancer research The partners we identified are linked to our sustainability strategy and the SDGs we have selected we ourselves are making an effort to meet our net-zero target we want to engage with the ecosystem on this issue We are actively involved in several programmes aimed at supporting young entrepreneurship and helping individuals prepare for the job market we offer assistance to young people who may not have easy access to university but still want to succeed professionally How will the Deloitte Foundation’s actions contribute to the UN’s SDGs and are there any specific goals you are targeting We have selected six SDGs to focus on: climate reducing gender inequality and promoting good health We have selected these SDGs because we believe we can make a difference we want to focus our energy on these six and make a significant impact Do you have any specific goals you are targeting we aim to reach 19,000 individuals through our education programme we haven’t established additional KPIs at the moment In terms of climate and engagement with the ecosystem we have our targets for reducing carbon emissions but it falls slightly outside the foundation’s primary focus The foundation’s main goal is to engage with NGOs who are active on the ground JP: We will report the results and achievements of the foundation on an annual basis These reports will be released around November each year of which the foundation will become a fundamental elements going forward Can you tell us about any projects the foundation plans to launch in the near future FM: We are still assessing various projects but I can mention a couple that we are working on One project is aimed at coaching students for the young entrepreneurship programme We also provide support to individuals who need assistance drafting CVs and preparing for an interview These individuals often come from disadvantaged backgrounds we have provided donations and support to people from Ukraine and Turkey we wanted to contribute financially and also provide opportunities for individuals from these countries to start a new life here in Luxembourg Deloitte’s Francesca Messini says the foundation aims to reach 19,000 individuals through its education programme by 2030 Can Deloitte Luxembourg employees get involved or volunteer in the foundation’s projects we establish connections with NGOs and understand their needs Then we identify the profiles that are best suited to support these NGOs taking into consideration their language skills and the project Once we have made the necessary connections We have a central team that coordinates this JP: Deloitte employees are encouraged to volunteer and we have a central team overseeing these initiatives Volunteering is deeply ingrained in our firm’s culture and we encourage our employees to dedicate at least four hours annually to a project of their choice our employees collectively volunteered for 2,144 hours contributing to various programmes and initiatives allowing them to spend four hours on a voluntary basis on projects that they can select Employees can choose activities such as coaching or packing boxes of medicine Another noteworthy project we launched this year in collaboration with the European Commission is focused on promoting inclusion of girls in the tech space We had 30 girls in our office whom we coached to help them understand the field and explore potential careers How can NGOs interested in working with the Deloitte Foundation apply for support FM: We built a webpage where they can find our contact information Some may already have our direct contact details they will be able to connect with the foundation’s task force and submit their call for projects Projects submitted will then be reviewed internally assessed and brought up to the board of directors for a final decision How do you envisage the Deloitte Foundation contributing to the overall legacy and reputation of Deloitte Luxembourg JP: I believe this is a natural next step in our evolution which will be built upon qualities that are fundamental to our firm; so trust and excellence The goal is to make an impact for our people It’s about creating a platform for the future are now consolidated and centralised in one place we can act as an accelerator and choose our initiatives in a more organised fashion I view the foundation as a continuation of past efforts to drive meaningful change in Luxembourg and the greater region sustainability leader and partner at Deloitte Luxembourg advises clients on getting the most out of sustainability As many as eight out of ten banks in Europe have some form of chief sustainability officer in place according to the European Banking Federation and Deloitte – but what are they It is becoming more and more accepted that a sustainable approach to financing and investing decreases risk and increases financial gain--and chief sustainability officers are at the helm those who bravely take on this role in banks argue that they are first and foremost change agents “A sustainability officer is a change agent,” says Francesca Messini sustainability leader and partner at advisory Deloitte Luxembourg This view has been echoed by others in similar roles head of sustainable finance at the Luxembourg Stock Exchange said in an interview with Delano in January 2022 The CSO is expected to lead the sustainability strategy act as a change agent to drive mindset shift and to integrate sustainability into the day-to-day operations of a bank sustainability officers’ closest cousins were corporate social responsibility managers These roles typically sat close to corporate communications and ensured responsible investments in non-governmental organisations--mainly environmental A chief sustainability officer is different “Environmental and social governance is becoming part of the DNA of an organisation The CSO is the glue connecting it all together.” According to a by industry body the European Banking Federation and Deloitte 80% of the 28 European banks surveyed have a sustainability officer role They typically boost the bank’s internal capacity to deliver on sustainability; therefore and increase the bank’s own level of sustainability banks are uniquely able to support companies with robust transition plans such as banking regulation and shareholder demand; and internal a pressure for the bank to manage sustainability risk increase sustainability’s impact on business decisions And even though the CSO role itself barely existed five years ago “It’s moving away from focusing on the ‘g’ of governance to focus on the ‘e’ and ‘s’ of environmental and social,” says Messini you would go to the bank’s loan portfolio and examine the due diligence of the underlying goods you’re looking at the environmental impact of the bank’s building Targeting social impact works in a similar manner you’re looking at loans and making sure they give certain communities and demographics access to finance This might involve applying different criteria from before.” the focus of many chief sustainability officers in banks has been on environmental rather than social According to the EBF and Deloitte joint report 79% of the banks surveyed have decided to focus their sustainability strategy on the climate action sustainable development goal compared to only 7% on social goals such as zero hunger or clean water and sanitisation (11%) This could be in part because climate action influences and impacts other SDGs or that nearly 50% of euro area banks’ exposure to risk is directly or indirectly linked to climate change “I think there will be an evolution towards a greater social focus,” she says The historic issues with tackling social impact rest on a lack of measurement with more complex elements to track and assess and less robust market data With a first draft of the EU Social Taxonomy in place and new EU supply chain due diligence regulation “Social impact can be explored in a business’s supply chain--human rights working conditions--in a similar way to the environmental impact,” Messini says The novelty of sustainability in the banking sector means that most candidates simply don’t have experience fewer than 20% of the EBF and Deloitte’s report respondents held a similar role in the past “Resources and talent is a challenge,” she says “The mix finance and scientific expertise is not linked to standard finance profiles.” Many banking organisations therefore build a team that combines these skills then invests in upskilling new team members The survey uncovered that 72% of sustainability leaders come from their organisation’s business department or have professional expertise in business Previous posts included head of business development The EBF and Deloitte study points out that this in itself is not a problem because it shows that banks are tackling sustainability from a business perspective Messini believes academic and professional expertise will grow--starting with degree courses “A really positive market trend of the past four to five years is seeing students study sustainable finance “This even happens at Luxembourg university.” The University of Luxembourg in 2019 established a sustainable finance project within its department of finance “As these graduates come up through the banks we’re going to see greater expertise,” says Messini Study respondents highlighted the need for more scientific profiles in their team in topics such as biodiversity Interviewees also shared the necessary value of having staff educated on the social aspects of ESG such as human rights and working conditions Sustainability is moving from risk to an opportunity to expand products to existing markets or to conquer new ones The millennial generation is one market highlighted by the survey that has placed values at the heart of its decision making How can the CSO maximise these opportunities She expects that the shift from risk and compliance to business strategy will see CSOs increasingly form part of the senior leadership team of the organisation alongside the chief financial officer and chief operations officer She believes that growing regulatory complexity thanks to the fragmented European market means that CSOs will also be the point of interaction and dialogue with authorities This will also apply to the lack of robust ESG data Respondents to the EBF and Deloitte survey called for quality data and ESG reporting frameworks in Europe so will their influence and lobbying power for a uniform data approach But Messini’s view on the long-term role of the CSO is surprising [the role] could become extinct all together,” she says “There were already respondents in the survey who said that they don’t have a CSO because sustainability is already integrated at every level of their organisation.” While the lack of a need for a CSO could be seen as the successful implementation of ESG Messini believes this will be rare in the short and medium term “These respondents were banks that were set up with the purpose of sustainability so that makes sense not to have a single person as CSO the role of CSO is needed to drive that integration.” who came to the position of sustainability leader from a consulting background what’s the most valuable skill she possesses As big an indicator as any that there is still a lot of work to do to embed ESG into organisations This article was published for the Paperjam + Delano Finance newsletter the weekly source for financial news in Luxembourg. FINDING a summer holiday to suit all the family is never easy. It gets especially tough when the children are no longer toddlers, but are still young enough to have to come with mum and dad. The idea of self-catering — with food shopping, cooking and cleaning — doesn’t sound much like a break. While kids who are a little older get bored quickly while most parents are just desperate to keep them off their phones and doing something active. But we may have the answer at Neilson Messini Beachclub in Greece. Neilson because it’s one of the leaders in active holiday. Messini Beachclub because it has a nice balance of kids’ clubs, spacious and varied beach life and, a priority for me, good tennis. Former Great Britain tennis star Mark Petchey is tennis ambassador for the travel firm. This resort, down on the southernmost tip of the Greek mainland, really has an enormous choice of sporting activities. Even a glance at the weekly activities schedule on arrival is enough to make you feel tired. Apart from the seven tennis courts, with four specialist coaches, there are water sports galore, mountain biking, yoga, pilates and a gym. if you just fancy flopping by the pool or ocean it’s big enough to have a few quiet spots to escape to as well so on the first night we grown-ups signed up for the daily tennis courses (two hours each morning) the odd water sports experience and an “intermediate” mountain bike ride We also decided to attempt daily yoga to stretch out the muscles all of this is only any good for parents if their kids are kept happy too There are nine different kids’ clubs for children aged from four months all the way up to 17 most of which are included in the holiday price The staff-to-kids ratio feels reassuringly good understandably decreasing with increasing child age spent much of each day being well looked after as well as trying out a variety of water sports and tennis She made such good friends that several evenings she preferred to go back to the indoor club to eat there and watch movies For adults — and kids who do want to eat with them — the dining options revolve around one big buffet restaurant which is one area where Messini Beachclub lacks a little variety for three of the seven nights the evening meal is not So instead guests head out to tavernas or restaurants in nearby villages On one of these nights there is a very generous barbecue laid on at the pool bar for a small supplement Nightlife is a little limited in this sleepy part of the southern Peloponnese and with many classes starting at 8am or 9am So evenings after dinner are spent around the pool bar almost exclusively British staff hold quizzes or show off their singing happy vibe that younger kids and teenagers alike seem to appreciate I was keen to get up early to play tennis before the Greek sun approaches full power Josh and Sarah were out from early in the morning to late in the evening Despite this they were always smiling and fizzing with energy The tennis includes daily coaching courses although the cooler times of day are understandably busy There are equally large teams of friendly young people running the water sports all of which take place in Analipsi’s very safe bay where the wind often picks up suitably in the afternoons The only criticism was the mountain biking experience which we novices found a little low on information and tuition Even the intermediate session took place on some hard leading to my partner taking a couple of painful tumbles it was probably the best family-friendly activity holiday we have been on And it’s no surprise that Neilson seems to be investing further expanding Messini and opening new beachclubs in Croatia and Sardinia for 2017 SEVEN nights for a family of four at Messini Beachclub costs from £4,628 including flights from Heathrow on August 6. See neilson.co.uk Neilson holidays can also now be booked through any of Kuoni's 47 travel shops on the High Street and selected John Lewis stores. For more details see kuoni.co.uk Equally I don’t want her to spend her whole holiday on Instagram and YouTube. That’s why we both love Neilson Beachclubs. The Messini Beachclub is right down in the Peloponnese peninsula in southern Greece. As such, it benefits from blistering hot summers and a reliable breeze that builds in the afternoons, ensuring excellent sailing and windsurfing conditions. But good water sports for adults and kids are just part of the offer in this all-inclusive resort (well, inclusive except for dinners on three of the seven nights, when guests are encouraged to venture out to tavernas or nearby Messini and Kalamata). Like most Neilson Beachclubs this one offers extensive cycling, exercise classes and a particularly good tennis centre. And that’s what I do in the mornings — play endless tennis before the temperature gets into the 30s. The afternoons are more about lying on the beach before end-of-the-day yoga on an ocean-front platform (they even let you take along your happy hour cocktails!) All this time my daughter is at kids’ club. Now I say “kids’ club”, but actually Neilson’s great attribute is that it creates a tailored experience for particular age groups, so my daughter is hanging out with fellow 12 and 13-year-olds. There are groups for older teens as well. They often choose to have lunch, sometimes dinner too, with their new-found friends, when they’re not playing supervised games, out on the water or chilling by the pool. What’s so nice for teenagers is that they are given freedom within a safe environment. The “nannies” and “mannies”, most in their 20s, seem a sensible bunch, striking the right balance between fun and responsibility. In fact Neilson Messini is largely run by youngsters who have recently left college or are taking a gap year. Based in southern Greece between Easter and the end of October, they form into distinct tribes — the “beachies” who run the watersports, the tennis coaches who lose their voices by the end of the day, the cool and grungy cycling crew, and so on. This environment is almost enough to make a middle-aged dad feel young again. Certainly the active nature of a Neilson holiday — with its brand motto “Relax as hard as you like” — should make you feel fitter and leaner afterwards. As well as its young staff, Neilson’s other big investment is in the equipment. Thankfully the boats, windsurf boards and bicycles all seem top-notch, despite the intense wear and tear they get over a season. If you prefer to relax, there’s a popular bar area with nightly entertainment, a nice, large pool and a long beach with sun loungers. But if we’re honest, this is a holiday for the sports lover. The clue is in the timetable, with many activities beginning at 8am — hence the bar area tends to be empty well before midnight. Yet it doesn’t feel one-dimensional because there are many day trips and excursions on offer — to mountain waterfalls, archaeological sites and even to ancient Sparta. These are not covered by the all-inclusive price and often one needs to pay in cash, which I find slightly bizarre. But this is Greece. The food is plentiful, if slightly predictable. All drinks except mineral water cost extra to the all-inclusive. If one wants to eat healthily there is a vast salad selection, even if one can tire of feta cheese after a while. Your kids, if they’re like mine, will tend to veer towards the always-present pizzas, burgers and pasta. My daughter continues to stay in touch with all her Neilson friends throughout the year The customer loyalty on these holidays is incredible with most families you meet having been on at least a couple of the holidays before but it’s a formula people seem to like — particularly middle-aged parents GETTING/STAYING THERE: Seven nights’ club board (breakfast & lunch daily plus four evening meals) at Messini Beachclub is from £729pp including flights from Heathrow See neilson.co.uk/beach or call 0333 014 3350 The best souvlaki and gyros in Toronto can be plated or handheld With marinated meat that's tender and tasty and customization options ranging from tzatziki and hummus it's no wonder that this typically Greek fare has found favour on this side of the Atlantic Here's the best souvlaki and gyros in Toronto With gyros and souvlaki as authentic as Athens' finest this Danforth Avenue spot is always hopping get your fill of spit-roasted or skewered chicken pork or beef vying for space in a pita with onions this spot could be called Souv Love and nobody would argue spit-roasted meats beckon to passersby who invariably cave into temptation Jam-packed wraps holding seasoned pork or chicken It's impossible to ignore the old-school vibe — and retro pricing — at this Danforth Avenue restaurant and you'll see there's more than nostalgia keeping customers piling in Follow the aroma of expertly seasoned meat to this casual restaurant's two downtown locations A place that doles out succulent pork and chicken gyros every day of the week until late this spot relies on fresh ingredients for every satisfying menu item Find the antidote to your hunger level at this Etobicoke spot where tender gyros can be ordered in pitas this relaxed restaurant is open for dine-in and takeout saucy bite also available through DoorDash Classic gyros and souvlaki — in dinner or sandwich form — are popular orders at this no-frills spot with locations on Mount Pleasant Road and Pape Avenue Tailor your meal to your liking — with add-ons like kopanisti cheese and special sauce — and taste a medley of garlicky Hellenic pride oozes from this family-run Danforth Avenue denizen yiayia-style comfort food includes filling chicken and pork souvlaki along with gyros served on grilled pita or as a dinner Settle into the quaint room or order in from Uber Eats and Skip The Dishes West-end kids head to this spot in the Junction when they can't get the vision of juicy chicken souvlaki out of their heads it's a restaurant meal that (almost) feels homemade are decidedly less homey but shouldn't be ignored This Kennedy Road spot isn't as overtly Greek as others on this list but the team is no less adept at dishing up satisfying meat in souvlaki and gyros form Seven days a week this restaurant does brisk business serving fresh and flavourful dishes to scores of devoted regulars Hector Vasquez at Messini, @souvlikepape, Square Boy, @christinas.cravings at George the Greek, Jesse Milns at Tzatziki Restaurant, @kathysgrill Logistics Middle East Home » Transport » Evergreen cargo ship launches new Oman-South Asia loop RELATED: United Arab Shipping launches new North American service Sohar Port and Freezone welcomed the container ship Messini to the port on Friday with the feeder vessel making its maiden call in Sohar as part of the new direct South Asia-Oman service launched by Evergreen and Simatech The new cargo loop will be operated jointly by the two shipping companies with Evergreen’s Messini the first ship to be deployed on the new route It is hoped that the new service will offer Omani importers and exporters more choice in terms of shipping The ship’s maiden call to Sohar and the launch of the new service was celebrated with a quayside ceremony attended by Sultan bin Salim Al Habsi chairman of the Board of Sohar Industrial Port Company (SIPC) which operates the port and Said bin Hamdoon bin Saif Al Harthy undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport Sohar Port and Freezone CEO Andre Toet and Albert Pang the CEO of Oman International Container Terminal LLC (OICT) were also in attendance along with representatives of the Evergreen and Simatech shipping lines we are realizing the vision of the government to create another major regional hub port which will help grow not only our captive cargo but will also take full advantage of Oman’s strategic location for transshipment activities,” said Al Habsi “Today’s maiden call bears witness to the steady growth in both our handling capacity and our efficiency at Sohar Port,” Toet added “The continued smooth operations at OICT have brought us new lines and more connections Regular calls of vessels like the EGL Messini are a sign of even bigger things to come.” Four vessels are planned for deployment on the new weekly route which is being branded as the Chennai-Colombo-Gulf Service Each vessel will have a capacity of around 2,000-teu RELATED: Evergreen announces new Sohar-India service By Amy Carlberg The top Greek restaurants in Toronto transport diners to faraway isles seafood and all the feta you can handle can be found on the menu at these places Greek traditions are strongly rooted in a culture of sharing food and these spots have plenty of mezes that everyone at the table can dig into grilled proteins and fresh veggies all come together to create something truly wonderful at these Greek restaurants Here are some of the best spots to get Greek food in Toronto 5 – Pantheon The Danforth is where to head for a taste of Toronto’s Greektown with many Greek restaurants clustered in the area serving everyone’s Mediterranean favourites since 1997 you can find go-to appetizers like dips as well as rarer options like market price small fish imported from Greece For something fresh and light but very flavourful cucumber and pepper mingle with a ton of onions and capers that balance out the sweetness of the veggies with brine and acidity 4 – Messini Authentic Gyros and the crispy caramelized meat is shaved off rotating spits in full view of the entryway to the restaurant The restaurant has been operating for over 20 years and their gyros are made using a recipes that dates back to the 1960s These gyros might just be the closest you can get to ones on the streets of Greece If you want to deviate from the gyros they’re famous for as well as typical appetizers and options like Greek poutine with feta 3 – Mezes This restaurant was once located a few doors down on the Danforth but they’ve now moved into a bigger corner spot with the old location solely doing takeout seafood and meats as well as mezes like meatballs made using a secret family recipe Out of the lineup of textbook Greek fare here available served with bread or in a full dinner with salad and you can’t go wrong accompanying it with pillowy pita that soaks up all the meat’s juices and the creamy tzatziki 2 – Koukla Try some of the tastiest mezes in Toronto at this Ossington small plates restaurant that represents the best of Greece and other shareables like kebabs and salads highlight the brightness of Greek cuisine in a fresh Impressive cocktails here are just as Greek as the food with one option called the Tzatziki that remarkably recalls the famous dip incredibly rich with a touch of char to them balancing pickled onion that brings the whole bite together 1 – Mamakas Elegance meets traditional Greek flavours at this airy tavern on Ossington One of the most notable of these reinventions is the spanakopita a fat spiral of paper thin pastry that conceals a thick lacquered surface cracks apart as you break into it Even a simple dish of olives or feta accompanied by a cocktail wine or a Greek beer from this restaurant will have you feeling like you’ve just stepped off the boat on a beautiful island