With the participation of thousands of Hellenes, dozens of clubs, communities, schools and organizations from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Canada and Greece, the great Greek parade for the 205th anniversary of Greek Independence took place on Sunday, April 26th on 5th Avenue in Manhattan, confirming for yet another year the symbolic character of the top event of Greeks abroad.

Wedding tourism is emerging as one of the fastest-growing segments of the Greek travel industry, generating millions of euros in revenue and mobilizing a wide network of suppliers from hotels and event venues to local businesses, according to organizers of the sector’s first dedicated conference.

Haris Doukas, the socialist mayor of Athens, in an interview with the Guardian newspaper, claimed he is determined to reclaim the capital’s congested city centre for its citizens, the start of the tourist season leaves much of its historic heart at risk of “over-saturation.” Entire neighbourhoods, he believes, are in danger of losing their authenticity because of uncontrolled tourist development.

The cup of the Greek final is still “warm” and OFI is the champion. Michalis Bousis does not wait. With the trophy tightly in one hand, he takes a step forward and, as soon as the first notes from “Moonlit Night” are heard, he begins to dance zeibekiko.Next to him, his father, Dimitris Bousis, watches with emotion. For those who know the family’s history, this scene goes back decades, with the story beginning, not in Heraklion, but in Chicago, USA.