Wood-fired bread, bean pancakes, dark grouper carpaccio, marinated blue mullet, grilled sea bass, and local lobster trahanas are some of the delicacies enjoyed by former U.S. President Barack Obama, his wife Michelle, two their daughters and couple Tom Hanks-Rita Wilson on the island of Sifnos on Sunday evening.
To reach the award-winning restaurant, the group climbed the stairs of the picturesque medieval settlement of Castro, located on a rocky stretch of the island, accompanied by more than 30 bodyguards.
Exclusive video from iefimerida.gr
They sat at a table slightly apart from the other guests and enjoyed a fish and seafood dinner offered by Tom Hanks, whose friend was the restaurant’s chef. The Obamas hosted at the Hanks-Wilson summer villa on the nearby island of Antiparos in the central Aegean. Then, on a private boat, they sailed for half an hour to Sifnos (there were 5 boats with security guards behind).
Before dinner, Obama walked through the picturesque narrow streets of the Cycladic island and said, “Hi, how are you?” people who managed to take a rare picture. According to media reports, there was also a short visit to a local winery.
As we reported earlier, Obama and his family arrived at Paros airport last Friday and took a ferry to the small island of Antiparos to visit Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson. An “army” of guards and agents ensured that the family of the former US president was not interfered with by photographers and film crews. Relaxed days in the central Aegean were short lived as Barack Obama is invited to the Nostos leadership conference in Athens.
This is Barack Obama’s second visit to Greece since 2016.
Former US President Barack Obama is in Athens, where he will meet today with 105 participants in the Obama Leaders program. The meeting will take place without the presence of the public and will mark the end of the program’s six-month journey for 2023. Obama will discuss with them their actions to develop and accelerate positive and lasting change in their communities.
Among the 105 participants in the 2023 program from 75 countries is Greek Elpida Kokkota, founder and CEO of Mexoxo, a non-profit organization that aims to strengthen women’s entrepreneurship.
The six-month Obama Foundation Leaders Program recognizes individuals working in the public, private and civil society sectors who have demonstrated work for the common good, highlighting the shared values and ethical leadership that shaped the vision of Barack and Michelle Obama.
By empowering them and developing their leadership skills, the foundation seeks to raise a new generation of engaged citizens who will act as positive role models and create tangible solutions to the problems facing their communities, countries and the world at large. Members represent an international network of leaders Obama Foundation with over 800 alumni.
On Thursday, the former President of the United States will attend the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Mental Health Conference “SNF Nostos Conference” at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center. There he will perform on stage together with the president of the foundation, Andreas Drakopoulos.
It is noted that the Niarchos Foundation supported both the construction of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago and the implementation of the Obama Foundation Leaders program. Barack Obama is visiting the cultural center for the second time since his last international visit under his administration in 2016, when he delivered a speech – a landmark for the ideal of democracy – from the podium of the National Opera.
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