This is an exciting project of finding the heart of Athens from the concrete jungle.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Surprise street parade

Copyright 2011 Jan
Tonight I stumbled to a street party in the middle of Athens. There where hundreds of people dancing on the street and parading from Syntagma towards Thisio to a big party, as a dancing "police" girl next to me shouted. 

Copyright 2011 Jan
The sight was surreal. All of the sudden there they were. Tens of people playing rhythm with big drums, one big group of marching people dressed as a police squad with cucumbers as batons and some people with urban circus costumes. 

Copyright 2011 Jan
People on the streets were stunned by tempting dance rhythms and everyone had a big smile on their face. Some people were taken by the party feeling and started to follow the crowd. The parade danced the night away and Monastiraki was soon back on to its silent holiday strolling mode. 
Copyright 2011 Jan


Thursday, October 27, 2011

Being handsome in Chalandri

Today I followed the footsteps of one of the three great tragedians of classical Athens, Euripides, to his birthplace Chalandri (Greek: Χαλάνδρι). It is a vivid northern suburb of Athens and it is located only about 12 kilometers from downtown of Athens.

The place has one of the highest ratios of greenery in Athens, but I was on my way to a bustling commercial center of Chalandri. It had all of the brands one can wish for and I found this little sign as a present for myself. ;P


Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Once upon a time they Googled Athens

I just had a great day out with some of my friends from Athens. They are all positive, confident, open-minded and social people and we always have fun where ever we go. 


Meet Andreea, Mara and Ligita and see some of our virtual mini-art gallery with five photos.
Copyright 2011 Jan



This time we were about to see some of the hip Athens Photo Festival 2011 exhibitions. We actually saw some of them but more likely ended up as a part of Google Maps Transit Athens campaign. 


As you can see we ended up messing with a cool Google team winning some Google gifts and doing our own exhibition of "art" instead. 


Opa!


Copyright 2011 Jan

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Say "NO!" in Athens on Friday

Copyright 2011 Jan
Ochi Day (Greek: Επέτειος του «'Οχι») is a historical anniversary of the simple word "no". It is celebrated each year on 28th of October and it is a national holiday in Greece.

Greeks are very proud of this specific day in their history. It is a day from the year 1940 when General Ioannis Metaxas replied strongly “no” to Mussolini´s request to allow troops to come into Greece and occupy some strategic locations in the country or face the war. Prime Minister Metaxas not only rejected Italy´s ultimatum but he chose the resistance as a dictator. The very same day is also remembered as a date when Greece entered into the World War II.

In Athens Ochi Day means outstanding military parade with music, soldiers, marching students and Greek flags on the spirit of one morning on 28th of October 1940 when all the people took over the streets of Greece shouting “No!”. The parade is passing by the Hellenic Parliament building on Amalias Avenue.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Christmas in November

Copyright 2011 Jan
Christmas shops have reincarnated all over Athens. They welcome visitors to the wonderful winter world with Christmas trees, millions of lights, beautiful ornaments, luscious garlands, big Christmas stockings and much more. Drop in one of them and let your inner child get exited all over again. 

Καλό χειμώνα!


Saturday, October 22, 2011

His Highness Mount Lycabettus


Copyright 2011 Jan
Mount Lycabettus (Greek: Λυκαβηττόςis a limestone hill and as a famous child it has many variations of its name like Lykavittos, Lycabettos and Lykabettos as well as stories of its history. We know as a fact that the hill is 277 meters above sea level making it the highest peak of seven hills around Athens. At its peak there is the 19th century Chapel of St. George and a restaurant called Orizontes.

Copyright 2011 Jan
You can get there by climbing up about 250 steps from the side of the city center, taking a taxi behind the peak and climbing up about 140 steps or taking a short ride with a cable railway (Teleferik) from the corner of Aristippou and Ploutarhou streets ending up climbing about 50 steps. Needless to say, you need a lot of water, snacks and some tissues to accomplish your journey.
Copyright 2011 Jan
After all of the climbing sit back and be amazed of a full 360° view over the city below you. I bet no-one minds the cool breeze on a hot summer day either. Mount Lycabettus is especially useful to Athens virgins unfolding the city like a 3D pop up map on front of them before exploring the city. On a clear day you can spot all the places from Kolonaki and Excarhia on your feet all the way to Pireaus by the Saronic Gulf on the other side of the city. You turn around, and same goes all the way to Mount Parnassos in the north.

Copyright 2011 Jan
It is the once-in-a-lifetime place to be on sunset watching orange sun turning to pink and dropping down between the mountains. Few minutes more of waiting will be rewarded by the light up city with its jewels like Acropolis, Temple of Olympian Zeus and Ancient Agora glittering on their magical evening glory.
Copyright 2011 Jan
At the summit of Mount Lycabettus stands the sweet little Chapel of St. George with a Greek flag and a bit separated bell tower. The little church is traditionally dressed with blue and white coat having a true haven of peacefulness inside. The faithful ones who attended that church every Sunday should be awarded somehow, but it is a nice venue for some windy weddings nowadays.

Copuright 2011 Jan

Copyright 2011 Jan

Copyright 2011 Jan
There is also a café/restaurant one level below and kind of around the Chapel. It is pricy but has indisputably the best panoramic views from the patio over the city and it is romantic venue for couples to spend some time together.

Copyright 2011 Jan
No need to explain where this sight is, just look up from anywhere from the city of Athens and you will understand.
Copyright 2011 Jan


Wednesday, October 19, 2011

The colossal strike wave hits Athens

Copyright 2011 Jan
Most stores, kiosks and main mass transportation stations in the city center of Athens are shut down today. The reason is one of the largest strikes during this decade in Greek history lead by The General Confederation of Greek Labour (GSEE) and private (Adedy) unions.

Copyright 2011 Jan
While some protesters throw Molotov cocktails and break the historic buildings to stone hundreds of riot police outside, inside the parliament house there is a heated discussion and voting whether Greece will pass the bill that guarantees next installment from 110 billion international bailout money in the situation were a government debt is 162 % of its GDP. Without next installment money Greece government is said to be unable to pay salaries and pensions as soon as mid-November.


Copyright 2011 Jan
It seems that approximately 70 000 people disagrees furiously on Syntagma Square. They are on the streets with gas masks, white faces, signs and whistles to attack against tens of thousands of temporary job cuts, a new civil service salary system, tax hikes and pension cuts. The riot police are responding with tear gas from the protective ring around the parliament building while black smoke is floating on the air from bus company ticket boots and piling up garbage set on fire.
Copyright 2011 Jan
In the international markets Greece´s creditors have already agreed of 21% haircut on their loans, but there is no assurance it is going to be enough to rescue sinking Greek economy. Therefore the whole world is clued to the mass media gizmos, hosted by hundreds of reporters, to watch the Modern time Greek Odyssey - its raise or its fall.

Copyright 2011 Jan
Copyright 2011 Jan



Not a real credit card :)

Copyright 2011 Jan

I was shopping in the heart of Athens at the Ermou street. I found this, started to laugh aloud and soon amused people again around me rolling out of laughter! 


Does someone really think they could buy a real credit card with a price of its holder? This must be a candid camera trick. Well, they got my reaction on tape for sure. Muah hah haa! :D

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Talking trash in Athens

Athenian sanitation workers protest together with heavy Autumn rains has led to thousands of tonnes of garbage piling up on the streets to be washed around the stinking city.
 
 

Copyright 2011 Jan

After Health and Interior Ministers announced that uncollected garbage is posing a severe public health risk to citizens, workers
 decided to relieve their 10-day protest.
They have promised to collect garbage from the streets close to open-air markets (laiki), schools and hospitals.

Copyright 2011 Jan
Are they talking trash or does the ministries end up using private companies to do the dirty work? But wait, who ends up picking up all of the unused and discard cars around the trash containers?

Copyright 2011 Jan

Friday, October 14, 2011

Is it Jesus?

Copyright 2011 Jan
I found a beautiful statue behind the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens (Καθεδρικός Ναος Ευαγγελισμού της Θεοτόκου). It´s located at the Mitropoleos street between Syntagma and Monastiraki. Does anyone know what´s this statue called?

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

One man show

Copyright 2011 Jan

Who is this man and what is he there for? He´s against the religion, taxes, the government or all of them? I´m not so sure. It´s a bit confusing.


Anyway, you can find him near the Syntagma Square almost every day. He´s just standing there, motionless, with a silent despair. 

Saturday, October 1, 2011

The Greek nation holding its breath

The government of Greece is on the way to regenerate nations economics under the eyes of eurozone. Many people question the austerity measures accompanied with some analysts. They all wait for solid answer to appear soon or Greece is on the way to a total disaster.


How far there is left to fall? That is a big question Greece has to answer. There are bunch of options left and then some more but one thing is sure, there is no easy way out on the future from the situation Greece got itself.

Greece could exit from the eurozone and throw itself to total disaster with upcoming high inflation in weak political system while debt in national currency would continue to grow. Controlled restructuring of debts could lower its competitivity but it would not have any effect if Greece will continue to spend more than it is gaining.


Copyright 2011 Jan
On the other hand uncontrolled economical status would shoot down enterprises, send unemployment statistic to rocket high numbers and set the whole Europe on fire. There are also some Jokers in the deck of debt cards like the stronger European Union members getting enough of this game and leaving Greece and the rest of PIIGS to survive on their own. The best option is to avoid all of these options and come up with the answer to million dollar question.


In the meanwhile streets of Greece are already on the fire by numerous demonstrations. They are taken by angry, frustrated and tired citizens of Athens and Thessaloniki who are trying to survive from everyday life with new harsh austerity measures announced month after month. Common people like teachers, doctors, public transport workers, garbage collectors, air traffic controllers and university students are asking the same question. Are the austerity measures intensifying the gap between healthy Greek nation and economic crisis?

Copyright 2011 Jan
Many suspect political conspiracy between the government and European Union leaders while small people feel left out of the eight billion euros bail out money which Papandreou & co. is hoping to get by mid-October. Official truth is that Greek will not exit the eurozone and Greek government will do its best to avoid sovereign debt default. On the behalf of the people it is probably fair to say that they are not alone. Many international analysts seem to fear the very same what those people on the streets say: Greece is likely to start an economic recession in Europe, but on the hot debate there is also some strong and hopeful opinions arising.

Shouts echoing from the wall of the Hellenic Parliament building at the Syntagma Square in Athens argue that corruption of the country got too deep and ate up the profitability of hard work. Still some fundamental truths at the very essence of this nationwide reform are there to be tackled, not least nonfunctional public service positions which have been synonym to sinecure for years. Now they are asked to leave and at the same time tax payers are offered longer queues in public services introduced with harsh and inflexible new taxes.

Everyone has they hope on the big mission to get the rotten apples cleaned out of the garden, but the truth is they have no idea how far there is left to fall after opening protected Greek markets, accelerating privatization and waiting for next bailout money to arrive on time. At the very same time all of the people around the world hope nothing more but best for Greeks to tackle the economical and political crisis.