From Athens with Love

Friday, October 14, 2011

Is it Jesus?

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

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.

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?

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.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

A for Athens

A new magnificent hidden place over the roofs of Athens has just arrived. The small terrace on two floors has minimalistic and modern design with contemporary Greek twist.

Talking about the view... it´s insane. It gives the most astonishing panoramic view in the city to the Monastiraki Square, Plaka and most importantly to the Acropolis.

This is most likely to be the number one down town destination for people in Athens on the future. It´s a great place to check the city away from the hustle and bustle of the streets during the day, for romantic date on sunset or meeting friends over delicious cocktails later on. Go immediately to Monastiraki Square and look up to the skyline for the roof top heaven!

How to get there? Well, walk away from the Monastiraki (ΜΟΝΑΣΤΙΡΑΚΙ) metro station, pass the little white church on your right and look for an ice cream store on your left on the corner of Miaouli and Ermou streets. From Miaouli street 2-4 go in under the sign "A for Athens" and take the elevator to the top floor.

Tips:

The elevator is extremely tiny and only for 3 people. Be prepared to wait your turn for a while or even take the stairs.
Remember to check the work of graffiti artist Alexandros Vasmoulakis behind the rooftop bar.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Statue with red lips

The historical museums of Athens by the Stadiou street cover the last five centuries of the history of the town and its intellectual life.

Outside on the courtyard someone ruined the statue at this century with not so intellectual way - but it was a bit funny also. What do you think?

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Kolonaki, The bold and the beautiful of Athens

Kolonaki (Greek: Κολωνάκι) means literally ”little column” and it can still be found from the main Kolonaki Square (its official name is Plateia Filikis Etaireias, but its never really used by Greeks).

You can find this wealthy and chic neo-classical style neighborhood right next to Ambelokipoi, Exarchia, Syntagma and southwest slopes of Lykavittos Hill. Kolonaki has two metro stations, Evangelismos and Megaro Mousikis. Easiest way to get there by feet is to get off on Evangelismos metro station.

Kolonaki has always been the place where the old money lies and it has become an adjective for rich in Athens. Nowadays it´s also a place for new in-town rich, yuppies, aristocratic old ladies, embassy workers, tourists from nearby five star hotels and some serious fashion victims.

One very good idea is to rent a furnished studio apartment instead of a hotel room and have your little Athenian elite adventure here. Main hobby being shopping. Area is packed with high-end boutiques, jewellery shops, art galleries and other services from Greek to international designers.

Go for example to Voukourestiou street and make even Marilyn Monroe jealous with your new diamonds or to Tsakalof street to do some Sex and the City with your new shoes.

Some of the best private museums of the country are found here, The Benaki Museum and The Museum of Cycladic Art. Across the street of Vasilissis Sofias avenue you can find The War Museum and The Byzantine and Christian Museum. All worth of visit! Tip of the day is to have a coffee break in a delightful café in the tiny inner yard of Benaki Museum.

When the night falls Kolonaki is the place for ever-fashionable fun time out. People (and most of the Greek celebrities) are sitting out on one of the zillions of expensive bars, cafés and restaurants sipping their frappé coffees and cocktails or dining out. The cool youngsters occupy the bars on Skoufa, Haritos and Ploutarhou.

Atmosphere in Kolonaki is lively, nice and creates sometimes even kind of international out-of-Athens feeling. You are like fish in the water if you want to go out, drink few cocktails and show-off your newest bling blings.

Στην υγειά σας (In Greek: for your health = Cheers)!

Monday, May 9, 2011

Exarchia - Bohemian Rhapsody

Spell it Exarchia, Exarcheia, Exarheia or Exarhia (Greek: Εξάρχεια), it is one of the most laid-back, bohemian, hip and controversial district in downtown of Athens. It is surrounded by Panepistimiou Street, Patission Street, Alexandras Avenue and it´s elitist neighboring area Kolonaki. Check your map and pin point The National Technical University of Athens and Srefi Hill, and you will find also Exarchia. Its nearest metro stations being Omonia or Panepistimio.

Architectonically area has some neoclassical and art-deco buildings with one of the first apartment buildings in Athens called The Blue Building.

What is so interesting in this neighborhood? It is famous of its freedom and anarchistic nature attracting mostly young people. It used to have a very bad reputation because of drug dealing, bloody riots and all sorts of shady business around them. Even more it is known of its historical student sit-in at the Athens Polytechnio of November 19073, under the junta. More fresh unfortunate memory in people´s minds is the shooting of 15 years old Alexandros Grigoropoulos in December 2008 that caused major riots in Athens and all over Greece. You can visit the Shrine to Alexander Grigoropoulou, on the corner of Mesolongiou and Tzabella Streets, now unofficially named Alexander Grigoropoulou Street.

Well, if you don´t mind riot police hanging on the corners of an area, omnipresent graffiti, some alternative cool shops and colorful people, this is your relaxed place to be. At the same time it has its own unique vibe of never knowing what is going to happen next. That said this is not probably the best area to have a nice all family weekend with kids in Athens but for the young and restless person with a sharp head over his or her shoulders trying to find some cool rock clubs or Greek blues (rembetika) clubs.

The most famous meeting point is definitely the Exarhion square (the intersection of Themistokleous, Ikonomou and Stournara streets) where occasional theatrical shows and concerts take place. It is surrounded with cafes, bars and countless amounts of computer shops nearby which also gives it another name, Greek Silicon Valley. Vibrant and alternative area has also all the fair trade shops, organic food shops, comic/t-shirt/record shops and bookstores you can wish for. Places, where inhabitants such university students, immigrants, artists, intellectuals and politically active people will spend their leisure time.

If you feel it, join for a political conversation or wander around the neighborhood (at the day time) to find something interesting that only Exarchia can offer to you. Like one of the unofficial people´s parks that are built to pressure local officials to turn Athens more ecological and green place to live. You can find anarchists planting trees and flowers or building up a coffee shop to emphasize their message to the world to change it a little bit better place.