Modern Patras
by Kuznetsov_Sergey
Dubbed Greece's Gate to the West, Patras is a commercial hub, while its busy port is a nodal point for trade and communication with Italy and the rest of Western Europe. The city has two public universities and one Technological Institute, hosting a large student population and rendering Patras.
Every spring the city hosts one of Europe's largest and most colorful carnivals; notable features of the Patras Carnival include its mammoth-sized satirical floats and extravagant balls and parades.
Patras was the European Capital of Culture in 2006. You may watch my high resolution photo of Patras on the Google Earth according to the following coordinates 38º 14' 33.04" N 21º 43' 40.32" E or on my Google Earth Panoramio Patras St Andrew Tower.
Carnival
by mindcrime
Patras’ Carnival (Patrino Karnavali in greek) is the most famous in Greece. Many people (especially young ones) from all over Greece go there and drink, have fun, drink, watch the colorful carnival, drink, pay prices from outerspace, drink and did I tell you that they drink? :)
Patras carnival is based on the local customs of the bourgeoisie during the 19th century. After the Ionian islands reunited with Greece many customs from there were added and it was the beginning of the 20th century that the first groups were made, music for the carnival was written etc There are several different events like parades, a game called hunting of hidden treasure etc The big parade on the last Sunday (before Clean Monday that the orthodox start to prepare for the Easter) is the big event of course with the ritual burn of the King Carnavalos at the end (near the harbour) while fireworks fill the sky (pic 2). It’s that day that all the visitors come, the hotels are fully booked but the young people don’t care because they drink all night and just return the morning after :)
The parade goes through the streets of the city (pic 3), this year (2010) was very difficult to watch due to heavy rains that spoiled the atmosphere, that’s why I don’t have good pictures, the old ones are really old but I promise to have better ones next year :)
weird street race
by mindcrime
It was a weird weekend for the locals.
The first Patras International Circuit Kart took place on September 19-20, 2009 and I noticed many people staring at the strange tiny cars that was going in circle around Vas.Georgiou square (3 blocks from east to west, from Ag.Nikolaou>Maizonos>Patron>Korinthou).
Some main streets like Korinthou and Maizonos were closed at that part and it was nice to see the race (the other days it’s full of cars anyway). Of course, as usual some local old ladies were at their balconies screaming about the noise of the cars :)
About 100 drivers from all over Greece came and transferred the city into a small Monaco for a while :) By the way, the local authorites gave 75,000 for putting new asphalt on the streets.
A few Kilometers from Patras...
by tak_pap
A few Kilometers from Patras is Rion suburb. Rion is an important transport junction (it connectes the 'Peloponnese' with the 'Sterea Hellas').
Rion has also a beautiful castle, and a lot of summer bars, disco-clubs and Cafes, you can visit them and drink a coffee or a coctail. It has also a lot of restaurants, you can visit them and eat tradional and others food.
Near Patras, there are many great beaches, excellent villages next to the sea. Swimming, surfing,fun, drinking ...!
Try 'Kalogria Beach'. You dont'n know what you 're missing.
Exterior of the church
by Sharrie
Walk around the exterior & wonder who is the architect! I do that quite a bit especially when I come a cross a building I like. Even if it's an office building in the middle of the city anywhere in the world. I see the shapes, I see the texture & I see life... the life of an architect! The infinity of one's thought... think the Pyramid, the Great Wall, Sagrada Familia...
I once saw a movie... the main character said this while teaching an architectural subject: "Even a brick wants to be something..." Anyone remember which movie it is? Yes!!! Even a brick wants to be something. What do you want to be???
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carnival in the streets
the old Lithografeio
Ancient Amphitheatre/Stadium
Agios Dionysios church
