City Scenes, Athens

Favorite thing: Time schedule is posted here: http://www.sunshine-express.gr/

The train departs from Ermou Street, which is at the bottom of the Square. The departure point is in front of Geniki Bank, across the street from Mc Donalds.

I suggest that you don’t take the Happy Train before 7.30, even 8pm. Firstly because of the traffic and secondly it is so much better to do this at night time

1 more image

Favorite thing: I ended up in this area while looking for the archeological museum. I stopped at viktoria metro station and Vikrìtoria square reminded me Vittorio square in Rome a very multietnic and easy going square always full of people. From there, still looking for the museum I found the university area and plateia Exarhion a sort of bohemian area, full of young guys.
This is actually the only low cost area I found in all the city which appeared pretty expensive in other quarters.

Fondest memory: I had a nice afternoon listening to some live music, having a few drinks watching students preparing their protests.

Favorite thing: If you have not seen or heard Mario Frangoulis, please have a look at this series of wonderful videos of Athens and Greece with music sung by Mario. on YOutube...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Od6sSWsrrAc

CANCIÓN :KATHE LEXI SOU MIA EFCHI
EACH WORD OF YOURS IS A WISH

INTERPRETE: MARIO FRANGOULIS
MÚSICA : STEVE WOOD

Each Word of Yours is a Wish

Dream's light, who can bear you, who?
Cry of joy, which wings do you wear and go?
Pass through me, do not waver
And take root before you depart
Show me the new day
Each word of yours is a wish
Each color in your glance
A sun emerging after the rain
Aim well, and shoot
A flame upon my sadness
That I may find land
That I may find land
In the villages (haunts) of my memory
That I may find land
So that I can cast a heavy anchor
And then I'll light deep in my heart
A fire that resembles you
Show me the new day
Each word of yours is a wish
Each color in your glance
A sun emerging after the rain
Aim well, and shoot
A flame upon my sadness
That I may find land

Favorite thing: In my opinion, there weren't many other things to do in Athens besides the Acropolis, Acint Agorra, Plaka district and a few of the museums. Many parts of the city are actually quite dirty, and rundown. There are a lot of poor homes, pollution, and homelesness.
One hotel we stayed at was right next to an apartment home, and a lot of the people living in it were using either cardboard boxes, or rags for their windows.
I included a page from my scrapbook here that shows the 'ghetto' areas of Athens. These three pictures are the views from my hotel room windows.

Favorite thing: While in Athens, staying along the costal beach is the best way. I stayed within the Palio Faliro & everymorning i was greeted by the most beautiful view of the horizon, sea, beach & sun. Beautiful. Evrything is beautiful as well, the people & the soul of athens is so alive. Every morning, go to the beach & have an early dip in the sea, the water is warm & nice.. never a freezing moment. Then walk to the nearest Starbucks to grab a coffee & read the papers. Great place for a vacation & really enjoy life at a pace beyond expectations.

Fondest memory: Athens is very rustic & still rich in culture & soul. Unlike most European cities, athens is more to the mediteranean in terms of cultural diversity just like andalucia, cyprus & istanbul. Not as cosmopolitan & still maintains the old charm throughout the city. Athens islands are just as great. Hydra & Mykonos are my favourite.

Favorite thing: Athens is a very personal city. It is very warm and kind to tourists. There are also very few main roads, so it is an experience in itself just to wonder the streets. Try it if you are in Athens, around dusk. It is really nice.

You might meet a few dogs on the way too. Don;t be scared, the majority of them are very friendly, however dirty, so don't try to adopt them or antyhing lol.

Fondest memory: Everything

Favorite thing: When Athens was awarded the Olympic Games back in 1997 a lot had to be done to fulifil the needs of the world's most demanding project. Dozens of small and big projects have been built since then changing the face of Athens but also straining the people's nerves during this long period! This effort paid off though. It's visible everywhere. Someone who has visited the city a few years ago will have a very different opinion if he/she visit the city now. Athens is now a truly modern metropolitan center.

Favorite thing: It was built in 1872-1874. The Town Hall of Athens is located at Athinas street, between Omonia and Monastiraki, near the central market of the city. Next to it, you can walk at Kotzia square, which is surrounded by some nice buildings.
The three-floor neo-classical building doesn't house only services, but also hosts wonderful frescos (mainly made by Fotis Kondoglou).
A large restoration had been taken place in 1995, when Dimitris Avramopoulos was the mayor of Athens.

Fondest memory: One should not leave Athena without having walked down Athinas Street, that great working class thoroughfare, from Monastiraki to Omonia Square, and by all means do go into the incredible, immense, polyodorous and anachronistic fish and meat markets, each of which contains within several working men's restaurants, where the food is plentiful, open for viewing and selection, and cheap. It is a city experience not to be missed, especially as those structures are to be demolished and replaced by more hygienic, if less historical, markets. Across the street is the new, large outdoor fruit and vegetable market, which in its turn is surrounded by shops selling fowl of all varieties, rabbits, eggs, and all those edibles which the Greek public requires. At the rear of this market are two or three shops which sell only olives, and olive eaters will be in heaven there.

It is perhaps no more than a 20 minute walk to Omonia,a raffish place, but walk slowly and enjoy the incredible variety of shops where ordinary people buy what they need for their homes, gardens, kitchens, etc.

Favorite thing: As you arrive to Athens by plain, you can realize how huge this city is. It doesn't have tall buildings, but it spreads from the Piraeus port to beyond the horizon with those white suburbian buildings and those endless avenues...