My Frist Trip To Athena
November 2022
Greetings and welcome to my travel blog. Rather than a written account, this blog will showcase my experiences through a collection of photographs. Some of these pictures may require closer examination, so I encourage you to take your time with each one, just as you would with reading a couple of lines before moving on to the next. For the best viewing experience, I recommend accessing this blog on a computer to fully appreciate the images.
My initial entry will focus on my visit to Athens. Although it was not my first trip worth writing about, it was the trip that inspired me to start documenting my travels.
Upon arriving in Athens, I was immediately struck by the abundance of art in the city. Art can be found everywhere, spanning thousands of years or just a few days. One aspect of Athenian art that stood out to me in particular was the quality of graffiti. Having lived in Melbourne, Australia, a city renowned for its street art, I was still taken aback by the graffiti I encountered in Athens. Here are some examples of the graffiti I came across during my stay.
Art is Art.
Quite impactful! I must admit that I appreciate the majority of the graffiti, although I’m not sure how I would feel if it was my van or shop being tagged.
The artwork on the buildings is especially fascinating, with some pieces carrying significant meaning. Take this one, for instance:
I perceive a disillusioned woman in the artwork, who could be anyone regardless of age, features, or relationship status. She appears displeased, gazing past you with a sense of disappointment resulting from perpetual failure. Her arms are folded, blocking any opportunity for physical reconciliation.
The use of royal purple in the background serves as a reminder of the city’s Athenian heritage. As people try to balance their lives without knowing why, she stands watching them. Going from point A to B to A again and again.
Behind her, the blue mountains, which the ancient Greeks did not identify in their literature, perhaps searching for what they couldn’t find. Her chest is ablaze with fiery yellow, indicating that she is still brimming with energy and striving for change.
Her eyes are fixated on you, and her lips are perfect, but you’ll never have the chance to kiss them again.
This magnificent piece of art is visible on a building opposite to the Academy of Athena. I wonder if it’s symbolic?
While not all street art is as compelling, you’ll come across some incredible pieces on the buildings. Here are a few examples:
Another piece that I want to talk about is the next one.
In this piece, I observe a man who appears to be a worker, but it’s difficult to discern whether he is a blue-collar or white-collar worker, maybe a supervisor, given his beige attire. The monochromatic palette in the artwork is limited to the same beige shade.
Like everyone else on the train, he seems to be staring out the window, observing life pass by. while he is stuck in boring beige…
After the initial impact of the powerful art in the city, I began to notice subtler things, like these, for instance.
Religion and corruption are prominent features in Greece, and this is a widely acknowledged fact in Athens. For visitors coming from secular countries like Australia, it is quite apparent to observe the influence of religion in daily life. My friend in Athens jokes about an imminent change, but it could just be a way for people to vent their frustration.
My personal views are influenced by Greece’s history and the decline of Athens, but that’s a different topic for another day, and it’s merely my opinion.
Coming back to Athens today, I’d like to mention that I captured all of these photographs while strolling around downtown Athens or within a two to three-kilometre radius of the city center.
Omonoia: a neighbouring in Athens that was more confronting than the rest.
According to uncle google: Centered on its namesake square, down-to-earth Omonia draws daytime crowds to the Athens Central Market, where stalls are packed with olives, feta cheese, meat and fish, and simple food is available from street food stands and no-frills tavernas. Surrounding streets have department stores and shops selling clothing, coffee and appliances. Repertory and experimental productions are played out at The National Theatre. ― Google
In my opinion, Omonoia was a bit rougher around the edges than other neighborhoods I visited.”
When I visited Omonoia, I saw a lot of drug addicts, police officers, and abandoned buildings. Perhaps it was just an unlucky day, but there are plenty of articles on the internet about the homelessness problem in Athens, a city with a population of 3.165 million. Here’s a link to an article that discusses the issue in more detail.
The ancient buildings and ruins in Athens are truly awe-inspiring and could be talked about endlessly. However, many people have already covered these topics extensively, so I won’t inundate you with too many pictures of them. That being said, one particular location that caught my eye was the Academy of Athena, and I have included some pictures for you to enjoy.
Shifting our focus from politics and history, the people of Athens are very friendly and hospitable, and the food is enjoyable, although I wouldn’t say exceptional – perhaps I’ll discover some new culinary gems on my next trip. The streets can be quite chaotic, but one thing that stands out is the constant presence of the Acropolis towering over the city, visible from almost every vantage point. Here are some photos I took while walking around the streets of Athens.
As I wrap up this post, I would like to share with you some pictures of statues from Athens. I hope you found my post both entertaining and informative. If you have any comments or thoughts to share, please do not hesitate to leave them below.
Peace out ✌️ ☮️ love Athena ❤️
