Kerameikos

To best enjoy the view of this graffiti artwork you must sit on the parkbench across it with time in your hands. It may not be a masterpiece but it offers the atmosphere of thoughts, ideas and time on one's own to reflect above the world.

Following the Pagan Spring festivities under the Acropolis

Losing my religion, Syntagma Sq

Embracing the city

Laughter Yoga teacher Eleni Skrekou and her sister Vassiliki have got together with friends and created a new movement in the Greek capital, offering free hugs to passers-by. Inspired by the free hugs movement worldwide they have no qualms to stand anywhere holding up a sign that announces their huggability. I made this video of Eleni in Thisseio's Apostolou Pavlou St and was impressed by the results. 

Athinas market gypsy band

At Athinas' Varvakeio market you can experience a whole universe of smells, sounds , tastes and sights. Shop for meat and fish, herbs, nuts, spices and delicacies and then cross over to find fruit and vegetables and a row of shops from eastern Europe. 

You will also see beggers and bands, black market cigarette sellers and a fascinating blend of the most distinguished with the most common.

Looking over the footage I took of this gypsy band at Athinas, I was inspired to use it as a video backdrop for my song 'When we two parted', which is based on the poem by Lord Byron.

Athens Big Band

I was working as a fixer with some journalists from the Danish state TV who were in Athens to report on the economic crisis. By 11am I was almost drowning in the drudgery and then as we turned the corner there they were: the Athens Big Band! My heart immediately recovered The band is under the auspices of the City of Athens and they perform around the city, filling the streets with bright, blaring sounds like jazz, swing and often witty cover versions of famous pop and rock hits too. 


They truly are one of the greatest joys of Athens living.

 

Rubbish bin philosophy

"YOUR THOUGHT DEFINES YOU"

Always a pleasure to be inspired by a message 

written on a non-attractive surface - a reminder

that graffiti can be powerful and useful when used 

cleverly and practically.  

Exarcheia near Kallidromiou & Themistokleous Sts

In the spirit of all Athenians, having to begin to accept our fate and pretend like life goes on as normal while adapting, my friend stand-up comedian Dimitris Dimopoulos pretends to be trying to open his car a few days after a riot (which isn't really his car, thankfully).

The graffiti painting reads: "Whoever battles injustice should beware that they do not become unjust themselves".

The old Athenian atmosphere in Plaka

I took this photo after visiting the University of Indianapolis' cultural centre, which has a lovely balcony right over the Tower of the Winds, and stunning views of Athens in its crumbling ancient glory. I gave the image a sepia tint to portray the vintage aspect of Athens with its tourists stopping to sit in the shade and read their guide book while old men sit at a table nearby, raucously observing a game of tavli between their friends. Living in Athens today, scenes like this are rare; like many other aspects of the city that once practically defined it, they have been replaced by a fast-paced and impersonal, chaotic and high-stress modernity.