What is a city without an infamous ‘bird lady’?
Syntagma Square or ‘constitution square’ is the epicenter of Athens. The place where tourists and locals collide and where many government protests take place. That boy statue has seen it all!
An oldie but goodie photograph that I captured in my early days of street photography. It’s one of my favourite captures. I love the light, the subject and the timing was very lucky. I took it as a sign that I should continue in my journey as a photographer.
A cute little coffee shop at Monastiraki square. I don’t drink coffee, but they have delicious hot chocolate!
It is not unusual, in an ancient city like Athens, to come across a cemetery with open tombs. This ancient cemetery is located in one of the most beautiful squares in downtown Athens called ‘Plateia Kotzia’ (Πλατεία Κοτζιά). The buildings at the square are neoclassical from the 19th Century and they are a wonderful contrast to the ancient grave site.
Very commonly in Athens, whilst taking a stroll, you will come across a large angry crowd with signs, shouting and heading in your direction. Fortunately for me, this was a tiny and non-violent protest by a political party. The protest took place outside of the Bank of Greece.
No harm no foul just another photo op for me 😉
Πολύ συχνά στην Αθήνα, ενω κανοντας μια βόλτα, θα συναντήσετε ένα μεγάλο εξαγριωμένο πλήθος με πινακίδες να φωνάζουν προς στην κατεύθυνσή σας. Ευτυχώς για μένα, αυτή ήταν μια μικρη, και μη βίαιη διαμαρτυρία από ένα πολιτικό κόμμα. Η διαμαρτυρία πραγματοποιήθηκε έξω από την Τράπεζα της Ελλάδα. Καμία ζημιά δεν φάουλ απλώς μια άλλη φωτογραφική ευκαιρία για μένα.
Just a few more photographs of the Antiques street in downtown Athens that I didn’t add before. Such a great place for a photographer. That street is like an explosion of sights and sounds that will make your head spin and your camera snap non-stop!
Surrounded by mirrors
On the streets
No passersby
Gazes at the looking-glass
Even the beautiful
Won’t gaze at the glass
Under the rays of the harsh day light
To avoid the truth
The frown that still lingers
A wrinkle that is permanent
The furrowed brow of anger and resentment
The reflection of a tear in the eye
But the glass doesn’t see the soul
Only the surface
It’s not a true reflection.
A family walks by graffiti and merchandise.
The place to shop when WW3 happens..
Cover art of vintage records on the wall of a shop.
Religious icons, Santa Claus, & jewelery all in one shop window!
Where ever you go in any city you are bound to see a few things that are little off. I have seen some odd things during my walks in Athens. There are a few things that a tourist or even a local Greek would find ‘kitsch’ or odd and I love to capture these oddities with my camera..the stranger the better 😉
A mannequin strikes a pose on a downtown Athenian balcony.
”I hate fake people. You know what I’m talking about. Mannequins.”
“Μισώ τους ψεύτικους ανθρώπους . Ξέρεις τι πράγμα μιλάω. Μανεκέν.”
― Jarod Kintz, American author.
Old encyclopedias & books scattered on the ground. One of the books is an Economics book. Not a favourite subject now for us Greeks!
A gramophone. I never had one-too young. But, it’s so beautiful.
A t.v/radio and cassette player in one. Good idea! Black & white dial phone. Not too young to remember this. It took forever to make a phone call!
Old cameras that would be cool to have even today with all the fancy cameras on the market now.
Old film projector.
Looks like records are trending now. I bet many people regret throwing their old records and record player away!
What kind of writer doesn’t love the typewriter?
It’s Weird Al’s accordion!
A silver platter and musical instruments hang like meat at an antique shop.
There is a street in downtown Athens that has many antique shops. I saw a few products that my family used to own when I was growning up that I had forgotten about. Some of these products seem to have come back in style like records and record players and older cameras. Many people still love Polaroid cameras despite the more high-tech digital cameras that are out we now.
Maybe it’s not such a great idea to throw everything out when newer products come to replace the older ones. But, I guess we would all be hoarders if we kept everything. I kept thinking that in the future the products that I am using will be in these shops. It’s a bit depressing, but it will most likely happen. Most of the people that were walking by eyeing the antiques were older people. I bet they prefer they were feeling very nostalgic and would prefer the older stuff to the new. Sometimes for some people what is new doesn’t always mean that it is better.
My Creative Wayz 