James Corsi
In the hectic pace that we live today, it is often difficult to stop and really observe, soak in and appreciate the sometimes incantational beauty, truth, uniqueness & depth of what lies along our daily paths. This blog is dedicated to the paradoxical and multifaceted beauty of Athens. Whether you are a resident or a visitor, I welcome you to send your photograph & short text (caption, story or poem) of your personal view of the Greek capital.
Search This Blog
19.4.07
Acropolis, March 2007
James Corsi
18.4.07
Wake-Up call
17.4.07
Phileon Café at corner Skoufa / Lycabettusstr, Kolonaki
Reading, waiting, thinking
Insofar as I came but did not arrive
As I was gone already before I came
And so I programmed my terrible loss
Only felt when you, my love, no longer
Are sitting there but I, hungry for news,
No longer read newspapers but my heart
Beating away always listens to your heart
Now so far away but still I listen for faint sounds
Reminding me of your presence once sitting there.
Hatto Fischer
Lykabettus stairs
Hatto Fischer
13.4.07
KERAMEIKOS cemetary
Kerameikos cemetary is one of Athens' most beautiful, historically wealthy and impressive sites, yet it is also highly underrated. My first visit there was a nocturnal one, in August on the night of the full moon, when (every few years) the municipality bestows us with the opportunity to experience the magnificence of the ancient past - and its juxtaposition with the present - in a silvery light. The photos in this blog are from a very recent visit I made with a friend, who as a resident of Plaka, also had always intended to visit but never yet been. We were both delighted by the walk through the Spring-explosive nature that surrounds the marble (funerary) sculptures . The museum there is also very well-maintained, nicely laid-out and modern. The site is located at the bottom of Ermou Street. Entrance is 2E.
27.3.07
Ti Varaei?
12.3.07
Athinas Fish Market
11.3.07
THE EUROVISION BUG
Pangrati dozer
One Friday morning, I saw this Stilpionos Street gem being dramatically bashed in by a dozer, with dust rising in the morning sun.
For a place so keen on history, Athens has a penchant for destroying its historic
buildings! I hope the dozers stay away from Pangrati's other "monokatoikies" - and there are some beauties.
Angelike Contis
TEA SHOP WISH
15.1.07
Filopapou Sunday eye-opener
12.1.07
TECHNOPOLIS towers
PIREUS, poetry
On the horizon
I see the boats
Centering in the light
Before darkness
Illuminates the night.
As knowledge of blind people
Goes with the wind
And the touch of the grass
So often forgotten
By ancient warriors like Achilles,
Says Homer
For war and fighting
Makes men blind
But blindness of another kind
Close to the rubbish heaps
Of history.
As gentle the landscape appears
The ancient thought and wisdom
Speaks of times
When men did not listen
But ran the ships to the ground
Even though they had found
Once a long time ago
There the protection they needed
Against burning arrows.
It was the Oracle of Delphi
that saved the citizens of Athens
And yet at first they did not go willingly
For the felt to leave the city behind
Was but an act of betrayal
For which they stoned to death
The wives and children
Of the leaders who had decided
To accept that interpretation
To be safe behind wooden boards
Meant to be on ships
And not at home
So as to escape the burning arrows
And Marx added to this story
The further going thought,
Indeed the city was destroyed by the Persians
But not the memories of the people
By which they rebuild the city
And helped it achieve
Something standing out in time,
So then Pireus is that close to Athens
As is wisdom of survival
To knowing what to see and to interpret
In time to listen to words of wisdom.
Hatto Fischer 6.1.2007
THISSEIO Bella & Bobby
Bella (PICTURED L), with her amazing eyes - one brown, one blue. She is the 'sister' of Bobby, and they are inseparable! Both are savvy and street-cool but also sweethearts and most of Thisseio adored them. They are together all day long playing with the other dogs and Thisseio is their playground. Everyone loves Bobby & Bella, who are not strays, by the way, they go home every night after enjoying a day of freedom and fun! AA
THISSEIO Bridge
I love walking on this bridge morning and night - when you get to the end of it you get the lovely view of Kerameikos ancient cemetary right across you (well a little further up to the R), Gazi or Technopolis across Pireos Ave (L) and Lycabettus hill (R). At night it's even more stunning with all the glittering lights. I often just stand and stare!