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#1
February 3rd, 2007, 05:48 PM
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Athens, Greece
To say that Athens has had it's had ups and downs throughout history is a cosmic understatement. Currently, Athens is experiencing a tremendous upswing.
I wanted to create this thread to share the astounding transformation that has swept over Athens and continues to remake the city. Of course many of you are aware that something happened as a result of the Olympics, but many who haven't visited in a decade or more would be amazed at the changes that continue. During the 1800's, when modern Athens took shape, it was conceived and built as an elegant new capital with boulevards, parks and neoclassical buildings. Unfortunately it strained at the seams during the 20th century, when the population exchange with Turkey brought a million Greeks from Asia Minor, many of whom headed to Athens and needed housing. A frenzied concrete building blitz destroyed countless neoclassical buildings and caused overcrowding and a notorious pollution problem. Occupying a basin near the sea, somewhat similar to Los Angeles, smog would settle in and hover over the city. Something had to be done, and it was. Throughout the 90's, aggressive measures were enacted, including driving restrictions, diesel fuel additives, incentives for buying cars with anti-polllution technology, a new fleet of electric buses, the construction of a brand new subway, new highways that relieved some of the congestion on local streets, the planting of hundreds of thousands of trees all around the city, and the pedestrianization of countless streets throughout the city that form a connecting network. You can walk among all the ancient sites via a gigantic network of pedestrian streets that tie together and form the largest archeological park in Europe. Industries have been moved out of the city center. People are taking metro transit to a destination and then walking around. There's a new tram that will take you all the way to the beach suburb of Glyfada, through interesting neighborhoods, in less than an hour...where a turquoise sea awaits. Countless neoclassical buildings are being restored all over town. Athens now has a crop of new boutique hotels that are on a par with any in the West, catering to a stylish young clientele. A new airport connected to the center by train makes long taxi rides into town a thing of the past. There are new parks, plazas have been beautified, and the legendary nightlife of Athens is more vibrant than ever. Join me on this photographic tour of the "new" Athens. Liberated from it's smog and neglect. Only some of these pictures were taken by myself, the majority were gleaned from the internet. I'm inspired by ablarc and his wonderful, comprehensive presentation of Miami Beach. First, a sampling of the building renovations taking place or already completed...  in a certain regard, these neoclassical beauties are to Athens what the restored art deco gems are to South Beach  Byzantine churches are getting facelifts too.      
Last edited by MidtownGuy; February 3rd, 2007 at 06:24 PM. 
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#2
February 3rd, 2007, 05:51 PM
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    a couple of funky interlopers      
Last edited by MidtownGuy; February 3rd, 2007 at 06:10 PM.
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#3
February 3rd, 2007, 05:51 PM
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#4
February 3rd, 2007, 05:54 PM
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     Athens has an outdoor cafe and restaurant culture.     
Last edited by MidtownGuy; February 3rd, 2007 at 07:04 PM.
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#5
February 3rd, 2007, 05:54 PM
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         the balconies you guys love to hate 
Last edited by MidtownGuy; February 3rd, 2007 at 07:05 PM.
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#6
February 3rd, 2007, 05:55 PM
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but I don't think they're all bad
  a bit of funky charm to all that greenery spilling out. 
Last edited by MidtownGuy; February 3rd, 2007 at 06:13 PM.
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#7
February 3rd, 2007, 05:56 PM
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One of the most entertaining aspects of Athens is the eccentricity of the characters
you meet.  though some of the biggest characters aren't even people...  the Athenians are fiercely protective of dogs' rights to roam free. Somehow it works, the muts are harmless and friendly because of the benevolent indifference with which they're treated by their human compatriots.    Athenians love to protest. There's always a protest against something. I love the spirit.     
Last edited by MidtownGuy; February 3rd, 2007 at 07:06 PM.
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#8
February 3rd, 2007, 05:57 PM
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Streets have been spruced up, cleaned up, greened up...
     orange trees!     
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#9
February 3rd, 2007, 05:57 PM
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    Despite their crowded and chaotic city, Athenians just never seem to be that stressed.   Parks have been spruced up, along with public squares    
Last edited by MidtownGuy; February 3rd, 2007 at 07:10 PM.
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#10
February 3rd, 2007, 05:58 PM
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   So many trees have been planted along the city streets. Scaffolding is a common sight.      The streets that have been made into pedestrian zones criss-cross the city and are very popular  
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#11
February 3rd, 2007, 05:59 PM
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 car   Ermou Street is a popular shopping stretch.  The blocks close to the Acropolis can be very quiet in the daytime.   
Last edited by MidtownGuy; February 3rd, 2007 at 07:14 PM.
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#12
February 3rd, 2007, 06:00 PM
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A very large and beautiful old building in the heart of the center has been turned into a handsome entertainment and shopping complex.
The Nazis once headquartered themselves here during the occupation.          
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#13
February 3rd, 2007, 06:01 PM
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    The Herod Atticus theater, one of several ancient theaters in the city where performances are still held. The capital of this country where drama and comedy were invented has over 140 performance theaters.  This is the National Theater.  contrasts between old and new abound.  At night, Athens now has dramatic illumination of the ancient monuments and buildings of different architectural periods.   
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#14
February 3rd, 2007, 06:02 PM
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Last edited by MidtownGuy; February 3rd, 2007 at 07:16 PM.
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#15
February 3rd, 2007, 06:03 PM
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      Just below the Acropolis, you find Plaka, a section of Athens that looks in some places like an island village.   Next to Plaka is Monastiraki, an old Turkish quarter that is home to an Eastern-style bazaar where you'll find anything imaginable.  
Last edited by MidtownGuy; February 3rd, 2007 at 07:39 PM.
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