I loved many things about Athens
But one of the most interesting aspects of the city is the multitude of street art. You may be thinking: Every big city has graffiti. Why is Athens special? Well, think about it, ancient millennia-old ruins with modern spray-can art on and around them. “What a shame!” many people would say. But personally, I think it’s great. It’s blending the old and the new. In a way, the ruins become part of the street art. Anyway, I question the idea of protecting buildings just because they’re old. No, I don’t think we should destroy all old things to make way for the new, I just don’t think we should hold back progress in favor of history. But I digress.
Bottom line, ancient Athens sets the stage for an interesting display of modern street art. And, regardless of your opinion on the matter, it makes for some interesting pictures.
Here are a few pictures of street art throughout Athens.
This kind of rubble was ubiquitous in Athens. I’m not even sure what the significance of this particular site was.
Monastiraki Flea Market
Many of the doors to shops in Monastiraki Flea Market were painted with colorful designs.
More garage doors in Monastiraki Flea Market
Not far from the Ancient Agora and just opposite a row of restaurants with awnings covering packed terraces, we found graffiti on the train tracks.
On the side of a building. Possibly a shop?
Pedestrian Street Dioysiou Aeropagitou on the way to the Hammam
I have a feeling “pear” does not mean the same thing in Greek as in English.
There were many cute side-streets off of the main road. This blue alien was guarding one of them.
We came to a small park. There were kids kicking a football around and one or two homeless people sleeping on benches. Plenty of huts selling snacks and newspapers in this area as well.
We followed the street into the Plaka neighborhood, around the other side of the Acropolis and came upon this square.
A block or two away, we found this little kiosk selling coffee or snacks or something (we didn’t stop by).
Still searching for the hammam. Athens is not a good place for snowmen.
Found these two aliens peeking at us through the gate of a closed shop.
An older man with a grizzled gray beard was having a smoke outside this cafe. We struck up a conversation with him about this piece. Apparently it was a commissioned piece. He translated the text for us as well, but unfortunately I don’t remember it exactly. It was something along the lines of “burn me with your eyes, you’re a model” with a play on “Kaine” and “Manekene”
This piece was done by the same man who painted the model across the street (photo above this one). This one was not commissioned, however. The man we spoke to is building a hostel on this site (the steel beams you see in the bg) that should be open next spring or summer.
Down Ermou street, one of the main shopping streets, there were many colorful designs on shops and side streets leading to the Monastiraki Flea Market.