Athens and I had a moment today. Honestly, the city is a bit… bronzed. Not sun-kissed, just a kind of dusty bronze that coats absolutely everything. Sure, there are pockets of chic charm sprinkled about, but without the Acropolis, would people still flock here? Hard to say.
The street art scene is a mixed bag. There is some brilliant work out there, but most of it is six-foot-high scribbles plastered on every spare surface. Less “urban gallery,” more “gutter graffiti Olympics.” To my eye, it’s more chaos than creativity.
But this morning I escaped the scribbles and wandered up to the Acropolis. And yes — completely worth it. I’m very pleased I dragged myself out early, before the crowds arrived by the busload.
Afterwards I meandered through the markets — everything from so-called flea markets to full-blown bazaars. A hoarder’s paradise! Endless treasures, trinkets, and things I absolutely do not need. Photos were enough for me though. I remain proudly the world’s cheapest tourist.
Then came the jackpot: the second-hand clothing shops. Black Friday sales. Everything €1.99… jackets €4.99. I nearly wept. A dream come true! I managed to upgrade some of my summer and winter clothes to proper Nordic labels — essential for surviving a European winter without turning into a human icicle.
Athens may be grubby and chaotic, but today it delivered exactly what I needed.
