Local Expert
Denise
Denise is a specialist in International Education and has lived in 13 different cities throughout the globe so far. Her love for different cultures and learning drives her to travel constantly,…
Denise is a specialist in International Education and has lived in 13 different cities throughout the globe so far. Her love for different cultures and learning drives her to travel constantly, always craving to find new ways to communicate, drive, and cook!! She is a firm believer that humans never cease to learn!
More
Review Articles
If you walk down Athinas street towards Omonia Square you will get to Evripidou Street where you will discover the Agora, Athens Central Market, bordered by Athinas, Evripidou, Eolou and Sofokleous Streets. The Agora on Athinas Street, otherwise known as the Athens Central Market is my favorite place to shop. Even when I am not shopping I seem to get energized by just walking around there. The Central Market is the most exciting place in Athens and a must see for every visitor.
Morning is the time to be there. It's a mob scene but lots of fun and a reminder that the true wonders of Athens may not be in the dead past but in the very alive present. The Fish market is my favorite part. I suggest wearing shoes, not flip-flops. The ground is wet and fishy. Wander around and look at all the fish, some fresh, some frozen, and listen to the voices of the merchants as they call out their prices. Any fish you can find in the Aegean and Ionian seas and even some imported from as far away as China, Portugal and North Africa are here. You will know what fish are in season and what to order in the restaurants after a short walk through the fish market because there will be a lot of those kinds of fish and they will drop in price as the day goes on. You will certainly be impressed by some of the creatures of the deep blue which are revealed. You may also be in shock at the variety and the noise! Fish vendors know how to holler.
The Meat market surrounds the Fish market. The weirdest animals are found in the meat section, though this depends on the season. I have seen giant woolly animals that looked like either a giant wild boar or a mastodon. Some of the butchers come from generations of butchers who have had stalls in the market for a century. In the last few years the EU has made the market obey their standards and now meat is kept cool in refrigerators and the whole market, basically, got a facelift. But the atmosphere is still the same and the experience is certainly what shopping was meant to be.
Across the street from the Fish and Meat markets is the Fruit and Vegetable market where you will find the biggest lemons, peaches and some of the most colorful fruit you will ever see! There are also Russians and Greeks who have returned from the former eastern block countries selling cigarettes, tissue paper, lighters and just about anything. There is a Polish food shop, like a deli, on the right hand side near Sokratous Street. You will also pass shops that sell nothing but eggs, or feta cheese and some shops that have smoked meats and sausages. There are also people from the villages who don't have stalls, just sitting on a box, selling garlic, wild herbs, or wild greens from the mountains. At the bottom of the Fruit and Vegetable market is the beginning of Athens' China town which is also India town, Pakistani town and also the Arabic section of the city. These back streets are exciting to visit and you actually feel as though you are in a different country, other than Greece.
Mojo Club is a secretly hidden rock club in the neighborhood of Ilissia. Many believe it got its name from the magical symbol used in voodoo ceremonies and others believe that the rock club is named after ‘Mr. Mojo Risin', which was Jim Morrison's nickname.
The club is made from wood and rock and the inside has a warm atmosphere that every rock club should have. The garden is full of green plants and trees for a true relaxed environment, not found in many other bars/clubs of the city. There are also small tables set up near the backstreet of the garden, for those who want to stay away, yet near the noise of the crowd.
Every night Mojo club is a full house, and true fans come from all parts of Athens, even on weekdays. Besides rock, you'll hear blues and groovy funk and soul selections. The bar/club conserves a classical aura, one that is worth visiting. It's open every night from 9.00 p.m. Drinks range from 7 - 9 €. It is located on the corner of Papadiamadopoulou and Sevasteias Streets in Ilissia, downtown Athens.
Ute Lemper has three kids, looks like a model and can probably do just about everything. She sings, dances, and interprets roles and paints. She is one of the most important performers worldwide who presented two shows, one in Athens and the other in Thessaloniki. At the Odeon of Herod Atticus and the Thessaloniki Concert Hall on September 23 and 24 respectively, the multi-talented German artist promised, as she did, to present the hits that earned her world acclaim and gave her title of the leading show woman of the planet.
The show is a flashback concert in which the artist presents the best moments of a huge career. Amongst others Lemper performed unforgettable songs of the German and French Cabaret and tunes from hit musicals such as Chicago, Cabaret, Cats. Through her show the audience took a trip to the music of Kurt Weill, Jacques Brel, Gershwin, Andrew Lloyd Weber and Frederick Hollander, and sang along to songs of Marlene Dietrich and Edith Piaf.
Prima ballerina assoluta Svetlana Zakharova has major theatres around the world competing over her. Ukrainian-born Zakharova, who left Russia's Mariinsky Ballet in 2003 to join the Bolshoi as a principal dancer, took the Megaron's Friends of Music Hall on September 12th-14th for her anticipated dance gala. She was accompanied by nine of her fellow dancers, including Sergey Uvarov and Elena Nikulina.
They presented a mixture of classical and modern choreographies. When asked which of the two she prefers, Zakharova said that "dancing both styles is interesting as long as you achieve perfection". Though she admitted to feeling nervous before she goes on stage, she said that the right atmosphere, set designs and costumes contribute towards a good show.
Zakharova was voted "Honoured Artist of Russia" in 2005. Despite her publicity, owed to a great extent to her impressive extensions that have often prompted comparisons to gymnasts, she is wary of publicity. Zakharova appeared optimistic regarding the future of dance in Russia. She added that without the restrictions posed by the former Soviet Union regime, there is more freedom to communicate with other schools of dance, as well as to travel around the world and see the work of other theatres and artists.
It's time for the Athens Beer Festival! It's the seventh year in a row that the Festival, which seems like a mini Oktoberfest, is taking place at the Peace and Friendship Stadium (S.E.F.) in Neo Faliro from September 3rd - 14th. Friends and fans of beer are gathering to taste or drink...the various types of beer offered. There are also stands selling other items, related to beer, of course.
Besides the stands and the pints of beer, there are famous musicians every day, performing on the stage which is set up in the stadium. So, the party is alive and rocking with various Greek music, plus Karaoke. The entrance fee is 10 euros, which is well worth it for the live music, and especially if the beer is cold and refreshing!
The Russian director Anatoli Basilief failed to impress with his interpretation of Euripides' ‘Medea'. This ancient Greek drama was obviously put up by a cast and director who did not understand the concept and issues involved. Unfortunately, the culture and overall mentality of the famous tragedy-drama was lost.
The Festival hosted many other plays this summer, including: ‘Orpheas and Euridiki' by Pina Baos, ‘Vatra-X' by Dimitri Lignadi, ‘Finisses' by Spirou Euaggelato. The mixture of modern with classical represented a different kind of festival with a variety of spectacles. However, in general, the festival lacked originality and identity. We kiss the festival good-bye with a sweet-bitter taste and hope that next year, it will bring a sweeter taste to our palate.