Olympiacos Piraeus

[Faliro]

Thanks for the information Kneissi.

[Festivus]

^^ The old Velodrome that was demolished to make way for the Karaiskaki. In the background, you can see a famous district of Piraeus called Kastella.

Reminds me a bit of Vilamoura, Algarve.

[Faliro]

hahaha. I thought it would remind you of Portugal! 

The little port is famous for fish restaurants and is known as mikrolimano (tr. 'small port').



The next harbour a long is bigger in size and calls itself since ancient times 'Zeas.'









The next harbour is huge and has the ferry terminals:

[Festivus]

Very nice pictures. Greece is indeed a beautiful country

I know several people who've been to Greece and they all loved it... except the city of Athens. Most of them found it chaotic and stressful.

I've heard Greek food is pretty good. I'm afraid I've never tried it. As far as i know, there's not a single Greek restaurant here in Lisboa, which is kinda weird. And by the way, snails are eaten in Greece, or at least some parts of it, as well, right? I know we southern Portuguese love our snails.

Seems like every southern European country has great cuisine.

[Faliro]

I like snails but i am not sure Greeks eat so much, I am sure they do in certain regions. They eat these raw for example on the islands, they are sea urchins:





I recommend you visit Greece, just for the experience, there is no where really similar in Europe. Athens is an extremely urban city. The closest I can compare it to would be perhaps a Brazilian city although I have never seen a city like Athens anywhere. There are many districts outside the old areas which are endless white concrete.. all the same architecture.. it is quite crazy. Most Tourists never leave their hotel zone, which is near the drug areas (Omonia). Everyone I have taken to Athens has loved it, but I usually take them to Greek areas and show them where Greeks live. Outside the old centre, most of Athens looks kinda cool, here are some flavours:




















Where tourists stay:







Where Athenians live:

[Red.Fever]

I like snails but i am not sure Greeks eat so much, I am sure they do in certain regions. They eat these raw for example on the islands, they are sea urchins:

ahh man, I'vent eaten that in quite some time
I used to love it 

and used to go catch it in Algarve with my dad and bro
just have to be careful with them spikes, they hurt as hell if they enter your skin D;

[kneissl]

Mykonos  

[Red.Fever]

some people rides horses
here in Portugal we ride bananas 




Albufeira

[Faliro]

Mykonos  

I was there last year, another world...

[Faliro]

some people rides horses
here in Portugal we ride bananas 




Albufeira

I never see many portuguese visit Greece, we get many Spanish, millions of Italians and lots of Germans and Scandinavians.. I think it is probably because most portuguese don't need to leave Portugal for amazing beaches and beautiful scenery..

[Vitor84]

Fuck I miss Greece so much

But in some point there are something that I agree, the greek cities in general are "ugly" until you get use to it. The streets don't have so much space between the buildings, are very noise and dirty. And extremely hot... And the buildings are in general ugly, always that style of 70s or 80s all white and in concrete. You can´t find so much stuff between the classic age (ruins) and the modern age.
And Athens is the big example of it. So chaotic...

But in the other point, after you get use to it you start to like. And the greeks are really nice people. The food is very good (the better thing that I can say in 7 months that I was there I didn't miss portuguese food ). And the sea, beaches and nature are amazing.

The worst thing there is the cost of life. Everything there is fucking expensive.
 

[Red Eyes]

I was in Spetsai for a couple of weeks with my wife in 1996. Just a few months after we have married. Friendly people with great food. My biggest regret is not having time to make a tour around more islands. We didn´t like Athens that much...

[Faliro]

Fuck I miss Greece so much

But in some point there are something that I agree, the greek cities in general are "ugly" until you get use to it. The streets don't have so much space between the buildings, are very noise and dirty. And extremely hot... And the buildings are in general ugly, always that style of 70s or 80s all white and in concrete. You can´t find so much stuff between the classic age (ruins) and the modern age.
And Athens is the big example of it. So chaotic...

But in the other point, after you get use to it you start to like. And the greeks are really nice people. The food is very good (the better thing that I can say in 7 months that I was there I didn't miss portuguese food ). And the sea, beaches and nature are amazing.

The worst thing there is the cost of life. Everything there is fucking expensive.

Perfect description.    In the 60's and 70's most of Athens was demolished and rebuilt in concrete with little care or consideration. Did you visit places like Glyfada when you lived in Greece?

Here is how Athens used to look before the 60's... before and afters...

Before Omonia:







Now Omonia:





Stadiou before:





Now..

I was in Spetsai for a couple of weeks with my wife in 1996. Just a few months after we have married. Friendly people with great food. My biggest regret is not having time to make a tour around more islands. We didn´t like Athens that much...

Its a lot cheaper now since the crisis. I went round lots of the Islands last summer and spent very little. It was the first time I was back in Greece for 7 years and it felt great to go back.

[Vitor84]

Fuck I miss Greece so much

But in some point there are something that I agree, the greek cities in general are "ugly" until you get use to it. The streets don't have so much space between the buildings, are very noise and dirty. And extremely hot... And the buildings are in general ugly, always that style of 70s or 80s all white and in concrete. You can´t find so much stuff between the classic age (ruins) and the modern age.
And Athens is the big example of it. So chaotic...

But in the other point, after you get use to it you start to like. And the greeks are really nice people. The food is very good (the better thing that I can say in 7 months that I was there I didn't miss portuguese food ). And the sea, beaches and nature are amazing.

The worst thing there is the cost of life. Everything there is fucking expensive.

Perfect description.    Did you visit places like Glyfada?

No. I met people that were living there (they were doing also EVS I met them in seminars), but I didn't have chance to visit them. As I know is a area were live the rich people.

[Godescalco]

I've been to Greece twice, back in 2002 and 2004, always during interrails. It's a beautiful country, especially the countryside and the islands.

Last time I've been in Ios which is, I think, the last island in the Cyclades before Santorini. It was very calm and idyllic. I loved it.



I'd love to go back someday, especially since I've had Greek classes in the university after that. But it's been a while now since I've had any contact with the language, almost 7 years. I think I'll only be able to order a coffee.