Virtual tour in Athens - part 1

Peculiarities of Athens´ streets

Let us begin with two interesting matters in Athens: the street names and the Stoa (translated: colonnade, arcade). Unfortunately, there are in Athens many streets with the same name, especially such ones of famous personalities or localities like "Aristotle" or "Socrates" etc. even 20, 30 or more! For this reason it is nonsense to ask to the taxi driver e.g. for "Aristotelous Str." without telling him in which region of Athens you want to go. Frankly speaking don´t trust very much in their knowledge of the street names. The second problem is that there is different names for the same street! The main street "Penepistimiou" is registered in some maps and guides as " Eleftheriou Venizelou". Nevertheless, not many athenians could tell you where it is! Also the street in parallel "Akadimias " is sometimes registered as "Tsortsil" or even the "PPatission" as "28th October". All almost unknown names! The silly habit to rename streets is very usual in Athens, and you could find in the last edition of the Athens Road Map (s. Book recommendations) some 4 sheets with such renamed streets! It must probably depend on our greek restless character:-)).

Something else also characteristic for Athens are the numerous "Stoas" everywhere. They are tunnel-like arcades connecting different streets and you will find in them cafés, shops or offices. A Stoa has a certain peculiar and homely character, even a touch of mystery. However, I am not very sure as of the reason for the construction of such Stoas, if it was a practical necessity of the modern urban development or rather a relic of the antiquity with its preference for arcades. As you maybe remember a whole philosophers school, the stoics, had its name from the arcades buildings, where the used to hold classes.

Last but not least I have to focus your attention on a serious fact of the road construction in Athens. Be prepared to find sidewalks for the pedestrians with different levels every few meters, be careful not to fall into a hole just right in the middle of them, and don´t wonder if you find trees or a bushes on them without any free space for the pedestrians! And you will also find very many sidewalks used as parking areas for cars, motorcycles or even for the garbage skips. It is your turn to show your pioneering spirit now and to keep beyond such matters :-)

"A Stoa between Panepistimiou and Stadiou street"

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