Everyone can make a video of nicer and fancier places in Athens, but this is the good, raw stuff. I live here, but for people who don't, these videos are a great way to experience the other side of Athens. Thank you Johnny and nice meeting you!
The most heartwarming thing about this channel is that even when you are so judgemental and ignorant, people choose not to react and actually try to inform you and have patience with you. Just like your cool guide here and the local fella you questioned about the graffiti. Power to your guide, your constant disparaging remarks about the area and general naivety must have been so tiring.
Thank you brother to try to showing around world ....Every time I see Athens, I remember my city, I remember Tehran The vibe in Athens and Tehran is very similar This is what many people say about traveling to two cities i know Characteristically, Greece's people are free and wear whatever they like and express themselves freely..
@@saeedafyouni619 I traveled to Athens and Beirut, the architecture of these two cities is similar, especially the small streets or alleys of Athens But the main streets of Athens are similar to Tehran If you search for Tehran on TH-cam, it's very similar ... This is what many people who visit both cities say.
Maybe Johnny should sell his Ukrainian apts and buy some in Tehran because that seems like a safe place with no danger of a coming war with anyone. 🤣🤣🤣
Johnny it is not Soviet Architecture it is actually Modernism .Both the Soviet Marxist and National Socialist loved modermism each one for their one reasons. The modernist's world was one of poor, carelessly planned cities where cheap density was a real blessing. They also replaced many historic buildings with ugly modern. It happens everywhere!
Please thank your host and guide. Her insights to life in Athens made very interesting viewing and have changed my perspective of the city. Please ask her to make some more videos with you on other districts, maybe even Pireus.
I’m Greek I’ve been to Athens and graffiti is a problem, it should be cleaned up immediately and whoever tries to spray paint again should be put in jail and fined like 5000 euros.
Johnny, consider visiting some Greek islands! They are epic and there's such a huge variety, culturally and geologically. Pristine beaches, otherworldly volcanic landscapes, and everything in between. You can even hop island-to-island to Turkey, as I did in 2019 shortly before Covid.
Ich liebe Athen den dieser Flair den diese Stadt hat ,und das Lebensgefühl hat keine andere Stadt in Europa, und ich war in vielen Städten! Auch die Architektur dieser Stadt ist unvergleichbar. Diese Stadt und seine menschen könnte man mit der Freiheit und lebensgefühl von Berlin der 70ger und 80ziger jahre vergleichen,das natürlich in Berlin schon lange nicht mehr existiert. So schade! Aber Athen ist Unvergleichbar schön ,wild ,und Frei!!❤❤❤
It’s so funny this woman around 13:00 says that she doesn’t want cops on every corner and big tough cop intimidates her but the next second complains that she lost count how many times her car got broken into. It’s like do you want law and order or not?!
Watching this video made me appreciate where I live even MORE! Thankfully I'm not subjected to sensory overload with graffiti and run down neighbourhoods and major homelessness. My heart goes out to people having to endure hard times on a daily basis. If everyone tried to keep a more positive attitude and treat others how you would like to be treated, I truly believe things can and will get better.
The woman guiding you is awesome and has a great and appreciative attitude for her city and its current state of being. Dude the Dad going through the bins is in a family too. It is confusing how uncomfortable you are in ungentrified places that aren't tourist spots. You keep tying to project your feelings onto the locals..take their answers as their answers and don't say what about that random old person over there. Clearly, people in that neighborhood like it and want to be there. Why don't you leave Athens if you can't appreciate the city for what it is..stop calling it a bad area because there is graffiti and scooters.. You don't understand defund the police. It was about redirection funding to entities better positioned for provide a certain service like a social worker to deal with domestic disputes, etc. There is very far left position that says there should be no police but it is supported by a very small minority of people.
He doesn’t seem uncomfortable at all. Not exactly sure why you’re saying that. He’s just pointing out what everyone else notices. There are good/bad parts in every city across the globe. Sorry if your don’t like the term ‘bad’ but it is what it is. Are you not listening to to the woman guide? She mentioned that her car was broken into more than 5 times. She even said that she lost count because it was so common. That’s bad. That’s actually very bad. Did you notice that about halfway through the video an alarm was going off? Guess you missed that part. Sure, I can imagine the neighborhoods are relatively safe, etc. and the graffiti can be considered art (to an extent) however living with petty crime on a daily basis is not ok.
I understand your protective sentiment and appreciate it as I would be protective of my neighborhood. However you are asking Johnny to leave because you don't like his point of view, he is not attacking anyone. If you want a politically correct and neutral statement there is the commericialized news you can watch, I prefer a real person's opinion. I do have to say I don't agree with Johnny on a couple of things in this and prior videos. However, He did show appreciation of the graffiti art in more than one time. I'm from NYC, there are places with lots of graffiti art and places without. There are homeless here just like in Athens and other cities of the world. A majority of people here have similar views, they want police and agree that there could be separate programs to deal with some problems. If some tourist said my neighborhood is bad, I wouldn't care too much because it's not specific enough, I would be offended if the tourist said it was bad because of me lol.
@@Dave-ov2pp I didn't suggest he leave because I didn't like his point of view. I suggested he leave because he was repeatedly complaining about core, current features of the area. He thinks like a person who views real estate as a money making vehicle..and less about the fact that different neighborhoods offer different values..I was frustrated that he continued to question the sentiments of people he asked to offer opinions always seemingly 2nd guessing them. My point was if he doesn't like the character of the area he should leave and stay somewhere else more in line with his values and expectations.
Asking people in Exarchia if they are bothered by graffiti is like asking people in Haight Ashbury whether they are bothered by the smell of marijuana.
To me, graffiti is just a way to say "I'm selfish. I care about myself, my opinions, and whatever I want to do. Who cares about you, and destroying your livelihood or what you may have worked hard for."
I disagree with your opinion. Graffiti is an amazing art, and has a huge history as well as a beautiful aesthetic. Gentrificating and sterilising neighborhoods delete their history and just turn them into another product for investors to sell. Also, it is a way for the ravaged youth in Greece to express themselves artistically and politically, and resist the gentrification in the neighborhood they call their home.
It make it lively and creative. Also historic as it was explained it has been like that for many years. If it wasn’t a well loved and lived in neighbourhood it would get pulled down and redeveloped with horrible high rise.
Graffiti Art looks cool on more modern buildings but when is on beautiful old buildings like these it looks crappy because the buildings are the art/history/culture of that city.
That is the coolest woman ever. I currently live in a country where people don't know how to communicate and everything is yes n no. Watching both of you makes me miss Europe!
@@arsadams South Korea. I don't recommend😉I am not the best at small talk whilst in UK but out here, easier to draw blood from stone. You'd get a blank stare and look like a nut for initiating a small talk whilst waiting for your coffee or whatever.
The center of Athens wasnt always like that. Up until the beginnings of 2000 Exarchia was a middle class neighbourhood with people going on their everyday lives. There was indeed a lot of culture in the neighbourhood, not the kind of culture that you see today with anarchism and ugly graphities littering the beautiful neoclassical buildings but real actual creative one. Exarchia was the home of many famous Greek actors, intellectuals and signers. Next to university ( Stournari street ) was full of bookstores and technology shops where students and other Athenians would hang around peacefully. That was until extreme leftists - communist ideology took over the neighbourhood and actually most of Greece, when things started going down hill.
Just remembered. The comic book character with the big moustache that Johnny found is called Asterix. His human counterpart is Jose Bove who dumped a truck load of cow manure on a McDonalds. Totally fitting with the place and circumstances you're visiting. Serendipity right there. They've had it from time to time at bookstands in the US but mostly in the 80s?? I think.
Thanks for sharing this video Johnny, 🙏 I have to say that all those graffiti are ugly , dirty and give the city a bad image unfortunately. Best of luck 🤙😎
@@fjellyo3261 Nope, if built in open areas with huge space. I mean what do you like in that neighbourhood? Roads are the size of a pavement, buildings look disgusting and old, and then you have "graffiti" (shitty tags and not paintings) mixed with dirt.
Hi Johnny, I didn't respond to your meet up suggestion last week because you said you'd be gone by now. I arrived in Athens today anyway. First time in Greece. I'm here for two more nights. Let me know if you're up for a few beers!
My family is from Sparta when I go to visit my Grandparents I like to stay in Athens for a couple of days I love the City and Enjoy it. The first time I went to go visit my Grandparents I was on my own and had to take a Bus to Sparta from Athens and discovered some really cool Neighborhoods and fell in love with the City.
Have fallen in love with Greece, particularly the islands. Corfu was the biggest surprise, with Italian influences and so beautiful. Must admit I don't like the graffiti but suppose reflects the mess that Greece is in. Such a shame for such an amazing country.
Why are vloggers so obsessed with Exarchia? It’s literally just one part of the city, not even a bad part (if you want bad parts try Omonia, Metaxourgeio, Victoria, Vathis Square, Attikis Square...). Athens is a huge city with many neighbourhoods. There are posh and « nice » neighbourhoods in the center (Kolonaki, Koukaki, Pangkrati...) and neighbourhoods with a bad reputation (amongst locals, tourists can say whatever) (Victoria, Metaxourgeio, Kolonos, Kato Patisia). Also, there are a lot of stereotypes about the suburbs too. The Northern suburbs are the « Posh » suburbs, the western suburbs are the « poor, randown, high crime suburbs « (which isn’t even true but anyway) and the southern suburbs are also considered wealthy but not as posh as the northern ones. The fact that tourists have an opinion about the neighbourhoods of Athens while only knowing 3 of them is beyond me
It looks great. Fuck those shiny suburbs for rich people. Exarchia is place of self organization, of art and chaos and not one of that town centers that look the same in every city
it's exarchia. there's graffitti on every wall in the neighborhood, often with the tacit or explicit consent of local business owners. Hell, some of them spray up their own walls. Street art is a part of the local culture, and it certainly looks nicer than a plain grey brick wall if you ask me.
i live in outside athens.the city centre is a nightmare.besides some neighborhoods like kolonaki and plaka the other is filthy and not safe.plus there is always traffic jams and strikes.the rest of reece is really beautifull and not only the islands.regions like makedonia ,pella.thraki ,evoia,pelloponesse have places that are magical
The real issue with the classical buildings is that the governments never gave a single incentive to get them restored, it is a very expensive, lengthy procedure that is just not worth it for the owners.
Greece had a huge economic crisis, where everything was cut to the bone for years. Hence a lot of unemployment. It has also had a huge influx of refugees who need to be able to survive. The young lady in this video tells us that this is a very cultural area of the city, and a place people like to live in, and it definitely shows a lot of signs of self organisation. Those buildings would not exist if property developers got hold of them, they might if the city was lucky preserve some of the facades, but all the inner structures would be pulled down and cheap soulless apartments put in their place. Almost certainly this area will have musicians and artists, studios of all kinds, bookshops and events and far more social cohesion that most more polite looking places ever have.
@@lindyashford7744 Historic buildings let to ruin is a nationwide issue. In Athens every 10-20 years that we get a slightly strong earthquake some of them collapse, people passing by have died in many cases. The grafitti usually comes on top of this neglection, especially in other areas of the city where this culture is not as intense. If you look at Italy they're always giving incentives for people to restore them while preserving their original architecture as much as possible. Even in rural areas. This doesn't happen here, not even in the areas that are loaded with tourists, where it would be undisputably beneficial to the local economy.
If you don't enjoy graffiti, the neighborhoods you visited ain't the best. if you want to see beautiful neighborhoods in the center of Athens, you should go to Kolonaki (it is right next to Exarcheia, the richest neighborhood in the city) and Pagkrati which is one of the most beautiful middle-class hoods in Athens and trending at the moment.
@@auto952 that's still the wrong impression rich and poor neighbourhoods are not as clear cut compared to other places ,Glyfada is NOT a rich neighbourhood, Ekali, Palio Psihico are.Cavouri etc
@@debbiemohiosen147 Ekali and Kavouri are completely residential, nothing to see there as a tourist. I am talking about actual neighborhoods that you can go out eat, shop, see sights etc.
@@auto952 Oh I see maybe your wording "richest" neighbourhoods is very misleading,if you consider the layout of various countries. Glyfada or Nea Smryni Square is just regular European and many classify the graffiti places as trendy ,grunge,rock an hippie as Camden Town in the UK.
Great depicition of Eksarxeia.. . It is a special area full of underground and youth cultures. Not all Athens is like that. This is only a really small part like 0,5% of the whole city. It's a place of political critique where power and money loses its meaning and real relationships flourish. That s why they are friendly to immigrants, people of colour, feminism, against homophoby and also criticing power and politicians.. All countries should have their Eksarxeia like Kreuzberg in Berlin or other cities... You should also visit Pagkrati and Mets areas. There are bars there too and nice coffee places as well as nice houses to see.. . Also southern Athens at the beach visit areas like Glifada up to Sounio with a car better..a feeling of the sea will do you well... . Also you can take the ship from Peiraius and visit beautiful Hydra island or Aigina or Poros island. Northern suburbs you can visit Halandri area. With the metro. There are coffee places and markets there.
Serious answer to your question about why the building type changes...Emanuel Kant changed everything when he started the push for originality over craftsmanship in the 1600's and it why all of our building in the modern world hold function over classic natural beauty.
I first visited Athens about 18yrs ago and it was just as bad for graffiti then. It’s such a shame. The buildings are beautiful in the older parts but almost every clear space is graffiti within days.
I think graffiti is designed and accepted by the locals to avoid gentrification and purposefully reduce demand and investment which could potentially price out locals. I'm pretty sure it's an eye sore for the locals but it's a compromise that they are willing to take as it's either that or being priced out if the area either through high rent or prices. Personally it looks ugly and I think gentrification is a necessity under a capitalist system. Because being priced out means people are not fixed to one location but are constantly migrating and creating new opportunities which boosts economic growth under a capitalist system i.e. you have human labour working more effeciently. Fyi I'm not in favour of capitalism but i'm just stating my observations.
Athena was you tour guide! This area reminds me so much of Baltimore. What keeps the lid on the situation is not the police, but no one will tolerate BS we don't deserve. In short, average people, police and bad guys, look out for each other and keep things safe and real.
You never read Asterix? Oh it is so full of humour and really great. I am in my seventies and would happily read them all again. They are translated into loads of different languages….. nice wander around this neighbourhood btw. I love it.
Bulgarian and Greece borders are so high for asians and far easterners who have to get schengen visas, i had only visited those 2 countries bulgaria and greece as Turkey citizen once in my 48 years lifetime with durations of 1 week only in each country. On the other hand i had lived freely and visited 10 states in the USA for 2 years, 9 cities in China for 2 months, in Thailand's 5 cities for 2.5 months in duration. So you can understand where turkish citizens feel good, with best pamperings as it's neighboring countries rather than geography.
Great video , really on point with showing the culture and the street vibe and I must say , one very cool young lady . I agree with the post saying visit an Island , I'd suggest Hydra , a favourite of Athenians to visit , short distance away , no cars or jet ski types , authentic and historic , most travel is by foot or ass or donkey. Best regards
This is not Athens You went into two neighborhoods, where leftists, anarchists, and students live, and in cheap dormitories. Climb a mountain around Athens to see how big it is.
Dude come to Kharkiv, we have a network of 80 volunteers, and office, and a dope cottage in the middle of the forest i'd love to drink wiskey at with you.
Johnny FD you can settle in whichever apartment you wish, you can have the electricity, kitchen systems fixed easily. Greece is same as Georgia, New York , Florida states don't worry. When you see Schengen country sign, trust that country fully please. Schengen countries are as developed as California. Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia are only EU countries, just trying to reach becoming Schengen enlightment and developed stage. Aegean sea is warm and great, turquoise sea with lots of fish to eat, calamaris, squids, oysters to eat. Tom Hanks also proclaimed that he has greek wife and USA is covering towards its powers and diligence sharings to Greek islands only. Don't worry you are in American coverage, not like in Ukraine which had immediately remembered it that Ukraine is slave of Russia. Greece is slave of only democracy and human rights of westernmost europe. Ukraine before russia war had 3500 usd per person GDP per capita in 2021 while Greece has 19.500 usd per year per person GDP . Luxemburg has 115.000 usd GDP per person in 2021.
If everyone has to be his or her own cop, soldier, carpenter, reporter, farmer, surgeon... nothing worth doing will get done. This is what is happening in capitalist societies of enforced poverty, not just what might happen in speculated anarchies. But I don't know anything about any of that.
Man I love my Greek women of Greece, they are the most adorable creatures in the planet. Not saying that because I'm of Greek origin, but I'm saying that from my North American perspective.
Athens reminds me of Seattle, where I live. True anarchy allows for everything, including the rule of law; i.e. there can't be laws against laws. "HugoChavez" NeoHippies pursue ignorance, reward vice & punish virtue; hence homelessness.
Seattle? I've heard about the anarchy/woke movement there. Has it gotten that bad? I think exarchia is peak wokeness imo, u can see the bolshevikism parts showing up clearly lol.
Exarchia is one of the most famous and in my opinion best places in Athens, it is rich in history from the polytechnic uprising that overthrew the military junta and it's system of governance.
How the polytechnic uprising overthrew the junta? The invasion of cyprus overthrew the junta. They just were smart to quit before they made things worse no one overthrew them.
Cool video. But reality is that property values are destroyed this way. With the loss of property values, you lose the stable sort of residents who keep it up, so it further devolves. Not a good future there.
The graffitis are not graffitis, they're horrible tags. I can't understand how someone in their good mind can like it. Looks awful, you can see that people who live there don't care about their city. In Latin America no one would even think to make a tag on a historical building and in general tagging is considered lame here as we have lots of great artists that do awesome graffitis that looks astonishing, and there are a lot of graffitis that look natural everywhere. It's a shame that Athens is in this way.
@@purplebuckwheat Because you are judging "Athens" based on a video from one neighborhood. Also, people who have lived and grown up there like it because they understand it and the culture behind it.
Everyone can make a video of nicer and fancier places in Athens, but this is the good, raw stuff. I live here, but for people who don't, these videos are a great way to experience the other side of Athens. Thank you Johnny and nice meeting you!
Every city has a seedy side ... it's refreshing to show the other side of the coin
You are beautiful 😍
Oh ich bin sicher das in deiner Stadt genauso Straßen gibt die Hässlich und Asozial sind! Also tu nicht so als würde Bratt Pitt dein Nachbar sein.
The most heartwarming thing about this channel is that even when you are so judgemental and ignorant, people choose not to react and actually try to inform you and have patience with you. Just like your cool guide here and the local fella you questioned about the graffiti. Power to your guide, your constant disparaging remarks about the area and general naivety must have been so tiring.
He's American.
Thank you brother to try to showing around world ....Every time I see Athens, I remember my city, I remember Tehran
The vibe in Athens and Tehran is very similar
This is what many people say about traveling to two cities
i know Characteristically, Greece's people are free and wear whatever they like and express themselves freely..
If I'm very honest it actually reminds me of Beirut pre 2010....
@@saeedafyouni619 I traveled to Athens and Beirut, the architecture of these two cities is similar, especially the small streets or alleys of Athens
But the main streets of Athens are similar to Tehran
If you search for Tehran on TH-cam, it's very similar ... This is what many people who visit both cities say.
@@living_peace I'm sure will check it out friend thanks...im glad you know what I mean though
Maybe Johnny should sell his Ukrainian apts and buy some in Tehran because that seems like a safe place with no danger of a coming war with anyone. 🤣🤣🤣
Johnny it is not Soviet Architecture it is actually Modernism .Both the Soviet Marxist and National Socialist loved modermism each one for their one reasons.
The modernist's world was one of poor, carelessly planned cities where cheap density was a real blessing. They also replaced many historic buildings with ugly modern. It happens everywhere!
Please thank your host and guide. Her insights to life in Athens made very interesting viewing and have changed my perspective of the city. Please ask her to make some more videos with you on other districts, maybe even Pireus.
I don’t think you can judge the entire city by simply exploring a couple of small central neighbourhoods.
I’m Greek I’ve been to Athens and graffiti is a problem, it should be cleaned up immediately and whoever tries to spray paint again should be put in jail and fined like 5000 euros.
Johnny, consider visiting some Greek islands! They are epic and there's such a huge variety, culturally and geologically. Pristine beaches, otherworldly volcanic landscapes, and everything in between. You can even hop island-to-island to Turkey, as I did in 2019 shortly before Covid.
Oh come on Johnny they have Asterix and Oblevix all over the world. You weren't perhaps exposed to it. It's the most famous comics in the world. Omg!
Ich liebe Athen den dieser Flair den diese Stadt hat ,und das Lebensgefühl hat keine andere Stadt in Europa, und ich war in vielen Städten! Auch die Architektur dieser Stadt ist unvergleichbar. Diese Stadt und seine menschen könnte man mit der Freiheit und lebensgefühl von Berlin der 70ger und 80ziger jahre vergleichen,das natürlich in Berlin schon lange nicht mehr existiert. So schade!
Aber Athen ist Unvergleichbar schön ,wild ,und Frei!!❤❤❤
Thank you for this video. A refreshing topic for my newsfeed and i appreciate you incorporating a local perspective for the location.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great videos johnny, and what a knowledgable and beautiful guide you found!
Well crap. I fixed my typos and lost my like from Johnny
@@Korium84 that sucks bro
Those graffitis are sickening!!!!!!
Don't step in the Junky 💩💩
I like this protest gutter aesthetic though.
I love it, it's a sign of true freedom
Your guest is full of positive energy and I would like to see more of her. keep it up
It’s so funny this woman around 13:00 says that she doesn’t want cops on every corner and big tough cop intimidates her but the next second complains that she lost count how many times her car got broken into. It’s like do you want law and order or not?!
its Seth Rogen
Cops don't bring law and order lol
“the police are law and order”
have you ever been to a country outside the first world?
24:15 Ohhh, Asterix and Obelix. I loved it when I was a kid. Brought such nice memories from my childhood☺
Watching this video made me appreciate where I live even MORE!
Thankfully I'm not subjected to sensory overload with graffiti and run down neighbourhoods and major homelessness.
My heart goes out to people having to endure hard times on a daily basis.
If everyone tried to keep a more positive attitude and treat others how you would like to be treated, I truly believe things can and will get better.
The woman guiding you is awesome and has a great and appreciative attitude for her city and its current state of being.
Dude the Dad going through the bins is in a family too. It is confusing how uncomfortable you are in ungentrified places that aren't tourist spots. You keep tying to project your feelings onto the locals..take their answers as their answers and don't say what about that random old person over there. Clearly, people in that neighborhood like it and want to be there. Why don't you leave Athens if you can't appreciate the city for what it is..stop calling it a bad area because there is graffiti and scooters.. You don't understand defund the police. It was about redirection funding to entities better positioned for provide a certain service like a social worker to deal with domestic disputes, etc. There is very far left position that says there should be no police but it is supported by a very small minority of people.
He doesn’t seem uncomfortable at all. Not exactly sure why you’re saying that. He’s just pointing out what everyone else notices. There are good/bad parts in every city across the globe. Sorry if your don’t like the term ‘bad’ but it is what it is. Are you not listening to to the woman guide? She mentioned that her car was broken into more than 5 times. She even said that she lost count because it was so common. That’s bad. That’s actually very bad. Did you notice that about halfway through the video an alarm was going off? Guess you missed that part. Sure, I can imagine the neighborhoods are relatively safe, etc. and the graffiti can be considered art (to an extent) however living with petty crime on a daily basis is not ok.
I understand your protective sentiment and appreciate it as I would be protective of my neighborhood. However you are asking Johnny to leave because you don't like his point of view, he is not attacking anyone. If you want a politically correct and neutral statement there is the commericialized news you can watch, I prefer a real person's opinion. I do have to say I don't agree with Johnny on a couple of things in this and prior videos. However, He did show appreciation of the graffiti art in more than one time. I'm from NYC, there are places with lots of graffiti art and places without. There are homeless here just like in Athens and other cities of the world. A majority of people here have similar views, they want police and agree that there could be separate programs to deal with some problems. If some tourist said my neighborhood is bad, I wouldn't care too much because it's not specific enough, I would be offended if the tourist said it was bad because of me lol.
Johny surely a hypocrite and funnist thing, he thinks his an american LOL
I think the girl and him really get a long well lol....like some chemistry our Johnny has ay!!!?
@@Dave-ov2pp I didn't suggest he leave because I didn't like his point of view. I suggested he leave because he was repeatedly complaining about core, current features of the area. He thinks like a person who views real estate as a money making vehicle..and less about the fact that different neighborhoods offer different values..I was frustrated that he continued to question the sentiments of people he asked to offer opinions always seemingly 2nd guessing them. My point was if he doesn't like the character of the area he should leave and stay somewhere else more in line with his values and expectations.
Asking people in Exarchia if they are bothered by graffiti is like asking people in Haight Ashbury whether they are bothered by the smell of marijuana.
Actually "the park" was a parking lot that the citizens turned into a park by squating it .
To me, graffiti is just a way to say "I'm selfish. I care about myself, my opinions, and whatever I want to do. Who cares about you, and destroying your livelihood or what you may have worked hard for."
Totally agree with you
Its more than that in Exarchia, the anarkist are marking there terrirtory.
i like it but i have to say those little Tags also mentioned by the local residents destroy the overall picture
...its juvenile....and counter revolutionary...
I disagree with your opinion. Graffiti is an amazing art, and has a huge history as well as a beautiful aesthetic. Gentrificating and sterilising neighborhoods delete their history and just turn them into another product for investors to sell. Also, it is a way for the ravaged youth in Greece to express themselves artistically and politically, and resist the gentrification in the neighborhood they call their home.
It's almost complety clean there, just some grafitiy. As a Berlin based German I would not even notice it 😄🤷♂️
Such a shame that those grafittis have ruined the beauty of this city.
This left and right politics is so annoying honestly
here the left has won, that's why they have a very high unemployment rate and poor ethics.
@Hen of Mayhem I'm not American, care to enlighten me on your theories?
It would be interesting to see the inside of some apartments in that neighborhood.
Wow brilliant vid Johnny! That lady is awesome! Take care pal.
So sad that all those historical old buildings ruined by graffiti.
It make it lively and creative. Also historic as it was explained it has been like that for many years. If it wasn’t a well loved and lived in neighbourhood it would get pulled down and redeveloped with horrible high rise.
@@lindyashford7744 It does not !!!!!! You have no idea !!
Graffiti sucks. I hate when an "artist" thinks everyone will love to see their "art" everyday and forces everyone to see it.
@@lindyashford7744 Greece looks Woke/Decadent. Are there a lot of Junkies there ??
like a pretty woman full of tattoos
Graffiti Art looks cool on more modern buildings but when is on beautiful old buildings like these it looks crappy because the buildings are the art/history/culture of that city.
Totally agree with you... graffiti on the older buildings look like crap.
I kinda like it on some old buildings
it's very ugly period and it makes the city look dirty and degenerate.
Just tags are ugly. Real Street art and murals are nice!
That is the coolest woman ever. I currently live in a country where people don't know how to communicate and everything is yes n no. Watching both of you makes me miss Europe!
I totally understand what you are talking about! Just curious where do you live?
@@arsadams South Korea. I don't recommend😉I am not the best at small talk whilst in UK but out here, easier to draw blood from stone. You'd get a blank stare and look like a nut for initiating a small talk whilst waiting for your coffee or whatever.
Johnny, how are you more worried about graffiti and squatters than actual residents of the neighborhood?
The guide clearly felt a way during the comments at 15:20
My favourite spot in Greece is Crete!
Big tough guy ran away like a woman while accountants and software developers stay to fight the Russians. 😂
Tough guy commenting from Sri Lanka behind your computer. What are you doing to help Ukraine, or even your own country besides being a troll?
The center of Athens wasnt always like that. Up until the beginnings of 2000 Exarchia was a middle class neighbourhood with people going on their everyday lives. There was indeed a lot of culture in the neighbourhood, not the kind of culture that you see today with anarchism and ugly graphities littering the beautiful neoclassical buildings but real actual creative one. Exarchia was the home of many famous Greek actors, intellectuals and signers. Next to university ( Stournari street ) was full of bookstores and technology shops where students and other Athenians would hang around peacefully. That was until extreme leftists - communist ideology took over the neighbourhood and actually most of Greece, when things started going down hill.
Thanks for the history.
@@JohnnyFD if you really want to go to a nice Athenian neighbourhood, I would suggest Kifisia.
Just remembered. The comic book character with the big moustache that Johnny found is called Asterix. His human counterpart is Jose Bove who dumped a truck load of cow manure on a McDonalds. Totally fitting with the place and circumstances you're visiting. Serendipity right there. They've had it from time to time at bookstands in the US but mostly in the 80s?? I think.
Asterix the Gaul was an extremely popular comic book character at least in Europe. Dates back to the 1950's I think.
It’s interesting to see the grittier side of a city, in my opinion, im always curious about that.
Good video Johnny
Thanks for sharing this video Johnny, 🙏 I have to say that all those graffiti are ugly , dirty and give the city a bad image unfortunately. Best of luck 🤙😎
I find graffiti makes anyplace look like a dump.
It just shows that the revolution is coming
War up North and down South
Be ready is what graffiti stands for!!
Still looks way better than bland grey depressing high rises for the masses.
@@fjellyo3261 Nope, if built in open areas with huge space. I mean what do you like in that neighbourhood? Roads are the size of a pavement, buildings look disgusting and old, and then you have "graffiti" (shitty tags and not paintings) mixed with dirt.
Fantastic video with a wonderful tour guide. Looking forward to the next one. 🙌🏼
Wow!! Not what I was expecting..
Hi Johnny,
I didn't respond to your meet up suggestion last week because you said you'd be gone by now. I arrived in Athens today anyway. First time in Greece.
I'm here for two more nights. Let me know if you're up for a few beers!
Totally off topic..... but she is beautiful
My family is from Sparta when I go to visit my Grandparents I like to stay in Athens for a couple of days I love the City and Enjoy it.
The first time I went to go visit my Grandparents I was on my own and had to take a Bus to Sparta from Athens and discovered some really cool Neighborhoods and fell in love with the City.
In Sparta people just fall into a giant pit. Well, that's what I saw in 300
Have fallen in love with Greece, particularly the islands. Corfu was the biggest surprise, with Italian influences and so beautiful. Must admit I don't like the graffiti but suppose reflects the mess that Greece is in. Such a shame for such an amazing country.
Why are vloggers so obsessed with Exarchia? It’s literally just one part of the city, not even a bad part (if you want bad parts try Omonia, Metaxourgeio, Victoria, Vathis Square, Attikis Square...). Athens is a huge city with many neighbourhoods. There are posh and « nice » neighbourhoods in the center (Kolonaki, Koukaki, Pangkrati...) and neighbourhoods with a bad reputation (amongst locals, tourists can say whatever) (Victoria, Metaxourgeio, Kolonos, Kato Patisia). Also, there are a lot of stereotypes about the suburbs too. The Northern suburbs are the « Posh » suburbs, the western suburbs are the « poor, randown, high crime suburbs « (which isn’t even true but anyway) and the southern suburbs are also considered wealthy but not as posh as the northern ones. The fact that tourists have an opinion about the neighbourhoods of Athens while only knowing 3 of them is beyond me
What a shame part of Athens looks like that. More shame on their residents for tolerating that vandalism all over the place.
I had similar thoughts on that one too!
Are you the emperor of the world my dude? Who gave you the right to make moral judgements on how people like to live their lives?
It looks great. Fuck those shiny suburbs for rich people. Exarchia is place of self organization, of art and chaos and not one of that town centers that look the same in every city
I hate graffiti. It is a real sign of disrespect.
Greece looks Woke/Decadent. Are there a lot of Junkies there ??
No one asked
What should people respect exactly? Having to eat out of the trashbins?
@@wegoup_with_nct80 Damn if u're a greek and u gave such a response in that question, no wonder u guys are a fkin colony lmao.
Stay broke boiii
it's exarchia. there's graffitti on every wall in the neighborhood, often with the tacit or explicit consent of local business owners. Hell, some of them spray up their own walls. Street art is a part of the local culture, and it certainly looks nicer than a plain grey brick wall if you ask me.
i live in outside athens.the city centre is a nightmare.besides some neighborhoods like kolonaki and plaka the other is filthy and not safe.plus there is always traffic jams and strikes.the rest of reece is really beautifull and not only the islands.regions like makedonia ,pella.thraki ,evoia,pelloponesse have places that are magical
Athens is nice. I need to go there again.
The real issue with the classical buildings is that the governments never gave a single incentive to get them restored, it is a very expensive, lengthy procedure that is just not worth it for the owners.
Greece had a huge economic crisis, where everything was cut to the bone for years. Hence a lot of unemployment. It has also had a huge influx of refugees who need to be able to survive. The young lady in this video tells us that this is a very cultural area of the city, and a place people like to live in, and it definitely shows a lot of signs of self organisation. Those buildings would not exist if property developers got hold of them, they might if the city was lucky preserve some of the facades, but all the inner structures would be pulled down and cheap soulless apartments put in their place. Almost certainly this area will have musicians and artists, studios of all kinds, bookshops and events and far more social cohesion that most more polite looking places ever have.
@@lindyashford7744 Historic buildings let to ruin is a nationwide issue. In Athens every 10-20 years that we get a slightly strong earthquake some of them collapse, people passing by have died in many cases. The grafitti usually comes on top of this neglection, especially in other areas of the city where this culture is not as intense. If you look at Italy they're always giving incentives for people to restore them while preserving their original architecture as much as possible. Even in rural areas. This doesn't happen here, not even in the areas that are loaded with tourists, where it would be undisputably beneficial to the local economy.
I think if you start looking into Tartaria, you will view these buildings in a completely different way
My son and l love doing research on Tartaria and they buidings are being destroyed by all the chemical paints.
Thank you Johnny for sharing!
Greek people were among some of the nicest people i have ever met when traveling. Cant wait to go back to Lefkas
Such a shame about the graffiti. The people have no respect for their city. Berlin is the same.
It's a real tragedy. I hope NATO institutes a no-fly zone
If you don't enjoy graffiti, the neighborhoods you visited ain't the best.
if you want to see beautiful neighborhoods in the center of Athens, you should go to Kolonaki (it is right next to Exarcheia, the richest neighborhood in the city) and Pagkrati which is one of the most beautiful middle-class hoods in Athens and trending at the moment.
That's not the richest neighbourhood in the city!!!
Kolonaki is the richest neighborhood in CENTRAL Athens. the suburbs are the richest districts, like Kifisia in the north or Glyfada in the south.
@@auto952 that's still the wrong impression rich and poor neighbourhoods are not as clear cut compared to other places ,Glyfada is NOT a rich neighbourhood, Ekali, Palio Psihico are.Cavouri etc
@@debbiemohiosen147 Ekali and Kavouri are completely residential, nothing to see there as a tourist. I am talking about actual neighborhoods that you can go out eat, shop, see sights etc.
@@auto952 Oh I see maybe your wording "richest" neighbourhoods is very misleading,if you consider the layout of various countries. Glyfada or Nea Smryni Square is just regular European and many classify the graffiti places as trendy ,grunge,rock an hippie as Camden Town in the UK.
Thank you!
Still better than tent cities.
Great depicition of Eksarxeia.. . It is a special area full of underground and youth cultures. Not all Athens is like that. This is only a really small part like 0,5% of the whole city. It's a place of political critique where power and money loses its meaning and real relationships flourish. That s why they are friendly to immigrants, people of colour, feminism, against homophoby and also criticing power and politicians.. All countries should have their Eksarxeia like Kreuzberg in Berlin or other cities... You should also visit Pagkrati and Mets areas. There are bars there too and nice coffee places as well as nice houses to see.. . Also southern Athens at the beach visit areas like Glifada up to Sounio with a car better..a feeling of the sea will do you well... . Also you can take the ship from Peiraius and visit beautiful Hydra island or Aigina or Poros island. Northern suburbs you can visit Halandri area. With the metro. There are coffee places and markets there.
Serious answer to your question about why the building type changes...Emanuel Kant changed everything when he started the push for originality over craftsmanship in the 1600's and it why all of our building in the modern world hold function over classic natural beauty.
Another good video, Johnny. I also donated a bit, hopefully it helps in some way. Slava Ukraini!
I first visited Athens about 18yrs ago and it was just as bad for graffiti then. It’s such a shame. The buildings are beautiful in the older parts but almost every clear space is graffiti within days.
Stelina is a great tour guide
Is it cheap to buy and live there? Looks like the perfect place.
Language is the liquid we r all absorbed in, it's great for solving problems after it created them
M.M.
Love the graffiti 💞
🕊️🌍🌏🌎🕊️
I went to Athens once, and it still looks like a shit hole
@The Fire Guy - please don't hold back! Tell us what you really think about Athens.
Nah Athens is nice
it is a shithole that's because Greek welth is being stolen since the 60s
exactly.
I’m Greek and I agree. Wouldn’t live there if you put a gun to my head.
how can someone not know asterix and obelix?????
You really really show exactly why we should go too Grease
We have Asterix in Australia 👍
It's absolutely awful what they did to those beautiful buildings. It looks like Detroit. In the end it's vandalism .
I think graffiti is designed and accepted by the locals to avoid gentrification and purposefully reduce demand and investment which could potentially price out locals. I'm pretty sure it's an eye sore for the locals but it's a compromise that they are willing to take as it's either that or being priced out if the area either through high rent or prices. Personally it looks ugly and I think gentrification is a necessity under a capitalist system. Because being priced out means people are not fixed to one location but are constantly migrating and creating new opportunities which boosts economic growth under a capitalist system i.e. you have human labour working more effeciently. Fyi I'm not in favour of capitalism but i'm just stating my observations.
How many properties have you owned in Kiev? And what exacly did you do with them before leaving ukraine?
Athena was you tour guide! This area reminds me so much of Baltimore. What keeps the lid on the situation is not the police, but no one will tolerate BS we don't deserve. In short, average people, police and bad guys, look out for each other and keep things safe and real.
WHATS THE NAME OF THE DOC SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT?????
You never read Asterix? Oh it is so full of humour and really great. I am in my seventies and would happily read them all again. They are translated into loads of different languages….. nice wander around this neighbourhood btw. I love it.
Bulgarian and Greece borders are so high for asians and far easterners who have to get schengen visas, i had only visited those 2 countries bulgaria and greece as Turkey citizen once in my 48 years lifetime with durations of 1 week only in each country. On the other hand i had lived freely and visited 10 states in the USA for 2 years, 9 cities in China for 2 months, in Thailand's 5 cities for 2.5 months in duration. So you can understand where turkish citizens feel good, with best pamperings as it's neighboring countries rather than geography.
Great video , really on point with showing the culture and the street vibe and I must say , one very cool young lady . I agree with the post saying visit an Island , I'd suggest Hydra , a favourite of Athenians to visit , short distance away , no cars or jet ski types , authentic and historic , most travel is by foot or ass or donkey. Best regards
This is not Athens You went into two neighborhoods, where leftists, anarchists, and students live, and in cheap dormitories. Climb a mountain around Athens to see how big it is.
I remember Athens as a beautiful city this is not the same Athens at all it is sad! They have no right to damage somebody else property!
15:30 I hated those aftermarket alarms on cars in the early 2000's my god
Dude come to Kharkiv, we have a network of 80 volunteers, and office, and a dope cottage in the middle of the forest i'd love to drink wiskey at with you.
I second this, as the main dude who runs these efforts.
Bring Bald with you, we will have lots of fun. I practically finished building a media production company by now.
The Greek people are wonderful people..so welcoming... I liked the neighborhood... I'd love there myself... I love Greece.
Johnny FD you can settle in whichever apartment you wish, you can have the electricity, kitchen systems fixed easily. Greece is same as Georgia, New York , Florida states don't worry. When you see Schengen country sign, trust that country fully please. Schengen countries are as developed as California. Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia are only EU countries, just trying to reach becoming Schengen enlightment and developed stage. Aegean sea is warm and great, turquoise sea with lots of fish to eat, calamaris, squids, oysters to eat. Tom Hanks also proclaimed that he has greek wife and USA is covering towards its powers and diligence sharings to Greek islands only. Don't worry you are in American coverage, not like in Ukraine which had immediately remembered it that Ukraine is slave of Russia. Greece is slave of only democracy and human rights of westernmost europe. Ukraine before russia war had 3500 usd per person GDP per capita in 2021 while Greece has 19.500 usd per year per person GDP . Luxemburg has 115.000 usd GDP per person in 2021.
Beautiful area, vibrant town with life!!
Such a beautiful boy.
Look at the damage wrought by the Euro currency in Athens.
If everyone has to be his or her own cop, soldier, carpenter, reporter, farmer, surgeon... nothing worth doing will get done. This is what is happening in capitalist societies of enforced poverty, not just what might happen in speculated anarchies. But I don't know anything about any of that.
Man I love my Greek women of Greece, they are the most adorable creatures in the planet. Not saying that because I'm of Greek origin, but I'm saying that from my North American perspective.
Strange that as a Canadian, I know about Luky Luke and Asterix
You can't speak of "Greece" when you have only seen smaller parts of Athens lol
Great vlog, thx Johnny
Athens reminds me of Seattle, where I live.
True anarchy allows for everything, including the rule of law;
i.e. there can't be laws against laws.
"HugoChavez" NeoHippies pursue ignorance, reward vice & punish virtue;
hence homelessness.
Seattle? I've heard about the anarchy/woke movement there. Has it gotten that bad?
I think exarchia is peak wokeness imo, u can see the bolshevikism parts showing up clearly lol.
Yes, Seattle & Portland Oregon are nuts, @@jacknicolssen7492 .
Mindless, meaningless "protests".
this is where regular people live ? yes there are the touristic areas , nice and pretty but there is something cool about this place
Thank You Johnny for be a Camera MAN😉
You've literally been to all the worst parts of Athens my dude. This is partial representation of the city.
Exarchia is one of the most famous and in my opinion best places in Athens, it is rich in history from the polytechnic uprising that overthrew the military junta and it's system of governance.
How the polytechnic uprising overthrew the junta? The invasion of cyprus overthrew the junta. They just were smart to quit before they made things worse no one overthrew them.
What is the name of the documentary she mentioned?
I would never be so stupid as to ask a lady to copulate - I would rather ask for the exact circumstances under which it ought to occur!
Cool video. But reality is that property values are destroyed this way. With the loss of property values, you lose the stable sort of residents who keep it up, so it further devolves. Not a good future there.
The graffitis are not graffitis, they're horrible tags. I can't understand how someone in their good mind can like it. Looks awful, you can see that people who live there don't care about their city.
In Latin America no one would even think to make a tag on a historical building and in general tagging is considered lame here as we have lots of great artists that do awesome graffitis that looks astonishing, and there are a lot of graffitis that look natural everywhere. It's a shame that Athens is in this way.
Google Street Art Athens.
@@clairenapolitano6116why should I?
@@purplebuckwheat Because you are ignorant.
Totally agree
@@purplebuckwheat Because you are judging "Athens" based on a video from one neighborhood. Also, people who have lived and grown up there like it because they understand it and the culture behind it.
Is there any greek people left in Athens?
In the center? No. We don't live in the ghetto. Suburbs are waaay better.
huh? What type of stupid question is that?
14:26 Ya Johnny go there to see the back door.
This is my favorite TH-cam video
30:02
@@mmmmmmmk lol out of nowhere, good catch