Is Athens one of the Most Beautiful Cities?
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ส.ค. 2024
- Is Athens a Beautiful City?
'The Athens Urbanist' Episode 6 of 6. Watch from the beginning: • How Ancient Athens Cha...
Also, subtitles are also available in Greek! Υπάρχουν διαθέσιμοι υπότιτλοι στα ελληνικά 🇬🇷
---
🚌 Experience a Real-Life Urbanist Adventure on multi-day Greece trip: tours.urbanist...
People featured in this episode
Take a Tour with Natassa: desired-landsc...
Read more of Nikos' work: www.ekathimeri...
Music featured in this episode
Official Soundtrack: open.spotify.c...
Ermis: / @ermismusic2
Pan Pan: panpanathens.b...
🗽 Get your In-Depth NYC Guide: share.thatch.c...
👍 Support the show with a virtual tip: PayPal.me/Arie...
🌟 Get Full Access to Bonus Videos: / urbanist
🧡 Become a TH-cam Member: / @urbanistexploringcities
►Get Official Urbanist Merch: urbanist.creat...
►Prints of Urbanist photos: urbanist.darkr...
*MY GEAR (affiliate links)*
Live Streams:
iPhone 13 Pro Max: amzn.to/3EECXpB
DJI OSMO Mobile 6 (gimbal): amzn.to/49lblSJ
DJI Mic: amzn.to/3S40V0d
Manfrotto Mini: amzn.to/3bfImUL
Big Camera:
Panasonic GH5II: amzn.to/3CspQ8d
12-35mm lens: amzn.to/2QITgI7
DJI Ronin S (big gimbal): amzn.to/38mcJG2
Vlog Camera:
Sony ZV1: amzn.to/2Ew7hWE
Zhiyun Crane M2 (small gimbal): amzn.to/3jiKZ9B
Tiny Camera:
DJI Pocket 3: amzn.to/49oQFt5
►My Amazon Wish List (gear + books that will be directly used for the show): www.amazon.com...
►My fiction novella RETROWAVE: www.amazon.com...
☕️ Other ways to tip:
►Cash App: cash.app/$Arie...
►Venmo: venmo.com/thea...
*Best Books about Athens*
DK Eyewitness Greece: amzn.to/3wXheHr
Walking in Athens: amzn.to/48ZbN87
The Geography of Genius: amzn.to/3TkSKzt
![ถามตรงๆ กับ อาจตุพร ทำไม ประเทศไทย ใครเป็นนายก ก็โดนด่า พอออกเเล้วคนคิดถึง!!?? l [Nickynachat]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/3YFLMXxBGAs/mqdefault.jpg)
🚌 Book a official Urbanist multi-day Greece trip: tours.urbanist.live
I have been to almost every capital in Europe. Rome and Athens are the two capitals that exude a sense of belonging.
Athens will always be my beloved city. I have been there dozens of times, love it deeply and for me, it is beautiful. I see Athens through my heart, emotions, memories, people.
That is wonderful! Athens is truly a wonderful city 🙏
Guys, Athens is incredible! I understand most of the tourists like staying around the historical center but Athens has lots to offer. The northern suburbs $$ upscale Beverly hill type and then the coastal area southern suburbs miami vibes! Beach clubs restaurants cool young neighborhoods with lots of fun things to do..
α ρε Σπανούλη θεέ πες τα ! ..Ζήτω η Αθήνα Ζήτω ο Ολυμπιακός !
hahahahahahahaahaha
I’ve been living part time in Athens for 25 years now. It is a city of contrast: beautiful and ugly, manic and serene, parochial and chic. It almost defies definition and I’ve grown to love it.
I visited athens 2 years ago. Many people said you just need 1 day in Athens, not much to see, not very nice. Well I couldn’t disagree more. I loved Athens, it’s got culture, history, sights and sounds. You have to be open to exploring and going off the beaten track to appreciate it all.
Breaking: Ariel is up (nominated) for the coveted Peabody award. Congratulations, Ariel!
thank you so much!!
What is the title of the work he got nominated for?
@@precious1770 Ariel was nominated for his work with Gen Z Historian, "The Hidden History of Racism in New York City"; a six-part micro-documentary series.
Im Mexican & I had Planned for All Europe Visit for a Month¿ My First Stop was Athens.. Guess what ? I liked Greece & Special Athens City soo Much.. i Spent Almost my whole Vacation There...!!! Planing to go Again Back this Summer.. 🌞..by the the way.. you make Amazing job Educate as bout Athens .... Wish you Well with your Documentary 🎉
The thing about Greece is that the local people are making it vibrant and interesting. I am very concerned now with the changes. Sometimes to much immigration and mass tourism is not very good. I don't mean it in the racist way. Also to have only hotels and foreign investments, it will destroy the whole energy! :-( We need a correct balance. To be like every city in the EU or outside will get boring and the uniqueness will get away.
You already have the anwser regarding immigration into Europe if your honest with yourself; it ruins countries. Look at France, Germany, Sweden, UK and Belgium for example. You dont want that for your country, act accordingly.
//Swede
Athens is the oldest capital in Europe with a unique character. In aerial photos maybe not beautiful, but in ground level, quality, vibes, history, food and people it is amongst top5.
We don't have money but we have the culture and heart.
Others count with quantity, the Greeks count with quality.
Best wishes to everyone and Greek Greetings. 💙🤍💙
Well said, will visit this summer. Stoked af
@kingkrubb8880 Thank you mate 💙
Really emotional! Kudos! I think you gave to the viewers a glimpse of the real spirit of this city and of the Greek urban culture. Not easy for a foreigner to do so. It's like someone you don't expect, sees right through your soul.
You can see beauty only if you have ugly along. Then you can appreciate both even more and become a moderate person, a virtue that so many ancient philosophers tried to teach us
You are the first person on TH-cam I’ve seen tell the full story of Athens❤ thank you for you all your work I’m really enjoying your videos 🎉
Ariel, you are a great storyteller. Your dedication to the finished product here is amazing. We all get to see so much through the lens. You captured the city and the people beautifully. Good luck on winning the Peabody as well. Peace my friend. 😊🙏🏽
I cried a couple of times watching this docu series. I miss my beautiful city..
Amazing series dude! As a Greek Australian you hit the nail on the head in all aspects explaining Athens.
I have been living in Athens since almost 10 years as an immigrant....
Despite facing many issues.... I love Athens from my Core....
We dont care if Athens is beautiful or not, we love her in every possible way. 😊
you love ugly things? Nice...
The birth place of Western civilisation. I'd love to visit one day. Thank you for sharing.
Yet another amazing video. I'm traveling to Athens for the first time next week and these few videos and made me fall in love with the city without having even been yet. Your descriptions of the frustrating yet charming idiosyncrasies I can understand perfectly, and I would say the same of the city where I now live - Tbilisi, Georgia. I recommend you visit one day. Otherwise, keep up the good work.
Thanks for the series. Went to Athens some 15y ago, It is the life, the feeling of it around you that makes it special. The organic feeling of it.
I am half Dutch and half Italian. I am currently leaving in the Netherlands but I lived for 19 years in Rome. What I like about south Europe is that, in most southern European countries, you have these condominiums that have shops/restaurants at the ground floor and appartments in the upper levels. This is something you can find mostly in countries like Italy, Spain and Greece here in Europe. I noticed that central, northern and eastern European countries prefer to separate residentials areas from the commercial ones. In these other countries usually you have a square with all the shops sourranded by townhouses or communist blocks (in the case of eastern Europe). This is so sad because mixing the two areas make cities so vibrant and is actually even more convenient! In Rome I had to walk 5 minutes to do my groceries and while walking I passed by many other commercial activities. Here in the Netherlands I have to walk more or less the same time, but on my way to the supermarket I pass by only houses.
It is brivant aw you said but the noise of th e people talking and the music if you live in an area like this is so frustrating
I understand you...but because of that, we (Greece) have now a huge parking problem. Instead of shops, restaurants, cafe and grocery stores...there should be garages. Try not thinking like a tourist, but as a local. Netherlands is a great country. I wish Greece was like the Netherlands in terms of infrastructures and urban development. Do you know that in Greece we don't have parks and sidewalks?
@@jennyal8857 Напълно подкрепям. Трябва има зони за спокоен живот и такива с търговски и развлекателен характер.
@@FreeMind... Вече писах, че в Атина има прекрасен исторически парк точно до двореца, но не е в добро състояние. А относно паркирането в големи градове - голям проблем навсякъде по света, когато няма ясен и санкциониран режим от страна на властите.
@@user-qy4ov8dp5y In English please...I don't understand what you're writing and there is no translation option.
I love spending time with you exploring different places. It's always such a pleasure. Thank you for these experiences!
your epilogue for this city is so profound and sο emotional!
It’s wonderful to hear that you resonated with it!
@@UrbanistExploringCities να' σαι πάντα καλά!
U should love Athens during summer, when the temperature reaches 45 ⁰C and it's full of smoke from the wildfires, plus the Sahara dust. And there is no Park around you to find a bit o coolness. The sense of living in a dystopian city is priceless...
….and the grime, and the various smells (sewer, exhaust)
Don’t come back!!
This documentary showed me how similar Detroit is to Athens. Our differences are geographic, language, alfabet, economics, & societal. Our similarities are our neighborhoods, multiculturalism, & urbanism. We all need food, clean air & water, housing, safety, culture, & purpose. This was very interesting & well done. I was reminded tonight that sound needs to improve. I had a bit of a hard time hearing the white haired gentleman. At times he spoke too softly. There was too much crowd noise, & then add the score music was a bit much. Congratulations & thank you! 👍🏻⭐👏🏻
I was born and raised in the north suburbs and always loved my home town. Emigrated abroad 25 years ago and have always missed it since. Now I come only as a visitor a couple of times a year.
Ariel Bravo, What a wonderful series. I moved here from the States many years ago. I loved this city and hated it at the same time. Now I think I know why. You have shown me a new appriciation for Athens.
Thank you for visiting our lovely historical country 🇬🇷
Wholeheartedly, thank you for this series.
Thanks Ariel Thanks Maria and all of your fabulous guests.
Love Greece 🇬🇷 ❤
I visited NYC an august, about 10 years ago and i was really keen to see and feel and walk the city. I got blisters in my feet from walking. When i got back to Athens, i came out of the metro station in Panormou square and thought to myself "ow wow i never thought Panormou would look that pretty!" It's not, but there is a unintentional friendliness and openness to Athens that is hard to put you finger on. Thessaloniki is great in that way too. Thank you for making a video about the felt sense i have had that i thought was important and could not explain to people.
Great videos my friend! I'm a Greek Australian living in this vibrant city, you hit the nail on the head!
It is more than obvious how much Athens has stolen the hearts of those who walk its streets and can truly see who this city is, both in its crumbling facades, as well as the obvious glory of its ancient past.
This “new” Athens is raw, vibrant and exciting, though we hope the ghosts of its past will linger and whisper to those who still wish to hear them.
ζήτω η Ελλάδα 🇬🇷❤🇬🇷
Thank you Ariel for your beautiful videos of my country Greece. You have a special way of showing the true vibe of Athens, its energy and light. I saw all your other videos as well, throughout Greece. You get it. Ευχαριστώ πολύ ❤😊
What a series that was. The visuals, the storytelling, the interviews and the topics you explored were really engaging even for people who aren't urbanist enthusiasts like me. Definitely gonna rewatch it
ps The track Athenian Urbanism is stuck in my head now ahahha
I really appreciate how in this video not only the touristic and historical center is shown but truly the whole image of Athens especially the residential areas that play such a key role in the experience of this city. There are even images from the suburbs that are a big part of Athens. Once you understand that Athens and the suburbs are one big modern city you can truly appreciate how life works there .
It's a great documentary about a quite misunderstood city, that has so much more to offer than the ancient monuments and the touristic restaurants.
Its a very respectful video that tries to truly understand what Athens is today for Athenians with its many negatives but also its positives. Athens is a city that you can love without understanding exactly why... But in the end I think that the closest answer to that, is that the vibe of Athens is so unique, special and strong and you can not find it anywhere else.
Thanks!
You’re so welcomed 🙏
Well done. This series has been so interesting and moving. Bravo.
I watched all your 6 videos , simply amazing! amazing work, a great showoff of how the real Athens is! My new favourite travel vlogger!
Yessss!!! ATHENAS IT’S one of the must beautiful city in the World
I‘m a bit sad that this has come to an end. It was a great ride and I got so many impressions of Athens that I now want to go and look for myself 💙
You can be very proud! You and your team did an excellent job and the overall views of this series show that you’re on the right path. Can’t wait to see the Edinburgh Urbanist.
And I looooove outtakes 😂
This was a very authentic doc on Athens. Living here I can say you truly captured the feel of the city, well done!
That was an excellent documentary short!
I love that it looks like you used locals for the filming, editing, coloring and music composition (which was excellent btw)!
As well as all the research that you did, finding locals that specialize in the subject of the video!
You really respected the local culture doing all that, so huge respect to you for your efforts! I will be subscribing and going back to watch your older videos, as well as looking forward to seeing new places through your lens!
Man that means a lot! Thanks for watching. Be sure to watch the previous 5 episodes to enjoy the full series :) this right here is the last episode
Great job guys!!! Loved every video!!! Congrats to all of you!!!
Excellent work. I thoroughly enjoyed this six-part series on Athens.As a Greek Canadian who visits yearly starting in the 60's as a child and throughout all the decades following and up until now. I've seen the city grow and change over the years and do believe that its at it's best now. I love Athens with all my heart and watching your series helped put it all into perspective for me as to why I love it so much and I learned things I did not know about the city as well. Great work Ariel, Thank you.
Athens is awesome. 2022 really enjoyed it much. Every morning, i could see the 'shelter of the gods' ...then walked her steps too.
The people were 'live let live attitude. More serious than i am. I see humor that others do not.
Long live Greece,& ATHENS !!
There is something extremely charming and warm about Athens. You can see the strings of life happening.
Great job Ariel! Wonderful team work. 👋Thank you for sharing. Looking forward to the Scottish adventures as well.
What a great effort. Good job Ariel and team. As a Greek who's lived in NYC for 8 years I could understand both sides and I love the way you approach everything in this series, it brings out a unique presentation and perspective with respect to the subject. Of course there are so many more things that could be showcased about Athens but then the episodes would be in the double digits. Hit me up if you ever decide to do Thessaloniki-Northern Greece.
Εμείς ευχαριστούμε γι αυτή την ολοκληρωμένη παρουσίαση της Αθήνας και βάζοντάς μας σε σκέψεις όπως : ''λές να είναι όμορφη τελικά η Αθήνα;''
Αν δεν είχε τόσα πολλά αυτοκίνητα και ήταν πιο καθαρή η πόλη χωρίς μουτζουρες χωρίς βρώμικους κάδους και με περισσότερο πράσινο θα ήταν λουκούμι η Αθηνα
@@asprigata8372 οι «μουτζούρες» είναι η μόνη ομορφιά που βρίσκω στην Αθηνα
The reason Athens looks and feels ugly in everyday life is not the polykatoikias but the way authorities (do not) care about people's everyday life, no matter which political party has the power at a time.
Let's face it. The polykatoikies themselves along with their poor maintenance contribute to the urban decadence. (I am Greek and living in Athens)
You can't always blame the authorities and the politicians. The look of a city is also a reflection of there inhabitants. Who is littering for example? Who does the graffiti? Who destroys public property in the city?
@@alexandergkionis well said.
Wrong. Don't blame politicians. The citizens are disrespectful. Look at all the dog s#@* that people leave on sidewalk. And the army of civil servants who collect salaries with doing their jobs... The local mentality is not European and never will be. The local people are cowards.
You are correct with that, but local authorities need to do more to stop littering and graffiti use. There are measures that can be taken but nobody seems to care. Athens can be 10 times better if it wanted
Talking as a local who have travelled a lot (all over the world) but also lived for over 15years abroad (from Greece) in South and Notrh of Europe, I always say to visiting freinds Athens is not an easy city to appreciate...it is not a straight forward touristic city (like Rome, Batchelone etc.)...It is a lovely city but not in the conventional manner...it is a city that in order to understand and appreciate you need to live it and mingle with the locals... We are ok...we are loud...disorganised but mostly friednly people (in our unique way)...and propably that is why Athens is like this...
Athens is a city with a lot of problems and many things to correct but still a city that is really interesting and not only for the 4000+ years of history...
Congratulations Ariel on such a fantastic series. Really enjoyed every episode.!
Hey Ariel, may I recommend a visit to Patras for you? Patras may not have the same size as Athens but is also a very vibrant (due to the large student population) city that has managed to preserve a good number of neoclassical buildings and that special feeling you can get in many Athenian neighborhoods. I am from Athens but I studied in Patras, and judging from the things you like in Athens I believe Patras will be at minimum a very enjoyable visit. Great work as always! Thanks for showing a beloved piece of home :)
ρε φίλε την Πάτρα, σοβαρά τώρα?
This was such a tremendous documentary. I look forward to the Edinburgh and the Coffee Documentary too.
You’ve inspired me so much with your passion for travel, history, spirituality, music, food, coffee, and culture of cities around the world.
I hope you can do one in San Juan, Mexico City, or Brussels.
Keep up the great work and congratulations on the Peabody nomination! You have a tremendously bright future ahead :-)
I appreciate your hard work❤
Thank you so much 😀
Athens could be a beautiful city if 3 millions of the inhabitanst would move back there citys and towns . Athens is today too economically dominant in Greece, alla the jobs, power center are in Athens , Athens is a state within the Greek state.
This video serves as a powerful reminder not to trust everything you read or see on the internet.
By day, the city is a concrete jungle, bustling with cars and commuters trapped in traffic, striving to make a modest living.
But as night falls, it transforms into a seductive siren, inviting people to indulge in its vibrant nightlife, offering a reprieve from the daily grind.
Athens is undeniably beautiful, but living there paints a different picture.
Sometimes, in Athens, the cement facades are misleading. I live in the sixth floor of a cement polikatikía , in a cement looking area, but outside of my doors, in all the balconies of the flat, there is a dense tropical jungle of plants, that I planted and take care of. I feel like living in a forest-though in center of Athens, that i love. Many people support same secret gardens throughout the city. It’s not as “ a desert of cement “, as most foreigners think. I think , actually, that due to the verticality of the plants, Athens now, has much more vegetation than it used to have before any building was here. Appearances are deceiving in Athens. ( in many aspects 😇).
За съжаление, като турист не съм очарована от града. Може би местните жители са намерили начин да създадат уют в домовете си. Посетих забележителни исторически места и музеи, но като цяло инфраструктурата не е поддържана добре, да не говорим за района около Националния театър, където си беше направо неприятно и мисля, опасно.
@@user-qy4ov8dp5y δεν καταλαβαινω τι γραφει εδω. Νομιζω οτι χρησιμοποιουμε τα αγγλικα ως γλωσσα επικοινωνιας εδω. Οποτε και εγω σας απαντω, στα ελληνικα, ανταποδιδοντας την φιλοφρονηση.
Ariel the only thing I didn’t see and that would give a much more complete picture of Athens is a reference and footage from north suburbs of Athens which is much more green and open and more from the south suburbs along the coast line and the very long marina that literally looks line Monaco down in mikrolimano. That would give a much more accurate picture of Athens. Great work though, keep up what you do!
No, this is a part of athens who only the rich experience.Ruined buildings with nice parks and coffee shops with police hitting protesters,a church near by , a graffiti and down the road an ancient ruin.This is athens and its beautiful in its own way
Such historic moments
Only academics seem to fetishize bad conditions and subpar urbanism. I also have no doubt that with a prettier city that would inspire people to be better, Athens is stuck in time because people look around and don't see that it's worth to do more.
Athens is lucky to be where it is, with it's sunny days, and to have such a joyful population.
Nicely done! Kudos!
Glad you enjoy my city🫶🏻🙏🏻
Thanks
My pleasure! Thank you for the kind contribution 🙏
Loved the series Ariel, especially as an Athens centre local, living abroad!
Btw my mother co-curated that exhibition about the Polykatikoia Nikos mentioned :)
Μαρία και Κατερίνα !! Είστε φανταστικές !! Η συνεισφορά του ταλέντου σας στα βίντεο μου θυμίζουν ολα όσα μου λείπουν απο την Αθήνα
Greece is a beautiful country but in the urban aspect they were wrong and rushed to build their cities, the largest urban centers are a perfect uniformity, it is enough to visit a certain neighborhood of one of their cities and you have seen all the cities of Greece. another shortcoming is because, due to the Ottoman occupation, this country did not live the renaissance period like the rest of Europe, it is enough to look a little carefully and you will understand that for 500 years the clock in this country had stopped. however, they are a wonderful people who live well, love their homeland and know how to organize their lives well.
They didn't "rush" really... The biggest and sharpest increase in population occurred within less than a decade when the Asia Minor disaster and expulsion of Greeks from their cities there in 1922 created a huge refugee problem (the population of Athens more than doubled in a few years). There was a need for housing all these displaced people and their children. The city was not designed over decades.
It is both one of the most beautiful and one of the ugliest cities in Europe. This depends on the area and the neighborhood. It has the potential to be a true gem but unfortunately it has been left underdeveloped due the crisis and poverty...with roads and pavements un-repaired for decades and buildings painted in ugly graffiti. But in the end it makes you feel something no other city in the world can
Amazing
amazing!
At 29:26 to 29:36 or so. Fireworks over Ariel's left shoulder
I am Greek , I lived in different cities all around Europe for 15 years and for the last seven years I am back to Athens. The answer to the question of the title is : Definitely NO !
I would advice u doing a similar movie for thessalonikh, its literally an open air museum
Very nicely made video. I have been grown up in Athens but don’t leave there for over 20 years, visiting it however quite often. Athens was a beautiful city in the 50s 60s. Now, despite your amazing work, I wouldn’t consider Athens as a „beautiful „ city anymore. It’s actually quite ugly and chaotic. I know many Athenians who moved to other towns, and are very happy with their decision. There are definitely many beautiful cities in Europe, Athens has some vibe but nothing more. For visiting as a tourist might be good…
Wow! What a beautiful series! You made me rediscover the beauty of my city! This is very interesting. I was reminded of beautiful parts I haven't visited in a long time, but i also got to remember what makes parts of Athens insufferable. I want to be fair. Athens is as original as it gets, either you like the city or not. Athens is full of ugly unkempt buildings, especially very old polikatikies. Which often makes me wonder why some people tend to overromanticise the ugly parts of the city. But, while you walk under the shade of their concrete, you sometimes turn at the end of the corner, at the city block, and behold :the Acropolis! And your day becomes a bit better. One thing that this documentary is missing, is the exploration of the outer suburbs of Athens. It's still Athens, but every suburb has its own vibe and atmosphere. If you visit places that are still very dense, in population and architecture, but further from the center, you will feel something very different. For example, if you visit Neapoli or Shistó, you will be able to see the city from above, while still in it. Without the crazy rhythm of Athens Downtown. You get a sense of a place that is mainly just homes, without the crazy traffic and tourists pandaemonium at every other street. It's a feeling on itself. Very cozy and heartwarming! Loved these docu-series! This work deserves an award, and the people that made it, all the recognition and praise! Well done!
ONE THING THAT I CAN SAY ABOUT ATHENS, THE UGLY DUCKLING, IS NOT A SPECIAL CITY IN EUROPE BUT, WALKING IN THE STREETS YOU FEEL FREE, FREEDOM IN THE AIR. I HAVE NEVER FELT THIS IN OTHER CITIES OF EUROPE. NOT OF RESTRICTIONS, GODLY FREEDOM IN THE AIR!
I misses my city 💌
Come to Buenos Aires!
You can only love this city
Athens is a city that grows on you. For that, you have to live there. For a long period of time. One of the cities where the touristy sides miss the vibe entirely.
Live there. If you can, live in Mes, Pangrati, Koukaki, Kesairiani, paléo Faliro, … stay away from plaka, Thiseo, Gazi.
Hey Urbanist Exploring Cities, I just watched your video and I must say that it was really informative and well-made.
I was wondering if I could help you edit your videos and repurpose your long videos into highly engaging shorts? I can also make high CTR thumbnails for your channel
Athens mentality is like if Berlin had 300 days of sun, but with the 100% of the people speaking English and to be normal at 1 oclock in the morning EATING food in a taverna while you are drinking wine or ouzo
00:32 Very good..
Good attempt to romanticize the problems of this city, the whole series actually. Need to point out some personal disagreements though:
1: Poor infrastructure should be mentioned. Some of the worlds worst sidewalks, not able to acommodate people in wheelchairs or mothers with strollers are a little example, not to mention things like electricity cables "littering" the sky etc. is something that you would notice more if you lived there permanently.
2: A lot of the good things mentioned, just come out of mediterranean lifestyle (also to be found in South Italy or some Balcan countries) and doesn't have to do anything with Athens in particular, or it's urban identity. Most of the people mentioned "I love the people around, or the feelings, memories, the way the city is always alive etc" this is something to be found in bigger or smaller cities in the above mentioned areas.
3: The video is really commenting from the point of a tourist, as Natassa underlines at some moments, tourists will get a different vibe. You might have hours and hours to chill at the cafes, but if you had to work 8 hours a day and commute another 2, you would basically need more safety and reliability in everyday things such as public transport, parking for vehicles and less traffic on the streets. Mobility in this city is terrible, 5 millions in a city with 3 metro lines, just thing about that. Parking problem can be seen clearly in the video, no other city not even in America, to dedicate so much street space percentage to vehicles.
4: History says that Athens center was abandoned to rot, mainly because at the better financial days of the country, people moved to the suburbs in order to have higher quality surroundings. Nowadays, a lot of central neighborhoods such as Kypseli which you mostly wander around, still offer some of the cheapest rents and young people chose to live there in order to save money, since suburbs are way more expensive. Gentrification problems and Airbnb are also complicating the situation, but I just wanna point out that the "ugliness" that nobody can deny yet a lot romanticize, was and can still be a hard-to-accept thing if you live in it every day, and it has already made a full circle from when people believed Athens center is like Dhaka in Bangladesh.
The point about middle sized cities (Athens is on the 5 biggest European cities though) is actually accurate. The difference between US and EU though, is that American metropolises were designed to get large, while Athens and other ancient cities just got more dense and complicated along their history, which makes them exciting but hard to catch up to modern amenities at the same time.
Sorry for the long comment, keep this content up.
I'm an architect, born and raised in Athens btw.
Spot on. Ugliest capital in EU.
Εξαιρετικό σχόλιο!
the greek salad was spot on. You just got it right. Thats it.
You're this generation's Anthony Bourdain. Well done
Bourdain didn’t like Greeks or Greece much. His disdain for them was pretty apparent on the one episode he did about Greece. Not a good comparison to this series.
There are two Athens - Αθήνες. Athens municipality and Athens Metropolitan.
The first is where most tourists stroll in specific "sterilised" parts (Ancient Agora, Acropolis, Monastiraki, Plaka, Kallimarmaro etc). Outside of those sterilised places, the municipality is a bit of a shithole. Cramped roads, ugly architecture, zero aesthetics, noise, pollution, zero respect for pedestrian needs and so on. If you venture further down, to Omonia square and beyond, you will meet the other part of the city, drugs, poverty, abandonment, prostitution, a multinational ghetto that many avoid.
The second Athens, the metropolitan one, is actually way better. Mountains, hills, seas, open spaces, a bit cleaner, a bit less cramped up, same chaotic "architecture", same lame aesthetics and so on.
In any case, no Athens is not a beautiful city. It has some iconic spots here and there to visit, drink eat, it has the tourist area around Acropolis and a few other places in the general metropolitan vicinity but the rest is hit or miss and we are talking from the tourist's point of view. All of us who are living in this dumpster, have to fight every day to commute in a very hostile environment were cars are the dominant species, open spaces are scarce and the "architecture" makes us want to gauge our eyes.
I am not even going to touch topics like healthcare, education, sports parks etc.
You are wrong. You sould know the city better, before declaring which place is a “shithole”, and which is not. Something big is happening in the city- and it doesn’t have to do with rbnb, turists, etc.And you hace no idea, living in your distant superb, with your mind glued back to the era, when your suberb was built. You need to take some long walks around Athens. Foreigners know the city better than you.
@@issith7340 I live in Pagkrati for almost half a century. I have been walking, cycling and driving in, out and across the municipality a billion times on a daily basis. It is a mess that deteriorates each and every year.
5!00 and earthquakes. And civil war. Most of the buildings replaced by apartment blocks were stone-built houses - whether in Athens (that were sold by their owners for the benefit of erecting a multi-apartment building in the same land space) or in the countryside (that were abandoned for the two reasons above). A better life in Athens, in a safe apartment, was a greater prospect than a life in the economically ruined/defunct countryside in a house that could come down in the next earthquake.
Please do Malaga next
At 24:50 “it doesn’t feel like a race to maximise profits” you nailed it Ariel…bravo
Nah that's just a silly quote. Like, what is this supposed to mean? Athens is just another (western) capitalist city. Of course there is a race to maximise profits. It's extra funny if you think that he didn't discuss the whole gentrification issue in the video. But of course he didn't, it doesn't fit the narrative of the locals "reclaiming the city" and the overall tourist gaze of the video.
I was born and raised in the Athens suburbs and honestly I can't understand why foreigners think Athens is beautiful. It's one of the ugliest cities in Europe. I've been to most European capitals, Athens can't compete. It's an endless sprawl of ugly grey buildings, a city built for cars not people with little to no nature. Yes, the weather is nice the people are friendly but that's not enough. You can have those things in Italy, Portugal or Spain and still have cities that look and feel more European. Athens feels more like a middle-eastern city.
Athens is Amazing ) believe me ...!
YOU BETTER HAVE GONE TO KYPSELI
I did, back in Episode 3 :) and we show a little bit more here
Τι να κάνει στην Κυψέλη να βλέπει της μουτζουρες στους τοιχους
I’d choose Thessaloniki, a city that boasts the largest university campus at its heart. It’s a city steeped in history, a metropolis that has never lost its grandeur - and it shows. Thessaloniki is a city with a clear beginning, middle, and end. It’s renowned for its delectable cuisine, delightful sweets, and vibrant energy
That love hate relationship is what keeps us alive !
Do you agree?
Athens has not more than 5 million people but more than 3, and thats the whole metro area.
I saw a story this week that Athens is the best smelling city in the world. Not sure why. One comment was figs.
The smell of bitter orange blossoms in May...to die for!!
When was this shot? Why is everyone melting?
It was shot July 2024 when there was a heat wave 😂 temperatures were 104 degrees Fahrenheit or 40+ degrees Celsius
@@UrbanistExploringCities july2024 🤔🤔🤔
Best ATHENS !