This year the nice days have been some short of rarity (at least for out South European standards) so I am trying to cycle on any nice day given hence my harvest here. This includes the all time Athens's classic of sprays on abandoned buildings:
Don't get it wrong when I see me cycling often lately, this by no means is a sign that Athens has become a bicycle friendly capital. However, it has made some steps forward on that.
A few years ago an image like the following one was a thing that I was drooling at when I was visiting other European cities but now it's reality here too:
I prefer to walk the cities but even cycling allows to notice details you don't when you just drive by. It's impressive how the urban environment have so much information even at a single non wide lens shot - a metro bridge, some street art on an old stone building, attempts for some green from the municipality at a rare case of no visible moving car on this junction:
In case you wonder I am already at "Gazi" named after the local factory that used to be there (it's the Greek word for "gas"):
Not much gas around today as the factory is now hosting art events, the whole area has changed its land use drastically and now hosts the heartbeat of Athens's nightlife plus some very expensive residential buildings. The local park is sweet:
Though those headless trees look rather sad:
Being an early bird like me is awarded with empty streets:
And the ability to capture things like this effortlessly uninterrupted:
I said it's empty didn't I?
As I look ahead I feel attracted by the colour of that purplish tree in the background:
Such an adorable beauty it is contrasting the blue sky:
Again, just in case you wonder, I have reached the ancient cemetery of Athens (Kerameikos):
I can already see Acropolis deep in the background behind this stone wall:
After some cycle through this park,
I am between Thisio metro station and Acropolis where lots of cafes and restaurants are and this is my most favourite building of this spot:
This area is a beauty - I'll let the pictures do the talking:
Sun doesn't help much but this is Acropolis:
I wanted to capture my "you can't imprison beauty" moment but the focus betrayed me:
(Top right corner is the top of the old Athens's observatory that you can also see in a couple of the above pictures)
Time to cycle a bit off road, also in an attempt to justify my brand new knobby bicycle tires apart from the obvious fun of it:
I am right at the foothill of Acropolis and I am taking this way back to the historic center of Athens:
Seconds later I am in front of the gate of the Roman Agora:
Funny how that plane comments the sky above the gate right? Want more of it? There you go:
Here is Acropolis's rock from another angle:
Part of the metro railway with the observatory (again) in the background):
I would never use spray on a Roman building but not everyone shares my mindset:
Fancy some more Acropolis?
This is the entrance to the Ancient Agora, a must visit if you are around:
I can't say I don't enjoy the fact that the streets are still empty:
On my way back home I find a bridge and I take the chance to picture "Gazi" from above:
From the same spot I picture the following absurdity from above:
But the local park is not absurd at all. Actually now that the light of sun is sweeter it looks even better:
I'll leave the last bits of street art I found to your criticism in the comments below in case you feel like:
Time for some video isn't it? I couldn't manage to upload it on 3speak cause the latter detected an "unstable connection" and doesn't give you the chance to resume upload (if it fails you have to do it all over again) so here is YT instead and as a bonus you can watch it in 4K (music as usual is mine and original):
