From Place To Space: My Athens! Part Two

A new week has started (and spring has sprung) and I am taking you a second time back to the Greek capital, to Athens. Today I want to share a few tips with you should you ever consider a little getaway to Athens.

For many, Athens is just a transit stop on the way to the sunny islands. Mostly, people manage to climb up the ancient Acropolis and dine in the busy tourist quarter Plaka. The rest seems like a giant, grey unattractive sea of buildings. But there is more to Athens than it seems. Last Monday I showed you some of my favorite spots for fabulous bird's eye views. Today, let me take you to some other cool spots in town.

For a relaxed coffee I recommend the tucked away cafés of the Plaka, many of them are located just behind the Old Agora like the Café Yasemi. For a fine dinner I can recommend the swanky 'Eat at Milton's' in the Plaka area or for a more traditional Greek feeling, the hillside placed 'Old Fisherman's Tavern' (I Palia Taverna Tou Psarra - it's depicted here in the blogpost). And while strolling through Plaka and Monastiraki, don't forget to buy a pair of handmade Greek leather sandals - they are super comfy, last for like ever and look fabulous.

For a vibrant and lively night out head to the Gazi district close to the Kerameikos metro station - eat, drink, stroll and dance all at once in places like the cool Gazarte! During day time, don't forget to head down to the seaside quarters such as Glyfada or Voula for a coffee on the beach.

So don't be afraid of the giant, grey city. Athens is a charming place and definitely a great option for a sunny weekend getaway.

Photography by Igor Josifovic

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From Place To Space: My Athens! Part One

Hello Monday, hello spring, hello friends! Let us start into a new week invigorated by ideas, creativity and the insatiable desire to discover new places, new cultures new concepts of aesthetics and happiness. Probably today's virtual trip won't be all too new to everyone of you, but it is a personal return for me, a visit to a city I called home for an entire year as a student: my Athens!

As usual, I will try to tell the story visually through my snapshots. Since I took quite a good number of shots I've decided to split them up and make two parts for the blog so expect next Monday part two. But let us see what I want to share with you in this part one. 

Almost all pics in today's blogpost about Athens were taken at the main touristic sights of the Greek capital. Now you might wonder why I am showing the obvious places instead of unknown corners. Let me explain: I lived there for an entire year. My apartment was a 10 minutes walk from the Acropolis. And yet I enjoyed every single day the view of the ancient city. And every time when I'm back to Athens, I must go there, take in the smell of pine trees, gaze at the stones of a metropolis built thousands of years ago, overlooking the numberless houses of modern Athens, looking at the blue horizon and the flickering waters of the Aegean Sea. However, I do have some favorite spots for the best views of Athens that I will share with you here.

If you intend on visiting or revisiting Athens soon, consider these two options for amazing bird's eye views of the capital of Greece: First, if you head to the Acropolis just continue the main path, passing the entrance to the Acropolis and you will arrive at one of the most magic places of Athens - the Areopagus hill. In ancient time this rock functioned as the high Court of Appeal, nowadays it is the famous spot of couples, few tourists and locals to sit, have a drink and chat while overlooking the endless metropolis (tip: go there at dusk, the atmosphere is enchanting).

The other 'hot spot' for a perfect view of the city and the postcard view of the Acropolis is the opposite hill called 'Philopappous'. I actually used to live right under that hill. The hill's top is marked by an ancient monument. Actually, it's the name of the monument and the hill is officially called Mouseion hill, but believe me, everyone calls it Philopappous. It will take you 10 minutes to climb up (take the stairs just underneath the Areopagus hill) and you will have the most stunning view of the landmark Acropolis. Plus the Aegean Sea will open up in front of you, to all sides you will overlook the city that used to be the birthplace of democracy. Sit down, take in the views and think of how amazing our world is and how much beauty there has been throughout times on this rock that we call Earth and home. 

P.S. The amazing restaurant on the pic above is a great suggestion for dinner: It's called 'Kuzina' and is located in the Thisio area. It interprets traditional Greek cuisine in a refined, modern way and offers a delightful interior design and stunning views of the Acropolis and Ifesteio temple. Go there for a great dinner!

Happy new week, friends!

Photography by Igor Josifovic

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From Place To Space: New Hotel, Athens

I am a lover of weekend city getaways where I am discovering new places, new designs, new treats. This time I was up for a prolonged design weekend in Athens, Greece. It was a sort of 'revisited' kind of getaway because I've been many times to Athens and a decade ago I used to live there as a student. Now it was time to visit some old friends, good old neighborhoods and discover a new design hotel - the 'New Hotel' in Athens' city center, a ten minutes walk from the famous Plaka and the Acropolis.

The 'New Hotel' belongs to the Greek hotel group YES! Hotels owned by one of the country's biggest art collectors and art connoisseurs. This fact has strongly influenced the hotel's design: The 'New Hotel' was exclusively designed by the Brazilian design brothers Campana in collaboration with Greek students from the art university in Volos. The design blends the old with the new, mixing modern design with three themes of traditional Greek folklore and lifestyle - the 'Evil Eye Protection', the 'Karagiozis' shadow theater, and old postcards from Athens.

There is one more interesting fact about the hotel. Formerly, this was the old Olympic hotel from the 1950s which was abandoned in the late 90s of the previous century. When YES! Hotels took over the property, it was completely redesigned with a strong reference to its origins. The Campana brothers used the old furniture to reinterpret a modern twist of the hotel's history - they broke up too worn pieces into wooden fragments and created sculptural elements in the restaurant and reception area called 'Favela' in reference to their iconic Favela chair. Other furniture pieces were upholstered and recreated into design pieces that are placed in the entire building.

The rooms, on the other hand, reflect a design concept called 'fragmented design'. With a sort of scissor cut edges and the use of bamboo wood and brass counteracted by Greek folklore elements, the rooms mirror Athens position as a traditional and modern European metropolis. On the top floor, the penthouse adds a notch to the design experience with a huge private balcony and the best views of the Acropolis. Moreover, as of mid April a brand new bar and restaurant with stunning views of the Acropolis will open on the hotel's seventh floor and guarantee an unforgettable Athenian sojourn.

I was lucky enough to be guided through the entire hotel by Mr. Katis (thank you very much!!), a hotel manager, who also told me about the hotel group's other premises such as the flagship Semiramis hotel designed by Karim Rashid (hello colour explosions!). Well, looks like I have to go back to Athens soon.

Happy Monday, friends!

Photography by Igor Josifovic

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From Place To Space: Athens

Do you have the tickets ready? Yes, it's Monday, and we are embarking on yet another inspirational voyage. Today's destination: Athens, Greece. Get ready for sun, culture, history and a vibrant nightlife. Here we go.

Some of you already know that I used to live and study in Athens, Greece. I spent a very cool and fun year as an Erasmus student in the Greek capital and combined studies with an Aegean lifestyle. That included swimming in the Aegean after classes, sipping frappés in the sun, buying fresh fruits and veggies at street markets, partying all night and cruising the country's numerous islands on the weekends. Moreover, it was a unique feeling in the mornings when I went to the university. I would leave my apartment in the quiet neigbourhood of Koukaki, stroll in flip-flops pass the Acropolis and take the metro to the university. Ancient history literally became part of my everyday life. 

So, when you are in Athens, don't miss out on these things: Of course visit the Acropolis and the new adjacent museum, have an afternoon walk underneath the Acropolis and get lost in the winding alleys of the Anafiotika quarter (you will feel like on an island and not in Athens), enjoy a frappé in one of the little tucked away cafés on the hill, walk down to Monastiraki and discover some goodies at the flea market, buy some handmade leather sandals in Plaka, have dinner under the illuminated Acropolis in the evening. Then head to the popular Gazi area for a vibrant and very long nightlife. I love the Micraasia bar-lounge with its big rooftop terrace and oriental flavours. In the same area you will find the amazing Mamacas restaurant which will give you a feeling of being on the Cyclades in the middle of the bustling city. For hot days, escape the city center and take a trip to the coastal suburb of Glyfada and enjoy the sun and sea in the Balux pool club with DJs and luscious big beds along the pool and on the beach. 

Well, and Athens is not all about ancient history and remarkable ruins. It is also the base for some amazingly refined homes with sophisticated interior designs and creative approaches to living under the Greek sun. Just like these two great examples: the home of the avant-garde lover Alketas Pazis and the bright and design packed home by Athenian architect Stella Konstantinidis. I think these are enough reasons to pack your suitcase and get a ticket to Athens. Enjoy!

Photography: Both homes via Yatzer; Mamacas restaurant via Mamacas; other pics by Igor Josifovic.

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