This isn’t stress. This is mental ‘fast forward’. It has always been a challenge for me to really slow down; mental relaxation is an elusive friend.

I’ve been told many times to try yoga. I must admit that I am not a yoga guy. I’m interested, I understand the basic concept, I know lots of people who swear it delivers on all its promises – I get it. But I have never tried it.

Until this week! A friend told me about this great yoga studio in Monastiraki, so I decided to give it a try.

My first fear was about doing yoga in Greek! Lucky for me, the entire session was in English. I entered the studio, took off my shoes, picked up a purple mat and joined the rest of the 10-person group. The session started with breathing exercises and easy warm-ups. We progressed through a series of increasingly demanding ‘poses’, with correct breathing techniques, meant to improve physical and mental balance.

It was a great experience for me, moreso because I felt that the instructor was tuned in to me, and really to each person in the class. Within the first two minutes, she told us (me?) to slow down our breathing, and allow our (my?) brain to slow down and be less reactive… Well, from then until the end of the session, I was a convert.

On the way home, I felt great. At the risk of repeating a cliché, maybe yoga really can change your life. I’m curious to see if it’s true.

Many thanks to Lynn for this great introduction to yoga!

Richard

Bhavana Yoga Center
www.bhavanayoga.com
Classes each Monday 18.30
Cost: donation basis, starting from €8

Thanks Richard for sharing your story with us. We look forward to hearing more stories.

Until next week,

Jack

In this weekly space, keep up with ‘Jack’ as he navigates daily life in Athens… Anecdotes, stories, hits & misses, the good, the bad and, well, the rest…

My tough week ended with just this… After endless days and nights of work and more work (in this season of ‘do more with less’), I made a last-minute plan with 2 friends to meet for a drink. We met near Syntagma Square, and wandered among the few protestors and police gathered in the area. We decided to head towards Kolokotroni Street, which runs parallel to Ermou Street. Our destination was one of my favourite finds when I first moved to Athens – a little place called Bartesera.

Once could easily miss this place – it’s hidden at the end of an old arcade, on your left side as you’re walking down the street. It’s in the Karitsi Square neighbourhood, so plenty of alternative options nearby.

Bartesera is a laid back bar, it’s artsy-cool, very low on the attitude scale, has a great drinks list and is always buzzing. It also doubles as an art-space, with different artists on display each couple weeks. Stop in during the day for coffee – there’s a nice courtyard too.

The best surprise of the night was to see that – crisis notwithstanding – a few new bars had opened on the very same street. Definitely worth a visit!

Until Next time,

Jack

Bartesera
Kolokotroni 25
210 322 9805

In this weekly space, keep up with ‘Jack’ as he navigates daily life in Athens… Anecdotes, stories, hits & misses, the good, the bad and, well, the rest…

Hi XpatAthens. Thank you for your newsletters and for all the great info on your website – it’s great to have a place I know I can keep going back to. What I’ve written about is my first couple weeks in Athens. I’ve entitled it ‘Greek Neighbourly Love’. Hope you enjoy it.

Well, to start, every week, if not every day, in Athens has been an experience. So far Greece has been better than great on good days, and REAL ‘interesting’ other days. I suppose this is how life goes. But I’m starting to believe that this is how life is in Greece.

The story goes like this, I moved to Athens a couple months ago because my professional life brought me here. Although I’d many times said I’d love to visit Greece one day, I never in a million years thought I’d actually live here. Anyway, back home it wasn’t very common to chat with your neighbours. Conversations usually consisted of:

‘Evening, what floor?’
‘22’
‘Thanks!’

So you can imagine my surprise when the lady next door rang the door bell, welcomed herself in, had a look around, and asked ‘husband?’ For a second I though to myself, I should have her arrested, well, ok, I should just tell her to get out of my house! But I took a deep breath and offered her a glass of water. She didn’t stay long, just enough to hear, ‘No, I’m single’ and ‘Yes I have a good job’.

About a week went by until the next time the doorbell rang, or at least the next time I was home to hear it ring…it was the same lady…except this time she had a plate in her hands. She handed it to me and said ‘You have to eat!’ I thanked her and that was it. Once I finished the incredible plate of food, I washed the dish and returned it. The next day when I got home from work (at just about 9:30), there was a plate on the doorstep. And the next day there was another plate…and the next another. Wow! I must be blessed. So, so far in Greece I’ve discovered that neighbourly love is a wonderful thing – especially if your neighbour is a Greek ‘Mama’!!

Thanks Marianne for sharing your story with us. We look forward to hearing more stories.

Until next week,

Jack

In this weekly space, keep up with ‘Jack’ as he navigates daily life in Athens… Anecdotes, stories, hits & misses, the good, the bad and, well, the rest…

I can’t believe it’s almost October… Seriously , it’s three months until Christmas! But this week I notice that ‘smell’ of autumn – and I don’t mind one bit. Strikes? Yup. Rain? Yup. Cooler weather? Yup. Am I bothered? Nope.

Turns out I stayed close to home most of the past week. My little Nespresso machine had a good workout – it was a week of catching up with friends, and ‘hangin out’.

At one point, the downstairs buzzer rang. When I opened the door, I was surprised to see my Greek aunt standing in front of me. She had once again driven the hour-long journey from the village, and now stood in front of me with a big smile and her hands full of bags. I said “Wow! What are you doing here?!” She replied as she pushed past me into the kitchen, “Since you don’t come to the village to eat, I brought the food to you! Now, where are your plates?”

We had a really nice meal together, chatted about this or that, (she!) washed the dishes (after literally pushing me out of the kitchen), and off she went…

This is a true story. It really made my day – and I know it really made her day too. Was nice to catch up with everyone this week...

P.S. Uninvited guests with food are welcome, anytime. ;)

Until next week,

Jack

In this weekly space, keep up with ‘Jack’ as he navigates daily life in Athens… Anecdotes, stories, hits & misses, the good, the bad and, well, the rest…

As it turns out, there is a zoo in Athens! Well, just outside Athens towards the airport - in Spata, to be precise. Maybe I'm the last to know this - it wouldn't be the first time.

The Attica Zoological Park has been growing and adding to its surprising collection of animals since 2000. With lions, cheetahs, apes, camels, rhinos, birds - the list goes on - this is a great day out for the whole family. The day we went, we were lucky to be in time for the dolphin show, where a family of dolphins happily swims and twirls about, to the utter joy of the young (and not so young) audience.

As I learned about the zoo, I found out that it is a member of ΕΑΖΑ (European Association of Zoo and Aquaria) and follows strict guidelines around animal hosting & conservation. This is great! And with tickets priced at €15.00 (adults) and ?11.00 (kids under 12), this is a well-priced day out ("worth it!")

And if the animals weren't enough of a draw for our trek out to Spata, across the road from the fantastic zoo is the equally fantastic McArthur Glen Designer Outlet. (The first one in Greece - this I had heard about.) It's got 110 shops with prices 35-70% off retail, in one of those 'village style' outdoor mall setups. Surely something for everyone's taste.

A jam-packed Saturday - and 'worth the drive to Spata'.

Attica Zoological Park

McArthur Glen Athens

Until next week.

Jack

In this weekly space, keep up with ‘Jack’ as he navigates daily life in Athens… Anecdotes, stories, hits & misses, the good, the bad and, well, the rest…

Sure, but it’s so much more.

Last night my eyes were treated to a great performance of Allegria at the OAKA complex. From the beautiful contortionists and the fantastic aerial trapeze, to the theatrical costumes and the music – atmospheric, live, gorgeous music. Everything was perfect – amazing acts, other-worldly creativity, choreography and dance – and music that really stuck in my mind. I’ve just downloaded the soundtrack :)

Did I mention the clowns? Hilarious!

We had a great night out at Allegria. Two hours of beautiful escape from reality. Hopefully some of you had a chance to see it too!

Until next week…

Jack

In this weekly space, keep up with ‘Jack’ as he navigates daily life in Athens… Anecdotes, stories, hits & misses, the good, the bad and, well, the rest…

Dear XpatAthens,

I enjoy your weekly posts and thought I’d send you my comments on a wonderful experience I had this past weekend.

I am originally from the U.S., but have lived in a number of places over the years. I now call Athens ‘home’. I try to participate in all that Athens has to offer – and I know there is lots on offer. I particularly enjoy the hidden galleries and coffee spots that one never would experience until leaving the usual paths.

This past Friday, there was nothing ‘hidden’ at all. The city center was absolutely crammed with Athenians of all shapes and sizes! The famous blue moon, and the unofficial last day of summer, brought the city out onto the streets and into the cafes and tavernas. From Plaka to Thissio and on every street corner in between, the city was alive like I’ve never seen before. I’m told that this is an annual tradition, and that the blue moon was a special draw.

I am writing this because that evening inspired me, it made me happy ‘on the inside’, to see families and friends out for a stroll in their ‘backyard’. What a lovely feeling to be reminded of the fabulous social culture that we live in. It left me with a smile.

I hope that other expats had the chance to experience the same thing on Friday. It’s already gone in my calendar for next year !

Pamela

Many thanks for sharing, Pamela!

Until next week,

Jack

In this weekly space, keep up with ‘Jack’ as he navigates daily life in Athens… Anecdotes, stories, hits & misses, the good, the bad and, well, the rest…

So on we go to warm breezes and cool evenings – and still that wonderful sun.

This week has been a quiet one. Feels like the ‘seasonal transition’ has started – summer is on its way out, and autumn is on its way in. I love this. It’s an important part of life, and helps us to shift gears and move forward in many ways. What’s often unclear is ‘what’s next’ – and I mean that both personally and for the country in general. I remember that ‘back to school’ feeling of childhood – when we would put on our new pair of pants and head off for the great unknown of a new school year.

I hope that autumn brings positive movement, or at least a feeling that things are moving in the right general direction!

Maybe that new pair of pants is a good idea. Or maybe what we need right now is just a good night out ;)

Until next week,

Jack

In this weekly space, keep up with ‘Jack’ as he navigates daily life in Athens… Anecdotes, stories, hits & misses, the good, the bad and, well, the rest…

I’m sitting poolside at a hotel in Kefalonia – a last-minute trip with some friends. We found a great last-minute deal so we packed up a car, and headed for the port of Kyllini on the northwestern cost of the Peloponnese. The 3.5hr drive was no problem, and in fact quite scenic. The ferry across to the island lasted 90mins. At €10 each for the ferry tickets (+€40 for the car) and gas split between us – we arrived in Kefalonia without breaking the bank.

This is a very large island, with some of the most beautiful beaches and scenery I’ve seen in Greece. It takes quite a bit of driving to see it all – but it’s also big enough to never seem ‘packed’ (or maybe I’m noticing another symptom of the crisis…).

Cute towns, good food, perfect weather, beautiful beaches, awesome drives, friendly locals – of course this could be anywhere in Greece…

It’s important to get away from the ‘everyday’ – and it’s so easy to do so here. Within a few hours of Athens, there is a world of beauty that makes you feel really and truly ‘away’. We had dinner last night at a seafood taverna, our table quite literally ‘on the beach’, with mountains and sailboats for our view – and even an expat Aussie-Greek for a waiter!

Back to Athens in a few days…

Until next time,

Jack

In this weekly space, keep up with ‘Jack’ as he navigates daily life in Athens… Anecdotes, stories, hits & misses, the good, the bad and, well, the rest…

This has been a quiet week, I’ll admit. Still working, the city empty, the heat on ‘high’, I’ve been rather lazy… My balcony has been oh-so-comfortable after long days of work…

But on Saturday afternoon I took the radical decision to venture out in search of coffee. After a couple phone calls, I rounded up two or three similarly challenged friends, and we made the momentous decision to ‘go somewhere different’.

‘Different’ on that particular day turned out to be Chalkida (Halkida). Chalkida is the main town on the island of Euboea, reachable by car in under 60minutes from Athens (40 minutes from my place in Kifisia!).

Drive straight up the Ethniki highway towards Lamia, and follow the signs for Chalkida, connected to the mainland by two bridges – really simple. It’s a town built on the strait of Evripos, with a lovely waterfront, nice cafes and restaurants, and a laid-back atmosphere. I'm told the currents in the strait actually change directions every 6 hours or so – I think I was enjoying my meal on the waterfront too much to notice.

Feels like we were well and truly ‘away’ for the afternoon – well worth it for a 45minute drive…

Until next week…

Jack

In this weekly space, keep up with ‘Jack’ as he navigates daily life in Athens… Anecdotes, stories, hits & misses, the good, the bad and, well, the rest…