What I Love About August In Athens

1. The heat. Let’s get this out of the way: I moved here for many reasons, one of which is the climate. So I am overjoyed to be able to live in a place where I spend the better part of the day, for the better part of the year, sweating. And often complaining about it. Bring it on.

2. The empty streets. Athens in August feels like it’s all mine. It’s the time of year when I love to pull out my camera and take an early morning walk in my favourite neighbourhoods, and really take in the feeling of the city in it’s deserted glory.

3. The seaside. Jumping on a tram or on my bike and heading down to the beach in August is far more fun than in June or July, when everyone else seems to have the same idea.  Many of the beaches at Alimos, or futher down towards Glyfada or Vouliagmeni, are just perfect for an August swim.

4. No traffic. See #2 above.

4a. Finding parking. Ditto above. For those late-late-night drinks under the Acropolis.

5. No line-ups. At the supermarket, at the bank, at Mikel café in the morning. Yes, this matters to me.

6. August sales. Since I didn’t spend my savings on a week away, surely I have some left-over Euros for 50-60% off at my favourite shop?

7. The pace. In August, everything (and everyone) seems to move more slowly. There is a leisurely, uber-relaxed vibe, that causes me to stop and, quite literally, smell the roses.

Would I prefer to be dancing on the beach on some far-away island? Perhaps. But August in Athens offers its own pleasures, and is a perfect option for those of us who are (not) stuck here.

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…