Οι κολλητές!

Είχα πάντα καλές φίλες στη ζωή μου, πολύ καλές και όλες τους διαφορετικές μεταξύ τους! Και νομίζω πως πάντα θα έχω καλές φίλες στη ζωή μου. Αλλά η Σοφία είναι η φίλη που πάντα ονειρευόμουν να είχα και θεωρώ τον εαυτό μου πολύ τυχερό που την έχω γνωρίσει. Είναι η καλύτερή μου φίλη, η κολλητή μου, η αδελφή μου. Είναι ο άνθρωπος που αισθάνεται αν είμαι καλά ή όχι από μίλια μακριά. Το ίδιο αισθάνομαι και εγώ. Μας δένει μια αδελφική φιλία. Με τη Σοφία μοιραζόμαστε τις ίδιες ιδέες, τις ίδιες απόψεις, τις ίδιες παράνοιες και κυρίως την ίδια τρέλα! Μπορεί να τα νιώθουμε ή και να τα εκφράζουμε με διαφορετικό τρόπο, αλλά δεν χρειάζεται να λέμε πολλά-πολλά για να νιώσουμε η μια την άλλη.
Δύσκολα μπορώ να δώσω τον ορισμό της φιλίας μου με τη Σοφία. Είναι όμως μία σχέση ζωής. Ένας δεσμός μεταξύ μας που μας κάνει να κλαίμε, να γελάμε, να νιώθουμε πληρότητα και ευτυχία. Κυρίως όμως μας κάνει να κουβεντιάζουμε για ώρες – η φιλία μας είναι μια ανεξάντλητη πηγή συζητήσεων πάσης φύσεως. Την ίδια στιγμή, και με την ίδια ευλάβεια θα ανταλλάξουμε τις συνταγές μας, τα μυστικά ομορφιάς, αλλά και τις έννοιες μας για τα παιδιά μας και την ίδια μας την ύπαρξη. Θα καμαρώσω την Εύα μας με την ίδια αγάπη και λαχτάρα που έχω για τα αγόρια. Εξάλλου είναι η κόρη που δεν έχω – μου μοιάζει κιόλας – έχει τις ίδιες παραξενιές που έχω κι εγώ… Και η Σοφία τα αγόρια τα λατρεύει!
Η Σοφία είναι ένας μικρός ήρωας. Μ’αγαπάει για όσα είμαι, συγχωρεί τα λάθη μου, χαίρεται με τις χαρές μου και άλλες φορές "απομακρύνεται" διακριτικά αν νιώθει πως έχω άλλες προτεραιότητες.
Η φιλία μας έχει πια δοκιμαστεί και μπορώ να το πω με βεβαιότητα πως είναι προορισμένη να αντέξει στις τρικυμίες του χρόνου.
Η Σοφία είναι συνοδοιπόρος μου, όχι μόνο στις εύκολες και ευχάριστες στιγμές, αλλά επίσης στις αναπόφευκτες περιόδους θλίψης και δυσκολίας. Μεταξύ μας υπάρχει ο αμοιβαίος σεβασμός, ώστε να υπάρχει ώρα και χώρος για να εκφραστούμε και οι δυο.
Δεν φοβόμαστε να πούμε την αλήθεια, αλλά είμαστε έτοιμες να σεβαστούμε, η μια τις επιλογές της άλλης, έστω κι αν διαφωνούμε. Η κάθε διαφωνία είναι διάλογος.
Με τη Σοφία δεν έχουμε τις ίδιες απόψεις συνεχώς. Διαφωνούμε σε πολλά και πολλές φορές έντονα. Έχουμε όμως τις ίδιες ηθικές αρχές και αξίες. Εκπέμπουμε στο ίδιο μήκος κύματος. Ταιριάζουν τα χνώτα μας που λένε και εκεί που υπάρχουν διαφορές είναι τα σημεία στα οποία έρχεται η μια να συμπληρώσει την άλλη. Είναι εκεί όπου η ύπαρξη της μιας συμπληρώνει τα κενά της ύπαρξης της άλλης, κάνοντας την καθεμιά μας να αισθάνεται ολοκληρωμένη.
Η Σοφία έχει τα πιο όμορφα μάτια που έχω δει, ο «βασιλικός κότσος» την έκανε κούκλα, είναι αστεία, είναι ευγενική, είναι ζεστή οικοδέσποινα, είναι καλόγουστη, είναι petite. Φοράει να φανταστείτε νούμερο παπουτσιών 35. Τόσο petite είναι! ΟΚ, είναι φορές που γκρινιάζει, είναι ανυπόμονη, είναι φορές που την κοροϊδεύω για το πώς θα είναι όταν γεράσει, αλλά θα γελάμε τόσο πολύ που και τότε θα περνάμε καλά!
Με τη Σοφία είμαστε κολλητές, πιστές, αήττητες, δημιουργικές, είμαστε συνωμότες!
Ναι λοιπόν κυρία Εύα, θα σας την προσέχω τη Σοφούλα σας, όπως ελπίζω να με προσέχει και κείνη…

An urban symbol of contemporary Athens!

At last!! Excavation works are set to commence this week in order to prepare the site for the actual construction which is scheduled to begin in spring 2012!!!
Talking of course about the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center.
It’s not an ordinary building, as it will house a very important program: the National Library of Greece and the Greek National Opera. The building is being designed by -in my opinion- the master of sustainable architecture, Renzo Piano, an architect with a respect for the history and culture of Greece, who possesses vision, intellectual curiosity and elegance. And all this reflects perfectly in his drawings.
The building integrates into the slope of the park, and is connected to the sea through a canal parallel to the existing esplanade.
On this, Piano says: “The Cultural Center’s proximity to water, and the natural warm breezes and light of Athens were particularly inspiring during the design process. It was immediately clear that we must take advantage of all these elements to ultimately design a zero emissions building that expresses movement and energy”.
Renzo Piano has succeeded to design the aspirations of Greeks in the third millennium with the essential elements of our ecology – the sea, sun, stone, and earth.
A world-class cultural resource, a beacon of sustainability, a tribute to a legacy, a symbol of the future…
Look into Youtube for Renzo Piano’s interviews on the project!

Plateia Mavili : It's rarely the place where you set out to go, but it's always the place you end up!

On Saturday morning, enjoying a cup of coffee with Giorgio and Sofia, we were remembering the laughs we had at Briki. We must do it again soon!
And that’s when I thought of this very special place, plateia Mavili. It’s a place with a special vibe, especially late in the day or at night; a place where Athens still feels familiar.
Plateia Mavili is my favorite because, even though it’s not a beautiful spot, it’s rather a very ordinary place that hasn’t gained its reputation thanks to its particular town planning, architecture or shops, It’s a place where there’s no specific behavior or dress code imposed – there’s democracy in ages, social class, moods.
“Alternative” best describes the Mavilli ambience. That, and its easy mix of people - it is as popular among high school or university students as it is among us, their parents.
It is at the “verge” of neighborhoods and styles, without clarifying where exactly it belongs or what it stands for. It’s this refusal to be typed that defines Mavilli, a stubborn independence of trends.
Plateia Mavili never rests. From daybreak, after a wild party night, at the cantina or at Everest, the stomach saviors of the night birds, to the morning coffees for the hasty passers by before going to work, to the night drinks, the plateia welcomes you as you are!
I can always remember myself being there, without ever setting an appointment to spend the evening there. For me it’s always the spot for a drink before going to the opera or to the theater, the spot for a quick snack, a meeting point…
The “square” was not designed as a meeting point; the triangular plaza was shaped to guide traffic turning off Vassilissis Sophias but became the focal point of the surrounding neighborhood–and, in one sense, the city’s nightlife.
Real drinkers don’t dine: they nosh. Mavilli is true to its reputation for near the triangle’s point is the famous cantina, with what connoisseurs of the kind claim is the best vromiko–the famous greasy souvlaki, sausage sandwiches!

Hearts for all!

During the last few years, he’s given back life and hope to 9000 children all around the world!
His only fee is the smile that returns to their cute faces.
The prominent heart surgeon, Dr Afxentios Kalagos is the living proof that the human race still cares.
His name is associated with the successful heart operations on many suffering poor children in Lebanon, Serbia, India, Morocco, Algeria, Mozambique, Madagascar, Venezuela, Ukraine, Botswana… He is the doctor of the poor children.
Founder of the humanitarian association “Hearts for all”, the good Greek doctor, along with his team, operates for free on children in poor neighborhoods all over the world, children that have been anxiously waiting for months, even for years for a heart operation.
The person who showed him the way to charity, as he says, was his father, a doctor himself, who taught him the noble task of listening to human pain, especially of those who live in poverty.
Doctor Kalagos is father of two sons, but also father of 9000 poor angels who didn’t have access to a free public healthcare system in their countries, to whom he selflessly gave back their heartbeat and the right to breathe!

I belong to a small country

«Ανήκω σε µία χώρα μικρή.
Ένα πέτρινο ακρωτήρι στη Μεσόγειο, που δεν έχει άλλο αγαθό παρά τον αγώνα του λαού, τη θάλασσα, και το φώς του ήλιου.
Είναι μικρός ο τόπος µας, αλλά η παράδοσή του είναι τεράστια και το πράγμα που τη χαρακτηρίζει είναι ότι µας παραδόθηκε χωρίς διακοπή.
Η ελληνική γλώσσα δεν έπαψε ποτέ της να μιλιέται. Δέχτηκε τις αλλοιώσεις που δέχεται καθετί ζωντανό, αλλά δεν παρουσιάζει κανένα χάσμα.
Άλλο χαρακτηριστικό αυτής της παράδοσης είναι η αγάπη της για την ανθρωπιά, κανόνας της είναι η δικαιοσύνη. Στην αρχαία τραγωδία, την οργανωμένη µε τόση ακρίβεια, ο άνθρωπος που ξεπερνά το μέτρο πρέπει να τιμωρηθεί από τις Ερινύες…
Είναι για µένα σημαντικό το γεγονός ότι η Σουηδία θέλησε να τιμήσει και τούτη την ποίηση και όλη την ποίηση γενικά, ακόμη και όταν αναβρύζει ανάμεσα σ’ένα λαό περιορισμένο. Γιατί πιστεύω πως τούτος ο σύγχρονος κόσμος όπου ζούμε, ο τυραννισμένος από το φόβο και την ανησυχία, τη χρειάζεται την ποίηση.
Η ποίηση έχει τις ρίζες της στην ανθρώπινη ανάσα – και τι θα γινόμασταν αν η πνοή µας λιγόστευε;
Είναι µία πράξη εμπιστοσύνης – κι ένας Θεός το ξέρει αν τα δεινά µας δεν τα χρωστάμε στη στέρηση εμπιστοσύνης…
Σ’ αυτό τον κόσμο, που ολοένα στενεύει, ο καθένας µας χρειάζεται όλους τούς άλλους. Πρέπει ν’ αναζητήσουμε τον άνθρωπο, όπου και να βρίσκεται.
Όταν στο δρόμο της Θήβας, Ο Οιδίπους συνάντησε τη Σφίγγα, κι αυτή του έθεσε το αίνιγμά της, η απόκρισή του ήταν: «ο άνθρωπος». Τούτη η απλή λέξη χάλασε το τέρας. Έχουμε πολλά τέρατα να καταστρέψουμε. Ας συλλογιστούμε την απόκριση του Οιδίποδα.»

(The speech of Giorgos Seferis during the acceptance ceremony of the Nobel of Litterature, on December 11th, 1963 - As if it were addressed today!)

Surprise!

300 artists are invited to support the effort by especially creating and donating to SURPRISE 3 a work of art each. All artworks share the same format (18 x 24 cm), are offered for the same, symbolic price (50 €) and are signed at the back. The artists’ identity remains secret and gets revealed only AFTER the artwork is bought! In other words you are in for a SURPRISE!

The artists who are kindly offering their works represent the entire spectrum of artistic practice and the various different stages of an artist’s career. An eclectic mix - from internationally renowned artists to art school students - gets together in order to surprise you and invite you to join and support the noble cause of the exhibition.

The proceeds from the artworks’ sale will be donated for the support of the homeless of Athens and specifically to contribute to the Homeless Support Program of KLIMAKA.

KLIMAKA is a social, nonprofit organization, an important part of which’s work is the support of our co-citizens who live on the streets of in insufficient or inadequate living conditions. The last ten years, KLIMAKA implements an integrated Program, which includes research, prevention, sensitization, community awareness, training and education, street work, coverage of basic subsistence needs (accommodation, food, health care, psychosocial support etc) and work rehabilitation services for the reintegration of homeless people in the social net.

Athens photo festival in Gazi

The program of Athens Photo Festival 2011 just began on Wednesday and will go on almost until mid November.

Besides the many interesting exhibitions, the program consists of various events such as Athens Photo Inspiration 2011, Photography Nights, Portfolio reviews, Photography as Photography, masterclasses, educational programs for children, volunteer’s programs and special tours.



And don’t forget the video projects, “Performance as photography”, Young Greek Photographers 2011…

Thank you Aggelikoula!

Jazz with a special guest : the bouzouki!

A phenomenal evening, a magical blending of acoustic guitar and bouzouki!

Either it’s the unlimited staccato sound of the bouzouki or the pure and warm harmonic sound of the guitar, we all fall under the spell of their strings! And last night we witnessed what wonderful sounds of creativity can be produced with some fantasy, some daring compositions and, of course with the two heroes, Al Di Meola and Michali Paouri.

Al Di Meola, a guitar hero, a pioneer of blending world music and Jazz and Michalis Paouris, a virtuoso and master of the dynamic Greek sound, the bouzouki. Last night was the biggest and greatest surprise for me - Michalis Paouris gave the bouzouki a new dimension and travelled us to his wonderful world of music!

Erotokritos, the one who has been tortured by love

Erotokritos, a work rooted deeply in authentic Greek traditions, humanity, bravery, honor, friendship and pure love for life and freedom.

77 artists, 40 different points of Attica and Erotokritos, all together make this amazing video "playing ecologically - living sensibly - acting collectively".

A beautiful video, a grand and inspiring cause!

Thanks Jordan for sharing this with me!

Funky food!

Funky food!

The looks have changed – the taste remains the same…

We’ve gone a long way since the traditional loaf of bread with Kalamata olives (name me one Greek who hasn’t had a large hunk dipped in olive oil or coated with tzatziki!) to a spectacular creative presentation, an adventurous approach of the same snack. From the Black Forest cake of our teenage years to the forest that takes up the whole table with the candy floss on the chocolate trees!

Yes, there is a funky place in Athens with modern creative cuisine based on advanced culinary techniques and always featuring top quality seasonal ingredients : http://www.funkygourmet.com/

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Flamenco Alchemy by Christos Tzifakis

My cousin Christos, a dedicated artist, an exceptional guitar soloist, a great flamenco-jazz composer, such an advanced sense of harmony, so respectful to his art!

I’m always awed by great talents, now more than ever, because he’s family and, as is the case when it comes to family, there’s always the feeling that some of this amazing talent is hidden someplace in our genes – hoping that it runs in the family, or at least some of it will rub off on the rest of us… We start making all sorts of connotations and jump into conclusions. Yes our giagia Fofo played the piano and despite life’s hardships during the German occupation when she was young, she never gave up and continued playing until her very old age.

Yes, I play the piano too. In fact when I was a kid, I practiced and performed diligently and was probably at least above average, but, honestly, I haven’t gone further than Bach’s Italian concerto…

With Christos it’s different, his music is captivating, he’s a dedicated aspiring musician and that’s what makes the difference.

I will say no more – just enjoy!

Step forward!

Step forward!

(I’m simply copying it from the TEDx website…)

This Year we invite dreamers and doers to join us in the conversation about: “Stepping forward”

The ways of the past have led to the colossal challenges of today. Greece is ensnared in a deep crisis of many levels; political, financial, cultural and ethical.

This is a time of rapid change that offers great risk but also the incredible opportunity to transform.

Change happens irrespectively of us wanting it. Transformation though happens only if we have the power to step forward.

So are you going to be a bystander or actively participate to change things for the better?

So unbuckle your imagination to enter the era of possibility, the zone of “what can possibly happen” when we all make a “step forward”.

When we dare to step into the unknown, to risk, to change, to actively participate and create a new trajectory of prosperity and growth on a personal an societal level.

This year we will discuss the dynamics and forces that already have shaped and will continue to reshape our world for the next 20 years.

We will explore the global and radical changes that are shaping our lives. The challenges and opportunities of the deep Greek crisis and our contribution on a personal level as active and responsible citizens by “Stepping Forward”.

How innovation, value systems, art, culture and a new thinking and a doing approach can help us shape a better future for us and the future generations to come.

We will discuss ways of seeing the world and approaching constraints for change that are holistic, interdisciplinary and inspiring....

Its about time for Change in the way we work, we learn, we create, and we live!

Are You Ready to make the Step Forward? The time is Now!!!

Check it out : www.tedxacademy.com

Book night in athens

Book night in Athens!

Tonight there’s a special event in Athens : Music, comic art performances, chats with Greek authors…

Entrance fees : One used book (or more) from our home

Why : To fight illiteracy and promote life long learning!

It is hard for me to be separated from any book – I love to keep them in my library, come back to them when I feel nostalgic, re-read them or just go through them, smell them, or simply stand in front of the bookshelves and look at them. My whole life is standing there – I have kept books from when I was very little, “Caps for sale” when I was 6 (!), “The sorrows of young Werther” from my 20’s, “Even cowgirls get the blues” around 30, Simon Singh’s “Code book” in my 40’s ….

However, the cause is great. All the books that will be collected will be donated to the women’s detention facilities in Elaiona, the children’s hospital of Athens, the Athens orphanage, the Athens nursing home.

So, lets do it!

Graffiti in Avlona

A graffiti project at the Detention Premises for Young Persons in Avlona

This has become personal, since one of the 23 students of the Athens School of Fine Arts who covered the 1000 m2 of the gray prison walls, was my son. This graffiti project has been given tremendous publicity, political, artistic, cultural – there is nothing more to be said about that – excellent works of street art have been produced, the prison walls have come to life!

But I want to talk as a mom, confronting my 22 year old boy, who, for 3 whole weeks, would come home in the evening exhausted. It wasn’t the unbearable heat and complete lack of shade, it wasn’t the long hours of painting, it wasn’t the confined living space with absolutely no sign of what we call “quality living”…. It was the shock of the everyday exposure to a world completely unknown to a middle class young man. The feelings rotated from sympathy towards those boys of the same age, to pity for their unjust confinement, to anger for their impenitent attitude, to rage towards the detention system for the inhuman living conditions, friendship, fear, disappointment…

I don’t agree with the motto many parents would use to say that such an experience is good for our kids because they will know what it’s like of they go astray. No, my boys know better – they don’t need the boogie man to be “law abiding citizens”. For me, this experience is the ultimate act of greatness. To overcome any personal fears and inhibitions, to give openhandedly, either it’s just a kind conversation, or the graffiti images the inmates wished for. After all, this is the view from their cells for the next years. Even if the result is not “artistically perfect”, it’s their wish.

It’s an oxymoron to say that he made friends – these are people that he won’t ever see again, but for a few days, for a moment, he touched their souls and they definitely touched him – and that is graceful!

Wonder festival

“Wonder Festival” in Gazi

That was a nice Sunday stroll. In Gazi, the old gas factory of Athens, now transformed into this magnificent industrial museum, the 1^st volunteering Athens Festival took place.

There was a big crowd, some driven by curiosity, others by the true will to offer and others just to take advantage of the last glorious days of summer. Whichever was their intention, they were all taken by the tornado of inspiration and offering!50 teams of volunteers, all created by private initiative, were present and willing to share their dreams and experiences, to be motivated and empowered, to sensitize us on this gigantic issue of social contribution.

From protecting stray animals, abused women and the environment to assisting minority groups, forming a greener urban landscape and healing through art, they were all present exchanging ideas and reassuring each other.

Miracles DO happen when we believe in them!

Check www.wonderfestival.gr

Artistic "bricolage"

The New Hotel in Athens : artistic “bricolage”!!!

The “bricolage” in our age - Reusing and reinterpreting local material and culture – could that perhaps serve as an antidote to the present condition of widespread crisis?

I had been impatiently waiting for my first visit of the New Hotel in Athens. And, as I expected, my visit was the most pleasant and fulfilling surprise! The new and modern blending with the memories of the former hotel, fragments of Athens of the early 50’s, our culture and our traditions ingeniously combined by the talented Campana brothers and their Greek architectural workshop!

A communication bridge between Brazil and Greece, this is the basic idea on which the hotel was redesigned by the workshop under the tutelage of Fernando and Humberto Campana. The workshop’s members, Greek architects, Greek postgraduate students of architecture, Greek industrial designers…

What most impressed me was the notion of “bricolage”, very much alive everywhere in the hotel. The unexpected combinations, the creative use, the reevaluation of all sorts of materials from the old hotel, assembled and brought to life again.

Favela Column and Wall: an explosion of memories created by parts of doors and furniture of the old hotel.

Have a look – and don’t forget the fantastic coffee and croissants in the coffee shop!!!

Athens | The Little Great City

A blog about Greece and Grace

21^st century Greece… In the end, despite the financial crisis, despite the budget deficit and the eurozone, despite the debt inspectors and the creditors, the corrupt  politicians, despite all the bullshit, life is life. We have it for such a short while.  We can't pick our economies. We cannot, really, choose the politicians with whom we are lumbered. BUT, we can choose to wake up every day and set an intention: to make it a great day.

Beauty, grace, generosity and style are still present, untouched by everyday problems, it’s just becoming harder to distinguish them, our vision is blurred, our priorities have changed… I do not claim the privilege of grace, I’m just an attentive observer.

This blog is created by a lucky Greek, blessed with the joy of living. I am grateful to be alive, to have my wonderful family and my trustful friends by my side, to be able to enjoy my every moment under the unmatchable Attica sun, to embrace life - and this is what I want to share!

So, here we go…