Thursday, December 7, 2023

Gallimaufry#104

DAY 7Athens

We spent nearly half of the day at the Santorini airport, waiting for our 45-minute flight back to Athens. Thankfully, we didn't have to relive that nightmarish 3-hour ferry ride as we had on our journey here. But that's a story for another time, one I will share in a future post.

STREETS OF ATHENS

Church of Panagia Kapnikarea
The Church of Panagia Kapnikarea, located in the heart of Athens, Greece, is one of the city's oldest and most iconic Byzantine churches. Its history dates back to the 11th century, making it one of the oldest surviving churches in Athens. The church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and its name, "Kapnikarea," is derived from the Greek word "kapnikon," which means "of the chapel," suggesting its role as a chapel during the Byzantine era.

Church of St. Mary Pantanassa



Greek signs are hard to read!

A shop selling nuts, dried fruits, herbs, spices, and more.
This stranger, who was sitting at the bus stand, waved to me and flashed me a smile while I was taking photos around me. When his bus arrived, he was about to alight, but just before stepping on board, he turned around and waved to me once more. It was a simple yet heartwarming gesture! Greeks are such friendly people!
Monastiraki Square

*GYPSY FLOWER SCAM

A couple of girls (gypsies, I was later told) with a bunch of fake roses accosted us and attempted to force a flower into my hand, insisting that it was a gift. Fortunately, we had earlier been cautioned by our tour guide, so we ignored them and kept walking ahead. The girls continued to tail us. At one point, I felt one of them attempting to reach into my neck pouch, but I held on tight to it. When I said, "Don't touch me!" she mumbled something in a foreign language and became very aggressive. They persisted in following and pestering us. We quickly walked into an ice cream shop, and they vanished like shadows in the bustling streets.

*The gypsy flower scam typically involves an individual offering a seemingly free gift, like a flower or a small trinket, often in a public place. Once you accept the gift, the person might then aggressively demand payment for it, often using intimidation tactics or creating a scene to pressure you into paying.

Strolling toward our dinner destination in the neighbourhood of Thissio. 
Handicraft stalls line the cobbled Apostolou Pavlou promenade.
Views from the restaurant's rooftop




My Corner of the World

61 comments:

  1. It's so beautiful! I love the old churches and the streets. It's a shame people are trying t scam tourists there.

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  2. The pickpockets spoil it a bit-Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com

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  3. Very beautiful Church of Panagia Kapnikarea...

    full of tourist here...
    but always be carefull for scam

    the dish make me hubgry...Apakah itu scallop diantara kentang gorengnya. Enjou your holiday Kak Veronica ^^

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  4. Most of what you showed is just lovely. I enjoyed seeing and reading.
    That's a fair while to wait for a flight out as long as you didn't have to stand in that line.

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  5. The view from the restaurant is really beautiful!

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  6. Dearest Veronica,
    What a treasure trove on Byzanthine Churches and the name Kapnikarea, dedicated to the Virgin Mary is a nice homage for today's Feast of Mary.
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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  7. Beautiful photos from Greece, Veronica. Yes, the signs are not easy to understand.
    Many hugs.

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  8. The view from the restaurant is really beautiful.
    The food looks delicious too.
    Pickpockets ruin everything.
    Greetings Irma

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  9. I visited Athens a few years ago at Christmas time and it was so nice. Sadly, where there are tourists, there are pickpocketers. They think that all tourists are rich...😒

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  10. Greece is such a fun country to travel to. The scammers are everywhere

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  11. Athens is one of the places I wish to visit. But I didn't expect this many people. I think travel pics online could be deceiving. I love that your photos are as raw and candid as possible. Thank you.

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  12. What a interesting places, thanks for your sharing...

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  13. I've visited Greek islands but never Athens. You've reminded me that I should!

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  14. What lovely churches, Veronica, and so historical! I've so loved touring Greece with you; don't know that I'll ever make it there myself. Sorry about the gypsies! Blessings!

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  15. Lovely photographs Veronica, I am love the ancient building, beautiful.

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  16. Oh how exciting to travel to Greece. My landlords are from Greece, last summer they went there for the whole summer. You looked liked you had a great time. Yeah they have the some people in Paris bothering you too.

    Allie of
    www.allienyc.com

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  17. Wow, being accosted by the women trying to get you to buy the flowers is horrible. I'm sure a lot of people fall for that. They probably would have stolen your money too.

    The pictures are great though.

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  18. What a great trip! Thanks for taking us with you!
    Good thoughts and hugs!

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  19. Me gustaría conocer Grecia y en especial Atenas. Te mando un beso.

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  20. Me gustaría conocer Grecia y en especial Atenas. Te mando un beso

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  21. Beautiful sights from Greece. I'd love to visit one day. In Paris we had a girl approach us with a tied bunch of rosemary, trying the same trick as the flower girl in your post. Fortunately, we had been warned and tried to ignore her. They are persistent!
    The food looks delicious!

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  22. The pluses and the minuses of travel. Fortunately, I am always in search of quiet unspoiled areas where I can explore nature, far from the tourist traps, so I escape most of the charlatans and con artists. I seldom find myself in tourist-thronged places.

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  23. The Church of Panagia Kapnikarea is really beautiful. I also like the view from the restaurant.
    When I was younger I went to the Greek islands of Patmos and Leros by ferry. It wasn't easy. Great to hear you and your family came back to Athens by plane ✈
    Have a nice Sunday 😊 🇲🇾

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  24. Great photos of a wonderful city. I went there many times for work, tourism and to run the famous marathon.
    I was lucky because I never met the pickpockets but I could read many warnings in the main places.

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  25. Hello
    I have been enjoying your trip reports and photos. The Flower Girls were persistent I am glad nothing was stolen and you were ok. Love the church and the last view from the restaurant. Happy Sunday, have a great day and happy week!

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  26. beautiful buildings, wonderful places....
    thank you for sharing interesting photos

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  27. I love how you are breaking this out day by day or place by place. It really gives us an excellent feel for this beautiful (and I must say, delicious-looking and tasty!) country. What a wonderful trip!

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  28. So much history there again, but then it is a very old country, I'd love to poke around the old 11th century church.

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  29. Your photos capture the beauty of Athens perfectly. It's a shame that these scammers take advantage of tourists. Thank you for sharing your experiences in Greece.

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  30. Hello,
    The streets of Athens look busy, it is always best to careful. The food looks yummy and the buildings are beautiful. A wonderful series of travels photos. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, enjoy your day! Have a wonderful week!

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  31. Hello Darling,

    Wonderful to see you travelling again. Greece is such a pretty land and on my bucket list. Along with quite a few more...

    Can't wait to savour all the other pictures soon. What really struck me the warm hearted guy waving at you.

    I found a lot of Turkish people the same too, a lot, not all. I hope you go to Turkey next, will share all the tricks and tips.

    Big hugs and lots of love. I'm back. Fings and toes crossed, amen!

    Loads of Yule cheer, sweet sunshine. <3

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  32. You captured some beautiful images! Thanks for bringing us along through your blog post, and for sharing at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2023/12/a-living-nativity-at-nearby-church.html

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  33. It's so interesting seeing the photos of your travels and learning more about them. I would be very naive because I've never traveled abroad. Love the photos of the city!

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  34. This was such a wonderful post, I felt like I was traveling with you. I especially loved the views you had from the restaurant looking out over the ancient ruins. So beautiful!

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  35. Your food looks so good. Athens is an amazing place to visit.

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  36. What fab captures so beautful and all that lovely food of course :)
    Have a greektastic week 👍

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  37. Thank you for the wonderful virtual tour of Athens.
    One has to be careful of Scamsters everywhere.

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  38. I'm so jealous of spending time in Athens in the markets and the old churches. And the churches are unlocked, unlike here where such places have to be secured.

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  39. I can imagine how hard ot was waiting for a flight for that long.
    I just shared a new post: https://www.melodyjacob.com/2023/12/edinburgh-zoo-winter-village-skating.html
    Have a nice day.

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  40. Quite a detailed tour. Some of the pics have the old world charm, the classical touch.

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  41. Sounds like you had a few travel nightmares, but Greece is certainly worth it, as your beautiful photos illustrate. ♥ We loved our tour of Greece and I enjoyed reliving the memories. Thank you!

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  42. I hate when people accost your personal space. Also, the ferry ride does not sound pleasant. Otherwise, I'm glad you had such a nice visit. One of my grown kids went to a few places in Greece (he bungee jumped the Corinth Canal!!) and he loved most of his trip as well.

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  43. I guess Greek folks are friendly until you find a gypsy. Those signs are all Greek to us, LOL! Mom had that same problem in Japan, couldn't read anything.

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  44. ...Veronica, this way a fabulous trip, thanks for taking me along to see the sights.

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  45. What a fabulous trip. I love all the food. I always love your food.

    Thank you for joining the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop.

    Have a fabulous Wordless Wednesday. ♥

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  46. As always the photos are beautiful. We also came across the gypsies with the flowers, and also ignored them.

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  47. Another lovely looking day; I have encountered scams like that in Charleston, South Carolina and other "tourist' towns in the United States too.

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  48. As always, the food looks fabulous!

    Air travel is so unpredictable these days that delays have become the norm,

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  49. I loved the images.
    Nice to discover your blog.
    janice.

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  50. what a wonderful trip this must have been for you. The food looks amazing and the sights are amazing too! I guess every country has a scam, but good that you were aware of it.

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  51. The rooftop views from the restaurant were amazing, Veronica Lee. How lovely to enjoy al fresco dining and see such sites. While i was unfamiliar with the gypsy flower scam, I suspect that in every major tourist area there are similar groups. You and your group were wise to disengage and ignore them.

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  52. What a lovely view from the rooftop restaurant!
    It was nice to learn about the friendly locals and the flower gypsies. :) And I look forward to hearing the ferry story.

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  53. Beautiful.
    www.rsrue.blogspot.com

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  54. Thanks for sharing these beautiful photos with us. It's almost like being right there with you.
    Too bad there are scammers even there though, like those gypsies peddling flowers.

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  55. Espectacular reportaje fotográfico. Y una lástima que haya tantos estafadores sueltos.

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