My first glimpse of Greece from my coach upon arrival in Athens revealed a landscape inundated with ugly graffiti—a stark departure from the pristine postcard images that had filled my expectations.
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Amidst the bustling streets and historic landmarks where tourists lose themselves in the beguiling Grecian allure, there exist sights that are not easy on the eye. A family of refugees huddles on the sidewalk under a tattered blanket that barely shields them from the elements. Before them, a humble cup holds a few coins tossed by passersby. Homeless souls lie sprawled in the shadows of shuttered buildings, their meager belongings beside their slumbering forms. Young children begging, with innocence lost too soon, and vagrants with missing or deformed limbs and disfigured faces – these images continue to haunt even long after my glorious Greek vacation has ended.
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Think Greece, and the mind is immediately flooded with images of the Cyclades—picturesque blue-domed and pristine white-washed buildings nestled against the azure sea. However, beneath this postcard-perfect facade lies a disparate contrast, exposing a side of the country that struggles with social issues, economic hardships, and the harsh realities faced by certain communities.
Graffiti serves as a canvas for the unheard voices of marginalized communities.
This is the sad reality of many countries. Greece went through some rough times, they get a lot of refugees that they don't know what to do with and who are not welcome at all. Homelessness is a problem not only in countries like Greece - wealthy countries like the US have to deal with this as well, and the gap between filthy rich and poor is constantly widening. Can you believe that 13 states in the US just rejected federal funds to feed poor children during the summer months when there is no school (these children usually get free or reduced price lunches at their schools during the school year). It's shameful.
ReplyDeleteThere's always an another side...at least the street looks very clean.
ReplyDeleteThere was the other side of Panama, the four years we lived there. I think this happens in all countries.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to read of these sad realities that lie beyond the white buildings and beautiful blue ocean. There is nowhere on earth exempt from sadness.
ReplyDeleteWhen I went back to Europe in 1990, I was shocked to see graffiti there. It was even worse in 2013, and we saw similar sights in Greece. Your images paint a sad picture.
ReplyDeleteYou showed us the beauty of rustic streetscape
ReplyDeleteThis graffiti is very ugly indeed.
ReplyDeleteSo bad that people are homeless and living on the streets, which is also the case here in the Netherlands.
The rich get richer and the poor are left to fend for themselves.
Greetings Irma
Many murals along the streets! Thank you for sharing these pictures of Greece's urban environment.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Italy 🇮🇹
It always find it striking how talented some graffiti artists are
ReplyDeleteThe homeless are forever is a political game. The rich get richer and the poor are left to fend for themselves. Let us think that equal everyone, but, the rich treat us toys, when they bored throw us away.
ReplyDeleteThe grafitti can be ugly and it can be beautiful, Veronica. I think all countries have it. Many hugs.
ReplyDeleteWhat a ınteresting places, thanks for your sharing
ReplyDeleteYou're right, this is not the side we see. I suppose it's everywhere, but it's sad.
ReplyDeleteI think that any thoughts I ever had of visiting a Greece just evaporated!
ReplyDeleteinteresting corners with beautiful murals and clean streets....
ReplyDeletewe may find "the sad" story almost everywhere about human being...
Thank you for sharing photos and descriptions.
That's a hard entry and one so denying expectations. The Greek Tourism board must know what a turnoff that would be. There's ugly graffiti (what you shared) and not-so-bad graffiti. This is pretty awful!
ReplyDeleteWell, if you have graffiti, you might as well embrace it. Always a bit interesting and as an 'art' I find it fascinating. The graffiti in Copenhagen is amazing! Sandi
ReplyDeleteNot the image we envisage when thinking of Greece. Graffiti can be interesting, attractive even, but not this!
ReplyDeleteI told you once, I've never been in Greece, but what you shared here, is so different of everything I saw about this place. But it's not new. In every country we can see also this kind of places.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you speak also about another kind of reality, not always revealed.
Thank you, Veronica!
Hugs and blessings!❤️😘
It's true of everywhere. Where people live, it isn't all pretty. Life is difficult for some.
ReplyDeleteA dose of reality.
ReplyDeleteWOW! I sure wouldn't have expected to see that either. That's something to see, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteI have always wondered about Athens but all cities seem to have this other side all around the world. It is so sad to see people in such dire circumstances. I hope with all my heart that something can be done for them.
ReplyDeleteEs un mal de todas la ciudades. Te mando un beso.
ReplyDeleteAnother side of greek...so many graffiti but in random pattern.....happy holiday Kak Veronica...^^
ReplyDeleteHello Veronica,
ReplyDeleteThis is the other side of Greece. But nice to photograph and nice how you have done this. I think many big cities have two sides.
Greetings, Marco
That's very sad. Homeless is in every country, and we should always try to help when we can. I don't know what all this graffiti says, but I only like graffiti on the walls when it exudes goodness. Still, taking a trip to Greece is a privilege, and it's a place I've longed to visit. It still has deep roots, culture, and wonderful people. I'm glad you got to visit. There is always the maintained and run down parts of every city. : )
ReplyDelete~Sheri
I feel the same way about many of the Caribbean islands we visited on our last trip; all the touristy areas look quite lovely and built up but whenever we boarded a bus to move further inland we were met with stark images of poverty... it was disturbing but I was quite hopeful that the influx of tourism dollars would trickle its way down. :(
ReplyDeleteWow, what an interesting post. Isn’t it sad to see all the graffiti. We are seeing lots of this in Seattle now and it is so disappointing to locals who have lived here for years without it. And, it’s sad to see the souls sleeping on the streets. Lots of that here too. Neat post, thanks, Veronica, for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI think you will see this almost anywhere you go. There will always be those that are in need of help.
ReplyDeleteUna stupenda città, la parte vecchia è da sogno, chissa se un giorno ritornerò.
ReplyDeleteBuona domenica.
It's interesting to see also these parts of the cities.
ReplyDeleteHowever it's sad to know that a lot of homeless spend the night (and their whole life) on the sidewalks.
A little dose of reality that contrasts with the postcard Greece.
ReplyDeleteHola Verónica, es un problema muy generalizo de muchas ciudades, es la cara oculta la que no vemos.
ReplyDeleteFeliz semana.
Saludos.
have a nice day
ReplyDeleteIt gave me a lot of hustle and bustle in my head when looking at your photos. I don't understand why they don't do anything here to remove it. Doesn't give a good look to the environment. Wish you a lovely new week.
ReplyDeletePerhaps this is the reason that many people visit some islands and only stay within a resort compound. They may feel that the grim realities of daily life would detract from their idyllic vacation?
ReplyDeleteSame in Roma. Another side of greek.
ReplyDeleteI think unfortunately that is the thing about all big urban cities.
ReplyDeleteThe graffiti make it look so rough and takes away the beauty of most of the photos I've seen of Greece. Sad.
ReplyDeleteThanks for shaing at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2024/01/and-few-street-scenes-from-paray-le.html
Sad to see all these problems, but it's the reality. We were very surprised to see so much ugly graffiti on our trip to France.
ReplyDeleteIt does seem dilapidated, hope it is safe for tourists.
ReplyDeleteGood post you learn something new everyday
ReplyDeleteHave a tanfastictastic week 👍
Townlife in good and bad
ReplyDeleteA miséria social parece escalar um pouco por todo o mundo, cavando um fosso maior entre ricos e pobres.
ReplyDeleteOnde estão as políticas de alcance social?
Será que esses problemas se resolvem com graffities?
Uma absoluta vergonha vestida pela falta de civismo dos infratores e pela incúria das autoridades.
Abraço de amizade.
Juvenal Nunes
Hello,
ReplyDeleteI am not a fan of graffiti, it is obvious that Athens like most big cities have some ugly spots. The homeless people seem to be everywhere now. The tourist industry would not show these scenes when they are advertising their trips. Take care, have a great day and happy week ahead!
Dear Veronica, yes, the ugly side can be found in almost every “dream travel destination”. When I came to Greece for the first time (on the island of Crete) I was shocked on the bus ride to our hotel: At every bend on this winding road there was illegal dumping of rubbish - everywhere just plastic, old car tires, oil barrels, ... on the dream holiday island. And apparently no one tried to remove the dirt to create a nicer picture...
ReplyDeleteGreece is also - as you wrote yourself - a poor country and many refugees arrive there (e.g. via Turkey) from various Arab and African countries. This increases the dissatisfaction of the residents and does not make the plight of the refugees any better. Unfortunately, our world is in a state in which the refugee problem will not get smaller, but bigger... and I can understand every person who wants to flee a country where there is war or oppression or hunger and thirst because of climate change food and water become scarce... sigh.
I now say goodbye and start my recently announced blog break 😘 - with one more “last posting before” and warm greetings 🙋 . Stay healthy - we'll read again!
All the best, Traude
https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2024/01/im-zoo-mit-dem-enkel-weitere-ausfluge.html
😘
ReplyDeleteNot just in Greece but throughout Europe. Some graffiti is very artistic, but other like this is ugly. The first time I saw it was in Italy, Milan I think. It shows poverty and unhappiness.
ReplyDeleteI also have been in Athens but not only in the touristic part. It was so interesting. I love Pireus ;)
ReplyDeleteAngelika
Hello Veronica,
ReplyDeleteI am stopping back to say thank you for linking up and sharing your post.
It is interesting to see this side of Athens, it is reality and can be seen all around the US too. Take care, have a great day!
This is why travel is so educational, especially if you can get out of the typical tour areas. Life isn't always as we think it is because places don't want the world to see the ugly side of their countries, but it is where real life happens and it is fascinating in its own way.
ReplyDelete...people sure were busy with spray cans!
ReplyDeleteLooks like San Francisco. Sad that this is spreading around the world.
ReplyDeleteThank you for joining the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Wordless Wednesday. ♥
Yes... it`s the sad reality. Good to post those things.
ReplyDeleteHi Veronica,
ReplyDeleteI'm really impressed
With these images I also have walls in mind
white and beautiful houses. I really like the city where
Napoleon Bonaparte was born because of his beauty.
Certainly countries have their problems.
Thank you for your visit. I post every day first
of each month.
Good start to the month of February.
janicce.
Whoa! That's quite a contrast from the pictures we often see. But it's nice to see this side too. Thank you so much for the 'whole picture,' Veronica. I've been enjoying all the posts of your Greece trip. :)
ReplyDeleteI hope you're having a good week. :)
so much color everywhere! a lovely pick me up in this gray winter we're living through here on the eastern US coast ...
ReplyDeleteWhat a sad reality. It looks so dilapidated and the graffiti is so ugly. I don't know why it's so hard for me to accept that even Greece has such slummy looking neighborhoods.
ReplyDeleteVeronica, yes! 'We can flourish in the face of adversity.' And maybe that's when our best growth occurs?
ReplyDeletevery beautiful photos thanks :)
ReplyDelete