We ended up somewhere different

On the way to the hip area of Gazi, a repurposed industrial area we passed a rack of ruins. Looking at the map we found out it was Keramikos, an Ancient burial ground situated outside the City walls. Today, the excavated area yields many artifacts as the whole area lay undisturbed until the late 19th Century and covered by centuries of sediment flowing down the Eridanos river. A tranquil area to explore.

Walking another five minutes West the first sight to be seen were the three chimneys and the two gasometers of the now defunct Athens Gas Works. This industrial site provided all of the industrial and residential gas for the City built in 1862, it shuttered in 1984. History here The area is now home to a huge multipurpose cultural centre. The original buildings are also complete and are now a living breathing museum.

Today the site was hosting a "Coffee Fair" many coffee makers and suppliers of coffee paraphernalia were set up in the buildings and kiosks. Just how much coffee can one drink? That question was never answered as we tasted very little. We explored the complete site and one of the more interesting enterprises found on site was a Company that was called "Dinner in the sky". For 120 euros - $180cdn you can get a five course meall and all the wine you can drink and view is priceless - well that's what Alexandros the salesman said!

Ironically after we left the Coffee Fair the first thing we did was to walk around the square looking for a place to sit down and have a coffee!!

Walking back to Monastariki Square we followed now familiar streets but in this lively and everchanging City these streets are never the same. So everyday is a new experience.

Lunching  in the Iroon Square area, some two hundred metres North of Monastiraki the place was lined with Cafes and Bars. Picking the one that served fish we idled a couple of hours away. We didn't realise it until we had been placed at a table outside the Cafe that this establishment also had the tables on the other side of the street. It was enlightening to see traffic driving down the middle of what would normally be one big patio.

Another sight seen today was the inside of a large Greek Orthodox Church, the interior, as usual was enchanting and exhilarating to see.  This pulpit may not have been the most elaborate I have seen, in other places, but just as impressive in its own way.

An example of positive graffiti may be this decorated storefront, it would never fly in downtown Cobourg but fits right in here.