My Plaka "Office"

As I write this, I am sitting at the top of Plaka; above the neighborhoods, below and behind the Acropolis, overlooking the downtown of Athens, and directly across from Mount Lycabettus.

The world is suffering a great deal right now with the Coronavirus, but as I sit here reflecting, I cannot help but be so grateful for where I am.

… My thoughts here were interrupted by two men passing by on a walk. We enjoyed a laugh at my “Covid-19 Office,” as they saw my sitting on a high stone by many Athenian cats with my glasses, mask, and laptop. And wow, my Plaka office is a great one.

Since moving to Greece, I have been intoxicated by the downtown district of Plaka. Plaka is the part of Athens which is known for the continuation of ancient Greek architecture. While some parts of Greece have taken on an increasingly modern feel, much of Athens adapted a somewhat disappointing architectural style over the past 50 years. However, given Plaka’s proximity to untouchable art (like the Parthenon), much of the architectural style has stayed true to the ancient Athenian character.

Additionally, Plaka is home to many extremely talented artists: from music, to painting, to jewelry, and more. Of course, as a visitor it can be more difficult to know which vendors to trust without having explored the area or being able to negotiate prices in Greek. As for street art, areas like Psyrri and Exarcheia are close by Plaka and are true hot spots for art exploration, but a lot of beautiful murals also dip into the area of Plaka.

Restaurants and bars are very popular in Plaka district, as the views include the beautiful homes, foliage, and of course, the Parthenon. One of my favorite parts of exploring Plaka has been getting lost and always finding a new, adorable café.

Reflecting on one matter often leads to many memories. While Plaka is an architecturally significant hot spot in Athens, I have been most appreciative here on Sunday mornings. The church in Athens I attend is St. Nicholas Rangavas, which has been here since the 11th century. And while this church is a popular tourist attraction, I prefer the intimate Sunday morning services (not during the pandemic) with my cousins and other locals who live nearby.

St. Nicholas Rangavas has been through difficult times, and on the inside you can see its suffrage. But through this, you also see its power and character—much like the entire district of Plaka.