Beauty in the dark corner.

It was sunny, calm day in Athens.

I had only one full day in here...

I was going around trying to find spot to park.

One circle, road closed - detour.

Second circle, road closed... different direction, again.

I can see some parking space but, oh well everything taken... ahhh right is 1st of May,

Labor Day...

I'm not giving up...

Drive around, go around... and hey! I can park here... but wait 'why is so much free space here?'. It was suspiciously long street, and maybe one car on the side, and until now I'm not sure if this car hasn't been abandoned for a long time.

Anyway...

I was tired and a little bit annoyed by the fact that I was driving around for so long without any result so, not wanting waste anymore time, boom... doors closed, car locked.

I'm ready for discovery.

Still my intuition wanted to break through my head and tell me something, but I didn't want to listen...

Shame...

As me and my friends we were hungry we stopped first to eat some Greek food.

First restaurant - I don't feel the vibe...

Second restaurant - the smell is not very pleasant...

Third restaurant - I'm already sitting outside at the table waiting for food.

We ate... I would lie if I would say it was delicious but I would lie if I would say it wasn't good.

Belly full, smile on the face we can start our adventure.

First stop - Acropolis of Athens.

-Closed!

-Wait, what?

-Yep! Closed, Labor Day, remember?

-Snap!

Actually everything was closed that day a part of some restaurants and coffee shops.

So I just wandered around for a few hours.

And we decided to go back to the car...

Wait! Here is all fun!

My friends were smoking while I was trying to open the car.

Smart key - not working.

I tried to open the door directly with the keys - not working.

-Hey! What is going on? I'm sure when I left everything was working!

I went from the passenger side - I opened the door with no issue.

Ok I sat on the driver side... checked everything... all looks safe and sound...

I waited for my friends. When everyone got inside I moved the car.

-Our stuff is gone - one of my friends said...

-Sorry, what?

I stopped the car I got outside I opened the trunk...

-No fu**ing way!

Everything was gone, ohhh sorry not everything they left toothbrush and toothpaste, such a nice people!

So yeah we've been robbed in broad daylight, maybe 5 minutes walk from the tourist centre area.

Thankfully my intuition told me to take my passport with me before I left the car.

A part of it everything gone gone. Everything!

We went to the police station.

They didn't do much. They listen, but they act like they have at least 5 cases a day.

They send us to the Tourist Police.

Then someone told us that we park our car in one of the most 'dangerous' streets in Athens.

I was shocked because we were literally in the city centre.

It was Omonia Square or surroundings. - remember that place. You don't want to be there.

Of course we spent the rest of our time on paper work at the police station. We left the car in the same place - heh there was nothing else left to rob anymore.

When we finished it was already dark. We walk back to our car.

And do you rememer the long empty street that I told you in the beginning?

Yes, that walk back to the car, through that street it was the longest walk in my life.

Imagine the zombie apocalypse.

A streetlamp flashing...

Someone on the steps was shooting up...

Someone else crosses our path with their head down, shuffling their feet on the asphalt...

Someone else is lying on the ground already in ecstasy.

A stench hung in the air, mingling with our fear.

I fought to keep my eyes from wandering too much.

My goal was to reach the car safely.

We made it to the car.

We closed the door, and we stayed in silence for around 10 min.

I still have a clear image of that street in my mind.

Normally, you only see scenes like this on TV, not in real life.

It was shocking.

Is not up to me to blame Athens for what happened to us.

But I wish the city could do something, anything.

For tourist and for locals to feel a little bit more safe.

Still, I know one day I will be back!

Lesson learnt?

Yes!

Always check before,, which neighborhoods are safe and which ones are best avoided.

Share with me your experience with Athens.

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Travel freely. Explore simply. Inspire to wander.