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Urban Book Club Review: Facing Athens
Facing Athens, by George Sarrinikolaou
This is not a new book, just something I picked up with interest as someone who has lived in Athens for a few years as part of an Urban Odyssey. Publishing the book might have been a rush job trying to capture the market of the 2004 Athens Olympics when Modern Greece suddenly was on people’s minds (anticipated failure, complaints, etc, like most media here seems to be about Greece). Consider this book the anti-romantic portrait of modern Greece. If you loved Greece before you read it, you might hate it after you finish reading 142 easy-reading pages of this book. Written by a native Greek who left when he was 10 years old, who paid yearly visits there growing up and spent 3 months living there in part as a personal journey, in part to write this book… it basically puts a magnifying glass on all of the flaws of the modern Greek state, its people and, it seems (it can be that dark) their souls. Take all the bad, post it on pages like a collage, provide minimal analysis and you’ve got this book. This is not to say what the author speaks about is not true… indeed the most depressing aspect of this book, as a once-ago resident who lived in and with many of the groups the author describes, is that what he talks about is real. In falling in love, did I ignore the monster? I don’t think so but the book shakes you up, even though it is a tad bit unfair, it is so very superficial in some ways (but not in that it presents a glimpse into the “native” life that tourists might not ever see). It is harsh. Maybe it has to be. I know there is more to Greece than this, but then again… Sigh… if only life were as simple as Ode to Frappes and a sun-filled life…
Laid Off
The brothel responsible for Nova’s 2 hour “occupation-by-circumstance” seems to have closed. Discoteca Help, the club C-mixto insisted we visit as a “dance institution of Latin America” has closed shop, to the delight of some and heartbreak of others. Ladies- if your man takes you to Brazil and says he wants to visit a popular disco while the cab driver insists that it’s not the place to go with your lady while flashing you nervous eyes from the rear-view mirror, then chances are you are going to a sex-tourism spot. In Discoteca Help’s instance, you are going to a disco-brothel. Nova managed to make a career and genre for herself within minutes as the “anything goes” variety due to her, gasp!, willingness to dance together with a man and let him rest his hand on her forbidden shoulder. C-mixto could not convince the bouncer we were a couple and I was scolded for not following the proper protocol. Cio, Discoteca Help. Thanks for the memories.
Et en Arcadia
The most memorable moment of our recent Sicilian odyssey did not happen in a city, but between cities. We were on one of those two hour car drives, this time our destination was ceramics from Caltagirone and chocolate from the city of Modica. We were winding our way through the Sicilian countryside. Our cars followed a well paved highway. We were surrounded by fields of golden wheat, distant hills with olive trees, and flattened sun-dried grass with bundled haystacks that looked like round suitcases left long ago by the Cyclopean race. The highway served as an unlikely wormhole through an Arcadian landscape; we passed through it encased in our vehicles. For a long while the only reminder of human contact with the land was passing trucks. They swayed with heavy loads of agricultural bounties I imagined harvested from these golden fields. I was entranced by paradise. Et en Arcadia – continue reading …
Oh, Rio!
This one’s for C-mixto.
C-mixto thought it romantic to whisk me away to Brazil a few years ago. Rio to be exact.
If you’re never been to Rio, here are three points to consider before going:
- If a woman traveling with your man, be very secure in yourself (I mean your looks and your relationship).
- If you’re a man traveling with a woman you’re not crazy about, reconsider your travel plans; you will not be able to hide this once you land.
- If you’re a man traveling solo or with other guys, you probably already know what’s up, hence why you’re going there to begin with.
One night, dining along the shores of Copacabana, C-mixto suggests we go dancing. To the “biggest club in Latin America”, he claims. We hail a cab, get in, and C-mixto tells the driver our destination. The driver begins to drive, but with hesitation. Oh, Rio! – continue reading …
