IN THE ENGLISH LESSON
The melancholic side of Athens
Beyond the already shaped image of Athens as a city which generated a rich cultural heritage , a city that in antiquity used to constitute the center of countless cultural developments , the birthplace of democracy , drama and theatre , there are several downsides concerning the Athens of today , which has almost nothing in common with the Athens of history . In today ’ s Athens , one encounters the phenomenon of the scourge of apartment buildings . Specifically , the phenomenon of the proliferation of these gray multi-storey buildings forms a monotone and miserable atmosphere and as a result , triggers a negative tourists ’ impression . Many of these block-of-flats are also constructed before 1960 and thus do not show the necessary resistance to earthquakes .
Moreover , various are the neighborhoods that are often defined as deprived ones , due to specific reasons . It is a fact that more and more abandoned buildings or even parks end up in a drug addict ’ s hangout while the number of homeless people sleeping on the sidewalks is constantly increasing . In addition , lots of immigrants are being concentrated in a single apartment and live in harsh conditions trying to make a living .
Furthermore , the lack of greenery , fields , playgrounds and parking , even for permanent residents , justifies peoples ’ irrigation . Therefore , visitors avoid taking their car or if they insist on doing so , they know they will have to pay pricey private parking . Apart from that , the chaos of daily street demonstrations accounts for drivers ’ frustration too , as they frequently face traffic disruption . Nor must we forget about the bad urban planning and the narrow alleys of the city , which often cause difficulties in transportation .
What ’ s more , the pollution and haze prevailing , due to the tons of cars passing , cannot be ignored . Noise pollution is particularly intense and this poor quality of life creates confusion and anxiety . The city is not attractive to tourists , as it looks like a cement city and does not meet their expectations . In many cases , foreigners themselves have become victims of profiteering and some who are not aware of the prices , become objects of exploitation by shopkeepers .
Taking everything into account , the melancholic side of Athens cannot be questioned . There is still a lot to be done , in order for Athens ’ negative image to be altered , but that certainly requires actions to be taken , both by the municipality and permanent citizens as well . Only by that way Athens will reach the level of other European capitals and will eventually live up to the glamor of its past .
MARIANNA TOUFEXI , Γ1
IN THE ENGLISH LESSON
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