A week in Athens. (Part B)

So here comes the second part of my trip to Athens.
Part A covered Monday to Thursday and now we go on to Friday.
On Friday 6th we spent the morning at one of the Benaki Museum Departments. This one opened a month ago and it was suggested by my cousin and he was absolutely right in his suggestion. We adored it and we will definitely go again the next time we are in Athens.
The museum is in the house of Greek artist Nikos Hatjikyriakos Gigas. One floor is his house, the other floor is his workshop and the rest of the three floors house a huge selection of paintings, books, sculptures and other parafernalia of various artists of the generation of the 30's as it is called in Greece. Some of the famous representatives of this generation are Seferis, Elytis, Ritsos, Melina Merkouri and lots more.There was so much to see and photography was allowed but without flash so most of my photos are blurred.

 The outside of the museum.

A building opposite.

 Sotitis Spatharis shadow puppets.

 The Seferis Nobel prize for poetry.

 Gikas workshop.

 Gikas house.

 A Picasso in Gikas' house.

 Old balcony railings repurposed by Gikas as heater covers.

 Ships painted as a cross stitch design by Tsarouhis.

Kapralos horses.

 Elytis Nobel,

 Moshos  Neighbourhood in Tinos island

Eggonopoulos Pireaus landscape with clothed statue.
After such a great morning we had hoped that the day would continue as beautifully. Unfortunately in the afternoon we were told that hubby's shadow puppet performance was cancelled because anarchists occupied the open theatre where we were going to perform on Strefi Hill in order to do a concert. Our disappointment was great as our original aim for this trip to Athens was this performance at the festival and all the expenses were covered by hubby. Also all my relatives wanted to attend this performance. The organisers of the festival took us all out to dinner where we met fellow shadow puppet performers and exchanged ideas.

A week in Athens (Part A)

Hello everyone! I had to be away for a week. I was in Athens along with hubby and my mum!
Hubby was taking part in the Strefi Hill Shadow Puppet Festival and my mum was visiting her brother who is sick.
For me it was  a chance to visit  lots of relatives and do some sightseeing too.
We arrived on Monday 2nd in the afternoon and settled at my aunt's. Then we went to walk in the city centre.
Athens was beautiful under the sunny sky although there were things we did not like. One that it was too hot again! It seems every time we go to Athens it is too hot.
Lycabettus Hill. We reached its foot.

 The University of Athens.

 and Lycabettus Hill in reflection!

 Strange buildings and grafitti.

 In the evening we attended two shadow performances on Strefi Hill.

I envy my aunt's taste in interior decoration.

 And how green her fingers are!

We rested on Tuesday morning! Karaghiozis was fantastic on Tuesday night too!

On the third day, Wednesday 4th, we went to my cousin at Melissia.We had the chance to collect thyme on Pendeli Mountain.

 We met my cousin's horse Alexander.

 I even rode behind my cousin on his bike after many many years!

 We had a lovely lunch together!

We met another aunt for coffee afterwards and in the evening we attended a great shadow puppet performance by Elias Karellas.

We had little chance to go shopping while in Athens but on Thursday after being treated with coffee at Zonar's by my other cousin and his wife we went to the Benaki Museum shop and what we bought was once again a shadow puppet figure!This beautiful car is a design by Sotiris Spatharis.

 The Benaki Museum shop is gorgeous although rather expensive!

 We took a glimpse of other shops but "no money no shopping"!

 And this is the huge flight of steps we went up and down many a time towards Strefi Hill to attend the performances.Two more on Thursday evening too!

A walk at the antique/second hand market.

You might remember that a month ago the First antique and second hand sales market took place in a park near our flat. So we were lucky we were in town again and off we went to see what was there on offer. I took lots of photos of things I liked and in the end you will see the few lovely things I bought.
Careful there are too many photos here. Enjoy the walk!
There were lots of framed needlepont pictures. Years ago every one used to stitch these. Now no one does! And they throw them out!If hubby had allowed I would have a couple that I had found on the sidewalk!Ahhhh!Sigh!
I assure you that black and white one would look fantastic in a modern house with another frame!

 I loved those glass lamps!

 I am not sure if these little glass phials are old but they looked so sweet all together.

 These glasses looked gorgeous!

 I used to have  a doll like that with a different outfit!

 15 euros for that pink napkin holder. It wasn't much but I am not able to spend now!

 I loved this vanity set from Belgium! 60 euros.

 Isn't this a lovely framed cross stitch?

 More pink glass.

 And more embroidery.

 More framed embroidery.

 There were whole piles of embroidery from 2 to 200 euros!

 And bottles! When I looked at the bottom of the sea foam one in the second line the seller said that I know of old bottles!

 Hubby found some lovely shadow puppet theatre performances on records here!

 Aren't these amazing? They were very expensive!

 Lots of toys!

I think this one is fantastic!

 And that Galle lamp is 350 euros!

 These are the records hubby bought.

 And this is what I bought.
A beautiful water jug that I would probably use as a vase.
A sweet porcelain border collie made in Japan.
Two old books Captain Michael by Kazantzakis (this we had performed with the Teacher's Drama Club) and Singing Wheels, a 1951 American reader which I adored! In it I found a typewritten letter dated 1954 with a Thessaloniki  International Trade Fair stamp stuck on it!A bonus!
 The blue dish with the shell does not look very old to me but I think it suits my summer house!
And all that for 10 euros!Well I could afford that much!

 Add one more book to my summer reading list!

Tonight we will be watching the Euro final. Spain and Italy are my two favourite teams so I really don't know whom to support but I really like Casillas, the Spanish goalkeeper!!!!
I will be away from the computer and Internet again for some time!
Till next week have a  great time pals!