Syntagma Square Basics

Syntagma Square is a thriving, busy place and lit up just about all night. That means its merchants are willing to stay open for longer hours and some, even 24hrs, to meet our needs.

Its a give and take, win-win place to be at 4 am if you need butts and beer, fags and lager. Whatever. Your jet lagged feverish brain insists and you comply, in Syntagma Square.

These needs, or expressions of self are assuaged by the square's kiosks. Click photo left to see larger. This particular periptero above is at the corner of Nikis and Ermou street; which are 2 very important streets passing through Syntagma a.k.a. Constitution square. You may be amused at what's for sale just in this one aspect of a periptero's' wares. And this is without the drinks and print sections of every successful periptero's marketing strategy.

Printed Matter

These many periptera (kiosks), which festoon Constitution square, attempt to provide a wide variety of foreign newspapers and magazines available for sale as well. Some kiosks more and some less, as all tend to specialize to a certain degree and as the purchasing agents whims suit him. So if you are homesick or looking for sport scores or a mass market paperback to while away the hours, Syntagma Sq's kiosks are a good bet.

The Athens News, the International Herald Tribune, the NY Times, the Washington Post, Le Monde, Figaro and forgive me if I don't list your country. Most of the kiosks are clustered in a row on Phillhellinon St. at the flat of the square but there are many others on other corners and promenades leading to and from. Soon you will become an expert on recognizing worthy periptero's or rejecting unworthy ones. Periptero's are a very Greek kind of dispensation and to own one in a good location is nothing to be sneezed at!

Assorted Needs

The periptero, can be very convenient if used in moderation since it invariably costs more especially for snacks and treats. For phone cards and such they have no equal. Some peripteros sell postage stamps, and some don't, some sell bus tickets and some don't, all sell cigarettes in less than a pack amount called heema or overflowing, they sell prophylactics, sunscreen and in embarkation areas, even dramamine, for sea sickness. Some blessed few kiosks even sell semi-current mass market paperback books. Pro-phylactics commonly known as condoms is a Greek word and its pronounced the same as in English almost: Pro-feel-lacti-Ka.

However for batteries for your walkman and so on kiosks once again cost more. But batteries are a rip off in the supermarket too and the cheapest ones I have found are on Evrepidou street off Athinas where they sell CD's (Very central Euripides St between Aeolou and Athinas - central mkt. area) (Click to see map - everything else is cheaper over there by the way so see shopping the Athens Central Market sections)

Book Stores Syntagma Sq.

Eleftheroudakis Books above is the best bookstore in Greece usually, its the largest anyway, the HQ is its location over on 17 Panepistimiou-Venizelous St., (5 floors) and is more upscale with all new books in various languages and some CDs. The airport also has a decent news-stand/book store run by Eleftheroudakis.

The problem with foreign language books sotres in Greece is that the books, mostly come from the UK and English books are about twice as expensive or more as US books because they have to import their paper from the USA or elsewhere.

(Photo left) There is another Eleftheroudakins Book Store at 20 Nikis Street too which is a far more convenient location for all those going to the Acropolis or Plaka, but last time I went in, it wasnt selling any books in English! Hello? For this you got an an MBA in a prestigious agnoristo foreign university? Big Mistake! Lathos!

Also, possibly worth sticking you head through the door, is Compendium Books at 28 Nikis St. just behind the lower side of the square it has some few used books too, so you can trade in your old ones. The used pickings were pretty slim (horrible!!!!!) last time I checked so bring enough to read. Most hotels have a 'leave one/take one' book exchange area.

Eleftheroudakis also runs News Stand type operations in various location around central Athens and the airport too.

This photo left shows a News stand on Pandrosou Street near Mitropoleos Sq.

Click it for an entirely different photo of the interior and the many guide books for sale.Eleftheroudakis main store sells the same books and more on the top floor of the main store.

Honorable Mention Greenest Building Athens in Syntagma Sq.

Right the Greenest building in Syntagma Sq or the city for that matter at the corner of Stadiou and King George the 'A' street!

These responsible folks are doing more than they are legally required to do consciously and I, for one, appreciate it. I am ashamed to say I don't know more about this particular building but whoever is in charge is setting a worthy example. Most Athenians do support some sort of plant life on a balcony or terrace and decry the lack of green space as much or more than anyone else. Athens has the sad distinction of being the least green capitol city in Europe

The Greek Post Office

Syntagma Square Post Office >Mail those Post cards!
Because You'll be home weeks before they arrive!

You wrote your post cards and now you need to post them, blessed by the knowledge of their assured timely arrival! Wrong!

Did you know there was a main post office in Syntagma square which has been, and continues to be, the butt of jokes made by distinguished journalists and columnists alike?

The trick with Greek post offices is to buy all your post card stamps at one time thus minimize waiting time and human interaction. Next place them in the correct bin for their destination which is dived into three areas Greece, Eu, Everybody else. God forbid you should put your cards in the wrong bin. Those 2 Yellow and one Red bin(s) in the photo right are the ones to look for. {There is another, better Post Office over at 100 Aeolou Street near Omonia Sq. with extended hours meaning it doesn't close at 1pm like a milksop bank.}

The Greek National Tourist Organization GNTO

Other things of practical interest you'll find in/near Syntagma include The Greek National Tourist Office (GNTO/EOT), numerous banks, air line offices, restaurants, travel agencies and over-priced jewelry.  The GNTO/EOT office (2 Amerikis St.) is a good place for a free map and all kinds of ferry boat, bus and train schedules plus a free copy of This Week in Athens.

Recycling in Syntagma Sq.

Greece has a fledgling recycling effort under way too and in the bigger squares are collection bins woefully inadequate for a whole neighborhood.

Its a start and all that it really needs is for the political will to manifest itself and for each household to have three medium sized plastic bins with which to separate the paper from the plastic from the organic. They need to allow for the daily plastic bags in all three situations and have daily pick up. It should necessitate a new ministry (they will love that) the Ministry of Recycling could save Greece billions over time!

Greece Travelers may take a luxury coach tour, rent a car or empower themselves with a private Oracle tour of their own design. Consider these other popular Greece travel destinations. If its on the Greek mainland Oracle can take you there in air conditioned & non-smoking security!

Athens, Cape Sounion, Ancient Corinth, Delphi & Ossios Lukas, Drama, Florina, Greneva, Chalkidiki, Imathia, Kastoria, Kavala, Kozani, Meteora, Mt. Athos, Mycenaea, Naufplion, Olympia, Pella and Vergina, Phillipi & Kavala, Dion & Mt Olympus, Sparta & Mystras, The Mani and Monemvasia, Thessaloniki,
READ TESTIMONIALS
E-mail for prices and availibility