Today one of my roommates and my professor and I went on an adventure- we explored Omonia. For her class each of us has a site in Athens that we have to research and visit to make a pamphlet to persuade our fellow students on why they should go there. My site is the Bazaar Meat Market in Omonia.
It is all about the experience so this should be easy. Talk about the heart of Greek culture! It was an intense experience. Granted I have seen meat markets in Italy but this was a step above.
So we started out "tame" through the vegetable and fruit market which led to streets full of spices in huge barrels- then we got to the "gruesome" part:
Imagine two dark street alleyways with all of the butchers at their meat stands in their white coats stained in blood. The men were yelling at the top of their lungs- this may seem intimidating, and it is for an average culture-shocked American, but even though the men seem super aggressive really they wouldn't hurt a fly, they are just so passionate about their meat being the freshest and best quality that they have to yell at you to buy it. The men, old and young, yelled "Έλα!"- "Come on!" That's all I really understood- that and "Come beautiful girl..." Yeah right.
The smells and sounds of the market place were exhilarating to the senses or maybe that's not the right word- stimulating! Yes definitely woke up the senses. Not to mention the visuals! -Of the lambs heads with the eyeballs still looking at you and pigs feet more repulsive than displayed in American grocery stores and livers of every kind of animal just hanging out about to be dripping blood on my feet at any second.
My site project happens to be in the heart of it all, of the Greek culture.
There wasn't a tourist in sight and I loved it.
All of the commotion and hoopla was electrifying--- it made my heart pound, I don't know why maybe because there was so much to look at.
It was exciting to be in the heart of it all. This is how the Greek communities live - they survive on buying their meat here everyday. Then on to the fish part---talk about more stimulating of the senses and fish juice flying everywhere! I need to wash my chacos ASAP. We're talking squid, octopus, every kind of fish which look like big sardines to me, crabs, shrimp, you want it you got it. And FRESH.
It was totally awesome.
I pretty much wrote my site project just now but I guess I will add more informational facts.
After our 4 mile expedition through the districts of spices, fabrics and cooking supplies( which didn't feel like 4 miles since it was so fun taking it all in)---we had to make our way to boring class... I mean... great 2 hour long class...did I mention that we have it everyday?? Fourth day in and I'm not complaining at all! It was an eventful day -favorite part so far.
It is all about the experience so this should be easy. Talk about the heart of Greek culture! It was an intense experience. Granted I have seen meat markets in Italy but this was a step above.
So we started out "tame" through the vegetable and fruit market which led to streets full of spices in huge barrels- then we got to the "gruesome" part:
The smells and sounds of the market place were exhilarating to the senses or maybe that's not the right word- stimulating! Yes definitely woke up the senses. Not to mention the visuals! -Of the lambs heads with the eyeballs still looking at you and pigs feet more repulsive than displayed in American grocery stores and livers of every kind of animal just hanging out about to be dripping blood on my feet at any second.
My site project happens to be in the heart of it all, of the Greek culture.
There wasn't a tourist in sight and I loved it.
All of the commotion and hoopla was electrifying--- it made my heart pound, I don't know why maybe because there was so much to look at.
It was exciting to be in the heart of it all. This is how the Greek communities live - they survive on buying their meat here everyday. Then on to the fish part---talk about more stimulating of the senses and fish juice flying everywhere! I need to wash my chacos ASAP. We're talking squid, octopus, every kind of fish which look like big sardines to me, crabs, shrimp, you want it you got it. And FRESH.
It was totally awesome.
I pretty much wrote my site project just now but I guess I will add more informational facts.
After our 4 mile expedition through the districts of spices, fabrics and cooking supplies( which didn't feel like 4 miles since it was so fun taking it all in)---we had to make our way to
No comments:
Post a Comment