Strange cities Athens
the budget hotel in athens
The most "searched" visitor of Athens long before set foot in this town already has dreamed that will live for a while in another time, in another surreal scenery alike never before. The volume and variety of antiques, fascinates him. He is not interested to see the medieval towers, or modern building achievements in another country. Inside the mind of his life has placed the dream of the visit of a strange historical town: Athens.
So lets see some routes and some narratives quotes of European travelers of 19th century. The quotes are curated by Nicolas Nicolaides.
Athens under the Ottomans
1. François - René de Chateaubriand (1811) Record of a Journey from Paris to Jerusalem.
"Between these two hills (Anchesmos and Museum) at the foot of the Acropolis, Athens revealed itself to me: flat roofs intermixed with minarets, cypresses, ruins, isolated columns. The domes of its mosques, crowned with big storks nests made an agreeable effect in the suns rays.
2. Lord Byron (1810-12) Byros Letters and Journals
"I am living in the Captichin Convert, Hymettus before me, the Acropolis behind, the temple of Jove to my right, the Stadium in front, the town to the left, eh Sir, there is a situation, there is the your picturesque! Nothing like that, Sir, in Lunnun (London), no not even the Mansion House".
3. Edward Dodwell. A classical and topographical tour through Greece, during the years 1801-1806
"The tower of the winds is at present a Sema-Khanes, of chapel for the dance called Sema, which is performed in it every Friday, by an order of Dancing Derwisches [...] The dance which I saw performed here, was at the same time, the most horrid and the most ridiculous ceremony that can be imagined!. it is extremely difficult for a spectator who has not been accustomed to such singular sights to remain serious [...] The sacred performance is opened by the Derwisches, and as many Turks of all ranks and ages has choose to be of the party. They sit down upon the floor, in a circle, and begin by singing the praises of God and Mohamed, in a slow and solemn manner, repeating very frequently "Ullah hoo Ullah" at the same time moving their hands and bodies backwards, thus keeping time with the song. The only instrumental accompaniment consisted of two small drums [...] The song and the motion of the dancers by degrees became more animated. On a sudden the company all start up, and sing and dance in a circle, with great violence and velocity! When they are tired, they make way for the two principal performers, who, holding each other by [..] the waist, turn round with an incredible rapidity, far exceeding anything I could have supposed the human frame capable of, and which would greatly surprise our most active dancers or posture masters"
So lets see some routes and some narratives quotes of European travelers of 19th century. The quotes are curated by Nicolas Nicolaides.
Athens under the Ottomans
1. François - René de Chateaubriand (1811) Record of a Journey from Paris to Jerusalem.
"Between these two hills (Anchesmos and Museum) at the foot of the Acropolis, Athens revealed itself to me: flat roofs intermixed with minarets, cypresses, ruins, isolated columns. The domes of its mosques, crowned with big storks nests made an agreeable effect in the suns rays.
2. Lord Byron (1810-12) Byros Letters and Journals
"I am living in the Captichin Convert, Hymettus before me, the Acropolis behind, the temple of Jove to my right, the Stadium in front, the town to the left, eh Sir, there is a situation, there is the your picturesque! Nothing like that, Sir, in Lunnun (London), no not even the Mansion House".
3. Edward Dodwell. A classical and topographical tour through Greece, during the years 1801-1806
"The tower of the winds is at present a Sema-Khanes, of chapel for the dance called Sema, which is performed in it every Friday, by an order of Dancing Derwisches [...] The dance which I saw performed here, was at the same time, the most horrid and the most ridiculous ceremony that can be imagined!. it is extremely difficult for a spectator who has not been accustomed to such singular sights to remain serious [...] The sacred performance is opened by the Derwisches, and as many Turks of all ranks and ages has choose to be of the party. They sit down upon the floor, in a circle, and begin by singing the praises of God and Mohamed, in a slow and solemn manner, repeating very frequently "Ullah hoo Ullah" at the same time moving their hands and bodies backwards, thus keeping time with the song. The only instrumental accompaniment consisted of two small drums [...] The song and the motion of the dancers by degrees became more animated. On a sudden the company all start up, and sing and dance in a circle, with great violence and velocity! When they are tired, they make way for the two principal performers, who, holding each other by [..] the waist, turn round with an incredible rapidity, far exceeding anything I could have supposed the human frame capable of, and which would greatly surprise our most active dancers or posture masters"
