Fortunately not too many
Life can be stressful, chaotic and confusing. Having a place to take a break, put your thoughts in order and reconnect to yourself is essential, sometimes even crucial. Now that I live in the countryside I have many places to do that but when I lived in the city my choices were very limited. Athens has a severe shortage in parks and vegetation but there is one place in the heart of the city that is a true gem!
The national garden is the first and probably the most well structured, ornamental park in Greece. The landscaping began around 1840 and it kept going for quite a few years. Thousands of plants were imported from Italy and other countries of Europe and northern Africa and were planted along with indigenous species from all over Greece.
At the time of the creation of the garden, Greece was just making the first steps as a newborn, (almost) independent state and the city that now expands all around it, was hardly a small town. The project had nothing to do with the needs of the community or the welfare of the people but now I am glad that it was made in the first place. It became public in 1923 and now it is the most comforting piece of land in the center of Athens.
I visited it again during my big autumn trip (that is ending in a couple of days) and although I couldn't help noticing signs of negligence, I was really grateful that it was there for me to visit. After nine years in the countryside, I get easily overwhelmed of the city's pace and this park was a true shelter right where I mostly needed it.
The 154.000 square meters (38 acres) that it covers, is more than enough for a nice decompressing walk under the shadow of the trees and the chirp of the birds. And the small buildings that are left every now and then, gives the fleeting impression of crossing a rural scenery!
Sitting under a pergola, lying on the grass or jogging, there are plenty ways to enjoy this rare oasis in the concrete jungle of our capital and let me assure you that there were a lot of people doing so. Fortunately not too many :)
This is my contribution to the #wednesdaywalk challenge, hosted by @tattoodjay
Thank you for reading and if you want to know more about me you can check out my introduction post.
Commenting, upvoting and rebloging are highly appreciated!
I love the photo of the man with the new paper. An old scene that I saw before and we can't see anymore today!
That was exactly my thought when I saw him!
Thank you for stopping by :)
Thanks for sharing this wounderfull photographs and i love these flowers .keep it up
Thank you very much for your kind words, I am glad you enjoyed my post!
Wow. I love your photos. It's very nice 👍 thank you for sharing. I will follow-up your post.👍👍
Thank you very much for your support :)
What a beautiful park the city has.
Well needed for people and animals / insects. Wonderful green, and shaded… to get away from it all even the sun for a little while.
Great you could visit it now on your trip. To bad you see signs of neglect. Hopefully it will change.
Love the dove capture 😎😊
Great photographs… yes, a park one can escape in for a little while.
Have a great Wednesday 👋🏻
It is indeed an oasis in a city that is much needed!
I love the dove shot too! It was the first time I was talking pictures one of them, from such a short distance and it actually posed for me for quite some time before it flew away :)
That’s cool it did that… like a private little photoshoot hehehe 🤭
Have an amazing weekend @fotostef 👋🏻
YAY, thanks for taking us on the walk around this park with you. Great shots of the animals, people and of course plants!
Thank you Sara, I am so glad you enjoyed it! Maybe soon you'll get the chance to visit it yourself :)
This place could really heal a chaotic life. What a soothing and relaxing place for every stressful, tired, and exhausted. I so love the views my friend with your amazing photography. Have a nice time and keep safe always.
Thank you very much for stopping by @pinkchic :)
I am glad you enjoyed my pictures!
The pleasure is mine my friend. I really enjoyed the pictures. I hope you are having a great day and take care.
That park is sure a gem so beautiful to get away from the craziness of the city
Surprised to read the long history of this park, a pity there are not more parks there, but this one is for sure so beautiful
Thanks for joining the Wednesday Walk
Thank you very much!
I could have written a lot more about the (dark) history of this place but it would probably have turned my walk into a political post, so I avoided it :)
When one lives in the city, this can be really challenging. That feeling you want to go out for a relaxing walk and finding out there's no place to do so, it's frustrating at times.
Glad you found this place tho and enjoyed a crucial and healthy walk. I really hope government all over the globe considers building more open spaces as the scarcity is always prevalent here in my country. 😊
Yes you are right, the lack of public places to enjoy nature is a problem in so many cities around the world. And I am that it's not getting any better.
Thank you for stopping by @patsitivity :)
Why do I feel like I was there. The garden is so beautiful and you have captured it perfectly! Thank you for showing this beautiful garden that I'd wish to visit one day. 💖
Thank you very much for stopping by @sassy.cebuana :)
I hope you'll have the chance to visit it yourself very soon!
☺️ my pleasure. Yes, praying for it to happen one day.
Wow, I've been walking in this park @fotostef. This is an amazing Athenian park, compared to the hot and tiring streets of the city, when you enter this park, it's like entering another world. It seems that this was once a garden planted especially for the distinguished owner, yes? I really liked what you said, it really is an oasis in the stone jungle. And this sundial😮. However, part with the lake was closed at the time of my visit. And I really liked those palm trees. All your shots came out so alive and carefree😍 Professionally 👏🏻
I realized why I need to travel, at least in order to later see someone's article and say, I was there😅
Thank you @bugavi :)
I am glad you enjoyed both the post and the actual garden! Indeed it is so nice to read a post about a place that you have been there yourself. It gives a totally different perspective on how you see it!
You are right, this garden was once called royal and it was built for the pleasure of one family!
I heard about that royal story from my friend @orestistrips that was doing excursion through Athens for us:)
Beautiful photos!!!
Thank you very much Katerina!
Wow beautiful places.. nature is indeed awesome.. thanks for sharing..
Thank you for stopping by :)