Welcome to Nea Smyrni, my neighbourhood in Athens. The picture above is the view from my balcony, a sight I’ve grown up with. This alsos (something between ‘parkland’, ‘recreational area’ and ‘small artificial forest’ in Greek) has been around since the founding of Nea Smyrni in the 1920s. We used to go there with school on our days off, watch films in the summer when the open-air cinema was still working… Lots of memories.

It used to be much denser with vegetation, more like a tiny forest than a park, but ever since the general reconstruction it went through as part of the gentrification of the neighbourhood by the municipality in the last decade, it’s become more “civilised”, with more open spaces etc. There’s also an open-air gym I sometimes go to when I’m not feeling completely lazy, and a playground that’s totally worse than the one we had back in my day!

The Alsos’s main visitors are families, joggers (including myself), yogis and other people living in the surrounding area out for a breath of fresh air, a bit of exercise or even a party. It’s perfect for anyone who wants to see and feel the Athenian residential parkland life. Bring your book, your gym clothes and/or some music and you’re good to go! Stop at tram stops “Aigaiou” or “Agias Foteinis”.

Tip: also check out the Ionikes Giortes cultural festival for September concerts/plays. Keep an eye out for hoepoes!

Oh – also check out Café Alsos at the center!