According to the signage, Melanthiou Street, in the hip Athens neighbourhood of Psyrri, is “a sunny street for shady people”, invoking the sometimes dangerous back alleys of this formerly working-class area, now gentrified.
It could equally be called a shady street for sunny people, in reference to the leafy trees and vines of the church of Ieros Naos Agiou Dimitriou overhanging its fences. And because Athenians, who enjoy more than 300 days of sunlight a year, must be some of the world’s most exuberant hosts.
Lee TullochTravel columnistLee Tulloch is the founding editor of Harper’s Bazaar Australia. Lee lived in New York and Paris for many years before returning to Sydney, but travels frequently to satisfy an inherent restlessness and unquenchable curiosity about the world.
