“I saw him in my sleep again.” It’s an experience shared by many of those who knew and worked with Theo Angelopoulos and especially those who were with him at the film shoot on January 24, 2012 that cost the celebrated Greek filmmaker his life. Ten years on, the events of that afternoon continue to haunt the people who were there.
Producer Costas Lambropoulos (who had working with the director since 1984 and the film “Voyage to Cythera”), director Panayiotis Portokalakis (his assistant on “Ulysses’ Gaze,” 1995) and photographer Ilias Bourgiotis (they first met in 2004 on “The Weeping Meadow”) were among the cast and crew on the set of “The Other Sea.” Two of his daughters were also there, working with him for the very first time, Katerina as a set designer and Eleni in casting.
“The port of Piraeus is where everything happens, with the constant departures and arrivals of ships, like a perpetual migration, internal and external,” Angelopoulos had said, explaining the premise of what was his 14th and last – unfinished – film. The initial idea had come from Bertolt Brecht’s “Threpenny Opera,” but we will never know the final story, what his vision for the film was.
This tribute to Theo Angelopoulos was prompted by the photograph here, taken by Ilias Bourgiotis on that day, for no particular reason. “It wasn’t very interesting, photographically. I saw Angelopoulos next to the cordon looking somewhere in the distance.”
According to Lambropoulos, the filmmaker “was about to cross the road to give instructions about how the trucks carrying the migrants needed to be arranged. The accident happened as he was crossing again on his way back.”
The photo was taken on the regional highway between the Piraeus suburbs of Drapetsona and Keratsini, moments before Angelopoulos was hit by a passing motorcycle. He died later in hospital after lying in a ditch on the side of the road for more than hour waiting for an ambulance. He was 76 years old.
I remember Toni Servillo, the Italian actor, crying in a corner of the emergency waiting room and Angelopoulos’ wife, Phoebe, and their three daughters; I remember Eleni coming to tell us that it was all over. I remember cinematographer Andreas Sinanos, production director Takis Katselis, assistant director Margarita Manta and so many others standing around looking dumbstruck, frozen, devastated.
I ask Portokalakis what Angelopoulos may have been thinking about as he prepared to cross the road. “I don’t know that he was thinking about anything. He was visualizing. He was constructing the shot. He had insisted on this particular spot in Drapetsona. I was aware of the risks, because the area could not be controlled and was not protected. But when Theodoros found what he wanted, he wouldn’t budge. It was easier to change reality than Theodoros’ mind,” he says.
“I often think of those silent trips in the Balkans I took with Theodoros,” says Lambropoulos. “He wouldn’t even let me play the radio. He watched the landscape and created the screenplay in his mind.”
Portokalakis also talks about a question that has been nagging at him ever since the accident. “He had called me on the day of the fateful shoot and asked me to go to Drapetsona earlier than planned with him, but he didn’t say why. I couldn’t make it at the time he wanted so I went as originally planned. I wonder whether things would have turned out different if the butterfly had just flapped its wings another way,” he says.
The photographs taken by Bourgiotis, who was on the set of “The Other Sea,” capturing the action off camera rather than in front of it, were kept shut up in boxes for a long time. “I couldn’t face looking at what I’d shot… I titled the album I published several years later, ‘Eternity’s Gaze,’” he says, a play on the titles of the Angelopoulos classics “Ulysses’ Gaze” and “Eternity and a Day.”
In a brief eulogy at Angelopoulos’ funeral at the First Cemetery in Athens a few days later, Servillo sought to thank the Greek director on behalf of all the foreign actors he had worked with over the years: Marcello Mastroianni, Jeanne Moreau, Gian Maria Volonte, Harvey Keitel, Bruno Ganz, Willem Dafoe and so many more.
“We were all fortunate enough to work under your direction. Thank you,” he said.
A year later, in the summer of 2013, I asked Dafoe during an interview on his appearance in Robert Wilson’s play “The Old Woman” in the English city of Manchester what he had held onto from working with Theo Angelopoulos in “The Dust of Time” in 2008.
“He was a very tough and demanding director,” said the American actor.
“This is how we communicated with Theo: Me with no Greek or French. He with very little Italian and English! He would show what he wanted and I’d copy him. The only thing he could say with a perfect accent was, ‘And then, you cry!’ I also remember that secret smile of his. He’d say something really serious and then suddenly his face would light up with that enigmatic smile.”
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GreeceHome to some of the most passionate basketball fans in Europe
the port city of Piraeus will also serve as the backdrop for the Final Phase of the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 in addition to hosting one of the four groups during the Group Phase
Piraeus extends from the Gulf of Eleusis up to Faliro bay
It is located 12km southwest of the centre of Athens
The main port of Piraeus is located between Piraeus peninsula and Drapetsona
Piraeus has become a major international maritime and shipping industry center
Apart from commercial trading it transports million passengers each year to the Aegean islands
Themistocles was the first to realize the strategic position of Piraeus with the three natural harbors and in 493 BC
In 470 BC the length of the walls of Piraeus exceeded 11km
After the establishment of the new Greek state and the transfer of the capital to Athens
The city attracted lot of people and the arrival of refugees to Greece from Asia Minor after the Asia Minor Catastrophe of 1922
many of whom settled in the area of Piraeus
gave a big boost in its economic development
Piraeus into the largest port of Eastern Mediterranean coast
The modern aspect of the city is equally captivating
cafes a lot of them situated by the sea or with an unblocked view to the sea are a pure magnet to locals and tourists
Piraiki are just a few of the places you can visit and have you drink
The Piraeus-Athens Electric Railway Station was constructed around 1926-1929 by the architect Ioannis Axelos
an eclecticist structure with a transparent roof
Initially steam trains connected Athens to its port
The line from Athens to Piraeus was inaugurated on February 27
An attraction and your way from Piraeus to Athens and all the way to Kifissia
the Hellenic Maritime Museum are just some of the important buildings and landmarks of the city
Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium has its own history
as it was built originally in 1895 as a velodrome and that was its use in 1896 Athens Olympic Games
Its use as a football stadium began in the 1920’s and today it’s the home of Olympiacos’ football team
Right opposite Peace and Friendship Stadium
Greece (AP) - Colorful kites danced in the skies above the hilltops and seafront promenades of Athens on Clean Monday as Greeks turned out to celebrate the Eastern Christian holiday in their traditional fashion after being hit hard by the pandemic during the winter
with most retail businesses shut and people allowed out of their homes only for essential purposes and generally within walking distance
street vendors pulled out colorful displays of kites
and on Monday many families came out to fly them while wearing masks and minding social distancing guidelines
'œI've been flying kites for the last 40 years,'ť said Panagiotis Velopoulos
who unfurled an octagonal kite on a hill across from the Acropolis and launched it on his first try into the sunny spring air
'œThere are not as many people as in previous years
Clean Monday marks the transition from Carnival to the beginning of Lent
a period of spiritual purification in preparation for the solemnity of Orthodox Easter
and kites have been an essential part of celebrations for more than a century in Greece
Scholars have found evidence of Easter-season kite-flying in Europe as far back as the 17th century
likely symbolizing raising one's soul to God or Jesus' resurrection
it also signifies a desire to reach for the divine
'œI wake up every day and '¦ cross myself and thank God for what we have
because unfortunately there are many fellow human beings who have nothing,'ť said Eleftheria Zissi
this is making us all think about all the positive things in our lives.'ť
Many immigrants from countries with their own deeply rooted kite-flying traditions
have enthusiastically joined locals in the Clean Monday custom
it was also a moment of hopefulness after many public religious rituals were canceled or curtailed by the pandemic
which has killed more than 7,000 people in the country of about 11 million
we have fresh air and joy around," Zissi said
"It's an optimistic message for the future.'ť
Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through The Conversation U.S
The AP is solely responsible for this content
the Greek government claims to support the project and believes that organizing such an event could have beneficial effects for a country currently experiencing a severe economic and tourist crisis
© Dielpis F1 / Overwhelmed by the economic crisis and the multiple austerity plans imposed by Brussels
Greece is nevertheless seriously considering organizing a Formula One Grand Prix
Launched in June 2011 by a Greek business group and designed by an Athenian architect
the project for a Greek Grand Prix located in the port of Piraeus
was submitted to the FIA in November 2011 before being presented in detail last May to Jean Todt and Bernie Ecclestone
The project involves a 210,000m² plot of land that has been left unused for twelve years in the industrial port
5.2 km long with 70% of its route on pre-existing roads
would run counterclockwise and feature 13 left turns and 12 right turns
The stands could accommodate 130,000 spectators
while part of the circuit would pass through an already existing road tunnel
This is not the first time that a Greek Grand Prix has been considered
with a project having already been mentioned in May 2011 in Patras
gained momentum thanks to the support of the Greek government
Although it has been clarified that public funds will not be used for the project's financing
expressed his support for the project in the pages of Autoweek: "We must support all projects that promote Greece
The possibility of Drapetsona hosting a Formula One race would be very important for the development of Piraeus."
believes that hosting a Grand Prix could be positive for the economy: « The main priority of this government is to create development tools
every effort to promote Greece and attract international attention is welcome and deserves our support
The project of organizing a Formula One race in Drapetsona raises expectations to enhance our tourism value through the promotion of the history of the Piraeus port and the restructuring of the entire region
Such a project would create new jobs and place our country back on the international stage
Greece is now hit by the tourism crisis since
according to the National Union of Travel Agencies
departures from France to Greece have decreased by 17%
the drop in tourism is estimated at 30 to 50% in some areas
in a country where the tourism industry accounts for 15% of GDP and 20% of the workforce
Greece had a record year with 16.5 million visitors
a revenue increase of 10% compared to 2010
with the political instability that has plagued the country over the past year
along with protests that have attracted media attention and spontaneous strikes
Greece is no longer as favored by travel operators
which has relied for nearly forty years on mass tourism
now seems to want to turn towards high-end tourism
which could notably be generated by Formula One
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One person has died following a fire aboard a Greek high speed ferry while docked at a shipyard in Drapetsona
Hellenic Seaways confirmed the fire Monday aboard their Highspeed 5 catamaran ro-pax ferry while berthed in a shipbuilding area for routine maintenance and repair
The fire was quickly brought under control by firefighting crews
Video from the scene shows that the fire tore through the upper decks of the vessel amidship
The 85-meter ferry was built in 2005 and is known for its high speed (40 knots) and impressive docking maneuvers
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May 2 (Reuters) – A ship carrying humanitarian aid and activists for Gaza was bombed by drones in international waters off Malta early on Friday
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Iran on Wednesday that it will face consequences for supporting the Houthis
even as the United States has relaunched talks with Iran over its nuclear program
The US economy contracted at the start of the year for the first time since 2022 on a monumental pre-tariffs import surge and more moderate consumer spending
a first snapshot of the ripple effects from President Donald Trump’s trade policy
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The Attica Regional Council has expropriated a 20-hectare plot belonging to the National Bank of Greece, paving the way for Piraeus' Drapetsona suburb to get its first proper park.
Along with several parcels of land already owned by the municipality, the new plot is seen as the necessary addition to launch an ambitious overhaul of an area that once housed a waste treatment plant.
“Drapetsona is very densely populated and has effectively been cut off from the sea. The revamp will improve the area's environmental equilibrium, will provide residents with opportunities for leisure and will reintegrate certain important industrial buildings in the urban fabric,” Pireaus Deputy Governor Giorgos Gavrilis said.
The plant was shut down in 1999, giving rise to multiple scenarios about how its facilities and surrounding property could be utilized to the benefit of this impoverished part of the port city. Recently, a plan was drawn up for an overhaul of the area, including the park.
The 11th anniversary of anti-fascist rapper Pavlos Fyssas’ murder will be commemorated on Wednesday with a gathering in Keratsini, Piraeus, where Fyssas was fatally stabbed by a member of the neo-Nazi group Golden Dawn.
The rally is set to begin at 5.30 p.m. at the monument dedicated to Fyssas, also known by his stage name Killa P. Protesters will march to the Museum of the Kokkinia Roundup Stockade in Athens, a memorial to the victims of the 1948 roundup and imprisonment of suspected communist sympathizers during the Greek Civil War.
On Tuesday evening, thousands attended an anti-fascist concert at Lipasmata Multifunctional Park in Drapetsona, Piraeus.
Fyssas was murdered on September 18, 2013, by Giorgos Roupakias following an altercation in a local café.
The killing of the 34-year-old led Greek authorities to initiate a crackdown on Golden Dawn, ultimately convicting its entire leadership of running a criminal organization.
The life of a young fox pup found severely injured in the Kypseli area of central Athens is in jeopardy after it reportedly fell from a rock on a hill aptly named “Alepotrypa” (Fox Hole). The pup is currently being treated by ANIMA, the Hellenic Wildlife Care Association.
Maria Ganoti, head of ANIMA, stated that the fox pup suffered serious head and nose injuries, and its survival remains uncertain after two days of struggling to stay alive. This marks the first time a baby fox has been found within Athens’ urban area, indicating that the species is now breeding within the city itself, Ganoti said.
Ganoti also mentioned that other young foxes have been spotted in various parts of Athens, including Ilisia, Marousi, and the area around Mount Hymettus. Recently, ANIMA was called to rescue a fox pup from a basement in the Athens Central Food Market (Varvakeios), where it was presumably searching for food.
ANIMA has shared reports on its Facebook page of fox sightings in areas such as Lycabettus Hill, Filopappou Hill, the Acropolis, as well as neighborhoods like Drapetsona, Nikaia, Aigaleo, Alimos, Galatsi, Perissos, Nea Ionia, Pefki, Maroussi, Halandri, Voula, Vari, and Glyfada.
Ganoti explained that these numerous reports confirm that foxes should now be considered “urban animals.” She urged drivers, especially in the evening hours, to be cautious of the risk of hitting foxes.
In addition, ANIMA has launched a fundraising appeal to support the care of not only foxes but other wildlife living in the urban environment, particularly during this time of year when many animals are giving birth. [AMNA]
The mother and brother of Panagiotis Mavrikos, the Akropolis newspaper publisher who died in a car accident in 2016, on Wednesday plunged into the sea off a pier in Drapetsona in what authorities believe to be a suicide pact.
Sofia Mavrikou, 76, and Theodoros Mavrikos, 53, fell into the sea in their car at 11.30 on Wednesday morning, with the two family dogs in the vehicle.
Coast Guard divers sought to rescue them but were unable to. Their bodies were pulled out of the A-Class Mercedes along with that of one of the dogs. The other dog managed to get out safely.
According to witnesse accounts, the car, which was being driven by the 76-year-old, accelerated along the pier and fell into the sea.
The Coast Guard has launched an investigation into the exact circumstances of the incident with initial suspicions said to point to suicide. According to sources, the mother had consumed sedatives shortly before the plunge.
According to the family lawyer, Alexis Kougias, the 76-year-old had serious financial problems while her son had chronic psychological issues.
Panagiotis Mavrikos' death on the Attiki Odos in 2016 came a few months after his release pending trial on charges of extorting huge sums in advertising from state-run companies, including the Athens water company (EYDAP).
Next Monday’s deadline for the submission of binding offers for the majority stake in Piraeus Port Authority (OLP) is looming, and Tuesday saw the issue of the final version of the concession contract for the port installations in Piraeus.
According to sources, they include the management of the Perama-Salamina ferry, which had been a major bone of contention between the state privatization fund (TAIPED) and the Merchant Marine Ministry.
However, the seafront in the area of Drapetsona is excluded, as are a series of other properties that are not related to the operation of the port.
3 min readPublished 25 January 2012 12:00am
Sport
With the Australian Grand Prix 2019 and Formula One season just one week away from starting
it’s time to cast the spotlight on the much-rumoured F1 track that has been discussed for Greece
there has been much speculation and comments regarding whether or not the country would move forward with the creation of a race track for Greece and where it should take place
Some investors from nearby Patra had shown interest in funding the venture back in the late Nineties
The next location to be brought up as a potential Grand Prix host was Elliniko
After the Athens Olympics in 2004 and the relocation of the airport
the grounds of the old airstrip were left unused and many rumours began to surface regarding what its future use would be
Whispers were heard regarding the creation of a park with the inclusion of a Formula One track
it was to be designed based on those of Melbourne and Montreal
pointing out that he would not be against the creation of an F1 track but it would need to be created outside of the residential zone and with proper infrastructure
the Hellenic Fan Club of Cars and Tours (ELPA) got as far as to receive a signed order by the then President of the Republic himself
regarding the requirements for the creation of an F1 track in the city of Orchomenos in Boeotia
All the groundwork had been completed and it was calculated that around 60-80 milion euros would be necessary for the track to be completed within two years
the relevant government board had agreed to pass on 1,400 acres worth of land to a company that was comprised of the ELPA
the Municipality of Orchomenos and the prefecture and was founded solely with the purpose of creating the track
What happened to this venture remains unknown
but it is apparent that things did not progress as scheduled
as Greece was already trying to learn how to live with the new rules that the financial crisis brought along with it
a company under the name of “Autokinhtodromio Patras” (Patra Speedway) appeared seemingly out of nowhere to suggest that they could easily create a Formula One race course within the Chalandritsa area and provide working opportunities for hundreds of people
the groundwork had been laid and the country could have its own Grand Prix within three years time
provided they could be inducted into Parliament and receive 29 million euros worth of public funding
the project went nowhere as they never received the money that they needed
the plan that came closest to becoming reality has been the Grand Prix of Drapetsona
an area in the southwestern suburbs of Athens
the civil engineer Thanasis Papatheodorou designed the sketches for the race course and after years of planning and capital raising
the company “Dielpis Formula 1” was founded in the hopes of gaining the support of the political world and the attention of the racing world
as former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras threw his backing towards the project
according to an interview Papatheodorou gave to CNN
Bernie Ecclestone mentioned that he had taken notice of the plan and wanted to meet with Samaras and the people behind it to see if they had the necessary funding
the matter progressed so far that the company “Formula One Licensing” patented the name “Formula One Mediterranean Grand Prix.” However
which led to political and financial instability in Greece
and so the nation still remains without a Grand Prix
It remains unknown if Athens or Greece in general will ever have its own Formula One course
Several attempts have been made and the infrastructure does exist for the creation of a satisfactory racing experience
Perhaps now that the country is beginning to slowly come out of the financial crisis
it would be a good time to for such an investment to take place
Souvlaki originated in Piraeus and its heart continues to beat there even today
But which are the authentic souvlaki shops waiting to be discovered
when Isaak Meraklidis established the first souvlaki shop
an Armenian from Adana (known for its kebabs)
He changed his name from Misak Anispikian to Isaak Meraklidis and became famous for his kebabsOthers followed in his footsteps
While many of these historic souvlaki shops have closed
some continue to carry on their founders’ traditions
The souvlaki shops in Piraeus that I prefer are authentic
They serve delicious souvlaki wraps with secret red sauces
I have sat behind stacks of souvlaki wraps from Kohili dozens of times
Their souvlaki is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand
dry pita bread and a special red sauce that’s spicy without being too hot
They also add thinly sliced onion mixed with parsley
They don’t use tzatziki and they ask if we want fries (which we decline)
please say it before your turn,” to avoid misunderstandings
which is cute but ineffective in terms of distribution
One wrap by Panagiotis Lavkiotis is never enough
Their pork is made from tenderloin and they only use onion in their patties
I recommend that you order your souvlaki without fries and only add tomato
or bells and whistles – just the aroma of charcoal
This neighborhood souvlaki shop stands out in Rentis’ Eleftherios Venizelos Square neighborhood
despite the fact that its plain sign is barely visible
Aris has no seats; you must eat your souvlaki standing (which I recommend if you want it hot)
please,” definitely without fries because they aren’t great
even though the gyro is handmade and delicious
The large soft pita also contains freshly made tzatziki
I like how he adds salt at the end and ask for extra hot red pepper – a delight
The oldest and most traditional souvlaki shop in Drapetsona is Polyvios
located behind the Papaioannou bridge and the church of Aghios Dionysios
The shop was initially opened by Polyvios Silvestros in 1935; it is now run by his grandson
“Let’s go to Aghios Dionysios for souvlaki portions,” was the saying among souvlaki lovers in the 1980s
Souvlaki portions were a very popular way to serve souvlaki in the neighborhood: two pitas
The tzatziki and freshly cut fries were served separately
They prepare everything from scratch using ingredients sourced from local businesses
Polyvios makes the sausage the same way his grandfather did
but he doesn’t share the recipe; he also serves kebab
The butter he adds to the pitas after they’ve been grilled
They don’t do this at any other souvlaki restaurant
Two large and soft grilled pitas are placed on a small plate
topped with well-cooked kebab that melts in your mouth
It is made using a secret recipe that they will not share
The shop is located on a quiet street off Anapafseos
The decor is reminiscent of a mountain retreat
with wooden paneling on the walls and framed landscape paintings
The plastic tables and chairs among the many basil plants on the sidewalk fill up quickly in the evening
Giorgos is a cool and airy shop on the corner of Gounari and Nikita streets
bringing back memories of Sunday meals in the countryside with your grandparents
Monday-Saturday: 11:00-19:30 (open until 22.00 on Thursdays in the summer)
It’s worth visiting Neraida Square in old Kokkinia
but also to enjoy the delicious sausages and the fluffy
the grill he built to cook his amazing kebabs is still going strong
now taken over by his daughter Anni and his son Avedis
and served on a pita with only salt and pepper
and Polyvios were the three “forefathers” of souvlaki in Drapetsona
Piraeus residents considered going to Aghios Dionysios for kebab and “black” sausage a proper outing
though the food and atmosphere have remained unchanged; the large hall with wooden paneling on the walls and the simple courtyard are ideal for those who want to remember or relive old family outings
which come with fluffy and oily pita that is the perfect balance of crispy and soft
this is where the history of souvlaki in Athens begins
Misak Anispikian left Asia Minor before the Catastrophe of 1922 and traveled to Egypt before arriving in Nikaia in 1924
introducing the kebab and his version of Arabic pita bread
which he developed with the help of a baker from Nikaia
The shop has moved several times over the years
but Misak’s successors continue the tradition in a new location
They prepare wraps using pitas from the traditional Hasiotis workshop and juicy
This article appeared in Greece Is (www.greece-is.com), a Kathimerini publishing initiative.
Dozens of photos were shared on social media from the pre-wedding party of Theodora Glucksburg, daughter of the former King Constantine, and her fiancé, Matthew Kumar, which took place in the garden of the Byzantine Museum.
In these images, the couple’s moments of happiness throughout the party, surrounded by their distinguished guests, are captured.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Greek Royal (@greek_royal)
In one video, the couple is seen dancing to the song “Drapetsona,” composed by Mikis Theodorakis with lyrics by Tasos Livaditis. The guests applauded them continuously as they danced.
The party was a formal affair with 250 close relatives and friends, both royal and non-royal.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Andreas Megos (@andreas_megos)
The museum’s space was rented to the former royal family of Greece
with one significant obligation – the family had to cover the cost of maintaining the museum’s gardens
including plant renewal and equipment upkeep
Members of royal families and foreign journalists have arrived in Greece for the three-day event
with much attention from the foreign press on the wedding and reception
where haute couture outfits will be on full display
the newlyweds will also host a farewell brunch for all their guests
once again at the One & Only Aesthesis
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