send us YOUR smile map!

We all follow the same map when it comes to getting from A to Z in our urban jungle, but what about when it comes to smiling? Every person has a very individual smile map of Athens, and
we invite you to share your top 10 smiling spots
and a few lines expressing the reason why they make you smile!

http://smileathens.blogspot.com/2009/02/smile-map-of-athens.html

Όλοι μας ακλουθούμε τον ίδιο χάρτη όταν θέλουμε να κινηθούμε από το Α στο Ω μέρος της πόλης μας, αλλά ποιον χάρτη ακλουθούμε όταν θέλουμε να χαμογελάσουμε? Ο καθένας μας έχει το δικό του προσωπικό χάρτη τις Αθήνας, και
σε προσκαλούμε να μοιράσεις μαζί μας τα 10 Top Smile σημεία σου
και μερικές γραμμές περιγράφοντας τους λόγους για τους οποίους σε κάνουν να χαμογελάς!

World Smile Day

It may be early days, but did you know about World Smile Day? It takes place every year, on the first Friday in October, so this year it's on the 2nd of October 2009... So we are already brainstorming for something big to take place here in Athens! Feel free to post your ideas in the comment section. ( image from http://flickr.com/photos/39614376@N00/2853243956/)

Smile Map of Athens

By Alexia Amvrazi

It’s true, despite all the noise, chaos, general bad manners, earth-shatteringly high prices and pollution, there are days – or rich, overflowingly bright moments – when Athens makes me profoundly smile, with my heart. And similarly there are certain places that I can guarantee will make my cells shimmy in sometimes an almost unbearably happy frenzy, a joy reminiscent of the sound of Edith Piaf’s expansive voice resonating ‘La Vie En Rose’ through every corner of my body, or like Julie Andrews on a hill throwing her arms up into the air and explosively singing The Sound of Music, or like the insane spiral of heightening speed in the Syrtaki dance fuelled by panygiri wine. Of course these ‘happy places’ are a very subjective experience - the place where I feel happy and alive may be the very same place where someone else might have broken their leg, or worse, their heart. And that’s the interesting thing about this section of smileathens, how much each contributor’s Smile Map can vary, or even how the same places might be chosen for very different reasons. When I moved to Athens in 1982 I lived in the northern suburb of Kifissia, which I still visit regularly since my parents live there, so I shall begin my map that-aways...


1. ☺ The “green patch” on the right hand side along the Kifissias Avenue, just before entering Kiffisia. This is the point where the air temperature drops by around two to three degrees Celsius. Regardless of the season this freshness always feels elating somehow.





2. ☺ Varsos in Kifissia. Varsos is a classic. Just the overwhelming smell of tsoureki and cream, the endless display of meringues, chocolates and tiny pink icing-covered sweets is enough to bring a smile to one’s face, not to mention the general feeling of chaos, the ancient décor (and waiting staff) that keep my teenage memories of skipping morning classes to smoke and drink frappe with fellow schoolmates firmly intact. Also, the famous Varsos stuffed croissant, filled with chocolate and nuts, which a few years ago was hilariously advertised on a piece of A4 paper with a felt pen scribbling that wrote: “these are the very croissants that Prince Charles and Camilla ordered whilst staying in their yacht in Greece recently”. I hope Varsos never changes!

3. ☺ Thisseio. After searching for a long time, and I mean a long time, (and creeping out the residents of the Apostolou Pavlou / Dyonissiou Aeropagitou walkway by perambulating through their neighbourhood looking haunted by my desire to find a home there) I finally moved to Thisseio. There’s a lot that makes me smile about that place: its old-worldliness, the way renovated neoclassical buildings blend with ancient structures, the excruciatingly slow-service organic grocery store on Eptahalkou St, the parks where dog walkers chat and children play til way past midnight, Paionia tea shop on Amfyktionis St, the golden orange resort-type atmosphere during summer twilight that transports you far, far from Athens. And of course the above-mentioned pedestrian, baby carriage, and cyclist-friendly walkways that embrace the Acropolis, as well as Philopappou hill with its lush greenery, various forms of wildlife and glorious views.


4. ☺ Kostas souvlaki on Adrianou St in Plaka. This hole in the wall joint has been serving souvlakia to Athenians and visitors since the late 1940s, and celebrates the fact that its style and standards have remained the same. Quality meat, non-greasy pitta bread, thick creamy yogurt, hot green pepper, lots of finely chopped parsley and a big pinch of loving care make this souvlaki the best I’ve ever had, the type that my grandfather was thinking of when telling me 10 years ago that “you can no longer find a real souvlaki in this city.” Kostas’ grandson has taken the reins, and continues with the same, slow style of preparation; a bit of chat with the regulars, who sit on stools and sip tsipouro, careful chopping, grilling and slicing, and as on my first visit I stood tapping my foot impatiently and looked up, I saw a smile-inducing sign that writes: “Oxi Anxos”, or “no stress” which explained it all. My sense of loyalty and respect for Kostas’ was set for life.

5. ☺ Café Boheme on 36 Omirou St. There is no doubt that if it weren’t for its owners Cassie Wagstaffe and Mimis Manolakis this would be just another trendy, high quality, bar/restaurant. Cassie is the ‘hostess with the mostest’, always organizing fun, creatively themed nights, making decorations and concocting quirky cocktails and decadent desserts alike with boundless enthusiasm, while truly being on a mission to introduce customers to each other, to create a big world of smiling friendship! After many years without a steady hangout (my previous two were margarita lunapark Toy Café in Karitsi Sq and people-watching paradise Morfes in Thisseio), Café Boheme feels like my friend’s house instead of a bar-restaurant, and there I have met wonderful foreigners and Greeks, danced on the table without morning-after shame, performed with a jazz band and dressed up in various laughable attires.

6. ☺ Panepistimiou St. From its first corner with Omonia, where the Loumidis coffee store is located, its pungent aroma filling my nostrils with the varieties of Elliniko, filtrou and espresso, to its very end at Syntagma Sq, I enjoy Panepistimiou St and it makes me feel happy. Unlike 98% of Athens, it has large and wide pavements, and is studded with beautiful buildings such as Athens Academy of Sciences (with its stunning statue of Athena in the sky), the Athens University and the National library, as well as the 6 storey Eleftheroudakis bookstore, perfect for cheering oneself up in on a dull day. It’s also the street where my grandmother’s family home once was (today it is the National Bank) so I also feel a sweet nostalgia for the days that were, imagining my grandmother strolling along there as a young girl in the 1930s, and hanging out at Zonars café with her friends, which apparently was the place to flirt.

7. ☺ Lycabettus’ St George church at sunset. Now I live near Lycabettus Hill, and although I have enjoyed lengthy walks there with my husband and our dog, the classic night drives to take in the glittery cityscapes and summer night uphill treks to the theatre, I had never walked up to St George church at sunset. Upon reaching the top one winter evening my heart sang, as I stood absolutely mesmerized by the engulfing colours of the sky – lavender, red, orange, pink, yellow, blue – in a sweet, wistful silence. We stood there for a long while, staring out at the city we think we know so well but manage to observe from afar so rarely, as it slowly lit up and the day turned gently into night. Pure bliss.


8.☺ The kafeneion down the road from my house. Just one of those basically furnished old coffee shops with strip lighting, a TV, yucky toilet and an old gas heater, overpopulated by men, yet having first gone there in good faith (gut instinct?) I feel appropriately rewarded: I discovered that not only are the owners extremely friendly and smiley and welcoming, not only can I spend hours playing my favourite sport (backgammon), but that they also serve the yummiest home-style food – from fresh whitebait to perfectly done eggs and homemade chips, pikilies not made up of foul fried stuff and bad meats but juicy olives, quality salamis and hams, crispy kalamari… The kind of place I happily go back to knowing that I’ll feel right at home.


9. ☺ My laiki. Every Tuesday we set off to buy fresh fish, vegetables, flowers and fruits from the market that sprawls noisily down the street from 7am to 3pm. Although we always set off determined to not buy too much because there are still those beetroots and lettuces and radishes and lemons on the verge of rotting in the fridge, we always return armed with a plethora of fresh produce that inspires so many recipes and visions of delicious, healthy, happy moments. There’s the fishmonger who knows us by now and won’t dare offer anything but the freshest (unfarmed) fish, which he also cleans for us, and then there’s my favourite, the gourmet laiki-seller man, who sells amazing varieties of Greek mushrooms, truffles and truffle pasta, offering wonderful recipe ideas for everything you pick up, such as the chestnutty red French potatoes “to be eaten steamed and salted with a pungent creamy cheese”.


10. ☺ Rafina port. It has to be said, that one of the greatest joys of Athens is being able to leave it and hop to lovely nearby places on the mainland and the islands. I smile when I think of Rafina port, not only because it reminds me of the few nerve-racking times we literally leapt super-hero like onto the boat to Andros because of tardiness, but also because unlike the horrendously polluted, noisy, grey and overpopulated Piraeus port, Rafina is almost quaint. You can arrive there earlier and enjoy some fresh fish mezedes with some ouzo right in front of the sea after picking up your tickets and then get onto the boat in a leisurely style; something like commencing your holiday way before arriving at your destination, and that can’t be a bad thing.

Thank you smiling bakery!

I have a little bakery near my home, with a smiling elderly couple running it. I always buy my croissants from there, not because they are tastier than at other places, not because they are a bargain, but because I get to smile selflessly to the couple who smiles back! This ritual makes my day...

Double, hubble, stubble trouble, Fire burn and cauldron bubble!!

Ήρθε η ώρα για το πρώτο μου smile-post !

Η Eileen μου ζήτησε μόλις χτες να βοηθήσω στην προσπάθεια της να κάνει ΟΛΗ την Αθήνα να χαμογελάει..

Απόγευμα το ζήτησε, και 3-4 ώρες αργότερα έστιβα το μυαλό μου προσπαθώντας να βρω τι στο καλό θα έγραφα!

Τελικά η λύση ήρθε πιο εύκολα απ'οτι φανταζόμουν! Για ένα blog με θέμα το χαμόγελο, αρκεί απλά να κοιτάξεις γύρω σου για να βρεις αμέτρητους υποψήφιους πρωταγωνιστές!

Εγώ λοιπόν βρήκα μια χαμογελαστή Μάγισσα!
Το μόνο που μπορώ να αποκαλύψω είναι ότι την λένε Ίριδα!

...she suffered from robustly healthy teeth, which she considered a big drawback in a witch. She really envied the witch over the mountain, who managed to loose all her teeth by the time she was twenty and had real crone-credibility. It meant you had to eat a lot of soup, but you also got a lot of respect!

Despite many threats, she had never turned anyone into a frog. The way she saw it, there was a technically less cruel and much more satisfying thing you could do. You could leave them human and make them think they were a frog, which also provided a much innocent entertainment for passers-by!!

Μιλώντας για μάγισσες, και δεδομένου ότι διαβάζετε αυτές τις γραμμές γιατί σαν αρέσει το χαμόγελο (άρα και το καλό χιούμορ!), ρίξτε μια ματιά στα παρακάτω βιβλία του Terry Pratchett!

Wyrd Sisters
Witches Abroad
Equal Rites
Maskerade
Carpe Jugulum

Lets Experiment!

Have you ever walked down the street and had a random stranger smile at you? Did it make you happy? Did you smile back? Let's investigate whether smiling is contagious. You'll need to think of a way to design your experiment. One option would be to take a walk around a park and keep track of how many people smile at you, and whether those numbers change based on whether you smile at them or not. Or maybe you want to see if smiling has a chain reaction by having a friend walk a little ways behind you and see if the number of smiles he or she receives changes depending on whether you smile at the passersby first. However you design your experiment, make sure you're observing many people so that you can draw accurate conclusions!

Inspired from: http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/HumBeh_p042.shtml

Take part in our Exhibition!

Athenians! Send us a picture of you, a friend or a relative smiling somewhere in Athens, Greece! we will be holding an exhibition online of you and your beautiful smiles. The display of your name is optional, just let us know if you'd like a hidden identity or not.

Please email to: contact@ebnefsi.com
Subject on email: Smile Athens
Location : example: "Pagrati"
Name: optional
Deadline: April 1st 2009

Thank you!

Top 10 Reasons to Smile!

1. Smiling makes us attractive.

We are drawn to people who smile. There is an attraction factor. We want to know a smiling person and figure out what is so good. Frowns, scowls and grimaces all push people away -- but a smile draws them in.

2. Smiling Changes Our Mood

Next time you are feeling down, try putting on a smile. There's a good chance you mood will change for the better. Smiling can trick the body into helping you change your mood.

3. Smiling is Contagious

When someone is smiling they lighten up the room, change the moods of others, and make things happier. A smiling person brings happiness with them. Smile lots and you will draw people to you.

4. Smiling Relieves Stress

Stress can really show up in our faces. Smiling helps to prevent us from looking tired, worn down, and overwhelmed. When you are stressed, take time to put on a smile. The stress should be reduced and you'll be better able to take action.

5. Smiling Boosts Your Immune System

Smiling helps the immune system to work better. When you smile, immune function improves possibly because you are more relaxed. Prevent the flu and colds by smiling.

6. Smiling Lowers Your Blood Pressure

When you smile, there is a measurable reduction in your blood pressure. Give it a try if you have a blood pressure monitor at home. Sit for a few minutes, take a reading. Then smile for a minute and take another reading while still smiling. Do you notice a difference?

7. Smiling Releases Endorphins, Natural Pain Killers and Serotonin

Studies have shown that smiling releases endorphins, natural pain killers, and serotonin. Together these three make us feel good. Smiling is a natural drug.

8. Smiling Lifts the Face and Makes You Look Younger

The muscles we use to smile lift the face, making a person appear younger. Don't go for a face lift, just try smiling your way through the day -- you'll look younger and feel better.

9. Smiling Makes You Seem Successful

Smiling people appear more confident, are more likely to be promoted, and more likely to be approached. Put on a smile at meetings and appointments and people will react to you differently.

10. Smiling Helps You Stay Positive

Try this test: Smile. Now try to think of something negative without losing the smile. It's hard. When we smile our body is sending the rest of us a message that "Life is Good!" Stay away from depression, stress and worry by smiling.

From: http://longevity.about.com/od/lifelongbeauty/tp/smiling.htm

Here we go!

This is the beginning of this simple yet at times brave attempt to alter our life. I really do wonder if it will work, I need some support!