Athens is an interesting city to characterize. There’s no simple way to do it. We were the classic example of tourists who came from across the world to see the sight of history’s earliest democracy. A couple of young Americans, recently graduated with degrees in philosophy and political science. Picture perfect story line or what, y’all?

As intriguing to us – if not more – was what would come beyond the typical attractions. The Acropolis, Hadrian’s Library and the Pantheonic Stadium are all well and good. But I couldn’t have anticipated the abrupt, dare I say abrasive reminder that centuries of history lie between 448 BC and 2019, between the Acropolis and the Saronic Gulf, between our grade school civic books and the real thing.

Athens – not just the Greek islands – but the capital, had been on my destinations list for ages. I wanted to see first hand what type of modern day metropolis would develop around the Greek history which we studied in school. The truth is, when I visit a new city, it’s not typically the Fodor’s sights that attract me. I want to see what kind of world people are living in contrasting the historical, charming pictures we’ve painted in our minds about what capitals should look like. I want to see how varied ‘the developed world’ is across the world. I mean, do Tokyo and Paris look alike? No. Are customs and traditions in Budapest and Miami the same? Hell no.

Our choice method of getting to know Athens wasn’t through sightseeing tours, but  through self guided tours of the various neighborhoods. We noticed that every part of Athens had something in common – the relentless amount of surface area which graffiti and street art laid claim to.

This is always a memorable part of traveling for me. It strikes a chord for me as a visual artist, which is why I impulsively documented some of it, but there’s something every traveler ought to appreciate about street art. The main attractions, the charming streets, the tourist trap restaurants and bars are the similar in every city, getting downright repetitive at times. It can feel like an inauthentic, staged, amusement park, where the proprietors know tourists will be comfortable. Here’s how I sum this up: It’s the city speaking for the tourist. Get out of your comfort zone. Look beyond the shiny things and at the street art. This is the city speaking for itself.

Street art is beautiful inconsistency. Like all art, inevitable subjectivity will influence your feelings about your surroundings and overall experience. Some of it may be as simplistic as a pink pineapple, yet visually pleasing and smile-inducing. That inviting feeling could make your stroll through Plaki all the more pleasant.

As (I believe) art always should, some will challenge you. Often street art can be complex beyond our cultural understanding, especially when depicting sentiments toward local social or political conditions. That can often incite a feeling of smallness. Sometimes, they are familiar sentiments and conditions and I find myself in the face of downright disagreement. Regardless of agreeing or disagreeing, seeing familiar concepts and messages through street art incites a crazy feeling of being connected to each other throughout the world.

Here are 15 things you won’t find on a Fodor’s list in Athens:

1. Pink party decorations guarding storefronts

2. Concrete Gardens

3. Surreal Characters

4. Lizards

5. Lions

6. Snakes

7. American Lyrics

8. 3D Heads

9. Bizarre people lingering on the street

10. Other-worldly creatures

11. Geometric distractions, big and small

12. Six foot tall children eating dinner

13. Familiar faces

14. A well lit walk to the central market

15. Anything but ordinary doorsteps

What do you think about Athenian street art? Are you tempted to make the trip? I would love to hear your thoughts. Comment below!