Is Athens (Greece, not USA!) worth a record buying trip? - recommendations?

Discussion in 'Marketplace Discussions' started by Squiggsy68, Oct 22, 2019.

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  1. Squiggsy68

    Squiggsy68 Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Hi,

    I can't see any similar threads but if anyone else finds one will be happy for the links!

    As I work as an IT Contractor (see how long that lasts after IR35 changes, but that's another matter) I tend to finish for Christmas for a 'furlough' period. As my wife won't finish for Christmas until around a week later I've used those extra days to go record shopping (mainly) and a bit of sightseeing solo over the last couple of years - 2017 was Berlin, 2018 was Amsterdam. Had a great time in both places.

    Have got the green light to do the same thing again this year and whilst the easy option would be to go back to Amsterdam - had a great time, loads of shops, selection more to my taste than Berlin (more rock / indie etc than dance though I do like a bit of Electronica e.g. Boards of Canada, Stereolab etc), shops were closer together - I've seen a couple of things pop up in research that suggests Athens (Greece, not R.E.M. home turf!) could be a decent trip with some decent shops to dig through over the course of 3 or 4 days (likely fly out on a Monday and back on a Thursday so 3 nights, 2 full days of shopping).

    Anyone got any good recommendations, or done similar before? The fact that it would be a few degrees warmer temperature wise doesn't hurt either. Am also toying with Barcelona for the same reason.

    Thanks!
     
  2. Ghost of Ziggy

    Ghost of Ziggy Forum Resident

    Location:
    Hell
    I’d be more interested in seeing the acropolis.
     
  3. Lecords

    Lecords Forum Resident

    Location:
    Pacific NW
    I had a great time record shopping in Athens last year. Found the best stuff in the area by the Monastiraki flea market (a store called Zaharias was my favorite), but the Exarchia neighborhood has dozens of small shops, too. Metal is very popular in Greece—don't know if that's your speed—and it may be worth educating yourself on some older Greek bands like Aphrodite's Child, Socrates Drank the Conium, Akritas, and Nostrodamos, and seeing if you like their stuff enough to want to track it down.
     
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  4. Squiggsy68

    Squiggsy68 Forum Resident Thread Starter

    As I said, I mix up shopping and sightseeing - round about 50 / 50. Much as I love digging, doing it all day turns from a pleasure to a chore after a while.

    That's great - thank you very much!
     
  5. bob60

    bob60 Forum Resident

    Location:
    London UK
    I am often in Athens on a layover to my house in the Greek islands. As already mentioned Monastiraki / Psiri is a great area to spend some time. Really big market area and some great little bars and restaurants. Be sure to venture down the side streets. Athens is very walkable and everything is very central, it is also very reasonably priced for food and hotels. You will really enjoy it.
    This is a great website, well worth a read (if I have managed to copy and paste properly on my iPad)

    https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&r...m/psiri.html&usg=AOvVaw0lVPwgyluxh4FU4JaD_4Xk
     
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  6. Squiggsy68

    Squiggsy68 Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Thank you! Link works perfectly, I will give it a read this evening.
     
  7. Jvalvano

    Jvalvano Senior Member

    Location:
    NH
    I’ve been to Athens about 6 times in the last few months. I never sought out vinyl places but I can recommend Barley Cargo as a great craft beer place. Cinque wine and deli bar I’d also highly recommend for its wonderful and welcoming owner and staff. Great Greek wine and platters.

    :cheers:
     
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  8. Svetonio

    Svetonio Forum Resident

    Location:
    Serbia
    Glyfada is the best (not Athens downtown, though) IMO.
     
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  9. jmrife

    jmrife Wife. Kids. Grandkids. Dog. Music.

    Location:
    Wheat Ridge, CO
    I lived in Berlin for 2+ years and have visited Athens. The significance of either or both go well beyond record stores.
     
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  10. Holerbot6000

    Holerbot6000 Forum Resident

    Location:
    California
    I love the Agora in Athens but I don't remember seeing any record shops. I did meet the Sandal Maker/Poet who John and Yoko made famous. He gave me a poem when I bought a cool leather bag he had made. It was cured in fish oil so it stunk for awhile, but now, some 25 years later it's a nice vintage bag with a good story behind it. No Rembetika records though, not even a Telly Savalas LP that I recall. Great town though. Crazy.
     
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  11. bob60

    bob60 Forum Resident

    Location:
    London UK
    Glyfada is nice in the summer as you are next to a beach, OP is visiting in December. He is looking for record shops, markets, bars etc monastiraki area is a great place to be based for a couple of days...
     
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  12. Squiggsy68

    Squiggsy68 Forum Resident Thread Starter

    I couldn't agree more - that's why I choose to do these trips in places where I can have a mix of sightseeing / culture / history as well as do some record shopping (which maybe I didn't make clear enough in my intro, my bad). Berlin is a place I've been to a number of times without going anywhere near a record shop!

    But (and with respect) - to a large extent I can get the information I need about museum opening times, best things to see etc from a number of other internet sources and guide books. Reliable record shop / shopping areas recommendations aren't quite so easy to come by, hence my asking the question here where others have done the same in the past.
     
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  13. jimod99

    jimod99 Daddy or chips?

    Location:
    Ottawa, ON
    Never been to Athens, but Vienna has 37 listed record stores, not including chains, like Saturn & Media Markt, and antique stores!
     
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  14. Squiggsy68

    Squiggsy68 Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Vienna is another one I will get to one day - one of the few European capitals I'm yet to visit (though I have been to Innsbruck so not missed Austria altogether). As a bit of a Mahler fan I certainly want to retrace a few of those steps and see the Opera House.

    There is a reasonably 'glossy' but enjoyable monthly magazine in the UK (not sure how wide the distribution is outside UK) that for the first few issues ran an article called 'The Trip' where they went to a different town / city and hit up a load of different shops. Mostly UK, but with a few excursions abroad - one of which was Vienna:

    Long Live Vinyl - The Trip - Record shopping in Vienna

    It would be interesting to know how his view of the shops (and the ones that aren't mentioned!) compare to your own experience.
     
  15. Svetonio

    Svetonio Forum Resident

    Location:
    Serbia
    Then he should take visit to the "Underflow" record store in Kallirois street in downtown Athens (not far from Acropolis Museum).

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    Last edited: Oct 23, 2019
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  16. JohnCarter17

    JohnCarter17 Forum Resident

    Location:
    TX
    Don't wear expensive jewelry or watches. The Greek economy is (and has been hurting) for quite a while and muggings are not uncommon if you are wearing something flashy.

    I have been there about 7 times, my mother is Greek and goes every year. That is from her.
    Monastiraki is a great market.
     
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  17. Squiggsy68

    Squiggsy68 Forum Resident Thread Starter

    @Svetonio - that looks like a fantastic place to have a wander around even if it didn't sell records!
     
  18. Svetonio

    Svetonio Forum Resident

    Location:
    Serbia
    It really is. Also, you should take a visit to the "Off The Record" store in Piraeus, probably the best record store there, due to huge variety of genres Off The Record | Music & Stuff
    And Piraeus is fantastic place too.
     
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  19. jimod99

    jimod99 Daddy or chips?

    Location:
    Ottawa, ON
    Its reasonable but must be a fairly old article, the EMI Store has moved its vinyl dept from when that photo was taken, it is still quite expensive though but that can be expected due to its location (it does have good sales though occasionally) Despite the article there is another record store in the 1st District (Audiocentre) plus a couple of specialist Classical only stores.

    For the other stores the reviews are ok, but he missed a lot of other stores in the area eg. Substance which is directly across the street from SCHALLTER AUDIO & RECORDS.

    Moses seems to get lots of good reviews online but I've never been overly impressed with it, its a bit expensive and it carries a lot of counterfeit pressings (it also doesnt carry as many 7"s now either)

    Vienna has a multitude of good stores, but as pointed out in the article you some of the opening times are bizzare eg. two of my go to stores, one opens at 3pm on weekdays, and the other is only open between 9.30-3.00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays!!!!
     
    Last edited: Oct 23, 2019
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