Greece
Athens, Crete
You said: “I’ll go to another country, go to another shore,
find another city better than this one.
Whatever I try to do is fated to turn out wrong
and my heart lies buried like something dead.
How long can I let my mind moulder in this place?
Wherever I turn, wherever I look,
I see the black ruins of my life, here,
where I’ve spent so many years, wasted them, destroyed them totally.”
You won’t find a new country, won’t find another shore.
This city will always pursue you.
You’ll walk the same streets, grow old
in the same neighborhoods, turn gray in these same houses.
You’ll always end up in this city. Don’t hope for things elsewhere:
there’s no ship for you, there’s no road.
Now that you’ve wasted your life here, in this small corner,
you’ve destroyed it everywhere in the world.
The City by C.P. Cavafy is a poem I first read in an Athens bookshop, aimlessly wandering the city. No single poem has ever affected me like this poem did, it is reproduced above.
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=1920,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/greece2487-AR07j7EG0BcJbxJn.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=567,h=378,fit=crop,trim=0;0;0;0/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/greece2333-mP47x73v3gI1GRJm.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=328,h=250,fit=crop,trim=0;313.344;0;313.344/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/greece2333-mP47x73v3gI1GRJm.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=776,h=517,fit=crop,trim=0;0;0;0/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/greece0350-m2Wlxl9p8VS1pjGM.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=328,h=219,fit=crop,trim=0;9.848024316109422;0;0/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/greece0350-m2Wlxl9p8VS1pjGM.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=554,h=368,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/greece2374-m7VM7MDxOgiKpew0.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=313,h=209,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/greece2374-m7VM7MDxOgiKpew0.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/greece2185-mxBl6lR76BCp9Kxw.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/greece2173-mjEQ1QJMoDUgrVq3.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/greece2487-AR07j7EG0BcJbxJn.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/greece2191-A1aQnQ7L3RHWGRPL.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/greece0350-m2Wlxl9p8VS1pjGM.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/greece2162-AVLzvNOMz5UpWbpj.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/greece2159-Yg2aZ5ER0yuql6b3.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/greece2154-m2WlxrOZBZf0Ogp6.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/greece2039-mxBl68MQroIyBG9K.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/greece1923-AE0M8vaeaZhNr6OD.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1959-d953zkyDJKTPKrQg.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1933-ALpO1RDBQEHqRzpq.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1902-YZ9761xE8xhJ6z1p.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1906-mjEQ1Jq4bBTGMven.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/greece1926-YZ9761l8nOsJ3RnB.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1908-d953zk77NWs728L8.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1917-mv04ng22jofjMBWB.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1584-dWx0VQlyNZUNlDqQ.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1913-YbNZPEqBNxUbJkDj.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1887-YKbaeRZMXQtDKloq.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1864-AQE4LlOogWfR3GQ6.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1848-YBg8QR0OpxilKKDW.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1835-AzG8J25BaLu345x9.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1832-YNqpaR1ex0Tnq7B4.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1497-A3QPLeWWG0hJ9Kno.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1800-m5K25Bj5DjFQZbkV.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1741-AzG8JoR5XlSLlbql.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1731-mp86jQkxJ5cRy2Mb.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1716-mjEQ16Zay5SkNM15.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1713-ALpO1KVqlyI7vXEk.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1694-YKbae405PyFaQl39.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1680-dJoB3y7R4gCD90kY.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1673-YrD6EyPxkPhO0wB8.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1668-mxBl6g3JbjC8E8xp.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1667-m5K25BjolqTZ0JJ2.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1659-A3QPLengWWfV9X3l.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1632-m6LDEaKg19t4LxMG.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1630-YbNZPj3jErhlQgz4.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1597-m2Wlx36O6ofy3LjZ.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1584-AwvJNVQ7w7HN1N8g.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1489-AMqxB0PGRJspwNWV.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1528-YbNZPjxG29Fa76vV.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1517-m7VM7OoyDJTybZvP.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1543-mP47xgDy3nIwM71m.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1539-AwvJNVGZz1fO9OxZ.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1513-YNqpaG85a8Fk6LLP.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1511-mP47xgoDrxi2Zkr4.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1497-A3QPLeWWG0hJ9Kno.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1581-YKbae497ZjUav4pw.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1570-Yle6aJZE9rf53gJP.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1563-mjEQ16Znw2fVapzg.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1548-A3QPLengByHMMr6W.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/greece0634-AVLNXQW33ntxr8xO.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/greece0695-YbNy5gO5vyTKEKRQ.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/greece0493-dWx0VQnW3zspjBrW.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/greece0741-d95r69MGbbF69r4k.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/greece0669-YD0v5or4XyiNoJ0D.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/greece0470-mk35MGlln7sPPy8z.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=303,h=303,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/swedengreece1445-A3Qr49pLq1TyE9lg.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=1224,h=816,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/greece1923-AE0M8vaeaZhNr6OD.jpg)
![](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=328,h=219,fit=crop/mnlz4P9nD5TvEeQ1/greece1923-AE0M8vaeaZhNr6OD.jpg)