from crumbling public infrastructure

Much of the infrastructure in Athens was built rapidly to accommodate a population explosion of Greeks fleeing Asia Minor in the 19th and 20th centuries. Now, because of financial hardship, it is beginning to falter. In the suburbs, narrow sidewalks of concrete blocks crack and become loose rubble over time. Sometimes, tree roots and plant growth cause this. Sometimes, it is just due to neglect. As some people leave Greece, parts of Athens can feel empty and cracked, yet the city still maintains a beauty and sense of resilience.

Eliana Kavouriadis in Athens