Winter Walk: National Gardens of Athens

 

Saturday, 11th of February

Walk in the National Gardens by Goethe-Institut Athen

The National Gardens, formerly the Royal Gardens, is something like Central Park for Athenian naturalists. Its been the go-to place for an easy stroll and a guided introduction to nature in deep urbania. It is also a botanical garden with amazing specimens, particularly the century-plus huge live oaks (Quercus ilex). One of the most important aspects in the National Gardens is the presence of abundant water. Its water features are wonderful - and they have an amazing and very ancient history. 

The water that is still reaching the Gardens is the product of a feat of hydraulic technology from the sixth Century BC. The subterranean aquaduct of Peisistratos used to provide water to Ancient Athens from the foothills of Imittos about seven kms away. It was subterranean - about six meters deep and 60 cm wide. This same water route, using this same ancient aquaduct waters the Gardens today!

There are seven major ponds in the National Gardens, begining with the "flowing pond" that recieves the crystal clear aquaduct waters in the upper part of the Garden, at its topographically highest area, near the Vassilisis Sofias Avenue entrance. Next to this first pond are Roman villa mosaics.... Each of the seven ponds is distinctive. There are Koi Carp and Goldfish, Green Toads and American terrapins. And birds. The nearby 'zoological collection' is rather ridiculous but its the only place to see the wonderful Cretan Wild Goat in the City (Mount Parnitha also has wilder ones...). In winter the atmosphere in the Gardens is unique since the leafless diciduous trees allow for wide-scape views of the mini-landscapes of this wonderful oasis. 

I thank the Goethe Institut who organized this walk and especially, Karen Eichholz and Nikolleta Stathopoulou who also provided me with some of these photos.

The seven ponds of the National Gardens; with my simple names: 1) Vassilisis Sofia's Pond, 2) Nature Pond, 3) Guard's Pond, 4) Wisteria Pergola Pond, 5) Turtle Pond, 6) Central Pond, 7) Oleander Island Pond. If anyone knows the true names of the ponds, or of other ponds in the Garden please write me. 

Important Coastal Conservation Priorities in Kuwait

Back to Kuwait, and invitation by KISR

I made a short trip to Kuwait visiting my colleagues at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR). I have been a visitor to Kuwait as a researcher since 2011, a place that was introduced me and several friends from Greece. This introduced me to the wonders of the subtropical seas, coasts and wetlands of the Arabian Gulf.  I'll try to place captions in the near-future.