Going nowhere fast

I came across this sleepy little silver tabby, perched on the comfy seat of this unused (judging by the look of the back tyre!) bike in an area called Anafiotika. 

Anafiotika is a tightly knit maze of tiny whitewashed houses, clinging to the rock of the eastern slope of the Acropolis. It was built in the 1830's by former residents of the island of Anafi who had left their home to find work in the expansion of neo-classical Athens. The masons took advantage of a law stating that any man who could erect a house between the hours of sunset and sunrise would own the land. They built their houses in typical island style, making the area a stark contrast from the rest of Athens.

Apart from being an oasis of calm, island life in the midst of the city, Anafiotika is also home to a huge stray cat population. If you stop to look around you will see them everywhere, curled up in flowerpots, dozing on the winding steps of spiral staircases, and standing watch in doorways. 

Unfortunately the overpopulation has resulted in illness among many of the cats, but Nine Lives has already begun neutering here and many of the residents of the area feed the cats.

If you are in Athens a trip to Anafiotika is a welcome antidote to the pace of city living, and a chance to meet many feline friends!

View over Anafiotika rooftops to Plaka.