Monastiraki, Argolis

A man is seen Thursday in an otherwise empty Monastiraki Square, usually one of the capital's most popular meeting points for both tourists and locals. A lockdown imposed by the government early last week to curb the spread of the coronavirus has been broadly observed by most people, the authorities have said, though the police continue to record hundreds of transgressions every day.

Athens' so-called "commercial triangle," an area between Syntagma, Monastiraki and Omonia squares, is arguably one of the most happening parts of the Greek capital right now. Every one of its narrow streets, every building, is a monument to a piece of the city's social and economic history. It's a mosaic in a constant state of transformation yet fundamentally unchanged.

A cultural association from Skyros showcases carnival customs of the central Aegean island in an event at central Syntagma Square in Athens on Saturday. With carnival season officially under way, the Athens municipal authority, among others, has organized free events drawing on Greece's diverse local traditions.

Three Pakistani migrants were slightly injured after a brawl broke out in Monastiraki Square in central Athens between groups of migrants from different ethnic groups.

Police are investigating the incident which took place shortly before midnight.

No more details were immediately available.

A long-distance KTEL bus was completely burned on Saturday evening when it was hit by lightning outside the village of Monastiraki, located near the Greek-Turkish border, in the regional unit of Evros.

According to local website e-evros.gr, the bus was travelling from Alexandroupolis to Orestiada when it was hit by a lightning bolt.

The Tango Factory dance school and Argentinean musician Sabrina Tonelli will be at Monastiraki Square from noon to 3 p.m. on New Year's Eve showing the public what a great milonga party is all about. Professional instructors will be at hand to teach you all the moves. The event is free of charge.

Ermou in the center of Athens has climbed six spots in the global rankings of main streets based on their prime rental value over the course of the last 12 months.

The other night, I was noticing the crowds of foreign tourists in Athens. Areas between Monastiraki and Syntagma were packed, and I had to jostle through crowds on the sidewalk. The restaurants on Mitropoleos Street were packed.

The City of Athens has placed water dispensers at 35 key locations around the capital to ensure that its stray dogs and cats can stay hydrated against the heat wave that is expected to slam the country as of Wednesday.

Local band Solastas will be performing traditional songs from around the world from Scotland to Lapland and Sweden at the Poems & Crimes bookstore and music cafe on Monday, January 23. The concert starts at 9.30 p.m. and admission costs 5 euros.