Meet our guest curator, Rachel Adams, (on the right) who has chosen items and made recordings to transport you to Athens; life in its streets and delicious Mediterranean food as well as its classical heritage.

In 2023, my partner and I, together with our dogs, travelled from the UK all the way to Athens by van. On the sixth day of driving, we arrived in the northwest of the city, driving around the periphery to a magnificent sweeping view, looking down on the sprawling vista of apartments. We live in an area called Exarchia - known for being the home of ‘Greece’s intellectual left, anti-authoritarian and anarchist movements’. Fast becoming a tourist hot spot, it is a mix of cafes, independent shops and artists’ studios. An international blend of voices who are friendly and warm. There’s something in the air that evokes history and a powerful sense of place. Children and families gather in playgrounds in central neighbourhood areas in the warmth of the evenings.  Friends and families chat outside cafes perched on small tables and chairs on the streets and sip freddo espressos and water, as smells of grilled meats, cheeses, fresh fruits and veggies hang gently in the air. Groups of older men gather together under trees, around tables with mix and match chairs to play backgammon and drink ouzo.

Every Saturday morning, our road Kallidromiou (The Good Street) is woken early by the sounds of clanking poles as market traders arrive at 4.30am to set up. The street is strewn with tables, displaying brightly coloured vegetables, fruits, honey, nuts, olives, fresh herbs and teas…each carefully presented by its proud owner. We have collected together some items from the market and our local shops, to give you a sensory tour of the place we are calling home.