Athens – Pandemic Update

[Xclay]

Santiagodc wrote an epic, three-part account of the 2019 prepandemic scene in Athens. His posts were my guidebook, but of course a lot has changed. Here is my update:

Theaters
Sadly, the wild, astonishing places that Santiagodc vividly described were shuttered. You’d think the guys who sold themselves there would have moved to nearby Omnia Square, but not the case.

Omnia Square
Nothing like the cruising nirvana that Santiagodc saw. Usually no more than a couple of guys, if any, were waiting by each metro escalator. And most of them were neither attractive nor making any eye contact.

Usually, only one or two guys, if any, in the whole Omnia area were signaling availability. Overall, there was neither the quantity or quality that I’d expected. I erroneously thought the pandemic would bring out more immigrants needing cash.

One reason may have been a police crackdown. Police were everywhere around Omnia, especially on the weekend.

I nodded to one good-looking young man who followed me around the corner where I discovered he was selling grass only. He refused to consider sex even with a generous offer.

Omnia side streets
A few guys were hustling on the side streets that Santiagodc had identified. But again, few were good choices. Around here I found only three (during a week) worth taking to the short-term hotel one block over.

€5 rooms
Santiogodc’s tips on the €5 short-term hotel rooms and how it all works were spot on. Rooms were surprisingly clean too.

Parks
Same pattern. Not nearly as many guys hustling as I’d expected – only a few, day or night.

Fees
Santiogodc’s summary of expected payments was higher than I paid. I always said, as if not open for debate: €20. None ever hesitated and they all smiled. But these were for short action in €5 hotel rooms or bar washrooms or park thickets, not for longer sessions. (Santiagodc took some guys back to his hotel room.)

Multinational
As Santiogodc described in detail, you do see a variety of the Balkans through to Central Asia. I personally promoted international relations with Albania, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Iraq, Kurdistan, and often Persia.

Bars
Many of the bars were closed and a few were just beginning to open back up. One place that was open had a number of healthy-looking, nearly middle-class, easy-going, G-for-P, Persian guys was Sami's.

Bonus Eye Candy
Among the many Greek policemen in their 20s or 30s, quite a few were hot and, as their tight uniforms revealed, have toned bodies and nice bulges. In every group of four or five, invariably one was extra, jaw-droppingly sexy.

Tourist tip
Get the Acropolis at 8am when it opens and be rewarded with having the Parthenon all to yourself. Then go to the new Acropolis Museum nearby and have breakfast with a view on the upstairs terrace.

Of course, “your mileage may vary.” But, if you want to visit Athens anytime soon, you can have fun, but I’d caution against expecting the full, grand scene with wild theaters that Santiagodc recounted from years past.

[tm_nyc]

Thanks!  An excellent post (even if it's less than what Santiogodc experienced).  Glad to hear that you were 'stimulating the local economy' in Athens.

Can you say anything about the age & general type (or types) of guys that you encountered?

[JackR]

Thanks for your post Xclay. I was intrigued by Santiagodc's Athens post as well, and I still hope to get to Athens at some point this year or next.

I wonder if the police presence on Omnia was only temporary.

[Xclay]

5 hours ago, tm_nyc said:

Thanks!  An excellent post (even if it's less than what Santiogodc experienced). ...

Can you say anything about the age & general type (or types) of guys that you encountered?

Thanks!

Ages?  Nearly all in their early to later 20s, with one attractive, masculine Iranian guy I was with who was 30.

Types? Straight acting, G-for-P guys. Given the gene pool, dark hair and mostly brown eyes, but not at all dark or even olive skin. All were fairly trim, with some more toned and some more skinny.  (Plus a few who looked sadly emaciated.) 

Edited June 9, 2021 by Xclay
Edit the prior quote to focus on the question I answered.

[Xclay]

3 hours ago, JackR said:

I wonder if the police presence on Omnia was only temporary.

Interesting question.

Recently Kostas Bakoyannis, handsome young new mayor of Athens, was quoted here stating:

"We are reclaiming public space, like Omonia Square, a city landmark — I think that’s going to be a symbol."

If so, that suggests more than a temporary crackdown.

[tm_nyc]

Thanks, XClay, your description of the local talent in Athens is pretty much exactly what I had hoped!

 

[Axiom2020]

The Covid pandemic has adversely affected everyone and almost every place (especially the cities and countries that "WE" visit); thus this is really NOT the time for anyone to be traveling and exploring and experiencing what one perhaps pre-covid.

I love to travel internationally to the countries that are posted about here, but I plan not to resume doing this until late 2022 and during 2023.  I hope a huge semblance of normalcy has occurred by then.

Thanks to the two men who posted about Greece (Athens in particular).  I yearn to return there, for I liked the city when I was there many, many, many ago.  ...went to Mykonos but have yet to go to other places when I venture there again.

[tassojunior]

United has a brand new, 1st-ever, nonstop from DC to Athens and there are specials of $600 RT in peak. Also there's plenty of rewards seats for 30K or 33K miles and even some 66K miles Polaris Business seats (usually 160K). 

The Europe red-eye over is the one Business class indulgence I use sometmes. Better to sleep in a flat bed on the plane than lose the 1st day there sleeping. 

[msclelovr]

Just a “heads up” for any traveller to Greece…

A friend of mine flew into Corfu yesterday. He’s fully vaccinated and had the required documentation but also took with him a negative COVID test from the day before. The Border officer laughed and said the negative test wasn’t required as of the previous night; the officer added that it was a good thing to have though, as “the (Greek) Govt. changes the regulations every 3 days”.
 

What was unexpected by my friend is that everyone on the flight (no exceptions) was given a rapid-flow test on leaving the aircraft and before they could proceed to the line for Border Control. 

[speedoo1]

On ‎7‎/‎2‎/‎2021 at 4:37 PM, msclelovr said:

What was unexpected by my friend is that everyone on the flight (no exceptions) was given a rapid-flow test on leaving the aircraft and before they could proceed to the line for Border Control. 

This has been reported for several Greek destinations, including the islands, for UK flights. Some places the testing is organised in a reasonable fashion and not too time consuming; other places it is not.

[EZEtoGRU]

I read yesterday that COVID cases have been increasing all across Greece...including on many of the Greek Islands.  it's possible some areas of Greece could go back into code red shutdown again....or at least severe restrictions.  If you're planning on going there soon, be sure to check up on the latest pubic health information.  

[bucky13]

I'm bumping this as I'm planning an Albanian trip in Mid-October and found there are RT fares from the US West Coast (both LAX and SFO) to Athens for $300. 

You read that right.  Round Trip.    

So if you've been itching for the Greek experience, even somewhat restricted by Covid, for that price a Mediterranean get away may be just what the doctor ordered.  

Since I'll spend a couple days there after Albania, does anyone have any Autumn updates to Xclays experiences above?  Faleminderit!

 

[msclelovr]

One aspect many posters may be unaware of…Greek policemen often work in ‘plain clothes’.
 

They do this to catch visitors and locals who think to break the law, particularly nowadays the pandemic regulations. On-the-spot fines are levied. One example is that it’s lawful to NOT wear a mask when eating outdoors at a taverna, but you MUST wear a mask when stepping inside to use the bathroom. It didn’t happen to our party of friends, but one dinner time 3 people from 2 nearby tables entered, forgetting to put on masks first. All were grabbed by plain clothes police officers as they tried to rejoin their friends - the fine was €300 each (if paid instantly) but it escalates sharply if you argue about being fined, go to court etc

[davet]

Does "paid instantly" mean it goes into the cop's pocket? And that's if the guy is a cop at all, as I would have trouble telling a fake badge from a real one.

[Heba as-sa3udeya]

No Fresh news from Athènes ? 

[forrestreid]

I spent a few days in Athens in late September.
I decided to try out few of the places mentioned on this thread, to see if they were still going or had been wiped out by the Covid years. I am not an ideal candidate the task, as i am generally too nervous to actually hire bar hustlers or street rentboys, but I though of the readers of this website, and steeled myself to go out and about..

Adventures in Bars:

Both the bars that have been reported here as having escorts - Sami's Bar and Bizzar - are close to Viktoria Metro stop, so I took train there on a Saturday evening. One of the bars is actually only open on Friday and Saturday, so you better be in Athens at the weekend if you want to try them out.
I walked around the square above the metro stop first. There were a few guys sitting on the park benches and looking at men that passed – it was obviously what they were after.
I didnt linger though, and went to Sami’s Bar first (often spelled “Sammi’s” on social media) When I arrived at around 9.00 pm it was nearly empty. The friendly staff told me it would get busier later, and by ten there was about four customers in the place. No real interaction between them, apart from chatting to the friendly staff. I was frustrated that the sexy Persian guys Xclay met on his visits hadn't turned up, although perhaps it was too early. I decided to abandon it and went to Bizzar bar. This was busier, about 12 customers. There were a few younger guys circulating but they were shy about approaching you in the bar. What I figured out was that when a guy went downstairs to the toilets, they followed you down and made their pitch there. I talked to a Romanian guy during one trip downstairs, and an Egyptian on the next. The Romanian guy was pleasant and offered some fun in the toilets for €40. I did not take him up. The Egyptian guy was more pressing, and when I rejected his suggestion of going into the cubicle for some fun (my understanding was that this would involve me sucking him off, and nothing more), his suggestion of €40 rapidly dropped to €30 and eventually ended up with just begging for some money to eat. I gave him 10 euro and went back up the stairs, just in time to see the Romanian guy leaving with a customer. I then regretted not taking my chances with him, of course.

Guys on Omonia Square:

The next night, Sunday, decided to walk around the northern side of Omonia Square, to see if they guys were still there. Long time readers of this site might remember that I tried this scene before Covid, but was too chickenshit to do anything in the end.

Well, history repeated itself.

At about 10 pm on the Sunday, I walked north from Omonia Square towards the pedestrian street the Cosmopolit hotel is on. Plenty of female hookers giving me the eye, but no guys I noticed (there was lot of Middle Eastern-looking guys hanging in groups of two or three, but I did not get the impression they were on the game). Then suddenly a young guy came up to me and started chatting. He started telling me about how you could rent a room for €10 from the Cosmopolit etc. He did not say why, and I was unsure at first if he was trying to pimp a women to me or what. However, it when he said he just wanted €40, it became clearer. He looked Syrian or Iraqi, and was a bit jumpy in manner, so I was too nervous to go anywhere with him. I asked him where he was from and he claimed to be called Alex from Thessalonica. I said thanks, but no thanks, and walked away. But as I had evinced some curiosity, he was not to be shaken off too easily, and followed me round Omonia Square for five minutes trying to get me to change my mind, and did not give up until I was nearly at the Athinaikon restaurant on Themistocles St. Not an interaction that would tempt me back to Omonia Square

Guys on web

After that, I decided to play it a bit safer, and looked at some guys on the web. Chatted to a few guys on various sites – the main site for Athens is Hunqz, as far as I can see. I agreed to meet two guys, one on Monday and one on Tuesday. The price for each was €100, I went to the apartment of one guy and asked another to come to my hotel – I offered him an extra €20 for this. Both the guys I chose had a number of positive reviews, which is largely why I chose them. They were very polite and pleasant.

[Guest]

16 hours ago, forrestreid said:

but was too chickenshit to do anything in the end.

I’m with you - street and bar hustlers not my thing.  Appreciate the information 

[Heba as-sa3udeya]

Thanks Forrestreid for those fresh but not happy news.

 

[davet]

The Kosmopolit hotel appears to be mostly a working-class family hotel. Lots of East European and Middle Eastern groups with kids. And they happen to be, at least formerly, next door to a porno theater of the same name. Lots of hookers around the theater and lots of guys in track suits (you know that look) in front of the hotel who, frustratingly, aren't hookers. 

[alvnv]

4 hours ago, davet said:

…lots of guys in track suits (you know that look)…

Russians?

[forrestreid]

On 10/24/2022 at 1:43 AM, Heba as-sa3udeya said:

Thanks Forrestreid for those fresh but not happy news.

 

I don't think you should really call it unhappy news, either.

Shows there is some action around , and just because I was a bit nervous to do anything, does not mean that somebody else might not have a more adventurous experience...

I would look forward to reading the experience of other guys who visit.

 

 

 

 

[Harrystiilees]

I’m working from Piraeus at the moment, been here a month. Bars and cinemas are super quiet. Seems to be lots more Turkish, Kurdish and Egyptians here. I find it fascinating that the Egyptians in the bars are almost always the most impolite and demanding. I don’t mean to generalise. I know lots of lovely Egyptians. But here they are demanding, asking for money even when you’ve given a polite no. There are apparently 2 new hustler bars around Samis but I can’t find where they are or the names, maybe a local can help.