Contrasts

Athens is a city that seems to be slowly decaying.  Once stunning architecture is shrouded in scaffolding and netting because the owners can't afford the upkeep and the government won't allow people to knock anything down.  At the same time I rather perversely enjoy the juxtaposition of shiny 4/5 star hotels and their gilt and marble frontages with the boarded up and heavily graffiti'd abodes not 100 metres away.
I love Athens, it has such a young and vibrant feel to it, I'm looking forward to going back.