Sunday, September 6, 2009

Thessaloniki protests


By tradition, every September Thessaloniki hosts an international trade fair, one of the few remaining fairs in the western world that are not targeted to a specific business sector. So let's say Thessaloniki hosts a fair of general interest.



In addition to the fair, Thessaloniki hosts by tradition every year anti-governmental protests that take place on the day the Greek prime minister makes his annual speech on the opening day of the fair.


By tradition, protesters swarm in Thessaloniki's city center in large numbers, but in different blocks.


By tradition, leftists, anarchists, gay anarchists, workers, greens, communists, public sector employees, unions... each have their own meeting points and march individually.


By tradition, these people protest for a range of different things. Others demand better pays, less working hours, while others demand the withdrawal of NATO forces from Afghanistan!


Here some firemen confronting some policemen. Kind of sweet.


And here is a scent of December.


It goes without saying that - by tradition - police is blocking all access to cars during this turbulent evening,


which makes the city center a paradise for us cyclists!


It takes a lot of effort for a car-free Thessaloniki.


But maybe it's worth it!


1 comment:

mmabs said...

Nice one G. I haven't visited foto aparat for a while now, and it's really great to come back to the creativity. I really like this story/entry. mmabsie