signs | homeingreece

We already saw some signs I’ve collected on my ramblings around Greece. Here are some more. I’ll never get tired of these.

This is the supermarket sign for one of the food markets on the island where S and I lived until last summer. In addition to selling supermarket stuff, she also serves meals and coffee. The sign says “Eirini Psaromiligou-Papadopoulou, Coffee-and-everything-else-shop.”

This sign directs you to the chapel of Agios (Saint) Konstantinos on the island of Milos.

“Koula’s Captain Nikolas.” The name of a restaurant.

This step says “Kimolos,” the name of the island.

“Butcher – Green Grocer ‘Sikinos’, Giannis Lemonis.” From the island of Sikinos.

“Grazing of animals is forbidden in this area. Respect the attempt to rehabilitate the environment and the landscape.” Near the beach of Achivadolimni in Milos.

“My Klima, you are always in my heart. Your Foteini.” Klima is the name of the village where this is written; Foteini is a woman’s name.

“Empourios… welcome! Taverna, 30 m.” From Milos.

Why would someone have to write that?

Oh… I get it now!

“Coffee and Wine Shop, ‘The Popular’ Kastro – Kimolos.”

The sign directing you to the early Christian Catacombs in Milos.

S’s favorite creperie in Kerkyra (Corfu) where he lived for seven years.

I have no idea what this says, but it’s probably the name of the person who built the fountain that it’s attached to. It’s written in the graceful Turkish script that Turks used until the early 20th century when Atatürk introduced the Roman alphabet. The inscription dates to the period of Ottoman occupation of Greece (pre-1821).

Both this sign and the one above it manage to misspell the Greek word for “for sale”, each in a different way.

“Empourios Taverna, next to the sea, homemade food, all with traditional products, family-run and friendly environment…” it goes on but my eyes gave out.

Remember to notice the little things in life!

I have always loved signs here in Greece. Maybe it goes back to when I was first learning Greek, and I loved that signs were short and sweet and to the point. Even if I had only managed to read a few words, I had read something complete and absorbed whatever information it had to give me. We’re surrounded by signs in our daily lives, but how many of them do we really notice and appreciate? Here are a few photos I’ve taken over the years of signs here in Greece.

This sign is on a back road not far from where we live now. It says “Medieval Bridge,” and the little yellow sign on top says “Hunting Forbidden.”

A classic Greek street sign. There are thousands of signs just like this, all over the country. This one is from the most charming and beautiful old neighborhood of Athens, called Anafiotika.

This is a cafe sign; the cafe is called “Anemelo,” which means Carefree. The line on the bottom reads “Cafe – Bar – Patisserie.”

This a street sign, believe it or not. It’s in the countryside near the town of Megalopolis in the Peloponnese, a region in southern Greece.

This charming sign is near the village of Langadia in the region of Arcadia. It reads, “Dear passersby, trash in the bin.”

This sign is on the door of a 17th century church on the island of Milos. It’s written in an archaic form of Greek called “puristic” Greek, which is very similar to ancient Greek. It reads “cast your obol.” An obol, in ancient Athens, was something like a quarter or a 50-cent piece. There are no obols anymore, but it means any coin, by analogy.