By Catherine Tsounis
Greeks live for the moment. They know how to enjoy life. September 3rd, 2024, evening at Agios Vasilios Suare, Tripolis, Arcadia Greece was the Elena Paparizou Concert. Thousands attended from all over the Peloponnese. This free concert was sponsored by the municipality of Tripolis. No stealing. No muggers. Few Romani beggars, because they went to the Greek islands.
Who is Elena Paparizou? In 2005, she represented Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “My Number One”, which she won. It was the first Greek win in the contest’s history. Paparizou has been awarded three Arion Music Awards, a European Border Breakers Award, 35 MAD Video Music Awards—more than any other Greek artist—and an MTV Europe Music Award.1
The live concert began at 9:30 pm in front of Agios Vasilios Cathedral. Greeks Greek from provincial towns and cities descended on Tripoli for that one evening. Tables in the Square’s cafes and restaurants were reserved with alcoholic beverages. The police patrolled the area to prevent illegal tables and seats. Standing room only. Some people went on roof tops to see the concert. The evening streets were filled with pedestrians. Firecrackers were ignited in popular Areos Suare, when we were having dinner at the outdoor restaurant “Grand Chalet” operated by the Papageorgiou family.
Freedom from crime predominated all evening .I have never seen this in my Queens, New York City neighborhood. The main safety concern was the spreading of Covid. Our friend Sotiris told us “there are many Covid cases at Tripoli hospital.” I overheard a citizen saying, “our tax dollars are paying for the Paparizou Concert.” The concert benefited local businesses, bringing in revenues to a city suffering from a decrease in job opportunities and rising cost of living expenses. The Municipality of Tripoli and Emporikos, through the leadership of Mayor Kostas Tzioumis and Themis Zouzoulas and associates brought pleasure to everyone in this free concert.
Reference:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helena_Paparizou
Links:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/MU2_ayq7U7w – Elena Paparizou concert, September 3, 2024, Tripoli, Greece.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/YRgfplR-CLc – “My Number One”- Elena Paparizou concert, September 3, 2024, Tripoli, Greece.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWLs_2LrVAs – Elena Paparizou concert, September 3, 2024, Tripoli, Greece.
