Riot police break up protest march in Thessaloniki, Greece

Riot police break up protest march in Thessaloniki, Greece, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Taken at 3.50pm today outside the ministry of Northern Greece, Thessaloniki. One high student was injured as a result.

Greece erupts in flames after death of teen.

The death of a 15 year - old in central Athens during clashes with police in the Exearchia district has sparked off a series of violent protests in the Greek capital and other major cities. Thessaloniki, Patras, and Crete all witnessed violent clashes between demonstrators and riot police.

According to official reports Andreas Grigoropoulos died after being shot at 9pm by police guarding the Exarcheia police station, which due to its proximity to the university of Athens is often a target for attacks by anarchist and other leftist groups. However, eyewitness accounts tell a different story. According to local residents the the police officer shot Grigoropoulos after an argument. Greek national TV is now calling the incident a "cold blooded Murder" rather than an act of self - defence.

News of the death quickly spread via the internet, SMS and word of mouth leading to protests across Greece. Today's marches quickly turned violent as enraged demonstrators took our their anger on banks, shops and police stations.

In Thessaloniki, Greece's second city the central Leukos Pyrgos police station was attacked by masked anarchists with rocks and Molotov cocktails. The police replied with tear gas and flash grenades causing panic and chaos amongst the thousands of marchers not involved in the violence.

TV images being shown live on Greek TV show central Athens swathed in smoke and tear gas and tens of small fires burn unattended as the fire fighters are unable to put them out.

Although violent scenes are not uncommon in Greece the extent, duration and intensity of the riots seems to have taken the authorities by surprise.In addition the fact that many of those who took in protest marches were neither young nor students is indicative of the fact that the death of the teenager has angered many Greeks. Case in point was the pensioner, who stood in front of a phalanx of riot police, apoplectic with rage shouting, "cops, killer, pigs" during the march in Thessaloniki

The events couldn't have come at a worst time for the conservative New Democracy government which has been losing support due to its handing of the recent economic crisis and the alleged involvement of many senior officials in the Vatopedi corruption scandal.

NowPublic

Tags: Greece | protests | World | Riots | athens | Thessaloniki | Andreas Grigoropoulos | police death

Greek farmer protesting low milk prices

Greek farmer protesting low milk prices, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Greek farmers protested against the low prices paid to them by diary companies by handing out free milk, yoghurt and cheese outside the ministry of Northern Greece, Thessaloniki.

For more details in English check out my Nowpublic article here (για περισσοτερες λεπτομεριες στα Ελληνικα κανε κλικ εδω).

On the seafront

Going home, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

I feel a strange disconnect with my surroundings

A feel a strange disconnect with my surroundings, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Yesterday's news

Yesterday's news, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

"A gifted student who was brutally beaten after breaking up a street row last month has died of his injuries.

Joseph Dymond-Williams, 17, tried to stop an argument between a woman and her boyfriend on June 22, but was punched then kicked in the head by two other men."

See here for the rest of the Channel 4 story.

The wreaths are gradually withering away and most people seem to be indifferent as to why they were placed there in the first place. Ironically, I witnessed a near perfect re-run of the crime (thankfully without the tragic ending) when walking through Bedminster this evening. A young couple were arguing. Actually, the guy was shouting and screaming at his girlfriend. He swore that he'd never hit women then spat in her hair as she walked ahead. When a passer - by intervened the two men shouted and swore at each other, The boyfriend insulting the other man but always making sure he kept his distance. A pathetic little excuse of a human being.

In the centre

In the centre, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

As usual I managed to see various stuff on my walk around town, including a shop lifter bolting out of a record store followed by an employee who seems to have done his in - service training at an Olympic level sprinting facility. The thief jumped on a cycle and dashed down Union St narrowly missing pedestrians at the bottom who were crossing the road. Still, like I said the guy chasing him almost caught him.

Intense argument over our sacred right to park

Intense argument over our sacred right to park, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

These two guys were arguing with each other in Aristotelous Square. I'm not sure how it started but somehow they managed to keep on shouting at each other, walking off then return for a new bout repeatedly while I was there.

Amusing, I suppose, if you're into boneheaded machismo in 40C heat.

A day in photos

Today was a full day, My students were doing their ECCE written exams, others were doing CPE interviews and all were nervous. In between all this I managed to cook some Mexican food to help out friends at the Fair Trade do today, spend time with my daughter and take some photos of some weird and wonderful stuff that I came across while wending my way through the city.

As I was going across town I saw a whole building being covered in grafitti and so I jumped off the bus to get some pictures. As part of some youth festival there was a skateboard event and lots of music so I stayed a while and took some pictures.

Later on I came across a wonderful wedding ceremony in which the bride and hundreds of guests literally danced their way to church accompanied by a brass band, when I say brass band I mean a Balkan one which is like a manic Jimi Hendrix playing a trombone accompanied by Mile Davis on trumpet.

This will put some colour in your cheeks

All taken today in the centre of Thessaloniki.

Street photography

, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

I first bumped into this guy this morning, quietly drinking his retsina under a tree near Kamara. He kindly agreed to let me photograph him. He told me that he was a a sea captain and had travelled the world.

Later on I saw him outside a church on Egnatia as I was rushing to work. This time I managed to get a better picture. I think he enjoyed the fact that somebody actually listened to what he said rather than just toss a few coins his way.

An Andy Warhol kind of day

Where to begin? Today has been incredibly busy and not to mention exciting. Let's start with the big stuff. Today I was interviewed by Dimitris Angelidis, a journalist who works for Epsilon magazine, which is the supplement for Eletherotypia on Sunday. We talked about being a foreigner in Greece and blogging. I don't know when the article is coming out but they're going to send a photographer to take some snaps.

"Mr De Mille I'm ready for my close -up."

So the clock is ticking on my 15 minutes of fame.

Also in between lessons I checked out the Museum of Byzantine history here in Thessaloniki and the place blew my mind. It is truly amazing not just as a collection but as a building. Just as I was leaving I bumped into Katerina, a friend of mine who was born on exactly the same day in history as me (and when you reach 40 then it does indeed get to be history). We both commiserated about our fate and had a good laugh at ourselves.

Next it was onto Starbucks where I managed to stop another junkies cracking open his skull. This time the guy was swaying dangerously to and fro whilst trying to negotiate the marble steps of the church on Egnatia opposite the cafe. In return for my good deed I asked the guy if I could take his photo. He kindly accepted.

Finally, I got a new camera. I decided that I'd buy a Nikon D40. It costs an arm and a leg but using it today was such fun that I'm in pixel heaven. Oh those boys and their toys.