A Life Like A Novel

Her life is like a novel and she counts blue bloods, jet-setters, international music superstars and local celebrities among her friends. Christina has established, featured and recognised the next generation of Greek celebrities in her columns and on her website, cosmopoliti.com. She may travel, go out and meet celebrities, but the well-known journalist is well grounded, always remaining dedicated to her family, her true needs and the city where she was born, Athens!

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You live in central Athens. Why did you choose it over the suburbs of thecapital? I’ve never lived in the suburbs. I was born in the centre and in the centre. I will stay. I wouldn’t trade it for anything and can’t imagine any suburb – with the possible exception of Glyfada – where I could live without feeling depressed.

How would you describe your Athens in pictures? Unfortunately, my Athens only exists in fragmented form, in my small snapshots on Instagram. Good is constantly battling evil. The Acropolis, Plaka, Syntagma, the Temple of Olympic Zeus, the National Garden and the Hilton Athens are the trademarks of my Athens.

What are your favourite spots in the city? My neighbourhood, Kydathinaion, Mitropoleos Square, Dionysiou Aeropagitou St., Agias Irinis Square, Adrianouand because I have “inherited” them, Kolonaki Square and Skoufa St. where it meets Agios Dionysios.

Where do you go in Athens when you want to be alone? And where do you like going with your family? That’s a difficult question, because I don’t like being alone. Perhaps for a walk around the Acropolis, on the dirt road in Thiseio. I like visiting Plaka and the pool at the Hilton Athens with my family.

You enjoyed many years of parties and a glamorous and vivid society lifestyle in the 80s and 90s. What memories of a cosmopolitan Athens and Mykonos do you have from those decades? I hold all my memories dear and never discard any of them. For me, the 80s were the epitome of a relentless need for style, money, material goods and optimism. Of real friends and real dreams. The 90s bring to mind the merciless clubbing and opulent baroque outbursts of the nouveau riche Athenians, who enjoyed life to the fullest, albeit briefly, before receiving the wakeup call that forced them to face reality again. This was in Athens. Although Mykonos has changed significantly since the 80s, it is still a wonderful place.

When you first started working for magazines, you created a new school for cosmopolitan journalism, essentially transforming ordinary people into stars. I don’t like to speak as a veteran because I still have a lot to learn. It was natural for me to present people into society for the first time, especially from my generation. From Despina Vandi, Natasa Theodoridou and Antonis Remos, who I believedwere excellent singers, to socialites like Natasa Liakounakou, Marina Vernikou and Tina Daskalantonaki. I’m always searching for the new it boy and girl, because I’m very much affected by the struggle for recognition. I always was, and still am,a vast conduit for many things and an excellent matchmaker – particularly when it comes to professional matters.

You have lived among the hip society of London and have friends who are living legends. Who would you say was the most important person you have met? I am greatly honoured to have met my personal idols, including George Harrison,Eric Clapton, Shirley Bassey, Dire Straits, the Rolling Stones, Elton John and Paul McCartney. I don’t know if they are important people, but they are certainly idols. I adore Simon Le Bon and Nick Rhodes, but also greatly admire Anna Vissi,Sakis Rouvas and Nikos Karvelas, who is an important person in his own right.

If you were to host one of your international friends in Athens, who would it be and where would you take them? I have already done this and took them from Hydra and Mykonos, to Island Club. I enjoy taking everybody to Pilion and Crete as I am the perfect guide for these places. Taking Albert of Monaco to see Anna Vissi and witnessing his enthusiasm for the show, this was a very happy time for me.

How did you and Anna meet? It’s a long story. Anna is my closest and dearest friend – she is clever, uncomplicated and successful. I adore her and when we are

together, I never feel the need for anyone else. Her inner glow, which continues to burn brighter, is not happen stance. I am very moved by her sensitivity and kindness.

What currently makes you unhappy about our city and its society life? There’s nothing unpleasant about society life, when you’re in a good mood. The only thing

that makes me unhappy about Athens is that it is dirty. It still has wonderful haunts, interesting people and generates great buzz. I’m very happy to be living in Athens.

You have had a storybook life and have met stars, kings and jet-setters, all the while remaining a grounded wife, mother and professional. How do youmanage it? Most probably because I am not a silly woman and didn’t explode into this society like a meteorite out of nowhere. And because I never became a star or queen,with my head in the clouds, and didn’t have to be brought back down to earth. And mostly, because I’m very focused on my needs and what makes me truly happy.