Sunday afternoon, a family, probably from some Scandinavian country, spread a beach towel on the grass, opened packages with elite, nuts, probably carob, if I understand correctly, a piece of Gruyère, cherry tomatoes and halva. Yes, halva. All from a famous delicacy in the center of Athens, selling excellent Greek products from all over the country.

The picnic unfolds in one of the coolest places in the city, the National Garden, where if you walk in the last days, you will meet crowds of tourists and hear all languages. All over the center, from Monastiraki and Plaka to Syntagma, Lycabettus and beyond, in areas where tourists did not get before, and now, you see, there is Airbnb.

In general, what is happening this year with tourism in Athens is unprecedented. But what do foreign guests put in their luggage when they leave Athens? What do they bring back to their countries that can also act as an “ambassador” to inspire others to visit Athens?

The truth is that Greece, which foreigners take with them, is now completely different from the recent past. In terms of food, products, presentation, design, leaps have been made in recent years. Especially in the food there is a huge variety and quality, Greek offered in the right doses, with imagination and inspiration, uncomplicated, raw materials sold in very beautiful packages – finally, we have learned from the example of Italy.

Even traditional choliadacs have become postmodern cholias, the Greek souvenir has been taken over by new designers who are redefining the concept of the souvenir, and the experience offered to the visitor is of quality and has a pleasant history. One of the most original messages I’ve seen on a T-shirt in a downtown store read: “No moussaka today.” Perhaps the new aesthetic that prevails today, and which the visitor can take with him when leaving Greece, cannot be more accurately described.