What is Patras? What are its special corners and its treasures? And how well do we even know it who live it and walk it every day?
Alexandra Goudi with her book “A guide to Patras” takes us on a tour of the Achaean capital through the pen and its little pens. And this as the book contains both texts concerning routes, locations, hangouts, emblematic buildings and attractions of Patras as well as sketches by Alexandra Goudis which sometimes with more and sometimes with less detail, present us with the topics presented.
A project that lasted 6 whole years and for which hours of reading, searching, talking, writing and painting were needed. Today, Alexandra Goudi talks to pelop.gr about Patra and how she sees it, what she learned through her search, how much her view of the Achaean capital has changed and much more.
Why did you create this book? How did this idea start? What is the need to make a guide for Patras?
Initially it is something that was missing. Many factors played a role in the birth of the idea. The main one is that there really wasn’t anything. Since I live across the street from the Ancient Conservatory, I used to see tourists coming and asking about various things. We didn’t know where to direct them for a map and information. I would usually make something in their hand and give them information on where to go. The truth is that somewhere around there I also started looking for who might have material available for the city.
I went to various places, to the Municipality and to ask if there is a map. The answer I was getting was to go to the bookstore… Somewhere there I began to understand that it would be good to make something, at least something sketchy. And as much as we don’t think we have tourists, we might still be talking about students or friends of students. The other reason is that I also had questions, to learn things about the city that I did not know. I can’t say I knew all the history of the city. This is how a personal search took place, with a research attitude, but there was also the need.
The truth is, I didn’t think it would become such a long book. The initial thought was a little more “light”, some sketches with a little text, but along the way seeing how much material there is and how many things I would like others to know, the book was slowly built, which took a total of around 6 years to to complete.
Painting is another great love of Alexandra Goudis
From Patras in Italy
For 6 years you were searching, sketching, writing?
Yes, I read a lot and it goes without saying that even after the quarantine I talked to a lot of people. And this is very interesting because each person has different priorities when you tell them that I am writing something about Patras. There are very nice stories, which were not included in this book, maybe they will be included in a next one. But seeing these priorities, you also realize how a society works, what ultimately determines them, things very different from what you imagine in a simple guide. In terms of setting, I thought about how I would like a guide to read if I were going to another city. It was set up the way I would like to receive information accordingly.
What did you learn about the city you live in by making this particular guide?
Enough stuff! Especially the story part. I ended up reading Roman and Byzantine history unrelated to Patras, so I could learn what context the city was in. It was very interesting and I’m sorry these city kids don’t learn it. I consider it very important to know where you live, what your place is, to love it in other ways and to understand its different historical value. I certainly learned a lot about sightseeing. In general I can say that the guide was based on a basic knowledge and this slowly became covered with a lot of information.
Driving to “Crazy Pomegranate”
The characteristic Golfinopoulos mansion in the foreground and on the map
The Father who lives in this city, walks through it every day and maybe a little “automatically” as part of his daily life, what will he “take” in terms of his city?
It’s already something I’ve discussed with some people. They liked that they were getting information that they didn’t know before. This is the simplest. And the way I have written it, very simple without any special vocabulary, makes it easy for anyone to understand and keep in mind.
Has the way you look at Patras changed after the research you did?
Of course. There is good, there is bad. The good thing is that you suddenly feel and learn how many little “treasures” this city has, both historically and now. But on the other hand, when I sketched all the monuments and sights, I could see that they are in a bad state, ready to be torn down. And that makes me sad.
Is it a Patras guide, yours, as you want it or as Patras is?
“The way Patras is” is very relevant, because there are so many of us with different opinions. It definitely has my personal direction. I tried to be as objective as possible in some things, beyond the facts. And in the daily life of the city, I tried to put things that I live every day, but a large part of the city also agrees with me, e.g. on routes etc. There are a variety of things. It certainly doesn’t have everything in it. This would not be easy. To record them correctly and fairly there should be a group. I think that I wrote a guidebook and thus create the appetite for someone to make something more specific for tourists or even an application.
Arriving via St Nicholas’ Stairs in London
Pantanassa
But the sketches included in the book are also yours.
Generally I paint, I like it very much and it is one of the things that exists in my life. What I’m saying is that during the quarantine period when we had a lot of time, I could devote it to making my sketches for hours. So I decided to make them very detailed. And some that are in the book are very detailed to the point that they are exact reproductions of the photos I was looking at. Then as time went on I realized that this is not the best thing since spontaneous sketches are much better, since capturing 100% reality made it more “fake”. I was thinking at some point that I will do an exhibition with the sketches that will be accompanied by some texts, but that will happen much later.
If I had to ask you to describe Patras, as you got to know it anew through the creation of the book, in a few words, what would they be?
Old Aristocrat.
In Patras, Pantokratoras who also sings Nikos Xydakis, as portrayed by Alexandra Goudi
One of the most characteristic routes of Patras, Hephaistou
And her now?
I could call the current Patra an ambitious student.
It depends on her teachers, on how good they are in imparting what they need to build. I mean it’s up to us. And I see that in the last decade you see groups and not so much individual efforts – which is good – trying to do something in their own way.
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