Averoff

From Tositsa Street in central Athens, the imposing building of the old aristocratic art nouveau hotel Acropol Palace can be seen in all its splendor. However, a closer inspection of the building's base on Patission Street and from the side streets of Marni and Averoff reveals its fall from grace is obvious.

The saying of the late conservative leader Evangelos Averoff is well-known and validated by history. There are few exceptions that confirm the rule: When the sheep leaves the pen, the wolf devours it. I won't dwell on specific examples.