PTSD

“Bad things do happen how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can choose to sit in perpetual sadness immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift I have – life itself.” – Walter Anderson

Have a Seat/Κάθισε Παρακαλώ

A quick escape from the hustle and bustle of Athens to the northeastern Attica region. A drive down a mountainous road through villages and by chance we come across Barnabas beach.

We poke our feet in the crystal clear waters. But, we are not here for a swim, thank goodness, cause the water is freezing, So we hunker down at a fish tavern and are served fresh, delicious fish. We eat with a view of the beach with its clean blue waters. And that’s really all you need. You don’t need to travel luxuriously to enjoy Greece.

Μια γρήγορη απόδραση από τη φασαρία της Αθήνας στη βορειοανατολική περιοχή της Αττικής. Μια διαδρομή με το αυτοκίνητο σε έναν ορεινό δρόμο μέσα από χωριά και τυχαία συναντάμε την παραλία Βαρνάβα.

Χώνουμε τα πόδια μας στα κρυστάλλινα νερά. Αλλά, δεν είμαστε εδώ για μπάνιο, δόξα τω Θεώ, γιατί κάνει πολύ κρύο. Έτσι, βολευόμαστε σε μια ψαροταβέρνα και μας σερβίρουν φρέσκο, νόστιμο ψάρι. Τρώμε με θέα την παραλία με τα καθαρά γαλάζια νερά της. Και αυτό είναι πραγματικά ό,τι χρειάζεστε. Δεν χρειάζεται να ταξιδέψετε πολυτελώς για να απολαύσετε την Ελλάδα….

Healing Journey

Today, I accidentally came across this sanctuary on a little road trip on the eastern outskirts of Athens.

This year past few years have been rough for my health…health is most certainly wealth.

There are bad days when you feel that you are close to death’s door, and others where you feel alive.

I will heal and recover.

The best version of myself is waiting to be revealed.

I will burn and come back again like the mythological phoenix born from the ashes.

Don’t give up.. there is so much to discover.

Parklife in Athens

A relaxing stroll through the biggest park in Athens called Parko Tritsi. (Antonis Tritsis) Metropolitan Park «Αντώνης Τρίτσης») is a public park in Ilion, and it is the largest park in Attica. The park is also known as the ‘evironmental park’ as it is the the only one dedicated exclusively to environmental awareness and education in Greece.

While walking through the park I was brought back to my childhood years in Torontot with the many green parks and bike paths and picnic tables.. It was a much gentler and simplier time.

Archaeological Museum of Athens pt2

‘*Jockey of Artemision’ A rare Hellenistic bronze statue was found in pieces, at different times, in the sea off Cape Artemision between 1928 and 1937.*

*The statue was pieced together. The artist is unknown, although the work dates to around 140 BC.*

*This statue is the Poseidon of Milos*. *It dates to approximately 125-100 BC, during the Hellenistic period.*

A *bronze portrait of an man dating to around 100 BC, during the Hellenistic period. The sculpture was discovered in the palaestra of Delos island*. *A characteristic of the work is the intense realism in the rendering of the facial features and the melancholic expression, while the eyes are made of different materials, such as glass and stone.*

*Votive relief dedicated to the nymphs on mount Penteli. From 330-310 B.C Depicted in the relief are the 3 nymphs, the gods Hermes and Pan.*

*”The Young Boxers’ fresco from Thira, Santorini. Bronze age 16th Century B.C*

*Geometric amphorae from Attica. 800-750 B.C*

A human skeleton surrounded by funerary objects (burial goods), such as vessels and lekyths. Experts have examined the remains and have identified diseases of the time, such as osteoarthritis. The skeleton was discovered in the ancient cemetery of Kerameikos *in Athens.*

*An Attic red-figure epinetron (a thigh guard), a clay vessel used by women in antiquity for combing wool.*

*An Attic red-figure bridal cauldron, dating to around 430 BC. Depicts a family scene in the women’s quarters.*

*This statue depicts a Siren from ancient Greece. Created around 370 BC.* *In ancient times, Sirens functioned as symbols of mourning and musicians of the Underworld, accompanying the souls of the dead.*

*This relief depicts a farewell scene from an ancient Greek funerary stele.* *The bearded man, often identified with the father, greets a seated woman, while other figures are present on the scene. This work dates to 360-325 BC and comes from Attica.*

*A group of cult statues in the temple of Despina at Lykosoura.The sculptures date to approximately 190-180 BC and are attributed to the sculptor Damophon from Messene.*

A marble replica of the head of Hygieia, the ancient Greek goddess of health and daughter of Asclepius. The original work is attributed to the famous sculptor Scopas from Paros and dates back to around 360 BC.

‘*The teenager of Antikithira’ bronze statue 340-330 B.C, Some researchers believe he is Perseus holding the head of Medusa, others Paris holding the golden apple.*

*The exhibition presents the philhellenism of Emperor Hadrian and the influence of Greek intellectuals on Roman tradition.*

Archaeological Museum of Athens pt1

*Mycenean ceremonial vessel a bull head made of silver. The horns, snout and rosette on the forehead are made out of gold*

Mycenean palace amphora with octopus. 15th B.C.

A Grave stele known as the ‘stele of farwell’ found near Omonia square.

Attic black-figure ampora depicting a Corinthian helmet.575-550 B>C.

*Marble head of Aphrodite found in the Roman agora of Athens. 1st C. A.D. The cross on the forehead was inscised during the Christian era.*

The archaeological musuem of Athens has every artifact from Greece that you can think of..that is if you know your Greek history. Artifacts from the neolithic era, the Mycenaean ear. classical Athens and so on fill the museum to the brim. The artifacts are over 11.000 and they are housed in a neoclassical building that was built from 1866-1889.

It’s the largest museum in Greece and one of the most important in the world.

However, the museum is outdated and in dire need of renovations. There are plans currently in the works and when everything has been approved the renovations could begin later this year or next year. This is why I paid a visit after many years. Who knows how long the renovations will take. But, it will be worth the hassel because these artifacts deserve a better home.

Το αρχαιολογικό μουσείο της Αθήνας διαθέτει κάθε είδους τεχνούργημα από την Ελλάδα που μπορείτε να σκεφτείτε… αν γνωρίζετε την ελληνική ιστορία. Τεχνουργήματα από τη νεολιθική εποχή, τα μυκηναϊκά χρόνια, την κλασική Αθήνα και ούτω καθεξής γεμίζουν το μουσείο μέχρι το τέρμα. Τα αντικείμενα είναι πάνω από 11.000 και στεγάζονται σε ένα νεοκλασικό κτίριο που χτίστηκε από το 1866 έως το 1889.

Είναι το μεγαλύτερο μουσείο στην Ελλάδα και ένα από τα σημαντικότερα στον κόσμο.

Ωστόσο, το μουσείο είναι ξεπερασμένο και έχει άμεση ανάγκη από ανακαινίσεις. Υπάρχουν σχέδια που βρίσκονται σε εξέλιξη και όταν όλα εγκριθούν, οι ανακαινίσεις θα μπορούσαν να ξεκινήσουν αργότερα φέτος ή του χρόνου. Γι’ αυτό το λόγο το επισκέφτηκα μετά από πολλά χρόνια. Ποιος ξέρει πόσο καιρό θα διαρκέσουν οι ανακαινίσεις. Αλλά, θα αξίζει τον κόπο, γιατί αυτά τα αντικείμενα αξίζουν ένα καλύτερο σπίτι.

Allium-2 Versions

An allium flower tries to steal the spotlight from the red ranuculus in the background.

Either way they’re both alright shots.

Independent Lady

It’s a bug’s life. I don’t see ladybugs often in the garden. but when I do I will always immortalize them with my camera.

April Blooms

Spring is here and my garden is blooming. I am trying to make it more colourful. I bought some rose trees and I can’t wait to see it fully bloom.

“The reappearance of the light is the same as the survival of the soul.”
– Victor Hugo

“April is the kindest month. April gets you out of your head and out working in the garden.”
– Marty Rubin

HOPE IS HOPELESS/Η ΕΛΠΙΔΑ ΕΙΝΑΙ ΑΝΕΛΠΙΔΑ

Hope is hopeless..for the time being. Hope decides. No one else. The battle may be lost, but the war rages on. And she is strong, she is built to last, but few see it.

‘Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.‘-Desmond Tutu

‘Hope has two beautiful daughters; their names are Anger and Courage. Anger at the way things are, and Courage to see that they do not remain as they are.’-Saint Augustine

‘Jesus doesn’t give an explanation for the pain and sorrow of the world. He comes where the pain is most acute and takes it upon himself. Jesus doesn’t explain why there is suffering, illness, and death in the world. He brings healing and hope. He doesn’t allow the problem of evil to be the subject of a seminar. He allows evil to do its worst to him. He exhausts it, drains its power, and emerges with new life .‘ -N. T. Wright

Η ελπίδα είναι ανέλπιδα.. προς το παρόν. Η ελπίδα αποφασίζει. Κανείς άλλος. Η μάχη μπορεί να χαθεί, αλλά ο πόλεμος μαίνεται. Και είναι δυνατή, είναι φτιαγμένη για να αντέξει, αλλά λίγοι το βλέπουν.

«Ελπίδα είναι να μπορείς να βλέπεις ότι υπάρχει φως παρά το σκοτάδι». – Ντέσμοντ Τούτου

«Η ελπίδα έχει δύο όμορφες κόρες. Τα ονόματά τους είναι Θυμός και Θάρρος. Θυμός για τον τρόπο που είναι τα πράγματα και Θάρρος να βλέπεις ότι δεν παραμένουν όπως είναι». – Άγιος Αυγουστίνος

«Ο Ιησούς δεν δίνει εξήγηση για τον πόνο και τη θλίψη του κόσμου. Έρχεται εκεί που ο πόνος είναι πιο οξύς και τον παίρνει πάνω του. Ο Ιησούς δεν εξηγεί γιατί υπάρχει πόνος, ασθένεια και θάνατος στον κόσμο. Φέρνει θεραπεία και ελπίδα. Δεν επιτρέπει στο πρόβλημα του κακού να γίνει θέμα σεμιναρίου. Επιτρέπει στο κακό να κάνει το χειρότερο δυνατό για αυτόν. Το εξαντλεί, αποστραγγίζει τη δύναμή του και αναδύεται με νέα ζωή». – Ν. Τ. Ράιτ