Photography

ΚΑΛΟ ΠΑΣΧΑ!/Happy Easter!

Happyeaster!

Happy Easter to all Orthodox Christians. We celebrate Easter a week after the Catholic Easter. Greeks couldn’t move about this year, so they couldn’t leave for their villages to celebrate Easter as they would do every year.  This year, so they celebrated in Athens and the whole city is smoky and it smells like bbq! 🙂

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

“Blessed are those who have not seen and have yet believed.” John 20:29

“The Easter egg symbolizes our ability to break out of the hardened, protective shell we’ve surrounded ourselves with…”-Siobhan Shaw

Orange Delight/Πορτοκαλί απόλαυση

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I love the optimism of nature. So much joy can be found in the seemingly little things. I hope these photos lift your spirits in theses difficult times 🙂

Λατρεύω την αισιοδοξία της φύσης. Μπορείτε να βρείτε τόση χαρά στα μικρά πράγματα. Ελπίζω αυτές οι φωτογραφίες να ανεβάσουν το πνεύμα σας σε αυτές τις δύσκολες στιγμές:)

 

Stormy Days/Θυελλώδεις Μέρες

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Greece got another taste of winter this past week. There is snow on Parnitha mountain! Shockingly unusual weather for the month of April.  I believe it is God’s wrath. He is avenging the crazies who went to the beach in March during the quarantine. And now we all have to suffer and listen to the gale force-7 or 9 Beaufort winds.

I bet God said (while looking down at us) ‘If you don’t stay inside than I’ll mess with the weather so badly you will be forced to stay in. I’ll make it so windy that if you set foot -even one foot-outside you will be blown away!

This is an incredible inspiring video that helps put things into perspective. Our ancestors had it A LOT worse than us. Terrible things have happened before and the will happen again. It is crucial in times like these to remain calm and to be strong.

Quarantine/Καραντίνα

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My cat Angelo and I are breezing through the quarantine. No quarantine blues for us.  No whining about being bored. Keep your spirits up. There are million things to do. Think of those who are on the front lines helping to battle the contagion. Think of the people you once overlooked who are keeping society functioning.

Take a little nap in the sun -it’s good for you. And consider yourself lucky 🙂

We’re born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we’re not alone.” -Orson Welles

The Shadow Self

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“Our dark sides are part of who we truly are. By uncovering and embracing our shadow side, we become whole.” -Debbie Ford

“I used to want to save the world. To end war and bring peace to mankind. But then, I glimpsed the darkness that lives within their light. I learned that inside every one of them, there will always be both.  The choice each must make for themselves – something no hero will ever defeat. I’ve touched the darkness that lives in between the light.

Seen the worst of this world, and the best.

Seen the terrible things men do to each other in the name of hatred, and the lengths they’ll go to for love.

Now I know. Only love can save this world. So I stay. I fight, and I give… for the world I know can be.

This is my mission, now. Forever.”– Diana Prince / Wonder Woman (2017)

Social Distancing/Απόσταση

It'sadate!

Even cats know that it’s best to keep your distance 🙂 Ακόμη και οι γάτες γνωρίζουν ότι είναι καλύτερο να κρατήσετε την απόσταση σας 🙂

Here in Athens we have been are on lock down since this past Saturday. Only pharmacies, gas stations and supermarkets are open.  But, only a few are allowed to enter at at time. At the supermarket you have to keep a safe distance from people. Greece has 418 cases and Athens has the most cases of the virus. Gatherings of more than 10 people are forbidden.

The mostly extroverted, social Greeks are upset their lifestyles have been interrupted, but there is nothing else they can do but to obey orders. As time goes by I see that more and more people are taking the matter more seriously.

The statistics are shocking, Europe now has more fatalities than China! Borders are closed and people are panic buying. A lot of people are stressed and upset about this situation especially those who have grandparents and parents who are elderly.

What is happening is unprecedented and has affected everyone on this planet. Humans are the most adaptable creatures and patience, calm and strength is needed. Our survivor instincts, and heroic sides have to come through.

Wishing everyone good health and inner strength this year 🙂

Η επιθυμία μου ειναι να εχουν όλοι καλή υγεία και εσωτερική δύναμη φέτος 🙂

Εδώ στην Αθήνα είμαστε σε καραντίνα από το περασμένο Σάββατο. Μόνο τα φαρμακεία, τα βενζινάδικα και τα σούπερ μάρκετ είναι ανοιχτά. Mόνο λίγοι επιτρέπεται να εισέλθουν. Στο σούπερ μάρκετ πρέπει να έχετε μια ασφαλή απόσταση από τους ανθρώπους. Η Ελλάδα έχει 418 περιπτώσεις και η Αθήνα έχει τις περισσότερες περιπτώσεις του ιού. Συγκέντρωσεις με περισσότερα από 10 ατόμων απαγορεύονται.

Οι περισσότεροι, εξωστρεφείς, και κοινωνικοί, Έλληνες είναι αναστατωμένοι, ο τρόπος ζωής τους έχει διακοπεί, αλλά δεν υπάρχει τίποτα άλλο που να μπορούν να κάνουν παρά να υπακούν στις εντολές της κυβέρνησης . Βλεπω οτι με το πέρασμα του χρόνου όλο και περισσότεροι άνθρωποι παίρνουν το θέμα πιο σοβαρά.

Οι στατιστικές είναι συγκλονιστικές, Η Ευρώπη έχει πλέον περισσότερα θύματα από την Κίνα! Τα σύνορα είναι κλειστά και οι άνθρωποι είναι πανικοβλημένοι. Πανικοβάλλονται και ψωνίζουν σαν μανιακοί. Πολλοί άνθρωποι είναι ανήσυχοι και λυπημένοι με αυτή την κατάσταση, ειδικά εκείνοι που έχουν παππούδες και γονείς που είναι ηλικιωμένοι.

Αυτό που συμβαίνει είναι πρωτοφανές και έχει επηρεάσει όλους σε αυτόν τον πλανήτη. Οι άνθρωποι είναι τα πιο προσαρμόσιμα πλάσματα και υπομονή, ηρεμία και η δύναμη είναι απαραίτητη. Τα ένστικτά μας για επιβίωση και η ηρωική πλευρά πρέπει να έρχονται στην επιφάνεια.

“Perhaps catastrophe is the natural human environment, and even though we spend a good deal of energy trying to get away from it, we are programmed for survival amid catastrophe.”-  Germaine Greer  (Australian Author)

The Alleyway/Tο Σοκάκι

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All of Athens in one photo. The city is getting a nice cleanup job. It was stagnant for a long time ‘screaming’ for progress. I believe that it will be unrecognizable in the future as it is an ever changing city.

Όλα της Αθήνας σε μία φωτογραφία. Η πόλη καθαριζεται επιτελους. Ήταν στάσιμη για πολυ καιρο και ‘ουρλιάζε’ για πρόοδο. Πιστεύω ότι θα είναι αγνώριστη στο μέλλον, δεδομένου ότι είναι μια συνεχώς μεταβαλλόμενη πόλη.

Happy International Greek Language Day!

Angelic/Αγγελικός

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My predator baby Angelo!

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Happy New Month! Καλό μήνα!

Moving on to February and I hope this month won’t be as catastrophic and dramatic like January. My Goodness that was a lot. There was not one slow news day during that month. But, whatever may come we have to face it with strength not fear.

Συνεχίζοντας τον Φεβρουάριο και ελπίζω ότι αυτό το μήνα δεν θα είναι τόσο καταστροφικό και δραματικό όσο ο Ιανουάριος.  Δεν υπήρξε αργή ημέρα ειδήσεων κατά τη διάρκεια αυτού του μήνα. Όμως, ό, τι και να έρθει πρέπει να το αντιμετωπίσουμε με δύναμη και όχι φόβο.