Photography

Dangerous Beauty/Επικινδυνη Ομορφια

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The poppy flower is found all over the western mediterranean and Asia. They harvest in the late Spring and early summer.  These flowers are symbolic of sleep and death; and in the Greek and Roman myths poppies were used as offerings to the dead.  Another interpretation of the red poppy is the promise of resurrection after death.

Οι παπαρούνες μπορούν να βρεθούν σε όλη τη Δυτικη Μεσόγειο και στην Ασία.  Θερίζουν στα τέλη της άνοιξης και στις αρχές του καλοκαιριού. Αυτά τα κοκκινα λουλούδια συμβολιζουν τον ύπνου και τον θάνατο.  Στηv Eλληνική και Ρωμαϊκή μυθολογία οι παπαρούνες χρησιμοποιήθηκαν ως προσφορές προς τους νεκρούς. Μια άλλη ερμηνεία την παπαρούνα είναι οτι υπόσχεται την ανάστασης μετά το θάνατο.

The Duchess’ Tower/O Πυργος της Δουκισσας
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The ‘tourell Pentelli’ built by the Duchess of Placentias. Ο Πυργίσκος Tourelle της Δούκισσας Πλακεντίας στην Πεντέλη.

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It was built in 1846, but the construction was never completed. Χτίστηκε το 1846, αλλά η κατασκευή δεν ολοκληρώθηκε ποτέ.

When I took a photograph of this building I had no idea what the history of the building was. I decided to do a little research and was really surprised by what I found out. The building that I photographed is the ‘Tourelle Pentelli’ or ‘Pentelli Tower’ and it is located on Mt. Pentelli northeast of Athens. The construction on this building began in 1846, but there were many mishaps and it was never completed. The buildings’ purpose was to house the personell of the Duchess de Plasisance (1785-1854). It was one of many buildings that Sophie Barbé de Marbois, Duchesse de Plaisance constructed in Athens. Most Athenians in the 19th Century and up until 1950, only knew her as the Duchess of Placentias and they had no idea that she was American born. The Duchess was born in Philadelphia, USA and her father was a French Consul-General in the U.S. She was a great supporter of the Greek war of Independence, so she arrived in Greece in 1829 to help out.  She was very philanthropic and was much talked about at the time. She died in May of 1854 at the age of 69 and she is buried near the tower. There is a metro station in Athens named after her. The station is located on the land that once belonged to her.

Before the Rainfall/Πριν απο τη βροχoπτωση
Mt. Pentelli
View of Athens from the mountain
Clouds hover over mountain
From the roadside

The beautiful Mount Pentelicus (Pentelli), with its monasteries and luxury homes, is located northeast of Athens.  It is from this mountain range that the ancient Greeks extracted their white marble to build the Parthenon and other temples in Athens. The weather that day changed abruptly, but I was able to sneak in a few photographs before the rainfall.

Το πανέμορφο Πεντελικό Όρος, με τα μοναστήρια και πολυτελών κατοικιών της, βρισκεται βορειοανατολικά της Αθήνας. Είναι από αυτή την οροσειρά, όπου οι αρχαίοι Έλληνες πηραν το λευκό μάρμαρο για την κατασκευή του Παρθενώνα και άλλων ναών της Αθήνας. Ο καιρός εκείνη την ημέρα άλλαξε απότομα, ομως προλαβα να τραβηξω μερικες φωτογραφίες πριν από τη βροχόπτωση.

Many Crosses to Bear

greekbiblequotes3I have no laurels

to sit on

so I’ll count my losses

and carry gold crosses

I will win this war.

 “And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” Matthew 10:38

” καὶ ὃς οὐ λαμβάνει τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀκολουθεῖ ὀπίσω μου, οὐκ ἔστιν μου ἄξιος.”  ΚΑΤΑ ΜΑΤΘΑΙΟΝ 10:38

Two Black Hearts/Δυο Μαυρες Καρδιες
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Two frozen black hearts melt in the sun light. They can’t hide in the shadow forever..

Two black hearts
Collide
Αn anger that won’t subside
Cold and dark
As a winters’ night
They fight
The light together
From blue to black
And black to blue

Μay a black heart never trouble you!

‘Better a red face than a black heart’. Portuguese proverb

Borage Blue Flower/Η Μπουράντζα

blueflowertextThe Borage plant, found in my garden and other gardens in the meditteranean, for the ancient Greeks, Romans and Celts and even in Medieval times  symbolized courage and comfort. The blue flower, also called starflower, is tiny and very hairy, its leaves can be used in salads and the seeds are used to make borage seed oil for many ailments.  The blue flower, when dried, is used to make tea as well.

Το φυτό Βόραγο, βρισκετε στον κήπο μου και σε άλλες κήπους στη Μεσόγειο, για τους αρχαίους Έλληνες, οι Ρωμαίοι και οι Κέλτες και ακόμη και στους μεσαιωνικούς χρόνους  συμβόλιζε το θάρρος και την άνεση . Το μπλε λουλούδι, που ονομάζεται επίσης ‘starflower’, είναι πολύ μικρό και πολύ τριχωτό, τα φύλλα του μπορούν να χρησιμοποιηθούν σε σαλάτες και οι σπόροι χρησιμοποιούνται για να κάνουν σπορέλαιο μποράγκο για πολλές παθήσεις. Το μπλε λουλούδι, όταν ξηραίνεται, χρησιμοποιείται για να φτιάξετε τσάι.

Fresh as a daisy!/Μαργαριτες

The beautiful and simple daisy symbolizes purity, chastity, cleanliness.  The word daisy comes from the Middle English  ‘day’s eye’ because of how the flower opens and closes with the sun. The Greek word for daisy is ‘Margarita’ which is also the feminine name ‘Margaret’ a name used in western culture.