Old Town of Nafplio

The town is architecturally influenced by the Franks, Venetians and Turks. On the right is a Mosque.

Nafplio is a sea side city on the coast of the Peloponnese, it is the capital of Argolis. It is was modern Greece’s first capital from 1823 and 1834. The Venetians called it ‘the Naples of the East’.

It is beautiful and romantic. There is the old town and the newer town right next to it. It is surrounded by fortresses. From Bourtzi to Palamidi fortress with its 999 steps. This is where the famous hero of the Greek Revolution Theodore Kolokotronis had been imprisoned.

There are neoclassical buildings and Venetian style buildings with pretty side streets and creatively decorated shops. There are museums such as the Archaeological Museum with important artifacts from the Prehistoric and Mycenaean Era.

Το Ναύπλιο είναι παραθαλάσσια πόλη στην ακτή της Πελοποννήσου, είναι η πρωτεύουσα της Αργολίδας. Ήταν η πρώτη πρωτεύουσα της σύγχρονης Ελλάδας από το 1823 και το 1834. Οι Ενετοί την αποκαλούσαν «Νάπολη της Ανατολής».

Είναι όμορφο και ρομαντικό. Υπάρχει η παλιά πόλη και η νεότερη πόλη ακριβώς δίπλα της. Περιβάλλεται από φρούρια. Από το Μπούρτζι στο Παλαμήδι με τα 999 σκαλοπάτια. Εδώ είχε φυλακιστεί ο διάσημος ήρωας της Ελληνικής Επανάστασης Θεόδωρος Κολοκοτρώνης.

Υπάρχουν νεοκλασικά κτίρια και κτίρια βενετσιάνικου στυλ με όμορφους παράδρομους και δημιουργικά διακοσμημένα καταστήματα. Υπάρχουν μουσεία όπως το Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο με σημαντικά ευρήματα από την Προϊστορική και Μυκηναϊκή Εποχή.

Alien Disclosure

What a perfect time for alien disclosure. Whether you believe in them or not. The ‘truth’ has come out-well it’s has been coming out for years- but it has definiety hit a cresendo lately. And, well while most people are not panicking, or losing their minds over it, and there are no mass suicides either over the aliens. Just an indifferent, blasé attitude. People are too busy losing their homes due to environmental catastrophes, or being angry over inflation, or distracted by technology etc. and preoccupied by their many problems.

Aliens are just not a priority I guess..

Sometime I wish the aliens would abduct me and crown me as their leader.‘-George Noory

LIFE IS DEADLY/Η ΖΩΗ ΕΙΝΑΙ ΘΑΝΑΤΗΦΟΡΑ

A few weeks ago I made this drawing. I wasn’t in a very pessimistic mood and didn’t know why I drew it. Than fastforward to September 5ΤΗ and Storm Daniel pummels Greece. The most rainfall I have every witness in Athens and a disatrous flooding for Thessalia region in the North. On the news I saw images of people being transported by tractors through the flood waters. Greece’s agriculture has been devasted and set back many years. Thessalia, which I had visited earlier this year, has the most flat lands in Greece. Greece is a very mountainous country, and most of the land is not very fertile. Thessalia produces most of Greece’s wheat, and they grow cotton and apples as well as other produce.

It is devastting to see lives destroyed, houses submerged in water and the death toll rising. In addition to all of the livestock that have drowned in the flood.. it is all very heartbreaking

This year has been a dreadful year full of deadly accidents and natural disasters. From deadly earthquakes in Turkey to Morocco to deadly storms all over the world and one specific storm-storm Daniel has, shockingly, taken thousands of lives in Libya.

Humanity is most definetly at a strange and scary crossroads. Is it the end? Well it was for many of those who didn’t survive and for the rest of us who are still here..well it sure feels like it.

People keep telling me that life goes on, but to me that’s the saddest part.” — Unknown

Bourtzi Fortress Pt1

The beautiful town of Nafplio has many hidden gems, one which is the fortress on the tiny islet called St. Theodoroi. The ‘Bourtzi fortress’, its Turkish name still used to this day, was called “Castello dello soglio”first as it was a Venetian castle, and was built by Antonio Gambello, an architect from Bergamo in Northern Italy, in 1471. But, the construction was completed by the engineer Brancaleone.

The town of Nafplio is a fortress town. It was built this way to protect itself from pirates.

The castle/fortress had many uses ranging from a tower, to a prison where executions took place, and a hotel after it was restored in the 1930’s.

For years it was off limits to visitors and it re-opened this past August after restorations were made.

The short boat ride costs five euros and the entrance fee at the castle is five euros.

Η όμορφη πόλη του Ναυπλίου έχει πολλά κρυμμένους θησαυρούς, ένα από αυτά είναι το φρούριο στο μικροσκοπικό νησάκι που ονομάζεται Άγιοι Θεόδωροι. Το «φρούριο Μπούρτζι», που το τουρκικό του όνομα χρησιμοποιείται ακόμα μέχρι σήμερα, ονομαζόταν «Castello dello soglio» αρχικά καθώς ήταν ένα ενετικό κάστρο και χτίστηκε από τον Antonio Gambello, έναν αρχιτέκτονα από το Μπέργκαμο της Βόρειας Ιταλίας, το 1471. η κατασκευή ολοκληρώθηκε από τον μηχανικό Brancaleone.

Η πόλη του Ναυπλίου είναι μια πόλη-φρούριο. Χτίστηκε με αυτόν τον τρόπο για να προστατεύεται από τους πειρατές.

Το κάστρο/φρούριο είχε πολλές χρήσεις που κυμαίνονταν από έναν πύργο, μια φυλακή όπου γίνονταν εκτελέσεις και ένα ξενοδοχείο μετά την αναπαλαίωσή του τη δεκαετία του 1930.

Για χρόνια ήταν εκτός ορίων για τους επισκέπτες και άνοιξε ξανά τον περασμένο Αύγουστο μετά τις ανακαινίσεις που έγιναν.

Η σύντομη βόλτα με το σκάφος κοστίζει πέντε ευρώ και η είσοδος στο κάστρο είναι πέντε ευρώ.

Loukous Monastery/Μονή Λουκούς Pt.1

Loukous Monastery is located in Arcadia, and it is 4 km before Astros beach. It is open and friendly to the public. The nuns were the friendliest I had every come across at a monastery- including the elderly priest. The nuns were eager to discuss the history of the monastery to the guests and they gave us Holy Water. I packet a long skirt, but I didn’t need to change as I was wearing shorts. I was never told to change or given ‘the look’.

The name ‘Loukous’ derives from the Latin word ‘Lucus’ which means ‘sacred grove’. During the Roman era, Herod of Atticus had a villa here where he would host symposiums. There are still artefacts from that era here, like coloumns, statues and other artwork.

Η Μονή Λουκούς βρίσκεται στην Αρκαδία και απέχει 4 χλμ πριν από την παραλία του Άστρους. Είναι ανοιχτό και φιλικό προς το κοινό. Οι καλόγριες ήταν οι πιο φιλικές που είχα συναντήσει σε ένα μοναστήρι – συμπεριλαμβανομένου του ηλικιωμένου ιερέα. Οι μοναχές ανυπομονούσαν να συζητήσουν την ιστορία του μοναστηριού στους καλεσμένους και μας έδωσαν Αγίασμα.

Το όνομα «Λούκους» προέρχεται από τη λατινική λέξη «Lucus» που σημαίνει «ιερό άλσος». Κατά τη ρωμαϊκή εποχή, ο Ηρώδης του Αττικού είχε μια έπαυλη εδώ όπου φιλοξενούσε συμπόσια. Υπάρχουν ακόμα αντικείμενα από εκείνη την εποχή εδώ, όπως κολώνες, αγάλματα και άλλα έργα τέχνης.

Astros Beach/Παραλίου Άστρους

Astros beach in Kinouria, Arcadia It has a 14 km long coast line, a nice sandy beach, clean waters and tavernas.

I payed a visit right before the major heatwaves and catastrophic fires in July.

Παραλία Άστρους Κυνουρίας Αρκαδίας Διαθέτει ακτογραμμή μήκους 14 χιλιομέτρων, ωραία αμμουδιά, καθαρά νερά και ταβέρνες. Έκανα μια επίσκεψη ακριβώς πριν από τους μεγάλους καύσωνες και τις καταστροφικές πυρκαγιές τον Ιούλιο.

The ‘New Normal?’

Well, July is finally gone! One of my least favourite months of the year 😦

Oh boy, what a scorcher July was! Here in Greece we were hit with a three week looooong heatwave. The hottest ever in recorderd history! Many people like myself refused to leave the house. It was just so unbearable at all times of the day. You rish dehydration and heat exhaustion. I felt bad for the tourists who were brave enough to come to Athens in July. They knew it was going to be hot, but not this hot! Everytime I turned on my air conditioner I was so grateful for this invention! I raised my arms in homage to the 13th god of heating and cooling. I could not have survived with a fan. Which is useless when your room temperatrue is 36 degrees celcius!

On the news, I kept on hearing talk about ‘global boiling’ and ‘the new normal’. The last phrase annoys me so much. This is not something we should get used to. If all of these weather abnormalites are the result of climate change-which is man-made-and it can be reveresed.. than why not reverse it? What else needs to happen so that moumental changes can be made? Why are we accepting this ‘new normal’?

This ‘new normal’ means death..