“In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins, not through strength but by perseverance.” – H. Jackson Brown Jr.
landscape photography
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.
View From A Fortress
Last weekend, I visited the small town of Nafplio which is located in the Eastern Peloponnese, it’s not a far drive from Athens which is why many Athenians like to head here for the weekend. I have been to Nafplio many years ago, but I don’t remember too much. This time I decided that I was going to take it in more and spend more time exploring and even walk up those 999 steps that lead to the fortress of Palamidi. The climb up was a difficult one for me because I’m not an athlete. However, the view was breathtaking and it was worthwhile even though it took me three days to recover. My poor legs 😦
Palamidi fortress & its 999 steps.
Entrance to the Palamidi fortress
Steps that look like Machu Picchu
Beautiful view of Nafplio on the way up..
In the distance the ‘Bourtzi fortress’ on an islet.
..and the sea is beautiful too.
A cruise (?) ship in the distance.
Steps..
and more steps.
But, it’s worth it!
A cell where prisoners were held.
The last steps to the fortress
At the top at last. And on the other side of the door is the archaeological site of the fortress.
999 steps, but this time I’m going down.
The butterfly was a good sign.
View from Lycavettos Hill/Λυκαβηττός
For my birthday last weekend, I decided to head up the highest point of Athens. The highest point is Lycavettos hill a very popular tourist destination, but every able-bodied Athenian should try to make the trek up there too. The name ‘Lycavettos’ means ‘the refuge of the wolves’-‘lycos’ means ‘wolf’ in Greek (fortunately there are no wolves there now). In order to reach the top of Lycavettos hill you have to walk up the many steep steps from Kolonaki street. After climbing up all the steps you arrive at the base of the hill and there is a funicular that will take you to the top. I didn’t want to ride it since I wanted to take photographs and take in the view. It took about a half hour to get to the top-without breaks. I went in the late afternoon when the sun was going down and it was not a hot day-thank goodness. Although, it’s a bit of a work out, the hill-top offers an incredible view of Athens. You can see the Parthenon and Piraeus port, and even some of the islands nearby. At the top of the hill is a restaurant, a theatre and the 19th century chapel of St. George where many weddings have taken place. When I got there a wedding had just taken place and the bride had just come out of the church. By that then, the sun had gone down, and I couldn’t take any proper night shots. Time for a new camera..
I still like this one though:
🙂
The Ancient Ruins of Olympia
Archaeologists at work close to the entrance of the site.
Archaeologists uncovered a gymnasium 186 meters in length dating back to the 3rd & 4th Century A.D
The many tourists at the archaeological site
The Entrance to the Stadium for the Athletes
The Ancient Stadium. The judges sat on the right where the stones are.
This is the first time that I visited the archaeological site (Altis) at ancient Olympia. I have driven by the site many times to visit my mothers’ village. I even went to the museum, but I did not have the opportunity to visit the site where the gymnasiums were. This was where the athletes would train for the games. I remember back in the summer of 2004, when Athens was hosting the Olympic games, and sitting on the grass of the ancient stadium with other spectators from around the world. We were waiting for the priestess to light the torch in the gymnasium area. It was a cloudy morning and all of a sudden the sun came out and the torch was lit. It was an experience that I will never forget.
Walking through the site I was a bit disheartening to see everything in ruins. It’s hard to imagine how the site looked like back then. Despite being in ruins the site was very beautiful and tranquil.
Ancient Olympia/Αρχαία Ολυμπία
The Olive Groves of Olympia
A Lone Cypress Tree
The Landscape of Olympia
The Church Cemetary
In the distance, the church of Saint Sotiros (Saviour)
Recently, I took some photographs of the lush green landscape of Olympia located in the western Peloponnese in Greece. I took most of the photographs from the church which offers a great view of the surrounding land with its many olive groves. My mother is from this region and I have gone many times but I never took photographs like these. It is a very beautiul and important place as it is where the original Olympic games were held.
Πρόσφατα, τραβηξα μερικές φωτογραφίες από το καταπράσινο τοπίο της Ολυμπίας που βρίσκεται στη δυτική Πελοπόννησο στην Ελλάδα. Τραβηξα τις φωτογραφίες κοντα στην εκκλησία η οποία προσφέρει μια υπέροχη θέα στη γύρω περιοχη με τις πολλες ελαιώνες. Η μητέρα μου είναι από την περιοχή αυτή και έχω πάει πολλές φορές, αλλά ποτέ δεν ειχα τραβηξει φωτογραφίες σαν αυτές. Η Αρχαια Ολυμπια είναι ένα πολύ ομορφο και σημαντικο μερος καθώς είναι το σημείο όπου πραγματοποιήθηκαν οι πρωτες Ολυμπιακες Αγώνες
Voidokilia Beach/Η Παραλία Της Βοϊδοκοιλιάς
Landscape of Voidokilia
Marshland
Voidokoilia
‘Voidokilia’ beach is a very famous beach in Greece and it is considered to be one of the most beautiful in Greece. It is located in Messinia, Peloponnese. The landscape is very unique with its sand dunes and marshland, and the beach that has a circular Omega type shape. It is a great place for bike riding too. The day that I went was not great for swimming. It has been a rainy summer so far in Greece. I arrived in the evening as I was just quickly passing through with no intention for staying too long, but I when I got there I wanted to stay a while longer. So, I will definitely re-visit this place when the weather is better in the near-future.
Chromatic Tree
It was a very sunny day in the countryside, and this tree was calling me to take a photograph.
The Great Escape/H Mεγάλη Aπόδραση
Lush green crop field outside of Athens close to Marathon
Beautiful green landscape of Atikki
It’s easy to want to get lost in these green fields
Just what all city folk like me needs, a quick escape to the countryside. Greece is a very small country, but the great thing about it is that there are so many unique landscapes. From the grey and noisy concrete city you can be transporeted to quiet green fields in just a few minutes.
FYI-My photographs reminded my of a collage titled ‘Emerald Landscape’ that I made a while back! http://wp.me/pTPRg-i5
Κατι που χρειαζόνται οι ‘πρωτεύουσιανι’ σαν εμενα, ειναι μια γρήγορη απόδραση στην εξοχή. Η Ελλάδα είναι μια πολύ μικρή χώρα, αλλά το συν είναι ότι μπορείτε να δείτε πολλές διαφορετικές τοποθεσίες. Από τη γκρι θορυβώδη τσιμέντενια πόλη μεταφέρεσαι σε πράσινα λιβάδια σε λίγα μόνο λεπτά
The Tumulus of the Athenians/ OΤύμβος των Αθηναίων
Ancient Burial Mound at Marathona, Greece
192 Athenian soldiers are buried underneath the mound
The site is a must see for travellers passing through the area
Statue of the Greek General Miltiades
These photographs of a burial mound were taken at Marathona, Greece a couple of weeks ago. Marathon(a) is the place where the legendary battle between the Greeks and Persians took place in the year 490 B.C. Under the grass, rocks and dirt of the burial mound, also called tumulus, there lies the bones of 192 Athenian soldiers who died while fighting the Persians at a battle field nearby. Strangely enough, burial mounds like this can be found all over the world. It seems to be a universal ritual as it is a simple way to commemorate the dead.
FYI-The site of the tumulus is fenced off and you have to pay a fee of 3 euros to see the burial mound up close. The site was closed the day that I went, but luckily I was still able to take photographs of the mound from outside of the fence.
Αυτές οι φωτογραφίες τραβήχτηκαν στο Μαραθώνα πριν απο δυο εβδομαδες. Στις πρωτες δυο φωτογραφιες ειναι ο ‘σορος΄η ο τύμβου των νεκρον. Ο Μαραθωνας είναι η περιοχη όπου έγινε η θρυλική μάχη μεταξύ Ελλήνων και Περσών κατά το έτος 490 π.Χ. . Κατω απο το γρασίδι, πέτρες και χωμα του τυμβου, βρίσκονται τα οστά των 192 Αθηναίων στρατιωτών που έχασαν τη ζωή τους ενώ πολεμούσαν τους Πέρσες στο πεδίο μάχης που βρισκεται κοντα. Παραδόξως, τύμβους όπως αυτό, μπορεί να βρει καποιος σε όλο τον κόσμο. Φαίνεται να είναι μια καθολική τελετουργία, καθώς είναι ένας απλός τρόπος για να τιμήσουμε τους νεκρούς.
Η θέση του τύμβου είναι περιφραγμένη και θα πρέπει να καταβάλλεις το ποσο των 3 ευρώ για να δείτε το τυμβο απο κοντά. Ηταν κλειστα την ημέρα που πήγα, αλλά ευτυχώς μπορουσα να τραβηξω φωτογραφιες εξω απο τη φράχτη.
My Creative Wayz 