Where Everything Sounds GREEK, and U R sure, it's really GREEK!!
From a 3-day Odeyssey ;) in Greece.
<<1>>Off Santorini, an island of the Cyclades in the Aegean Sea. The Caiques (traditional boates), which bring the tourists to the uninhabited islet formed only 430 yrs ago, by the eruption of an under-sea Volcano.
The 'fresh' volcanic rocks from the last mild eruption in 1950, is seen in the background. During the 1-hr trek, at some places, we could see sulphur-smelling hot moist fumes coming from the "fumaroles" in the ground. So you can smell a volcano!!. There are Hot Springs around this island!.
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<<2>> Imposing Doric columns of The Parthenon (built 447-438 BC), in The Acropolis, Athens. One of the world's most famous monuments. Originally built as the Temple to house the 12m high statue of Athena Parthenos (Athena the Maiden). Despite the apparent geometrical symmetry, there are no straight lines in the Parthenon's construction as all its floors, columns and friezes taper subtly to create a visual harmony!- The sculptors used visual trickery to counteract the laws of perspective. (as straight lines would have created the optical illusion of being slightly bent). After the glorious years of ancient Athens, over the centuries it's been used as church/mosque/arsenal.
<<3>> It's Spring in Athens, reminded the Dandelions Common Poppy flowers around at Acropolis.
<<4>> Oia, the beatiful village of Santorini, which is generally considered as the most spectacular of all the Greek islands, with ancient settlements on the sheer cliffs of huge submerged 'caldera'/crater of the old volcano.
<<5>> 'Crown Daisy' flowers on the volcanic rock and in the distance, the town crowning the cliffs. Those were the only kind of flowers around. I had the unique experience of smelling flowers and the 'volcano' here!!. The significance of the islet is that it was born circa 1570, with an active volcanic centre, and gradually formed thru 6 eruptions spanning the 430 years, with the oldest rocks dating back as many years and the most recent just 50 years, it is very unique from scientific perspective, making possible to study extraordinary geological, volcanic & biological processes in a balanced geo-ecosystem undisturbed by human activity... err, well, except for the tourists trampling on it, but at least it's very restricted.
<<6>> At Oia, Santorini. The owner engrossed in reading, sitting by his βιβλιοπωλειο ('Bibliopoleio', bookshop; Truly speaking, a 'vivliopoleio'- Contrary to what we might expect, The Greeks pronounce β with a 'v' sound, not 'b'. For 'b' sound, they write μπ 'mju'+'pi'. Reading Greek using the alphabets learnt from the school-maths&science days, and trying to decipher Greek(if the greek root happen to be used in English) turned out to be a favorite pastimes there; say like the obvious-sounding ΓΥΝΑΙΚΩΝ
(Gynaikon) and ΑΝΔΡΩΝ (Andron) boards near the toilet, or that a Γαλακτοπωλειο (Galaktopoleio) means a dairy-products shop, relating it to Galaxy, Milky way!. It's good fun.
Coming to our bookshop owner, I had to trick him into sitting there and continue his reading, after he got distracted when I popped out the camera and I's looking curiously at the bookshop. He started to suspect whether I'm trying to include him as well in the pic, and he shuffled, about to get up and go, and sensing this, shifting the focus, I pretended I'm least bothered about him. He left the scene and after a minute came back, surveyed the scene, and finding that I'm still around but thinking I'm some cranky fellow trying to take some odd picture of a bookshop, he sat there again and started reading. All the time, feigning interest elsewhere, I's just waiting for that to happen ;) and fooled around for a minute more before clicking this frame without him noticing. Whew, I sighed and walked through the narrow alleys between the traditional houses and towards the sunset- point.
<<7>> Oia, Santorini. Through the narrow alleys. This place reminded me of the architecture in the deserts of Rajasthan! It has a very quaint feeling...
<<8>> Sunset at Oia.
<<1>>Off Santorini, an island of the Cyclades in the Aegean Sea. The Caiques (traditional boates), which bring the tourists to the uninhabited islet formed only 430 yrs ago, by the eruption of an under-sea Volcano.
The 'fresh' volcanic rocks from the last mild eruption in 1950, is seen in the background. During the 1-hr trek, at some places, we could see sulphur-smelling hot moist fumes coming from the "fumaroles" in the ground. So you can smell a volcano!!. There are Hot Springs around this island!.
.
.
.
<<2>> Imposing Doric columns of The Parthenon (built 447-438 BC), in The Acropolis, Athens. One of the world's most famous monuments. Originally built as the Temple to house the 12m high statue of Athena Parthenos (Athena the Maiden). Despite the apparent geometrical symmetry, there are no straight lines in the Parthenon's construction as all its floors, columns and friezes taper subtly to create a visual harmony!- The sculptors used visual trickery to counteract the laws of perspective. (as straight lines would have created the optical illusion of being slightly bent). After the glorious years of ancient Athens, over the centuries it's been used as church/mosque/arsenal.
<<3>> It's Spring in Athens, reminded the Dandelions Common Poppy flowers around at Acropolis.
<<4>> Oia, the beatiful village of Santorini, which is generally considered as the most spectacular of all the Greek islands, with ancient settlements on the sheer cliffs of huge submerged 'caldera'/crater of the old volcano.
<<5>> 'Crown Daisy' flowers on the volcanic rock and in the distance, the town crowning the cliffs. Those were the only kind of flowers around. I had the unique experience of smelling flowers and the 'volcano' here!!. The significance of the islet is that it was born circa 1570, with an active volcanic centre, and gradually formed thru 6 eruptions spanning the 430 years, with the oldest rocks dating back as many years and the most recent just 50 years, it is very unique from scientific perspective, making possible to study extraordinary geological, volcanic & biological processes in a balanced geo-ecosystem undisturbed by human activity... err, well, except for the tourists trampling on it, but at least it's very restricted.<<6>> At Oia, Santorini. The owner engrossed in reading, sitting by his βιβλιοπωλειο ('Bibliopoleio', bookshop; Truly speaking, a 'vivliopoleio'- Contrary to what we might expect, The Greeks pronounce β with a 'v' sound, not 'b'. For 'b' sound, they write μπ 'mju'+'pi'. Reading Greek using the alphabets learnt from the school-maths&science days, and trying to decipher Greek(if the greek root happen to be used in English) turned out to be a favorite pastimes there; say like the obvious-sounding ΓΥΝΑΙΚΩΝ
(Gynaikon) and ΑΝΔΡΩΝ (Andron) boards near the toilet, or that a Γαλακτοπωλειο (Galaktopoleio) means a dairy-products shop, relating it to Galaxy, Milky way!. It's good fun.Coming to our bookshop owner, I had to trick him into sitting there and continue his reading, after he got distracted when I popped out the camera and I's looking curiously at the bookshop. He started to suspect whether I'm trying to include him as well in the pic, and he shuffled, about to get up and go, and sensing this, shifting the focus, I pretended I'm least bothered about him. He left the scene and after a minute came back, surveyed the scene, and finding that I'm still around but thinking I'm some cranky fellow trying to take some odd picture of a bookshop, he sat there again and started reading. All the time, feigning interest elsewhere, I's just waiting for that to happen ;) and fooled around for a minute more before clicking this frame without him noticing. Whew, I sighed and walked through the narrow alleys between the traditional houses and towards the sunset- point.
<<7>> Oia, Santorini. Through the narrow alleys. This place reminded me of the architecture in the deserts of Rajasthan! It has a very quaint feeling...
<<8>> Sunset at Oia.
posted by Sujith at 1:34 PM
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