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jdu662 · 4 years ago

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10 songs that bring back memories of my travels: Jo Frost's playlist

Some of my fondest childhood memories are of family holidays to Greece. These days Zorba’s Dance is undeniably a bit of a cliche, but when I hear that slow bouzouki intro, I’m reminded of my dad, who would put this LP on after drunken dinners and start dancing the sirtaki. I watched Zorba the Greek for the first time during lockdown last year when I came across it in my dad’s DVD collection. I was surprised by how much it affected me, making me pine for Greece – and for my dad, who I realise looked remarkably like Zorba (played by Anthony Quinn).

Vuoi Vuoi Me by Mari Boine

Womad has been the source of so many of my musical introductions: it was there, in 2007, that I first saw Mari Boine – the unofficial ambassador of Sámi music – perform live. It started a fascination with Sámi culture and joik, the distinctive guttural song style of the indigenous people of northern Scandinavia. Several years later I was invited to Kautokeino, way up past the Arctic Circle near Boine’s home of Karasjok, for the Sámi Easter festival. It felt like a crash course in all things to do with joik and reindeer, but it also gave me an invaluable insight into Sámi history and the people’s relationship with those who colonised their land. These days the Sámi have their own parliament, flag and national day (6 February).

That’s It! by the Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Like many others, I saw most of my travel plans scuppered last year, including a road trip from Nashville to New Orleans to coincide with the New Orleans jazz fest. The impetus for the trip had largely come about while binge-watching the HBO series Treme. We’d compiled a playlist for our journey through Tennessee and Louisiana, but when it became clear that our dream of visiting venues such as Preservation Hall in New Orleans wasn’t going to happen, we’d play it at home. This track by the Preservation Hall Jazz Band always lifts my spirits, gets me dancing and makes me dead set on rebooking our trip as soon as it’s safe to do so.

Bitori Nha Bibinha by Bitori

The most internationally celebrated artist from Cape Verde is the late Cesária Évora, the doyenne of morna music, steeped in saudade (nostalgia or longing). I could have picked any number of Cesária songs, but when I visited Santiago – largest of the Cape Verde islands – it was funaná that became the soundtrack of my trip, blaring out of the packed alugueres (minibus taxis), market stalls and bars. Funaná was banned by the Portuguese up until 1975 as they feared the songs in Creole were subversive and its frenetic dance rhythms immoral. Septuagenarian accordion player Victor Tavares, AKA Bitori, is the genre’s unlikely star, largely thanks to singer Chando Graciosa who persuaded him to record this in 1997, and to Samy Ben Redjeb of Analog Africa, who rereleased it in 2016.

Train Song by Sakar Khan

One of the most atmospheric festival locations I’ve visited is the Mehrangarh Fort, home of Riff – the Rajasthan International Folk Festival, held each October during the harvest moon in Jodhpur. This colossal red sandstone edifice reverberates with the sound of Rajasthani folk musicians such as Manganiyar legends Lakha Khan and the late Sakar Khan, masters of traditional bowed, stringed instruments the sindhi sarangi and the kamayacha. Riff is a full-on immersive experience and to do it justice, a certain level of stamina is required as concerts start at dawn, carry on through the heat of the day, then continue long into the night. Whenever I hear the rasping sounds of these ancient instruments, I’m instantly transported back to Jodhpur.

St Thomas by Sonny Rollins

One of the benefits of studying French and German (in those happy EU days) was being able to spend a year as an English language assistant in a school in Vienne, just south of Lyon. After my stint teaching, I volunteered at Jazz à Vienne, a wonderful two-week jazz festival held in the town’s Roman amphitheatre. I returned every summer during the early 1990s, making lifelong friends and getting a crash course in jazz in the process. Over the years I saw incredible artists, including Ray Charles, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil, and Sonny Rollins, who remains one of my favourite sax players. The experience became the foundation for my love of music from around the world and my work today.

The Plateau by Jenny Sturgeon

I’ve always found comfort in walking, and last year it took on even greater importance. So between lockdowns, my partner and I headed up to the Cairngorms to do some hiking. Just before our trip I received Jenny Sturgeon’s musical tribute to Nan Shepherd’s book about the Cairngorms, The Living Mountain. Every hike we embarked on would reveal different landscapes – and every type of weather imaginable. Back in London, listening to Jenny’s album brings back memories of those mountains, especially hearing the bird song on this opening track, as Jenny sings: “Step on step, foot by foot, we walk that’s how we know, through the heather and the mud, the plateau ringing through our blood.”

Count Your Blessings by the Como Mamas

One of my European festival highlights in recent years was FMM Sines, held on Portugal’s wild and relatively untouristy Alentejo coast, in the towns of Porto Covo and Sines. A really relaxed, friendly vibe permeated the opening weekend in the seaside resort of Porto Covo, where a mixture audience of locals and travellers congregated in the main square. The Como Mamas, from Mississippi, were unknown to me, but turned out to be a revelation. As the three singers took to the stage, the atmosphere transformed into something resembling a devoted congregation at a gospel gathering. Since then, Count Your Blessings has become a mantra, particularly last year.

Pothole in the Sky by Lisa O’Neill

One of the things I sorely miss during these socially distanced times is those random conversations you strike up with complete strangers over a pint. There’s nowhere better to do this than in Dublin, especially in one of the city’s many music pubs, such as The Cobblestone or O’Donoghue’s. I haven’t been lucky enough to see the Irish singer Lisa O’Neill at a session, although she was apparently a regular in pre-Covid times. The combination of chat, beer and music is perfect and I can’t wait to revisit.

La Grande Folie by San Salvador

Most of the travelling I do as editor of Songlines is to festivals around the world, and one of the things I most enjoy about them is the communal listening experience. There’s something visceral about hearing music being performed live with other people around you. For me, San Salvador perfectly encapsulate this feeling. A sextet from Saint-Salvadour in south-west France, they sing in Occitan. There’s a real physicality to their music and something incredibly powerful about the combination of voice and percussion. They always finish their sets with La Grande Folie – a song that resonates with these crazy times.

• San Salvador are due to perform at Songlines Encounters Festival at Kings Place in May (Covid permitting)

#songs

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alatismeni-theitsa · 5 years ago

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Do Greeks that were born and reside in Sparta, and/or Laconia in general, still feel a connection to Ancient Sparta, Leonidas, and the Spartans today? I have always wondered this and if it bothers them and other Greeks that people use the image of Spartans as mascots and costumes.

I had to research a little bit because I am a northerner and I didn’t know much about Spartan traditions. But I am from the geographical department of Macedonia and I know that Alexander the Great is still considered an important and honored figure. This shows in our traditional songs, attires and fairytales. Now, on to Sparti:

Spartans call their unions, channels and teams with ancient names such as “Lakonizin” (Λακωνίζειν). They have a marathon with ancient roots, Spartathlon, in memory of Fedepedes in 490 BC who run the distance Athens-Sparta in one day! (In 1984 the Greek Yannis Kouros took the record because he run the distance in 20 hours!) They still dance the ancient warrior dance Πυρρίχιος (Peereeheos) as in many towns in Greece. They hold up festivals for the local products and one of them is for the Laconian olive and Laconian olive oil in August.

Μodern Sparti is built just a little south of the ancient town and, as every town in Greece it has a full archeological museum.

The grave of Leonidas is inside the town:

There is a statue of Leonidas in Sparta’s square:

There is also one in Thermopylae:

With those old and new monuments I am suspecting people will feel a connection. Lol

Celebrating the beginning of Spartathlon (those are NOT Hellenic Polytheists):

Spartans posing as ancient soldiers (as far as I know its not a far right thing):

The football team of Sparti “The Spartans” posing in front of Leonidas:

A winner of Spartathlon kissing the feet of the statue of Leonidas. It's not idol worshiping, of course. It’s showing respect to the heritage and culture and bravery.

Also take a look at the honorary emblem of Sparta

In AC Odyssey:

The Greek man who voiced Alexios in AC Odyssey, Michael Antonakos, is a Lacon from Mani*, a small town next to Sparti. He was very happy and proud to have this role! The man who played Leonidas, Elias Toufexis, was also of Greek descent. It was a big deal for us Greeks because we rarely see ourselves playing Greek roles or lending our voice to Greek characters.

*The revolution of 1821 started from the Peloponnise, from the Lakones. Peloponnisians are known to be harsh, brave and to sacrifice themselves for their honor or the honor of the country. The places of Mistras, Mani and Monemvasia have a legacy when it comes to this. (The locals know more such places of brave people but my knowledge is limited).

To dress up as a Spartan soldier could be ok (I don’t like it very much when foreigners do it but it’s for fun) but to dress up as Leonidas is borderline disrespectful – because such a leader cannot be a costume. For the mascots I really hope it’s done in a more honorary way. But I know people are not always honoring. On top of it, it’s a trend for foreigners to separate Greek culture from Greece and use it as a pop culture reference so what did you expect? They think we have forgotten our heritage so it’s ok for them to play with it as if they are its new masters.

#sparta #sparti #greek people #answered #leonidas #greek tradition #greek culture

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belizedeservesbetter · 5 years ago

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Hercules is Bursting At the Seams With Potential

or, It’s Roger Bart’s World and We’re Just Living In It

Short Version: Right now it’s good but not great HOWEVER with some work this could be really spectacular

Long Version:

The production of Hercules presented by Public Works did exactly what it was meant to do. It brought in crowds, put the entirety of the Public Works community (all 200 of them) onstage and showed producers this is a viable project worth pursuing, be it on Broadway, a Disney park/cruise ship or simply available for licensing.

In all, I liked it. But I didn’t love it, which was a little disappointing to be honest, especially because Hercules is my all time favorite Disney movie. But it is easily (easily!) fixable and could be amazing if they put the work into it.

I’m gonna divide this review/commentary/whatever into three parts:

1. The Good

2. The Bad

3. What I Think They Should Do Moving Forward

So here we go. And I guess I should say there’s going to be a bunch of spoilers here, but if you’re reading this I’m assuming you’ve seen/loved the movie so you already know the plot.

1. The Good

Every moment of this show is filled with an extraordinary amount of heart. You can tell everyone involved with this production loves the source material and wants it to soar. You can tell the entire cast is having a blast and loves being there. The material itself is full of heart because that’s exactly how it was written. The leader of Public Works made a speech at the beginning saying how Hercules is about what it means to be a hero and she’s exactly right. That message is the beating heart of the show.

The length of the show was also pretty nice. My problem with a lot of these film adaptations, Disney ones especially, is that they take a relatively short film and fill it with filler songs/moments in order to fill a 2.5 hour show. Frozen suffered from this. It didn’t need to be that long. However, Hercules was only 90 minutes with no intermission! There was little to no filler! The story, while at times a bit clunky in the beginning, doesn’t take any scenic routes to fill time. This kept the plot moving at a mostly good pace and I was never bored or looking at the song list to see how much longer we had left. I could focus completely on the cast and show without feeling like it was dragging on forever.

And the cast was so good too. Krysta Rodriguez has always been a fav of mine and I was thrilled to see her playing this role. She was fun and spunky and was in great voice. If anything, she didn’t have too much to work with.

Jelani Alladin was FANTASTIC. He was the perfect Hercules. If producers decide to move forward with this show and take it to Broadway, Alladin better stay. He was charming and fun and funny and sang the hell out of “Go the Distance.” But what really impressed me about him was the dramatic moments and how personal and impactful they felt. There’s this great moment when Hercules talks to Zeus and Hera after becoming the hero of Thebes where he breaks down and has his wonderful moment with Phil and that whole scene was so good. He really lets you see Hercules’ insecurities at that moment and the way he was able to be subtle but still project to an outdoor audience of over a thousand was remarkable.

James Monroe Iglehart was great as Phil, as was Jeff Hiller and Nelson Chimilio as Panic and Pain respectively.

The costumes were really cool (with one glaring exception but we’ll get to that later). I especially enjoyed Hades/the gods costumes, because they looked enough like their movie counterparts while still being unique to the show. The way they did Hades’ makeup was super cool, like they pulled him right into the real world. Likewise, the Muses had some really cool costume changes throughout and they all looked amazing.

One of the more impressive aspects of the show was the puppetry and special effects, which felt grounded in a more Greek theatre kind of style and I thought it worked very well. The puppetry of the monsters specifically was super cool. The Hydra looked fantastic, as well as the three Titans. This production of course wasn’t given a lot of money, but much like The Lightning Thief, they worked with it. They were in these cool pieces that different actors held and when they came together they looked great. They were bright and bold and drew on older theatre techniques which I liked a lot. The special effects, especially in the latter half, were also good. How they did the Underworld was simple but effective and made a wonderful stage picture, especially the moment when Hercules saves Meg from Hades. How they made his life string turn gold looked really cool as well.

In terms of musical numbers, what worked best was the songs we all know and love. “Go the Distance” was simply staged, which made the emotion of the song far more effective. “Zero to Hero” was a blast and took all the best parts from the movie and put them on stage. “I Won’t Say (I’m In Love)” was divine, just as I expected it to be. “A Star Is Born” was genuinely uplifting and joyous, since they brought out all 200 members of the cast and everyone was so happy to be there and it was the perfect way to end the show.

There were 5 new songs, and while I wasn’t a fan of most of them, I really really liked “Bolts of Thunder” and thought it was a fun way to musicalize the big fight scenes with the Titans towards the end. The Muses also wore these incredible 90s girl group inspired jumpsuits that were spectacular.

Speaking of 90s girl group Muses, there were two moments when they heavily channeled this vibe and I wish they did more of it. “Bolts of Thunder” with the jump suits and the reprise of “Gospel Truth” after “One Last Hope” where they wore these late 80s/early 90s workout video outfits. Those moments were artistically bold and really emphasized what worked in the original movie, but I’m gonna talk more about that later in part 3.

Of course my favorite part of this production was Roger Bart. He stole the entire show. Whenever Hades is on stage he has the best lines and the funniest moments and he just has a way of making every line feel both biting and passive aggressive. He was absolutely incredible and the perfect choice for Hades. This production gave us more Hades than the original movie, but I wanted even more Hades. Bart has always been an actor near and dear to my heart (Young Frankenstein was my jam) and I was so glad to see him onstage again.

2. The Bad

Unfortunately, a good portion of the show feels clunky, both stylistically and in content. The book was perfectly serviceable, taking a good portion of its lines from the films. But it felt too slow in the first half and too fast in the second, which was also when things got more interesting. For example, there’s a whole song about Hercules not feeling accepted at the Agora and there’s a long scene after that song but later on when Hercules defeats Hades, that takes literally 2 seconds. Likewise, the show over explains certain exposition points (and is not subtle in any way, shape or form) and doesn’t explain other things. Though really there isn’t much exposition at all, as this show assumes you’ve watched the movie dozens of times.

That doesn’t always work well.

I went with a friend who hadn’t seen it in a while and afterwards he asked about what happened to Meg that made her sign her soul over to Hades. I knew because I’ve seen the movie so many times, but the show kind of brushes right over it. If you’ve never seen the movie before, which will definitely be the case with some people, it might be a little difficult to keep up with.

Stylistically, this show was all over the place.

In my opinion, Public Works presented three versions of Hercules:

1. The gospel version

2. The 90s nostalgia version

3. The Greek inspired version

I’m going to go more into this later, but these three versions would have worked if they could have seamlessly blended into each other. As of now, it’s incredibly jarring and distracting and would sometimes take me right out of the show.

For example! Hercules wore a traditional toga. Meg wore this

Yes this is Mal from Disney’s Descendants and yes Meg wore basically this but she had shorter hair and purple heel boots instead of gray. Hercules’ toga and this together looked almost absurd to be honest.

And side note: Disney has been on a kick recently where they think pants equals feminism? Someone needs to tell Disney that women can wear dresses and still be feminist

Anyways

The choreography was pretty basic, but it’s hard to fault them this when the choreography is meant to be for a crowd of 200 people with ages varying from 5 - 80. There were a lot of step touch and wave moments. There was one really cool dance break in “Zero to Hero” that made me think about how cool some of these big production numbers could be if they got some good dancers in there.

I wish the Muses were better. They were so low energy during “Gospel Truth,” which made the evening start off on a lower note than it should have.

The pop culture references were really weird and out of place, mostly because of their specificity. The pop culture references in the movie are purposely vague and more “modern” references than pop culture, which makes the movie timeless. The pop culture references here might date the show in the future. There’s two that stood out specifically, one being when Hercules says “I know the Wobble!” before doing it, the other when Panic starts doing the Hercules Mulligan rap (you know the one) from Hamilton when Hades asks him if he knows Hercules.

The rest of the new songs weren’t great either, and I’m gonna talk about each of them separately

“To Be Human” - This one definitely felt like a first draft of “Go the Distance.” Interestingly enough, I feel that an edited version of “Proud of Your Boy” from the Alladin musical (also written by Alan Menken) would have worked a lot better.

“Uniquely Greek Town Square” - bad

“Forget About It” - I’m all for giving Meg more songs, but this was decent at best

“A Cool Day In Hell” - I desperately want Hades to have a solo, but not this. It was cheesy and felt out of place. Roger Bart sold the hell out of it, but of course he did cause he’s Roger Bart and incredible and amazing

“Uniquely Greek Tough Town” - not to be confused with “Uniquely Greek Town Square,” this song didn’t feel uniquely Greek at all and was, well, bad

“To Be Human (Reprise” - fine, I guess. Jelani Alladin made it good but the lyrics weren’t great. They rhymed “fail” with “frail.”

3. What I Think They Should Do Moving Forward

Like I said before, this show has so much potential! I think it could be so good! This is my favorite Disney movie so I really want it to go to Broadway! If they do, there’s a couple things I think they could benefit from.

The best Disney Theatricals productions draw heavily from the culture/country the story takes place in. The Lion King, which draw heavily from Kenyan culture and reinvents the source material is the best example of this. I think drawing on Greek theatre conventions/styles would work well here, especially if Disney threw some of that good Disney money at it. I’d also like to see them lean into the Greek myth aspect of it a bit more.

However, what also made the original Hercules movie so fun was its modern flair that felt both timeless and very 90s, which was fun. In this way I think the Muses and all the supernatural characters should draw more on this 90s flair while the mortals draw more on the Greek theatre conventions. I think with incorporating some Greek into the 90s and some 90s into the Greek, this could work really well. During “One Last Hope,” all the ensemble members wore those fun workout video outfits. I think it would have been fun if they wore togas still, but with sweatbands and leg warmers. Something like that to blend them together more. A theatrical beauty blender, if you will.

In all honesty, I just want something bold and inspired. Give me something interesting!

The show would also benefit from heavy edits to the newer songs and a good troupe of dancers, but that would of course happen in a possible commercial transfer.

Lastly, as with just about anything, throw some Disney money at it! Make it shine!

Normally I’d end this with a “Go see it!” or a “Don’t waste your time on it!” but this run is already sold out and lottery winners have been predetermined. So if you’ve won the lottery and are going, you’re in for a treat! The show is so fun and so enjoyable. I only critique it so heavily because I love the movie so much and have been wanting a musical adaptation for a while now. But I also know it’s Public Works and it’s free and it’s in the park and it’s fun and you can eat ice cream while watching it. If you didn’t win but live in NYC, give the lottery a go! I saw the lottery crowd waiting for winners to be drawn and it was incredibly crowded, so be aware of that.

Or, if you didn’t win the lottery/don’t win standby lottery, go over to the Belvedere Castle and you can listen in on the show. You’re only seeing their backs, but I saw a bunch of people there watching/listening the whole time!

#hercules #broadway #jelani alladin #krysta rodriguez #disney #review #voice

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bites-kms · 5 years ago

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Kalimera! Something to eat?

Greek hospitality means food. It taste like kalamata olives, fresh, sweet figs and strong, delicious olive oil, not to forget the soft grapes that torn you between harvesting them for the next delicious sip of House White versus indulging yourself in them straight out from the vine.

There are certain musts you should try in Greece (if you haven’t done so in Turkey or in Georgia) like Tomatokeftedes or sun dried tomato croquettes, Greek Fava Dip, that delicious yellow split pea puree, feta cheese in one of their multiple, exquisite special preparations, meat filled zucchinis and tons, tons of wine to pair with all of it.

I gained almost 2 kilos in 2 weeks, - thank god I was prepared and I lost weight before traveling - but no regrets nor harm feelings: those were the best 2 kilos I gained in a while. All the beauty and history surrounding you deserve a proper celebration, and when it comes to commemorate something, Greeks know exactly how to do it. A little bit of cheese, some home made pies or veggie croquettes, you name it. And that is just for starters.

We took this hospitality really seriously, and as my friend Mau would say, we knew our “priorities”, so FOOD became a crucial part of our experience and tour. The heat also made it easier for us to stop every 2 hours for a soul refill- since when we ate, we were happy. Here’s the recap of our favorites places went in Athens:

Diongenes Lisikratous, Athina, 105 58

It was our first dinner and we were both starving: Mau from flying 10+ hours from the future and myself flying almost another 10 from the past. Luckily, this restaurant which we researched before and was recommended to us, was around our place. It was a gorgeous taverna. Exactly as you would imagine a mild night in Greece might be like. We ordered some zucchini, tomato croquettes and an octopus, which seemed to be more tasty than what they usually and actually were given our flight famine. But still, the place is worth giving it a shot since the ambience and the service is very, very good. Kayak Durrachiou 30 & Amvrakias Athina, 10443

It wasn’t a brilliant idea, to be honest, to have a kick-in-the-butt-awaken Ellinikos or Greek Coffee that night instead of a regular espresso. Same as in Turkish culture, their coffee is extremely strong, heavy and with the grounded bean in it so it has this dusty and dry taste. Strong. Killer. Not at all jet-lag helpful. Worth it, though? Absolutely! Everest various locations Bites&Kms Fav: Syndagma Square, Athina, 105 63

photo courtesy of polyarch.com We found this place by chance and, oh, odds are in our favor! Since that moment, each time we needed a refilled, we stoped by the closest Everest we could find in seek for an orange juice or a cappuccino. Cheap, delicious, great service. Tons of food and snack options to go along, even at this store on Syndagma Square, freshly made pizzas, sandwiches and croque monsieur were available! Klepsydra Tavern Klepsidras, Athina 105 56

Finding this secret gem was pure coincidence but once again, we ended up in the most wonderful corner in between Plaka and Anafiotika. There was only one table left, with a “reserved” sign on it, and as soon as we mentioned we were there for lunch, they remove it, reverse their glasses and brought the bread. It was meant to be. The view, the service and the food was all perfect. We ordered some of our favorites: spanikopita, tzaziki and greek salad. Spanikopita or otherwise known as Greek spinach pie is a traditional yet delicious recipe. With its versatility the dish matches with every time of the day. Feta cheese, butter, olive oil all are mixed and baked until golden crispy perfection.

Greek salad is a must have for Greeks with almost every meal. Choriatiki, as they called them in Greek, are made of tomatoes, olives, cucumber and a large piece of feta cheese and served undressed. Dressing is left at person’s choice hence all restaurants serve vinegar, salt, pepper and olive oil with the salad - although, in our experience, most of the times, it came already prepared. With the tradition of being a starter, Greek salad can also be a great side dish. Look at this beauty! We were definitely in food heaven!

Stamatopulos Tavern Lisiou 26, Athina 105 58

At night, we had a reservation on this place a Greek friend recommended. A little bit touristy yet fun, the only regret was that a couple came in after us and sat super close to our table, and started smoking non-stop, which became really annoying. Yet, there was nothing left to do, since it was an al fresco dinner place. Regardless, it was a lovely evening. They had live music with the traditional guitar and two guys with the typical voice you expect from the Greek coasts. The highlight of the night, aside from the great Moussaka, a lemon dressed lamb and some more croquettes, it was the time the musicians start playing the amazing Zorba Song! I couldn’t help myself and stood up, went to the front, and tried to learn that beautiful dance. After a while, right next to a two-left-legged old guy, I managed to do something, but the highlight of the night was when Mau joined and we killed the dance floor, throwing shame to all the other not-so-gifted people with our grace and moves! Coming back to the food, the moussaka is a legendary, traditional dish that is creamy and juicy. Moussaka is served in almost all tavernas in Greece. In the big family gathering this dish is prepared by Greek homemakers. In Moussaka, tomato sauce is used to cook minced beef which is subsequently layered with sweet eggplants and creamy béchamel sauce. This irresistible cuisine is filling so you don’t need too many side dishes. I was a little bit skeptical about moussaka at first since the ones I had before weren’t that good, but this one, OMG, completely changed my mind about them! Brettos Kidathineon 41, Athina 105 58

Brettos is Athens’ oldest bar and distillery, established by Michail Brettos in 1909. Most of the alcohol served there such as ouzo, mastiha, liqueurs and other beverages, are home made and they still respect the old recipe from Mr. Brettos. You can taste them are feel the fermentation happened in the old oak barrels placed inside. As soon as you step inside Brettos, you will be amazed by the wall adorned with colorful glass liqueur bottles and impressive original wooden barrels. Its unique décor is probably one of the reasons why Brettos is one of the most photographed locations in Athens, behind the Acropolis, Syntagma Square and other ancient monuments and sites in the city. We had two strong and delicious drinks: Aphrodite, which was ouzo gold, raspberry liquor, pink grapefruit soda and mint leaves and the one called Sea Breeze, made with Gin, fresh lime, fresh orange cubes and soda. Guess who got what ;)

Acropolis Museum Café Dionysiou Areopagitou 15, Athina, 117 42

When researching about the Acropolis, when to go, how to get tickets, etc, etc, the obvious question of “is the Acropolils museum worth a visit?” pops up. It is if you are super into history. Its greatly display showcases all the valuable stuff they removed from the Acropolis seeking for preservation. But, if you are like me and decide to go just for the real ruins per se avoiding an overflow of information, then the Acropolis and the other monuments spread out around Athens should do the trick. Although, there’s one thing not so many sites mention, and is that the Acropolis museum has a terrific terrace where to contemplate the Parthenon and a delicious seasonal menu to go with the view. We had some eggs, two delicious cappuccinos and the fantastic feta me meli - another Greek food dish that can be tasted as dessert or an entrée. Feta is wrapped in filo pastry before oven baked and honey is drizzled over it. The optimum balance between salty feta and sweet honey creates a mesmerizing taste. They served it with a tomato jam on the side instead of the honey and was absolutely delicious. Da Vinci Ice-cream various locations Bites&Kms Fav: 4 Selley Street, Athina, 10558

Play it safe, avoid a heat stroke: have an ice-cream! And if it’s a gelato, even better. The creative cone flavors at Da Vinci match the delicious and unique ones from the gelatos so be sure to pick wisely, or come again and again to try them all!

Thea Terrace Rooftop of Central Hotel Apollonos 23, Athina, 105 57

This was another fantastic, last minute Mau finding. It was so great, we ended up going twice. Close to Plaka but far enough from the crowd, this boutique hotel counts with a privilege terrace and rooftop bar from where we could see the sunset. It wasnt happy hour, but the drinks were so cheap and the prosecco was so good, we had two!

Nolan 33, Voulis 31, Athina 105 57

This place is definitely unique within the fusion restaurants I’ve been to. This is truly a delicious blend in between Greek, Asian and German cuisine, all the influences its owner has ingrained. As a Michelin recommendation, we left it aside pursuing Greek traditional tavernas, but it happens that after a while, you’re craving for something different like a burger or some pasta. What you don’t actually know is that what you need is a stop by Nolan. Once again, wondering in what we thought was a new, orthodox neighborhood, we ended up by its corner and its name rang a bell. We went in during a sunny Greek noon and we were lucky they were able to sit us regardless of not having a reservation. Minutes after, the restaurant got full, local artists started playing music on the streets and we were having a true fusion feast. We had some marinated tuna, a delicious octopus salad and some lamb dumplings. It was amazing, a must stop during your stayed in Athens.

Taf Coffee Shop Emmanouil Benaki 7, Athina 106 78

This is one of the top coffee places I’ve ever been to. Not because its price, look or location, but because of the love and passion they put on each brew. This is how they described their daily special - hence, the coffee of my choice: “Rosebud double shot cap creaming feeling, smooth body caramel chocolate and nutmeg aroma. Taste of cherry and caramel with apricot tangerine and almond nuts.”

Mind the Cup Emiliou Veaki 29, Peristeri 121 34

I took the train to Peristeri, just outside Athens, to check out what according to Buzzfeed “one of the coffee shops around the world you must check out before you die” Happily, it didnt disappoint. Not only the little town is super cozy, where I got a pair of amazing leather boots, but also, took the morning to write and to enjoy this wonderful plaza where Mind you Cup is located. It reminded me of old Montevideo, the city where I was raised when I was younger. I keep specifying this time and space issue since nowadays it’s quite different. It also reminded me of an out-side the tourist epicenter mini towns around the north of Spain or outside Porto, in Portugal. Even a “ciudad del interior” or countryside town from Uruguay. Even the tree to which shadow I was sitting and enjoying, was the same Willow tree I had at my school. It was a beautiful time travel adventure, on top of the delicious European house white wine, the home made pizza and the great service from the place. The menu looks like an old and corky newspaper and is not in English, which makes the adventure even more authentic, but the gentle waitress will assist you with all your questions. People were selling their crafts and some plants, and I couldn’t resist to get an envy eye anklet. On my way back, I found this delicious and traditional dessert Greek people have for Christmas, but I could have them every day with a glass of milk. They are called Kourabiedes, a shortbread-type biscuit usually made with ground almonds, flavored with either brandy, vanilla, mastika or rose water and they are shaped into little cute balls. In the end, they are sprinkled with icing sugar and they are just to die for!

Avli - Agiou Dimitriou Agiou Dimitriou 12, Athina 105 54

In the historic triangle of Athens there is a small tavern in a backyard called Avli which means ‘backyard’. This place is kinda secret: more and more people are accessing to its charms due to TripAdvisor’s fantastic reviews - although it still is easy to miss if you don’t go specifically looking for it. Within a small alley, behind a not so charming door, you can hear loud voices, laughs and some Greek music in the background. If you dare to go inside, disregarding your first thought of “oh, this is a private house, I shouldn't trespass it”, the scenery you will see is like it came from the ’60s. Checkered tablecloths, traditional chairs, old photos and a makeshift kitchen create an authentic feeling reminiscent of old Athens.

The always smiling owner, Takis, has operated this tavern since 1985. He pretended to know me, and after a nice “Kalimera, I remember you, please sit”, I sat down on one of the last free tables of the alley. I sat down right next to Stellios, this wonderful old man who greet me with yellow prunes, peanuts and come other spicy snack while we both waited to be served. He ordered some cheese and tomato, while I ordered the delicious feta with olive oil and some grilled peppers which were outstanding. I was so excited that I decided to copy Stellios and ordered a beer, the first Greek beer during by whole trip was waiting for me on my last day, and I ordered a Manos. It was good - that’s how far my beer knowledge and palate goes: good, not good :D To thank him for the company and the snacks, I invited him two more rounds of beer, which of course I’m not sure what happened since my Greek wasn’t that fluid so I made the best I could with Takis, so let’s hope at least some of the cash went for another Manos and the rest as tip! The whole experience was amazing, Stellios told me about his family, his lovely wife and two kids, as well as about his dog in very broken English. I showed a picture of my parents and told him I lived in New York, but that I was from Uruguay, land of football and meat. Yeap... some have Aristotles, others have Benedetti, and both of us share a Manos. Yamas, Athens!

#greece #athens #travel #food #foodie #love #passion #eat #europe

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wigginsgray8-blog · 6 years ago

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The smart Trick of juin That No One is Discussing

References to dance can be found in quite early recorded background; Greek dance (horos) is referred to by Plato, Aristotle, Plutarch and Lucian.[seven] The Bible and Talmud seek advice from quite a few situations linked to dance, and consist of more than thirty various dance conditions.[8] In Chinese pottery as early since the Neolithic interval, groups of consumers are depicted dancing inside a line Keeping hands,[nine] and the earliest Chinese term for "dance" is found prepared during the oracle bones. Right here you find curriculum penned to assist the Instructor and university student to aid the training of dance being an artwork form. Consists of Strategies for K through 12 quality concentrations. Indian classical audio offers accompaniment and dancers of nearly all the models dress in bells all over their ankles to counterpoint and enhance the percussion. [forty three] Some, including the maypole dance are common to several nations, while some including the céilidh and the polka are deeply-rooted in only one tradition. Some European people dances including the square dance have been brought to The brand new Earth and subsequently grew to become portion of American tradition. By 1981, a completely new kind of dance new music was building. This songs, created making use of electronics, can be a kind of well-known music generally played in dance new music nightclubs, radio stations, displays and raves. For the duration of its gradual drop within the late 1970s, disco became motivated by computerization (the primary notable thoroughly synthesized disco strike was "I Feel Adore" by Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte with lyrics by Donna Summer season). " He writes: "... simulachres les dis ie vrayement, pour ce que simulachre vient de simuler, & faindre ce que n'est level." ("Simulachre These are most properly called, for simulachre derives from the verb to simulate and to feign that which is not really there.") He up coming employs a trope in the memento mori (recall most of us need to die) custom plus a metaphor from printing which effectively captures the undertakings of Dying, the artist, as well as the printed book in advance of us where these simulachres of Loss of life barge in around the living: "Et pourtant qu'on n'a peu trouver selected moreover approchante a la similitude de Mort, que la personne morte, on d'icelle effigie simulachres, & faces de Mort, pour en nos pensees imprimer la memoire de Mort moreover au vis, que ne pourroient toutes les rhetoriques descriptiones de orateurs." [11] ("And however we can not learn any another thing additional close to the likeness of Demise in comparison to the dead them selves, whence arrive these simulated effigies and pictures of Loss of life's affairs, which imprint the memory of Dying with more pressure than all the rhetorical descriptions with the orators at any time could."). Illustrations are western ballet and contemporary dance, Classical Indian dance and Chinese and Japanese music and dance dramas. Most classical varieties are centred upon dance on your own, but functionality dance can also surface in opera and various types of musical theatre. These illustrations are actually quickly selected and should comprise sensitive content. Go through far more… Annonce le seven juin Le secrétaire britannique au Trésor doit annoncer avant le 7 juin la décision de la Grande-Bretagne. Paladin Danse wears a full set of Brotherhood of Steel T-sixty electric power armor, minus the helmet. Following Blind Betrayal He'll up grade to an X-01 electric power armor suit. Not like other companions, he can not be commanded to depart his electricity armor, plus the areas usually do not look in his inventory. A weekly pole has proven which the president's recognition is declining. A weekly poll has shown that the president's acceptance is declining. danse can be assembled in a lot less than forty five minutes. Suitable instructions for assembling is presented in addition to buyer treatment executives on-line are there to help you. Taking the time necessary to find out about home furniture shopping is vital to mastering it. When you want to save cash and yet get what precisely you will need, without the need of sacrificing excellent, Meaning doing all your exploration. This information will get started you off by supplying quite a few recommendations which will allow you to inside your quest. Whilst even further study is probably required, I've go through from a handful of sources that the Females are quite proud of their prolonged hair and Hence the khaliji dance usually consists of the tossing of free, extended hair from facet-to-facet, just like the “shaking of drinking water out with the ear. This is the website of an organization that aims to offer companies and information for folk dancers, folks dance leaders and people dance teams in the course of The us and Canada.

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nielsvanpoecke · 5 years ago

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We have art in order not to die from the truth.”

Nietzsche F. (1901, posthumous), Will to Power; Section 822.

The concept of “tragedy” is often only associated with Europe, however, it is also a significant element in the Australian Aboriginal culture and their Dreamtime stories. By referring to Nietzsche’s philosophy in The Birth of Tragedy and Other Writings (1999) of the Dionysian and Apollonian forces we will explore what makes these Aboriginal Dreamtime stories and their traditional cultural practices ‘tragic’ art forms.

Portrait of Friedrich Nietzsche by Edvard Munch, c. 1906; Munch-museet, Oslo, Norway; De Agostini Picture Library/Bridgeman Images.

German philosopher, Nietzsche in The Birth of Tragedy (1872) developed the idea of artistic creation as a synthesis of form and emotion, a reconciliation between the Apollonian and Dionysian impulses. Apollo and Dionysus are two Ancient Greek deities who stand for two opposite worlds of existence; the Apollonian, as the world of dream, embodies the idea of artist as a image-making, while the Dionysian, as the world of rapture, where the human being, overwhelmed by the ecstatic and chaotic force, loses his subjectivity. The Apollonian energy gives shape to the formless will of the Dionysian emotion, which is “an irrational driving force that originates the artist’s creative urge” (Van de Braembussche A., 2009). Human beings need the capability of dreaming to reconstruct the Dionysian into something less chaotic: only art has the ability to save men from the horrific nature of existence by creating Apollonian representations with which men can survive. The Attic tragedy was where the two sexes coexisted harmoniously; the Dionysian representation, such as music, dance and masks, is expressed in an Apollonian world of dreams and symbols. In the Dionysian state of existence men are capable of claiming back their freedom, cultivating their instincts and, finally, self-determining. Indeed in the Attic tragedy, the chorus was a place of liberation which created somewhat of a detachment between the tragedy and the outside real world. Thus the scene became a place free from society restrictions and moral rules and, in that way, the viewer identified himself in the chorus and, alienated from his own nature, he was transferred in a condition without space and time because he had become a servant of Dionysus. By watching a tragedy the observer can feel pity and fear but, being aware that it is an art form, he cleanses himself from any form of violence: that is the so-called catharsis.

In Steiner’s opinion the staging of tragic events is not universal, but belongs to European as a continent (de Mul, 2014). The specific awareness of the tragic sense of life is mostly due to the Ancient Greeks who were the main creators of the ‘tragic’ and European countries developed different ways to perform it on stage throughout the centuries. However, Europe was not the only continent to express the sense of tragic in an art form and is also revealed in the Dreamtime stories of the Australian Aboriginal culture. For the Aboriginals, the Dreamtime stories express the origins of the universe and workings of nature and humanity. Dating back to around 65,000 years ago Dreamtime is one of the oldest continuing cultural beliefs and is the foundation of Aboriginal life. The Aboriginal stories and various expressions of art forms were motivated by their desire to understand the land and how life came to be. It is evident by comparing Nietzsche’s world of dreams, the Apollonian and the world of nature, the Dionysian with their ancient cultural practices and art forms that we can also recognise a sense of ‘tragedy’ other than the Western ideal. The Dreamtime stories are a reflection of both actual dreams and conscious beliefs of life and death. The themes of many Dreamtime stories embody Dionysian elements of chaos, representing the world of raptures, however also signify elements of the Apollonian through its fictional and ‘dream’ like qualities. For instance in the Dreamtime story of the ‘Rainbow Serpent’ it is evident that both Dionysian and Apollonian values exist through the destruction and creation of life. According to the Aboriginals, the earth was flat and barren, until one day the Rainbow Serpent awoke and travelled his way across the land creating the mountains and valleys with his winding body. The Serpent also controls the water in the land, “so he has the power of life and death in the desert” (Rainbow Serpent Dreamtime Story, 2019). This story has been depicted through rock paintings, some dating back to 6,000 to 8,000 years ago, showing varying images of rainbow arcs and the almighty and terrifying snake. The power and importance of the Serpent is his ability to create rain and water for the land, however if disrespected he can also cause drought, leading to the life of Aboriginals to be perished. Another rendition of this story is that of the Rainbow Lorikeet brothers. The Rainbow Serpent made laws that all animals had to obey, if followed, then the animals could be rewarded by becoming humans. However, those that did not obey would be turned into stone and make the mountains of the land. The story states that one day it started to rain heavily, and the Rainbow Lorikeet brothers went to the Rainbow Serpent to seek shelter. The Rainbow Serpent was rather hungry and decided to trick them by offering protection from the rain in his mouth, they climbed in and he closed it shut, swallowing them both! It is said, “now, every time, just after it rains, you can see the Rainbow Serpent sharing his beautiful colours with the people on the ground as his way of saying sorry for taking those Rainbow Lorikeet brothers” (The Rainbow Serpent, 2018). Being a symbol of both peace and life, but also devastation and demise it is evident in the rock paintings and stories of the Rainbow Serpent, that from tragedies such as drought present in the natural world (Dionysian), the Aboriginals transformed this “suffering into an aesthetic phenomenon” by use of the dream world (Apollonian).

Rainbow Serpent, cave painting in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia.

Ray, D. (2017). Australia's longest Rainbow Serpent Aboriginal Rock Art.

(Video, double-click to watch).https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g70hbibxUJI&fbclid=IwAR1x2W9VmpL_k4DnWXZOmD0aKL1jlJZLWHuhI4YbMrTPtVwnIXiiwfi1F7s

The Crocodile Dreaming Awurrapun story is another example of a tragic tale that evokes loss and life and the creation of how the saltwater crocodile got its skin. Sisters, Helen McCarthy Tyalmuty and Kerry Madawyn McCarthy express this sad story of their grandfather and fisherman, Harry Limen Morgan through their paintings and storytelling. Years ago, a man lived by a small creek that runs into the Daly River, and he was known by his tribe to be an excellent fisherman. Not only would he catch enough fish to provide for his family but also the rest of the tribe. He was highly admired by all the women, however overtime jealousy amongst the men started to grow. One night, two men from the tribe devised a plan to murder him and followed him to the river. While the man was fishing, the two men threw his fishing net over him. Trying to free himself from the net, the man rolled and struggled but this only further tightened the net around his body. Thrown into the river, he thrashed and swirled around and his spirit eventually left his body. Still entangled in the net, the two men hung him from a tree. The fisherman’s wife later discovered her husband's body and “overcome with grief, she wrapped herself in her own fishing net and rolled into the river” (Crocodile Dreaming Awurrapun, 2019). Her spirit also left her body and she could again be reunited with her husband. Once the tribe discovered her body, they hung her alongside her husband. From this tragedy, the saltwater crocodile was born, as neither the husband nor the wife died in spirit, but transformed into the crocodile. In Helen McCarthy Tyalmuty’s painting (below) it is evident from the square skin pattern created by the net that this is what formed the skin of the crocodile. The crocodile skin can be recognised through the natural element of the Dionysian and the Apollonian in its capacity to explain the power of nature through storytelling and painting. Therefore, the synthesis of the two forces is embodied in this tragic art form.

Helen McCarthy Tyalmuty painting of Awurrapun Crocodile.

Through the Dreaming stories, the Aboriginals consistently relate the world of nature (Dionysian) and the world of dreams (Apollonian). The significance of this culture and their Dreaming stories is that they are neither science nor religion based but creations of art, dance and tales which teach and enlighten their people of the origins of all living things and how to survive. Art is the most crucial element in Australian Aboriginal life, and although the Aboriginal Dreaming stories are much simpler than Ancient Greek mythology or Shakespeare, they also emphasise the ‘tragic’ in order to understand their reality. Australian Aborigines “have the longest continuous cultural history” on earth (Understanding Aboriginal Art, 2019) and to survive and thrive in such an incredibly harsh and unique environment such as Australia is a testament to their culture and endurance of many tragic fates, including the constant battle with drought, heatwaves and dangerous wildlife. Although the Dreamtime stories are not traditionally associated with ‘tragedy’ from a Western viewpoint, they were imperative in passing on knowledge about how to live and understand the ‘good and evils’ of life just like European tragedy. They translated their way of life into art through storytelling, ceremonial body painting, songs and dance, therefore creating a “synthesis of form and expression” (Van den Braembussche, 2009, p. 89).

Fear of the unknown is an instinctive of all humans and is evident in the art of the Australian Aboriginals as they try to make sense of their world through stories, dances and painting. By producing stories about creation, about a positive moment where everything takes form, the Apollonian force rationalizes and shapes the Dionysian formless fear. Dionysus is the essence of life but needs Apollo to represent it. This is why art is mimetic, it imitates the “primal forms of nature” (Van de Braembussche A., p. 90), and represents them. As we said, the synthesis of Apollonian and Dionysian, for Nietzsche, is encased in the Greek tragedy. The same mechanism happens here, the Dreamtime stories were narrated with dances, performances, music and art.

Traditional Aboriginal ceremonial dancing.

From rock paintings to wood carving and ceremonial dances, the tribes figuratively represent the Dreamtime stories. Mircea Eliade, in his theory of ‘eternal return’, suggests that usually religions tend to associate moments of the year with mythical events, so that every year is a replication of a mythical era. The same Dreamtime occurrences are annually re-enacted by the Aboriginals. "In Kimberly the rock paintings, which have been painted by the Ancestors, are repainted in order to reactivate their creative force, as it was first manifested in the mythical times, at the beginning of the World." (“Myth and Reality”, pg. 43)

National Geographic. Rock Art | National Geographic.

(Video, double-click to watch.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSHKqX8_pqU&fbclid=IwAR0PMUFoDAeOXTITpzXATdR0yGwW0KFafGlsvF5MIg4-25NFWa0dxshrE5U

Aboriginal ritual of body painting.

These rituals have been the same for centuries, but why is that? In Furore, Simbolo, Valore by De Martino (1962) he suggests that the ‘first man’, like the Australian Aboriginals, use symbolic repetition of rituals to create an Apollonian dream world, where he finds protection from reality. It gives him the idea that he can master nature, the Dionysian. This still occurs now, after thousands of years. The rituals and what they represent stand for the history of their people and culture, and will continue to live in the common subconscious of the group, preserving the indomitable energy that makes them indestructible.

Traditional aboriginal body painting during a ceremony.

Art transforms suffering into an aesthetic experience. As a tragic art, Aboriginal Dreamtime stories and rituals are a way of understanding and surviving the truth of reality. The Australian Aboriginal culture being such an incredibly rich and primordial tradition, still lives on today in various art forms of song, dance, story-telling and painting highlighting the significance of Nietzsche’s philosophy that there is no art for art’s sake, but that “we have art in order not to die from the truth.” (BrainyQuote, 2019)

Radio Bardejov(2018) Aboriginal dance show – Australia

(Video, double-click to watch).https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhyKsEn6_So&fbclid=IwAR1x2W9VmpL_k4DnWXZOmD0aKL1jlJZLWHuhI4YbMrTPtVwnIXiiwfi1F7s

By Nina De Maria (550041) | Asia Benedetti (550092) | Iseult Taylor (547688)

Referencing:

Books

Eliade M. (1975), Myth and Reality, London, England: George Allen & Unwin.

De Martino E. (1962), Furore, Simbolo, Valore, Milano, Italy: Il Saggiatore.

Van de Braembussche A. (2009), Thinking Art, Berlin, Germany: Springer.

Nietzsche F. (1999), The Birth of Tragedy and Other Writings, Cambridge University Press.

Websites

de Mul, J. 2014, Destiny Domesticated: The Rebirth of Tragedy out of the Spirit of Technology, xiii-xiv. Retrieved October 10th, 2019 from:

https://books.google.nl/books?hl=it&lr=&id=Ym3EAgAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR5&dq=de+mul+europe+as+the+tragic+continent+&ots=_431VOffVB&sig=pJz17vlatsUK7dRW2_04AKJexPc&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=de%20mul%20europe%20as%20the%20tragic%20continent&f=false

(2019) Eternal return (Eliade) - Howling Pixel. Retrieved October 8th, 2019 from: https://howlingpixel.com/i-en/Eternal_return_(Eliade)

(2009) Psycopaedìa, La società apollinea e il suo confronto con il dionisiaco. Retrieved October 8th, 2019 from http://www.psicopolis.com/psicopedia/eseIo.htm

(2019) Understanding Aboriginal Dreamings, Artlandish Aboriginal Art Gallery. Retrieved October 11th 2019, from https://www.aboriginal-art-australia.com/aboriginal-art-library/understanding-aboriginal-dreaming-and-the-dreamtime/

“The Dreaming explains the origin of the universe and workings of nature and humanity.” - (2011) DNA confirms Aboriginal culture one of Earth’s oldest, Australian Geographic, https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/news/2011/09/dna-confirms-aboriginal-culture-one-of-earths-oldest/

(2019) Stories, Kakadu National Park. Retrieved October 18th 2019 from https://parksaustralia.gov.au/kakadu/discover/culture/stories/

(2018) The Rainbow Serpent, Dreamtime. Retrieved October 11th, 2019 from https://dreamtime.net.au/rainbow-serpent-story/

(2019) Rainbow Serpent Dreamtime Story, Japingka Aboringal Art. Retrieved October 11th, 2019 from https://japingkaaboriginalart.com/articles/rainbow-serpent/

(2019) Crocodile Dreaming Awurrapun, Japingka Aboringal Art. Retrieved October 11th, 2019 from https://japingkaaboriginalart.com/articles/awurrapun-crocodile-story/

(2019). Rainbow Serpent, Artlandish Aboriginal Art Gallery. Retrieved from https://www.aboriginal-art-australia.com/aboriginal-art-library/rainbow-serpent/

(2018) The Rainbow Serpent, Dreamtime.Retrieved October 11th, 2019 from https://dreamtime.net.au/rainbow-serpent-story/

Carli, R. (2015). Art as a stimulus to life. Daily Dialectic. Retrieved October 15th, 2019 from http://dave.kinkead.com.au/dailydialectic/art-stimulates-life

(2019) Friedrich Nietzsche Quotes, BrainyQuote. Retrieved October 20th, 2019 from https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/friedrich_nietzsche_159176

Images

Pinterest (2019) Rainbow Serpent, cave painting, Arnhem Land, Australia. [image]. Retrieved from https://i.pinimg.com/originals/0f/27/1b/0f271bcf1f28bdc294fd16eb6bf44929.jpg

Davis Alspaugh, L. (2014) Munch Paints Nietzsche, Ecce Hom. [image]. Retrieved from https://hedgehogreview.com/blog/thr/posts/ecce-homo-munch-paints-nietzsche

Aboriginal Spirituality, The Religious World. Retrieved from https://religiousworldlcr.weebly.com/aboriginal-spirituality.html

Pinterest (2019) Aboriginal Rituals. Retrieved from https://www.pinterest.ru/pin/535717318153960272/?nic=1a

(2019). Aboriginal ceremonies, Artlandish Aboriginal Art Gallery. Retrieved from

https://www.aboriginal-art-australia.com/aboriginal-art-library/aboriginal-ceremonial-dancing/

YouTube videos

Ray, D. (2017). Australia's longest Rainbow Serpent Aboriginal Rock Art. Retrieved from

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g70hbibxUJI&fbclid=IwAR1x2W9VmpL_k4DnWXZOmD0aKL1jlJZLWHuhI4YbMrTPtVwnIXiiwfi1F7s

Radio Bardejov. (2018) Aboriginal dance show - Australia. Retrieved from

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhyKsEn6_So&fbclid=IwAR1x2W9VmpL_k4DnWXZOmD0aKL1jlJZLWHuhI4YbMrTPtVwnIXiiwfi1F7s

National Geographic. Rock Art | National Geographic. Retrieved from

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSHKqX8_pqU&fbclid=IwAR0PMUFoDAeOXTITpzXATdR0yGwW0KFafGlsvF5MIg4-25NFWa0dxshrE5U

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apexart-journal · 5 years ago

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Day 26, Sunday July 28, 2019

I never thought I would be looking forward to morning yoga and meditation sessions. A perfect way to begin all days - yoga in the park! This Sunday I was meant to make my way down to Socrates Sculpture Park, with yoga instructor Yojaida Estrella. I grabbed a towel, since I didn’t have a yoga mat and rushed out the door - I overslept just a little and was not sure how long it would take me considering I had to switch trains and grab a bus to the location.

When I got to the park I was not sure where I was meant to go, as the location was not clear. I kept walk till I saw a large group of people spread out under the shade of these towering trees. I found a spot, put down my backpack and laid the towel out to start my practice. What I find lovely and intriguing about about the various yoga sessions I have been to, that the instructors bring a very different energy to the practice - their focus on either breath or body - mostly breathing, the way the deliver and conduct, the narratives are always interesting. This one is particular even focused on laughter as a form of letting go and being content - it was rather lovely. I packed up and started looking around for places to have have breakfast at then just decided to make my way to the Lincoln Center and find a place somewhere on the way - and so I did.

I was not sure as to what to expect at the Lincoln Center - Heritage Sunday for traditional music and dance was all I had to know. The Center was built in 1955, by architect Eero Saarinen. The Center was lovely to walk through, I was not expecting such an open space, with buildings and theatres. I went around looking for Hearst Plaza, which was located between the Metropolitan Opera House and the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Lawn, flanked by the shaded green trees of Barclay’s Grove to the south (as it had been described on the website). It was a space dedicate to outdoor entertainment, music, dance and family events.

There were many chairs lined up, I walked to the front and found myself a seat in the thirst row, the closest I could get and waited to the show to begin. It began with Next Generation Traditions featuring Redobles de Cultura, who are known to blend the foundational knowledge of their elders with the aesthetics, styles, and realities of an urban and diasporic perspective.

The intergenerational Sri Lankan Dance Academy of New York from Staten Island and its diverse Sri Lankan community was next - their dance performance was full of skill, and the timing was spot on - it was such a lovely afternoon in the sun. Sadly, I could not stay for the rest of the line-up and made my way back to meet with Margot - for the next activity on y schedule.

Margot Fox, I am not sure where to begin, we had last met at Grand Central (for those of you who have been following my journal updates, would know), as she had previously invited me to go to Connecticut, to attend her cousin’s 70th birthday party, that was held at an antique shop. Since that day, we shared a sort of fondness, connection - I am not sure what to call it - but it definitely didn’t feel like I had just met her - the connection felt like it had been around for longer - one of those strange meetings when you meet someone and it feels comfortable instantly. Well, to come back to today, and not drift more into the background story, we had kept in touch and wanted to plug in another activity together, a possible historic tour of Greenwich Village by foot, which she had generously offered and Abbie made it happen! I met her over at her apartment before we set out on our tour, I was super excited about this one, considering I have a weakness of history and old towns, and architecture.

Margot was great at telling me historic stories of New York City, and her deep interest in historic preservation, culture and activism was very evident. We walked through and talked about everything we passed and there was so much to retain, but I am touching upon those that struck me the most.

We began our tour from Washington Square Park and took it from there. We walked around and discussed the arc, its significance, the fountain and the history of the Park. The park in the 1960's, was known to attract hippies and people who gathered together to sing songs and play music. It was surrounded from all sides by old heritage buildings, some preserved and with a variety of architectural styles and the ever expanding campus of New York University. Throughout Greenwich Village you could find architecture that dated as early as the 1800's, Greek-Revival townhouses from the 1800 and Neo-Gothic styles - it was such an absolute treat! She should be some remain of original old cobblestone streets surrounded by stables that were preserved but now turned into resident homes for NYU - the streets retained so much character.

We went over at Morandi to have a bite and talked some more about my life back home and hers in New York. Before we parted, Margot took me to Strand Book Store and left me to explore and head back home to the apartment which was a few blocks away - I ended up spending hours in there - there was so much to see - the collection was amazing.

#yoga #socratespark #hearstplaza #heritagesunday #greenwichvillage #historicwalk #strand bookstore #apexart #fellowship #kiran ahmad #inbound from karachi #lincolncenter

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sugaroto · 2 years ago

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Things that happened in my ✨5ημερη*✨

*5 day school trip

We got a warning from the police on the first day

We danced greek traditional songs in a big square

Boxing match in the hotel corridors

3 dudes running in the corridors with their underwears and ROMA scarfs on their heads

Later the young female teacher told them "Did you see those weirdos? From the looks of it, it didn't look like they had much down there"

Idk if the roof was forbidden, but we went there and I had a ride on a shopping cart

There's a chance ppl outside of the Colloseum saw me half naked

[POV: YOU TALE A SELFIE WITH A TOURIST YOU LIKE]💃🤳

"GUYS STOP THIS RIGHT NOW AND GO TO YOUR ROOMS"

"Yeah of course. First go to your room Mr."

"👁👄👁💢 that's what you understand from 'go to your room?'"

"You don't have alcohol on the party right?"

"No. It's just lemonade🍸"

Half the times our bus driver was Vaggelis from Larissa and dude- the bus turned into a club

Yeah we danced macarena on the bus

Apparently the boss teacher started crying and then started smoking

4 of us got locked out of the Stadio Olympico

We sung ΤΟΟΟ ΠΡΩ-ΤΟ* ΓΑΜΙΕ-ΤΑΙ outside of the stadium bc the song was playing and the Italians were looking at us and then Ο (ταδε) γαμιεται and his friend started pointing at him like "ταδε" so the Italians would know (*το πρώτο λύκειο εδώ, δν ξρ γτ έχουμε μπιφ)

I went in a tram for the first time and fell on the first 3 seconds (for the record I was kneeling down to take photos of a friend and the it started so I just... kneeled? I was already down so no biggie)

When we went to Florence we had to wake up really early and fucking Vaggelis put on μην με ξυπνάς απ'τις εξι very loudly

I love this bus driver

I accidentally slapped on the shoulder an old lady cause I thought she was my friend and I wanted to show her the cannabis shop

When we were on the bus we passed a man on the traffic lights who was wearing headphones and DANCING to the rhythm in the street right there. I want what he has

Ok I need sleep bye

#5hmerh #5ημερη #sugarenia 5hmerh #i mostly wanted to write them somewhere #idk why

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nananora · 7 years ago

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So recently I spent two and a half weeks traveling all over Greece with 30 super cool people. You probably saw it on my instagram/snapchat/facebook. This blog post is here to fill you in on what little squares and limited characters can’t. Hang on tight, this will be a long read and a virtual ride! Opa!

I came into this EF College break nervous. I was going alone, and it was my last big adventure before adulthood would begin. The twelve year old in me was suddenly nervous about having to be in a swimsuit a lot around complete strangers, and also wondered if these strangers would even LIKE me. At all. But it was apparent shortly upon arrival that I really had no need to worry. After a super long day of travel, starting at 3 am California time and ending at 10 am the next day in Athens, I was exhausted but excited. And when I met everyone, from all over, with different careers and backgrounds and stories I had yet to learn, I couldn’t help but smile and hope that we would become the family our tour guide Daphne promised we would by the end of the trip. That first day in Athens consisted of bonding by the rooftop pool and bar, learning names and faces before heading out to our welcome mixer, by taking the subway system which was a comforting reminder of the muni trains, but cleaner and with the potential to be pickpocketed… Dinner was delicious, although the wine was a little meh. Our fabulous tour guide Daphne then told us where we could go out, but I took my sleepy butt home to the hotel for a much needed 8 hours of sleep. My roommates came in later in a quiet manner to my apparent snoring (sorry Abbie and Alexa, I know you miss my snora ing)

The next day we woke up for an amazing complimentary breakfast, which for me was a lot of mini croissants and nutella. The Greeks LOVE their nutella. I wasn’t mad about it. We then went on a guided walking tour to see the sights of Athens. We began at the Greek parliament, and I got to watch the changing of the guards, which was a truly emotional experience for me. Before I left, my grandpa had told me that one of my grandma’s favorite things in Greece was watching the guards in their flamboyant outfits, and I understood why after watching their intricate tassle footed movements. We then moved on to the Temple of Zeus which looked pretty much like you expect ruins to look: old, tan, pillars, that kind of make your jaw drop at their persistent existence through the years. We moved on to the main show: The Acropolis. It was giant and gorgeous, albeit a little less than picturesque due to current renovations because they’ve got to make sure the entire thing doesn’t totally fall apart thousands of years later. Basic stuff. It was a humbling reminder of how small we all are in the grand scheme of things, standing at the top of a hill, overlooking a city where democracy, philosophy, and math all began. We then boarded our overnight “ferry” to the island of Crete. I put ferry in quotes because it was basically a cruise ship: giant, with two restaurants and bars, and rooms containing showers, mirrors and charging stations. I’m weird and movement rocks me to sleep, plus the jet lag was still strong so I slept like a happy little bebe until I woke up when we arrived in Crete.

Crete was a beautiful island, and a great place to start our journey through the islands. Full of winding streets, cobble stones, friendly stray dogs, and an awful traditional alcohol that was forced on us more than I’d like, Chania, the first port city we explored was charming AF. I befriended a scragly tan mutt, and named him Murphy. He followed me around all day, then found me again the next night and stayed by my side. He was a dog full of character that melted my heart. He actually responded to Murphy by the time we left, and I miss him dearly. The next day we drove to the city of Heraklion. Full of upscale American shops, a gorgeous “castle” and a fascinating archeological museum that charted the origin of the myths of the labrinth and the minotaur, it was a fine city for a day. Regretfully, I left my favorite pair of jean shorts at a hotel there and had to accept the goodbye.

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The next morning we took a ferry to the stunning island of Santorini. We were told upon arrival at our hotel to put on our best outfits in order to take the best pictures. We explored the streets of Santorini, enjoyed a beautiful wine tasting overlooking the ocean from the top of a hill, and then had dinner with an incredible view of the sunset over the water. It was pricey, but paying for that view was worth it. Plus I had some damn good mushroom risotto. The next day we spent on a boat going to several different small islands. The first was volcanic, but I decided to forgo the hike up it because I’d been there done that at a prettier place in Hawaii, and because it was ridiculously hot. Sorry not sorry. The next stop was in the ocean, that turned into a hotspring. The water changed temperature, the smell of sulfur was prevalent, and we got to play with mud that’s good for your skin. The last stop was at a touristy island, with some of the clearest waters I’ve seen in my life. I had an incredible 2 euro gyro that was mildly life changing. Then we took the boat back to the hotel, cleaned up, and went to “A Big Fat Greek Wedding Show.” Essentially a theater troupe put on a wedding, and we were all guests. We met the family, ate some delicious mezedes, danced, and broke plates. It was so much fun! After we took in the nightlife of Santorini by hitting up some clubs, and then took the bus back around 2 am. The breakfast in Santorini was one of the best. Breakfast at each hotel was included for us, but the spread and the coffee in Santorini was one of my favorite. For day three, we spent time relaxing on a black sand beach, where I drank some delicious sangria and ate these amazing croquettes with fresh pesto. I’m an ambivert, which means I am a mix of introvert and extravert. So I took some me time after the beach to go shopping. Shout out to Natalie at Spicy Boutique Santorini for being the best personal stylist ever. She hand picked pieces that would look best on me, gave honest opinions, and a ten percent discount. I never looked or felt better than I did after leaving that store with three gorgeous new dresses.

The next morning we said goodbye to Santorini and headed to the party island of Ios. There I finally got laundry done, at some great pizza, drank too much vodka, and walked out of a club as the sun was rising. That’s because the clubs don’t get going till 3 am there. I went to an Alice and Wonderland themed silent disco, called Shush Bar Ios and it was SO MUCH FUN. There were three different color coded stations: r and b, dance, and top 40 and so everyone could jam out to the same or different songs all at once. There was also a super great Irish themed bar that I ended up in both nights. Not gonna lie to y’all, I danced on a lot of make shift tables and bar stools. I have no regrets. What happens on the islands, stays on the islands (unless I decide to share it in a blog post) #whoops. After such a late night I spent the next day in Ios sleeping on the beach, resting up for an even crazier night out that I remember most of. A guy told me I wasn’t pretty enough for a free shot, I desperately needed a croissant, a guy asked me four separate times to go home with him, I swerved him very hard, and somehow I ended up eating a gyro, getting home via cab and sleeping a full 3 hours before waking up feeling like death and boarding a very painful ferry to Paros.

The decor in the silent disco club

The ferry was rough, but worth it. In Paros, I saw the clearest water of my life. You could’ve told me it was a swimming pool and I’d believe you. We got to our accommodation mid day, and because I was so dead from Ios and no sleep I decided to stay at the hotel while most of the group went to a beach nearby. I enjoyed a cold shower, long nap, and ventured into town with my friend Stefani for a dang good margarita and a gyro burger. That night, I stayed in and went to bed early. The next day we spent just the 28 of us on a boat sailing all over the waters of Antiparos. We passed Tom Hank’s summer house, stopped and jumped into the clear water many times, at kebabs that were grilled for us on the boat, got some solid day drunk off wine time in, and I got to recreate a photo my grandmother took so so many years ago. That night I had some delicious and unexpected Mexican food near our hotel with some friends. We took a long walk to say goodbye to one of the tour assistants from EF, Jeff and then stayed in again.

The next day we took a ferry to our final island, the VIP destination of Mykonos. Alas, no spotting of Real Housewives or Kardashians occured. Fun fact about Mykonos though, this rich Greek guy with the last name Onassis basically pulled Mykonos out of poverty in the 50s by building clubs and restaurants and taking his rich friends to the island on his yacht. Oh, and he married Jackie Kennedy after JFK’s death, so like, nbd, but kind of a bd. Mykonos was chic, expensive, and gorgeous. From the maze of winding streets in Little Venice, to the windmills on a hill, to the continuously gorgeous sunsets, I understood why everyone loves Mykonos. My wallet however, did not love Mykonos. I enjoyed the nightlife a lot in Mykonos, and I am not too proud to admit that I got up on the stripper pole in a Scandinavian bar multiple times. No one else was doing that pole justice, it was my duty to do so. Again, sorry not sorry. I was also very lucky in that I avoided a gnarly virus that reached more than half of our travel group in Mykonos. I got to go to an all day beach party on a nude beach where the drinks we frozen, tasty and two for one. Then I stayed in that night because one of my roommates was not feeling so hot and I was frankly starting to feel drained. Mykonos provided another really great breakfast, full of pastries, the al important nutella, and great coffee. Checking into my flight out of Athens was a bit of a nightmare as a large group of Asian tourists were on the not great to begin with wifi that all 28 of us were trying to utilize. Luckily I had data and managed alright.

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We took our last ferry back to Athens the next morning. I finished the book I’d brought with me, and ate two bags of chips and was very happy to see Athens again. I bought my final souvenirs, and headed to the goodbye dinner with friends who had, over 17 days become family. It was a bittersweet night, saying goodbye to everyone and hugging and crying and enjoying the last Greek food of the trip.

I got lucky and was on the “later” flight out of Athens at noon, so I went on a bus that left at 8 am, killed time in the airport, and made my long journey back to SF. When I finally arrived, exhausted and hangry, my lovely boyfriend picked me up, took me straight to in n out, took me, home and tucked me into bed. I fell asleep fast, exhausted but so grateful for the trip of a lifetime.

This trip wouldn’t have been what it was without the people on it. So this is where I’m going to take a minute to shout out 28 lovely humans one by one. Bear with me guys, this is the sappy but good part.

To my roomates, Abbie and Alexa: thank you for always making me feel included, for never letting me be too hard on myself, for listening to me talk about my boyfriend a lot and for putting up with my snoring. Alexa, you are so full of light and love, and you can make anyone feel at ease with your sense of humor. You’re going to be an incredible doctor because you are kind and patient. Abbie, I’m not sure if I’ll ever stop saying y’all, but meeting you was more than worth it. You are like a ray of sunshine in human form. I’ve never laughed so hard with someone so much. And don’t be afraid that you don’t know what you’re doing yet, pro tip, no one really does. And if I ever even sense either of you complaining about your perfect bods Imma have to hop a plane and smack sense into you both. Just sayin.

To Steffani: you are one of the sassiest, punniest humans I know in the best way possible. I will always be envious of what the ocean does to your hair. Thank you for making me laugh, and for adventuring with me and always having a granola bar on hand to prevent hangriness. We are going out in SF asap.

To Michelle: Thank you for laughing at all of my jokes, good and bad, for trusting my caption skills, and for making me feel included and confidant. You are such a sweet heart, and I know you’re going to do amazing things. Everyone who gets to watch is lucky.

To Rose: Thank you for sharing drinks, and life advice with me, and also for not being afraid to tan topless with me, lol. You are full of so much spunk and sass, and you’re so beautiful just the way you are, so never change for anyone but yourself.

To Juliet: You are so young, and you’ve already done so much with your life! It is incredibly inspiring, even as someone older than you to know how full of adventure your life is. Never lose your love of travel, your sensibility, or your fearless heart. They’re all incredible assets.

To Haley: You are one of the most beautiful humans inside and out that I have ever met. Don’t try and grow up too fast though, these are the best years of your life, I promise it’s not a cliche. Be yourself, be curious, be kind, and always make sure that your head and your heart reach a healthy compromise.

To Molly: thank you for understanding SF, for making me smile and for always being authentic. To be 100% sure of yourself is rare, and admirable, don’t lose that.

To Ridge and Reina: They say that when you travel with your partner you learn a lot, and I saw you two remain so in love with each other, it was an inspiration. Also, your picture skills are on FLEEK. I’ll be hitting you up next time I’m in Maui. Mahalo for being amazing humans.

To Adam: Understated and classy are two words that describe you best. You’re the kind of humble and smart that puts other people at ease. Does that make sense? I hope so. Make good choices, and don’t be afraid to let loose every once in a while. Adulting is exhausting and you deserve to chill. Even in the chill area of SoCal.

To Jason: I have never met anyone as consistently positive as you, and it’s a truly great trait. You never failed to make me laugh, but you weren’t afraid to be straight up either. Stay true to who you are, and remember, be smart with your head and your heart.

To Brenda: I wish I’d gotten to know you better, but you have the best style of anyone I know and you’re always smiling which is such an attractive quality to have. I have a feeling that you’re meant for great things. And I have a feeling you know that too.

To Claire: I admire that you know what you want and don’t want so early in life! Stay true to yourself, and stick to your guns and then there will be nothing that can stop you.

To Skai: Even though you don’t want to go out in SF with me, you’re still a pretty cool dude. I’m rooting for you to snag that billionare.

To Brett: You are one funny son of a gun. While your commentary wasn’t always appreciated, your humor still was. You have a way of making people feel relaxed and happy around you. Just don’t kill any dogs when I’m not watching. Or I’ll have to kill you.

To Lauren B.: You are such a beautiful person, honestly. Your presence is warm, and I can see how you make an excellent teacher, because you are patient, and fun, and kind. I might just have to come to a Royals game and see ya one day.

To Jaime: Thank you for being my photographer, hype woman, drink partner, and so much more. You’re one of the funniest people I know, and your frankness is my favorite because it reminds me of me. Thank you for getting me out and home safe, for making sure I laughed more than I didn’t and for basically making me louve you as a human.

To Kelly: You are one sarcastic mofo. But you’re also really kind, as one of the most intellectual people I know. I’m sorry if my repetative nature and loud volume wasn’t always ideal for you, but you should know you still occupy a special lil place in my heart. Keep being strong, and sassy and fab.

To Katelyn: Thank you for loving dessert as much as me, for thinking I’m hilarious, for taking killer pictures, and for overall just being a super fly gal. Your lack of swearing and inability to tan are wonderful. Some day I will need you to photograph my wedding. And you can bring Tiffany too I guess.

To Maddy: You are literally the kindest, most Disney princess like human I know. Your nurse tendencies to be prepared for anything were much needed, and your stories were wonderful. Anyone would be lucky to have you as a nurse. Also, you’re gorgeous AF and too nice to even hate for it, so there’s that.

To Carolina: Oh my goodness I didn’t know such a big heart could be contained in such a little human! Thank you for always making sure I was safe, aka not letting me fall asleep in a club and getting drunk gyros with me, and for being so open about who you are. You’re one of the hardest working, and most passionate people I know and I cannot wait to watch you take the world by storm. Also, you’re ridiculously beautiful with killer style to boot. Ugh, miss you already.

To Nikki: You are so New York, I love it. Loud, funny, full of attitude, and a killer photographer. You are the definition of what people look for in a ride or die, not afraid to go hard but also always has your back. You deserve to be treated like a princess so never settle for less than that. You’re visiting me in SF with Carolina and Steffani asap. Please.

To Ally Klein: You’re one of those girls that has “it” and doesn’t even know. You light up rooms when you walk into them, and steal men’s hearts with ease. You’re gorgeous, kind and genuine to boot. Keep putting your heart out there, keep adventuring, and never stop spreading your infectious smile.

To Allie Ward: The only chances we regret are the ones we never take, and I know that you know that. You have a big heart, a love of travel, and a downright infectious laugh. You’re a true friend and your compassion is huge and wonderful. Keep taking chances and making new memories because we all only have this one life to live, and it’s way too short to have regrets about.

To Tiffany: You are beautiful, and you deserve to be confidant in that. Never spend so much time out of the spotlight that you forget that you’re a star in your own right. You have so much to give this world that you should never hide. You made me feel so sure of myself, and you were the best hype woman ever. Now make sure that you do that for yourself too. Also I would come to Georgia and humidity just to see you (and Kaitlyn) and for a California girl, that means a lot.

To Jenn: You are one of the most naturally beautiful girls that I know. I love that you’re young and living life on your own terms, so many girls your age aren’t there yet. Keep living the life that you’re proud of and surrounding yourself with people who build you up, because that’s what you deserve. Also, your instagram feed is fire.

To Paisley: I respect the heck outta your vegan life style. You are also one of the sweetest human I know. You meet every compliment with graciousness, and that’s becoming rare today. Your smile is stunning, and almost always on your face! Hold on to that, because you seem to understand that life is a beautiful thing to smile about. Keep your independence and light with you wherever you go. It’ll take you far, promise.

To Mike: You are one sassy and hilarious mofo. Your deadpan comments and facials are everything. You could probably make reading the phone book sound entertaining if you tried hard enough. New York, and the rest of the world frankly, love and need your soul in it. Never ever change, and HAGS. Lol.

CONGRATS! You made it to the end of my longest blog post to date. It took me two hours to write, and hopefully takes less time for you to read.

I can’t say enough about how great EF was too. Our tour guide Daphne, was my travel mom by the end of the trip and was hands down one of the kindest, funniest, most organized woman I know. The accommodations were all really nice, despite the cold shower or two, and a few meh breakfasts. Transportation was efficient, and each day promised something new. I look forward to my next EF trip.

And I’ll leave you with a quote, as always: “Now more than ever do I realize that I will never be content with a sedentary life, that I will always be haunted by thoughts of a sun-drenched elsewhere.” ― Isabelle Eberhardt, The Nomad: The Diaries of Isabelle Eberhard

It’s All Greek to Me So recently I spent two and a half weeks traveling all over Greece with 30 super cool people.

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bites-kms · 5 years ago

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Santorini by the Sea

Indulge me for a minute: try to imagine the most succulent Adonis you can think of. Now, play in Spotify the Mamma Mia! playlist, choose your favorite Abba song and imagine yourself wearing Meryl Streep’s dungarees or at least some blue outfit that matches the traditional domes you had in mind. Now, dance and sing your heart out with this Adonis by the Caldera, the major iconic Greek bay landscape. That’s exactly how Santorini was portrayed in my mind, and except for the Adonis, the rest was absolutely on point!

After a ridiculously short flight of less than 40 mins from Athens, I landed in Santorini Airport where the driver was waiting to pick me up and take me to the Airbnb. We decided to stayed in Imieroviglie, the picturesque town in between Oia and Thira/Fira. It was a great location away from the touristic noise yet very secluded, so the best choice we made was renting a car to make our stayed way more enjoyable. This decision didnt come easy, since during our first day, we walked like crazy and dealt with tons of transport issues. Hence, regardless and because of that, we decided to treat ourselves. First, with a great lunch at Aegeon, the only opened place at 11 am in Imieroviglie on our way to Thira/Fira. A delicious salmon, some seafood orzo and fava dip was paired to perfection on this spotless and unique location overlooking the Caldera. It was fantastic and a very much needed delight to continue our walking expedition.

After a quick walk around Thira/Fira, we went back to our Airbnb to get ready for sunset time in Oia, on the opposite side of the island. This place is beautiful, yet it gets super crowded quite easily, specially when the tourist busses arrive at the exact sunset time and people get desperate to find a viewing spot. We used our understated Indiana Jones skills to get a unique spot at the Castle, which is by far the best place to watch the sunset. One great tip is to sit not facing the sun, but actually against it, in order to have the perfect sky colors and clouds show, instead of just watching a blinding-bright circle. Also, this is the part of the world where you want to be staring at Oia instead of the sun, so trust us when trying to get a spot facing the island and not the other way round. The sun’s dimming light towards the white and blue city is a unique spectacle worth the wait, shot and crowd.

The sky was already changing colors, the typical island foggy weather was blurring the sun, and some of the tourists were getting clingier and clingier, so we called it a day. We wanted to keep the memory intact rather than to spoil it with crazy flashes and overexcited crowds. It was the perfect moment to leave since the town was empty, concentrating everyone within the few blocks around the castle and sunset site, so we had it all for ourselves and took advantage of it to take marvelous and EMPTY pictures! We later found a fantastic spot to have dinner, overseeing the sea and a very last glimpse of sunset light. We entered to Lotza, a family-run taverna, with very tasty and vast food portions ready to satisfy your cravings after our survival sunset adventure. We were craving for dessert, and during the three nights we stayed in Santorini, we crossed the street in front of our Airbnb and asked for dessert: chocolate volcano, and we ate it in bed. It was yummy! The very last day, I wanted to check out what else besides the dessert was available, so I went by myself to White Restaurant and ask for the dish of the day, and it was a very soft and tasty roaster in wine and soup, with tomato sauce with some Greek pasta that was absolutely perfect for the windy evening.

Although we walked and walked a lot, and once again, we are convinced it’s the best way to explore unknown city parts - and seriously, who doesn’t love a very nice stroll down the hills of Santorini?- , our beautiful Fiat 500 AKA “La Macchina” gave us a lot of freedom to roam around the island, disregarding the bus schedules and the ticketing people’s shouts. I guess since it was the very end of the season, people in Santorini were a little bit ruder than in other parts of Greece, not wanting to work anymore or at least without much patience nor love, since they already did it for 3 months non-stop (not an excuse, but still understandable) and they know people will still be coming. And once again, can’t stress this enough, this rudeness was only found in Santorini, specially in Thira/Fira and Imieroviglie, so the further you went away from the touristic places, the better you were treated, and in the other islands as well as in Athens, the story was completely different, with smiles and gratitude everywhere you went. My ferry got cancelled and I had to deal with the same not-very-friendly disposition of these people downtown Thira/Fira, but everything changed when we found the exception that makes the rule: Artemis, from Sunbird rent a car. This is the lovely owner of the place, which not only works as a car rental, the only one open in the morning and off-season, but also offers a superb service. Their fleet is very good, she recommended us different cars and convinced us with the beautiful, convertible mustard Fiat 500 (drove by two Italians ;)) and she mentioned all the important places we should visit around, with great recommendations that made the whole difference during our stayed. Thank you, Artemis! You changed and shaped our trip! <3

Ladies and Gentlemen, start your engines, coz our zig-zag route across Santorini is about to begin! We went to Akrotiri lighthouse, the southwestern point of Santorini and hence, the one that was further away from us. We decided to go there first and start exploring the rest in our way back. We found an incredible isolated church, which according to Google Maps, should be Agios Eleftherios: it was beautiful and peaceful. We decided to chill for a while before heading to the beaches around the area. Red Beach, Black Beach and White Beach are right next to each other, although the White one can only be accessed by ferry boat -which we decided not to do- these three beaches were created by unique soil shores that form natural bays, resulting in a breathtaking view by the crystal waters of the Aegean sea.

We stoped on some few pitstops to admire the view and also to get some yummy Freddo Capucinnos, the best one being in Akrotiri, the little cafe located on the main corner of the town. Following Artemis recommendations, we headed to Megalochori Village. Megalochori is one of the most picturesque villages on the island. Its existence is recorded back to the 17th century. Home to historical mansions, old traditional houses, pirate hideaways and wine canvas, it has a history of merchants and wealthy land barons exporting Vinsanto wine that the island still produces. We had lunch at Petrino , located on Megalochori central square. Not only was a great location but also our restaurant of choice was the one that became fully packed in comparison to the other two that were next to it. We had some fried calamari and fresh tomato pasta. We left little room for dessert in another beautiful spot near by.

The other mini town and historical settlement Artemis recommended was Pyrgos, few kilometers away from Megalochori. Damn, those narrow tiny street, what a headache for my out of practice driving skills, and also, I’ve never driven such a small and cute car before, so my space and surrounding awareness was almost inexistent. Thank God for Mau’s road love. According to Greece-is.com “Pyrgos, the largest preserved village on Santorini and the island’s former capital. Strategically built in the heart of the pre-volcanic hinterland and at the foot of Mount Profitis Ilias, Pyrgos affords panoramic views (...) although its charm is different: more subdued, less picture-perfect, little advertised”. We found the best table, of the best restaurant in Pyrgos. It’s call Penelope and it’s also family owned. We had some delicious espresso with the best view, underneath the main bell tower. Divine. Magical.

We continue to explore the 2 missing beaches we had left, which happened to be the largest ones in Santorini as well. Empty, only few solo travelers were there. Perfect to rest on the now free beach chairs and beds by the sun. They are right next to each other on the southerneast point of the island. Perissa Beach and Perivolos Beach were our last contact with Santorini waters, yet it was too cold to jump in. We decided to go straight to the northern point, passing Oia, to watch the sunset in a more secluded, less touristy environment: Ammoudi Bay.

We wanted to check out Dimitri’s Fish Taverna (you can’t go more Greek than that!) but it was full and did not take reservations. We went to the area regardless, and when trying to have a seat on the first available restaurant, they didn’t want to give us a table by the shore, but instead one by the aisle. We decided to continue, since there were other restaurants with few tables by the shore, and this was the best thing that could happen to us: we found the feast we didnt know we needed at Sunset Ammoudi. Not only they greeted us warmly and gave us the table we asked for - regardless of it being pre-booked by someone who was late - but also the food, was exquisite.

Never again during my stayed in Greece nor in my life had I tried such a delicious, creamy and perfect shrimp saganaki. With Mau we tend to shared all our dishes so we could try as many things as possible, but man, how I regret sharing this particular meal. It was all so perfect, we should have ordered a double order of everything and avoid the octopus. Although this one was fresh and tasty, it couldn’t compete with the shrimp and with the softly baked and grated feta eggplant. As I’m typing this, all my saliva comes to mouth and I can re-feel its unforgettable taste. These dishes, with the unique sunset, the delicious and fresh white wine and being on the edge of the pier -literally-, was the highlight of Santorini and the perfect way to greet our trip goodbye. Next morning Mau was flying to Napoli and I was taking a ferry to Mykonos. So, au revoir my friend, I’ll see you around sooner that we think! So glad and happy to have shared all this beauty with you!

Ammoudi Bay is indeed a must-go hidden spot. When everyone else is focused on Oia (with true reason, since the view is exactly as you pictured and imagined it) this bay is quiet, has a fresh breeze that messes up with your hair, leaving it a little bit saltier than before and it’s located exactly below and opposite to Oia. It’s hard to reach, since there’s only a secluded route by the shore, or you can also take the famous Greek donkeys down from Oia. Although picturesque, I guess due to EU laws as well as international pro-animals movements, there weren’t as many as I thought they might be, yet you can see - and smell - random donkeys roam freely around the island.

This sunset, with the evening mist, the sea scent and the feast flavor happening in my mouth, reassured me, one more time, that Greece makes me happy. Mamma mia!, blue clothes, abba sing-a-long happy. You should give it a try. Trust me: you wont regret it.

#santorini #greece #island #greeceislands #greekisland #mammamia #oia #imieroviglie #fira #travel #love #beauty

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