Grief

Sadness, anger and huge disappointment. These are my feelings as the one and only national park near Athens is no more. The whole forest in Parnitha mountain is gone as a result of a huge wildfire.

The endangered red deers are (most probably) gone too. I met three of those some weeks ago. It was the last time I ever saw them alive.

What is most painful is that the fire was not an arson. It was just the absolute stupidity of the authorities. They did not manage to contain a relatively small fire on the foothills and the fire went up at 1100m altitude, just because of their complete impotence.

None apologized for this, none resigned. None will ever be held accountable for the total loss of our most precious forest.

I feel like I just lost a beloved person...
The story in BBC news

ADP out of town: Spetses island

I spent the weekend at this beautiful island (about 2 hours from Athens by hydrofoil). Spetses is mostly known for its great contribution (with warriors, money and ships) to the Greek war of Independence in 1821.
Private cars are totally forbidden so people use horse and carriages, motorbikes or these red sea-taxis to get around the island or to the nearby mainland shores. The little port's entrance gets very busy sometimes...
Spetses in Wikipedia
Spetses.gr (in Greek)
More info (in english)

Summer time in Nafplio

Nafplio (about 150km from Athens) was the first capital of the Greek state and today stands as one of the most historical places in the country. This beautiful snapshot is from the old part of the town, these houses must be 200 years old.

Read more here

They Shoot Horses, Don't They?

During a visit at old Athens Intl airport (Hellenikon), I stumbled upon this old private airplane. The sign on its side reminded me that no promise lasts for ever...
...no matter how high it flies.

Black and White

Meeting with...the cavalry in Kea island.
Where is it?

Looking marble

Diana, a friend of ADP, sent me this breath-taking photo.

As she says...
"I wanted to send you a picture that I took while "doing the tourist thing" one of the days I was there. It is a view of the Parthenon through the columns of the Temple of Zeus. I really like how the color of the poppies just add something to this photo".
.
Thanks, Diana. Wish you a nice time in Athens when you come back

Runner

"Running" just beside the Hilton hotel, this (not so beautiful from up close) statue is "Dromeas" (The Runner). Built from stacked plates of glass by Kostas Varotsos.

Not many people find it beautiful. When in was first intoduced in Omonoia Square in 1994, people were calling it "The Thing". But now it's considered one of the prominent pieces of modern art.

Tell me what you think. Do you find it good-looking or not?
See it in its previous location
More Dromeas pics at Flickr

Island ranquility

Afternoon at Kea island.
In Wikimapia