Spring of 2004Cycladic Architecture: a photographic journey
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A Picture Perfect Holiday!
Have you always dreamed of photographing the dazzling sights of
the Aegean Sea? White-washed houses perched on wind-swept cliffs
of the Cycladic islands....the Aegean "wine dark sea"
that so enraptured Homer in [500 BC?]...cobblestone streets and
ancient courtyards? The ArtExchange's photographic tour with noted
Canadian photographer and instructor Ken Meisner is all this-and
so much more!
Greece
is a phantasmagoria of colours, images, and stories that define
"architecture without architects" - and what better
way to see Greece than through its vernacular architecture! As
we wander through cobble stone streets, take refuge from the sun
under their kamares (arches), are dazzled by the many varieties
of flowering bougainvillea plants, take long breaks at its kafeneia
(coffee shops), or swim in its many coves and harbors, there will
be countless opportunities for all to savour the sights and capture
our memories the natural intelligence of these anonymous architects.
(Days 1-3)
We
will start our journey in the city of Athens, the "city of
a thousand faces" where we will photograph its Parthenon
and the surrounding neighbourhoods. We'll photograph the Temple
of Artemis in the village of Vravrona, one of the most celebrated
and evocative sites from antiquity. Then we'll explore the ancient
mines of the city of Lavrio, a city that provided classical Athens
with the silver for its coins-on our way to catch one of Greece's
spectacular sunsets at Cape Sounio with its famed Temple of Poseidon.
(Days 4-6)
Then we'll board the ferry and head for the stunning island of
Paros, one of the most fertile and developed of the Cycladic islands.
Paros with its spectacular white-washed towns and villages and
picturesque harbour of Naoussa will be our starting point. From
there we'll see and photograph how the anonymous architects over
the millennia negotiated and found a balance between nature and
social life.
(Days 7-9)
After Paros we'll move on to the island of Tinos, one of the most
barren and invaded of the Cycladic islands. Tinos time and again
was raided by pirates and conquered by the Francs, Venetians,
Ottomans and others, and every time its inhabitants managed to
overcome the adversities of nature and history. We'll visit its
picturesque harbour with its miraculous Cathedral of The Megalohari
(Our Lady of Good Tidings) as well as its beautiful villages...and
the Valley of Tarabathos with more than a thousand dove cotes
or peristeriones, unique structures introduced by the Venetians
to house their doves.
(Days 10-11)
Our
final island stop will be Syros. Its white-washed development
with homes perched over the harbour will provide a stunning view
as our ferry approaches. Syros was also the target of pirates
and foreign conquerors and has basically the same terrain as the
other two, but it developed much differently. We will stay in
its capital Ermoupolis, "the city of Hermes" (the god
of commerce and communications). Ermoupolis was once considered
as a possible site for the capital of Greece and it became a commercial
and ship building success. There we will experience and photograph
the myriad of sights and sites that make up modern Greece.
(Days 12-13)
Then we will return to Athens for a couple of days to re-visit
favourite sites, do some shopping-and try out some of Attica's
finest private estate wines.
(Day 14)
On our last day we will check out of our hotel and return to our
home destinations to savour memories and friendships..
Our resource person for photography will be Ken
Meisner, an accomplished photographer, traveler, and very active member of the Foothills Camera Club of Calgary,
Alberta, Canada. "Photography is my passion. I find myself
connected to my creative spirit when I'm in the process of making
images or introducing the art to others. I enjoy the challenge
of all aspects of photography and look forward to my next opportunity
to photograph or to connect with others who are also obsessed
about capturing that next great image." (Ken Meisner).
