Greece, not just a place-a state of being
There is something about traveling–everyone does it for more than one reason. One, it is the ultimate learning experience. You learn about history, culture, language, sociology, everything on the ground moving through borders and nations. You don’t forget where the Battle of Salamis happened and how the “300” gave their lives if you actually see, hear and smell the place. There is nothing like being there to understand and learn about a people intimately.
In parallel, travel is not only about an external journey, it is also about an internal one. As I got older, I realized traveling is not just about getting to know the “other” but also about learning about yourself. Away from the demands of “the real world” I fell into the pattern of relying on myself, of hearing my own voice. I get in touch with myself as much as I touch other people and cultures. Travel becomes the ultimate act of self discovery as a result.
Two, travel serves as escape. A needed change. I used travel as a way to escape the monotony of my present life. Now it provides a differing perspective for looking at my life and my problems. Travel forces me to see in a new way. To get out of the worn out conventional ways of thinking and seeing. It serves as a “time out” from the real world.
Three, travel is empowerment. Especially for a woman who comes from a tradition that tells her what she should do, where to go, what she can’t, etc. the feeling of being free away from the constraints of your society, your parents, even the internalized voices of them all, is lusciously liberating. All that melts away when a woman travels by herself. She creates her itinerary, charts her course. No one can tell her what to do, where to go. She is the mistress of her own destiny and destination. (You notice how those words, “destiny” and “destination” are related?) By relying on her own wits and knowledge, she gains confidence that she can accomplish even the most difficult.
Photography Tour 1: The Cyclades
Starting from June 1 to September 30th, I am leading groups through an intimate tour of my home islands, the Cyclades with an eye for photography. Each group is comprised of no more than 10 people. The tours take place for 2 1/2 – 3 hours on each of the major islands of the Cyclades: Mykonos, Delos, Tinos, Paros, Amorgos, Ios, Santorini. Days and islands are determined based on interest and individual availability.
Price: 100 Euro per person
A typical tour includes:
- pick up from port or ferry terminal, travel arrangements to major points of interest on the island
- historical, cultural, and geographic/natural explanation of each point of interest by a native (my family dates back to this region for centuries)
- principles of landscape photography and review of photographic shots, and technical know-how for wide-angle shots from a professional photographer
- accompanied walking tour to scenic and strategic points for taking superb panoramic shots, breathtaking sunsets, ancient ruins at just the right time for the best light and atmospheric conditions
- equipment that can be borrowed (lenses, tripod, etc) to take enhanced shots of the journey
Possible Itinerary: (Ios Example)
Morning Early Light Tour: Capturing Aurora
-Dawn in Agia Theodoti
-Nature Hike through mountains capturing landscaped vistas
-Looking out for flora and fauna (goats and wild herbs)
-Koumbara Beach and St. John’s Church (one of the highest panoramic views of the island)
Afternoon Sunset Tour: Chora: Cats and Churches
-Paleokastro: a magical Byzantine fortress that has enchanting views (Alternatively, Pathos Sunset Lounge provides breathtaking sunset shots)
-Chora: meander the dizzying streets of the main town snapping up people shots, and of course, cats! We focus on architectural details and abstracting angles and curves of the many churches on the way to the summit to the Gremiotissa Church for a panoramic view of the purple sunsets.
Not included:
- food and drink, souvenir
- gratuities
- camera, memory cards, and other personal equipment
Cyanotypes=Nature + PAPER + SUN
Cyanotype is an alternative photography process that uses the sun to expose prints. It was first developed by Anna Atkins, a British photographer. The characteristic deep blue against white outline of natural specimens is a perfect complement in a country known for those two colors. Join me as we walk and pick our specimens, compose them on cotton rag paper, and develop them under the Cycladic sun. A deceptively simple yet versatile process, you will see your creation morph in front of your eyes. What is nice is that you will take away a creation of your picking as a token of your time on the island.
COST: 60 Euro/$70 per person
My workshops include:
-all materials, including cotton paper, 8X11 inch print
-services of a native guide and educator
-an hour of dedicated time
-a sanitary work space
If you are interested, fill in the form at the bottom and I will notify you of times.
All workshops take place at the Atelier in Agia Theodoti, Ios from June to September.
From November to April, workshops take place in Astoria/LIC and on Zoom.
