Uploads from ~ Nancy Giambani ~

Wandering in the castle of Methoni

nobody@flickr.com (~ Nancy Giambani ~) — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:00:22 -0700

© All rights are reserved.
PLEASE do not use my photos in blogs or sites, without my explicit permission. Ask for it.

If you have the time please view "Wandering in the castle of Methoni" in Light Box

Pylos' Bay

nobody@flickr.com (~ Nancy Giambani ~) — Sun, 19 May 2013 11:45:45 -0700

~ Nancy Giambani ~ posted a photo:

© All rights are reserved.
PLEASE do not use my photos in blogs or sites, without my explicit permission. Ask for it.

Pylos' bay (or Navarino Bay), is formed by a deep indenture, shut in by a long rocky island, anciently called Sphacteria (modern name Sfaktiria), famous for the defeat and capture of the Spartans, in the Battle of Pylos during the Peloponnesian War, and still showing the ruins of walls which perhaps formed their last refuge. This island has been divided into three or four separate sections by the violence of the waves, and boats could pass from the open sea into the port, in calm weather, using the formed channels. In 1827, inside the gulf of Navarino, occured the homonymous historical sea-fight, significant for the liberation of Greece On the islet is the tomb of a Turkish saint, the Delikli Baba. There is also a monument to the French sailors who died at the Battle of Navarino; a monument to the Russian dead of the same battle is on the island of Sphacteria, while the monument to the English dead is on another very small island near the centre of the port. Monuments and tombs from the Greek War of Independence are on the island of Sphacteria, the most important is the monument of the Italian philhellene Santorre di Santa Rosa.On the islet there is also the grave of the prince Paul-Maria Bonaparte, nephew of Great Napoleon.
At the north of the islet is also the grave of Megie, the French officer of Maison, who was killed on sea-fight at Navarino

Ancient Pylos in the historical times. It was situated north-west of the city and it became significant during the Peloponnesian War. It isn`t the prehistoric Pylos of king Nestoras, which took part in the Trojan War, reported by the historian Thucydides. On the ancient acropolis there are remains of the Roman, Protochristian and Hellenistic years, as well as traces of the city`s fortification and ruins of tomb, which, according to the tradition, belonged to Thracimides, son of Nestoras.

Tree of might

nobody@flickr.com (~ Nancy Giambani ~) — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:30:46 -0700

~ Nancy Giambani ~ posted a photo:

© All rights are reserved.
PLEASE do not use my photos in blogs or sites, without my explicit permission. Ask for it.

You can view "Tree of might" in Light Box

Voidokilia beach

nobody@flickr.com (~ Nancy Giambani ~) — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:59:59 -0700

~ Nancy Giambani ~ posted a photo:

© All rights are reserved.
PLEASE do not use my photos in blogs or sites, without my explicit permission. Ask for it.
*****************************************************************************************************************************
The name of this beach, literally means "The belly of the Ox"
It has the shape of the Greek capital letter omega Ω, which you can see in the Flickr satellite map.
Its sand forms a semicircular strip of dunes and the colour of the sea is totally fantastic.

Unfortunately the state of my health those days and my doc's orders didn't allow me to walk a lot or to climb up the hill and make a panoramic photo. The high dunes and the strong wind, were making walking even more difficult.

The land facing side of the strip of dunes is Gialova Lagoon (or Yalova Lagoon), and is an important bird habitat. The beach has been named "A Place of Particular Natural Beauty". It is part of the Natura 2000 protected area.

Above the beach is Nestor's Cave and above this are the ruins of thirteenth-century Frankish castle (Old Pylos castle or Palaiokastro). Overlooking the beach at the north eastern end is the tomb of Nestor's son, Thrasymedes of the Mycenaean period (1680–1060 BC) with Neolithic finds at the same site showing occupation as early as 4000 BC.

The beach is presumed to be Homer's "sandy Pylos" where Telemachus was welcomed by King Nestor when searching for his father, Odysseus. According to myth, Nestor's Cave is where Hermes hid the cattle stolen from Apollo.
============================================================================
I will come a bit later this evening to see and comment your nice photos.
My day was long and difficult.

A view to the Castle and Burtzi of Methoni from an Olive Grove

nobody@flickr.com (~ Nancy Giambani ~) — Tue, 14 May 2013 21:03:25 -0700

~ Nancy Giambani ~ posted a photo:

© All rights are reserved.
PLEASE do not use my photos in blogs or sites, without my explicit permission. Ask for it.

Wasn't meant to be forsaken

nobody@flickr.com (~ Nancy Giambani ~) — Mon, 13 May 2013 10:27:30 -0700

~ Nancy Giambani ~ posted a photo:

© All rights are reserved.
PLEASE do not use my photos in blogs or sites, without my explicit permission. Ask for it.
========================================================================
Very close to Methoni there is a very small village totally abandoned.
All you can see are the closed, forsaken houses, some of them destroyed and high grass.
All you can hear is the silence and the wind, maybe also the crowing of a rooster from afar.
The strange thing about it, is that there is no central square (quite typical in Greek villages),
or even a church, or at least I wasn't able to locate it

Here with my Dear Friend Wilfried, who sacrificed his siesta, to take me see and photograph this village
========================================================================
If you have the time, please try it also in LIGHT BOX

Soooo much .... I love you

nobody@flickr.com (~ Nancy Giambani ~) — Sun, 12 May 2013 13:59:59 -0700

~ Nancy Giambani ~ posted a photo:

Happy Mother's Day !!!

© All rights are reserved.
PLEASE do not use my photos in blogs or sites, without my explicit permission. Ask for it.

If you have a little time, please view also "Soooo much .... I love you" in Light Box

as long ...

nobody@flickr.com (~ Nancy Giambani ~) — Sat, 11 May 2013 22:50:50 -0700

~ Nancy Giambani ~ posted a photo:

© All rights are reserved.
PLEASE do not use my photos in blogs or sites, without my explicit permission. Ask for it.

View also "as long ..." in Light Box

The Bourtzi of Methoni (9 photos)

nobody@flickr.com (~ Nancy Giambani ~) — Thu, 09 May 2013 12:40:26 -0700

~ Nancy Giambani ~ posted a photo:

© All rights are reserved.
PLEASE do not use my photos in blogs or sites, without my explicit permission. Ask for it.
****************************************************************
****************************************************************

This time I decided to go inside the Bourtzi. The place was pretty dark and it took me a while, until my eyes got used to the existing light. I have specially illuminated some shots, so detail can be better visible
****************************************************************
View also The Bourtzi of Methoni in Light Box
****************************************************************

Architectural feature of Methoni is the Βourtzi, a small sea fort, and a Turkish "addition" in the Venetian castle of Methoni, built on a small island in the south of the castle.

It is consisted of an octagonal tower (a shape that makes Bourtzi really striking), and is surrounded by an octagonal wall. The tower is built on two levels and is covered by a semicircular dome. The ground floor occupies a quadrangular cistern. A ramp leads both transepts of the perimeter wall, and the upper floor of the tower, where there is a room with cannon around.

On the interior walls beam cases are distinguished, that were supporting four wooden floors, now destroyed. The construction of the fort began shortly before 1500 by the Venetians and was completed by the Ottomans in the 16th century.

Βourtzi was part of the maritime fortress of Methoni and served several purposes through time: used as the headquarters of the garrison to control the port, as a beacon, as a jail, and also as a shelter for the residents in siege times .

Still standing there

nobody@flickr.com (~ Nancy Giambani ~) — Mon, 06 May 2013 23:59:59 -0700

~ Nancy Giambani ~ posted a photo:

© All rights are reserved.
PLEASE do not use my photos in blogs or sites, without my explicit permission. Ask for it.

View also "Still standing there" in Light Box

Today is Orthodox Easter

nobody@flickr.com (~ Nancy Giambani ~) — Sun, 05 May 2013 00:11:40 -0700

~ Nancy Giambani ~ posted a photo:

This is a repost of an older photo
Best wishes for the Day to all Orthodox Flickr friends

and of course Best Wishes to all of YOU

Easter in Greece

Easter in Greece is the biggest holiday of the year and is even more important than Christmas, with week long celebrations and traditions.

The Greek Orthodox Church plays a large role in the Greek Easter 'Paska' or ' Pascha' celebrations.

Greek Orthodox Easter usually falls one to five weeks after the western (Protestant, Catholic) Easter, while approximately once every four years it falls on the same date.

In 2013 Greek Orthodox Easter falls on Sunday May 5th (5 weeks after the western Easter).

Greek Easter Traditions

There are many traditions in Greece revolving around Easter and the week leading up to Easter plays a major role in these. This week is known as Holy Week or 'Megali Evdomada' (literally meaning the Big Week).

Throughout Holy Week the churches hold services at least once a day. Traditionally the people fast and no meat, oil or dairy products are eaten until midnight on Easter Saturday, after the symbolic Resurrection.

Holy Saturday - Megalo Savvato

The church once again holds a service in the morning, and the church is filled with flowers. In the villages men slaughter lambs for Easter Sunday. The women bake cheese pies - kalitsounia. In Crete children make an effigy of Judas to burn on bonfires later at the midnight celebration.

The Midnight Easter Service & The Resurrection - Saturday Night

The Anastasi, the Resurrection, takes place at midnight and is the culmination
of Holy Week. The whole of Greece, it seems, attends church for the midnight
service and the lighting of the Holy Flame. The Priest passes the Holy Flame throughout the congregation and all light a candle with cries of Christos Anesti!- Christ is Risen. Fireworks are then let off in celebration. The people take their lit candles home and make the sign of a cross with the black from the candle flame in the doorway of their homes before entering.

The breaking of the Fast takes place now, at midnight after the church service people go home to eat Mageiritsa - a meat soup made with offal, plus the red eggs and kalitsounia.

Easter Sunday - Kyriaki tou Paska

Families and friends meet up for the Easter Day roasting of lamb outside on a spit and a big celebration party with food, wine, music and dancing all day long. Kalo Paska! Happy Easter.

Alle meine Entchen ... sind schon erwachsen ~ all my little ducks ... have grown up ;-)

nobody@flickr.com (~ Nancy Giambani ~) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:26:50 -0700

~ Nancy Giambani ~ posted a photo:

© All rights are reserved.
PLEASE do not use my photos in blogs or sites, without my explicit permission. Ask for it.

If you have the time, please view also Alle meine Entchen ... sind schon erwachsen ~ all my little ducks ... have grown up ;-) in Light Box

Despite blown highlights ...

nobody@flickr.com (~ Nancy Giambani ~) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 07:12:50 -0700

~ Nancy Giambani ~ posted a photo:

© All rights are reserved.
PLEASE do not use my photos in blogs or sites, without my explicit permission. Ask for it.

IF YOU HAVE THE TIME, PLEASE VIEW ALSO 'Despite blown highlights ...' in LIGHT BOX

Wishing you all a nice rest of Sunday and to the Orthodox Flickr Friends a nice Holy Week

Standing ...

nobody@flickr.com (~ Nancy Giambani ~) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 23:00:00 -0700

~ Nancy Giambani ~ posted a photo:

In the Spring Time

nobody@flickr.com (~ Nancy Giambani ~) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 13:19:40 -0700

~ Nancy Giambani ~ posted a photo:

View to Bourtzi from the Castle of Methoni

nobody@flickr.com (~ Nancy Giambani ~) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:52:00 -0700

~ Nancy Giambani ~ posted a photo:

© All rights are reserved.
PLEASE do not use my photos in blogs or sites, without my explicit permission. Ask for it.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I had made and posted a similar photo about a year ago, but I must admit, that as I got there again,
I couldn't resist not to make some photos .... :)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Bourtzi is dated back to the period after 1500 and has been used in various instances as a prison. It has a two-floor octagonal tower. The tower finishes in a round dome. On the lower floor there was a cistern and the whole works, with small defensive value, and is dated during the first period that the Turks occupied the fortress.

The west part of the walls is not as well constructed as the others. It was here that during the 2nd World War, after an explosion, parts of well constructed stones from the ancient walls of Methoni were found. In the interior of the walls, ruins of Turkish military establishments are preserved.
The east side of the walls also reached initially to the sea. Nowadays, a long strand of beach lies in front of a large part of it. Parallel to the east wall, up to the Bourtzi, there was a pier and this is where the small fortified harbor was formed (mandrachio), while the big one was to the northeast where ships could be pulled. The long east side has suffered many repairs, performed on the initial venetian battlements of the 13th century, mainly during the second Venetian occupation and the Turkish occupation. In one of the towers parts of the Byzantine fortification are preserved.

On various parts of the fortification there are Venetian emblems with the winged LION of VENICE or LION of St. Mark and inscriptions. This is the case on the north part of the Loredan battlement, where there is an inscribed plaque from the time when general Loredan was in command in the Peloponnese. On the north wall, on the right of the main entrance, there is also a plaque with the coat of arms of the families of the Foscarini, Foscolo and Bembo, to which the inscription denotes the construction of the Bembo battlement, just before 1500.

The castle of Methoni rises deserted and isolated today. When the winter winds hit its walls the locals say that you can hear the screams of the prisoners and the unjustly killed in the Bourtzi.

For further info about the history of this place you can also have a look at these sites if you want:
www.messinia-guide.gr/?lang=en&id=245&void=

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methoni,_Messenia

Forsaken and Forgotten

nobody@flickr.com (~ Nancy Giambani ~) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:15:55 -0700

~ Nancy Giambani ~ posted a photo:

© All rights are reserved.
PLEASE do not use my photos in blogs or sites, without my explicit permission. Ask for it.

Can also be viewed in Light Box : Forsaken and Forgotten

Very close to Methoni there is a very small village totally abandoned with closed homes some of them destroyed and high grass. The strange thing about it, is that there is no central square (quite typical in greek villages) or a church.

With Stones and Time

nobody@flickr.com (~ Nancy Giambani ~) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 00:36:30 -0700

~ Nancy Giambani ~ posted a photo:

nobody@flickr.com (~ Nancy Giambani ~) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 13:59:59 -0700

~ Nancy Giambani ~ posted a photo:

© All rights are reserved.
PLEASE do not use my photos in blogs or sites, without my explicit permission. Ask for it.

Can also be viewed in LIGHT BOX

if you have the time and want, I have put together some photos from our short vacation in Methoni
last year and uploaded in You Tube :) METHONI

A wild Daisy for Flower Friday

nobody@flickr.com (~ Nancy Giambani ~) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 07:27:26 -0700

~ Nancy Giambani ~ posted a photo: