It's been a little crazy around here lately. We have an exhibition coming up very soon, and that means that we all have to get ready. I have a bunch of work ready, but I still need to get more done. Even though I am only going to have a few works of art in the show, I will be leaving for home the next day, so it will be important for me to have everyhing wrapped up before the show. I say the least, I have about 55 photos that need to be completed both digitally and in the darkroom. I think I am currently about half way there. That means that in the next two weeks I have to do more than the two months before.
The computer lab has been really crowded these days and so has the darkroom. I decided to try working during off times and see what happened. After my night class, I tried going to the darkroom. I went in at about 8:00 PM and I didn't arrive again until 1 AM. That was very good. I got two whole photos developed, and I was thrilled with them.
Then it was off to the digital lab. I was expecting it to be empty, but it still had people in it. I settled down and started to work. At around 3:00, I asked if my friend was going home, and she was uncertain. I agreed with her. I still had a lot of work to do, and I wasn't really tired yet. We agreed to pull an all-nighter so that we could have the lab and the printers to ourselves. It was quite amazing. We went out to get supplies--coffee and french fries. When we went to the coffee shop/bar, she had just cleaned the coffee machine, so we weren't able to get any. She offered, as a replacement a shot of tequilla and Sprite. She said that it would energize for the night. It sure did. Once we got our french fries and ate them, we worked happily on.
Eventually, I looked out the window and the sun was rising. We went out on top of the roof in the cool air and watched as dawn spread out her finger tips of rose. It was beautiful. We are not back to work--actually she is. I've printed 5 photos today, which is many more than I have ever printed in a day, so I'm calling it a good quits.
We're just waiting for one more comuter thing to happen and then it's off to walk on the beach with the sun rising. I'm looking forward to that.
My prints look amazing and the all-nighter has officially been accomplished. It was quite refreshing. :)
After the beach walk, I'm off to change my clothes and get some food before heading back to the darkroom for more fun printing time.
I'll post photos of the roof sunrise. It is amaing.
Chris
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
A sneak peak
Ok.
I know I haven't been writing a lot lately. Most of that is due to the fact that I am very hot and heavy trying to get things done here before the end of the semester. I came a month late (after it had started), so I am really behind. Not a whole lot of adventures going on for me other than the fact that I'm taking a trip to Naxos. My tan is fading away slowly as I spend all of my days inside working even though the beautiful sun is outside. For example, I was in the darkroom from 8AM until 2PM today. After that, I was in the digital lab from 2PM until my 6PM class. After that, I get a chance to watch the sun set before heading back to the world of digital printing. I know--it's a whole process :)
Here is a sneak peak photo from my latest project. I am really enjoying it. I have a whole direction that my portfolio is taking here and Greece, and it's quite different than I thought it would be. I think it will tie in to the things that I am going to need to do next semester (I have an idea for then too). As an artist, the inspiration to communicate about certain things come and go, but the important part for me is to hold on to the things that do come to me and wring them of life so that they can be recreated in my own fashion. It's quite a process. :) I'm becoming a better and better printer every day. The darkroom has taken ahold of me and won't let go. I really am addicted :)
Anyway, I only put rejected photos up here online for you to see, so here is one that has been rejected from my recent project. Enjoy it and look for more clues as to what this project could possibly be.
Friday, May 05, 2006
Four Wheel Adventure
See. I did say that I was going to post again soon, and I did. I'm so happy when I keep my promises.
Today was an incredible day. I woke up and went on a tour of the Church of a Hundred Doors here with our Art History Professor. He is so smart about everything, and I really love learning things from him. I gained a lot of knowledge about the church, and I was also able to scope out some interesting photo ops there.
After that, I was hired by the person that runs the apartments that I live in to photograph them and put together a portfolio of the different apartments. He was really happy with my work, and he asked me to extend my job. Officially, this means that I've had a job in Greece and when I'm older I can say, "When I lived and worked in Greece!"
At about 12:00, Jared and I decided to rent a four wheeler and go around the island with it. It was a lot of fun. We started in the port town and went counter clockwise around the island. I got to take a lot of cool photos of him, and I also just got to take a lot of cool photos. It's been a long time since we both just up and went and did something like that, and I know we both enjoyed it even though it was quite cold.
When we got home, I decided to go back out again and brave the weather. It turned out to be a great idea. I had an incredible time alone, and I got to discover places I have been wondering about since the first day I was on the island over a year ago. I visited the ancient quarries twice. On my way to Lefkes, I ran into thousand year old olive trees that I have been fixing to photograph for over a year. When I got to Lefkes, I happened upon some old windmills where the grain used to be ground into flour. They are deserted and falling apart. I got the chance to photograph them and explore them, and that is something that I have been looking forward to doing since I made it here. It was very exciting for me. One of them even had a donkey outside. I went to visit him, but he wasn't to excited at the idea of having a visitor. Jared says that I have donkey radar, and I would have to say that he is right. :)
On my way back, I was able to stop and visit many of the old sites. It really made my day to do all of the things that I did.
I'm going to post some photos up here so you can see us in action.
We head to Naxos tomorrow. More stories and photos when we return.
Today was an incredible day. I woke up and went on a tour of the Church of a Hundred Doors here with our Art History Professor. He is so smart about everything, and I really love learning things from him. I gained a lot of knowledge about the church, and I was also able to scope out some interesting photo ops there.
After that, I was hired by the person that runs the apartments that I live in to photograph them and put together a portfolio of the different apartments. He was really happy with my work, and he asked me to extend my job. Officially, this means that I've had a job in Greece and when I'm older I can say, "When I lived and worked in Greece!"
At about 12:00, Jared and I decided to rent a four wheeler and go around the island with it. It was a lot of fun. We started in the port town and went counter clockwise around the island. I got to take a lot of cool photos of him, and I also just got to take a lot of cool photos. It's been a long time since we both just up and went and did something like that, and I know we both enjoyed it even though it was quite cold.
When we got home, I decided to go back out again and brave the weather. It turned out to be a great idea. I had an incredible time alone, and I got to discover places I have been wondering about since the first day I was on the island over a year ago. I visited the ancient quarries twice. On my way to Lefkes, I ran into thousand year old olive trees that I have been fixing to photograph for over a year. When I got to Lefkes, I happened upon some old windmills where the grain used to be ground into flour. They are deserted and falling apart. I got the chance to photograph them and explore them, and that is something that I have been looking forward to doing since I made it here. It was very exciting for me. One of them even had a donkey outside. I went to visit him, but he wasn't to excited at the idea of having a visitor. Jared says that I have donkey radar, and I would have to say that he is right. :)
On my way back, I was able to stop and visit many of the old sites. It really made my day to do all of the things that I did.
I'm going to post some photos up here so you can see us in action.
We head to Naxos tomorrow. More stories and photos when we return.
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Thursday, May 4, 2006
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Ok. It’s been over a week since I’ve written. I’m sorry about the lag, and I promise that things will get better. Pascha was an amazing experience for me personally, and it was the height of a lot of energy for quite a few people here (in the school as well as the Greeks around the school). Having Easter come and go was quite wonderful. My friends and I had a very nice potluck on Easter day. One of the students’ mom owns a restaurant, and she made a remarkable lamb stew. It tasted quite good. The man that runs the area that we live in brought us a loaf of fresh bread that he had made. It was quite enjoyable.
Over the past week, I have been organizing my life and getting things restructured here so that I can come out the other end of my studies here with some actual things to show for. For the past month, I have been taking lots of photographs of all sorts (both in film and digitally), and preparing them to be printed. I am now in the throes of printing them all. I have stopped taking some of the thousand classes that I WAS taking, and I am now concentrating almost exclusively on photography only. It is a very refreshing experience. I spent 7 hours today in the darkroom, and I am now on my computer again evaluating some images to be printed digitally.
Jared has arrived on this beautiful island of mine, and we are having quite a bit of fun. I have shown him many of the ancient sites that I have seen. I don’t know that he has the exact same take on them that I have, but at least he has been able to see them.
I have a great plan for the next couple of days though, and I thought that I would share it.
Tomorrow, I am taking a tour of the Church of a Hundred Doors (the oldest church in Christianity) with an art historian. He is amazing, and he is going to get us access to the parts of the church that you can’t normally go it. I am very happy about it.
After that, I think that I am going to rent a four-wheeler with Jared and drive around the entire island with him. It sounds like a lot of fun, and I believe that I will be able to take quite a few photographs that I wouldn’t otherwise be able to take (without walking for days and days).
On Saturday, I am going to go with Jared to Naxos. We are going to rent a car and drive around for a while. I am looking forward to seeing many of the ancient sites including the place where Zeus was born! I am also very interested to see the ancient korous, which is a sculpture that was started and not finished. It is VERY big.
I will tell you more of my adventures as they happen, but I thought that it would be good to at least give you and update and tell you that I am alive and well.
Ok. It’s been over a week since I’ve written. I’m sorry about the lag, and I promise that things will get better. Pascha was an amazing experience for me personally, and it was the height of a lot of energy for quite a few people here (in the school as well as the Greeks around the school). Having Easter come and go was quite wonderful. My friends and I had a very nice potluck on Easter day. One of the students’ mom owns a restaurant, and she made a remarkable lamb stew. It tasted quite good. The man that runs the area that we live in brought us a loaf of fresh bread that he had made. It was quite enjoyable.
Over the past week, I have been organizing my life and getting things restructured here so that I can come out the other end of my studies here with some actual things to show for. For the past month, I have been taking lots of photographs of all sorts (both in film and digitally), and preparing them to be printed. I am now in the throes of printing them all. I have stopped taking some of the thousand classes that I WAS taking, and I am now concentrating almost exclusively on photography only. It is a very refreshing experience. I spent 7 hours today in the darkroom, and I am now on my computer again evaluating some images to be printed digitally.
Jared has arrived on this beautiful island of mine, and we are having quite a bit of fun. I have shown him many of the ancient sites that I have seen. I don’t know that he has the exact same take on them that I have, but at least he has been able to see them.
I have a great plan for the next couple of days though, and I thought that I would share it.
Tomorrow, I am taking a tour of the Church of a Hundred Doors (the oldest church in Christianity) with an art historian. He is amazing, and he is going to get us access to the parts of the church that you can’t normally go it. I am very happy about it.
After that, I think that I am going to rent a four-wheeler with Jared and drive around the entire island with him. It sounds like a lot of fun, and I believe that I will be able to take quite a few photographs that I wouldn’t otherwise be able to take (without walking for days and days).
On Saturday, I am going to go with Jared to Naxos. We are going to rent a car and drive around for a while. I am looking forward to seeing many of the ancient sites including the place where Zeus was born! I am also very interested to see the ancient korous, which is a sculpture that was started and not finished. It is VERY big.
I will tell you more of my adventures as they happen, but I thought that it would be good to at least give you and update and tell you that I am alive and well.
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Easter Church Photos
One of these photos is everyone with their new Easter light. The other one is the light that has just been lit spreading throughout the church. Both very beautiful.
Sunday, April 23, 2006 Pascha
I haven’t written in several days, but the things that have happened over the past couple of days couldn’t possibly be described in writing. I will try my best though.
On Friday, I woke up and helped my friend paint the lines out on her street. We were actually very good Samaritans and we painted the neighbors as well because they are kind of old and it must be done by Easter. We had so much fun though, and by the end it looked really good. Plus, I am able to add it to my “street conservation” credit. J
After that, I went to Lefkes with her again and hung out. Because it was good Friday, everything was closed. It is a very big holiday, but not in the sense of celebrating. Good Friday symbolized that Christ has been crucified. It is supposed to be a deeply sad day. The bell at the church tolls non-stop all day from 6 in the morning until 3 in the morning (that’s when I lost count and fell asleep anyway). It is a day to go to church, and there are essentially services all day. There is a very beautiful church in Lefkes, so I just went and sat outside of it (I wasn’t properly attired to go in) and listened to the Byzantine Greek being sung in the service. It was very nice. I stayed there on the bench outside the church for about an hour.
After that, I decided to go for a walk, so I just followed paths until I got to the end of town. At the edge of town, there are the remains of the road built during the Byzantine Empire. The road is amazing in the places that it is well preserved. I walked a couple of miles down the path until I got a sense that it was time to go back. The path was beautiful with a stream running beside it at times. It took me up a mounting, through an olive grove and over fields of flowers. I really enjoyed it.
When I walked back, the church service was over, but they had a parade of the Greek equivalent of the Boy Scouts (except that the Greek version is a bit more morbid with it’s roots in Fascist Greece).
We finally left Lefkes, and I spent the rest of the afternoon eating dinner, snacking on gelato, taking photos and visiting with friends.
There was another church service at night, so I decided to go to it. I was told that it was one of the most amazing things I would see on Paros. At first, it was just chanting in Greek, and it seemed a little dull. However, the church is beautiful because it is all decked out with purple ribbons and flowers, etc. The tomb of Christ (holding the icon inside) is covered in flowers, and lines form for hours on end to kiss it (as it tradition in Orthodox Christendom). The priests spent and hour lighting candled and carrying them around the church. They also were swinging incense everywhere, and it was a very fun tradition to watch.
At 11:00, they sung a very beautiful hymn and then threw thousands of rose petals from the dome of the church down onto the tomb (and the priests). It was an amazing thing to see. I photographed it, and the photos will be ready by the end of the semester to view, but I would say that it WAS one of the most worthwhile things I’ve seen. It really was a religious experience. I had a good spot to watch it from as well up in the balcony of the church which is closed except for two days a year.
Yesterday was Holy Saturday. I spent the day working on photographs and doing other things for school. However, at 10:00, it was back to church for me. I spent one full hour taking photos of the beautiful but empty church. At 11:00, the service started, and I listened to the Greek that I don’t know and never will for a while. At 11:55, the lights went out in the church and in the holy sanctum, you could see the priest light up a light. It then grew as the alter boys and everyone else lit their lights. The point is that at that moment (12:00AM Easter morning), Christ has been resurrected. The light symbolizes new life. Everyone was then to light their light from the light of the priest or someone that had lit their light from the priest. It took a while for me to get my candle lit up in the balcony, but as my friend was giving me a light, fireworks went off outside and the song “Christos Anasti (Christ is Risen)” reached it’s high point. It was amazing. I took many photos of the light spreading over the church, and it was a great experience. When I managed to make my way through the crowd of thousands of people, I took my candle home and made a black cross over my doorway. Though this sounds as though it has its roots in the Passover, it is actually an Orthodox tradition to keep the evil sprits away for the year. The amazing thing is that the light that burns in the church and across many Parian homes all year (until next Easter) was born on that night, and I took part in it.
Today it is Easter Sunday. Everything is as dead as I’ve ever seen it in the town. People are at home roasting their lamb, eating the things that have been deprived of them for 40 days. The old men on the street say “Christos Anasti” (Christ is Risen) to which I reply “Alithos Anasti” (He is Truly Risen). I get a “Bravo!” and a pat on the back. I say. “Chronia Polla” (Many Years) and head on my way with a smile on my face.
All I have to say to you is “Kalo Pashcha!” (Beautiful Easter).
On Friday, I woke up and helped my friend paint the lines out on her street. We were actually very good Samaritans and we painted the neighbors as well because they are kind of old and it must be done by Easter. We had so much fun though, and by the end it looked really good. Plus, I am able to add it to my “street conservation” credit. J
After that, I went to Lefkes with her again and hung out. Because it was good Friday, everything was closed. It is a very big holiday, but not in the sense of celebrating. Good Friday symbolized that Christ has been crucified. It is supposed to be a deeply sad day. The bell at the church tolls non-stop all day from 6 in the morning until 3 in the morning (that’s when I lost count and fell asleep anyway). It is a day to go to church, and there are essentially services all day. There is a very beautiful church in Lefkes, so I just went and sat outside of it (I wasn’t properly attired to go in) and listened to the Byzantine Greek being sung in the service. It was very nice. I stayed there on the bench outside the church for about an hour.
After that, I decided to go for a walk, so I just followed paths until I got to the end of town. At the edge of town, there are the remains of the road built during the Byzantine Empire. The road is amazing in the places that it is well preserved. I walked a couple of miles down the path until I got a sense that it was time to go back. The path was beautiful with a stream running beside it at times. It took me up a mounting, through an olive grove and over fields of flowers. I really enjoyed it.
When I walked back, the church service was over, but they had a parade of the Greek equivalent of the Boy Scouts (except that the Greek version is a bit more morbid with it’s roots in Fascist Greece).
We finally left Lefkes, and I spent the rest of the afternoon eating dinner, snacking on gelato, taking photos and visiting with friends.
There was another church service at night, so I decided to go to it. I was told that it was one of the most amazing things I would see on Paros. At first, it was just chanting in Greek, and it seemed a little dull. However, the church is beautiful because it is all decked out with purple ribbons and flowers, etc. The tomb of Christ (holding the icon inside) is covered in flowers, and lines form for hours on end to kiss it (as it tradition in Orthodox Christendom). The priests spent and hour lighting candled and carrying them around the church. They also were swinging incense everywhere, and it was a very fun tradition to watch.
At 11:00, they sung a very beautiful hymn and then threw thousands of rose petals from the dome of the church down onto the tomb (and the priests). It was an amazing thing to see. I photographed it, and the photos will be ready by the end of the semester to view, but I would say that it WAS one of the most worthwhile things I’ve seen. It really was a religious experience. I had a good spot to watch it from as well up in the balcony of the church which is closed except for two days a year.
Yesterday was Holy Saturday. I spent the day working on photographs and doing other things for school. However, at 10:00, it was back to church for me. I spent one full hour taking photos of the beautiful but empty church. At 11:00, the service started, and I listened to the Greek that I don’t know and never will for a while. At 11:55, the lights went out in the church and in the holy sanctum, you could see the priest light up a light. It then grew as the alter boys and everyone else lit their lights. The point is that at that moment (12:00AM Easter morning), Christ has been resurrected. The light symbolizes new life. Everyone was then to light their light from the light of the priest or someone that had lit their light from the priest. It took a while for me to get my candle lit up in the balcony, but as my friend was giving me a light, fireworks went off outside and the song “Christos Anasti (Christ is Risen)” reached it’s high point. It was amazing. I took many photos of the light spreading over the church, and it was a great experience. When I managed to make my way through the crowd of thousands of people, I took my candle home and made a black cross over my doorway. Though this sounds as though it has its roots in the Passover, it is actually an Orthodox tradition to keep the evil sprits away for the year. The amazing thing is that the light that burns in the church and across many Parian homes all year (until next Easter) was born on that night, and I took part in it.
Today it is Easter Sunday. Everything is as dead as I’ve ever seen it in the town. People are at home roasting their lamb, eating the things that have been deprived of them for 40 days. The old men on the street say “Christos Anasti” (Christ is Risen) to which I reply “Alithos Anasti” (He is Truly Risen). I get a “Bravo!” and a pat on the back. I say. “Chronia Polla” (Many Years) and head on my way with a smile on my face.
All I have to say to you is “Kalo Pashcha!” (Beautiful Easter).
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Easter Eggs
Here are some photos of the red Easter eggs my friend and I dyed. They were really good. Red is the traditional color to dye the easter eggs.
Street Conservation
OK. Here are the photos of the street conservation I did :)
Note the lines I painted :)
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Report for Thursday, April 20, 2006: Holy Thursday
Today was quite amazing. This actually marks the second day in a row that I have found myself up on the roof of a building asleep. It was actually quite nice. Not only did I get to thaw out from the winter, I have also started to work on a very nice summer tan that I am sure will stay with me until I leave my home here in Greece.
I woke up late this morning because I very rarely keep a clock next to me in bed, and it very rarely matters when I wake up in the morning. I took a shower (at least the pathetic version of one that they have in Greece) and headed for the school. As I was starting to figure out what I was going to do for the rest of the day, my friend walked in and announced that she was going to go to Lefkes and that she had extra room in her car. As I was thinking of doing something in Lefkes today by bus, I took her up on her offer and jumped in her car. We took a nice little ride. I had 4 hours to kill. I took a walk to the top of the hill around the town, and I was able to take quite a few amazing photos. I was pleasantly surprised.
After my walk, I read my book and fell asleep on the roof of the sanctum. It was very nice.
My friend and I took the long way back, and we ran into some cattle in a poppy field. It was quite amazing to see. The field was really red, and the cattle were just munching away. I got quite a few good photos there as well.
We were hungry when we got back so we stopped at a café and had a little bite to eat, it was really enjoyable. I had a feta and olive sandwich. It’s been a while since I went out like that, so I had a really good time.
Today is the day that you are traditionally supposed to color Easter eggs. The store was all out of eggs. When I went to the other store to get eggs, I was so happy to get my hands on some that I didn’t realize until later that I had grabbed brown eggs, and they aren’t good for coloring. Oh well. I’ve decided to spend the rest of my day here working on my photos. I’m pretty excited about that.
Jared will be here in almost exactly one week. That’s very exciting to me. I’m so happy!!!!
OK. Hope your day is going very well.
I woke up late this morning because I very rarely keep a clock next to me in bed, and it very rarely matters when I wake up in the morning. I took a shower (at least the pathetic version of one that they have in Greece) and headed for the school. As I was starting to figure out what I was going to do for the rest of the day, my friend walked in and announced that she was going to go to Lefkes and that she had extra room in her car. As I was thinking of doing something in Lefkes today by bus, I took her up on her offer and jumped in her car. We took a nice little ride. I had 4 hours to kill. I took a walk to the top of the hill around the town, and I was able to take quite a few amazing photos. I was pleasantly surprised.
After my walk, I read my book and fell asleep on the roof of the sanctum. It was very nice.
My friend and I took the long way back, and we ran into some cattle in a poppy field. It was quite amazing to see. The field was really red, and the cattle were just munching away. I got quite a few good photos there as well.
We were hungry when we got back so we stopped at a café and had a little bite to eat, it was really enjoyable. I had a feta and olive sandwich. It’s been a while since I went out like that, so I had a really good time.
Today is the day that you are traditionally supposed to color Easter eggs. The store was all out of eggs. When I went to the other store to get eggs, I was so happy to get my hands on some that I didn’t realize until later that I had grabbed brown eggs, and they aren’t good for coloring. Oh well. I’ve decided to spend the rest of my day here working on my photos. I’m pretty excited about that.
Jared will be here in almost exactly one week. That’s very exciting to me. I’m so happy!!!!
OK. Hope your day is going very well.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Holy Tuesday
OK. I don’t know if you read what I put up about Easter, but today is the Wednesday of the Orthodox Holy Week. Things around here are starting to get a little crazy. I’d say more than a little crazy. Greeks are like bears in the fact that they work hard all summer and then they kind of hibernate in the winter. Easter is an excuse for things to start to get going because 1.) it is religiously a restart to the year and 2.) so many tourists come that it proves to be a very lucrative endeavor to have your store open and running by then. So, I have been on a kind of sleepy island for the past two weeks that has suddenly awoken.
Another traditional thing during Easter time is to clean. It’s surely where the idea of spring-cleaning came from. If Christ is going to be resurrected, we may as well get everything clean and shiny for the rest of the year. So, for the first time all winter, people are actually working during the afternoon siesta trying to get their floors washed and buildings cleaned. It is also the time of year when they do the major construction repairs to their houses. Any area that needs to be plastered is re-plastered, and white washing is done if the current job isn’t pristine.
Another major thing is the repainting of the lines on the streets. Traditionally white was painted around each flagstone in the street to provide illumination in the moonlight (before streetlights). The islands have now become very well known for this street painting, and it is a mandate (at least in Parikia) that all lines be repainted once a week. It holds to tradition (and tradition is a VERY Greek thing) as well as fulfilling the expectations of the tourists.
The school needed to do this in several places, so I volunteered to help. We painted the lines all around the Plaka outside of the school. It was a lot of fun. I learned some things actually, and I’m going to put it on the course description of the things that I did while I was in Greece. After all, it is ancient street restoration isn’t it?
The holy week has thus far been uneventful for me. Palm Sunday was a lot of fun because I got to go to the church and listen to them chant out all of the traditional things. There are church services every day that go over the week before the death of Christ, but them being usual services and done in Greek, I haven’t attended any of them. The churches will soon be all decked out in flowers and purple, and the priests will have on their best attire. At that point, I will sneak in with my camera and get some shots of this beautiful time.
The one thing that I did end up getting was some traditional bread. It is sweet bread in the form of a ring covered in sesame seeds. It actually tastes quite wonderful. Though the Greeks eat tons of this anyway, it is traditional to make it on Holy Tuesday. The bakery was LOADED with it, and I went and bought two of them for just half Euro each. I got to share them with some of my friends, and I was glad to have taken part in that tradition.
Today and tomorrow are relatively uneventful, but all the excitement comes on Friday and Saturday. Friday is Good Friday. This is the day that Christ was crucified. It is a very sad day. Everyone wears black and the bell in the church tolls all day long (as is traditional when someone dies). The young women decorate a tomb with wildflowers, and people spend the day going to visit it. Nothing sweet is eaten (and in many cases nothing is eaten) because when Christ asked for water, he was given vinegar to drink. On this day there is a very late service (I believe at 10 PM) where they take the tomb off of its position in the church and parade it around town. There is a very beautiful moment when the lights of the church go out and then the priest lights a single flame. Everyone has candles, and they must light their candle with that flame. These are then taken home and three black crosses are put over the door to keep evil spirits out.
Saturday night is the actual Easter service. It is very late because after it, all of the restaurants are open and ready for business as LENT is over, and meat, oil, milk, cheese, etc. can be eaten again. I have never been in Greece when Lent was not going on, and I am excited to see meat again heavily in restaurants (not that it’s not easy to get during Lent).
As for me, I’m enjoying my little break here. I have spent time in the darkroom and time in the painting studio. I am preparing for Jared to come by picking up any loose ends needed before he arrives (like buying food, etc.)
I am also working with my school at this point to get them to give me credit for the work I have done here. They are quite picky, but I spent the entire day yesterday working out things, and I think I have outsmarted them. When I return from Greece, I should have relatively little left for me to have a degree in Art History (as I have been working toward for so long).
Today, the wind has come up from the south and we again have a sirocco. This is the 5th one since I’ve come. A sirocco is when the wind comes up off the Sahara desert and carries the warmth with it. It is funny to go outside because you think that the weather is going to be so cold because the wind is blowing so hard, but if you go outside with more than a t-shirt you sweat to death. On the south side of the island the wind is blowing so hard that your body can be at a 45-degree angle to the ground and the wind will hold it’s full weight. There are many odd things that happen during a sirocco. Mainly, the sky can turn a dark, deep shade of Amber from all of the sand traveling in it. On a less grand scale, people get headaches, have bad dreams and go crazy in general. There is a saying that if a sirocco has been blowing for more than three days and someone commits a crime of passion that it will be forgiven. You have to experience it to understand it’s strange effects.
Ok. I hope that this is enough of an update for you because I have nothing left to write up on. I will fill you in on how the rest of the holy week goes.
Another traditional thing during Easter time is to clean. It’s surely where the idea of spring-cleaning came from. If Christ is going to be resurrected, we may as well get everything clean and shiny for the rest of the year. So, for the first time all winter, people are actually working during the afternoon siesta trying to get their floors washed and buildings cleaned. It is also the time of year when they do the major construction repairs to their houses. Any area that needs to be plastered is re-plastered, and white washing is done if the current job isn’t pristine.
Another major thing is the repainting of the lines on the streets. Traditionally white was painted around each flagstone in the street to provide illumination in the moonlight (before streetlights). The islands have now become very well known for this street painting, and it is a mandate (at least in Parikia) that all lines be repainted once a week. It holds to tradition (and tradition is a VERY Greek thing) as well as fulfilling the expectations of the tourists.
The school needed to do this in several places, so I volunteered to help. We painted the lines all around the Plaka outside of the school. It was a lot of fun. I learned some things actually, and I’m going to put it on the course description of the things that I did while I was in Greece. After all, it is ancient street restoration isn’t it?
The holy week has thus far been uneventful for me. Palm Sunday was a lot of fun because I got to go to the church and listen to them chant out all of the traditional things. There are church services every day that go over the week before the death of Christ, but them being usual services and done in Greek, I haven’t attended any of them. The churches will soon be all decked out in flowers and purple, and the priests will have on their best attire. At that point, I will sneak in with my camera and get some shots of this beautiful time.
The one thing that I did end up getting was some traditional bread. It is sweet bread in the form of a ring covered in sesame seeds. It actually tastes quite wonderful. Though the Greeks eat tons of this anyway, it is traditional to make it on Holy Tuesday. The bakery was LOADED with it, and I went and bought two of them for just half Euro each. I got to share them with some of my friends, and I was glad to have taken part in that tradition.
Today and tomorrow are relatively uneventful, but all the excitement comes on Friday and Saturday. Friday is Good Friday. This is the day that Christ was crucified. It is a very sad day. Everyone wears black and the bell in the church tolls all day long (as is traditional when someone dies). The young women decorate a tomb with wildflowers, and people spend the day going to visit it. Nothing sweet is eaten (and in many cases nothing is eaten) because when Christ asked for water, he was given vinegar to drink. On this day there is a very late service (I believe at 10 PM) where they take the tomb off of its position in the church and parade it around town. There is a very beautiful moment when the lights of the church go out and then the priest lights a single flame. Everyone has candles, and they must light their candle with that flame. These are then taken home and three black crosses are put over the door to keep evil spirits out.
Saturday night is the actual Easter service. It is very late because after it, all of the restaurants are open and ready for business as LENT is over, and meat, oil, milk, cheese, etc. can be eaten again. I have never been in Greece when Lent was not going on, and I am excited to see meat again heavily in restaurants (not that it’s not easy to get during Lent).
As for me, I’m enjoying my little break here. I have spent time in the darkroom and time in the painting studio. I am preparing for Jared to come by picking up any loose ends needed before he arrives (like buying food, etc.)
I am also working with my school at this point to get them to give me credit for the work I have done here. They are quite picky, but I spent the entire day yesterday working out things, and I think I have outsmarted them. When I return from Greece, I should have relatively little left for me to have a degree in Art History (as I have been working toward for so long).
Today, the wind has come up from the south and we again have a sirocco. This is the 5th one since I’ve come. A sirocco is when the wind comes up off the Sahara desert and carries the warmth with it. It is funny to go outside because you think that the weather is going to be so cold because the wind is blowing so hard, but if you go outside with more than a t-shirt you sweat to death. On the south side of the island the wind is blowing so hard that your body can be at a 45-degree angle to the ground and the wind will hold it’s full weight. There are many odd things that happen during a sirocco. Mainly, the sky can turn a dark, deep shade of Amber from all of the sand traveling in it. On a less grand scale, people get headaches, have bad dreams and go crazy in general. There is a saying that if a sirocco has been blowing for more than three days and someone commits a crime of passion that it will be forgiven. You have to experience it to understand it’s strange effects.
Ok. I hope that this is enough of an update for you because I have nothing left to write up on. I will fill you in on how the rest of the holy week goes.
Monday, April 17, 2006
Anti Paros
This is a photo I took when hiking on Anti Paros. Note the field of lavender in the back. Very beautiful.
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Greek Easter and Holy Week
Holy week started yesterday. To give you a little bit of an education, here is some data about what this entails.
From: http://www.webcam-crete.com/sfakia-crete/greekeaster.html
At least 95 percent of all Greeks claim membership in the Greek Orthodox church, part of the Eastern Orthodox church. Until 1054, the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches were one body. Theological, political, and cultural differences split the church in two, and those differences were never completely reconciled. Despite the power religion holds over everyday life, most younger Greeks are not devout churchgoers. Aside from the special Easter celebrations, services are attended mainly by old women and young children. And the Greeks often defy their church's teachings by clinging to beautiful old symbols, rituals and customs of pagan origine. Many Easter traditions originated long before the beginning of the Christian era.
The Greek Orthodox Church does not always celebrate Easter on the same date as the Catholic and Protestant countries. The reason is that the Orthodox Church uses the Julian calendar when calculating Easter. This is case even in the churches that otherwise use the Gregorian calendar. When the Greek Orthodox Church in 1923 decided to change to the Gregorian calendar (or rather: a Revised Julian Calendar), they chose to use the astronomical full moon as seen along the meridian of Jerusalem as the basis for calculating Easter, rather than to use the "official" full moon.
Many Easter traditions originated long before the beginning of the Christian era. Like Christmas, which is related to pre-Christian winter festivals, Easter is connected in many ways with pagan rituals that accompanied the arrival of spring. It is possible that the name "Easter" stemmed from that of Eostre, an Anglo-Saxon goddess of springtime. Easter is also associated with the Jewish festival of Passover, or Pesach. The term "paschal", meaning "of Easter", is derived from the name of the Jewish festival, as are the names of Easter in some foreign languages. In Greek, Easter is called Pascha, meaning passover: It is the eternal Passover from death to life and from earth to heaven.
One of the most common Christian symbols, especially associated with Easter, is the lamb. It is often depicted with a banner that bears a cross, and it is known as the Agnus Dei, meaning "Lamb of God" in Latin.
The origin of the symbol is related directly to the Jewish Passover. In ancient times the Jews sacrificed a lamb in the course of the festival. The early Christians, most of whom were Hebrews, associated the sacrifice of the lamb with Christ's sacrifice on the cross. They connected the joyous Passover festival, which commemmorates the liberation of the Hebrews from their years of bondage in Egypt, with the liberation from death represented by the Resurrection.
The popularity of lamb as an Easter food is undoubtedly related to its importance as a symbol. During the middle ages roast lamb became the traditional main course of the Pope's Easter dinner, and it is still customarily served on Easter Sunday in many European countries.
The Easter Egg is associated with beliefs of particularly ancient origin. The egg was an important symbol in the mythologies of many early civilizations, including those of India and Egypt. It was commonly believed that the universe developed from a great egg and that the halves of its shell corresponded to Heaven and earth. The egg was also connected with the springtime fertility rituals of many pre-Christian and Indo-European peoples, like the old Cretans, and both the Egyptians and the Persians made a practice of coloring eggs in the spring.
Greeks mainly color eggs red (scarlet) to signify the blood of Christ. They use hard-boiled eggs (painted red on Holy Thursday) which are baked into twisted sweet-bread loaves or distributed on Easter Sunday; people rap their eggs against their friends' eggs and the owner of the last uncracked egg is considered lucky.
The 50 days which follow Easter are signified by the Pentecostarion, which are dedicated to the spiritual enjoyment of the participants in the deep belief that God is with all men in everyday life and thoughts.
*
Easter begins on the Saturday of Lazarus (the Saturday before Palm Sunday, 1 week before Easter Sunday) with children going from door to door singing the hymn of "Lazaros" and collecting money and eggs.
*
On the morning of Palm Sunday people gather in church and are given a cross made from palm fronds, which they put on their icon-stands at home and keep it for the whole of the coming year.
Every evening throughout Holy Week, people gather in church to follow with devoutness the Passion of Christ.
*
On Holy Tuesday, housewives make sweet rolls, the koulourakia, and the following day they do the housework, while in the evening they follow the blessing of Holy Oil that takes place in church.
*
Holy Thursday is the day for dyeing eggs. In the evening, after the reading of the 12 Gospel, the girls undertake the decoration of the bier of Christ (epitaphios) with garlands of white and purple flowers, so that in the morning of Good Friday it is ready to receive the image of the body of Christ when He is taken down from the cross.
*
Good Friday is a day of mourning. The drama of the death of Christ is followed with great devoutness. Sweet things are not eaten-for the love of Christ, who was given vinegar to drink. Soup made with sesame-paste, lettuce or lentils with vinegar is the food eaten on this day. It is considered a great sin to work with a hammer or nails or sew on Good Friday.
Vesper evening on Good Friday is followed by the procession of the bier (representing Christ's funeral). A band or choir playing or singing solemn music precedes the procession; they are followed by the cantors, the clergy, women bearing myrrh, the altar boys carrying the liturgical fans, scouts and guides, and the people of the region, who sing the hymns throughout the procession. All along its route, people scatter flowers and perfumes on the epitaphios (bier), holding lighted candles in their hands.
*
On Holy Saturday evening, the Resurrection mass (Anastasi =resurrection, the Resurrection of Jesus) takes place. At midnight the ceremony of lighting of candles is the most significant moment of the year. People, carefully, take home their lighted candles with the holy light of the Resurrection. Before entering their houses they make a cross with the smoke of the candle on top of the door, they light the oil candle before their icon-stand, and try to keep this light burning throughout the year.
The Midnight service is without a doubt the most important day on the calendar. At midnight all the lights are extinguished in the church and the priest comes from behind the doors on the altar carrying a candle. He walks to someone in the front row and lights their candle and these people who receive the light of the resurrection, the light is a symbol of the resurrection, pass the light from candle to candle and the light fills the church. Everybody leaves the church just before midnight, singing a song the words of which mean, Jesus Christ has risen from the dead. Through death conquering death. At midnight at the moment of the resurrection all the families have gone to church together, all standing sort of huddled in these little insular units and everybody kisses everybody and say, 'Christos anesti, Christos anesti, Christ has risen, indeed He has risen. And it's a very touching moment. In the moment of conquering death, it has a certain meaning to kiss your grandparents at that point, who you know you'll be burying soon. And to be kissing the children who are coming up, who will be replacing you in the next generation. And there's a feeling of the weight of centuries. People have been saying these prayers unchanged for hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of years.
In Crete it's a custom to carry this candle back home, taking care the flame is not extinguished. At the house 3 crosses are made with the flame above the entrance door: the black soot 'paints' the crosses, in order to bless the house and its inhabitants by the light of Christ's resurrection.
From: http://www.webcam-crete.com/sfakia-crete/greekeaster.html
At least 95 percent of all Greeks claim membership in the Greek Orthodox church, part of the Eastern Orthodox church. Until 1054, the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches were one body. Theological, political, and cultural differences split the church in two, and those differences were never completely reconciled. Despite the power religion holds over everyday life, most younger Greeks are not devout churchgoers. Aside from the special Easter celebrations, services are attended mainly by old women and young children. And the Greeks often defy their church's teachings by clinging to beautiful old symbols, rituals and customs of pagan origine. Many Easter traditions originated long before the beginning of the Christian era.
The Greek Orthodox Church does not always celebrate Easter on the same date as the Catholic and Protestant countries. The reason is that the Orthodox Church uses the Julian calendar when calculating Easter. This is case even in the churches that otherwise use the Gregorian calendar. When the Greek Orthodox Church in 1923 decided to change to the Gregorian calendar (or rather: a Revised Julian Calendar), they chose to use the astronomical full moon as seen along the meridian of Jerusalem as the basis for calculating Easter, rather than to use the "official" full moon.
Many Easter traditions originated long before the beginning of the Christian era. Like Christmas, which is related to pre-Christian winter festivals, Easter is connected in many ways with pagan rituals that accompanied the arrival of spring. It is possible that the name "Easter" stemmed from that of Eostre, an Anglo-Saxon goddess of springtime. Easter is also associated with the Jewish festival of Passover, or Pesach. The term "paschal", meaning "of Easter", is derived from the name of the Jewish festival, as are the names of Easter in some foreign languages. In Greek, Easter is called Pascha, meaning passover: It is the eternal Passover from death to life and from earth to heaven.
One of the most common Christian symbols, especially associated with Easter, is the lamb. It is often depicted with a banner that bears a cross, and it is known as the Agnus Dei, meaning "Lamb of God" in Latin.
The origin of the symbol is related directly to the Jewish Passover. In ancient times the Jews sacrificed a lamb in the course of the festival. The early Christians, most of whom were Hebrews, associated the sacrifice of the lamb with Christ's sacrifice on the cross. They connected the joyous Passover festival, which commemmorates the liberation of the Hebrews from their years of bondage in Egypt, with the liberation from death represented by the Resurrection.
The popularity of lamb as an Easter food is undoubtedly related to its importance as a symbol. During the middle ages roast lamb became the traditional main course of the Pope's Easter dinner, and it is still customarily served on Easter Sunday in many European countries.
The Easter Egg is associated with beliefs of particularly ancient origin. The egg was an important symbol in the mythologies of many early civilizations, including those of India and Egypt. It was commonly believed that the universe developed from a great egg and that the halves of its shell corresponded to Heaven and earth. The egg was also connected with the springtime fertility rituals of many pre-Christian and Indo-European peoples, like the old Cretans, and both the Egyptians and the Persians made a practice of coloring eggs in the spring.
Greeks mainly color eggs red (scarlet) to signify the blood of Christ. They use hard-boiled eggs (painted red on Holy Thursday) which are baked into twisted sweet-bread loaves or distributed on Easter Sunday; people rap their eggs against their friends' eggs and the owner of the last uncracked egg is considered lucky.
The 50 days which follow Easter are signified by the Pentecostarion, which are dedicated to the spiritual enjoyment of the participants in the deep belief that God is with all men in everyday life and thoughts.
*
Easter begins on the Saturday of Lazarus (the Saturday before Palm Sunday, 1 week before Easter Sunday) with children going from door to door singing the hymn of "Lazaros" and collecting money and eggs.
*
On the morning of Palm Sunday people gather in church and are given a cross made from palm fronds, which they put on their icon-stands at home and keep it for the whole of the coming year.
Every evening throughout Holy Week, people gather in church to follow with devoutness the Passion of Christ.
*
On Holy Tuesday, housewives make sweet rolls, the koulourakia, and the following day they do the housework, while in the evening they follow the blessing of Holy Oil that takes place in church.
*
Holy Thursday is the day for dyeing eggs. In the evening, after the reading of the 12 Gospel, the girls undertake the decoration of the bier of Christ (epitaphios) with garlands of white and purple flowers, so that in the morning of Good Friday it is ready to receive the image of the body of Christ when He is taken down from the cross.
*
Good Friday is a day of mourning. The drama of the death of Christ is followed with great devoutness. Sweet things are not eaten-for the love of Christ, who was given vinegar to drink. Soup made with sesame-paste, lettuce or lentils with vinegar is the food eaten on this day. It is considered a great sin to work with a hammer or nails or sew on Good Friday.
Vesper evening on Good Friday is followed by the procession of the bier (representing Christ's funeral). A band or choir playing or singing solemn music precedes the procession; they are followed by the cantors, the clergy, women bearing myrrh, the altar boys carrying the liturgical fans, scouts and guides, and the people of the region, who sing the hymns throughout the procession. All along its route, people scatter flowers and perfumes on the epitaphios (bier), holding lighted candles in their hands.
*
On Holy Saturday evening, the Resurrection mass (Anastasi =resurrection, the Resurrection of Jesus) takes place. At midnight the ceremony of lighting of candles is the most significant moment of the year. People, carefully, take home their lighted candles with the holy light of the Resurrection. Before entering their houses they make a cross with the smoke of the candle on top of the door, they light the oil candle before their icon-stand, and try to keep this light burning throughout the year.
The Midnight service is without a doubt the most important day on the calendar. At midnight all the lights are extinguished in the church and the priest comes from behind the doors on the altar carrying a candle. He walks to someone in the front row and lights their candle and these people who receive the light of the resurrection, the light is a symbol of the resurrection, pass the light from candle to candle and the light fills the church. Everybody leaves the church just before midnight, singing a song the words of which mean, Jesus Christ has risen from the dead. Through death conquering death. At midnight at the moment of the resurrection all the families have gone to church together, all standing sort of huddled in these little insular units and everybody kisses everybody and say, 'Christos anesti, Christos anesti, Christ has risen, indeed He has risen. And it's a very touching moment. In the moment of conquering death, it has a certain meaning to kiss your grandparents at that point, who you know you'll be burying soon. And to be kissing the children who are coming up, who will be replacing you in the next generation. And there's a feeling of the weight of centuries. People have been saying these prayers unchanged for hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of years.
In Crete it's a custom to carry this candle back home, taking care the flame is not extinguished. At the house 3 crosses are made with the flame above the entrance door: the black soot 'paints' the crosses, in order to bless the house and its inhabitants by the light of Christ's resurrection.
Chris' First Week
Ok. I know that I haven’t written a lot lately. After my hectic life before traveling to Europe followed by a three-week, whirlwind tour across Europe, I’ve taken the last week to just regather my life, sort out what direction the next two months are going in, and get set in a routine that will get me there. Though this is not yet accomplished, I am here, I have started school, and I have set into what could be considered a routine.
I have decided to take the following classes here to enhance my education.
Figure Drawing
Basic Drawing
Darkroom Photography
Digital Photography
Mosaic
Painting
Creative Writing
Literature
Art History
It is a hell of a lot, but I don’t see the point of working hard here while I’m here, and while I have the attention of the amazing mentors that the school has provided.
Here’s how I spent my last week while I was busy NOT writing on my blog J
Monday, I went to the all school meeting where I got the basic idea of what classes are being offered, etc. We also talked about other super important things like “If someone discovers they have an extra 10 pair of underwear, would they kindly return them to the laundry.”
After the meeting, I went to the darkroom and re-familiarized myself with it. I met with my darkroom mentor, and we had a cup of coffee while I explained the things that I had been up to for the past year. She then took me back to the darkroom and told me to develop film.
It was an amazing experience to be back in the darkroom. Last year, I had so much trouble in there and it was like a torture to have to go there. I had this amazing ability to not go there because of it’s association with pain. This first time in the darkroom was amazingly simple and easy. It was all old hat, and somehow, over my amazing break from the darkroom, I have this magical ability to make everything work just perfectly!
On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, I went to classes and got myself settled. My painting studio is where it was last year, and it’s just a great thing. I like being down there with the doors that are so tall and wide. I can throw them open while I paint, and I really like it.
Friday again was very special for me. We were going to go on a hike, but when it came down to it, there were only three of us that were going to be able to go, and John wanted to return very early. We got on the boat to Anti Paros and he walked us to the edge of town and pointed in the direction we should go. We had been there before, so we had some idea of the direction that we were going in. We walked and walked and found a field full of flowers. The poppies were blooming, and the whole field was dotted with red poppies and assorted other yellow and purple flowers. It was definitely a mythic experience to be in the field, and I can certainly see where the Greek myths came from, they were born in a field of poppies. It really was magical. I sure hope that they are still out when Jared comes to see me in a week and a half, because they are just something else.
After that, we went down to the beach. No one was there, and it was completely private. None of us had our swim gear. It was such a nice day, etc., etc. You can use your imagination to figure out how we ended up going swimming. The water was very cool, but it was quite nice. We got out to sit on the rocks to dry off, and that completed another perfect section to the afternoon.
As we started to walk back in, the clouds rolled in after us. By the time we completed our 1.5-hour walk back to town, the rain was pouring. We got on the boat and had a rough ride back home. It was nice to sit in the bus as it drove half way around the island to get back to Parikia.
I am working on the photos now, and I will try to post one or two of them. It was, however, the first time in a long time that I shot more film than digital. It felt good, and the photos looked GREAT when I took them into the darkroom.
Today is beautiful Greek Palm Sunday. I went into the church and had a very good time. I just stood there and watched them do their thing. Everyone got herbs and palm leaves. The church was decorated with palm leaves weaved into amazing shapes (like donkeys). It was kind of fun to hear them chant in Greek. I felt like an outsider, but no one looked twice at me, because anyone is welcome in a Greek church. The ritual was very interesting, but I can see how it has it’s roots in pre-Christian religion.
Today, I am headed to the darkroom and likely to the beach. I’ll tell you all about it when I’ve done it.
Happy Latin Easter!!!!
I have decided to take the following classes here to enhance my education.
Figure Drawing
Basic Drawing
Darkroom Photography
Digital Photography
Mosaic
Painting
Creative Writing
Literature
Art History
It is a hell of a lot, but I don’t see the point of working hard here while I’m here, and while I have the attention of the amazing mentors that the school has provided.
Here’s how I spent my last week while I was busy NOT writing on my blog J
Monday, I went to the all school meeting where I got the basic idea of what classes are being offered, etc. We also talked about other super important things like “If someone discovers they have an extra 10 pair of underwear, would they kindly return them to the laundry.”
After the meeting, I went to the darkroom and re-familiarized myself with it. I met with my darkroom mentor, and we had a cup of coffee while I explained the things that I had been up to for the past year. She then took me back to the darkroom and told me to develop film.
It was an amazing experience to be back in the darkroom. Last year, I had so much trouble in there and it was like a torture to have to go there. I had this amazing ability to not go there because of it’s association with pain. This first time in the darkroom was amazingly simple and easy. It was all old hat, and somehow, over my amazing break from the darkroom, I have this magical ability to make everything work just perfectly!
On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, I went to classes and got myself settled. My painting studio is where it was last year, and it’s just a great thing. I like being down there with the doors that are so tall and wide. I can throw them open while I paint, and I really like it.
Friday again was very special for me. We were going to go on a hike, but when it came down to it, there were only three of us that were going to be able to go, and John wanted to return very early. We got on the boat to Anti Paros and he walked us to the edge of town and pointed in the direction we should go. We had been there before, so we had some idea of the direction that we were going in. We walked and walked and found a field full of flowers. The poppies were blooming, and the whole field was dotted with red poppies and assorted other yellow and purple flowers. It was definitely a mythic experience to be in the field, and I can certainly see where the Greek myths came from, they were born in a field of poppies. It really was magical. I sure hope that they are still out when Jared comes to see me in a week and a half, because they are just something else.
After that, we went down to the beach. No one was there, and it was completely private. None of us had our swim gear. It was such a nice day, etc., etc. You can use your imagination to figure out how we ended up going swimming. The water was very cool, but it was quite nice. We got out to sit on the rocks to dry off, and that completed another perfect section to the afternoon.
As we started to walk back in, the clouds rolled in after us. By the time we completed our 1.5-hour walk back to town, the rain was pouring. We got on the boat and had a rough ride back home. It was nice to sit in the bus as it drove half way around the island to get back to Parikia.
I am working on the photos now, and I will try to post one or two of them. It was, however, the first time in a long time that I shot more film than digital. It felt good, and the photos looked GREAT when I took them into the darkroom.
Today is beautiful Greek Palm Sunday. I went into the church and had a very good time. I just stood there and watched them do their thing. Everyone got herbs and palm leaves. The church was decorated with palm leaves weaved into amazing shapes (like donkeys). It was kind of fun to hear them chant in Greek. I felt like an outsider, but no one looked twice at me, because anyone is welcome in a Greek church. The ritual was very interesting, but I can see how it has it’s roots in pre-Christian religion.
Today, I am headed to the darkroom and likely to the beach. I’ll tell you all about it when I’ve done it.
Happy Latin Easter!!!!
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Saturday, April 08, 2006
My beautiful Greek Hike
Some photos I took on my hike yesterday...just for your personal Blog viewing. Enjoy...
House is Brussels
Here is a photo of the room I stayed in in Brussels. Very amazing house. It was really a work of art.
Friday, April 07, 2006
My Inspiration
Today was different…different at least than what I am used to. It’s my second day here on my little Greek island of Paros.
The circumstances surrounding me leaving Greece almost a year ago and returning at the same time of year make it a comical return. It feels like I have run into a really good daydream. Believe me, I’ve had some really good daydreams over the past year, but I think you get the idea. It’s all so surreal. When I stepped off the boat, everything seemed so familiar, and it hasn’t stopped feeling that way since. I knew exactly where to go to my apartment, where to go for school, where to go for food (bougatsas and souvlakis). The island was exactly as I left it, in most ways.
When I arrived at the school, I realized that the people that I had shared my adventure with last year were all gone, save one, and the next adventure will have to be shared by others, many others. My small but close group of friends last year consisted of 9-10 very good friends. We all went everywhere together, and thought almost exactly the same. It was an odd thing, and at the time, we all were convinced that some cosmic reason had pulled us all together. This time, there is a group of 26 students, not separated into cliquey groups, but not so closely thinking that they all know and do the same actions together automatically. So, while the surroundings are the same, the people are different, which makes for a very surreal dream at this point until I get to know everyone and move on from that point.
So many amazing things have happened over the last day. I have been planning to months to eat a souvlaki and a bougatsa as soon as I got off the boat. I did that yesterday afternoon, and it was just amazing. The weather yesterday was just amazing, but the sirocco started last night, and man is it blowing.
I went on a hike today with my new group into the hills of Paros. It was amazing. We took a bus to the town of Lefkes and then took off from there. Lefkes is one of those towns that belongs in a tourist book, but hasn’t made it there, so it still has its amazing charm. It seems so empty and so full at the same time, and you rerealize every second that you are in Greece. The houses are whitewashed and the doors are all painted that amazing blue color. The flagstones on the ground are painted on, and the old Greek men sit at the taverna or the barber talking about the latest gossip before a full day.
From Lefkes we set out on the road and went to a big valley. It was amazing. Walking around the island with John Pack is an experience that I swear should have only been reserved for the Angels in Heaven. He knows so much and has so much passion for the combination of nature, art and students that it makes every moment spent outside with him completely worth it. We looked at flowers I haven’t seen in a year, plants I’m not familiar with and the amazing sirocco wind pulling the clouds quickly overhead at a low elevation. John found me some Oregano growing on the side of the hill, picked it, handed it to me and said, “Welcome home.” It was one of the best gifts I could have been given. It, as well as many more I found today, are sitting on my table drying. I am waiting for the perfect piece of meat to roast them with (likely to happen after the Pascha meat ban).
On the hike I found a field of Lupin just blooming. It blew me away. Though I wasn’t much in the picture-taking mood, I fell behind the group and just sat in the field and snapped away. That field is one of my seven wonders of the world. Hopefully what I caught in my camera is representational of what happened with me sitting there. Lupin has got this glow about it’s downy leaves and it’s many violet shades that make you feel like you are in a field created only for a king. If I were a king I would make Lupin my royal flower and protect it nationally.
Also on the hike I got to see the “Sanctum” that the school acquired recently. It is a small building in Lefkes that has been designed to be a place to go and relax, think, become inspired and get away from it all. It is definitely quite an amazing place, and I have plans to use it in the future.
Everything seems so familiar to me again here. The same bird that woke me up last year every morning is again outside my window reminding me that his sweet song still exists and still is beautiful. The church bells go off at the top of the hour in uneven patterns that make them impossible to count. The goats on the hillside are living out their last days before Pascha starts next week. The wild flowers are in full bloom. The Greeks are still driving the wrong way down one-way streets and yelling kalimera (good morning) as you stroll by. I keep telling John that it’s like I fell asleep and woke up a year ago. He agrees that it’s good to be back.
All I can say at this point is that I admire what they do here in this place. It’s not all about art technique and how to paint. Though that is something you get out of this place (and in a much better way than anywhere else) it’s about beauty and looking at the world in a different way. The reason that I was so excited to come back here was because of the experience that I had here last year. That experience took me out of the life that I was living a little unhappily and put me in a place that made it so natural to be who I was as an artist that I wouldn’t be able to betray that in the future. It really gave me the strength to go home and start producing and surviving on my own as a photographer. I come back here with that courage, and I know that it will be cowardly compared to how I will leave here again. I’ve learned in the last day not to ever stop reinventing life. Never to stop being willing to live in quality and not in quantity. The reason I chose to be an artist was because I have an ability to step outside of life for just a while and turn it around. Though I may not have in words right now exactly how this works, I will soon, and it will be inspirational to me again. My outlook has been refreshed, and I must remind myself that it is important for me to not lose that again in the future.
John tells me that I must eat my fill of oranges because as soon as the crop disappears, they stop selling them here on the island. Those oranges are amazing, and in the last 24 hours, I have consumed 5 of them (and thinking of a 6th here as soon as I’m done). I’ve never had a more amazing fruit, and I can see how little kids use to get oranges in their stocking at Christmas. I’d be happy with that as well as long as it came from Greece!
My bougatsa for the day is waiting, and I’m ready to consume it. I hope that my writing has allowed you to get some glimpse of how amazing it is here, and be understanding of me if I talk nonstop about Greece. J
The circumstances surrounding me leaving Greece almost a year ago and returning at the same time of year make it a comical return. It feels like I have run into a really good daydream. Believe me, I’ve had some really good daydreams over the past year, but I think you get the idea. It’s all so surreal. When I stepped off the boat, everything seemed so familiar, and it hasn’t stopped feeling that way since. I knew exactly where to go to my apartment, where to go for school, where to go for food (bougatsas and souvlakis). The island was exactly as I left it, in most ways.
When I arrived at the school, I realized that the people that I had shared my adventure with last year were all gone, save one, and the next adventure will have to be shared by others, many others. My small but close group of friends last year consisted of 9-10 very good friends. We all went everywhere together, and thought almost exactly the same. It was an odd thing, and at the time, we all were convinced that some cosmic reason had pulled us all together. This time, there is a group of 26 students, not separated into cliquey groups, but not so closely thinking that they all know and do the same actions together automatically. So, while the surroundings are the same, the people are different, which makes for a very surreal dream at this point until I get to know everyone and move on from that point.
So many amazing things have happened over the last day. I have been planning to months to eat a souvlaki and a bougatsa as soon as I got off the boat. I did that yesterday afternoon, and it was just amazing. The weather yesterday was just amazing, but the sirocco started last night, and man is it blowing.
I went on a hike today with my new group into the hills of Paros. It was amazing. We took a bus to the town of Lefkes and then took off from there. Lefkes is one of those towns that belongs in a tourist book, but hasn’t made it there, so it still has its amazing charm. It seems so empty and so full at the same time, and you rerealize every second that you are in Greece. The houses are whitewashed and the doors are all painted that amazing blue color. The flagstones on the ground are painted on, and the old Greek men sit at the taverna or the barber talking about the latest gossip before a full day.
From Lefkes we set out on the road and went to a big valley. It was amazing. Walking around the island with John Pack is an experience that I swear should have only been reserved for the Angels in Heaven. He knows so much and has so much passion for the combination of nature, art and students that it makes every moment spent outside with him completely worth it. We looked at flowers I haven’t seen in a year, plants I’m not familiar with and the amazing sirocco wind pulling the clouds quickly overhead at a low elevation. John found me some Oregano growing on the side of the hill, picked it, handed it to me and said, “Welcome home.” It was one of the best gifts I could have been given. It, as well as many more I found today, are sitting on my table drying. I am waiting for the perfect piece of meat to roast them with (likely to happen after the Pascha meat ban).
On the hike I found a field of Lupin just blooming. It blew me away. Though I wasn’t much in the picture-taking mood, I fell behind the group and just sat in the field and snapped away. That field is one of my seven wonders of the world. Hopefully what I caught in my camera is representational of what happened with me sitting there. Lupin has got this glow about it’s downy leaves and it’s many violet shades that make you feel like you are in a field created only for a king. If I were a king I would make Lupin my royal flower and protect it nationally.
Also on the hike I got to see the “Sanctum” that the school acquired recently. It is a small building in Lefkes that has been designed to be a place to go and relax, think, become inspired and get away from it all. It is definitely quite an amazing place, and I have plans to use it in the future.
Everything seems so familiar to me again here. The same bird that woke me up last year every morning is again outside my window reminding me that his sweet song still exists and still is beautiful. The church bells go off at the top of the hour in uneven patterns that make them impossible to count. The goats on the hillside are living out their last days before Pascha starts next week. The wild flowers are in full bloom. The Greeks are still driving the wrong way down one-way streets and yelling kalimera (good morning) as you stroll by. I keep telling John that it’s like I fell asleep and woke up a year ago. He agrees that it’s good to be back.
All I can say at this point is that I admire what they do here in this place. It’s not all about art technique and how to paint. Though that is something you get out of this place (and in a much better way than anywhere else) it’s about beauty and looking at the world in a different way. The reason that I was so excited to come back here was because of the experience that I had here last year. That experience took me out of the life that I was living a little unhappily and put me in a place that made it so natural to be who I was as an artist that I wouldn’t be able to betray that in the future. It really gave me the strength to go home and start producing and surviving on my own as a photographer. I come back here with that courage, and I know that it will be cowardly compared to how I will leave here again. I’ve learned in the last day not to ever stop reinventing life. Never to stop being willing to live in quality and not in quantity. The reason I chose to be an artist was because I have an ability to step outside of life for just a while and turn it around. Though I may not have in words right now exactly how this works, I will soon, and it will be inspirational to me again. My outlook has been refreshed, and I must remind myself that it is important for me to not lose that again in the future.
John tells me that I must eat my fill of oranges because as soon as the crop disappears, they stop selling them here on the island. Those oranges are amazing, and in the last 24 hours, I have consumed 5 of them (and thinking of a 6th here as soon as I’m done). I’ve never had a more amazing fruit, and I can see how little kids use to get oranges in their stocking at Christmas. I’d be happy with that as well as long as it came from Greece!
My bougatsa for the day is waiting, and I’m ready to consume it. I hope that my writing has allowed you to get some glimpse of how amazing it is here, and be understanding of me if I talk nonstop about Greece. J
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Chris is in Greece
Hello All,
I just wanted to drop you a line and let you know that I have finally arrived in Greece. Not only in the country of Greece as a general area, but as I type, I am sitting in my final destination of "Aegean Center for the Fine Arts, Paros Greece."
The weather here is nice. I was able to get off the ferry this morning and dump my bags in my amazing apartment before setting out to get the Greek food that I so know and love. Those of you that have heard me talk about these things before will know that I grabbed a souvlaki and a bougatsa and went and sat at the port and fed my tomatoes to the fish. It was great.
So... the three week traveling journey is behind me, and two semesters of long, hard work are about to begin.
As I sat eating my souvlaki this afternoon, I couldn't help but feel shock at this magical place that I have again landed myself in. My camera is ready. Tomorrow, our fearless leader, John Pack, is leading our student group into the hills to find something. I plan to pick plenty of herbs for my own personal use in cooking this week.
Speaking of cooking, I best get off to the supermarket before it decides to close for siesta leaving me with no yogurt and no oranges for my first weekend back to my magical and wonderful island!
Hope to hear from you soon.
Christine
I just wanted to drop you a line and let you know that I have finally arrived in Greece. Not only in the country of Greece as a general area, but as I type, I am sitting in my final destination of "Aegean Center for the Fine Arts, Paros Greece."
The weather here is nice. I was able to get off the ferry this morning and dump my bags in my amazing apartment before setting out to get the Greek food that I so know and love. Those of you that have heard me talk about these things before will know that I grabbed a souvlaki and a bougatsa and went and sat at the port and fed my tomatoes to the fish. It was great.
So... the three week traveling journey is behind me, and two semesters of long, hard work are about to begin.
As I sat eating my souvlaki this afternoon, I couldn't help but feel shock at this magical place that I have again landed myself in. My camera is ready. Tomorrow, our fearless leader, John Pack, is leading our student group into the hills to find something. I plan to pick plenty of herbs for my own personal use in cooking this week.
Speaking of cooking, I best get off to the supermarket before it decides to close for siesta leaving me with no yogurt and no oranges for my first weekend back to my magical and wonderful island!
Hope to hear from you soon.
Christine
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Europe Update
Hello,
Those of you that have been reading my blog http://yellowcowphoto.blogspot.com are a little more updated about my travels through Europe, but not much. As it turns out, connecting to the Internet turns out to be about possible (at least the places that I've been), and it usually involves 3 Euro or more to get onto a computer at an Internet Cafe that won't let me use the Internet the way I want to use it, so alas, I have been keeping notes as I go along, and I figured it was time to give an update.
I am currently in Austria staying with some old friends of mine.
I started in Paris for 3 days and did everything imaginable there. I had a museum pass that got me into all of the museums for free, so I was able to run around the whole time and see as much as possible. I went to the Eiffel Tower and climbed the million steps of the Arc de Triomphe. I spent 20 hours in the Louvre and managed to see about 10% of it. I also got to go across the street and see some of my favorite Impressionist paintings in the Musee d' Orsay. The last day that I was there I spent in Notre Dame, and I thought that was amazing. That church is just one of many churches in Europe that are that beautiful, it just happened to be made famous via various things (including a Disney special)! That was all a ton of fun. I got to know my way around Paris pretty well.
I left Paris and went to Brussels. I stayed with a friend of mine there. Rather than do the museum thing, I got to walk around the city quite a bit and just enjoy it. I took quite a few photos, and got to know that city well also. He suggested that I take a little day trip to a town called Brugge on the coast of Belgium. Not only was the train ride to get there amazing, but the town was also amazing as well. It was my favorite stop by far because it was a little country side town and not a big mainstream city.
I left Brugge and took a night train to Prague (via six other trains). I had the interesting experience of an interrogation at 3 in the morning from the Czech Police about my passport and where I had been. It was kind of crazy, especially with their broken English and the fact that I have NO knowledge of Czech. I finally arrived in the city in the morning, and went on my way. It is the most wonderful but terrible city I've been to. It's beautiful and all of the buildings are amazingly preserved from so long ago. The problem for me was the attitude and the fact that I didn't feel safe alone at all. I took tons of photos and went to the St. Charles Bridge and the Prague Castle and all of that. It was very fun, but I left a day early because the town was just too off for me.
I'm now in Austria with my friends until Monday. I don't know what's on the books for that time, but I've got my camera ready because this city is beautiful as well.
On Monday evening, I head on a VERY long journey to Greece. I have to travel from Austria to Venice, Venice to Bologna, Bologna to Ancona, Ancona to Patra, Patra to Athens, Athens to Paros. I estimate that it will take about 3 full days to get there, and I'm only stopping for 6 hours in Athens to wait for a ferry! So, that's the adventure for the next week.
It seems like every time I step off the train there is another primary language being spoken!
As soon as I get to Greece, I will write again, but I just wanted to let you know that I am safe, well and having a lot of fun (note that as soon as I get my computer connected to the Internet that I will put a photo or two up on my Blog).
Christine
Those of you that have been reading my blog http://yellowcowphoto.blogspot.com are a little more updated about my travels through Europe, but not much. As it turns out, connecting to the Internet turns out to be about possible (at least the places that I've been), and it usually involves 3 Euro or more to get onto a computer at an Internet Cafe that won't let me use the Internet the way I want to use it, so alas, I have been keeping notes as I go along, and I figured it was time to give an update.
I am currently in Austria staying with some old friends of mine.
I started in Paris for 3 days and did everything imaginable there. I had a museum pass that got me into all of the museums for free, so I was able to run around the whole time and see as much as possible. I went to the Eiffel Tower and climbed the million steps of the Arc de Triomphe. I spent 20 hours in the Louvre and managed to see about 10% of it. I also got to go across the street and see some of my favorite Impressionist paintings in the Musee d' Orsay. The last day that I was there I spent in Notre Dame, and I thought that was amazing. That church is just one of many churches in Europe that are that beautiful, it just happened to be made famous via various things (including a Disney special)! That was all a ton of fun. I got to know my way around Paris pretty well.
I left Paris and went to Brussels. I stayed with a friend of mine there. Rather than do the museum thing, I got to walk around the city quite a bit and just enjoy it. I took quite a few photos, and got to know that city well also. He suggested that I take a little day trip to a town called Brugge on the coast of Belgium. Not only was the train ride to get there amazing, but the town was also amazing as well. It was my favorite stop by far because it was a little country side town and not a big mainstream city.
I left Brugge and took a night train to Prague (via six other trains). I had the interesting experience of an interrogation at 3 in the morning from the Czech Police about my passport and where I had been. It was kind of crazy, especially with their broken English and the fact that I have NO knowledge of Czech. I finally arrived in the city in the morning, and went on my way. It is the most wonderful but terrible city I've been to. It's beautiful and all of the buildings are amazingly preserved from so long ago. The problem for me was the attitude and the fact that I didn't feel safe alone at all. I took tons of photos and went to the St. Charles Bridge and the Prague Castle and all of that. It was very fun, but I left a day early because the town was just too off for me.
I'm now in Austria with my friends until Monday. I don't know what's on the books for that time, but I've got my camera ready because this city is beautiful as well.
On Monday evening, I head on a VERY long journey to Greece. I have to travel from Austria to Venice, Venice to Bologna, Bologna to Ancona, Ancona to Patra, Patra to Athens, Athens to Paros. I estimate that it will take about 3 full days to get there, and I'm only stopping for 6 hours in Athens to wait for a ferry! So, that's the adventure for the next week.
It seems like every time I step off the train there is another primary language being spoken!
As soon as I get to Greece, I will write again, but I just wanted to let you know that I am safe, well and having a lot of fun (note that as soon as I get my computer connected to the Internet that I will put a photo or two up on my Blog).
Christine
Prague to Austria
Prague was awful starting from the time that I decided to leave. I was in Brugge on a day trip, and my watch stopped for an hour for some reason, so I was running an hour behind. When I got to the train, I needed to get on the train and then have it arrive just on time so I could get my stuff and get to my next train. I had 4 minutes to make the connection. However, some handicapped people were late to the train, so the train waiting the extra 15 minutes to let those people on. I made it very close to Brussels on time to make the connection, but as I made it to the platform the train was pulling away.
I went to the ticket office and explained my problem, and they told me that there was another train very soon, but it was going on a different route to get to the same place. I was going to have to go through Cologne, Germany to get to Frankfurt to change to a train to Prague. When I got to Cologne, the train was late, so I raced to the platform for the connecting train, but they changed the platform and didn't announce it, so I, like a dork, stood there and waited for the next 40 minutes before I asked, "Where's the train to Frankfurt?" I found ANOTHER train that was ending up at the same place but was AGAIN taking an alternate route, but I got on. To make a long story short, I ended up at the wrong station in Frankfurt and had to figure out how to navigate to the main train station to make a connecting train to Prague, which I did do with no problem.
Because it was a night train, I found a compartment to myself and settled down. When people came to interrupt me, I moved, and eventually found a quiet place to settle down. UNTIL I had just fallen asleep, and some German man threw open the train of my car and stuffed as many of his high school group as he could in there with me. So, it was me and a bunch of students and my luggage and their luggage. They didn't speak English, and it was just awkward. So, I pulled out my MP3 player and tried to go to sleep UNTIL the group right next door to me decided to have a party very loudly. At one point, I went angrily over to their car at about 2:00 AM and yelled, "I don't care if you don't speak English, but you need to sit down and shut up and go to sleep because you're not the only people on this train!" After that, they still didn't settle down, so I found their teacher to get them to be quiet. When that didn't work, I grabbed my luggage, went to the entirely different end of the train. On my way, I informed the leader of the group that they had a horrible group of students that were drinking and doing drugs on the train under his care and that I would reconsider taking them on an outing to Prague. With that, I left them, and found peace in my empty room.
UNTIL the police came through. I guess that I look like a terrorist or something because they woke me up and started to interrogate me about what I had been doing in Amsterdam, and what was going on with my bags. They didn't speak much English, and I can't say that I know any words in Czech (except for Hlavni, which I think means either train or station), so it was interesting. Eventually they stamped my passport and sent me on my way. And thus ends the exciting parts of my train ride to Prague.
When I got to the station, it looked very run down and degraded, and I actually looked at the board at that time to look and see if there were any trains out of there, but I decided to give the city a chance.
And I did, and I'd say that we don't agree well. The building are beautiful, and seeing all the famous sites was fun. The place that I stayed was in the square where Communism took over that country and where it then fell 40 years later. I took many pictures, most of which were night shots. I went around the city by foot and explored. The money system there is kind of funny, though it makes things cheap (I spent probably less than 6 dollars on food the whole time I was there). The "traditional" thing that I ate was a hot dog, you know, real high class, etc.
The part about the city that I didn't like really was the chasing. Women still at least feel like objects, and though communism has been gone for 15 years now, I don't think that they really have an understanding of what freedom means. The people feel so run down that it would take quite a bit to put them back together again. I've explained it like "Dr. Zhivago gone wrong."
I left a day early, and I'm very glad that I did. On the train away, I got to see the state of the country outside of the city. Though the country towns are very beautiful and quaint, they are also littered with graffiti and trash everywhere. There was a distinct line when I moved into the Austria border.
So, here I am in Austria, just kind of relaxing, and it's fun. I'm not looking forward to my journey to Greece, but I'm going to have to find something that will make it fun (like the afternoon that I may have to spend in Venice)!
I went to the ticket office and explained my problem, and they told me that there was another train very soon, but it was going on a different route to get to the same place. I was going to have to go through Cologne, Germany to get to Frankfurt to change to a train to Prague. When I got to Cologne, the train was late, so I raced to the platform for the connecting train, but they changed the platform and didn't announce it, so I, like a dork, stood there and waited for the next 40 minutes before I asked, "Where's the train to Frankfurt?" I found ANOTHER train that was ending up at the same place but was AGAIN taking an alternate route, but I got on. To make a long story short, I ended up at the wrong station in Frankfurt and had to figure out how to navigate to the main train station to make a connecting train to Prague, which I did do with no problem.
Because it was a night train, I found a compartment to myself and settled down. When people came to interrupt me, I moved, and eventually found a quiet place to settle down. UNTIL I had just fallen asleep, and some German man threw open the train of my car and stuffed as many of his high school group as he could in there with me. So, it was me and a bunch of students and my luggage and their luggage. They didn't speak English, and it was just awkward. So, I pulled out my MP3 player and tried to go to sleep UNTIL the group right next door to me decided to have a party very loudly. At one point, I went angrily over to their car at about 2:00 AM and yelled, "I don't care if you don't speak English, but you need to sit down and shut up and go to sleep because you're not the only people on this train!" After that, they still didn't settle down, so I found their teacher to get them to be quiet. When that didn't work, I grabbed my luggage, went to the entirely different end of the train. On my way, I informed the leader of the group that they had a horrible group of students that were drinking and doing drugs on the train under his care and that I would reconsider taking them on an outing to Prague. With that, I left them, and found peace in my empty room.
UNTIL the police came through. I guess that I look like a terrorist or something because they woke me up and started to interrogate me about what I had been doing in Amsterdam, and what was going on with my bags. They didn't speak much English, and I can't say that I know any words in Czech (except for Hlavni, which I think means either train or station), so it was interesting. Eventually they stamped my passport and sent me on my way. And thus ends the exciting parts of my train ride to Prague.
When I got to the station, it looked very run down and degraded, and I actually looked at the board at that time to look and see if there were any trains out of there, but I decided to give the city a chance.
And I did, and I'd say that we don't agree well. The building are beautiful, and seeing all the famous sites was fun. The place that I stayed was in the square where Communism took over that country and where it then fell 40 years later. I took many pictures, most of which were night shots. I went around the city by foot and explored. The money system there is kind of funny, though it makes things cheap (I spent probably less than 6 dollars on food the whole time I was there). The "traditional" thing that I ate was a hot dog, you know, real high class, etc.
The part about the city that I didn't like really was the chasing. Women still at least feel like objects, and though communism has been gone for 15 years now, I don't think that they really have an understanding of what freedom means. The people feel so run down that it would take quite a bit to put them back together again. I've explained it like "Dr. Zhivago gone wrong."
I left a day early, and I'm very glad that I did. On the train away, I got to see the state of the country outside of the city. Though the country towns are very beautiful and quaint, they are also littered with graffiti and trash everywhere. There was a distinct line when I moved into the Austria border.
So, here I am in Austria, just kind of relaxing, and it's fun. I'm not looking forward to my journey to Greece, but I'm going to have to find something that will make it fun (like the afternoon that I may have to spend in Venice)!
Brussels and Trainrides
I got to sleep in late and have a nice breakfast. It always consists of only bread and coffee nothing more nothing less. It's fine though because it fits right in to my life style. The other thing is that dinner is so late in the eventing that I get very hungry and then it is no fun. I have to balance out the really small breakfast and the fact that I almost always forget lunch with the fact that dinner is so late. I think that I have finally adjusted to it now, but it has been an interesting journey. I am now very used to the time zone and the food schedule, and it actually has started to make a lot of sense to me. It is going to be very similar in Greece, so I might as well get used to it now. Enough about the food except that it is the best food I have ever had. I get a crossiant for lunch usually, and they are different than the ones in America. They are fresh and hand-made though, so it ends up being very delightful.
I was dropped off at the train station early this morning because the family that I was staying with was going out on an outing that was too far away from a train station that I had access to. I asked what a good thing to do would be, and I was told that it would be a lot of fun to take a day train out to another town called Brugge. It WAS in fact a very good idea. I got on the train, and one hour later, I was in the very edge of the county. I had traveled very fast, but it is a small country. On the way there, I saw the towns and the farms of Belgium, and I really like the style It was very similar to what I thought that Scotland or Ireland would be like. It was green and lush and everyone had a plot of land that was just big enough for their family, their house and the animals they chose to keep. I saw many Shetland ponies (and thought of my grandma). I even saw a beautiful farmhouse that had a goat and a donkey penned up together. I was wondering if it was for sale, but is that going to far to soon?
I got off the train in Brugge. Brussels is kind of a rundown city really, and I wasn't sure that another Belgium town would be much better, but I was wrong. Apparently, Brugge was a capitol city in the middle ages, and when the trade moved away from that area, the town was very well preserved through the centuries. This is the type of town that tourists are encouraged to go to, and for good reason. I took a ton of photos because it was just the most beautiful area that I have seen so far. It is what I could consider the Paroikia of rural Belgium. The townspeople just live out their lives without worry of such things as the stock market, etc. Not that those are bad things to worry about, but its lovely to have a place like that at least to go to.
The town is a little cobblestone street town with canals that you can also use for alternate transportation. I decided to take a bunch of photos, and I did--over 100. I really hope that they end up being good and useful. I want to print a series of a piece of a church from every town I see. I think that lining up several 4 by 6's in one long frame would be a very good way to to it, we'll see what I've got when I get to Paros.
In Brugge I bought some famous Belgin Chocolate. I found some good stuff for cheap, and I am taking a bar to Jesse & Alina and then another bar to John Pack. I remember that he likes dark chocolate and what can be better than Belgian dark chocolate? Also, I saw another store that was a toy store, and they had handmade toys. I decided to be a tourist, and I spent about 5 Euro on something. One thing I bought was for Eli. It is a hand made goat on wheels. I really like it, and I have misgivings about sending it on, but I know it will be used. And, it's a very good and little toy for only 1.5 Euros. That's the first time that I've gotten a souvenir from a place that I visited. It was really worth it.
The train rides are amazing. Nothing beats high speed scenery--really. I love them, and they are such a great way to travel.
I was dropped off at the train station early this morning because the family that I was staying with was going out on an outing that was too far away from a train station that I had access to. I asked what a good thing to do would be, and I was told that it would be a lot of fun to take a day train out to another town called Brugge. It WAS in fact a very good idea. I got on the train, and one hour later, I was in the very edge of the county. I had traveled very fast, but it is a small country. On the way there, I saw the towns and the farms of Belgium, and I really like the style It was very similar to what I thought that Scotland or Ireland would be like. It was green and lush and everyone had a plot of land that was just big enough for their family, their house and the animals they chose to keep. I saw many Shetland ponies (and thought of my grandma). I even saw a beautiful farmhouse that had a goat and a donkey penned up together. I was wondering if it was for sale, but is that going to far to soon?
I got off the train in Brugge. Brussels is kind of a rundown city really, and I wasn't sure that another Belgium town would be much better, but I was wrong. Apparently, Brugge was a capitol city in the middle ages, and when the trade moved away from that area, the town was very well preserved through the centuries. This is the type of town that tourists are encouraged to go to, and for good reason. I took a ton of photos because it was just the most beautiful area that I have seen so far. It is what I could consider the Paroikia of rural Belgium. The townspeople just live out their lives without worry of such things as the stock market, etc. Not that those are bad things to worry about, but its lovely to have a place like that at least to go to.
The town is a little cobblestone street town with canals that you can also use for alternate transportation. I decided to take a bunch of photos, and I did--over 100. I really hope that they end up being good and useful. I want to print a series of a piece of a church from every town I see. I think that lining up several 4 by 6's in one long frame would be a very good way to to it, we'll see what I've got when I get to Paros.
In Brugge I bought some famous Belgin Chocolate. I found some good stuff for cheap, and I am taking a bar to Jesse & Alina and then another bar to John Pack. I remember that he likes dark chocolate and what can be better than Belgian dark chocolate? Also, I saw another store that was a toy store, and they had handmade toys. I decided to be a tourist, and I spent about 5 Euro on something. One thing I bought was for Eli. It is a hand made goat on wheels. I really like it, and I have misgivings about sending it on, but I know it will be used. And, it's a very good and little toy for only 1.5 Euros. That's the first time that I've gotten a souvenir from a place that I visited. It was really worth it.
The train rides are amazing. Nothing beats high speed scenery--really. I love them, and they are such a great way to travel.
Saturday, March 25, 2006
And She's Off
I am now off and running in Europe. This is a summary of some of the things I have done and seen so far:
The flight was brillant. I almost find turbulence now comforting because at least I know that I am in the air and on my way. It was fine. The flight to Vancouver BC was a little flight with only 100 seats. I did end up meeting Dom and Greg there and it was a lot of fun. We had coffee and English muffins, and all wa
Paris was also brilliant. My choice of hotels was great because even though it was in a dorm style, I was the only one there almost the whole time, so I had a space to myself with my own bathroom and a place to lock up my stuff while I went out on excursions. The area around the hotel could have been better, but it wasn't a problem until I tried to go to take a walk at around 2:00 am which I don't recommend at all anyway.
I went to the Rodin museum, then I went to the Eiffel Tower (but not up) and walked around there. I explored side streets, took pictures of flower vendors, and used and abused my museum pass (which was totally worth it by the way) in all sorts of ways. I got to go to the top of th Arc De Triomphe (or however you spell it). You could see all of Paris from there and it was just amazing. It rained the whole time, but that's not something that I'm not used to anyway, so no problems there.
On my second day, I spent 10 hours in the Louvre and only did a little bit of it. The next day, I spend another 6 hours in the Louvre. I went in almost every part, but I loved the Greek and Roman stuff. The mideavel stuff was also very cool. The cartoons about that time period are actually based in some fact. I didn't take photos though because I hate being a typical "tourist" and they aren't anything I can't buy in a book already. Unless they want to hire me to take product shots of all of the art, it's pointless. I would say that even though the Mona Lisa was a masterpiece that it is one of the lesser interesting things in the museum. I adored the place. The only problem is that it would take about a week or two full time to see it all, and by the end of the day I was so overrun on walking and looking that it was hard to keep the art appreciation hat on without getting very tired and hungry.
I also got to go to a cafe and have a ham and cheese sandwich the Paris way, which was very unique. I've never drank so much coffee in my life, but it's not polite to shove it off. I don't mind it and it has helped me get over the jet lag (I am fully recovered). The food is of course brilliant, and I love it.
I am in Brussels now. I like it here a lot. I went out to eat last night with some of the nicest people in the world.
The house I am staying in should be a museum. It is beautiful. I will take some photos for you, but it's four stories and it's just amazing. I love it so much. I have the top floor all to myself with a very large skylight and a sloping cieling. Very cool. You would love it. I really do as well.
However, I learned I know nothing about eating. At breakfast, I didn't know how to cut bread, stir coffee or break an egg. I had to watch other people first because I realized that I really was a sloppy American with no table manners.
I love the culture here very much. Brussels has come with a lot more haggling and all of that kind of thing, but I will be fine.
OK. I am going to go to a museum and walk around. I hope all is well.
The flight was brillant. I almost find turbulence now comforting because at least I know that I am in the air and on my way. It was fine. The flight to Vancouver BC was a little flight with only 100 seats. I did end up meeting Dom and Greg there and it was a lot of fun. We had coffee and English muffins, and all wa
Paris was also brilliant. My choice of hotels was great because even though it was in a dorm style, I was the only one there almost the whole time, so I had a space to myself with my own bathroom and a place to lock up my stuff while I went out on excursions. The area around the hotel could have been better, but it wasn't a problem until I tried to go to take a walk at around 2:00 am which I don't recommend at all anyway.
I went to the Rodin museum, then I went to the Eiffel Tower (but not up) and walked around there. I explored side streets, took pictures of flower vendors, and used and abused my museum pass (which was totally worth it by the way) in all sorts of ways. I got to go to the top of th Arc De Triomphe (or however you spell it). You could see all of Paris from there and it was just amazing. It rained the whole time, but that's not something that I'm not used to anyway, so no problems there.
On my second day, I spent 10 hours in the Louvre and only did a little bit of it. The next day, I spend another 6 hours in the Louvre. I went in almost every part, but I loved the Greek and Roman stuff. The mideavel stuff was also very cool. The cartoons about that time period are actually based in some fact. I didn't take photos though because I hate being a typical "tourist" and they aren't anything I can't buy in a book already. Unless they want to hire me to take product shots of all of the art, it's pointless. I would say that even though the Mona Lisa was a masterpiece that it is one of the lesser interesting things in the museum. I adored the place. The only problem is that it would take about a week or two full time to see it all, and by the end of the day I was so overrun on walking and looking that it was hard to keep the art appreciation hat on without getting very tired and hungry.
I also got to go to a cafe and have a ham and cheese sandwich the Paris way, which was very unique. I've never drank so much coffee in my life, but it's not polite to shove it off. I don't mind it and it has helped me get over the jet lag (I am fully recovered). The food is of course brilliant, and I love it.
I am in Brussels now. I like it here a lot. I went out to eat last night with some of the nicest people in the world.
The house I am staying in should be a museum. It is beautiful. I will take some photos for you, but it's four stories and it's just amazing. I love it so much. I have the top floor all to myself with a very large skylight and a sloping cieling. Very cool. You would love it. I really do as well.
However, I learned I know nothing about eating. At breakfast, I didn't know how to cut bread, stir coffee or break an egg. I had to watch other people first because I realized that I really was a sloppy American with no table manners.
I love the culture here very much. Brussels has come with a lot more haggling and all of that kind of thing, but I will be fine.
OK. I am going to go to a museum and walk around. I hope all is well.
Friday, March 10, 2006
Last Day at Work
Today is my last day at work. I have really enjoyed working with the group that I do at Oregon Photo. Oregon Photo is a photo lab that I've been working at for the past 6 months.
I've learned so much there. There are so many good photographers that go through the lab with their stuff. There are other good photographers that work there that have allowed me to feed from their creativity.
And so, at 6:00 today, I will clean out my drawer, delete all my stuff from the hard drive and return my key.
Thanks Oregon Photo for all you've done for me. I had a great time, and I'm excited for how it's going to help me in the coming months and for the rest of my life.
I look forward to returning in December.
I've learned so much there. There are so many good photographers that go through the lab with their stuff. There are other good photographers that work there that have allowed me to feed from their creativity.
And so, at 6:00 today, I will clean out my drawer, delete all my stuff from the hard drive and return my key.
Thanks Oregon Photo for all you've done for me. I had a great time, and I'm excited for how it's going to help me in the coming months and for the rest of my life.
I look forward to returning in December.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Exciting Journey to Come
I'm sitting here counting down the days until I leave for Greece, and I realize that the number is now 12. I'm almost to the single digits!! Right now my life is totally comprised of "getting ready to go." This "getting ready to go" includes, quitting my job and training my replacement, finishing finals (grrr), putting our house in some sort of an order that Jared can make sense of while I'm gone, packing, realizing that I don't have everything I need and repacking while looking for the one thing that I found that I had already packed, finishing up some wedding work I've been doing, hiring two photography assistants to help while I'm gone, more cleaning, convincing my dog that I'm not really leaving him, figuring out how to get loads of photographic paper through airport security, blogging and just generally relaxing you know :)
On a more serious note, the next 5 weeks are going to be very interesting for me. Right now I just get ready and prepare and all of that until the 19th. On the 20th of March, I get on an airplane and head to Vancouver, B.C., where I get to have lunch with my friend. Then I'm headed off to Paris on an Air Canada flight. I spend three days in Paris and then three days in Brussels. After that, it's off to Prague for 5 days and then one to Vienna for a couple. At that point, I get to make a long journey to Greece. Rather than travel through the Balkan states, I get to travel for two days from Vienna to the very bottom of Italy where I get on a boat for Greece. Once I'm in Greece I still get to head for a long trip across the country to Athens where I then get on a boat to my final destination of Paros. I do not know how much Internet access I will have while I'm gone, but I will have some. Feel free to email me, and I will respond, though it may be delayed.
I am blogging a lot. Almost any email I write or random thoughts I have are posted online at this point to be read by anyone and everyone. This is updated once every other day on average. The address is yellowcowphoto.blogspot.com please do note that it is a different address than last year because I switched to a blog that will allow me to post pictures. I have, however, moved all of my old posts over if you missed any of them. My email is christibale@yellowcowphoto.com I probably won't have my phone, but any calls sent to my phone 503-560-8600 will be forwarded to my husband. If you have any boring mail that doesn't have to be sent to Greece immediately, my home address is (Jared will read this and let me know about it):
Christine Anderson
16738 SW Gleneagle Dr # 50
Sherwood, Or 97140.
My address in Greece is
Christine Anderson
C/O Aegean Center for the Fine Arts
Paros 84400, Cyclades, Greece
Ok. That's the update on me. Just lots of excitement about my upcoming adventure. I can hardly wait!
On a more serious note, the next 5 weeks are going to be very interesting for me. Right now I just get ready and prepare and all of that until the 19th. On the 20th of March, I get on an airplane and head to Vancouver, B.C., where I get to have lunch with my friend. Then I'm headed off to Paris on an Air Canada flight. I spend three days in Paris and then three days in Brussels. After that, it's off to Prague for 5 days and then one to Vienna for a couple. At that point, I get to make a long journey to Greece. Rather than travel through the Balkan states, I get to travel for two days from Vienna to the very bottom of Italy where I get on a boat for Greece. Once I'm in Greece I still get to head for a long trip across the country to Athens where I then get on a boat to my final destination of Paros. I do not know how much Internet access I will have while I'm gone, but I will have some. Feel free to email me, and I will respond, though it may be delayed.
I am blogging a lot. Almost any email I write or random thoughts I have are posted online at this point to be read by anyone and everyone. This is updated once every other day on average. The address is yellowcowphoto.blogspot.com please do note that it is a different address than last year because I switched to a blog that will allow me to post pictures. I have, however, moved all of my old posts over if you missed any of them. My email is christibale@yellowcowphoto.com I probably won't have my phone, but any calls sent to my phone 503-560-8600 will be forwarded to my husband. If you have any boring mail that doesn't have to be sent to Greece immediately, my home address is (Jared will read this and let me know about it):
Christine Anderson
16738 SW Gleneagle Dr # 50
Sherwood, Or 97140.
My address in Greece is
Christine Anderson
C/O Aegean Center for the Fine Arts
Paros 84400, Cyclades, Greece
Ok. That's the update on me. Just lots of excitement about my upcoming adventure. I can hardly wait!
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
College Acceptance
I am very excited because I just found out that I got the stamp of acceptance to be admitted to PSU (Portland State University). That means that I may be well on the way to completing my degree when I get back from Greece. Hopefully the school with cooperate with me while I do that.
Anway, I'm so excited. I've never been accepted to college before (even though I've been attending for so long).
Anway, I'm so excited. I've never been accepted to college before (even though I've been attending for so long).
I Have a Rail Pass
Ok. I bought my rail pass today. That was easy, and it was one of the last things I had on my list. Now that that's official, I need to book hostels. I'm working on that right now while my computer copies some files to it's server. After that, I'm free to complete my finals and all of that for school. So exciting.
More later, just thought you might be excited about the rail pass with me.
Chris
More later, just thought you might be excited about the rail pass with me.
Chris
Less Than Two Weeks and Counting
Here I sit in my living room. I've got a long list of things to do and things that I've planned in front of me, and I can't help but have my mind wander to the magical place that I will soon be visiting.
Over the next two weeks, I have the chance to wrap up my life as I know it now and get it ready for the extension of the greatest adventure that I have taken in this lifetime. Even though I have been excited planning and gathering things for it the past 3 months, it hits me more and more each day that I really won't be in Oregon anymore. I won't have my dog or my kitchen or even the convenience of toilets that you can actually flush the paper down. I will be venturing into a land with tons of mysteries, tons of histories and tons of excitement. It's almost minimizing to think that I'm now, in the 21st century following the footsteps of hundreds of great people before me, both men and women. Will I have the chance to make the same sort of indelidable mark that they have?
And, it seems like two weeks is both much too long and much to short of time. As I complete more and more tasks on my long list in front of me, I realize that it is getting shorter, but I am adding new things to it just as fast. Just when I thought that I bought the last ticket needed for my first three week journey across Europe in two directions, another one comes up.
I do, however, feel that I am nearing the end, and the possibility of leaving the world as I know it behind to go and perfect myself puts butterfilies in my stomach and has me so excited that I'm practically hanging on the clock-hands of father time.
Each person in my path this far has had an incredible impact on where I am, and I thank them for that.
Please do read my blog and my emails when I am gone, as it is the small string that I have been able to wind around the world from me to you, and wether they are bulk or not, they are a personal communication from me to each one of you.
Love Always,
The Extremely Excited World Traveling Wanna Be Greek Girl
Over the next two weeks, I have the chance to wrap up my life as I know it now and get it ready for the extension of the greatest adventure that I have taken in this lifetime. Even though I have been excited planning and gathering things for it the past 3 months, it hits me more and more each day that I really won't be in Oregon anymore. I won't have my dog or my kitchen or even the convenience of toilets that you can actually flush the paper down. I will be venturing into a land with tons of mysteries, tons of histories and tons of excitement. It's almost minimizing to think that I'm now, in the 21st century following the footsteps of hundreds of great people before me, both men and women. Will I have the chance to make the same sort of indelidable mark that they have?
And, it seems like two weeks is both much too long and much to short of time. As I complete more and more tasks on my long list in front of me, I realize that it is getting shorter, but I am adding new things to it just as fast. Just when I thought that I bought the last ticket needed for my first three week journey across Europe in two directions, another one comes up.
I do, however, feel that I am nearing the end, and the possibility of leaving the world as I know it behind to go and perfect myself puts butterfilies in my stomach and has me so excited that I'm practically hanging on the clock-hands of father time.
Each person in my path this far has had an incredible impact on where I am, and I thank them for that.
Please do read my blog and my emails when I am gone, as it is the small string that I have been able to wind around the world from me to you, and wether they are bulk or not, they are a personal communication from me to each one of you.
Love Always,
The Extremely Excited World Traveling Wanna Be Greek Girl
Friday, March 03, 2006
Email to Blog
I can post to my blog from my email. This is incredible. I am writing
this currently as an email. When I am in Greece, rather than go online
to post to my blog, I can post from my email. This will be a useful
tool. Maybe it will mean that you will hear from me more often!
First Thursday
Ok. Yesterday was the first Thursday of the month when every artist and patron come from all over the city to converge in the Pearl. It's actually kind of exciting. I had my own show last night at an incredible place called MC Salon. It was quite nice. We had some people come in. We had a lot of fun, and my art got some more followers. Soon, I will post something on my website about what my show is currently, as many of you have never seen them.
They are photos from Greece that are currently only viewable in a gallery. If you're interested, the place is in downtown Chinatown on 4th bewteen Evertt and Flanders.
Check it out.
They are photos from Greece that are currently only viewable in a gallery. If you're interested, the place is in downtown Chinatown on 4th bewteen Evertt and Flanders.
Check it out.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Happy March
It's been forever. Sorry. I am going to get a lot better about writing, especially because I've told so many people to start looking at my blog.
So, the new news with me is that I am going back to Europe. It's a big trip, and you're just going to have to follow me through it on my blog. Since I will have limited internet accecess at times, you'll just have to stay in contact with me through my blog, which, when I was there last, I was pretty good at updating (the blog entries can still be viewed online!)
Right now I'm just preparing. I fly into Paris, and I will stay there for three days. That's all I'm going to reveal right now. I am trying to keep the luggage count down, but that's not working very well right now. I have the whole dining room table covered with things that I think that I need to take. And, smart me is just trying to take 1 very small suitcase and 2 very large backpacks. I hope that I can fit it all in there. Otherwise, it's shipping stuff to Greece HOORAY!
I have accomplished some of the things that I need in order to go. I have some clothes and all of that ready.
Some major things that need to happen are
1.) Get my house cleaned. I mean really clean, not just piles of stuff everywhere that claim cleanness!
2.) Really look one more time and make sure I don't need anything else.
3.) Book a train and hostels for my 3 week trip across Europe
4.) FINISH COLLEGE.
And on that finishing college note... I realize just HOW MUCH college I have to do. Finals are coming up...
So I'm off to study.
Only 19 days...keep counting down with me.
So, the new news with me is that I am going back to Europe. It's a big trip, and you're just going to have to follow me through it on my blog. Since I will have limited internet accecess at times, you'll just have to stay in contact with me through my blog, which, when I was there last, I was pretty good at updating (the blog entries can still be viewed online!)
Right now I'm just preparing. I fly into Paris, and I will stay there for three days. That's all I'm going to reveal right now. I am trying to keep the luggage count down, but that's not working very well right now. I have the whole dining room table covered with things that I think that I need to take. And, smart me is just trying to take 1 very small suitcase and 2 very large backpacks. I hope that I can fit it all in there. Otherwise, it's shipping stuff to Greece HOORAY!
I have accomplished some of the things that I need in order to go. I have some clothes and all of that ready.
Some major things that need to happen are
1.) Get my house cleaned. I mean really clean, not just piles of stuff everywhere that claim cleanness!
2.) Really look one more time and make sure I don't need anything else.
3.) Book a train and hostels for my 3 week trip across Europe
4.) FINISH COLLEGE.
And on that finishing college note... I realize just HOW MUCH college I have to do. Finals are coming up...
So I'm off to study.
Only 19 days...keep counting down with me.
Yellow Cow Photo Releases New Website
Professional Photographer Christine Anderson has spent the last 6 months working on organizing and editing photos to put in her online portfolio. I am pleased to announce that as of this moment, that website has been completed.
Christine's latest work can be viewed online at www.yellowcowphoto.com
We wish her the best in her photography!
Christine's latest work can be viewed online at www.yellowcowphoto.com
We wish her the best in her photography!
Christine Anderson Graduates
Press Release
For Immediate Release
LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER GRADUATES FROM NEW YORK INSTITUTE OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Christine Anderson has just been granted a certificate for successfully completing the course of study in Professional Photography offered by America's oldest and largest photography school, the New York Institute of Photography, located in New York City.
This Certificate is granted by NYI under the authority of the New York State Department of Education, as division of the University of the State of New York. NYI's Distance Education Complete Course in Professional Photography includes training in all phases of photography including camera handling, lighting, portraiture, photojournalism and advanced techniques.
The Institute is the largest photography school in the wrold training thousands of students annually.
Christine says that she feels that this experience has helped to put her on the right path as a professional photographer.
You can visit Christine's new website with work done at the school at www.yellowcowphoto.com
For Immediate Release
LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER GRADUATES FROM NEW YORK INSTITUTE OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Christine Anderson has just been granted a certificate for successfully completing the course of study in Professional Photography offered by America's oldest and largest photography school, the New York Institute of Photography, located in New York City.
This Certificate is granted by NYI under the authority of the New York State Department of Education, as division of the University of the State of New York. NYI's Distance Education Complete Course in Professional Photography includes training in all phases of photography including camera handling, lighting, portraiture, photojournalism and advanced techniques.
The Institute is the largest photography school in the wrold training thousands of students annually.
Christine says that she feels that this experience has helped to put her on the right path as a professional photographer.
You can visit Christine's new website with work done at the school at www.yellowcowphoto.com
Sunday, January 01, 2006
Boycotting the Post Office
The "economics" of the world is always pulling the people involved in it around and around. Everyone thinks that they need more money to support their programs, and if it gets approved in a bill or a law, not technically democratically voted on in America, we have to pay.
This is the case again this year when the post office decided that they needed more money to set up an escrow account. Their solution--raise the price of stamps. I've seen the price of stamps go up so much just in my lifetime, and there's always a "reason" for it. This time, as a citizen of the United States, I won't stand for it. If I didn't get to personally vote on a law wherein the post office is needing to set up a billion dollar Escrow account, I'm not going to pay. What does that mean?
It means that I am going to avoid using the post offices services in any way except for Priority Mail and Media Mail items. All letters sent by me will be sent via email. This year as I was setting up my financial accounts for 2006, I set everything up to be paid online. Less stamps, and for those companies that are billing us and are still not online with their payment systems, I've signed up for free bill pay with US Bank. US Bank will send the check for me for free, what does that mean, I spend $0 on stamps each month.
We'll all be happier, you don't have to hear me bitch all the time about paying more for stamps, and I get to spend the $3.00 I save all year on a dinner at Mcdonalds!
This is the case again this year when the post office decided that they needed more money to set up an escrow account. Their solution--raise the price of stamps. I've seen the price of stamps go up so much just in my lifetime, and there's always a "reason" for it. This time, as a citizen of the United States, I won't stand for it. If I didn't get to personally vote on a law wherein the post office is needing to set up a billion dollar Escrow account, I'm not going to pay. What does that mean?
It means that I am going to avoid using the post offices services in any way except for Priority Mail and Media Mail items. All letters sent by me will be sent via email. This year as I was setting up my financial accounts for 2006, I set everything up to be paid online. Less stamps, and for those companies that are billing us and are still not online with their payment systems, I've signed up for free bill pay with US Bank. US Bank will send the check for me for free, what does that mean, I spend $0 on stamps each month.
We'll all be happier, you don't have to hear me bitch all the time about paying more for stamps, and I get to spend the $3.00 I save all year on a dinner at Mcdonalds!
Thursday, December 22, 2005
The New Best Christmas Song
Ok. Last Christmas I posted a Christmas song that I really liked a lot. Today, I have found one that I like even more and I think that it very fitting considering that I went to Italy this year.
Here are the lyrics. Enjoy them!
Hey! Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
It's Dominick the donkey.
Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
The Italian Christmas donkey.
(la la la-la la-la la la la la)
(la la la-la la-la la-ee-oh-da)
Santa's got a little friend,
His name is Dominick.
The cutest little donkey,
You never see him kick.
When Santa visits his paisons,
With Dominick he'll be.
Because the reindeer cannot,
Climb the hills of Italy.
Hey! Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
It's Dominick the donkey.
Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
The Italian Christmas donkey.
(la la la-la la-la la la la la)
(la la la-la la-la la-ee-oh-da)
Jingle bells around his feet,
And presents on the sled.
Hey! Look at the mayor's derby,
On top of Dominick's head.
A pair of shoes for Louie,
And a dress for Josephine.
The labels on the inside says,
They're made in Brooklyn.
Hey! Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
It's Dominick the donkey.
Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
The Italian Christmas donkey.
(la la la-la la-la la la la la)
(la la la-la la-la la-ee-oh-da)
Children sing, and clap their hands,
And Dominick starts to dance.
They talk Italian to him,
And he even understands.
Cumpare sing, Cumpare su,
And dance 'sta tarantel.
When jusamagora comes to
town, And brings du ciuccianello.
Hey! Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
It's Dominick the donkey.
Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
The Italian Christmas donkey.
(la la la-la la-la la la la la)
(la la la-la la-la la-ee-oh-da)
Hey! Dominick! Buon Natale!
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
Here are the lyrics. Enjoy them!
Hey! Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
It's Dominick the donkey.
Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
The Italian Christmas donkey.
(la la la-la la-la la la la la)
(la la la-la la-la la-ee-oh-da)
Santa's got a little friend,
His name is Dominick.
The cutest little donkey,
You never see him kick.
When Santa visits his paisons,
With Dominick he'll be.
Because the reindeer cannot,
Climb the hills of Italy.
Hey! Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
It's Dominick the donkey.
Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
The Italian Christmas donkey.
(la la la-la la-la la la la la)
(la la la-la la-la la-ee-oh-da)
Jingle bells around his feet,
And presents on the sled.
Hey! Look at the mayor's derby,
On top of Dominick's head.
A pair of shoes for Louie,
And a dress for Josephine.
The labels on the inside says,
They're made in Brooklyn.
Hey! Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
It's Dominick the donkey.
Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
The Italian Christmas donkey.
(la la la-la la-la la la la la)
(la la la-la la-la la-ee-oh-da)
Children sing, and clap their hands,
And Dominick starts to dance.
They talk Italian to him,
And he even understands.
Cumpare sing, Cumpare su,
And dance 'sta tarantel.
When jusamagora comes to
town, And brings du ciuccianello.
Hey! Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
It's Dominick the donkey.
Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
The Italian Christmas donkey.
(la la la-la la-la la la la la)
(la la la-la la-la la-ee-oh-da)
Hey! Dominick! Buon Natale!
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
Thursday, December 08, 2005
One More Addition to My Christmas List
Ok. So there's the camera that I'm really interested in trying. It's called a Woca. It can be found here.
http://www.freestylephoto.biz/sc_prod.php?cat_id=&pid=2683
The good news is that unlike my Canon Digital Rebel XT, this camera costs about $30 delivered to the doorstep.
http://www.freestylephoto.biz/sc_prod.php?cat_id=&pid=2683
The good news is that unlike my Canon Digital Rebel XT, this camera costs about $30 delivered to the doorstep.
Jared's Edited Christmas list
Ok,
So I found out after the fact that Jared didn't want his desire for new underwear published. Just kidding. I have had people take certain of his items. If you are one of them, no big deal. But, here is the revised list. If you're going to get something for him, let me know.
A new pair of jeans
A new pair of sweat pants
RAM for his computer
a 250 GB hard drive for our server
the website www.jaredsbrain.com
Warm slippers
There you have it. Let me know if you have any questions.
So I found out after the fact that Jared didn't want his desire for new underwear published. Just kidding. I have had people take certain of his items. If you are one of them, no big deal. But, here is the revised list. If you're going to get something for him, let me know.
A new pair of jeans
A new pair of sweat pants
RAM for his computer
a 250 GB hard drive for our server
the website www.jaredsbrain.com
Warm slippers
There you have it. Let me know if you have any questions.
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Paying for college? A broke student's tale...
OK. So I'm really the broke student in this scene, but at least I got your attention. I'm trying to pay for my next semester in school. I need 70 people to donate 20 dollars each. In exchange, they get art.
Check out the official website (which I made by the way). www.yellowcowphoto.com/college
Pass it on to as many people as you possibly can. I have 9 days to make my goal.
Check out the official website (which I made by the way). www.yellowcowphoto.com/college
Pass it on to as many people as you possibly can. I have 9 days to make my goal.
Monday, November 28, 2005
My Christmas List
Ok.
Right now, I am just interested in big ticket items like plane tickets for Greece and college tuition, but I've also come up with other things for my Christmas list that people can look at if they desire to get me a gift. Of course, all of them are photography related.
1.) A plane ticket to Greece Approx.. $1500
2.) Help paying for my current semester in school Approx... $1100
3.) One of these. Specifically a snazzy one that I can use to archive CD's. Approx... $35.00
4.) 512 MB CF cards for my camera. Approx... $50.00
5.) One of these.
6.) Some NICE looking photo albums about this size. These need to be pretty nice so that I can use them for handheld portfolios.
7.) A nice electronic dictionary so that I don't have to carry a paper one around with me all the tine.
Right now, I am just interested in big ticket items like plane tickets for Greece and college tuition, but I've also come up with other things for my Christmas list that people can look at if they desire to get me a gift. Of course, all of them are photography related.
1.) A plane ticket to Greece Approx.. $1500
2.) Help paying for my current semester in school Approx... $1100
3.) One of these. Specifically a snazzy one that I can use to archive CD's. Approx... $35.00
4.) 512 MB CF cards for my camera. Approx... $50.00
5.) One of these.
6.) Some NICE looking photo albums about this size. These need to be pretty nice so that I can use them for handheld portfolios.
7.) A nice electronic dictionary so that I don't have to carry a paper one around with me all the tine.
Sunday, November 27, 2005
Jared's Chrismas List
Hello,
I'm posting this up here in case anyone was wondering what to get Jared for Christmas. He is pretty easy to shop for. Let me know if you have any questions.
Warm Down Ski Coat
Warm Shoes
A new pair of jeans
A new pair of sweat pants
RAM for his computer
a 250 GB hard drive for our server
the website www.jaredsbrain.com
Warm slippers
New underwear
There you have it. Let me know if you have any questions.
I'm posting this up here in case anyone was wondering what to get Jared for Christmas. He is pretty easy to shop for. Let me know if you have any questions.
Warm Down Ski Coat
Warm Shoes
A new pair of jeans
A new pair of sweat pants
RAM for his computer
a 250 GB hard drive for our server
the website www.jaredsbrain.com
Warm slippers
New underwear
There you have it. Let me know if you have any questions.
Sunday, November 20, 2005
Interesting Digital World
You know, it is an interesting world that we live in where you can do everything online. Only from a string on the back of your computer, or if you're even more high tech WIRELESS. You can find out the news without ever turning on the TV or having a paper delivered. You can research almost anyhthing. You can even order flowers with such websites as www.dotflowers.com Just thinkg of all the possibilities for the future. Many people can do all the shopping they need from the comfort of their own homes by looking online. The service fee--shipping :)
Saturday, November 05, 2005
Jimmy Neutron in Trouble Again!
Who will save him this time? Hurry, before the Sherwood Express runs through town.
Sunday, October 30, 2005
What's for Dinner
Tonight, I was missing Greece an especially lot, so I was looking online for something to satisfy my need to have something Greek. Well, in that situation, the best thing to do is look at food. When I was in Greece, I remember having this incredible pastitsio that was just the best. So, I made arrangments to make that. While I was making it, I was thinking about how much I miss souvlakis, so I started to put chicken on skewers to cook. I also figured that while I was at it, that I might as well make spanikopitas, so I got everything ready to do that. I was in the kitchen for more than 3 hours just painting phyllo dough with butter and cooking noodles for my pastitsio. However, nothing is better than coming out the other end with a fully Greek meal. I told my husband that the only thing he should expect from me foodwise for the next couple of decades is Greek food.
My latest and greatest adventure involves being able to speak Greek fluently. I'm not too shabby right now, but I've got to figure out a way to learn it faster. Time to go to my other favorite site, www.craigslist.com to post and see if there are any Greeks that are willing to talk it out with me!
My latest and greatest adventure involves being able to speak Greek fluently. I'm not too shabby right now, but I've got to figure out a way to learn it faster. Time to go to my other favorite site, www.craigslist.com to post and see if there are any Greeks that are willing to talk it out with me!
Saturday, October 22, 2005
Reunions and the Amazing Things About Old Friends
Ok. I haven't been posting so diligently, but I guess that it's time that I start again. This weekend, I went out to Delphi. There was a reunion of all of the Alumni that have ever gone to the school. It was good to see old friends and find out what everyone has been up to since the last time that you saw them. I really enjoy seeing the people that graduated in the same class that I did and talk about how things have been going.
I got to meet up with someone very similar to me. She graduated from Delphi as well. She then immeditaly went on to Greece to the Aegean Center for the Fine Arts. She spent two semesters there and then went on to NYU. I then went this last semester, and we hadn't talked about it before. We were roommates before at Delphi. When I saw her, we immediately launched into talking about Greece. It was totally amazing. It was just like being back there. We got eachother very excited about being in Greece, and we have made plans to return next fall together. I'm excited about that.
I also met my friend Nicko that is Greek, and he just got back from a vacation there. All in all, it was a very productive trip out to Delphi. More plans for Greece to come in the future.
I got to meet up with someone very similar to me. She graduated from Delphi as well. She then immeditaly went on to Greece to the Aegean Center for the Fine Arts. She spent two semesters there and then went on to NYU. I then went this last semester, and we hadn't talked about it before. We were roommates before at Delphi. When I saw her, we immediately launched into talking about Greece. It was totally amazing. It was just like being back there. We got eachother very excited about being in Greece, and we have made plans to return next fall together. I'm excited about that.
I also met my friend Nicko that is Greek, and he just got back from a vacation there. All in all, it was a very productive trip out to Delphi. More plans for Greece to come in the future.
Saturday, October 01, 2005
Hurricane Katrina
This is a picture of hurricane Katrina coming in. Very pretty, but I wouldn't want to be there!
Friday, September 30, 2005
Photos of Our Condo
To those people that wanted to see our condo and didn't get to. Here are the photos of it. Enjoy and pass them on!
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/christibale/my_photos
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/christibale/my_photos
Photos of Our Condo
To those people that wanted to see our condo and didn't get to. Here are the photos of it. Enjoy and pass them on!
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/christibale/my_photos
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/christibale/my_photos
Thursday, September 29, 2005
My Doggie--Flaff
This is my totally cute doggie. Doesn't he look like he just needs some love? Please pet me Chris.
Chris In Greece
So, What do you think about that huge cliff behind me? Am I going to fall down it? This is my new wallpaper for my computer, and I love it!
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
The New Things in My Life
Ok.
So it really has been a long time since I last updated you all on my blog. I'm going to try to be better, but isn't that what I always say when this stuff happens :) I am now, at the very least just going to update you on what's going on in my life.
I am working in Portland right now helping out at my Church. I'm having a lot of fun doing that. It looks like in the next week that I'm going to be helping out with several hundred people that are going to be coming to live here in Portland. All the people are victims of hurricane Katrina. It will be really nice to help those people that need help.
Jared and I adopted a pug. He is really cute. We found him online, and we inquired about him pretty quickly. It turned out that he was a breeder, but he wasn't being used anymore, and they wanted to get rid of him. He was sent to a shelter place that takes care of animals, and he is really cute. We adopted him with a lot of red tape. Can you believe that we actually had to fill out an application that said who our vet is and name all the pets that we had previously? Also, we had to have a house inspection where they saw where he "reacted in his new living space." It was pretty crazy. However, all in all, he is very cute. He has a kennel at our house and a bed. He likes being around us because Jared really stays with him all day long. It's actually been a good move because Jared and him go out for walks all the time, so Jared doesn't spend his entire day in the same house all the time. It's been really good for the both of them. Actually, the dog (Biff but renamed Flaff to match the character in Jared's book), was abused we think because he flintches every time you bend down to pet him. He's getting much happier though with us. I'll keep you updated on this, and I'll post pictures as well.
Another exciting thing is that my sister Melissa and her baby, Eli have moved closer over here to me, so I get to see them more often. Eli is very cute, and I plan to visit as much as possible . :)
I recently got a new laptop, and it is helping me do my job a lot better as a photographer. It's been very worth it. I'm actually getting more photo assignments now, so I take it to the shoot with me and show it to the clients after the shoot. That way, the shoots are way better.
I've officially decided that I am going back to Greece next April or May. Jared is going to come with me, and we'll be there for 1 months together, then I'll be off to do my European tour adventure alone.
Cool eh?
So it really has been a long time since I last updated you all on my blog. I'm going to try to be better, but isn't that what I always say when this stuff happens :) I am now, at the very least just going to update you on what's going on in my life.
I am working in Portland right now helping out at my Church. I'm having a lot of fun doing that. It looks like in the next week that I'm going to be helping out with several hundred people that are going to be coming to live here in Portland. All the people are victims of hurricane Katrina. It will be really nice to help those people that need help.
Jared and I adopted a pug. He is really cute. We found him online, and we inquired about him pretty quickly. It turned out that he was a breeder, but he wasn't being used anymore, and they wanted to get rid of him. He was sent to a shelter place that takes care of animals, and he is really cute. We adopted him with a lot of red tape. Can you believe that we actually had to fill out an application that said who our vet is and name all the pets that we had previously? Also, we had to have a house inspection where they saw where he "reacted in his new living space." It was pretty crazy. However, all in all, he is very cute. He has a kennel at our house and a bed. He likes being around us because Jared really stays with him all day long. It's actually been a good move because Jared and him go out for walks all the time, so Jared doesn't spend his entire day in the same house all the time. It's been really good for the both of them. Actually, the dog (Biff but renamed Flaff to match the character in Jared's book), was abused we think because he flintches every time you bend down to pet him. He's getting much happier though with us. I'll keep you updated on this, and I'll post pictures as well.
Another exciting thing is that my sister Melissa and her baby, Eli have moved closer over here to me, so I get to see them more often. Eli is very cute, and I plan to visit as much as possible . :)
I recently got a new laptop, and it is helping me do my job a lot better as a photographer. It's been very worth it. I'm actually getting more photo assignments now, so I take it to the shoot with me and show it to the clients after the shoot. That way, the shoots are way better.
I've officially decided that I am going back to Greece next April or May. Jared is going to come with me, and we'll be there for 1 months together, then I'll be off to do my European tour adventure alone.
Cool eh?
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