Saturday, May 19, 2018

2018 Eastern Mediterranean Trip - Athens Arrival and Photo Tour Pictures

As mentioned in my earlier post it took us a while to get going once we arrived in Athens.

Tired though we were, the view from our front balcony on our first night
After a morning of recuperation and doing laundry we stirred out for lunch at 1 PM
We immediately saw that the street we were on (well known in the city) is awash with photo ops.
It is a crazy quilt of normal and counter culture



 
We had lunch at a highly recommended Mezze (small plates) restaurant that was just two blocks away.  Our first foray into Greek food. In all the years I've eaten in Greek restaurants in the US, I've never had anything like what we found here. After all my experiences of eating around the world, I don't know why this surprised me.

Waiting to eat
Is there anything more beautiful to look at than the smile of my loved?
(I am TOTALLY unbiased on this)
Ahh Food!
Deep fried fritters from yellow peas with a salty cheese based sauce
A 'risotto' type dish with Orzo pasta and shrimp
A sausage marinated in wine and then grilled
This restaurant was built in an old elementary school for girls





Then it was on to the Photo Tour
But it really was more of a photo workshop
Lots and lots of learning and we got to see a bunch of the center city

Our great teacher/guide Vassilis
If you are in Athens and into photography, his walk is great
Wife really connected with him
She'd been in a bit of photo funk but Vassilis totally rekindled the flame
Anything better than seeing the one you love totally alive and enjoying herself?



However!
It is not just Wife who was getting photographic tips
You go to Wife's blog I know for real photography and wait patiently until I do foodie posts
Well, the foodie post comes next
In the meantime you will just have to accept my photo efforts 
(Bwahahahahahahahahaha)

He was having us work with using over and under exposure to create moods, particularly under exposure for darker feels











Studies of contrasting shapes

Studies in perspective and lines



Playing games with water



Studies in flower petals 
Just off some of the most popular tourist streets in Plaka are totally residential streets that are from a much older period. Here are graffiti galore and Medieval churches




It was late when we got home and crashed









5 comments:

alexis said...

we appreciate so many things about your blog dad, photos among them. I absolutely LOVE the photos of mom with your guide. Especially the one with her low-hung backpack and hat turned backwards - she looks totally, super cool!!! I keep thinking of the Dutch word, 'stoer' .

Unknown said...

I am so happy you have enjoyed your photo tour and your evening! Its always uplifting for me when I have "Photo Thirsty" participants in my Photo Tours!(and interesting personalities like you two!)
Your photos look great!

I am sorry I got you a bit (sweetly) tired but I felt your "thirst" for photographing lots and I felt like I had friends visiting my city wanting to show them everything!

Thank you for sharing your honest thoughts and for choosing my services while in Athens!

Keep traveling, keep shooting!
http://www.photowalksinathens.com/
https://www.facebook.com/photowalksinathens/
https://www.instagram.com/photowalks_in_athens/

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

I am so happy you have enjoyed your photo tour and your evening! Its always uplifting for me when I have "Photo Thirsty" participants in my Photo Tours!(and interesting personalities like you two!)
Your photos look great!

I am sorry I got you a bit (sweetly) tired but I felt your "thirst" for photographing lots and I felt like I had friends visiting my city wanting to show them everything!

Thank you for sharing your honest thoughts and for choosing my services while in Athens!

Keep traveling, keep shooting!
http://www.photowalksinathens.com/
https://www.facebook.com/photowalksinathens/
https://www.instagram.com/photowalks_in_athens/

Renee Michelle Goertzen said...

I loved the picture of Aunt de-I at lunch. Aren't you a lucky guy to look across the table at her every day?