Day dreaming...

...in the early afternoon, just after lunch, lying on the big bed, with the shutters closed to shut out the heat, thinking about what you have done for, with and to other people, and also what you have done for, with and to yourself...You never seem to get an answer, because your eyes get heavy while you slowly drift away into another world.

Arona

Winemakers at rest on a warm sunday morning...

...while recalling their incredible and "true" hunting stories.

Codevilla

...and eight plus five of the mighty...

...came together in l'Aquila (Italy) to decide the destiny of many.

Arona

Beautiful Lindos...

...with its beautiful medieval walls which enclose the remains of the acropolis dedicated to Athena, goddess of wisdom, of household arts and crafts, of spinning and weaving, of textiles. Inventor of the flute, the plough and the ox-yoke, the horse bridle and the chariot. Athena, goddess of war, guardian of Athens, the city named for her; defender of heroes, and of justice.

last photo of my holiday in Greece

Exhausted

Acropolis of Lindos

Isle of Rhodes

Greece

The old streets of Lindos

In the 6th Century B.C., seven wise men of Antiquity became known for their social and political wisdom: Thalis of Miletus, Pittacus of Mytilene, Solon of Athens, Bias of Priene, Chilon of Sparta, Periander of Corinth and Cleoboulos of Lindos.

Cleoboulos, the ruler of Lindos , boasted descendence from Hercules. He traveled widely and was well acquainted with Egyptian philosophy. He wrote poems, riddles and epigrams.

The only riddle written by him which has arrived to us is the following: The father is one and his children twelve. Each of the children has twice thirty daughters who have a different appearance: some are white others are black, some of them are immortal while others die.

The answer is: Time.

Lindos

Isle of Rhodes

Greece

The Rhodian deers

Elafos is one of the the two deer statues which today form the entrance of Mandraki Harbour (Rhodes), where once the legendary Colossus stood, a 31m high bronze statue erected between 292 and 280 B.C. ,by design of Charles of Lindos, and dedicated to the Titan God of the Sun, Helios, who was also the guardian of the Oaths and the God of gifts of sight. One of his daughters was the famous Circe, who could turn men into animals with her magic wand. The statue, considered as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world was said to have collapsed during a heavy earthquake in 226 Before Christ. Elafos and Elafina represent the symbol of the victory of the Rhodian deers over the enormous quantites of snakes which had invaded the island.

Mandraki Harbour, Rhodes

Greece

An invitation...

...to join folk dancers in a heart-pumping "Sirtaki"

(which I did)

Isle of Rhodes

Greece

Waiting for entertainment

Isle of Rhodes

Greece

Pearls of light

garden lighting

(the lamps are between 30 and 40 cm high)

Isle of Rhodes

Greece

Essential lines

Isle of Rhodes

Greece

What sunlight can do...

...to an empty corridor.

Isle of Rhodes

Greece

In the silence of early morning...

...Dawn slowly unveils its colours, while a soft breeze plays gently with the surface of the sea. Soon the strong sun light will turn the red-golden colour of the water into dark blue, with glistening sparkles of silver on top. A miracle that repeats itself every day but with a different mix of greens, blues, reds and yellows. If those whose only aim is to hold the reins of power tight in hand, would look up and watch how Nature so generously shares this with all of us, without making any distinction and without asking anything in return, they would understand that she does this to let our soul taste moments of total freedom which we all need to make ourselves stronger and more understanding towards our next of kin.

The Isle of Rhodes, Greece

(my 250th photo)

A souvenir from Monte Carlo

"Well?", said my daughter-in-law to my son while we walked back to the garage under the Casino through Avenue des Beaux Arts in Monte Carlo. It was time to drive home again after the one-day- holiday we spent together in the Principality. "Not even a small souvenir like this to remember a lovely day?", she asked. She took his arm and put her head on his shoulder in front of the window. "Not that I particularly like these...", she sighed, "but they are surely a girl's best friend...!" "I am your best friend", whispered my son while dragging her away from the window. "You do not need any other!"

Last photo of the Principality of Monaco series

I will be off to Greece tomorrow and will be back in 10 days time with new photos!

Take good care of yourselves in the meantime!!

The old man and the seagull...

The park of the Oceanographic Museum,

Principality of Monaco

You pay Euro 31.250 per square meter...

...if you are lucky!

Fontvieille, Principality of Monaco

Reflections...

...of Hotel de Paris

Monte Carlo, Principality of Monaco

Tin soldiers

Changing of the Guard

The Royal Palace, Principality of Monaco

Jilly

I had contacted Jilly (Monte Carlo Daily Photo) for some information about the Princedom, where to park my car during a one-day trip I had decided to make last saturday with my son and daugther-in-law. Not only did she immediately give me all the necessary information, she also met with us in front of Hotel de Paris and drove and led us around, to show us the main sight-seeing points. A sparkling and generous person with a lot of cultural interests and a great passion for photography and dogs. Thank you, Jilly, also on behalf of Hendrick and Simona! We will not forget this.

Royal Palace, Principality of Monaco

Elegance...

...mixed with some eccentricity fortunately never looses its grip.

I attended a splendid wedding ceremony of the son of dear friends of mine in England last weekend and wore the same ceremonial suit as this gentleman.

Ombersley, Worcestershire, UK