Tag: Greece

A Wonderful Weekend of Sport

INTRODUCTION

As well as the sporting events that I shall be writing about I have some important links to share. Faced with more sport than I had time to follow I had to make choices, and with I settled on cricket and athletics (in the form of the European Team Championships). I will write about each in turn starting with…

A FINAL MATCH THRILLER

To set the scene for Saturday’s action, the series was level at 2-2, and records had been tumbling left, right and centre throughout. The actual result was pretty much a secondary consideration given the quality of the cricket that had been on show through the series.

NEW ZEALAND BATTING

Very early on in their innings New Zealand passed their all-time record aggregate for a five match ODI series, a feat that England had achieved in the previous match. For the first time in the series batsmen found it difficult to really get going, and it took some big hitting in the closing stages to get New Zealand to their eventual 283-9, the lowest first innings score of the series.

THE INTERVAL AND DUCKWORTH-LEWIS

During the interval between innings it rained, and it kept raining for some time (this is England after all). Eventually, by the time play was possible again there was time for England to bat for 26 overs, and the Duckworth-Lewis calculation (a very complicated formula that has produced the least unfair way for resolving rain affected ODIs yet devised) gave England a target of 192 off 26 overs.

ENGLAND’S CHASE

The England innings got off to a disastrous start, with three wickets falling in next to no time. The fourth and fifth wickets did not take a whole lot longer to fall, and at that stage England were looking down both barrels. Then Eoin Morgan and Jonathan Bairstow, the latter only playing because of an injury to Jos Buttler (scorer of the first and second quickest ODI centuries by an Englishman) shared a good partnership. When Morgan was out, England were still second favourites, but Adil Rashid joined his fellow Yorkshireman Bairstow for a partnership that gradually brought the asking rate back to manageable levels. Seventeen were needed off the last two overs when for the first of them the ball was given to a debutant who until his late call-up had been playing Devonshire League cricket. Bowling the penultimate over in these circumstances would be tough for anyone, and in the end the last over was not required, as a combination of fine strokes from Bairstow and Rashid and a loss of nerve by the bowler settled the issue.

A RAPID TURNAROUND

Just a few months ago England were having their all-time worst ever World Cup campaign, being hammered by all and sundry and being exposed as being sadly behind the times in their approach to one day cricket. To have come from that to even taking part in a series that is a jewel in the crown of international cricket (and ultimately winning it) is an extraordinary transformation. What brought this about? Well England were forced to recognise by the sheer awfulness of that World Cup campaign that they had to change. The new picks for this series were guys noted for 20-20 (ultra-short form) success. Also, however there has been an attitude change. In this series, England never went on to the defensive, there was never a period of seriously slow scoring. Even when those three early wickets went down on Saturday, there was no ‘consolidation’. In the second half of the summer England have another set of visitors from the antipodes to contend with, and it will be interesting to see what kind of account they can give of themselves in that situation.

EUROPEAN TEAM ATHLETICS

The European Team Athletics championship, which I watched on i-player, is decided on a points system. The top nine countries from last year, plus three promoted from the second group, do battle. Twelve points are accrued for winning an event, down to one for finishing. A disqualification in a track event, or a failure to record a valid distance/ height in a throwing or jumping event results in a zero.

In the end, after a some excellent results, and some very bad ones, Britain finished in fifth place, behind Russia (winning comfortably on home  soil), Germany, France and Poland.

Probably the person who overachieved the most for Britain was Rhianwedd Price who, on international debut, came third in the 1,500m.

LINKS

CAMPAIGN TO PROTECT THE FAIRY POSSUM

This tiny marsupial is on the critically endangered list, and the campaign to protect it by creating a preserved environment for it is being run by The Wilderness Society. I have two important links for you:

1)The article which gives full detail about what is happening.

2)A petition which I hope you will sign and share.

WAR ON WANT PETITION TO CANCEL GREEK DEBT

Just a single link, which I urge you to follow up.

AN ACCOUNT OF A TRIP TO THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

This is an excellent piece detailing both the visit and what was seen, and the differing approaches taken by Autism Mom (the author of the piece), the Navigator and Autism Dad. I have already shared this piece with my twitter and I am delighted to include this link to dinos-photos-and-his-own-world.

CONCLUDING REMARK

I hope that you have all enjoyed this post, and that you will be encouraged to share it. For those of you who have stayed with this post right to the end I have a final message…

TY3

Along the Coast Road to Trachina

After our break in Kardamyli following the walk down from Exochori we headed down the coast road to its end at Trachina. There are caves along this stretch of road (not surprising as this is a limestone area). Trachina is a pretty little village, and one of the rockpools yielded a particularly good picture…

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Getting a close up of this tiny crab was a photographic highlight for me. Considering that it was at the bottom of a rock pool this picture is remarkably clear.
Getting a close up of this tiny crab was a photographic highlight for me. Considering that it was at the bottom of a rock pool this picture is remarkably clear.
A rusty old olive press
A rusty old olive press

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Exochori to Kardamyli

After finishing our walk to Kardamyli we lunched at Harilaos (excellent Kalamari), and then I went swimming in the Harbour. Plent more excellent pics to share with you…

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Kardamyli Harbour
Kardamyli Harbour

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The harbour, the island and a boat
The harbour, the island and a boat

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Kardamyli old town.
Kardamyli old town.

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An autumn Crocus, growing as usual in what looks like an impossible place.
An autumn Crocus, growing as usual in what looks like an impossible place.

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Bare rock, and still they grow.
Bare rock, and still they grow.

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Exochori to Kardamyli part 2

The walk down from Exochori follows one side of the Viros Gorge, the natural feature that dominates the landscape. Following the way markers took us too low at one point, so that we had to climb back up to get to our meeting point at Petrovouni. Also featuring on this part of the walk were various views across the gorge to Agia Sofia (Church of the Holy Wisdom in English).

Enjoy these photos…

Not quite cyclopean stones but impressively large.
Not quite cyclopean stones but impressively large.

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A mason's mark on the chapel.
A mason’s mark on the chapel.

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This is an Autumn Narcissus.
This is an Autumn Narcissus.

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One does not see much evidence of wildlife on Greek walks and this is a clue as to why.
One does not see much evidence of wildlife on Greek walks and this is a clue as to why.

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Agia Sofia
Agia Sofia

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The line of large stones marked the edge of the path until it was plundered for building materials - the extension beyond the line of stones being exactly as wide as a lorry wheel.
The line of large stones marked the edge of the path until it was plundered for building materials – the extension beyond the line of stones being exactly as wide as a lorry wheel.

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This is the church at Petrovouni.
This is the church at Petrovouni.

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The way markers for the route from Petrovouni to Kardamyli.
The way markers for the route from Petrovouni to Kardamyli.

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A first aerial view of Kardamyli. The tall tower is part of an old soap factory.
A first aerial view of Kardamyli. The tall tower is part of an old soap factory.

Exochori to Kardamyli part 1:

I am not sure how many parts this series of posts will run to because there were so many fantastic photo opportunities. My father dropped my mother and I at Exochori, the top end of the walk, before himself driving to Kardamyli to walk up to meet us at Petrovouni, from whence we would walk together down into Kardamyli. At the top end of the walk we passed a number of small chapels, and later there were some fine stretches of engineered mule track…

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This is the remains of an old olive press.
This is the remains of an old olive press.

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This aeroplane was one of two flying in formation - could not get both in shot.
This aeroplane was one of two flying in formation – could not get both in shot.
A distant but direct view of Prosilio, which lies between Tseria (above) and Kardamyli (below)
A distant but direct view of Prosilio, which lies between Tseria (above) and Kardamyli (below)

Kastania – Frescos and internal art

Now for my final post about Kastania – though there is still more Greek stuff to come. There were several superb churches in Kastania, the no longer consecrated church of St Peter (Ayios Petros) being the best from an art point of view. They yielded many fine photos…

This modern art - the sort of thing Maurits Escher might have used as a basis for one of his pictures is from the main church in the centre of the village
This modern art – the sort of thing Maurits Escher might have used as a basis for one of his pictures is from the main church in the centre of the village

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Some super frescos in the older churches.
Some super frescos in the older churches.

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This fractal cross was very striking although for me at least equally far from being attractive.
This fractal cross was very striking although for me at least equally far from being attractive.

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Kastania – External Art

Having looked back over my pictures from Kastania since the last post I have decided to add another to my long list of Greek posts by splitting the artwork into external stuff and frescos as there was so much of it. As you will see, the stuff I cover in the post varies from patterns painted on street surfaces to folk art incorporated into church buildings.

Enjoy these photos…

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Kastania – General and Chestnut Festival.

This is the first of two posts that will be going up about Kastania, because I will be devoting another post specifically to church/ folk art in the village, of which there is a lot. We were drawn there by the Chestnut Festival, which was a huge success, with the kind of numbers in attendance that English village fetes such as the Rudhams one could only dream of. Also, although you had to pay if you wanted a proper meal, as you entered the square where the main action was happening you were given little cakes, a free slug of Raki was provided for adult visitors, and bags of roasted chestnuts from a huge circular barbecue were also free.

A scenic route back through Exochorio and Proasteio,  featuring the church of Ayios Nikolaos Proasteio completed the day’s travelling.

Enjoy these photos…

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The Greek Flag and a local flag side y side
The Greek Flag and a local flag side y side
Chestnuts roasting
Chestnuts roasting

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Stepped surfaces such as this both prevent wheeled traffic (other than quad bikes) from using them and suit donkeys and mules.
Stepped surfaces such as this both prevent wheeled traffic (other than quad bikes) from using them and suit donkeys and mules.

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This fortified tower overlooks the Viros Gorge
This fortified tower overlooks the Viros Gorge
Ayios Nikolaos at Proasteio
Ayios Nikolaos at Proasteio
Decorative brickwork above the entrance to the church.
Decorative brickwork above the entrance to the church.

Sunset in Tseria

Before I get to the main meat of this post a word of explanation of circumstances: I am now back home in England, having returned yesterday, getting back to my flat in King’s Lynn at twenty to six in the evening courtesy of some remarkable good fortune – straight through passport control/ customs, short wait at baggage reclaim, straight on to a Gatwick Express service, good connection at Victoria which got me to King’s Cross in time to board the 15:44 to King’s Lynn. I had planned for the 16:44 and would not have been squealing with outrage had it been an hour later still, so this was a colossal bonus. I have quite a few more Greek posts to put up, but they will now be interleaving with my more regular types of posts, about James and Sons, and continuing to wage my online campaign to present the best face of King’s Lynn.

The balcony of my parents house in Tseria faces west, and therefore if one is out there at the right time as I was a few days ago one benefits from some very fine sunsets. Before the pictures of the sunset itself I am using this post to present a couple more pictures of folk art from the little church just below my parents house (see https://aspiblog.wordpress.com/2014/10/18/a-little-church-in-tseria) for more on this theme…

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Mystra 1: Some general views

This is the first of a series of posts about Mystra, a very interesting site, which i was fortunate enough to see on a day which was not over hot. By Greek standards it is a parvenu, the first building there being the Frankish castle which dates from the early 13th century, but as you will see in subsequent posts there is much of interest to see – indeed so much that I exhausted my camera’s memory!

The castle (this was a top down city in two ways - a Frankish nobleman built the castle, and the rest of the city developed from that, and the first building was built on the highest site)
The castle (this was a top down city in two ways – a Frankish nobleman built the castle, and the rest of the city developed from that, and the first building was built on the highest site)
Modern Sparta as close as you want to see it (you may need to see it closer if you are visiting the Olive Museum)
Modern Sparta as close as you want to see it (you may need to see it closer if you are visiting the Olive Museum)

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A close view of the Palace of the Despots, this was the highest point I reached in my visit to Mystra (the castle would have taken a long climb to reach)
A close view of the Palace of the Despots, this was the highest point I reached in my visit to Mystra (the castle would have taken a long climb to reach)

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The Palace of the Despots (to the Franks who built this place the Peloponnese was the Despotate of Morea)
The Palace of the Despots (to the Franks who built this place the Peloponnese was the Despotate of Morea)

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