Quarantine/Καραντίνα

My cat Angelo and I are breezing through the quarantine. No quarantine blues for us.  No whining about being bored. Keep your spirits up. There are million things to do. Think of those who are on the front lines helping to battle the contagion. Think of the people you once overlooked who are keeping society functioning.

Take a little nap in the sun -it’s good for you. And consider yourself lucky 🙂

“We’re born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we’re not alone.” -Orson Welles

The Shadow Self

 

“Our dark sides are part of who we truly are. By uncovering and embracing our shadow side, we become whole.” -Debbie Ford

“I used to want to save the world. To end war and bring peace to mankind. But then, I glimpsed the darkness that lives within their light. I learned that inside every one of them, there will always be both.  The choice each must make for themselves – something no hero will ever defeat. I’ve touched the darkness that lives in between the light.

Seen the worst of this world, and the best.

Seen the terrible things men do to each other in the name of hatred, and the lengths they’ll go to for love.

Now I know. Only love can save this world. So I stay. I fight, and I give… for the world I know can be.

This is my mission, now. Forever.”– Diana Prince / Wonder Woman (2017)

Social Distancing/Απόσταση

Even cats know that it’s best to keep your distance 🙂 Ακόμη και οι γάτες γνωρίζουν ότι είναι καλύτερο να κρατήσετε την απόσταση σας 🙂

Here in Athens we have been are on lock down since this past Saturday. Only pharmacies, gas stations and supermarkets are open.  But, only a few are allowed to enter at at time. At the supermarket you have to keep a safe distance from people. Greece has 418 cases and Athens has the most cases of the virus. Gatherings of more than 10 people are forbidden.

The mostly extroverted, social Greeks are upset their lifestyles have been interrupted, but there is nothing else they can do but to obey orders. As time goes by I see that more and more people are taking the matter more seriously.

The statistics are shocking, Europe now has more fatalities than China! Borders are closed and people are panic buying. A lot of people are stressed and upset about this situation especially those who have grandparents and parents who are elderly.

What is happening is unprecedented and has affected everyone on this planet. Humans are the most adaptable creatures and patience, calm and strength is needed. Our survivor instincts, and heroic sides have to come through.

Wishing everyone good health and inner strength this year 🙂

Η επιθυμία μου ειναι να εχουν όλοι καλή υγεία και εσωτερική δύναμη φέτος 🙂

Εδώ στην Αθήνα είμαστε σε καραντίνα από το περασμένο Σάββατο. Μόνο τα φαρμακεία, τα βενζινάδικα και τα σούπερ μάρκετ είναι ανοιχτά. Mόνο λίγοι επιτρέπεται να εισέλθουν. Στο σούπερ μάρκετ πρέπει να έχετε μια ασφαλή απόσταση από τους ανθρώπους. Η Ελλάδα έχει 418 περιπτώσεις και η Αθήνα έχει τις περισσότερες περιπτώσεις του ιού. Συγκέντρωσεις με περισσότερα από 10 ατόμων απαγορεύονται.

Οι περισσότεροι, εξωστρεφείς, και κοινωνικοί, Έλληνες είναι αναστατωμένοι, ο τρόπος ζωής τους έχει διακοπεί, αλλά δεν υπάρχει τίποτα άλλο που να μπορούν να κάνουν παρά να υπακούν στις εντολές της κυβέρνησης . Βλεπω οτι με το πέρασμα του χρόνου όλο και περισσότεροι άνθρωποι παίρνουν το θέμα πιο σοβαρά.

Οι στατιστικές είναι συγκλονιστικές, Η Ευρώπη έχει πλέον περισσότερα θύματα από την Κίνα! Τα σύνορα είναι κλειστά και οι άνθρωποι είναι πανικοβλημένοι. Πανικοβάλλονται και ψωνίζουν σαν μανιακοί. Πολλοί άνθρωποι είναι ανήσυχοι και λυπημένοι με αυτή την κατάσταση, ειδικά εκείνοι που έχουν παππούδες και γονείς που είναι ηλικιωμένοι.

Αυτό που συμβαίνει είναι πρωτοφανές και έχει επηρεάσει όλους σε αυτόν τον πλανήτη. Οι άνθρωποι είναι τα πιο προσαρμόσιμα πλάσματα και υπομονή, ηρεμία και η δύναμη είναι απαραίτητη. Τα ένστικτά μας για επιβίωση και η ηρωική πλευρά πρέπει να έρχονται στην επιφάνεια.

“Perhaps catastrophe is the natural human environment, and even though we spend a good deal of energy trying to get away from it, we are programmed for survival amid catastrophe.”-  Germaine Greer  (Australian Author)

Hoarding

 

“Mr. Prepper”-illustration by Angela Zafiris

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”—Benjamin Franklin.

 

Dooms day ‘preppers’ worldwide can be heard saying ‘I told you so!’

I heard some predictions that this year would be the year that we will be grappling with fear and it shockingly came true. Fear and panic is the wrong way to deal with this crisis. It can weaken your immune system and make you  more vulnerable to illness. It can reek havoc in society.  I hope that the world can get through this crisis in the most humane way possible.

“Since the accuracy rate for the fulfillment of Bible prophecy so far has been 100%, we can be confident that it will continue to be so. No other religion in the world has such confirming evidence to inspire its faith.”
― Tim LaHaye, Are We Living in the End Times?

Happy International Women’s Day!

‘The Little Misogynist’-Illustration by Angela Zafiris

The illustration depicts the verbal abuse from males than many women experience on the street.

“A new UN report has found at least 90% of men and women hold some sort of bias against females.”

“According to the index, about half of the world’s men and women feel that men make better political leaders, and over 40 percent feel that men make better business executives and that men have more right to a job when jobs are scarce. 28 percent think it is justified for a man to beat his wife.”

Uhhh yes men are better leaders that is why the whole world is in turmoil!! And if your wife burns your omelette it’s okay to beat her, your not a psychopath!!

What a crazy world we live in!

https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/news-centre/news/2020/Gender_Social_Norms_Index_2020.html

Globetrotter/Ταξιδιώτης

‘We can’t predict what a virus we’ve never seen will do.’ –Marc Lipsitch (Harvard epidemiology professor)

‘Corona virus may infect 70% of the worlds’ population.‘

These are very strange and perilous times.  The whole planet is  so panic stricken over  this new virus.

Pray for humanity.

Hide & Seek/Κρυφτό

“The first symptom of love in a young man is timidity, in a girl boldness”. Victor Hugo (French Poet)

«Το πρώτο σύμπτωμα της αγάπης ενός νεαρού άνδρα είναι δειλία, και την τόλμη σε ένα κορίτσισει»- Βικτορ Ουγκο

ΚΑΛΟ ΜΗΝΑ!!

Time For a Change/Ωρα για Αλλαγή

‘Time For a Change’ collage on canvas by Angela Zafiris

‘Only the wisest and the stupidest of men never change’ – Confucius

‘Μόνο οι σοφοί και οι πιο ανόητοι από τους άνδρες δεν αλλάζουν ποτέ’. – Κομφούκιος

Happy Valentine’s Day!

We got an early taste of Spring here in Athens. It was the warmest winter on record. Not good for the planet, but it was a great opportunity for photos!

“Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired.” – Robert Frost

 

 

The Alleyway/Tο Σοκάκι

All of Athens in one photo. The city is getting a nice cleanup job. It was stagnant for a long time ‘screaming’ for progress. I believe that it will be unrecognizable in the future as it is an ever changing city.

Όλα της Αθήνας σε μία φωτογραφία. Η πόλη καθαριζεται επιτελους. Ήταν στάσιμη για πολυ καιρο και ‘ουρλιάζε’ για πρόοδο. Πιστεύω ότι θα είναι αγνώριστη στο μέλλον, δεδομένου ότι είναι μια συνεχώς μεταβαλλόμενη πόλη.

Happy International Greek Language Day!