Kalavrita Cog Ride /Οδοντωτός Καλάβρυτα

Last weekend, I took a trip to Kalavrita, a mountainous town in the North of the Peloponnese. It was my first time in this region and I was excited to check out all of the attractions as Kalavrita has many.

The weather was perfect after many days of thunderstorms. The first stop was the cog railway, also known as Odontotos. The Odontotos dates back to the 19th century. It was 120 years ago when the prime minister of Greece Harilao Trikoupi came up with the idea to construct local railway networks. The construction started in 1889, but it was fraught with many enginneering issues. However, the railway was completed in 1896 and since then the railway has been in use on a daily basis.

The scenery from the train is stunning as it passes by the gorge of Vouraikos. Everyone was in awe of the many beautiful streams and waterfalls. The trees and the strange shapes of their branches as well as all of the plant life.

Το περασμένο Σαββατοκύριακο έκανα ένα ταξίδι στα Καλάβρυτα, μια ορεινή πόλη στα βόρεια της Πελοποννήσου. Ήταν η πρώτη μου φορά σε αυτήν την περιοχή και ήμουν ενθουσιασμένη που είδα όλα τα αξιοθέατα καθώς τα Καλάβρυτα έχει πολλά.

Ο καιρός ήταν τέλειος μετά από πολλές μέρες καταιγίδων. Πρώτος σταθμός ο σιδηρόδρομος, γνωστός και ως ‘Οδοντωτός’. Ο Οδοντωτός χρονολογείται από τον 19ο αιώνα. Ήταν πριν από 120 χρόνια όταν ο πρωθυπουργός της Ελλάδας Χαρίλαο Τρικούπη είχε την ιδέα να κατασκευάσει τοπικά σιδηροδρομικά δίκτυα. Η κατασκευή ξεκίνησε το 1889, αλλά υπήρχαν πολλά μηχανολογικά θέματα. Ωστόσο, ο σιδηρόδρομος ολοκληρώθηκε το 1896 και από τότε ο σιδηρόδρομος χρησιμοποιείται σε καθημερινή βάση.

Το σκηνικό από το τρένο είναι εκπληκτικό καθώς περνάει από το φαράγγι του Βουραϊκού. Όλοι ένιωσαν δέος για τα πολλά όμορφα ρυάκια και τους καταρράκτες. Τα δέντρα και τα περίεργα σχήματα των κλαδιών τους καθώς και όλη η φυτική ζωή.

From Fearful to Fearless

I cannot believe that it has already been three years since the pandemic really took the world by storm. The ‘unprecendented times’, words spoken by many news reporters, shocked and scared many. It changed so many peoples lives. Their jobs, their relationships their health all were affected by the pandemic.

Looking back, many mistakes were made. Governments became too authoritarian. And people became more angrier and divided than ever over issues such as the vaccines, and the mandatory enforcement of them.

But, the worst off all was the pandemic of fear. This had and still has crippled many people. It worsened people’s mental health and which led to terrible results for some.

“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.“-Madam Curie

“Fear is an insidious virus. Given a breeding place in our minds … it will eat away our spirit and block the forward path of our endeavors.”-James F. Bell III

Nightime Skyline

A few captures of the beautiful colours during sunset in the Athenian skyline

“Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.”
― Rabindranath Tagore, Stray Birds

At the Skate Rink

Ice skating has been growing in popularity these past few years in Greece. When I first came to Greece many years ago from Canada, outdoor ice rinks were no where to be found. Just looking at an ice rink brings me back to my childhood in Canada. It’s very surreal to see scenes like this in a hot country like Greece. But, it’s nice to see kids here having this experience.

Christmas Meets Culture (Night Time)

My nightime photographs of the Stavros Niarchos Cultural Foundation center. There were lot of light shows and attractions to photograph, and the lit dancing fountains were nice too.

Christmas Meets Culture (Day time)

My first batch of of photographs of the ‘Stavros Niarchos Culture Center’ (SNFCC). I took a lot of photographs in the day time and then a few more after the sunset. It was the day after Christmas and it was crowded with people. Parents with their kids enjoying their activities in the park. Some live music and the dancing fountains. It is a good place to get some exercise as the property is huge. When you are there you want to explore the whole place, so good thing I had my walking shoes on 😉

Happy New Year!

“A good half of the art of living is resilience.” – Alain de Botton