ON TOUR Pics Archive #1 2007
These images have been made on a 5megPixel Point and Shoot camera, the ones taken from aeroplanes have also been taken through three inch thick, dirty glass. They have not been chosen for their technical merit, rather to add colour to the stories..
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THEM, IN REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER ...
To see the previous
ON TOUR Pics Archive #2 2006
Click HERE
Greek Churches
The
idea of the white and blue houses on
Anzac Day Dawn, Santorini, Greece
The
German army was at the height of their power in April and May 1941 when
British and allied forces were sent to defend Crete and
The
Australian 6th Division was destroyed. As well as losing
594 men, 1,001 were injured and a staggering 5,132 were
taken prisoner. Of all the Australian Prisoners Of War taken in the Second
World War, 83% of them were taken in
The
Aussie were extremely bitter that the Air cover promised by the RAF never
materialized, only 80 aircraft went up against 1,100 of the
combined German an Italian forces.
You
won’t find a Australian War Grave in Santorini, after the war, the
bodies were collected and placed in two graves, one in Suda Bay War
Cemetery on Crete and the other in the Phaleron War Cemetery in
Athens.
To
see the dawn break here on Anzac Day, accompanied by the tittering of
small birds and a particularly overactive rooster, is a memorable way to
remember the fallen. As at all Dawn Anzac Services, the cold seeps right
in and afterwards you have to soak your hands in hot water. A small price
to pay.
Bud
Tingwell, Photo Reconnaissance Pilot from the 680 Squadron,
details their work as the Allies retook Greece
late in 1944 in Michael Veitch’s incredible record
of personal stories in FLAK available HERE.
Ship Race
The Liner's Skipper caught the Ferry Captain napping. Pulling out to overtake, sounding his horn (and waking up all the dogs), the Liner thought he had him. The Ferry Captain put his coffee down, stubbed out his cigarette and had him by the time they left the point.
Big Man, Small Boat
His friend on the waterfront says his name is Manoulis. "Hey Manoulis, look up for the photo!" Nothing. Then across the water: "No, I'm busy". And he was, having just pulled this fish from the Aegean Sea.
Model Shoot
It must be hell to be a model. Whilst the Art Director, Makeup artist, Photographer and numerous assistants have a slap-up lunch, this 17 year old magazine model survives on a cigarette and a Diet Coke.
Then she had to crawl around on navigation lights to satisfy every whim of the crew. It's rumoured she will soon appear in Marie Claire magazine.
Megalochori
Inland from Santorini's Caldera lies the traditional village of Megalochori. Here, in the town square the feature is huge Gum tree. Only motor scooters and small cars can fit on the tiny one way streets. With no view of Santorini's Caldera or Volcano, you can get an old cave-style house for 100,000 Euros. Be sure to check the building regulations though, the rules are very strict in order to keep the island from losing it's old world feel.
Black Sand
The thing about living on a volcanic island is that the sand is also volcanic. Here at Perivolos Beach, in Perisa, the sand is black. On Santorini there is a red beach, made largely of pebbles, and, further north a white sand beach.
Moon Jet
Heading in a direct line to Athens, this aircrew's flight deck is still bathed in bright sunshine. They are unaware that night has already fallen in Santorini.
Daily Grind
A ferry driver's life is not easy. With the Santorini Volcano as a backdrop, this Greek Ferry Captain spins his ship before backing into the into the new Harbour during a gale. The effect of the wind on the sea is evident. The white streak at the stern is prop wash. With Bow thrusters the ship can be backed with precision. Then, after twenty minutes, it's off to another two islands on the way back to Athens for dinner.
Never Going To Work
Close to the Santorini Volcano, this Greek Ship's Captain holds his ship into wind during a gale. Passenger transfers are achieved by the old Port's small white lifeboats. Here an initial approach is destined to end in tears, or wet guests. Minutes later the Skipper turns his ship sideways to the wind, making smooth water on the leeward side to allow a safe transfer.
Seen It All Before
This Greek dog sleeps in the afternoon shade of the old Oia village buildings. He's obviously not scared of heights or rolling over in his sleep, (there is massive drop only inches away). The highest point of Thira Island, Imerovigli, is in the distance. There the Afroessa Traditional Hotel overlooks Santorini's dormant volcano.
Losing Battle
In
the middle of the circle of oil recovery booms, suspended 400 feet
below the surface of the
Fira, The Night The Students Arrived.
The Greek kids have yet to finish their school year, but April's the time they can afford to swarm the island before the tourist season starts and prices explode. 'Schoolies' are the same everywhere ... hordes of self-conscious boys learning about the effects of mateship and alcohol; girls worried about fashion and exposing their midriffs to freezing night air.
Nothing happens until after midnight, when everyone's too tired to get into too much trouble.
Aforessa Hotel Owner, Ionna.
The conversion of the old wineries into the 12 room Afroessa Traditional Hotel has been a labour of love for Athenian Ionna and her husband, George. She chose the name from a small volcanic island that appeared three days after the major Volcanoes eruption in the 1700s. Afroessa means 'Goddess of the silver bubble coming up from the bottom of the sea' or something. The local mid-strength Port wine, called Vinsanto may have something to do with your correspondent's failure in translation.
Petro, Local Legend.
Now fishing just off the rocks for whitebait, Petro spends the day paddling around the small harbour chatting to his restaurateur mates whilst finding the their stock in trade.
The Monster From The Deep.
Copied from an old photo hanging on the wharf, this amazing 500 kg deep water shark was wrestled to the surface "around the corner" in the deep waters towards the volcano by the Local Legend Petro. These sharks only inhabit the deep water and have eyes that have been adapted for the zero light conditions. They cannot survive in the lower pressures nearing the surface. Joy says it's eyes were "very pretty" ... it's jaws now hang above her bar.
Ammoudi Port , Santorini.
As you wait for your meal, you can watch the fishermen catch the next course. Here a large octopus is extracted from the crystal clear waters. The fisherman on the left, Petro, looks underwater through a a conical viewing arrangement, like a roadside witches-hat with a glass bottom.
Dimitrie's Restaurant, Ammoudi, Santorini.
Tables sit only a metre from the sea. If you like fresh coffee and seafood, this is the place. Being so close to the sea the salt air destroys everything. After a complete refurbishment every year, it it opens from Easter until the end of October or November, depending on the weather. Hours are from 1100 or 1200 depending on when Joy wakes up, until 0100 or 0200-ish.
Ammoudi Port, below Oia, Santorini.
The restaurant on the far right, the yellow one, is the ideal place to stop and watch the world pass by.
Ammoudi Port , Santorini.
Nestled below Oia, facing the open ocean, lies the tiny port, Ammoudi. Home to the most spectacular restaurant in the world run by Canadian Joy and her Greek partner, Dimitri.
Oia, Santorini.
On the horizon is the island of Sikinos, behind the northernmost village on Santorini, Oia.
Another Day, Another Island.
Passing the island of Thirasia, a cruise ship leaves Santorini destined for another island tomorrow.
Old Port, Santorini.
Tourists await their Skipper, complete with black Greek Fisherman's cap, to take them on a three hour cruise to the Volcano in the centre of the Caldera that is Santorini.
Donkey Station.
Dumb Models.
Only store dummies could turn their backs on this view. Santorini's Volcano, which hasn't blown it's top since 1956, is captivating. So was the wind whipping the right-most model's dress up ... you know she's only plaster, but you can't help looking.
The Big Volcanic blast, between 1550-1500 BC, caused tidal waves as high as 210 metres according to the history books. As to who measured their exact height, there must be a story behind it, methinks the measurer must have been very, very tall.
Fira,
Capital Of The Island Thira, Santorini.
Inland,
Towards Kamari.
The use of red geraniums, white and blue paint makes Santorini sparkle.
Cathy
Roberts
The inclement skies cleared in time for the running of the 2007 Bostan Marathon, the fourth Marathon for Fish Creek superstar, Cathy Roberts, runner number 16617. A Veteran of the Florence and two Gold Coast Marathons, and supported by her twin Keryn, she crossed the line with a personal best of 3 hours, 38 mins 40 secs. The inspirational Life Coach will soon have a book out on how to achieve your dream to run a marathon.
Celestial
Lesson.
People come to Santorini; the Italian-sounding Greek Island, named in 1153 after mashing the name of the island's church "Saint Irene", called by Santa Irini by foreign sailors; to see the sunset. Only luck gets you a New Moon Rise as depicted here twenty minutes after our favourite star vanished.\
That tiny white smudge below is the hairline-width outline of the moon, sitting almost exactly between the earth and the sun, as it does every twenty eight days. That the horizon looks twisted down to the left is living proof that we are at 37 degrees north of the Equator, over 13 degrees north of the Tropic Of Cancer. So even during the Summer Solstice on the 21st June, the sun will still set south of west.
Oia,
Pronounced Eee-uh.
Afroessa Hotel, Santorini
Perched on the cliff top ridge at Imerovigli on the Greek island of Santorini, the Afroessa Hotel offers accommodation in rooms converted from wine cellars. Each has its own balcony and offers spectacular views of the volcanic caldera and, facing west, romantic sunsets. Feel free to see their site HERE and book a room.
Cliff
Top Living.
Donkey
Power.
Gum
Trees.
Santorini
Shipping Disaster.
After arriving at Santorini on Thursday the 5th April 2007, the Cyprus- registered Cruise ship, Sea Diamond, with over 1500 passengers and 300 crew, was snaking past the rocky point, shown here, as it headed this way, towards the Old Port, adjacent to the white buoy.
(Media photo from the internet)
In perfect conditions, at four in the afternoon, for some reason the Skipper took the vessel close to the rock cliffs - some say it was so people could take photos up the cliff face. It was too close and the ship was sliced-open below the water line.
(Media photo from the internet)
A massive rescue effort safely removed all but two passengers, a Frenchman and his daughter. The man's wife said she had to evacuate from their cabin as water started pouring in after the grounding and she had no idea where they were. Her son was up on deck at the time.
The rescue took three hours, and then something weird happened. Instead of taking the ship across to the shallow side of the Caldera, the Skipper took it around the point to the New Port, where it sank in very deep water at seven the following morning.
Phone records have recently been recovered from the Shipping Company, implicating the Skipper's boss; maybe the Captain was instructed to take the ship into deep water.
Whilst the investigation continues, there is a massive effort to stop 400 tonnes of oil leaking from the ship. Robots have found no sign of the bodies of the man and his daughter which are believed to be trapped inside. At a depth of over 400 feet, the ship is still moving around, yet to reach the bottom which is over 1200 feet in places.
Speculation continues as to whether the Skipper was on the bridge at the time of the grounding. He was extremely competent, having navigated around the same area in a Force 8 gale on his previous trip to the island.
He took over fifteen minutes to respond to calls to the ship after the grounding. Reports are that he has blamed 'currents' for the cause of the disaster.
The oil spill (some say as much as 100 tonnes) has been contained by a professional eco-recovery firm and the fragile Santorini coast has not been damaged.
Sharp
Rocks Hidden Below Cliffs.
All the way around the Caldera, razor sharp volcanic rocks hide beneath the surface.
Wrap
Party.
Full
Moon Over Beirut.
Between the snow-capped Lebanon Mountains and the Mediterranean
Sea,
Solitary
Snow People.
In
Tree
Skeleton.
Dirty
Snow.
Those of us from warmer climates think lovingly of northern
winters. The reality is somewhat different: having to dig cars out of snow
drifts and contend with the muddy mess beside the roads and in between
parking spaces.
Lake,
Just beginning to freeze, the Lake in Munich
’s English Gardens will not be ready to support skaters for a few
weeks.
Iranian
Nestled amongst the snow-covered mountains, it’s Minus 5 and
night has already fallen.
Iranian
Sunset.
As the earth spins at nearly 1,200 kph, the sun sets and it’s golden light climbs the mountains until only the tops are lit.
Bumpy
Ride?
This southbound Emirates A340 appears to have been flying some impressive curves. Not so. This is showing us the very strong winds associated with Jetstream activity at altitude.
Iranian
An intriguing photo, only made possible because of the strong
westerly winds perpendicular to the 16,000 feet mountains causing a
meteorological effect called ‘standing waves’ and Lenticular
clouds. The sun has
already set. The illuminated clouds are reflecting off the snow in the
valley.
Straits
of Hormuz
At least 20% of the world's daily oil requirements passes through the Straits to the left of this image. As well as being heavily-trafficked, utilising two-mile-wide waterways in and out, U.S. Navy submarines prowl around, supposedly protecting the waterway. A few days before this photo was taken a fully-laden Japanese oil tanker was damaged after a US submarine performed a practice emergency ascent and smashed into its stern. Luckily, no injuries or spilt oil. One wonders as to the security of the world when US submariners are incapable of noticing a huge metal ship, one of the largest in the world, sitting above them. Sonar? Radar? It was in this location in 1988 that the USS Vincennes shot down an innocent Iranian A300 Airbus, killing 290 passengers and crew.
Welcome
to India.
Continuing the theme of living in a rubbish tip, this is the view
seen by passengers upon arriving at
Luxor
,
where King Tutankhamen's remains were discovered, is on a bend in
the
Casablanca,
It's winter and the thought of going for a dip in the chilling
And
If Allah Is Not Listening...
There is always satellite TV. The enigma in which Jewish and Islamic religions co-exist, and whose people also inter-marry, Casablanca is addicted to satellite TV. Oh ... to have the contract installing satellite dishes.
Energy
Recycling
Totally absorbed in his work and unaware of the passing throng in
the market place, this Moroccan boy appears to be trying to open discarded
batteries … for whatever reason we will never know.
Washing
Day.
It's washing day in the impoverished suburbs of
Tobacconist
The relentless pursuit to replace dying nicotine addicts continues
for the huge tobacco companies. Here in Casablanca’s Souk, while men sit behind playing cards at a café, the drug peddler
and his assistant scan for new clients.
Will
you have snails with that?
In
This
One?
In the Casablanca’s Souk this painting salesman gestures to an item as prelude to a sale.
Market
Crush.
You can imagine this place in summer. In winter, with all the body
heat, the markets are quite a comfortable place. One suspects that in
summer it would be very hot and dusty.
Alterations,
While You Wait.
From tents to cushion-covers and dresses, this man could sew anything … if only he had some customers.
Have
Singer, Will Travel
Sitting cross-legged at a corner in the souk, this sewing lady is stitching-up a solid business, maybe to the detriment of the man above.
Yes,
We Have Bananas.
For those Australians who have been pining for bananas following
the decimation of the crop by last year's cyclone, this view of the
greengrocer section of the
The
The famous
The
Shift
change.
At another
Suez, Canal
35%
of the world's oil, and most of the oil bound for
Ultimate
Greengrocers.
In
Accra, Ghana, the stop-start traffic is assailed by road vendors of all types.
You can buy posters, paintings, paw paw’s, bananas, oranges,
bread rolls; even necklaces and clothing, whilst still seated in your car.
Everything has a price, but in