I am never alone
The very first thing I do every morning is to go to the window and take a look at the trees in the park and the castle. Maybe it is because for years I didn't have a big window and the view from the small window that I did have, was just the neighbour's wall!
A well known Greek poet wrote this:
Τα μεγάλα παράθυρα ζήλεψα στη ζωή μου,
ποτέ τα μεγάλα σπίτια.
~Γιάννης Ρίτσος
source
And since the chances that you can read Greek are very few, I'll try to translate it. Although I believe that translating poetry is practically impossible, even if it is just a couple of lines. Anyway, it goes something like that:
In my life it is the big windows that I felt envious of,
never the big houses
Yiannis Ritsos
I think of those lines very often, especially all those mornings that the town is still asleep and I am at my big window enjoying the view of this magnificent Venetian fortress.
Of course I can't avoid seeing the castle every day, even if I wanted to. The town is so small and the fortified hill is literally above it. So every time I get out of the house, I see it. Either I am going to the supermarket or taking the dog out for a walk, or even grabbing a beer with some friends, the castle is always there, overlooking every move I make :)
So sometimes I go up there to take a look the other way around. To remember what it feels like to have a whole town underneath you and an unlimited view before your very eyes.
And to grasp the scent of history into those old, damp walls. To open squeaking doors and enter rooms that are not used for decades.
Don't let the pictures fool you though, I am never alone when I visit it, I am just good in avoiding people when I photograph. There are always tourists walking around, enjoying the view and taking pictures from every possible spot :)
The camera that I used is a Canon EOS 6D mark II with an EF 24-105mm lens attached. I edited the photographs in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic .
Thank you for reading and if you want to know more about me you can check out my introduction post.
Commenting, upvoting and rebloging are highly appreciated!
That poem
It's like that! Totally relate. I walk past the big houses on the hills around here but all I think of is what a marvelous view they have!
I hope they don't forget and stop seeing that :)
Beautiful photos again as well. The sepia works brilliantly 👏🏼
I am always irrationally jealous with people with windows onto the sea. My first job as ruler of the world would be to assess their deservedness to have such a thing.
:D
Oh boy! Imagine that! 😂
I'm half convinced that they are holiday homes and the owners are in offices, stressing themselves to the bone and not even getting to enjoy them anyway. Weird.
My son and I were watching a Mr Beast video yesterday about islands. I've decided I want to go and live on Richard Branson's island, please. Just a little hut with a decent kitchen on the coast. I don't need the house or anything. Just a tiny corner of the island. And all those animals. Looks like paradise <3
Hey what about Crete? You forgot about it already? 😆
Got share the love around all the islands!
Of course!
I wouldn't mind some time at the Virgin Islands myself :)
Or Crete! As long as there's all those animals :D
They have Lemurs who come and sit on yer head on RB's island :D Want lemurs. Will travel!
Ok, we can't beat lemurs but we do have very cute cats who love snuggling :)
Hmmmm... okay.
Cute cats will definitely do!
Have a groovy Friday! :D
Why do I have the impression that those with the best views, rarely have the time to appreciate it?
Thanks a lot!
Because I think you're right!
In a beautiful place and everyone is stressed af. I think city life is expensive and people are too busy trying to survive to notice much at all :|
Thank you very much @qurator and @ackhoo for your support!
I absolutely love that quote!!!! Our house is humble but the windows onto the garden make us feel rich.
You guys are surrounded by a ridiculous amount of history.
Haha, well said :)
The black and white gives these images such a timeless feel to them.
Thank you, I though it would be nice for them too!
Very nice photos, especially the interiors. The balance of the shadows very well achieved. Great job!👍
Thank you very much! There are some really spectacular buildings up there!
Beautiful views, the first photographs remind me of an old castle that exists in the capital of my country which was from the Spanish colonial era.
Thank you very much!
This one was made by the Venetians. It is funny how the conquerors leave at some point in time but their castles are left behind to be admired :)
The story endures, cheers !!
He is the guardian of your world and surely he is also moved by the magnificence of the landscape you have managed to photograph. He can see it with so many nuances from his humanity turned to stone. These views are so beautiful that they are breathtaking. And the monochrome gives it strength, it allows the imagination to peer through a wide glass window.
I don't marvel at huge houses either, but when I see an open window, one of those one or two sashes, I immediately remember in my childhood how I used to cross them to enter or escape.... 😂
The most poetic response I got in this post, for sure :)
Thanks a lot!
😅 well... sometimes one gets inspired.
Ωραίο ποίημα 👌🏻
Εδώ δόξα το Θεό σπίτια και πολυκατοικίες έχουν μεγάλα παράθυρα χαχαχα.
Αυτό το κάστρο μου θυμίζει το κάστρο που είναι στην Κυπαρισσία, κάθε φορά που πηγαίναμε τα καλοκαίρια στο σπίτι του θείου μου και το βλέπαμε από κάτω, βέβαια ανεβαίναμε και μερικές φορές, έχει πολύ ωραία θέα, θα με συγχωρήσεις αλλά το κάστρο της Κυπαρισσίας είναι πολύ πιο ωραίο από του Ναυπλίου 🤷🏻♀️🤭
Χαχα, αν δεν παινέψεις το σπίτι σου θα πέσει να σε πλακώσει!
Θα διαφωνήσω, αλλά δεν πειράζει :)
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Η πλάκα είναι ότι ούτε εγώ είμαι από την Κυπαρισσία ούτε εσύ από το Ναύπλιο 😂😂😂😂😂 🤷🏻♀️
Χαχαχαχα! Τέλειο 😄
🤭🤭🤭🤷🏻♀️
You're really good at taking photos without people being visible in them. I don't know if this is something you'd like to do, but I'd love to see you write a behind-the-scenes article so we can understand how you organize your outings.
Maybe you'd like to keep it a secret, or maybe you don't have a clear idea yourself. But it's just a suggestion that I'd find really interesting.
Thanks!
There isn't any big secret. I just choose the least busy hours of a place and when there are people in my frame, I wait until they are gone :)
Congratulations. Today's #monomad first place is yours.
Thank You very much for participating and for being part of the Black And White Community!
Thanks a lot :)