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| 1928-1930 Walter Hege |
I have been to Athens twice. The first time when I was a mere babe of 18 years. And oh my what a strange and wondrous place to my fresh eyes. The look of it, the 'strange' and enchanting language, the feel of the ancient history and it's intoxicating mystery. The people, the food, the culture, you can tell I could go on and on.
Seeing this image made me sad in a way, to think such times can never be captured again. At the time I went folk were able to walk across and sit on the Acropolis site, totally immersed, really feeling the sense of place. I hear you saying, not such a good idea and I reluctantly agree.
All around the base of the site were lots of small family run Tavernas selling really delicious home made Greek food. You could sit in the warmth of the evening looking up at the magnificent ruins which were lit up at night. Totally enchanting. Almost other worldly.
A few years later I went to a small Greek island, via Piraeus, it felt like a huge adventure into the unknown. I stayed in a makeshift hotel room, ate breakfast down by the water's edge cooked by one of the fisherman and lunched at the only Taverna on the length of the beach. I googled the self same beach and it is now covered every which way by large hotels. Brash and ugly.
I do know time has moved on. With all the millions of people in the world it is inevitable. BUT I just want to say I don't like it !
I find myself increasingly looking back to different times, different values and more unique and real experiences. Where making huge amounts of money was not always the MOST important thing. I suppose it's an age thing?
I think that's why I'm a teeny bit obsessed with The Beatles at the moment. Especially George Harrison, this dear reader you know.
In a strange way I miss them. Well who they were back in the day at any rate.
Yes they made huge amounts of money but mostly they lived their lives true to themselves. When images of George Harrison pop up on my feed, he is always modestly dressed, (especially when he was gardening). And he spoke his truth, regardless of what pressure he was under.
I think I've started to ramble now, but you get the gist of what I'm saying.
I'm bathing in the past not wallowing.
Everyone wants everything now, and they think they should. The world needs to slow down.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree Maggie
DeleteMy husband and I remember that sort of experience too - being able to stroll around Stonehenge, unhindered and alone, in the early morning mist, picnicking in Grizedale Forest in the Lake District (cooling bottles of water in a stream and sitting at the one and only bench provided by the Forestry Commission) having such places to ourselves in the days before sculpture trails and visitor centres. This was the late 60s/early 70s. We had the best of it and feel very lucky. Charmaine
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment Charmaine. It sometimes feels to me that people can't just be in a place quietly and contemplatively anymore. And worse can't experience anything without looking through a phone camera lens.
DeleteBathing, yes...immersing, soaking...all those verbs are much more appropriate than the negatively-connoted "wallowing" when it comes to this kind of past. I've never been to Greece but have always longed to. I took several courses in Greek and Roman mythology at university and managed to make it to Rome and "steep" in the history of the ruins there, but the closest I have come to Greece was dating a young man from Greece and taking Greek cooking classes a few times from a Greek man who owns many olive groves there. Keep "bathing" my friend - I think I am waterlogged most of the time.
ReplyDeleteThank you my friend. I have no choice but to bathe, it feels right for me. I suspect I will be doing more rather than less :)
DeleteI'm totally with you Jean, and was going to make the comparison with Stonehenge, but see that Charmaine beat me to it.I also remember going to Land's End and there was just the coast path. Next time I was there a huge tourist complex had materialized and the experience was totally spoiled! xxx
ReplyDeleteI fear there is no going back now. Such a shame for everyone.
DeleteThe world is changing so quickly and places getting more and more busy. Sometimes it's just nice to take time out and enjoy nature, talking of which George Harrison did love his garden.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
He certainly did Jan. He thought the world outside of his garden was mad.
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