Picture of the Day - 11
Scanned from a transparency I took back in 1979, this picture should be fairly easy to identify as the location has become very popular with holidaymakers and honeymooners.
This island is part of an archipelago in a very agreeable part of Europe where the amount of sunshine is concerned, but it also sits on an unstable part of the continent as well.
Originally, the island was circular until a massive volcanic eruption hundreds of thousands of years ago emptied its magma chamber, forcing the centre of the island to collapse and leave a water-filled caldera behind.
Around 1600 BC, another huge volcanic eruption seriously affected an advanced civilization in this part of the Mediterranean giving rise to theories about it being the site of the supposed lost city of Atlantis. While these claims may well be fanciful, this eruption was one of the largest in recorded history and left the circular island as an arc where two channels give access to the caldera with an active volcanic island in the centre.
The island’s volcanic soil is surprisingly fertile and has given it a prosperous wine industry, not that you’ll see much of it on foreign supermarket shelves, but for people who come here to soak up the sun and lie on the beach, the colour of the sand depends on the nature of the exposed layer of soil and can be either white, red or black.
For 1 point I would like to know the name of the archipelago; I’ll give you 2 points for the name of the island, and 3 points for its capital that sits at the top of the cliff in the picture.
Location – Greece, The Cyclades, Santorini, The Old Santorini Port looking up to the capital Fira
Date photograph taken – Sept 1979
POSTED – SEPTEMBER 2024
Originally posted 2024-09-24 06:03:42.
Ah Greece, Greece, lovely Greece. Not one I ahve been to, although I have walked on a volcano.
And pray, which volcano was that?
Nicyros. We never usually did day trips from places we were staying but we fancied this one, then the Mr couldnae come, the fancy new high speed hydrofoil left us all clinging to rails, I got my foot sulphur burned after this wifey thew some flowers into the lava, and well…… Emporios was the most amazing little village, clinging there to the volcano, the tiny taverna there where some on the spot battle with the Germans was fought in WW2 after the resitance tried to take out their chief and shot the mirror instead, was something else. I can’t remember if that was the taverna that also had this millionaire style loo in the middle of some field that no-one believed me about after sampling some of the other ones, also in fields. Anyway, down to the little open air cafe right on the rim of the volccano itself, a site that looked like something out of the first Star Wars pic, it was a wonderful experience.
Never heard of this one before Shey but it really does look amazing, and I know what you mean about the sanitation. That said, I fell in love with Greece the first time I went there, and still do – warts and all.
Oh I love Greece. After the Mr went part time at work cos of health issues we just had to step it back. But we had some wonderful times on the small islands. Great memories. I had never heard of Nisyros before either. It is more a working island and they don’t tend to be touristy. But like that we were on Tilos with a very small travel co that had been set up by former reps of Laskarina which had finally folded, a lot of their reps were folks who actually lived on these islands, and that volcano trip was one of the sort of specially chosen things on offer.
Now that’s what I call real tourism. Everyone benefits.
Oh yeah. We really liked that re Laskarina. Their reps lived in these places all year round. And some of these islands, like Tilos, well they basically shut and holed up ever the winter months. Spetses, the Anargiri Beach bit where we stayed that all shut up for these months.
I know what you mean. I remember speaking to someone who lived on one of the islands all year round and he desribed it just like you have..
Many thanks for the bonus point, Malc. I can’t say I’d fancy the upward journey, not with my vertigo! 😮
I’ve never been able to get over the fact that somebody who can fly a plane suffers from vertigo 🛩️
I know, it’s very strange indeed, but it’s true. I think the reason, at least for me, dawned years ago when I was over in France spending a week at the Paris Air Show. I was with the editor and photographers of an air show guide publication I used to work on (back in those days I was a freelance artworker and typesetter – great days!). One evening, we all decided to go up the Eiffel Tower, and when we got to the top I became really woozy and felt terrified. Weirdly, the editor, Tim, was the same and he was a pilot too. He went positively green! We both had to stand back from the railings, and the only way I could cope was to keep my gaze directed straight out towards the horizon rather than to look down. It didn’t help that soon after we reached the top, a storm erupted just across the city with thunder and forked lightning. So there I was, wobbling around at the top of the tallest metal object in the area during an electric thunderstorm! In the confusion, however, I realised that my fear stemmed from the fact that I was very high up but still connected to the ground. I was standing on something that went very steeply all the way down to the earth beneath. Of course, in an aeroplane you’re not connected to the ground, you’re free from it, and that’s what – illogical as it sounds – makes the difference. No idea why this should be, but my dad was exactly the same – fine with flying, but not with earthbound heights. I reckon this was also the case for Tim, the editor. The human mind is a strange thing, isn’t it? 🙂
I can believe it because I’m convinced that there’s a connection between the brain and the body. If the mind’s not right your body seems to react to it. As well as the fear of heights connection, your brain could have been telling you that you were in danger from being on that structure during an electrical storm, and maybe that feeling is still with you even if you don’t realise it. Anyway, the good thing was that it didn’t put you off flying 😊
Do I get one point for Greece? 😀 An amazing scene, with that city perched precariously on the high clifftop peering down over the zig-zag of routeways to the settlement below. Must have been quite a place to visit.
You can definitely have a point for Greece – and a bonus point for realising it wasn’t easy getting to the top.
Well I got the island so that’s two points, but not the other two questions! I’ve always wanted to go here but so far not made it.
Don’t go during the peak weeks if you can avoid it Sarah. It’s got very popular these days apparently.
Thank you, Malc, for the interesting photo that is inviting visiting. As I was never in Greece, I didn’t get the location but I would guess that Greece is a beautiful country. Thank you, Malc, for the inspiration!
Joanna
Yes it is Joanna. I have fond memories of Greece.
It is greatly educational to travel, and you are lucky that you can, Malc!
Joanna
Not these days though Joanna.
I haven’t visited this wonderful Greek island yet, but it’s on my bucket list ❣️❣️❣️
Have a lovely day, dear Malc
You too Luisa! 💙
🙏🫶🙏
I guessed it was one of the Greek islands but other than that no idea. I’ve seen photos with all the white buildings with blue domes and it looks lovely but I’ve been told it’s very touristy now.
Yes it has Eunice. There weren’t hordes of people in 1979 but the infrastructure wasn’t brilliant. I went back in 1992 and the infrastructure was better, but since then the airport has expanded and made it easier for people to get to and consequently has become too popular, especially in the summer.