Wednesday, March 19, 2014

"Believe" - Ad Vanderveen's song inspired by Samos island



"Believe"

A song by singer/songwriter Ad Vanderveen from The Netherlands.  It's about his feelings of the timelessness of the landscapes found and experienced on Samos and the thought, that the old philosophers, writers and astronomers, the wise men of Samos, saw these same landscapes more than two thousand years ago too.

"Written on the island of Samos, Greece, thinking of the wise men who once lived there and devoted their lives to first-hand knowledge and proof of things we may believe, and build on in daily life today" (liner notes by Ad Vanderveen).

Here is the video for the song:



Song taken from his album "BEAT THE RECORD", released in March 2014.

Why not learn a bit about some of the wise men who were born on the island of Samos in ancient greek times? E.g.:

Friday, May 10, 2013

Samian Dreamscapes: landscapes in the southernmost part of Samos



What about those remote areas in the southern tip of the island of Samos in Greece? A hot and dry region in summer and autumn, which most tourists on Samos will not visit due to bad accessability only via dusty dirt roads. And an inclined world full of steep slopes below the mountain range of Bournias and the village of Spatharei.

Small settlements along the coast, up to 780 meters below the top of the mountain. Breathtaking views on land- and seascapes along the southern coast of Samos towards Mount Kerkis, and out on the aegean sea with the nearby islet of Samiopoula and further islands like Agathonisi, Arki, Lipsi, Patmos, Fourni and Ikaria in the far distance.

As an "appetizer", here is a short photo presentation with a couple of my impressions from adventurous journeys on a motorscooter through these landscapes on the southern and southwest slopes of Mount Bournias, mainly between Tsopela bay and the hamlet Kalogera. 


Τι γίνεται με αυτές τις απομακρυσμένες περιοχές, στο νότιο άκρο του νησιού της Σάμου στην Ελλάδα; Ένα ζεστό και ξηρό περιοχή το καλοκαίρι και το φθινόπωρο, που οι περισσότεροι τουρίστες στη Σάμο δεν θα επισκεφθεί οφείλεται σε κακή προσβασιμότητα μόνο μέσω σκονισμένο χωματόδρομους. Και μια κλίση κόσμο γεμάτο από απότομες πλαγιές κάτω από την οροσειρά του Μπουρνιά και το χωριό Σπαθαραίοι.

Μικρούς οικισμούς κατά μήκος της ακτής, μέχρι 780 μέτρα κάτω από την κορυφή του βουνού. Εκπληκτική θέα στη γη και τα θαλάσσια τοπία κατά μήκος της νότιας ακτής της Σάμου προς το όρος Κέρκης, και έξω στο Αιγαίο με το κοντινό νησάκι Σαμιοπούλα και την περαιτέρω νησιά όπως το Αγαθονήσι, Αρκοί, Λειψοί, Πάτμος, Ικαρία και Φούρνοι στη μακρινή απόσταση.

Ως «ορεκτικό», εδώ είναι μια σύντομη παρουσίαση φωτογραφιών με ένα ζευγάρι από τις εντυπώσεις μου από περιπετειώδη ταξίδια σε motorscooter μέσω αυτών των τοπίων στις πλαγιές νότια και νοτιοδυτικά από Mount Μπουρνιά, κυρίως μεταξύ Τσόπελα κόλπο και τον οικισμό Καλογερά.


If you want to see more, please follow this link here for a 14 min long photo presentation.


Wednesday, February 13, 2013

A visit to the valley of the river Imvrasos




A couple of impressions from visits to the valley of the river (brook) of Imvrasos. Starting the trip from the road between Koumaradei and Pirgos and following the river valley down to Myli, visiting/crossing the river at several locations.



In addition some photos too:


Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Samos Welcomes Latest Volunteer Fire-fighter at Chora School

Festivities, foreigners and the fire brigade.
With the summer comes the fire risks and if the fire starts someone has to put them out.
Bright red trucks, Canadair water bombers and helicopters all take up the challenge of saving a parched land from an old enemy; fire.
With an economic and political situation which could be described as combustible the landscape is beginning to match it. The sun’s heat has tanned the diminished number of tourists but has made the land tinder dry. Whether there is economic and political stability, whether or not the tourists come, the fear of conflagration remains.
Greece has a full time fire brigade but during the hot, dry and windy summer months the risk of a large outbreak may even be too big for them to tackle alone. Volunteer fire fighters will, at a moment’s notice, stop what they are doing and take up the challenge of saving their land, homes, neighbours and families. Everyone who lives here appreciate their sacrifices and dedication.
The Aegean island of Samos was deeply scarred by huge fires in the summer of 2000, with a smoke plume which was even visible from space. There are regular reports of discarded cigarettes, broken bottles, an accident and even arson once again threatening to unleash an inferno. The cause of some fires is never known and to those who respond, largely irrelevant. They have to be put out, no matter how they were started and the faster the better.
The volunteer fire-fighters of Chora will receive a fire truck donated by the Schwarz family, the patrons of the Samos Young Artists Festival. The truck was originally used by the volunteer fire-fighters of Kirchberg in Austria, who have renovated the truck, re-equipped it and are driving it to Samos. The truck should arrive on Thursday 23rd August.
The truck will then be handed over to the Chora Volunteer Fire-fighters on Saturday 25th August at 8pm. The handover will take place at Chora School where there will be food and drinks available as well as dancing to celebrate the arrival of one more weapon in the yearly battle with wildfires.
Even as this truck arrives volunteers from Samos Island are on the neighbouring island of Chios, risking their lives to put out huge wildfires there. Reports are emerging that these fires may have been caused deliberately in an act of arson. Whatever the reason the fire-fighters deserve our support and profits from food and drink sales on Saturday go towards the volunteers operating costs.
This type of co-operation whether it be multi-national, inter-community or local show what can be achieved without the need for posturing but a desire to get the job done. Necessity means that people from all backgrounds can pull together and do their best. At the end of the day it is the crews who will go out, will take the risks, will face down the fires and do what needs to be done.
There is still a place for Greek heroes.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

"Always" Pythagorion

A sunny morning in early May in the picturesque harbour of Pythagorion. A couple of impressions from a relaxed walk - with many stops to enjoy the picturesque views - through parts of the harbour on that beautiful early morning with clear blue skies. Song "Always" by dutch singer/songwriter Ad Vanderveen. Played and sung by Ad Vanderveen together with Kersten de Ligny and Dimos Kasapidis, in a spontaneous acoustic guitar session after a nice meal we had together in a tavern on Balos beach, Samos.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Samos "Think Pink" on 30.10.2011

Εκδήλωση Think Pink

Ο μήνας Οκτώβριος είναι αφιερωμένος σε όλο τον κόσμο, στην πρόληψη και
ενημέρωση των γυναικών για τον καρκίνο του μαστού. Εκτιμάται πως κάθε 6
λεπτά μία γυναίκα χάνει τη ζωή της, ενώ κάθε 2,5 λεπτά γίνεται μια νέα
διάγνωση. Ωστόσο, οι θεραπευτικές εξελίξεις στον καρκίνο του μαστού
έχουν ξεπεράσει τις προσδοκίες και των πιο αισιόδοξων ειδικών.
Καλλιτεχνικά και αθλητικά δρώμενα λαμβάνουν χώρα καθ’ όλο τον Οκτώβριο,
με σκοπό την ενημέρωση για την πρόληψη και έγκαιρη διάγνωση του καρκίνου
του μαστού, την ευαισθητοποίηση της κοινωνίας και τη συγκέντρωση ποσών
που διατίθενται στην αντικαρκινική έρευνα και στην υποστήριξη των
γυναικών με καρκίνο του μαστού.
Η Σχολή Χορού Samos School of Dance, το γυμναστήριο Samos Sport Studio
και Ινστιτούτο Αισθητικής Dermaform, οργανώνουν για πρώτη φορά στη Σάμο
τη δράση Think Pink, στις 30 Οκτωβρίου στις εγκαταστάσεις του Samos
Sport Studio στα Περιβόλια της Πόλης της Σάμου.
Η εκδήλωση Think Pink περιλαμβάνει ποικιλία δωρεάν δραστηριοτήτων για
γυναίκες και άνδρες.
10:00 Έναρξη
10:30-11:30 Art Therapy με τη Μαριάννα Νίλσεν Χατζημιχάλη
11:00-13:00 Συμβουλές Αισθητικής, Henna Tattoo
11:30-11:50 Πρόγραμμα Εκγύμνασης Κοιλιακών και Ραχιαίων
11:50-12:30 Push + Lift πρόγραμμα εκγύμνασης όλου του σώματος
12:30-13:00 Ομιλία από τον Ιατρό Κατσούλη Ιωάννη
13:00-14:00 Χορός Swing
Παράλληλα θα υπάρχουν μαθήματα αναρρίχησης για μικρούς και μεγάλους και
δραστηριότητες για παιδιά.
Στην εκδήλωση συμμετέχουν επίσης ο Σύλλογoς Αυτοδυτών Σάμου και η σχολή
καταδύσεων AegeanScuba.
Μικροαντικείμενα όπως Ροζ βραχιολάκια, μπλούζες, κούπες, κοσμήματα, με
τη Ροζ Κορδέλα που συμβολίζει την συμπαράσταση σε όλες τις γυναίκες στις
οποίες διαγνώστηκε καρκίνος του μαστού, θα διατίθενται προς πώληση. Τα
έσοδα θα δοθούν εξολοκλήρου σε Συλλόγους και ΜΚΟ που υποστηρίζουν τις
γυναίκες με καρκίνο του μαστού.

ENGLISH:

Think Pink Event

The month of October is dedicated to the world, prevention and
inform women about breast cancer. It is estimated that every 6
minute a woman loses her life, and every 2.5 minutes is a new
diagnosis. However, therapeutic developments in breast cancer
have exceeded the expectations of the most optimistic experts.
Artistic and sporting events take place throughout October,
for information on prevention and early detection of
breast cancer, to raise awareness and fund raising
available in cancer research and support
women with breast cancer.
The Samos School of Dance, Samos Sport Studio
and Institute of Aesthetic Dermaform, organize for the first time in Samos
Action Think Pink, on October 30 at the premises of Samos
Sport Studio, Perivolia Samos town.
The event includes Think Pink range of free activities for
women and men.
10:00 Start
10:30 - 11:30 Art Therapy with Marianna Nielsen Hatzimihali
11:00 - 13:00 Beauty Tips, Henna Tattoo
11:30 - 11:50 Abs workout and dorsal
11:50 - 12:30 Push + Lift workout the whole body
12:30 - 13:00 Speech by Doctor John Katsoulis
13:00 - 14:00 Swing Dance
While there will be climbing courses for all ages and
activities for children.
The event also includes the Syllogos Divers Samos and the Dive school AegeanScuba.
Small objects like Pink wristbands, sweatshirts, mugs, jewelry, with
the pink ribbon symbolizing support for all women in
diagnosed with breast cancer will be available for sale. The
proceeds will be given entirely to associations and NGOs that support
women with breast cancer.