Snapshots.dot.com

Almost full moon

2011-08-16T23:18:00.004+01:00

I took this picture near my parents' home in Greece a few days before the August full moon. I was going on an errand with my dad and didn't have my camera with me, but when I saw those clouds and the moon shining bright, I just had to go pick it up and snap this shot.

Royal gardens

2010-10-05T01:04:00.005+01:00

Last week I visited Buckingham Palace, the official London residence of Queen Elizabeth II. What we saw of the palace was very impressive, but unfortunately photography isn't allowed. Once outside in the gardens, you can take as many pictures are you like, so here is one of mine. Makes a difference from the blue waters and strong light of Greece and Cyprus, doesn't it?

Chilling out in the pool

2010-10-03T19:13:00.003+01:00

Another way to enjoy water, this time by the pool bar. I took this photo at our hotel in Cyprus and I have no doubt that every single person standing in that pool is British (probably the baby too). Who needs waves when they can have beer?

Jump!

2010-09-30T23:56:00.000+01:00

When the sea is too rough for swimming, you can always play "catch a wave". Not horizontally, like a surfer might, but vertically, simply for the pleasure of the temporary lift.

Getting drowned isn't my idea of fun, so instead of fighting with the waves in Agios Gordios beach in Corfu, I just sat at a seaside cafe and took photos. This is one of my favourites.

Santa and the souvenirs

2010-09-25T11:40:00.004+01:00

Another souvenir shop shot, this time coming from Cyprus. Amongst the usual bibelots, jewellery and kitchen notepads, sits a lonely Santa clutching a Christmas tree with one hand and ringing a bell with the other. Ho ho ho.

I took this photo earlier this month in a souvenir shop in Pafos, Cyprus. This was the only Santa in the shop.

It's sales time

2010-09-06T17:11:00.003+01:00

Sales aren't just for locals, they're also for tourists. I love those expressions of amazement and delight on the two girls' faces. Snapped at a souvenir shop in Oxford Street, London's retail centre.

Harry Potter weather

2010-08-12T23:14:00.000+01:00

This summer has been unusually warm and dry. The effect can be seen all over our parks and open spaces which have turned a crisp yellow instead of their usual bright green. I took this photo just before a summer storm last week (our first in a long time), literally minutes before the skies opened. It reminded me of the opening scene from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Fast-food reflections

2010-08-11T23:36:00.001+01:00

There's so much happening in this photo, I don't know if it's interesting or just plain ugly! It's a quick snap of a Burger King restaurant facade in Peckham, South London. I don't usually do reflections, but I was crawling past as a car passenger at the time and was so bored I took photos of absolutely everything. If you enlarge it, you can see me taking the photo - I'm in the little silver car on the very left.

You can see more pictures of Peckham here and you can read about our roadtrip ordeal that made this photographic burst possible here.

Greek dancing

2010-08-09T23:51:00.005+01:00

Last time I was in Athens I watched a dance performance given by the Dora Stratou Dance Theatre. This photo shows the tsamiko dance, one of the most popular in Greece. When performed for an audience, tsamiko is at first danced in a circle by men and women, followed by a solo performance given by the head male dancer while everyone else remains stationary. The solo involves a serious amount of jumping, hopping and twisting. I didn't take any videos at the time, but there are several in YouTube if you're interested. See here and here.

Athenian open air cinema

2010-08-04T23:06:00.003+01:00

The open air cinema is a Greek institution. As soon as the weather warms up sufficiently (usually around the end of May), many of the normal four-walls-and-a-ceiling cinemas close down and open air cinemas take over. They are situated on rooftops or open spaces like courtyards, parking lots and parks. There are close to 100 open air cinemas in Athens alone.

This one is situated within the Flisvos marina complex. The sea is just behind the projection screen. We were there to watch Knight And Day, starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz.

Haircut, anyone?

2010-07-30T23:43:00.002+01:00

Recently I started taking photos of "people at work". This is my Greek hairdresser in her salon.

Man in bookshop

2010-07-29T23:55:00.005+01:00

A man looking through books at Eleftheroudakis bookshop in Athens. I love the unusual curved display.

Sunset over Piraeus

2010-07-28T08:16:00.000+01:00

It's the end of another glorious summer day and we're at Flisvos marina, from where one can see the sun setting over Piraeus. I like this photo because the couple appear to be more interested in their conversation than the sunset itself, which makes me think they're locals who've seen it several times before.

Actually, the girl was busy talking, the guy was mostly looking into the distance. Let's hope he had been captivated by the beautiful sunset.

I've shown you Flisvos marina before here and here.

Dining by the sea

2010-07-27T10:00:00.005+01:00

A family having an early dinner (or late lunch) by the sea in Mikrolimano, Piraeus. Mikrolimano is a small bay below the hill of Kastella in Piraeus, Greece. Piraeus is the port of Athens.

A number of restaurants, cafes and tavernas line the bay, offering diners the opportunity to enjoy their meal right next to the water. The only way to get closer to the sea is to dive in!

Hellenic Parliament

2010-07-25T16:34:00.004+01:00

On one of the rare occasions when I left home without a camera, I got the opportunity to take a photo of an iconic building from an unusual angle. Luckily, my Nokia 5800 phone came to the rescue, so I can share this image with you.

This is Syntagma Square, in the centre of Athens. The yellow building in the middle of the photo is the Hellenic Parliament, previously a royal palace. The expance of green to the right hand side is the National Garden.

I took this photo from the top floor cafe of Public Store. I like it because it shows how close Athens is to the mountains. The range visible in the background is Ymittos (Hymettus), which lies along the east border of the city.

Souvenirs

2010-07-23T16:10:00.002+01:00

I took this photo in the Plaka area in Athens, where all the tourist shops are. I'm not sure if the rag doll is on sale, I suspect not. It's not the prettiest of dolls, but it looked chilled out sitting on her little chair amongst the T-shirts, postcards and ceramics. I couldn't resist snapping it.

Vuvuzelas in Athens

2010-07-20T10:35:00.003+01:00

If you've watched the recent FIFA World Cup, you will know what these are. If you're not a footie fan, let me explain: they are vuvuzelas, stadium horns used at football matches in South Africa. They make a monotone sound that resembles loud buzzing when you're watching a match on the TV. Very annoying but also quite distinctive.

I took this photo in Plaka, Athens, a few days after the world cup final between the Netherlands and Spain (Spain won). I've never before seen them on sale anywhere in Europe, which makes me think about the power of televised international sport.

A bite to eat

2010-07-12T12:17:00.004+01:00

Travellers at Heathrow Terminal 5 grabbing a bite to eat at the Pret-A-Manger outlet. I like the bird's eye view.

Cadillac

2010-07-03T23:43:00.001+01:00

I snapped this picture in Greenwich, SE London, earlier tonight. It's not often you see a car like that in our streets.

Spoons!

2010-06-18T23:57:00.004+01:00

I took this photo in a Greek restaurant in London, called As Greek As It Gets. The food isn't the best, but the decor is very "modern Greek" and very interesting. Not a blue-and-white checkered tablecloth or chair with raffia seat in sight.

Sunny and packed

2010-05-20T22:39:00.003+01:00

What a difference four days can make! The weather today finally took a turn for the better, and Londoners were quick to claim a place in the sun.

I took this photo at the Riverside Terrace Cafe outside the Royal Festival Hall on the South Bank. According to the Met Office, the hot spell won't last, but we can enjoy it while it's here.

Wet and almost deserted

2010-05-17T11:50:00.004+01:00

Like most Londoners, I tend to avoid going into central London at weekends, but yesterday was an exception as I had tickets for a concert in Covent Garden. That's how I found myself walking along the Strand shortly before 7 PM. This is usually a bustling street, heavy with traffic and pedestrians, but the rain (and a huge traffic jam further north towards Holborn) gave this stretch an almost deserted look.

They keep promising us "ice cream weather" but I'm not sure if they mean the kind of ice cream you eat in the sunshine or next to an open fire. Ho hum.

Thames transport

2010-05-14T01:44:00.006+01:00

I took this photo of a commuter boat approaching Greenwich Pier just before 9 PM today. You can see the Doclands in the distance, as well as the domed exit of the Greenwich foot tunnel.

The tide was out at the time, exposing the Thames foreshore, the closest thing we've got to a city beach.

Cast your vote... in church

2010-05-06T19:57:00.007+01:00

Today is a General Election in the UK. I took a picture of the polling station on my way to vote.

Yes, you've guessed it, it's inside the church. If you enlarge the photo, you'll be able to make out the temporary sign.

Stormy clouds

2010-05-02T12:47:00.006+01:00

This weekend is a long one in the UK (Monday is a bank holiday) and long weekends usually mean stormy weather. True to form, yesterday's semi-clear morning skies gave way to stormy clouds by early afternoon, and we've not see the sun since.

It's wet and miserable out there at the moment, but at least I got a nice photo out of it. As they say, every cloud has a silver lining...

Sing a song of sixpence...

2010-04-30T10:48:00.006+01:00

Just a blackbird caught singing in the garden...

This is the Common Blackbird, Turdus Merula, also called Eurasian Blackbird. The male is all black except for a yellow eye-ring and beak. It has a rich, melodious song.

This photo reminds me of the nursery rhyme with the blackbirds in a pie. Enjoy!

Old ambulance

2010-04-21T23:04:00.013+01:00

This is a Bedford CA ambulance from the 60's, now living on the side of the road in Exeter, SW England. Someone must love it very much to still pay the road tax!

Bedford Vehicles was a subsidiary of Vauxhall Motors, itself the British subsidiary of General Motors (GM), established in 1930. The company was a leading international truck manufacturer and the CA was one of their biggest sellers. Its chassis became a popular basis for ice-cream vans, ambulances and camper vans.

I wonder how many people's lives were saved by this now derelict piece of metal...

Sping has sprung

2010-04-17T23:40:00.000+01:00

The extra cold winter we had this year means that the arrival of spring has been delayed by a few weeks, but now that it's here, it's really colourful.

I took this picture at a park near my home. As you can see, the tulips are out in full force.

Athens by night

2010-04-08T00:18:00.008+01:00

Tonight I met up for drinks with a friend in the centre of Athens. I had my little camera with me and took some photos to show you what the city looks like after dark. You may have to click on the photos to see them properly.

Shops in the centre stay open from 9 AM to 9 PM. I took this photo at 9:16 PM, just as Ermou street, one of the main shopping areas, was starting to quieten down. The lit-up building in the distance is the Parliament.

Shop windows are brightly lit and imaginatively decorated.

In between the cement and the traffic, it is possible to catch glimpses of the Acropolis.

Monastiraki is a popular destination for diners looking for a cheap and filling meal. The weather is very mild at the moment, so many people choose to dine al fresco. Greeks tend to have dinner late, so although it was almost 10 PM when I took this photo, all the tavernas were packed.

No need to worry if you're too late for the shops. Street kiosks sell everything from travel guides to loo roll.

We had a drink at this little bar. It wasn't very busy as it's mid-week and we were a little early. It was more lively when we left just before midnight.

Rows of taxis are waiting for customers at Syntagma Square.

I opted to take the metro, so walked through the square to the metro station. Can you make out the couple kissing by the fountain? Sooo cute!

It seems that lots of other people had the same idea, as the platform was pretty crowded, considering it was past midnight.

The plain of Thessaly

2010-04-06T21:49:00.006+01:00

Greece is a very mountainous country and large stretches of flat land are both rare and agressively cultivated. The lowlands between the towns of Trikala and Larissa in Thessaly (central Greece) form a plain surrounded by a ring of mountains. The area has a distinct summer and winter season, with summer rains augmenting the fertility of the plains. This has led to Thessaly being called the breadbasket of Greece.

This photo shows part of the plain of Thessaly close to the mountain village of Domokos. We were driving down the mountain when I took this photo. It was early evening and the light was very poor - I only noticed the Avin fuel truck when I uploaded my photos on the computer.

Dancing in the streets

2010-04-03T23:39:00.012+01:00

Easter is the busiest time of year on Greek motorways, as many people travel significant distances to spend the holiday with their families and friends. Smaller roads tend to get clogged up with local shoppers and through traffic, so traffic police often have to intervene to keep cars moving smoothly and safely.

These traffic policemen were tasked with controlling the flow of cars at a busy junction outside the town of Lamia in central Greece. I snapped this photo from inside a car with a dusty windscreen - I guess you could say I used a filter. Although the colours aren't quite right, I like it because their movements almost look choreographed.

I felt very sorry for them as it was really hot that day. We were barely comfortable sitting in our car with the windows down, whereas they had to stand in the hot afternoon sun, wave their arms and blow their whistles. It's not a job I'd ever want to do!

Numismatic Museum

2010-04-02T12:47:00.002+01:00

This is the Iliou Melathron (The Palace of Ilion), once the house of Heinrich Schliemann, now the Numismatic Museum of Athens, on Panepistimou Street. It's one of my favourite buildings in Athens, often neglected because of its position on a busy street, far too close to other buildings of architectural and historical insterest, namely the Parliament on one side and the University on the other.

It was built in 1879, designed by German architect Ernst Ziller in the style of buildings of the Italian Renaissance adapted to the neoclassical spirit of the late 19th century. The detail on the ceilings is amazing.

I took this photo after the 25th March parade, this is why there are people strolling where cars should have been wizzing past.

Hondos Centre

2010-04-01T12:42:00.001+01:00

Hondos Centre is a large department store in Greece, selling cosmetics and accessories. This is their flagship store on Omonia Square, in the centre of Athens - a stone's throw from the Town Hall building I showed you in my previous post.

I took this photo because the huge poppy mural caught my attention. Poppies are everywhere in Greece during spring, and although it's a little too early for them at the moment, soon the green fields will burst with red colour.

If you're ever in Athens, there's a very nice cafe on the top floor of this Hondos Centre store.

Athens Town Hall

2010-03-31T12:35:00.001+01:00

This is the Town Hall of the City of Athens, situated on Kotzia Square. It's not as magnificent as the Paris Hotel de Ville, but I like it because it's understated and elegant. It's surrounded by some pretty ugly buildings, but the open space in front of it offers some respite from the abundance of cement all around.

Souvlaki man

2010-03-30T11:47:00.008+01:00

The other day, while waiting in the queue for my souvlaki-pita to be prepared, I started taking pictures of the gyros stands (pork or chicken meat on a vertical stick). I explained what I was doing to the man behind the counter, and he said: "I've been making souvlakis for 10 years and no one has taken *my* picture yet". Of course I offered to put this right there and then.

I also took a photo of the souvlaki-pita he made for me. Here it is: pork meat, tomatoes, onion, chips and tzatziki wrapped in warm pitta bread. Yummilicious!

Brave men

2010-03-28T23:53:00.003+01:00

This is a member of the Presidential Guard standing in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Athens, Greece. The writing on the wall consists of a list of placenames where Greek soldiers have fallen in battle, as well as a quote by Ancient Greek historian Thucydides, which translates as "Every place is (worthy) burial ground for brave men".

The Presidential Guard is an elite ceremonial unit that guards the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Greek Parliament and the Presidential Mansion. Its members are drawn from the Army's Infantry, Artillery and Armoured Corps. There is a minimum height requirement of 1.86 meters (6'1") to join the Guard.

Watching the parade

2010-03-25T17:44:00.001Z

Today is the anniversary of the start of the war for Greek independence, which was fought between 1821 and 1829. The day is traditionally celebrated with student and army parades, and everyone goes out to watch and applaud those marching.

The military parade through the centre of Athens was short and unpretentious this year, as befits a country in serious finacial trouble, but the spectators enjoyed themselves nonetheless.

The sunny weather and gloriously warm temperatures (21-23°C) certainly helped lift the mood. For someone who comes from the cold and wet north, it felt just like summer!

A satisfied customer

2010-03-24T17:03:00.010Z

Greetings from Greece! This morning was my first back in the homeland so I went to my local bakery for a much craved cheese pie. There I discovered something interesting for my Wordless Wednesday post and returned with my camera to take photos. While I was snapping away, a customer came in and told me I should take a photo of the pretty lady behind the counter. I said why don't I take a picture of them both. He said fine, if I promised not to let his wife see it. I duly promised and snapped away. Don't they look happy?

Most Greeks buy their bread fresh in the morning or on their way home for their afternoon siesta. The cabinet on the left would have displayed various types of pie (cheese, cheese and ham, sausage) as well as piroshki and traditional spanakopita. I took this photo after midday, so all the good stuff's gone.

P.S. I hope you're not the wife!

Rush hour London

2010-03-19T21:30:00.008Z

I took this photo while standing on a railway platform situated over New Cross Road in south east London.

It is a true snapshot, in the sense that I took it very quickly, using my pocket camera. I had to hold it as steady as possible and stretch my arms over the bridge wall to get a clear shot. I pressed the magic button and ran to board my train. You can't get snappier than that!

I thought it'd be interesting to show you what traffic looks like during the evening rush hour.

Paris by night

2010-03-14T15:09:00.009Z

This is a side view of the Hotel de Ville in Paris. Somehow the word "City Hall" doesn't do this magnificent building justice.

I took this photo in December 2008. I'm pretty sure Christmas was the reason for the sparkly roof.

Dreaming of blue sea and golden beaches

2010-03-02T15:56:00.005Z

The sun's shining, the temperature has risen to double figures (yayyyy!), the air smells of spring -- and hubby is planning a skiing holiday for us. I love snow as much as the next person (maybe more), but given the choice of a week in the mountains or a week by the sea, I'd opt for the sea without hesitation.

This is Porthminster beach in Cornwall on a grey autumn morning. The sea is the Atlantic. I can't help thinking it must look gorgeous in springtime.

Multicolour whatsits

2010-02-21T12:32:00.007Z

I saw this photo Gena posted for Color Carnival, and was inspired to find a colourful one of my own for today's post. I couldn't for the life of me work out how to link in to the Color Carnival website, but here it is anyway.

I took this photo in Paris last May. No idea what it shows. Any suggestions?

Pancake racing

2010-02-16T22:41:00.002Z

Today is Shrove Tuesday, also known as Pancake Day. We eat them and we race with them. More here.

From Cuba with love

2010-02-15T07:46:00.005Z

Live singing at the Cubanita bar in Athens, Greece. A very enjoyable night was had by all, drinking mojitos and caipirinhas while swaying to the music.

Carnival season

2010-02-11T10:50:00.001Z

It's carnival season and clowns are in. The brighter the costume, the better.

Homemade pizza

2010-02-07T01:32:00.005Z

My friend Christina invited us round for pizza the other evening. Instead of ordering from Dominos or Pizza Hut as I'd do, she made a pizza from scratch.

What can I say? It really tasted as good as it looked - and I ate too much for someone who's supposed to be on a diet. Ho hum.

Inside the O2

2010-01-28T00:22:00.014Z

For those of you wondering what the O2 is like on the inside, here is a selection of photographs I took once we got off the boat.

The psychedelic walkway between the pier and the main entrance

O2 main entrance

Walking along Entertainment Avenue (I swear that's what it's called)

Round and round it goes...

...but not all the way!

I'd not realised this, but only about half of the available space is currently utilised, and only a relatively small part of it is taken up by restaurants and cafes. There's definitely plenty of choice if you're looking for a night out, but not as much as I'd imagined from the size of the place.

I was also suprised at how empty it was on a Sunday evening. I hope it's busier during the week.

The O2 by night

2010-01-24T19:54:00.010Z

Last Sunday we visited the O2 for the first time. Previously known as the Millennium Dome, this interesting-looking structure houses a concert arena, music club, cinema, exhibition space, piazzas, restaurants and cafes.

It is located on Greenwich Peninsula, SE London, and was built in 2000 to celebrate the Millennium. It's circular, 365 m in diameter - one metre for each day of the year - and the largest dome of its type in the world.

We travelled by boat along the Thames. I took this photo just as our boat slowed down to approach the pier at O2.

Even more snow!

2010-01-13T12:37:00.001Z

Even though it's warmer than it's been for some time (a balmy 0°C at the moment!) we've had fresh snow again today. Not a lot, but enough to make everything look pretty again.

I spent a good hour walking around my neighbourhood this morning, looking at the white stuff and taking a few photos. I like this one because it shows an interesting building as well as an old-style London black cub, complete with a thick layer of snow on the roof and hood.

More snow

2010-01-08T23:52:00.012Z

This is another picture from my window. I took it a couple of days ago, during the latest snow shower.

We've not had any more snow since then, but surprisingly enough, most of what we got is still here and doesn't look like it's going anywhere fast.

At the moment, the temperature is -3°C but it feels like -7°C due to the freezing wind coming from the north pole. This may not sound a lot to those of you in Scandinavia, but it's a lot colder than we're used to. Brrr.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

2010-01-06T00:56:00.004Z

I took this picture from my study window half an hour ago. At that point, it'd been snowing for about an hour. As you can see, the main road is clear enough to allow a bus to speed through, but everything else is getting covered in snow. If you click on the photo to enlarge it, you'll be able to make out a young woman walking on the pavement.

This much snow is very unusual for London this early in the year, and it's not even the first we've had this winter. Over the last 3-4 weeks we've experienced some unseasonal and extreme weather, with plenty of frost, snow, sleet and low temperatures. According to the Met Office, it's been the most prolonged spell of freezing conditions since December 1981.

Festive Athens

2010-01-01T19:08:00.006Z

I didn't make it to Greece this Christmas, so I'm borrowing this photo from a selection my friend Antonis Toutouzis has posted on Facebook. I liked this one because it's quite geometric and I also like the orangey light.

It appears that Athens was decorated in festive blue and white this year - this photo was the only one in Antoni's collection that had a red hue.

You can see more of Antoni's festive photos here.

Christmas decorated house

2009-12-29T13:38:00.004Z

This is the most elaborately decorated house I've come across this Christmas, complete with a moving Santa in the window. It's the Paul Toole Holiday Light Show in Wells, Somerset.

Photo by Caroline Lévesque, as my snaps turned out a bit too shaky to do it justice.

Winter Wonderland

2009-12-21T23:55:00.002Z

The lights of the Hyde Park Christmas Market are reflected in the waters of the Serpentine.

Another quick snapshot compliments of my little camera.

Winter sunset

2009-12-19T23:51:00.001Z

Walking through Kensington Gardens earlier this evening with my friend Christine, we spotted the end of a beautiful sunset. Luckily I had my little camera with me, and was able to capture it for posterity.

There's something magical about a clear winter sky, don't you think?

Millennium Dome, take 2

2009-12-13T15:12:00.005Z

Last Thursday I had another go at talking a picture of the Millennium Dome at night time. It's not the most successful shot ever, but at least you can see the green beam more clearly.

The beam marks the Prime Meridian, i.e. the line at which the longitude is defined to be 0°. The Prime Meridian passes through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, located on a hill diagonally behind the spot where I stood to take this photo.

Take 1 can be seen here.

Doing the weekly shop

2009-12-06T16:01:00.001Z

Supermarkets are busy places on a Sunday afternoon. I took this photo at our local Tesco.

Phew!

2009-12-01T18:30:00.005Z

I took this picture at the same carnival where I found the young masquerader. It was 11 PM at the time, the floats had been on the road for almost 3 hours, and this young man's float had just been given the much awaited STOP order. I just love the expression on his face! You can click on the photo to enlarge it.

If you'd like to read more about the West Country illuminated carnival, look here and here.

Winter approaching

2009-11-23T09:48:00.006Z

Last week I returned to Wells, where I'd taken photos of the last of the fallen leaves in late October. The yellows and oranges of autunm are starting to give their place to bare trees and brightly coloured grass. Winter will soon be here.

Young masquerader

2009-11-21T12:24:00.005Z

This is one of the youngest masqueraders participating at last Monday's illuminated carnival at Weston-Super-Mare in Somerset, SW England.

Autumnal pinks

2009-11-17T11:08:00.001Z

Proof that autumn isn't just about golden leaves and bare branches.

Christmas fellows

2009-11-15T22:59:00.002Z

These adorable Christmas fellows are on sale at my local supermarket. I wish I could take them all home!

Last of the fallen leaves

2009-11-14T21:00:00.003Z

I took this picture two weeks ago in Wells, SW England. After the latest storms hit the west coast yesterday and today with winds of up to 100mph (160km/h), I reckon these were the last of the fallen leaves for this year.

Greenwich by night

2009-11-12T23:36:00.007Z

These are two photos I took tonight while walking along the river Thames in Greenwich. I only had my little camera with me (the one I keep in my handbag for emergencies) so the photos aren't very sharp. It was drizzling at the time and I was running late for my meeting - not a good combination for successful photography, but still.

The first photo is the view towards the Docklands on the north bank. I love the combination of low-rise traditional housing in the foreground and modern skyscrapers in the background, as well as the reflection of the lights in the water. To me, this view is iconic and sums up London very well.

The second view shows the Millennium Dome, also known as The O2, a large dome shaped entertainment centre originally built for the new millennium. It looks as if it's on the north bank, but it's in fact located on the south bank, just a little further along the river from where I was standing.

The bunch of lights on the left hand side of the picture is a Thames Clipper commuter boat speeding down the river. The short line in the sky on the right hand side is a plane approaching City Airport. The long green line you can just about make out on the left side (click to enlarge if you can't see it) marks the Prime Meridian, i.e. the line at which the longitude is defined to be 0°. The Prime Meridian passes through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, located on a hill diagonally behind the spot where I stood to take this photo.

Venetian beauty

2009-11-11T23:15:00.000Z

I love taking pictures of dolls in shop windows. I snapped this one in Venice, Italy, at a shop near the Rialto bridge.

La Tour Eiffel

2009-11-10T21:09:00.004Z

The Eiffel Tower is a 19th century iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris. It is the tallest building in France's capital and the single most visited paid monument in the world; millions of people climb to the top every year. It was named after its designer, engineer Gustave Eiffel, who designed it as the entrance arch for the 1889 World Fair. Since then, it's become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognisable structures in the world.

The tower stands at 324 m (1,063 ft) tall, about the same height as an 81-story building. Climbing to the top isn't for the faint-hearted, or those with severe acrophobia.

I've only been on it once, on a rainy, windy day, and wouldn't recommend it. The views just weren't worth it. I bet it's a different story in summer though - if you don't mind queuing for ever.

Docklands

2009-11-09T10:22:00.004Z

This is a river view of the Docklands, once part of the Port of London, now redeveloped principally for commercial and residential use. I snapped this picture while travelling to Greenwich on a river boat.

The tall building with the pointy roof is Canary Wharf, which I've previously shown you here. You can see a different view of the Docklands here.

Happy halloween!

2009-10-31T18:54:00.000Z

I saw lots of pumpkins this year, but the best - and scariest - was this one that I spotted at a shop window in Glastonbury, SW England.

Pylos Niokastro - once more

2009-10-27T17:47:00.006Z

A little while back I showed you the fortress of Pylos in SW Peloponnese in Greece. The photo I posted at the time showed the view from the top of the fortress towards the sea. This photo shows the opposite view, facing inland. I like it because it shows how the wall hugs the land, following the contours of the hills.

Pylos is famous for the naval battle fought on 20 October 1827, during the Greek War of Independence, in the bay of Navarino. In this battle, a combined British, French and Russian naval force destroyed an Ottoman and Egyptian armada. The Battle of Navarino was the last major naval battle in history to be fought entirely with sailing ships.

Malliaropouleio

2009-10-16T16:04:00.008+01:00

I took this picture of the recently refurbished Malliaropouleio Theatre in Tripoli, Greece. Having done a quick online search, this is the only information I've been able to find:

Malliaropouleio Theatre opened in 1910. It has an excellent neo-Baroque architecture and striking interior decoration. During the Second Word War it was looted by Italian soldiers. In recent years, many efforts to restore it have been made.

I also looked for old photos of the same theatre, and these are the best ones I came across. The first must have been taken during one of the earlier restoration efforts, maybe 15-20 years ago. I've no idea how old the other one is. I would guess it was taken in the 30's or 40's.

If I had found them earlier I'd have taken a couple of photos from the exact same angles, so we could make before-and-after comparisons. Maybe next time...

Small changes

2009-10-13T15:05:00.006+01:00

This IKEA box standing inside Doukissis Plakentias metro station in Athens appears to attract quite a bit of interest from passers-by. It is part of IKEA's "small change, big difference" campaign which promotes their refresh and redecorate range.

The campaign was first launched in Australia in July 2008, but I guess it's still appropriate, considering the current economic climate.

A touch of colour

2009-10-11T08:38:00.002+01:00

Spring is still here, but autumn is reportedly round the corner. Better enjoy it while it lasts.

Autumn or spring?

2009-10-08T02:13:00.007+01:00

Winter may be approaching, but on days like this, it feels quite a lot like spring.

Early autumn sunshine

2009-10-04T21:34:00.007+01:00

These two girls were enjoying a chat on a Greek beach earlier today. It may be autumn, and the sun's not as strong as it was even a month ago, but the weather's still pleasant and it's possible to sit out in your bikini and work on that tan.

Autumn in Athens

2009-10-02T19:15:00.000+01:00

Athens has a mild and reasonably dry autumn, as you can see from this picture, taken on 1st October at Syntagma Square in the centre of Athens.

The building in the background houses the Greek Parliament. It was built in 1840 under King Otto and served as the royal palace until 1910, when it was destroyed by fire. It reopened in 1935 as the seat of the National Assembly.

Pylos Niokastro

2009-09-29T23:38:00.002+01:00

In 1573, two years after the defeat of the Ottoman fleet at the battle of Naupaktos (Lepanto), the Turks built the fortress of Pylos, in order to control the southern entrance to the bay of Navarino, the largest natural harbour in the Peloponnese. The new fortress was called Niokastro (New Castle), to distinguish it from the Old Castle, the Frankish castle on the peninsula of Koryphasion, which had controlled the opposite, northern entrance to the bay up to that time.

Pylos is famous for the naval battle fought on 20 October 1827, during the Greek War of Independence, in the bay of Navarino. An Ottoman and Egyptian armada was destroyed by a combined British, French and Russian naval force. The Battle of Navarino was the last major naval battle in history to be fought entirely with sailing ships.

This is a view from the top of the Niokastro wall. The island in the distance is called Sfaktiria.

Ice-cream van

2009-09-24T17:11:00.016+01:00

I like this photo as it shows summer in the city - no parks, no beaches, just sleeveless dresses, bare legs and ice-cream purchased from the ice-cream van.

It's been a beautiful sunny day today, so I'm in a summer mood. Here's hoping that the blue skies and warm sun put in an appearance tomorrow too.

Snowy mountain road

2009-09-22T12:43:00.007+01:00

It turns out I don't go to the mountains all that often, as I have too few photos of trees and mountain tops. This one is probably the best one in my collection, taken through the car windscreen as we were leaving the Mainalo Ski Resort on New Year's day five years ago. At this point, we're at 1,500 m. above sea level.

Arcadian landscape

2009-09-21T00:02:00.004+01:00

This is a typical Arcadian view. High mountains and tiny plains make up approximately 90% of the land in Arcadia, in central Peloponnese.

The colour squares arranged in a line are beehive boxes. Beekeeping is very popular in Arcadia because of the fir blossom pollen which gives a uniquely aromatic honey.

Panigiri at Levidi

2009-09-18T23:38:00.002+01:00

During the summer months, there are a number of religious festivals taking place in villages all over Greece. These consist of special church services during the day, followed by merriment in the evening. The merriment bit includes music, dancing, eating and shopping at the open air markets that are set up. The Greek name for this type of festival is "panigiri".

I took this photo at a panigiri in Levidi, in rural Arcadia. This is the village's main square, where tables and chairs were set out for the revellers. On the left of the picture, behind the fountain, you can see there is music and dancing going on.

It was a quarter past midnight when I snapped this, and the celebration was still going strong when we left at 1:30 AM.

Approaching Kardamili

2009-09-15T11:12:00.005+01:00

This is the seaside village of Kardamili in the Messinian Mani. The village in the distance is Stoupa. You have to drive down a winding mountain road to get to Kardamili and Stoupa, but the views more than make up for it.

It was very hazy when we were there and the light was strange. I'd love to go back and take the same photo on a clear day.

Butterfly and flower

2009-09-13T14:45:00.003+01:00

This is a butterfly I photographed last month in Greece. Having spent ages looking through various butterfly websites, I think this is a High Brown Fritillary, which is quite rare in the UK.

Or it could be a Dark Green Fritillary. Or a Common Leopard (according to hubby).

Anyway, I don't know what it is, but it sure was quite pretty and I'm delighted it stood still long enough for me to snap this photo.

A church on Siros

2009-09-12T00:17:00.004+01:00

I took this picture from the boat and had to zoom right in, so it's not very sharp. I like it because it illustrates the crowded architecture of Ermoupoli. I love the way the church is poking through the houses.

Santorini at dusk

2009-09-10T23:46:00.004+01:00

Santorini is a small, circular archipelago of volcanic islands located in the southern Aegean Sea, about 200 km SE of the mainland. They are essentially what remains of an enormous volcanic explosion which destroyed what was formerly a single island, and lead to the creation of the current geological caldera.

Corinth Canal

2009-09-09T21:38:00.004+01:00

This photo is really special to me. I've been to the Corinth Canal several times, but this is the first time I've managed to photograph a ship sailing through it.

The Corinth Canal connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. It cuts through the narrow Isthmus of Corinth and separates the Peloponnese from the Greek mainland, effectively making the Peloponnese the largest Greek island.

The Canal was built between 1881-1893, it's 6.3 kilometres long and 24.6 metres wide at sea level. Its construction was planned, organised and supervised by the Hungarian architects István Türr and Béla Gerster. The Canal has been open to traffic since October 1893 and has reduced the distance between the ports of the Aegean and the Adriatic Sea by 131 nautical miles (243 kilometres).

Early morning Mykonos

2009-09-08T22:49:00.008+01:00

I took this photo on my way into Mykonos at 9 AM, a couple of hours before the town comes to life. I love the soft morning light and the sense of calm that comes after another night of partying.

St Paul's Cathedral

2009-08-30T17:22:00.002+01:00

This is a view over the river Thames towards St Paul's Cathedral on a rare sunny summer evening.

Living statue

2009-08-21T23:20:00.001+01:00

My favourite living statue in London can be found on the South Bank, near the London Eye.

Holiday snaps

2009-08-15T21:05:00.009+01:00

As you can see, the view I showed you in my previous post is very popular with the tourists who make it to the top of Greenwich park.

I stood on the base of the Wolfe statue to take this photo, with the Royal Observatory to my left.

Despite the clouds, visibility was quite good that day. If you look closely, you can even make out the Gherkin, which is located 7 kilometres away in the centre of London.

From Greenwich Park to the Docklands

2009-08-12T06:24:00.005+01:00

This is the view from the top of Greenwich Park, next to the Royal Observatory. The square building with the colonnades is the Queen's House and right behind it you can see part of the Old Royal Naval College, where my friend Pamela's graduation ceremony took place.

On the other side of the river Thames you can see the Docklands, an area where the old docks were located, which has now been redeveloped for commercial and residential use. The building with the pyramid top is One Canada Square, aka Canary Wharf Tower, which I've shown you in a previous post. At 235 metres high, this is the tallest skyscraper in the UK.

I took this photo at 2 PM, so although it looks like dusk, it was actually the middle of a (not so sunny) day.

Marina by night - take 2

2009-08-05T13:34:00.004+01:00

I think this photo of the marina is probably a bit better, although you can't see many boats.

What does everyone else think?

Marina by night

2009-08-04T20:41:00.008+01:00

This is an attempt at an artistic night shot. I'm not too pleased with the result, but hey, you've got to try.

I took the photo at the Flisvos marina in Piraeus last June. Piraeus is the port of Athens, and there are lots of little marinas dotted around. This is one of the newest and less charming ones.

As you can see, there are plenty of people around, including children, although I took this photo after 10:30 PM. That's Greek summer for you.

Looking up

2009-07-25T14:34:00.005+01:00

These are some photos I took earlier in the week, when I attended my friend Pamela's graduation ceremony at the Old Royal Naval College Chapel in Greenwich. I was totally mesmerised by the elaborate ceiling, which was designed by James "Athenian" Stuart and William Newton after the original flat-panelled ceiling was destroyed in a 1779 fire.

This is a view of the Chapel from the main entrance. You can read more about the Chapel here.

A church with a difference

2009-07-19T16:01:00.007+01:00

I have shown you Greek churches before, but this one is a little different. It's the church of Agia Foteini in Mantineia, in central Peloponnese.

Agia Foteini was built in the early 70's in a unique greco-byzantine style to match the Ancient Greek ruins in its vicinity. It's become very popular with locals and tourists alike, as it's so unusual.

Some call it the wonky church, others call it the Chinese church (due to its vague resemblance to a pagoda), but of course it's neither wonky, nor Chinese.

Fish and chips

2009-07-17T19:37:00.002+01:00

It's Friday, which means it's fish and chips day. Great choice for a picnic - no more boring sandwiches and crisps.

Rubbish?

2009-07-14T20:02:00.002+01:00

I saw this assortment on items left on the pavement of a side road when I went to the shops earlier today. A small company moving premises perhaps? A lady walking next to me thought they might be having a sale...

Souvlaki

2009-07-13T19:10:00.002+01:00

The ultimate Greek take-away: souvlaki (skewered cubes of pork), chips and a couple of slices of bread. Just looking at this picture makes me homesick!

Canary Wharf Tower

2009-07-06T10:42:00.005+01:00

Canary Wharf tower is the tallest building in the UK at 235 metres (770 ft) above ground level. At 50 storeys high, it is a London landmark with a distinctive pyramid pinnacle at 244 metres (800 ft) above sea level.

Cherries

2009-06-28T22:41:00.004+01:00

Cherry season is at its peak and cherry trees are full of big, juicy fruits. For a cherry lover like me, it's the perfect time to be in Greece. Cherries sold in England are usually imported from Turkey or the US, are very expensive and not nearly as nice as the ones you pick straight from a tree. Yum.

Aegina church

2009-06-25T23:45:00.004+01:00

Agios Nektarios church on the island of Aegina. I don't think I've seen another church like it.