Weekly Photo Challenge: Community (I)
12Saturday 14 December, 2013 by Uncle Spike
Clan Spike’s first entry for this week’s Weekly Photo Challenge is from our neighbouring Greek Islands…
On 15th August each year, the vast majority of the community across Greece celebrate The Dormition of the Mother of God. It’s a big deal in those parts, as we found out for ourselves, as all the hotels and guest-houses were packed full for the week.
We were on the island of Astypalea, the Westernmost of the Dodecanese Islands. It is situated to the right of Santorini, above Crete and to the left of Kos. As were are from neighbouring Turkey, we came in from stage right…
Part of the communal celebrations include swimming competitions just before dusk in the harbour bay. Swimming races were open to all ages, as well as the main attraction, ‘the pole’. This was perhaps a 7 metre (22′) highly ‘greased’ thick pole suspended out over the water, with a basket of goodies hanging off the end. Those islanders who possessed sufficient bravery and/or recklessness would balance, walk or run long the pole, which had been handsomely coated in oil and grease, with aim of grabbing the basket…. Most failed; finally one succeeded.
This was a real gathering of the ‘community’, everything was set up during the day by the Greek army, and all ages took part in the races, with half the island out to watch proceedings. Plus us from our hotel balcony…
.
.
My second entry can be found here:
Weekly Photo Challenge: Community (II)
.
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/12/13/photo-challenge-community/
[…] Weekly Photo Challenge: Community (I) | Uncle Spike’s Adventures […]
LikeLike
[…] Weekly Photo Challenge: Community (I) | Uncle Spike’s Adventures […]
LikeLike
[…] My first entry can be found here: Weekly Photo Challenge: Community (I) […]
LikeLike
Great photo for the challenge, Uncle Spike. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks v much 🙂
LikeLike
I certainly didn’t make the first 100 this week as I was in the car for 12 1/2 hours on a solo drive from Chicago to Philadelphia. But I arrived, both in Philly and at this week’s challenge. 🙂 Your photo reminds me of my time on Mykonos and Naxos many years ago. Lovely.
janet
LikeLike
Thanks Janet.
Wow, that’s a heck of a drive. And I guess it’s cold there too now…. bit different from Naxos for sure 🙂
LikeLike
Great community entry! The Greek islands are at the top of my to-do list…thank you for the post.
LikeLike
I have a few more posts from the Islands to write up soon – especially for Ms Patti
LikeLike
Thanks, I think I needed that:>)
LikeLike
Watch this space…
LikeLike
Watching…
LikeLike