Category Archives: The Mani

Monsell’s photograph of Vathia (‘A distant prospect of the Towers of Vathia’) opposite page 160 of the 1958 Mani shows terraces of olive trees of almost paddyfield like precision.  My photograph of 2010, admittedly from a differed direction, suggests how … Continue reading →

Three recent events have rekindled my interest in the Mani.  First was the publication of The Broken Road by Patrick Leigh Fermor, see post 30th November 2013.  This was followed by a friend sending me a link to a Word … Continue reading →

I’ve spent the past few weeks preparing a book of black and white photographs of the Mani for printing by Blurb, see various previous Mani posts.  The first version arrived today and it looks OK.   But OK is not at all … Continue reading →

An Aladdin’s cave like antique shop trades along the harbourside at Githio. Photo: Giyhio, Mani, May 2011

Remains of olive presses are found throughout the Mani, from a derelict factory in Kardamyli to single stones leaning against village walls. Photo: Olive Press, Langada, Mani, Greece, May 2011

Ownership disputes are often at the heart of the neglect of old buildings in the Mani. Photo: Gate, Kardamyli, Mani, Greece, May 2011

The sun rising over the Taygetus Mountains illuminates Kardamyli.  The coast of the Messinia Peninsular emerges faintly in the distance. Photo: Kardamyli from Petrovouni, Mani, Greece, May 2011

Is white lining in the Mani a green alternative to street lighting? Photo: Proastio, Mani, Greece, May 2011

Proastio has at least 30 churches and chapels of all sizes and ages.  It is a village of churches and swifts. Photo: Proastio, Mani, Greece, May 2011

There is a single grave in the cemetery of the church that sits behind the Sklavounakos War Tower.  Photo: Pyrgos Driou, Mani, May 2011                                                                                                                                                                                    

Edge of the Taygetos Mountains near Kardamyli.  The Mani in May is not a land of unbroken sunshine. Photo: Near Kardamyli, Greece, 9th May 2011

Church of the Holy Trinity, Proastio, Mani.  Built in 1740; frescoes from 1745 by Anagnostes Selemperdakis and Nikolaos of Nomitsi Photo: Agaia Triada, Proastio, Greece, 10th May 2011

Kambos: Patrick Leigh Fermor is very dismissive about the village and things haven’t really changed. Photo: Kambos, Mani, Greece, 16th June 2010

Lazy afternoon, the main square, Kardamili.   The Greek flag hangs limply by the memorial. Cicadas call, cars growl by, the fountain murmurs.  The whine of a motor bike, the faint cooing of a dove.   Clean smell of pines in the heat. … Continue reading →