In preparing for this latest trip I started following a variety of online blogs, journals and multimedia. This post is a collection of some of the best places that inspired me in the design of our own adventure.
Travelling to Paris? Well then I suggest that you start following a few pages beforehand. These blogs offer a series of small windows into the soul of Paris.
LostInCheeseLand
ParisThroughMyLens
ParisDailyPhoto
CarlaCoulson An Aussie photographer in Paris.
These sites are sure to provide countless hours of daily browsing to any avid traveller.
But what about Athens? poor Athens!
When tourists think of Greece they see the Aegean islands, and most notably Santorini, Mykonos and Naxos.
Images of whitewashed buildings with aqua blue domes perched on impossibly dramatic cliff faces. At a stretch they recall the towering acropolis, but never the dusty sprawling semi-domesticated urban environment that has a face only a mother could love.
Its not through the lack of love for the city nor the passion by the local inhabitants. It may simply be a residual effect of the current socio and economic hardship directly impacting on the willingness to express ones love or affection on a city that has failed to protect in recent times. Or it may simply be just a shortage of cameras.
Athens is best know for its ancient and modern ruins. The Parthenon, Temple of Hephaestus, Erechtheion, Panathenaic Stadium & The Olympic sites of 2004.
Thats right, the sites of the 2004 Athens Olympic games are the newest addition to global modern ruins. Once a bustling hub of peak sporting achievement is now a decaying example of economic hardship that has embroiled this ancient empire.
But do not fret my friend, what was once almighty and powerful will again reign supreme given time and opportunity – at least that is what any Grecian will tell you should you listen.
One shining light in the cyber blogging world for Athens is Stamtisger