ArchBells, Megalochori-Santorini

I miss Santorini. I miss Megalochri village. I miss my good friends and especially Pol-Dayadan-owner of www.santorini-villas.gr and my connection to the island. At the moment,after more than a year that i'm away from the island, this momument, which i arbitrary call ArchBells, symbolizes for me my missing and my connection with the place. Because feeling back to when i am there, it seems to me like a gate into the space. Everytime i pass under it's like a religious experience independent of any specific religion. I tried to find some information about it's architecture-for example, it's style looks to me more Catholic influenced than Orthodox-but i guess that is irrelevant. The point is the feeling it emanates, something like coming home...Those who have passed under it may well have felt it.

FurRide, Megaloxori, Santorini, April 2011

Fury rides in Santorini with beloved friend's Dayadan dogs. From my visit in April 2011.

Santorini, Megalochori Village, Old Grocery Store

Empty from it's antique trades but with traces of it's history found on the walls, the old grocery store of Megalochori was breathing fresh air from it's open doors (one on the main street and the other on the alley) on the day i photographed it. I stood amazed on how the magnificent Santorini light, coming from the sky and from a thousand reflections in this labyrinth of buildings that make the village, was flooding the emptyness of the space with a wholeness of existence. If the old store was left this way, it could be exhibited as a work of modern art. But the hands that had opened the doors for this wholeness to shine in, carried it further during the following week, and revived the old "mpakaliko" into a beautifull antique and handcraft shop. The photos were taken in April 2011.

Megalochori-Santorini, Lazarus day ceremony

When the people of Megalochori in Santorini gathered that Saturday morning in the square bringing pieces of woodpiles, rosemary and flowers to put together a sail-like construction, in the name of Lazarus, they were celebrating the resurection of nature through spring. I was lucky enough to be there visiting my beloved friend who has played a vital role in the resurection of the 50's erthquake-struck Megalochori village. My last visit was in winter where everything was calm and easy going. This time the whole island was on foot, preparing for the next summer season.
After the men constructed the sail-like cross, they started covering it with wild rosemary leaves that was gathered the day before from the mountain. Women and children then decorated it with flowers. The strings were tied up from the "sail"(Lazarus) to the corners of the square. It was like a good wind was awaited in order for the "sail" to be risen. Actually it was time for the people to sit down and eat alltogether. In the afternoon the whole village and people from other places of the island came to witness the rise of "Lazarus" and to share the traditional community meal that was prepared in a fire outdoors for the situation.
Since more than ten years Dayadan has been reviving old houses in luxury villas http://santorini-villas.gr/. He's also the maker and owner of the famous "Raki" tavern and an Italian restaurant in the square of the village.