He.mi.pho.s

One of the many beautiful beaches in a small uninhabited island south of Crete (Greece), in the Libyan sea, called Koufonissi. Koufonissi is located around 20 miles to the the southeast of my hometown, Ierapetra. I can assure you there you will find some of the most beautiful beaches you have ever seen (and not "packed" even in the heart of August). There is a boat going, now and then, to Koufonissi, departing from the village of Makrigialos, 25 km east of Ierapetra. I went on a tour around the island with the boat of a friend, Mathios Petroulakis from Goudouras (a village in the south coast of Crete, about 3 miles from Koufonissi) and I swimmed in 4 of its beaches (there are around 20) always thinking that the last one was the b...

Inside the Pantheon, former Roman Temple, now a church of St. Mary and the Martyrs (Chiesa Santa Maria dei Martiri), Rome, Italy. EXIF DATA 16 mm 1/32 sec f/4.5 ISO 400 Camera: Canon 1Ds Mark III

Just a nice "detail" from beautiful Imerovigli village, one of those hanging over the caldera in Santorini. Great example of traditional architecture, beautiful minimalism

Right above Fyropotamos, one of the most beautiful settlements with "syrmata" in Milos island (Cyclades, Greece), you can see the small church of the village and an old, ruined installation for loading minerals to ships. Looks like a gate straight to the sea.

The Trajan's Forum (Market) housing the Imperial Forum Museum (Museo dei Fori Imperiali), Rome, Italy

The lighthouse at the entrance of the old, venetian port of Rethymno town, Crete island, Greece. EXIF DATA 24 mm 10 sec f/11 ISO 250 Camera: Canon EOS 6D Mark II

Sunset in Peraia, a small town about 30 km outside Thessaloniki (the Capital of Northern Greece, the second largest city of the country, with more than 2300 years of important history). Peraia was the favorite destination for the summer vacations of the inhabitants of the city, during the 60's and 70's. Then beautiful Halkidiki took its place and for about 20 years Peraia passed a period of decline. Nowadays is starting to gain back its old glamour, and it's a place worth a visit for its great fishtavernes and nice beach.

The beautiful ceiling (fresco by Daniel Gran) of the Grand Hall of the National Library ("Nationalbibliotek Prunksaal), Hofburg palace complex, in the historic center (Innere Stadt - World Heritage Site by UNESCO) of Vienna, Austria.

Tons of lava from some volcanic explosion a couple of millions years ago, froze rapidly and with the help of erosion, wind and sea, created some unearthly landscapes in Milos island (Cyclades, Aegean Sea, Greece). The variety of shapes and colors in the Milian landscape, would make jealous even the most imaginative artist. Photo taken at Sarakiniko beach.

Roussanou Monastery (Meteora, Trikala, Thessaly, Greece) is also know as Agias Varvaras Monastery. It was established (probably) around 1388 by the monks Necodemus and Benedict. Today functions as a nunnery. Open to visitors daily, except Wednesday, from 09:00-14:00 (winter) and 09:00-18:00 (summer).

Photo taken in Lakka bay (& village), Paxos (or "Paxi") island, Ionian sea, Eptanisa ("Seven Islands"), Greece

Inside one of the tombs at the Tombs of the Kings archaeological site, Kato Paphos, Cyprus. EXIF DATA 1/8 sec f/11 16mm ISO 250

The ancient Agora ("market") in the archaeological site of Patara, part of the "Lycian Way", Lycia, Antalya province, Turkey.

Potami (means "river") beach, close to Platanistos village, Evia ("Evvoia") island, Central Greece. Camera: Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III

Agios Achilleios islet and the floating pedestrians' bridge (650 m long) that connects it with the mainland. Mikri ("small") Prespa lake, Florina, Macedonia, Greece.

The "Treasury of Atreus" (also known as the "Tholos tomb of Atreus" or "Tholos tomb of Agamemnon"), Mycenae, Argolida, Peloponnese, Greece. Camera: Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III

Natural rocky arch (known as the "Bridge of Love" at Cavo Greco, very close to Agia Napa, district of Ammochostos (Famagusta) Cyprus. EXIF DATA 1/40 sec f/11 88 mm ISO 200

Keros beach, one of the most famous and popular Greek beaches among kite surfers and wind surfers.Lemnos island, Northern Aegean, Greece.

Panoramic view of Ierapetra town, Bramiana lake and the surrounding area with the greenhouses.Crete island, Greece.

This is wooden bridge at the entrance of the remote village of Athamania (old name, "Moutsiara"), Trikala Prefecture (Thessaly, Greece). Athamania is to the west of the winter resorts of Elati and Pertouli and also to the west of Aspropotamos (Acheloos) river, close to Gardiki village. Athamania is the last village of Trikala to the Southwest, very close to the borders with Arta Prefecture.

If you want to visit the small island of Lake Pamvotis (or "Pamvotida"- Ioannina, Epirus, Greece) and its beautiful village you can take one of the small tourist boats that sail from the Mall, the beautiful lakeside road of Ioannina town. But if you want to enter to the unique atmosphere of the island, even before reaching there, you 'll have to go to the other side of the lake, in a place called Drabatova and ask from one of the inhabitants of the island or the fishermen of the lake to take you with them on a traditional wooden boat, called "plava".

Here you can see the castle of Antirion (also known as "Castello di Rumelia") with its lighthouse and part of the Rion-Antirion bridge, that became sort of a "symbol" of "modern" Greece, "symbol" of "powerful" Greece, bla, bla, bla, according to our politicians. That was until the big bubble exploded and everything collapsed. Now, they don't even have the money to illuminate it properly, at least, the way they used to do on a Saturday night with its pillars "bathed" in a beautiful electric blue.

At the Delta of Evros river, Thrace, Greece. Camera: Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III

Sunset in an abandoned tannery in Karlovasi town, Samos island, Greece Camera: Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III

Sunset at the marina in Lefkada (or "Lefkas") town, Lefkada island, Ionian Sea, Eptanisa ("Seven Islands"), Greece Camera: Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III

One of the many small lakes in the majestic Ha canyon, close to Ierapetra town, Lasithi, Crete island, Greece. EXIF DATA 16 mm 1/40 sec f/6.3 ISO 320 Camera: Canon EOS 6D Mark II Lens: EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM

Sunset in Sestiere di Castello, Venice (Venezia) Italy. Camera: Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III

During the annual cliff diving contest at Voulismeni lake, Agios Nikolaos town, Lassithi prefecture, Crete island, Greece. 13 consecutive shots. EXIF DATA 70 mm 1/250 sec f/8 ISO 400 Camera: Canon EOS 6D Mark II

This one is Paleokaria bridge (Trikala, Thessaly, Greece), one of the less known but one of the most beautiful old Greek, stone, arched bridges. Connects the two banks of Portaikos river. Its arch has a width of 18,60 m. Its height is 10,30 m and its total length 26,50 m. According to local oral tradition it was constructed in the 15th century. No written data. HOW TO GET THERE: Almost halfway on the road that goes from Trikala to the famous winter resorts of Elati and Pertouli you will find Pyli, a small town with a diferent, beautiful stone bridge. 4 km after Pyli, when you see the sign to Stournareika, Kato Paleokaria etc. you turn left. After 7 more km you 'll see a small cement bridge and right after that on your left a dirtroad. ...

Photo take in Mikrolimni village, Mikri Prespa lake (Florina, Macedonia, Greece) on a really foggy day.

Abandoned ships at the entrance of the old port of Spetses island, Attica, Greece. EXIF DATA 18 mm 1/40 sec f/11 ISO 200 Camera: Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III

Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers), Piazza Navona, Rome, Italy.

Geropotamos beach and river, Rethymno prefecture, Crete island, Greece.

This is Stefanos "by night", the largest of the 11 craters of the volcano of Nisyros island (Dodecanese, Aegean sea, Greece), with a diameter of 300 m. Relatively "young", only 3.000- 4.000 years old, although some of the other, smaller craters, are much "younger". 3 of them were created between 1860-1880, that means "yesterday". Photo taken on a lonely night, just after moonrise, in the heart of the crater, an almost metaphysical experience. I spent 2-3 hours, for 2 nights, in this surreal place, trying to take a "diferent" photo of the volcano. I kept smelling sulphur for many days after that. When I met some religious old ladies, the day after, they started making the sign of the cross, because according to a popular superstition, tha...

Photo taken in Love Valley (Nevsehir, Cappadocia, Turkey) famous for its impessive rocks in phallic shapes. Cappadocia and its impressive landscapes are declared World Heritage Site by Unesco. About the "philosofical" question of the title: It seems that it's a subject troubling more the gentlemen than the ladies, because it seems that ladies already know the answer!

World famous Egremni beach, Lefkada (or "Lefkas") island, Ionian Sea, Eptanisa ("Seven Islands"), Greece EXIF DATA 1/250 sec f/9 200 mm ISO 320