Monday 31 March 2014

Book fair at the Benaki

 

Book fair at the Benaki in Pireos.





My favourite museum in Athens. Always interesting exhibitions, and we saw two that we really liked on Saturday - there will be separate posts....






The entrance, looking out,





with a mosaic mural by Yannis Tsarouchis






the courtyard enclosed on all four sides





walking down the ramp after having seen our two exhibitions on the second floor





First stop, the cafĂ©/restaurant, but there was something extra going on last Saturday





print making for children





demonstration





looking closer





example




 
getting stuck in
 
 
 
 
 
 
we then had a look at the shop





 
and then we went to the book fair, or bazaar as they are called here





lots of books, Benaki publications reduced by up to 60%





 
huge piles of books in the middle, and people were buying.
 
 
 


Sunday 30 March 2014

The sea



We decided to vary our almost daily walk by the sea, so we took the bus, got off at Edem
 
 
 


 
and started walking - the sea on our left, the tramline and main road on our right
 

 
 

 
looking back at the marina which is where we usually walk
 
 
 



there's something very appealing about palm trees by the sea, I think
 

 
 
 

bright sunshine,  everything was sparkling





Piraeus in the distance and whatever the weather, there are always people swimming




 
lots of little beaches like this one
 
 
 

 
fishing boats
 

 
 


Ken gazing at the sea




 
looking back again - all those masts!

 
 
 
 

 
Quite a few people fishing here and there
 

 
 

 
sunbathing
 
 

 
 


the chess players




 
looking closer 
 
 



again.




 
We eventually reached the marina in Flisvos, where the very rich people moor their boats 
 
 
 
 

This is more than just a marina - the promenade is very pleasant





 
full of cafes, bars and restaurants
 
 
 

 
and it's always a pleasure coming here.
 
 
 
 

Saturday 29 March 2014

Another visit to Eleni Vernadaki's shop



 
During our recent wander around Kolonaki we also visited ADC, Eleni Vernadaki's shop. Ever since I remember, the shop has been there even though I have to admit that when I was young I did not appreciate the power and appeal of her ceramics. The shop is 1/3 of its former size these days. Having reached 82 she does not produce as much work any more so a smaller shop suits her purposes. It's still a great pleasure to look and handle her pieces and I always look forward to the visit. 
 
 
 
 
 
A very small space, lots of pots
 
 

 


A jug




 
A stack of plates and bowls
 
 
  

 
same pile, different view
 

 
 


a bowl





same form, different combination of colours




 
an interesting tall, narrow vase
 

 


tall vase with rounded base, silver glaze




 
classic Vernadaki, white with a dash of black
 

 
 


same with the stripes - bowl with sphere inside




 
an overview
 

 
 

 
I like the flat forms, and so difficult to make!
 
 
 
 
 

Painting in the form of a bowl, to borrow Gordon Baldwin's phrase







a different kind of stripe





 
interesting shape
 
 

 
 

 
various bowls
 
 
 
 


this is on the floor, so it's quite large, as are most of her works






 
black and white square platter with two black and white spheres
 
 
 
*   *   *
 
 
 
Unusually, two pieces that are not her own work:
 
 



A ceramic roof tile painted by Yannis Tsarouchis






A piece by Yannis Gaitis.