Snapshots from Kalamata
Home Sweet Home
Kalamata has in many ways become dearer to my heart than the city I myself am born and raised in. To date, I have been to Greece 19 times, and no matter what new parts of Greece I have explored, I always breathe a sigh of sheer satisfaction when I arrive in Kalamata.
Arriving by plane, there is a crystal clear moment in my mind, as we make our final approach, the plane always takes a north westerly turn, giving passengers a wonderful view of the port, the strip along the beach, and the mountainside, before beginning its decent. It is at this very moment, I experience a rush of emotion that I cannot explain beyond simply stating that I feel I am home. Odd, I know, but this is a place that has a firm grip on my very being, and no matter how far I travel, I will always call Kalamata home.
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One of my favourite places is the house in which my mother was born. Just 10 minutes up a winding mountain road, and I am taking in views she did when she was growing up.
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I stand on this balcony, looking up at the mountains around me, and am in awe of life and all its possibilities.
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My mother and her sisters left Kalamata at a young age to come to Canada. Recently, all five sisters returned to their childhood home for the first time since their childhood. It was a wonderful summer, and not one photo opportunity was missed !
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August 15th has become somewhat of a family reunion, with my cousins all gravitating to where our parents grew up for some laughs, and a lot of silliness. Here, after a few too many bottles of wine, we decided to bring the courtyard to life as it was when the children would skip decades ago.
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When we are all in the same town, we tend to take over whatever place it is we decide to go. Here, on a rather small and remote beach, we seem to overwhelm those around us.
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The beach in Kalamata is my mainstay. It is a curious mix of pebbles, every colour and shape you can imagine, small enough to mould under you for comfort and to keep from hurting your feet when you walk on them, but large enough to keep from sticking all over you.
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Many summers on this beach have been filled with fun times spent with friends...Christine and I met on a ferry ride to Crete in 1986, but that trip sealed our friendship forever. Her family also hails from Kalamata, so summers are a time for us to reunite, in the city that means so much to both of us.
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Windsurfing is easy as long as the winds don't pick up too much...
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laying for hours reading, or sorting through my deepest and most painful moments.
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The last visit to the beach has become somewhat of a tradition. I take a long and quiet walk, always melancholy, and I always leave a peice of me behind as I say my goodbye...
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Views of the beach and mountain that have stolen my heart.
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Partying in Kalamata
Throughout my teenage years (and well beyond) I have had many many good times with friends and family in Greece. Just a few snapshots of the memories with friends and family...
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OUZO power !
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We have been known to get a little nutty after a few bottles...
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Cousins say goodbye...
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the opportunity to hug my grandfather always high on the list of priorities...
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Many of the friends I see when I am in Kalamata, I have known since my early trips in the 70's and 80's. Though all of us live in different parts of the world, summers seem to bring us all back to the same place for vacations.
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Have motorcyle, will explore the surrounding areas...
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