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The Heraion of Perachora

Nick Boutsikos — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 10:30:50 +0000

One of Greece’s most unbelievable sites

There are various AI-generated images depicting imaginary archaeological sites by the sea, with people swimming, which occasionally go viral. They look incredibly beautiful, and there’s a reason for that: quite simply, they don’t exist.

Or do they?

Unforgettable

In Perachora, Loutraki, very close to the Vouliagmeni lake, lies one of Greece’s most important archaeological sites and one of the most incredible in terms of the visitor experience.

Here, you can walk right alongside the archaeological site and, directly below it, take a dip in the crystal-clear, ancient sea! To round off the experience, a little further up stands a magnificent lighthouse that has been declared a listed historic monument.

Legend has it that Medea came here to bury her children, whom she had murdered in revenge against her unfaithful husband, Jason.

In 1991, the wider area of Heraion (or Iraio) was declared an archaeological site.

The lighthouse is a stone structure with a square tower. It is considered one of the most beautiful in Greece and has been designated a listed historic monument since 2001. It was built in 1897 and was fuelled by kerosene. During the Second World War it remained unlit; it was recommissioned in 1947 and converted to electricity in 1982.

A visit to this site can be combined with a swim in Vouliagmeni lake, but I would suggest setting aside a separate day for each. At Heraion in particular, make sure you arrive early, as the beach is quite small.

A thrilling, almost mystical experience, just 1.5 hours away from Athens.

“I’d three times sooner go to war than suffer childbirth once.”

— Euripides, Medea

SAY HI

It goes without saying that we always treat nature with respect, without interfering and without leaving behind the slightest trace of our visit. At archaeological sites as unique as this one, let’s take even greater care.

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Island snippets - Schinoussa

Nick Boutsikos — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 16:01:04 +0000

Hot, dry and beautiful island in Small Cyclades

There are many places that I have only visited for a few hours. This means that I do not have enough photos to make a proper tribute. However, I can make a small post and so here I will show you some photos from the hot, dry and beautiful Schinoussa.

“Happy is the man who, before dying, has the good fortune to sail the Aegean sea.”

— Nikos Kazantzakis

SAY HI

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The Loners - Agios Minas beach

Nick Boutsikos — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 17:00:51 +0000

A beach you never heard of

Greece is a beautiful country, no doubt about it.

I really enjoy living here, and I consider myself blessed to have been born in this land. One of the things I particularly love about Greece is that, aside from the countless famous sights, the islands and sunsets, the beaches and gorges, there’s always so much more to discover.

Proof of this is that even I have just discovered the enchanting beach of Agios Minas in Fokida, just 40 minutes from Delphi, my hometown! Of course, I knew there was a beach here, but I’d never been there until very recently. I was amazed.

As you can see, the water is crystal clear, the mountain above gives a sense of grandeur, and on the day we went there, the sea was as calm as a lake.

We’re so lucky to live in a country like Greece.

I wish you all a wonderful summer!

SAY HI

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“Adobe Lightroom® - From the start” notes

Nick Boutsikos — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 12:34:57 +0000

My first printed book

All my life, I’ve dreamed of writing a book. Ideally, a great novel, but anything would do. So, when I first thought about writing a guide for my favorite software, Adobe Lightroom®, it seemed like a great way to check off another item from my bucket list.

But little did I know...

A road to nowhere

What initially seemed like a walk in the park turned out to be more like climbing slippery rocks..

First of all, there wasn’t even a similar guidebook in Greek, and although this was a major advantage for my book, it made it difficult for me to simply start somewhere. I had no foundation. This led me to read a few English guides, but that soon revealed the biggest challenge of all.

Adobe Lightroom® is a very difficult program to learn. There are countless menus, commands, buttons, clicks, selection and editing tools, numerous modules, hidden tricks—you name it. As I like to call it, the software’s user interface alone is like “being inside a cockpit.”

English guides, in their writers’ attempt to explain everything, fall into the trap of over-analysis, with endless screenshots, command combinations, huge blocks of text in tiny print, and pages that rarely run to fewer than 300.

I wanted something else. I wanted what I was missing. Because ultimately, it wasn’t just a guide like this written in Greek that was missing, but more generally:

what was missing was a modern, aesthetically pleasing book with concise texts that explain to the novice user everything they’ll need to create their own workflow. At the same time, it would also appeal to the professional as a useful refresher on what they already know.

I want my book to find its place next to the user’s computer, not on their bookshelf.

SAY HI

The solution

Keep it simple

When someone asks me, I have only one answer when it comes to photography (and many other aspects of life, for that matter): keep it simple.

So, I decided to do the same for my book. Instead off analyzing every little minor thing inside Adobe Lightroom®, I chose to follow these simple rules:

Don’t include screenshots unless they’re absolutely necessary for understanding the text.
Do not explain everything (especially hidden menus, some modules, sections you consider less important, etc.), unless it is something that will be truly useful for everyone’s workflow.
Add lots of photos. Link them to the text.
Don’t write lengthy texts.
Add photos to fill in the blank spaces, so the eye can rest.
Submit your final draft to a professional book editor.
Collaborate with a professional graphic designer.
Choose thick, high quality paper for the printed book.
Include all the latest updates in your chapters.

Am I a writer now?

It’s been almost 2 years since the first time I thought of writing a book about using Adobe Lightroom® and now it is finally ready.

A printed book hits different, smells nice and can stay in the reader’s hands forever.

I feel very lucky to have managed to finish this book, and I hope my readers will love it even half as much as I did while creating it.

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Adobe Lightroom® - Από την Αρχή

Nick Boutsikos — Sun, 31 May 2026 10:30:57 +0000

Το νέο μου βιβλίο

[To my english speaking readers: this is a post about my new book in Greek. At the end of the post, you can find the english translation. Sorry about that.]

_______________________

Εδώ και πολλά χρόνια, χρησιμοποιώ το πρόγραμμα της Adobe®, το περίφημο Lightroom®. Είναι ένα μαγικό εργαλείο για κάθε φωτογράφο, επαγγελματία ή μη και πλέον έχει φτάσει σε τέτοιο στάδιο πληρότητας, που η ναυαρχίδα της εταιρείας -το Photoshop®- χρειάζεται σε ελάχιστες, εξειδικευμένες περιπτώσεις.

Υπάρχει τεράστιος όγκος υλικού εκεί έξω σχετικά με το Lightroom®: βιβλία, websites, οδηγοί, βίντεο μεγάλης διάρκειας, βίντεο μικρής διάρκειας, podcasts, ό,τι θέλετε.

Ξέρετε τί δεν υπάρχει; Ένα ωραίο βιβλίο στα Ελληνικά.*

Μέχρι τώρα.

Φιλοδοξώ το δικό μου βιβλίο να γίνει ακριβώς αυτό.

Η κούραση ως κίνητρο

Κουράστηκα, αυτός ήταν ο λόγος.

Κουράστηκα να ψάχνω τις λύσεις στις πολλές απορίες που είχα για το πρόγραμμα, ειδικά τον πρώτο καιρό χρήσης του. Μεγάλο πρόβλημα. Ό,τι κι αν έψαχνα, υπήρχε κάπου, κάπως ειπωμένο, γραμμένο ή ζωγραφισμένο, αλλά ήθελε τόσο κόπο, που μερικές φορές τα παρατούσα και είτε έβρισκα walkaround, είτε απλά περνούσα στο Photoshop, με το οποίο δουλέυω από…την έκδοση 4.0.

Φυσικά, υπάρχουν οδηγοί στα Αγγλικά, οι οποίοι όμως

είτε είναι ebooks τα οποία είναι αρκετά δύσχρηστα για καθημερινή χρήση,
είτε είναι αναλυτικοί ως εκεί που δεν πάει (σπάνια μιλάμε για μικρότερα βιβλιά των 300-400 σελίδων, με γράμματα-ψείρες), και φυσικά
είναι γραμμένοι στα Αγγλικά!

Θα μου πείτε, δεν ξέρεις Αγγλικά να διαβάσεις; Ξέρω, όμως θεωρώ τη μητρική γλώσσα πάντοτε προτιμότερη για την βαθιά κατανόηση ενός κειμένου και ταυτόχρονα πιστεύω πως ένας ξεκούραστος, μοντέρνος οδηγός με πολλά παραδείγματα και φωτογραφίες ταιριαστές με όσα καλείται να κάνει κάθε φορά ο αναγνώστης, είναι το σημείο-κλειδί για μια τέτοια προσπάθεια. Ο κύριος Scott Kelby τα έχει πει πολύ νωρίτερα αυτά.

Αυτή η κούραση, λοιπόν, ήταν που με οδήγησε στο να φτιάξω αυτό το έντυπο βιβλίο-οδηγό στα Ελληνικά. Οι χρήστες του προγράμματος είναι πολλοί και ταυτόχρονα κανείς μας δεν έχει την πολυτέλεια του χρόνου, για να αναζητά στο χάος του διαδικτύου ατελείωτα videos αμφιβόλου ποιότητας και αποτελέσματος.

Φιλοδοξώ να σας κρατήσει συντροφιά και να σας βοηθήσει στη χρήση αυτού του απαιτητικού, αλλά και τόσο θαυμαστού εργαλείου.

SAY HI

Γιατί να αγοράσετε αυτό το βιβλίο

Υπάρχει κενό στην αγορά:

Όπως είπαμε, ουσιαστικά δεν υπάρχει αντίστοιχη ελληνική βιβλιογραφία που να καλύπτει τις τελευταίες εκδόσεις του Adobe Lightroom®. Το βιβλίο που έφτιαξα μπορεί να χρησιμοποιηθεί εύκολα από τον καθένα, χωρίς να είναι τρομακτικό σε περιεχόμενο. Αυτός, άλλωστε, ήταν και ο σκοπός του εξαρχής.

Ποιους αφορά - Target Group

Απευθύνεται σε ερασιτέχνες που το εγκαθιστούν για πρώτη φορά, αλλά και σε επαγγελματίες που αναζητούν έναν πρακτικό οδηγό "βήμα-βήμα”.

Η πληροφορία που πρέπει να καταναλώσουμε καθημερινά έχει φτάσει σε δυασθεώρητα επίπεδα στον 21ο αιώνα, άρα ένα βιβλίο-οδηγός που θα παίρνει από πάνω μας ένα μεγάλο βάρος και αντίστοιχα θα ελευθερώνει κομμάτια της μνήμης μας, είναι νομίζω ένα καλό δώρο.

Πρωτότυπο υλικό

Οι φωτογραφίες είναι όλες δικές μου, το οποίο φυσικά βοηθάει με τα πνευματικά δικαιώματα, κυρίως όμως συνδέει με ενιαία αισθητική το βιβλίο. Φυσικά, η Adobe® μου έδωσε επίσης την άδεια και τις ευχές της.

Ευχαριστίες

Πιθανότατα να μην ξεκινούσα τέτοιο δύσκολο project, αν ήξερα εξαρχής τί με περιμένει. Αν και πείσμων όπως είμαι, μάλλον θα το προσπαθούσα και πάλι.

Το σίγουρο, πάντως, είναι πως δεν θα μπορούσα να το κάνω ολομόναχος, χωρίς την υπερπολύτιμη βοήθεια μερικών σπουδαίων ανθρώπων. Χωρίς σειρά προτεραιότητας, οφείλω πολλές ευχαριστίες:

Στον Ρήγα Καραλή, ο οποίος ήταν ο άνθρωπος που υπομονετικά διόρθωσε όλα μου τα λάθη στο κείμενο, κάνοντας εξαιρετική δουλειά.
Στην Μαρία Κυριακού, χωρίς την πολύτιμη βοήθεια της οποίας, το αισθητικό αποτέλεσμα θα ήταν πολύ φτωχό. Ακόμα θυμάμαι το «στήσιμο» που είχα κάνει μόνος σε μέγεθος…Α4.
Στον φίλο Ντίνο Αλεξανδρή για τις καίριες παρατηρήσεις του.
Στον Χρήστο Τζούτη, για τις συμβουλές του.
Στην φίλη μου Όλγα Χαραμή, για την φιλία και την βοήθειά της.
Φυσικά, στην σύζυγό μου, την Ελένη, τον ακλόνητο βράχο μου. Κάθε μέρα μαζί της είναι ευτυχία.

Κάνετε εγγραφή τώρα εδώ για τη θέση σας ή απλά χρησιμοποιήστε το QR code, ώστε να αγοράσετε το βιβλίο με -20% έκπτωση την lauch day!

(Spoiler alert: εντός του Ιουνίου.)

*Ένα disclaimer. Στην πραγματικότητα υπάρχει εδώ και λίγα χρόνια ένας οδηγός στα Ελληνικά, ο οποίος είναι εξαντλητικός και κατά κάποιο τρόπο ακαδημαϊκός. Δεν αφήνει κανένα κενό στην εκμάθηση του προγράμματος και το μόνο αναπόφευκτο ελάττωμά του είναι ότι πλέον είναι κάπως outdated.

Το δικό μου πόνημα είναι πιο εύπεπτο, σε καμία περίπτωση δεν είναι τόσο αναλυτικό, όμως είναι πιο φιλικό. Ειδικά για έναν αρχάριο χρήστη, ένας ογκώδης οδηγός με πολύ κείμενο μπορεί να μοιάζει αποτρεπτικός, έως και τρομακτικός.

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Adobe Lightroom® - From the Start

My new book

For many years now, I have been using Adobe®’s famous Lightroom®. It’s a magical tool for any photographer, professional or otherwise, and it has now reached such a level of completeness that the company’s flagship product—Photoshop®—is needed in only a few, specialized cases.

There is a huge amount of material out there about Lightroom®: books, websites, guides, long videos, short videos, podcasts—you name it.

You know what’s missing? A good book in Greek.*

Until now.

I hope my book will be exactly that.

Fatigue as Motivation

I got tired—that was the reason.

I got tired of searching for answers to the many questions I had about the program, especially when I first started using it. It was a big problem. No matter what I was looking for, it was out there somewhere, mentioned, written, or illustrated, but it took so much effort that sometimes I gave up and either found a workaround or simply switched to Photoshop, which I’ve been using since… version 4.0.

Of course, there are guides in English, but

either they are ebooks that are quite cumbersome for everyday use,
or are so detailed they go on and on (we’re rarely talking about books shorter than 300–400 pages, with tiny text), and of course
they’re written in English!

You might say, “Don’t you know enough English to read them?” I do, but I always consider one’s native language preferable for a deep understanding of a text, and at the same time I believe that a relaxed, modern guide with plenty of examples and photos that match what the reader is asked to do at each step is the key to such an endeavor. Mr. Scott Kelby said all this long ago.

It was this frustration exactly that led me to create this printed guidebook in Greek. There are many users of the program, and at the same time, none of us has the luxury of time to search through the chaos of the internet for endless videos of dubious quality and results.

I hope it will serve as a guide and help you make the most of this challenging yet wonderful tool.

SAY HI

Why You Should Buy This Book

There is a gap in the market:

As we mentioned, there is essentially no comparable Greek literature covering the latest versions of Adobe Lightroom®. The book I’ve created is easy for anyone to use, without being overwhelming in terms of content. That, after all, was the goal from the start.

Who it’s for - Target Group

It is aimed at amateurs installing the software for the first time, as well as professionals seeking a practical “step-by-step” guide.

The amount of information we must process daily has reached unimaginable levels in the 21st century, so a guidebook that takes a heavy burden off our shoulders and, in turn, frees up space in our memory is, I think, a great gift.

Original material

The photographs are all my own, which of course helps with copyright issues, but above all gives the book a unified aesthetic. Of course, Adobe® has also given me its permission and best wishes.

Acknowledgments

I probably wouldn’t have taken on such a difficult project if I’d known from the start what lay ahead. Although, stubborn as I am, I’d probably try it again.

One thing is certain, however: I could not have done it all on my own without the invaluable help of some wonderful people. In no particular order, I owe many thanks:

To Rigas Karalis, who was the one who patiently corrected all my mistakes in the text, doing an excellent job.
To Maria Kyriakou, without whose invaluable help the visual result would have been very poor. I still remember the “layout” I had done on my own in… A4 size.
To my friend Dinos Alexandris for his insightful comments.
To Christos Tzoutis, for his advice.
To my friend Olga Charami, for her friendship and help.
And, of course, to my wife, Eleni, my steadfast rock. Every day with her is a joy.

Sign up now here to reserve your spot, or simply scan the QR code to purchase the book at a -20% discount on launch day!

(Spoiler alert: sometime in June.)

*A disclaimer. In fact, there has been a guide in Greek available for a few years now, which is exhaustive and, in a way, academic. It leaves no gaps in learning the program, and its only inevitable flaw is that it is now somewhat outdated.

My own work is more accessible; it is by no means as detailed, but it is more user-friendly. Especially for a beginner, a massive guide with a lot of text can seem daunting, even intimidating.

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Author Christina Spyrou

Nick Boutsikos — Sun, 24 May 2026 10:30:57 +0000

A gifted woman

A few years ago, I had the good fortune to meet the author Christina Spyrou, and recently I had the honor of photographing her to promote her first book.

Photoshoot as it should be

A fun process

The photo shoot was a lot of fun, as Christina is easygoing, extremely cooperative, and hardworking until she achieves the result she’s aiming for.

We planned together many of the frames you see here some time before the photoshoot. On the day of the shooting, we had to bring many of the props needed for the ideas to come to life.

First outfit

After Christina was ready, we started taking photos with the first outfit of the three in total. Even though Christina is not a model, she was very cooperative and very precise to what she wanted; natural portraits with minimum makeup and hair, just like as she is in real life. She wanted to avoid looking “fake‘, so in post I did the bare minimum, just a couple of presets and minor spots removal.

Of course she managed to follow my instructions like a pro, while on shooting. We concentrate on poses of the body and some close up portraits. I tried to capture her personality. Christina is a serious professional, but she is also a very sweet and happy person, so I tried to showcase that with the photos.

SAY HI

The oversized mistake

The second outfit was a rather happy mistake. Christina wore a jacket that was somehow oversized and we were not very happy with the result. Every difficult circumstance can have its benefits though, especially if you are a positive person, so this outfit really loosen up Christina and gave us some laughs; that was the best warmup for the next and final outfit.

“First sentences are doors to worlds.”

— Ursula K. Le Guin

Christina really enjoyed this one.

The black dress

The black dress outfit was the last outfit we tried and I am very happy with the results.

We used a book at the size of the final printed version covered with a green paper, so that the graphic designer could later add the cover (the photo session took place, before the cover was decided and therefore we couldn’t have a print copy).

I had the idea of throwing pages around her, while she stays still and the photo below is probably my favourite from the whole shooting.

Fun fact: the pages are actually the printed pages of her first drafts!

Of course, this was a photoshoot for her promotion on the book, so she had the idea of using some props-clues about the book’s story, without giving away too much. These last photos are the result of Christina’s ideas.

Christina’s photo shooting was a pleasure for me and I am really glad for her.

She did a great job for her excellent debut novel, which is a real page-turner and I highly recommend it, particularly if you enjoy good crime stories.

You can buy it here, here and at major bookstores.

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Throwback Malta

Nick Boutsikos — Sun, 17 May 2026 10:30:12 +0000

A tiny magical island

I always had the impression that Malta must be a magical place. A place where knights would surely have left an indelible mark throughout the centuries. Later, I saw many movies that were filmed there (such as The Count of Monte Cristo, The Da Vinci Code, The Spy Who Loved Me, Force 10 from Navarino) reinforced this impression. Until the day I went there myself, and that impression proved to be absolutely correct.

Things to know

As soon as you arrive on the island, the first thing you notice is the climate and the colourful buses. Old buses everywhere, and the climate is strangely warm and humid, even for a Greek like myself. Also, the fact that all the houses have their own names!

Valletta is like something out of a fairy tale. Huge, cyclopean walls stretch all around the harbor, their height and depth seemingly endless. Its cobblestone alleys (UNESCO World Heritage streets of Valletta) and magnificent buildings—especially at night, when the streets quiet down—make you think that a dashing knight on his magnificent horse might just gallop out at any moment.

The Upper Barrakka Gardens are a must for a morning stroll and the view of the Grand Harbour.

One of the most beautiful churches in the world is also located here: St. John’s Cathedral, which houses an incredible Caravaggio. Perhaps the most magical experience you can have in Malta is a visit to the unique Hal Salfieni (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Be sure to book well in advance, as only 10 people are allowed in at a time due to the site’s fragility. Try the pastizzi. I loved them, just like the bakeries of all kinds that are everywhere.

“Il-mistoqsija oħt il-għerf”

— Maltese proverb

SAY HI

When I went there once upon a time, a few bad experiences kind of ruined the trip for me, and that’s why I took very few photos. Maybe I should go back, on a trip dedicated solely to photography.

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The Loners - National Archaeological Museum

Nick Boutsikos — Sun, 10 May 2026 16:52:44 +0000

A museum you absolutely must visit—but hurry!

Today I once again visited this gem of our country, with its incredible treasures, and learned that in 1 to 1.5 years from now it will close for about 5 years so it can undergo the fantastic renovation and expansion it deserves.

So, hurry up and visit the Museum—more than twice, I’d suggest.

Someday I’ll write a delightful post about all those amazing stories hidden within its walls.

Probably our most important museum!

SAY HI

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Celebrate spring in Aegina

Nick Boutsikos — Sun, 03 May 2026 17:12:44 +0000

Our beautiful neighbor

Although I’ve written about Aegina and its attractions before, I thought I’d remind you just how easy it is to visit and explore the island in a single day. I believe the ideal time to visit is the enchanting spring.

The whole island is in full bloom at this time of year, a bicycle is the best way to get around, and the ease of the visit makes a day trip almost a must.

The people who live here are incredibly friendly, the food (and the pistachios) is delicious, the fish is cheap and fresh, and the local products are excellent.

“Have we thought about the fact that our heart should be so filled with love that it should overflow to our neighbor?”

— St. Nektarius of Aegina

SAY HI

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Amfissa - Siege of Salona

Nick Boutsikos — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 15:34:43 +0000

Fall of the Castle

Every year, in Amfissa, the anniversary of the Siege of Salona* by the Greek fighters is celebrated. This is a significant anniversary, which was even more spectacular this year, as it marked the 205th anniversary of the historic event. A large crowd honored the occasion with their presence, and the reenactment at the castle was quite moving for all those in attendance.

History Notes

Τhe sequence of events

The Siege of Salona was a military engagement during the 1821 Revolution aimed at liberating Salona*. It lasted from the start of the Revolution until April 10 of that same year, 1821.

The commander (a klepht and later a chieftain of Central Greece) of the province of Salona was Panourgias, who, initiated into the Philiki (or Filiki) Etaireia, when Alis was besieged (1820) and alerted by a letter from Papaflessas, fled from Ioannina (where he had been imprisoned for three years) and came to Salona. On March 24, when he learned that Achaea had revolted, Panourgias was with his 60 armatoi men (highly trained and disciplined, with the appearance of a regular military unit) at the Monastery of Prophet Elias, an hour and a half outside Salona. There he summoned the leaders of the town and the villages and held a general assembly in Galaxidi, at which it was unanimously decided to attack the Turks. At that meeting, following an invitation from I. Papadiamantopoulos (an envoy of P.P. Germanos), Odysseas Androutsos, Giannis Gouras, Bishop Isaiah of Salona, and others attended. Panourgias received, upon presentation of a receipt, 14,000 grosia to cover the costs of recruiting fighters. He ordered his son-in-law and deputy commander, Thanasis Manikas, to recruit everyone in the Vlach villages who was capable of bearing arms. He also sent his cousin, Yannis Gouras, to Agios Georgios to recruit and to coordinate with the residents of Galaxidi.

After making their plans, they set out on the night of March 26, reached Salona by dawn, and laid siege to the fortress under the command of Panourgia. The Turks, who had suspected the Greek uprising, had anticipated it and barricaded themselves inside the fortress with all the women and children, as well as the refugees from Vostitsa who had fled there from the Peloponnese. Among them were 600 armed men.

As the Turks retreated to take refuge in the castle, one of their snipers, entrenched in the Turkish baths (hamam), fired a shot that struck the unfortunate Stamatis Trakas in the forehead. He was the first casualty in the first official battle of the rebellious Rumeli. His father, Theodoros Trakas, seeing his son dead, clenched his heart and said to the soldiers: “There can be no wedding without a sacrifice.”

The Turks were strong, but the Greeks attacked with such ferocity that they seized the water supplies on the very first day. Forced by a lack of water, the besieged made a sortie on April 8 to seize a nearby spring, but they failed and 13 were killed, including the valiant Haidas.

After a relentless siege, the Turks, deprived of food and water, were forced to surrender on April 10, after 14 days, having previously agreed that they would not be harmed. They came out and surrendered their weapons to Panourgias, who received them while seated in front of the Gate. Those who wished to and felt safe remained in their homes, while the rest scattered to the villages.

The fortress of Salona was the first to be captured by the Greeks during the Revolution of 1821.**

“There’s no wedding without a sacrifice.”

— Theodoros Trakas

Louis Dupré - Nikolakis Mitropoulos raises the flag with the cross at Salona on Easter day, 1821

" >

Louis Dupré - Nikolakis Mitropoulos raises the flag with the cross at

Salona on Easter day, 1821

A nice trip

Amfissa is a short trip from Athens (about 3 hours by car) and is a nice, out of the ordinary destination. Nearby there are a lot of beautiful places to see, such as Galaxidi, Itea, many small traditional villages and my birthplace, famous Delphi of course.

But even if you won’t come here for the “Fall of the Castle” festivities, Amfissa has plenty to offer. Here you’ll find one of the oldest and best-preserved “kafeneion“ (traditional coffeehouse) in the country, stunning old stone houses of local heroes, traditional leather tanneries, a revolution museum, and an authentic atmosphere of the Greek countryside. An ideal escape for a traveller, rather than a tourist.

SAY HI

*Salona is the old name of Amfissa

**Notes from wikipedia

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Japanese Festival ‘26

Nick Boutsikos — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 10:30:15 +0000

I ♥️ Japan

I was lucky enough to attend the Japanese Festival ’26. It was a wonderful event, featuring a wide variety of items.

We saw manga, booths with Japanese games, consoles, replica swords, traditional costumes, real race cars (!), handmade paintings, masks, origami, and of course bonsai. We also saw many people around us dressed in all sorts of incredible costumes, whether traditional or cosplay.

One of the most interesting moment was definitely when a group of women (and two men) dressed in traditional kimono costumes took the main stage. The highlight was when our friend Marianthi took the stage and was dressed live on stage in a beautiful kimono costume right in front of us, while the announcer shared incredible facts about this amazing tradition, such as that to wash a kimono (usually once a year), it is completely taken apart and sewn back together from scratch!

“Keizoku wa chikara nari”

— Japanese proverb

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The Japanese are incredible. I’d love to travel to their country for a few weeks someday. I consider them an admirable nation in many ways.

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HAPPY EASTER 2026

Nick Boutsikos — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 10:10:34 +0000

Fireworks during the Easter celebrations. Athens, April 12, 2026.* | f/11, 1.0sec, ISO 800.

Hello from Athens

If you’ll ever find yourself in Athens, during the Easter Resurrection, I suggest you go up the Lycabettus Hill for a truly unique experience.

When the time of the Resurrection comes, you’ll hear the sounds of hymns and bells all around you. After a while, firecrackers and fireworks go off all around you (in some cases they’re so powerful that thick, black smoke rises), and the spectacle is amazing.

At the same time, ceremonial cannon salutes begin from a spot slightly lower down, roughly in the middle of the hill, and this, along with the countless faithful who are slowly carrying the Holy Light right beside you, completes the experience.

Photographically, all of this can of course be captured in beautiful images, but simply being there is enough. It is yet another unique experience one can have in Athens.

I wish you and your loved ones health and happiness.

SAY HI

*This photo was edited using my new Lightroom preset. It will be available in the coming weeks.

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On the way to Venice

Nick Boutsikos — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 10:30:14 +0000

The loneliest ever

A trip from Patras to Venice at this time of year is not only endless but also incredibly lonely.

At least, that’s how it was for me.

Οne of the rare times I didn’t feel happy while traveling.

“Was the earth put here just to nourish human loneliness?”

— Haruki Murakami

SAY HI

If you like the preset I used in this post, hang in there; it will be included in my next Preset Pack, that soon will be available. Until then, you can buy my Nidipresets Pack V1.

Nidipresets Pack V1

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Throwback Hellenic Motor Museum

Nick Boutsikos — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 17:25:57 +0000

Car confession

I have a little confession to make: I’ve never had any particular passion for cars.

I’m only interested in them as objects that can be beautiful or even little pieces of art; but I’ve never had that obsession that men have with their cars.

For me, cars have just one purpose: to take me from one place to another.

I have almost no knowledge of a car’s mechanical parts, and despite the fact that I’ve been driving since I was very, very young boy, I have no idea about the performance or any other technical aspect of the car I’m driving.

On the other hand, something I’ve always loved is visiting museums. So today, I’m going to show you a few photos from an amazing private museum in Athens, the Hellenic Motor Museum, which I visited several years ago.

“Many dreams come true, and some have silver linings”

— Led Zeppelin

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Even for someone as uninterested in the subject as I am, a visit here is a unique experience, so I can’t imagine how captivated someone who’s crazy about cars would be.

I highly recommend it.

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The Perama Cave

Nick Boutsikos — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 11:30:00 +0000

A nature wonder near Ioannina

When visiting the beautiful city of Ioannina in Epirus, you must definitely visit the Perama Cave. It is located just 4 km away and is a magnificent attraction nestled within a hill.

Here is an excerpt from the simple yet very informative website:

“The cave is part of an underground river bed, which was opened during the Proto-Tertiary period, about 1,500,000 years old (Ioannis Petrochilos). Its tourist route has a length of 1,100 meters and the area it covers is 14,800 m2, while its altitude difference from the entrance to the exit is about 25 meters. The air temperature is 180 Celsius, while the temperature of the waters of the small lakes that form inside the Cave is 140 Celsius. Their hardness is 180 French with P.H 5.5 and the humidity of the Cave reaches 100%.”

An hour well spent

This the first cave in Greece to ever open as a tourist attraction. The guided tour lasts about 45 minutes, and it takes about 10 minutes to walk back to the entrance. Bear in mind that you’ll have to climb up and down a total of at least 600 steps. It’s not as daunting as it sounds, and the guide is really patient and waits until everyone catches their breath, but you should be prepared. The path leading to the entrance rewards visitors with a magnificent view of the city of Ioannina and Lake Pamvotis.

“One just principle from the depths of a cave is more powerful than an army.”

— Jose Marti

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If I ever wondered where the human imagination found inspiration for monsters and dragons, I no longer do.

Useful information

Telephone:+30 26510 81521, 26510 81650, 26510 86202, 26513 63080, 26513 63081

Website: https://www.spilaio-perama.gr/en

Email: info@spilaio-perama.gr

Opening hours: Daily, Weekends & Holidays 09:00 - 17:00

Ticket prices: 8€, Group ticket: 6€

Perama, 45 500, Ioannina

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Epidaurus

Nick Boutsikos — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 11:30:04 +0000

A small city of giants

Epidaurus was a small city in ancient Greece.

But this is just a tiny piece of the history of the place.

History walkthrough

Ancient Epidaurus, is world-renowned for its impressive ancient theatre with amazing acoustics (4th century B.C.) and the Sanctuary of Asclepius, a leading healing center of antiquity (not the only one in Greece, but unquestionably the most famous). It is a top tourist destination because it blends beaches with natural beauty, history, and culture.

Due to their outstanding architecture and significance in the growth and dissemination of healing sanctuaries and cults throughout the ancient Greek and Roman worlds, the Sanctuary of Asclepius and ancient theatre were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988.

“Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?
Edgar Allan Poe”

— "Oedipus" by Yannis Houvardas

Once in a lifetime experience

You have to be there

Nowadays, I would suggest to anyone to visit the ancient theatre during the Athens Epidaurus Festival and watch a play; any play. The vibes and feelings you get when sitting in the same seats where our ancestors sat and watch a theatrical play in the same stage is an undescribable experience.

SAY HI

Ancient theatre at the Asklepieion of Epidaurus

The Asclepieion of Epidaurus became the most renowned of all the Asclepieia in ancient Greece, due to the many serious cases that were cured there. People came there from all over Greece, as well as from the Mediterranean basin, seeking divine mercy.

The complex was very large and included guesthouses, a gymnasium, a stadium, and the famous Theater, for the entertainment of the people.

The magnificent natural environment in which it was built also appears to have played a significant role in the treatment of patients. The tranquility of nature, the gentle and clear lines of the surrounding mountains, the lush vegetation, and the abundant springs had a tremendous effect, particularly on patients with mental illnesses, resulting in improved health with the help of their priests.

Swimming and Dining in Epidaurus

In addition to the archaeological site, it’s worth taking a swim in modern town of Epidaurus (above the ancient ruins of a roman villa), a meal at one of the area’s charming taverns, and perhaps another theatre play at the small theater of Epidaurus.

You can see more in the video below.

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Wedding / Ranio & Elias

Nick Boutsikos — Sun, 08 Mar 2026 16:20:42 +0000

A great couple

Ranio is a super talented young woman and an old friend of the blog.

A few years ago, I had the honor of taking photos for her simple and beautiful civil wedding with her partner, Elias.

I am very happy for her happiness and success, as I am for all the strong women in the world!

“It is better to be looked over than overlooked.”

— Mae West

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Kites and views

Nick Boutsikos — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 16:34:42 +0000

Kites: The symbolism

Flying kites symbolizes the ascension of the human soul to the divine, according to Greek Christian tradition. The custom is revived every year on Clean Monday, at the beginning of Lent, when Christians "cleanse" themselves physically and spiritually through fasting.

Did you know?

American inventor Benjamin Franklin discovered the lightning rod thanks to experiments he conducted with a kite and a key.

“Kites rise highest against the wind - not with it.”

— Winston Churchill

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A fun activity for all

Flying kites is an activity often associated with childhood and joy.
Children and adults flew kites as a sign of freedom and happiness, expressing their joy at the coming of spring and the imminent rebirth brought about by the Resurrection.

Many years ago, when we were children, it was customary to make kites with our parents to fly on Clean Monday. Of course, there were also the classic kites in toy stores, as there are today, but the time we spent with our parents making our own kites as we imagined them was invaluable.

I am always struck by how few people fly kites on unrelated days when they go on a trip to the countryside with their children. It's such a fun activity for the whole family!

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A day trip to the artificial lake of Aoos and Metsovo

Nick Boutsikos — Sun, 22 Feb 2026 11:30:23 +0000

Metsovo, the mountain beauty

Metsovo, located in the heart of the Pindos mountain range in Greece, offers a beautiful day trip if you are staying nearby, such as in Ioannina. From the tranquil lake of the Aoos springs to the charming streets of Metsovo, this day trip promises to be a visual delight.

At the heart of the Pindus mountain range

Start early to reach one of the highest lakes in Greece at your leisure. You will make many stops for photographs; the landscape is magical.

The lake of the sources of Aoos, located about 20 kilometers northwest of Metsovo, is at an altitude of 1,350 meters above sea level. It covers an area of 11.5 square kilometers and is usually covered in snow during winter, offering countless photo opportunities.

If you are lucky, you will encounter fog and perhaps snow. Drive carefully!

“Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake.”

— Wallace Stevens

Metsovo time

After enjoying the beauty of the lake, continue on to Metsovo, a picturesque mountain village.

It is famous for its traditional stone houses, cobbled streets, rich cultural heritage, and benefactors. The village is also known for its local cheeses, especially Metsovone, a smoked semi-hard cheese that is to die for. Try it raw and as saganaki.

While you're walking around Metsovo, you'll probably run into rain or snow, especially in winter. The place is super touristy, which kinda ruins its character, but where there's smoke, there's fire. It's touristy because it's so beautiful.

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Metsovo and Lake Aoos offer a quick escape from Ioannina, but you may also consider staying here. You can find delicious food, especially meat, but if you are looking for even more delicious traditional dishes, try the nearby villages.

In any case, it's a beautiful, easy photo trip.
The Egnatia Highway has made it very easy.

Note: Always check the local weather forecast before your trip. The mountains are no joke. Also, while you're around the lake, watch out for large sheepdogs, which can be particularly aggressive.

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The Cold War Museum in Lithuania

Nick Boutsikos — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 11:30:17 +0000

Cold days of the past

On February, 5th, 2026 we had some alarming news about nuclear weapons.

On this occasion, I will show you a few photos from a rather frightening experience I had in beautiful Lithuania.

A unique museum

Lithuania is home to the only Cold War museum, which is essentially an old Soviet facility consisting of four silos for launching missiles with nuclear warheads.

I won't bore you with the history of the place; I think the information on the museum's website is sufficient:

“Between 1963 and 1978, this fortress housed four SS-4 medium-range missiles, each armed with 2-megaton thermonuclear warheads, representing a significant portion of the nuclear arsenal aimed at Europe.”

“The threat of world war is no more.”

— Mikhail Gorbachev

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Cold days should stay at the past

Even the road leading to the museum grounds is rough and lonely, with no signs or other signs of civilization. It was built for one purpose only: to provide access to this secret place during the Cold War...

The museum itself is excellent. It presents the history of the place and the Cold War in general, without frills or unnecessary information. Those in charge understood that the terror caused by the place is enough.

The spaces that visitors can explore are dimly lit and coolly quiet. That is why I chose to present the photographs in the same way: dimly lit, grainy, and without intense colors. This type of editing gives a somewhat otherworldly feeling that grips you as you stand beneath the Earth.

One of the many shocking details I read in one of the boards is that “Upon receipt of the appropriate command, the crew was able to shoot a missile after 48 minutes.”

There is not much to see around the facilities, except for a metal observation tower overlooking the area. Climbing to the top, nothing helps you imagine that an invisible threat to so many people hung over this place for so many years.

Let's hope that the world will come to its senses at some point and that we will only see such horrific human creations as sad relics of the past.

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