Welcome to Banana Garden

Sunday 26 October 2014


One of the most important items in my travelling bag is a camera. My sister knew it all too well, when she gave it to me along with three rolls of film and commanded not to disappoint her. Three months after our wedding, we went on the long anticipated trip to a Greek island - Crete. I still have memories of myself, with two cameras hanging on my neck - compact digital cam and lomography one from Kasia, looming over an abyss and trying to take this one shot, allowing me to show off. However, more interesting was actually the view of people staring at how I was photographing basically everything that drew my attention.
Jedną z ważniejszych rzeczy w torbie podróżnej jest dla mnie aparat fotograficzny. Dobrze wiedziała o tym moja siostra, dając mi go przed wyjazdem wraz z trzema kliszami z przykazaniem, że mam jej nie zawieść... Trzy miesiące po ślubie wybraliśmy się w długo oczekiwaną podróż na grecką wyspę Kretę. Wciąż mam w pamięci siebie obwieszoną dwoma aparatami - kompaktową cyfrówką i analogowym lomography od Kasi, nieraz wiszącą nad przepaścią usiłującą zrobić popisowe ujęcie. Ciekawszy był jednak widok ludzi patrzących się na mnie, jak fotografowałam dosłownie wszystko, co wydało mi się co najmniej ciekawe.

Picture with a "Welcome to Banana Garden" sign, asked us into one of the restaurants, which was located outdoors. Above our heads extended a huge banana tree with a palatial fruit bunch and a crimson flower. I really really wanted this photograph to turn out okay, so it can be a good introduction to my tale about Crete. Banana Garden is a place situated in one of the narrow streets of Chania - one out of three biggest port cities on the island. (Two others are Heraklion - its capital city, and Rethymnon)
Zdjęcie z tabliczką "Welcome to Banana Garden" zapraszało do jednej z restauracji, która praktycznie znajdowała się pod gołym niebem. Nad głowami gości rozpościerał się bananowiec z okazałą kiścią owoców i pąsowym kwiatem. Zależało mi na tym, żeby zdjęcie się udało bo stanowiłoby dobry start mojej opowieści o Krecie. Bananowy klub to miejsce w jednej z wąskich uliczek w Chanii - jednym z trzech największych miast portowych na wyspie (dwa pozostałe to Heraklion stolica wyspy i Rethymnon).












Similar views multiplied before our eyes during our stay. It is worth to mention a small insland Gravousa with XVI century ruins of the Venetian fortress on its peak, a pirate ship wreck stuck on the sandbank, next to the island's shore, warning about questionable business, and finally creme de la creme, fairy-tale-like Balos lagoon with white sand and cyan sea, silencing all the whiners.
Podobne obrazy mnożyły się podczas naszego pobytu. Warto wspomnieć wysepkę Gramvoussa z ruinami weneckiej twierdzy z XVI w. na jej szczycie, wrak pirackiego statku tkwiący na mieliźnie przy brzegu wyspy, przestrzegający przed szemranymi interesami a nastepnie creme de la creme czyli bajeczna laguna Balos z białym piaskiem i turkusowym morzem, zamykająca usta wszystkim maruderom.








There is much more to Greek islands besides their beautiful views, colorful nature and delicious cuisine with the country salad (which goes by popular "Greek salad") - one just cannot forget about their residents living in accordance with nature. Lethargic during the day and crazy at night. Relaxing in the shade of palms in afternoon hours, because siesta is sacred. We were looking at that phenomenon with eyes wide open, even though it is so natural to them. But this is just how Crete - the biggest Greek island - really is. Exactly how one of the Greek said "this is where vacation lasts the whole year". Adio! M
Greckie wyspy to oprócz pięknych widoków, kolorowej przyrody i pysznej kuchni z sałatką wiejską zwaną popularnie grecką - jej mieszańcy żyjący zgodnie z rytmem natury. Ospali w dzień, szaleni w nocy. Odpoczywający w cieniu palmy w godzinach popołudniowych, bo siesta to rzecz święta! Przypatrywaliśmy się temu zjawisku, choć popularnemu u naszych południowych sąsiadów, z szeroko otwartymi oczami. Ale taka jest właśnie Kreta - największa z greckich wysp. Jak powiedział pewien Grek, "tu są wieczne wakacje". Adio! M









21 comments:

  1. these photos are awesome...
    feels like i am watching through round window! :)

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    1. fisheye photos have this very unique feeling to them! :)

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  2. It's been ages since I last used my fisheye! your photos turned out great and make me wanna use it again!

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    1. My sister did a really great job with that camera. You should certainly try it again soon! :)

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  3. fisheye is cool :) my friends usually think the snaps were made from washing machine )

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  4. Ah! And the theme looks even lovelier on your blog, dear! Your sister took such cool atmospheric pictures, photography must run in your family!

    (by the way, I don't know if my computer is being weird or if it's a desired effect, but all of the side gadgets from the affiliates down are constantly vibrating for some reason; just thought I'd let you know... and I'll go hide in a corner if it was meant to be that way)

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  5. Lovely sets of photos! Your sister did a great job!
    I love fisheye cameras. I actually decided to buy mine after I saw your first post with your fisheye photos :)

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    1. Yays! So glad some work of mine inspired you, dear! :) fisheye can be so much fun, and it is actually so easy to get some nice results when you do not have to focus all the way through.

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  6. Oh I like the sounds of a vacation lasting the whole year and I love seeing it through your lomo eyes!

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  7. My camera is one of the things I cannot leave out of my travelling bag too.
    In fact, there are at least 2 in my bags most of the time :D

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  8. Crete looks amazing! Your sister took some awesome photos.

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  9. Amazing photos! Great blog, I have followed you with Bloglovin and if you ever get a chance to check out my blog I would be delighted, thanks!

    Camille xo

    www.cococami.blogspot.co.uk

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  10. Oh my, I love love love (!) this. The fish-eye pictures add to the sense of nostalgia and the warm fuzzy feeling of my own memories from Greece. I love your commentary along the pictures. Seems you had the best, relaxing time. (Also, I haven't been around for a while, and I absolutely love what you did to your blog's layout!)

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  11. So beautiful! I love the fish-eye lens! It gives these pictures such a vintage quality!

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  12. Oj, ile ja bym dała, żeby móc się teraz przejść brzegiem po ciepłym piasku :)...

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  13. znajome miejsca:) fotografowane w ten sposób mają klimat jak z zupełnie innych lat

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  14. Would love to experience this Greek way of vacation. Haay. Someday.

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  15. Love these photos! I've always wanted to go to the Greek Islands, it's on my list. Your photos make me get an insider treat for what to expect.

    xo
    Tiffy
    CuteLA.com

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© Dipped in Rococo ~ lifestyle in analog Maira Gall.