I just saw a new batch of old photographs of Mykonos collected by Dimitris Koutsoukos, a friend who’s a master at collecting and preserving the photographic history of his native island. You can find more of Dimitri’s fascinating work at this YouTube link to dozens of his videos setting still photographs to music.
What immediately struck me about his latest photographs was the period of time they covered: the mid-1950s through the early-1970s. Those decades bridged a transition in lifestyles that turned Mykonos from perhaps the poorest place in Greece into the wealthiest.
Here’s a view looking down upon the old town of Mykonos and another of the symbol of “the island of the winds” at a time when windmills actually served to turn grain into flour.
Mykonians have always taken great pride in honoring God and country.
As they have in their children.
But the times required hard work.
Shared in by all.
There still was time to play.
 (C) Robert A. McCabe |
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And tourists found themselves welcome.
No matter who they were.
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| Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis |
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| Bridget Bardot |
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| Yul Brynner |
But none predicted what was to come, even those locals who had a glimpse of the future.
But all that is a past to which we bid adieu.
As we dream of what the future may bring.
Jeff—Saturday
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What a wonderful window into the past, Jeff! I wonder if other places have similar collections allowing time travel. Of course, they'd need to be places as fascinating as Mykonos...
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures Jeff - there's nothing as evocative as old photos. I can stare at them for hours...well, the Bridget Bardot one at least.
ReplyDeleteSuch a charming group of pictures. Things seemed so much simpler then. Except for Jackie's hair. The windmill is, of course, striking. Lovely, Jeff.
ReplyDeleteSo far, I think Lil's comment is the winner. Though I do have photos of old Pittsburgh, Michael, if you're interested. I won't bother to ask if you're interested in the outtakes I have of BB, Dan, as I already know that answer.
ReplyDeleteIt was heaven on earth. But remember when we had to go down to the sea to get water to flush the loo? No one had a washing machine (though the communal washing places were great for women to meet up and laugh, in winter they weren't very pleasant)When there was only one Doctor and no facilities for emergency medicine? When the only food on the beaches was cooked by the fishermen over an open fire? When the beaches weren't surrounded by houses and hotels? When you could go for a walk on the roads without being in fear of your life? When the harbour had caiques not millionaires playthings? When the harbour had Cafe Neon populated by the elderly playing backgammon? When people laughed all the time?
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