During my 20s and my 30s I was a city boy. Living downtown and claiming that if you want to live in a town, the centre is the place to be. I considered suburbs a pathetic substitute and I didn’t see any point in living there. After all I knew first hand, I grew up in a suburb and I had very strong opinion about them. The chances of leaving the city were very slim, the concrete jungle was my kingdom and life was good to me.
Nevertheless I also used to say that if I ever wanted to leave the big city I would go to a village. Small towns seemed into the eyes of my younger version, as pathetic as the suburbs. Countryside meant small settlements with a few dozens or hundreds at the most, people. With one exception. I was sure that I would never, NEVER, move to my grandparent’s village. Any village in Greece would do but not the family ones.
Those were my thoughts many years ago. But then things changed. Living in the city wasn’t as fun anymore. Actually it was starting to be suffocating and depressing. The time for plan B had come. The time to leave the only city that I ever lived in, had come but were to?
That’s a saying that is proving to be true more often that I would expect. And some times with a very loud and profound way. You may have guested it by now. The place that I moved to, was the one that I was eagerly claiming that I would never consider as a home, my grandparent’s village :)
I stayed there five years and another four to a village a few kilometres away which was practically the same. That move was made only for practical reasons. And even though my younger self, as well as my older self may disagree, I lived those nine years as the most natural thing in the world, as if there was no other place that I could live in!
But life kept moving. Have you noticed that it has this weird habit to only go forward?
And for one more time I felt the need to move. But were to, this time? The big city was not appealing any more and the life in the village had become less satisfactory. What’s left?
But of course a small town. The other big no, of my younger self :)
Which brings us to the present. And for one more time it looks as the only natural thing to do. With all the pros and cons, with all the new needs and ideas that I have as I get older, this new chapter seems the best idea.
For now!
Because who knows where I’ll be in the next decade. Right here, in Venezuela, or in South Africa? Or maybe in a city suburb? I have learned my lesson and I am not going to say never, in either scenario.
After all, life is so funny sometimes :)
The pictures are from the second village that I lived when I left the city of Athens and I took them last January, just before I move away.
All the pictures and the words are mine.
Thank you for reading and if you want to know more about me you can check out my introduction post.
Commenting, upvoting and rebloging are highly appreciated!
Thank you very much @qurator and @ackhoo for your support, much appreciated!
You're very welcome, @fotostef! :)
Haha... that's why Justin Beiber song said, "Never say Never." I would like to try staying in different places, though I am not a big fan of the city.
I think I have grown to like a space outta the city. You know that quiet sane place where nature is all around. Oh, yes. I crave that, and I want it.
You've lived in different places, and you sure have gathered experiences from there, and it is a feeling in life that I find enthralling. You know being able to sit in silence and your mind going all around experiences you've had and the pictures taken. The smiles that accompany it will surely be something intriguing.
Thank you for your comment @balikis95!
I like nature and silence too but I guess I am not meant to stay on the same place for ever :)
Haha, yeah. Sometimes, one wants to move around and explore other options and that's one of the beauty of living life.
You never know, maybe they will hire you to do photo reports in Venezuela 😃
Haha, yes maybe :)
You have become wise and these pictures are very enjoyable... I think you could visit us in the next decade and we will go together to take photos in the Cuban countryside.
That would be so great! Cuba is a place that I always wanted to go but unfortunately never happened.
Thanks :)
Just visualise as I visualise Greece.
A hug
Living on an island gives you an idea of how suffocating it can be to live static in one place. I have always believed that human beings carry in their DNA a strong sense of going beyond and seeing the unknown.
So many incredible places and diverse cultures and not getting to see them? I consider it a pity :(
I have lived for many years on an island and I know the feeling but I am guessing that especially on your island it is much more intense. This would probably change in the years to come and you are very young for pessimistic thoughts.
I wish you all the travels you crave for :)
Don't get me wrong, I intend to go with my cameras slung over my shoulder around the world, but many people can't, whether it's because of work, family, commitment, economics, even ideology, that's when I find it unfortunate that they can't see beyond their shoes. And like you said....especially in this particular island.
You are right. If you ask me I would say that there should be no borders at all and people should roam our beautiful planet freely! Nevertheless, I wouldn't idealise the travel as it is. I have seen people who have traveled a lot and can't see beyond their nose and people that have lived all their lives in a small settlement in the jungle and their minds are open to the universe itself. But I am sure that you'll make the most out of your future travels :)
Jjjj thats true!
Thank you Stefanos, best wishes for you.
Dream Theater lyrics, in short:
These always stuck to my heart ever since I first heard it. Happens to all of us, I suppose!
Thank you for sharing this :)
Indeed, one should never say never! Personally, I've always dreamed of living in the countryside, preferably in a very rural area.
But I didn't expect it to happen so quickly. I even remember saying that I wouldn't live in the countryside before I was 27 or 30.
It's not exactly the word "never," but it's pretty close.
And yet, I've recently acquired a little piece of paradise in exchange for a modest sum, the price of my freedom.
If you are open to life it will offer you many surprises and many unexpected turns. And in your age the possibilities are endless :)
I can only wish you to enjoy your "little piece of paradise" and your freedom at the same time!
Thank you very much for your wise comment! I'm touched!
In all, you had great memories in those places.
I love the black and white photos you used to match the stories.
Thank you @jmis101 :)
Yes, everything was great on its own time !
That's true.
The story and the photos are almost flawless ❤️ this is what we called talent ❤️ have a nice day @fotostef
Thank you very much, have a great day yourself :)
Hello dearest fashionable dreemer. Happy new day to you, and most especially tunes day. Haha, I hope you are ready to fill our hearts with those
crazy"heartwarming "tunes you've chosen for us. Haha. I waltzed in from #dreemport, for I am an amazing #dreemer. An awesomely made #dreemerforlife.Never ever say never cos what you thought might never be might actually truly become. The village looks home from the pictures plus they are cool monomads
Fabulous #dreemerforlife
Thank you, I am glad you liked them :)
Your cat's so cute! I love it. It's so well-behaved!
Thank you for stopping by but that's not my cat :)
Never say never.We can't leave the fact that we don't know what life will lead us.
Also living in a countryside feels great away from the chaos and busy city.
All true!
Thank you for stopping by @melcakes :)
Χαχαχα, Ναι, ναι, στην Βενεζουέλα, αντί για το Ναύπλιο θα πάς στο Los Roques 🏖️😎, εκεί να δεις ομορφιά για να φωτογραφίζεις 😉
Μακάρι! Είναι τόσα πολλά τα μέρη που θα ήθελα να δω που δεν μου φτάνουν ούτε 10 ζωές :)
🥴😂😂😂 αυτό το άκουσα μία φορά σε μία ταινία 😂😂😂
Το ίδιο σκέφτομαι και εγώ 🥴😔😫 ο άνθρωπος έπρεπε να ζούσε τουλάχιστον 500 χρόνια, ο πλανήτης μας μπορεί να φαίνεται μικρός από το διάστημα αλλά για να του δώσεις την βόλτα και θα δεις ότι έχει και αυτός τα δικά του και δεν είναι και τόσο μικρός όσο φαίνεται 🥴😂🌍