|
|
|
Leros
 |
|
| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
This again is a shot of Agia Marina taken with the Pentax K1000 on film and later scanned to computer.
My uncle fought for the British on Leros during WW2 and was captured by the Germans. He lost a lot of friends and wanted to return one day to visit the War Graves.The British War Cemetery is near Agia Marina has 183 graves, though the identities of many were lost during the German occupation.
Lakki's deep water port made Leros a strategic target in World War Two and the island suffered repeated bombing by both British and German forces in World War Two. Indeed it is thought that only Crete was hit by more bombing raids. Empty shells and other war ephemera can still be found on the island.
Leros had been under Italian occupation and turned into a heavily fortified military base. After the fall of Greece in April 1941 and the Allied loss of Crete in May, Greece and its islands were occupied by German and Italian forces.
With the surrender of Italy in September 1943, Leros was occupied by the British. The Battle of Leros began in October with German air attacks followed by troop landings in November and its capture four days later. It was considered by some to be the last great defeat of the British Army in World War Two and one of the last German victories.
Reminders of the war lie all over Leros, particularly in the hills between Platanos and Gourna. At Vigla is the former 306th battery, an impressive fortified position with entrance tunnels, and at Rahi the 211th battery is still visible.
At Marcello in the northwest, is the Farinata battery and a well preserved lookout post. At Partheni there are many buildings now occupied by the Greek army but at nearby Plefouti is the remains of 888th battery and opposite the islet of Strogili is a sunken German landing craft.
Today after having had an Italian naval base for 30 years and once home to a notorious mental asylum and later a penal colony, the island of Leros Greece has been a late emerger on the tourist scene.
But Leros has been making up for lost ground and is now one of the more sought out upmarket destinations among the Greek islands, and growing in popularity each year.
Leros is found among the north Dodecanese group, just off the Turkish coast between Kos in the south and Samos in the north. Both these bigger and more popular neighbours provide airports where tourists can fly in to pick up the daily ferries.
Leros has a long coastline with deeply indented bays. None contain any beaches of note but what sands there are do have that tranquil, picturesque charm that has vanished from many Greek island resorts over the years.
What Leros lacks in sandy beaches it more than makes up for in charm. Cappuccino may have replaced Greek coffee in the pavement cafes but craft shops and bakeries still prevail over trinket stalls and fast food takeaways in the narrow streets.
Leros is a popular stopping off point for island hoppers as it is on the main ferry route between Rhodes and the Greek mainland, with the islands of Kalymnos, Patmos and Lipsi nearby.
We arrived on Kos and then took a boat trip to Leros. It is a delightful Island for a holiday. Our hotel turned out to be next to the War Graves so my uncle was able to vist on different occassions. |
CAROL50, Teresat, burak28, chrisJ has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekLens members may rate photo notes. |
|
|
|
- chrisJ
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4258 W: 414 N: 6781]](http://i1.treklens.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(42568) - [2009-09-16 20:29]
-
Hi David
Good sharpness & well composed. The tonal range is superb, & the repetition of the bg houses & cityscape makes a good backdrop to the boat. Tfs!
Hi David
Beautiful B&W work
Great light, POV and details
Thanks for the note
Have a nice days
Burak
-
- eselu
![Silver Star Critiquer [C: 11 W: 0 N: 2]](http://i1.treklens.com/misc/s-n-n.gif)
(516) - [2009-09-16 23:39]
-
Very nice. I like the mess in this pic.
-
- AndroK
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 1505 W: 23 N: 0]](http://i1.treklens.com/misc/g-s-n.gif)
(11860) - [2009-09-17 2:15]
-
Hi David...
Beautiful b@w shot...
Nice tonal range...
Regards...
Andro
Boa tarde David
I like this full details photo...and I think you worked very well. Very interesting photo.
My regards
teresat
That is typical greek architecture of the islands you show us here in this shot David , the stacked-up houses seemingly sitting on top of one another complete the view at the rear of the harbour, the fishing boats take up much of your frame and it's ok with me , he he ! A pretty good scan too, that brings up a lot of memories to me and my long time friend , on our first trip together we went to Greece , sigh,,,
TFS,
Carol
