Category Archives: mountains, flowers, landscapes

Olympus 5 – getting lost on the way to Ano Skotina, of walking and fairies

Posted on February 22, 2021 by jonathan trustram

My journey to the ‘sweet little cabin in the woods’ started well, I took Campanula incurva as a good omen. The road up into the hills leaves the coast here. Agamemnon is advertised. I was about to leave my guides … Continue reading →

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Drama

Posted on February 20, 2021 by jonathan trustram

But it’s not what you think. But it is another diversion before I finally confront my embarrassing and revealing little adventure at the back of Olympus. After staying for a few days in Litochoro and walking in the Papa Rema … Continue reading →

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skylarks

Posted on February 19, 2021 by jonathan trustram

…. and a post script to the last piece, which could go on and on but here’s just one interesting picture. By early May the snow on the ski runs on Parnassos has melted and the stony base of one … Continue reading →

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stepping aside from Olympus….

Posted on February 13, 2021 by jonathan trustram

… and from the story of my humiliation, which I want to be funny, because humiliation or at least embarrassment is amusing – it’s how you tell it of course – not just the humiliation but feelings of envy and … Continue reading →

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the back of Olympos

Posted on February 11, 2021 by jonathan trustram

Last word on the little dragon from Edward Lear in Crete in 1864: ‘brutal-filthy yet picturesque’. My friends Jay and Tina also saw it in Crete, more recently. And Jay had a very different experience near Olympus: “In 1966 a … Continue reading →

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Olympus Olympos 4 and an apology…

Posted on February 8, 2021 by jonathan trustram

Taking inspiration from my favourite announcement at Finsbury Park station: ‘we apologise for the late running of this service, this is due to a problem currently under investigation.’ I promised myself that I would give up pathetic old man tech … Continue reading →

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Olympus 3 Dracunculus, tortoise, the monastery, Dresden, garden notes, etc.

Posted on February 6, 2021 by jonathan trustram

Just outside Litochoro, right by the road, I came across a dracunculus – literally little dragon. When you’ve only ever seen something once it takes on special importance. I was driving slowly but you’d see it even if you flashed … Continue reading →

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Olympos 2 – and garden notes

Posted on February 1, 2021 by jonathan trustram

When I wrote that last post, about the Papa Rema valley, how could I have forgotten this? It might have been suddenly discovering again the Italians and their search for Albania that drove it out of my head, even though … Continue reading →

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A day on Olympus

Posted on January 30, 2021 by jonathan trustram

I have been struggling to write about this mountain for more than a year and a half now. I spent a week on and around it in 2019. For now I will spare you my mental strife which is hard … Continue reading →

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‘I cried to dream again’, (Caliban in the Tempest): post cards from Olympos

Posted on January 13, 2021 by jonathan trustram

The back of Mount Olympus from the road between Ano Skotina and Kriovrisi; the summits are hidden. And now the other side, facing the sea, where crowds gather for the popular drama I have been trying to write this story … Continue reading →

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