Cherry Blossom Life?






         BeauTy ResideS in ManY FormS. And Not All GooD is GooD. The MirroR WilL ReveaL Thy SelF.

August 18, 2009

Thoughts of the day:

Nothing spectacular. Some of them just - bugs me.

1.  I lost something precious from my mom… I can’t recall what?

2. Race issue: Macedonian Language in a more Slavic Origin Country? We’re talking about the country who call themselves as “Macedonians” and telling the Greeks that “Alexander the Great is not a Macedonian” nor Greece (Northern Greece where I live now) is not a Macedonian territory/origin. This is from the people that lives in FYROM. aka. Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and some people that do not know Ancient History, whether because they did not go to school or just do not know which valid material of History Books they are reading.

I cannot believe that there are people who still argues about the authenticity of Greeks and Macedonia. Even the Cyrillic Language is being understood. Haven’t they heard of the Byzantine Era? Probably they do not have internet too, or if they had, what kind of information they may have read is a HOAX.

When you start emphasizing to them of the history background they just say to you, “No… Greeks erased the ancient stones that Macedonian Language were written and wrote it of their own.”

Something funny about this modern Macedonian Language. When you actually say Macedonia, you remind of yourself of Alexander the Great. And he’s a Greek aka from Hellas as what Greeks were called before the Turkish occupied them and call them as “Greeks” which basically means, “slave”. But up until now in their Greek dictionary which may have been modernized so that you don’t have to use those “ae” and many “o”s accentuation, “Greek” word  do not exist in ancient times, but “Hellas” does.

This Macedonian Language is basically a mix of other languages. Byzantine Empire has their “good” benefits because Orthodox Missionaries started going to other territories outside Greece to help educate the people of those places. By giving them a language; a mix of Ancient Greek and of their own that is now called “Cyrillic Language”. Shouldn’t they be grateful of this rather than acting like as if they have made it on their own without the help of those Orthodox Priests.

Note: of course “Greek” word do not exist in ancient times, it is called “Hellenic” or Hellas as a country.

The Macedonian Language refers now to the language used by the people who has a nation- identity crisis after being thrown here and there, but had lived in the Hellenic Republic (Greece) during the Byzantine empire,

- were actually Slavic people in origin. They have mixed with the people of the country and have accustomed around the Greeks for centuries. After the Turkish occupied the country, they were like orphans; they were lost where to settle down because they may be Slavic in origin but they are Greeks in culture so they do not know where to settle down. Bulgarians who is their nearest brother, had tried to occupied them, and other slavic coutries conflict they have tasted. After centuries passed, their roots have expanded and now they are in one country called, ” Republic of Macedonia”.

These are some of the arguments a person from that “Slavic - origin country” talked:

1. Asking why Greeks are still using ancient alphabet letters?

2. Talking about that his alphabet has been used for a very long time so the Greek and Russian alphabets derived from it?

3. Greeks are “nigah” and been “fucked” by Egyptians so they became “white”.

4. Greeks are propagandists.

Crap.
Hoax are the stories of their claim that they’re Macedonians by origin.What pride to they have in this claim? And thanks to the UN. OR whoever is the politician that is behind this propaganda of FYROM aka Rep. of Ma.ce.do.nia.

Check this Website for More Information: http://www.greece.org/Themis/Macedonia/history.htm

I may not be Greek in origin, but I’m married to a Greek and iLL be a citizen of Greece soon, so afterthen,  I may claim that I’m Greek, but come on… im not really Greek, check my genes. So freedom of speech. Freedom of idiocrasy. Anyone can claim whom they want to be, but at least be true to yourself when it comes to the “truth”. Do not claim what you are not.

–END of Blab–

August 17, 2009

Ruin-ing-Talk: The Ancient Forum of Thessaloniki

Filed under: Uncategorized — kaorukamiya @ 10:16 am
Tags:

ALL PHOTOS ARE TAKEN BY ME.

On the 2nd week of August, my husband and I went to one of the Ancient ruins around the city. A fanatic of ancient sites, I love sharing the infos, just like it is best to share the most-delicious peaches in the world to my old friends in Philippines, (it’s not like I have traveled to alot of places, haha, but, yes I found it in Thessaloniki, ^^).

I will be taking some lines or paragraphs from the brochure that was given to us at the site, because I myself can’t recall what’s in there.

For a start, you enter the site for F.R.e.E.

Photobucket

That day, the ground was a bit moist from last night’s rain. There was a person painting varnish on the entrance fence where an excavated area has been opened. We were met by a foreign site personnel who handed us the brochure.

Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket

Imagine this is Summer in Greece and in the news there were almost 3 million tourist in the Northern region. Thanks to the Balkan countries who do not have good beaches or no beaches at all because they come here, hehe. But amazingly, they weren’t that many that day. They’re mostly at the beach resorts. There are foreign faces roaming around the ruin set. The foreign-guide had to remind most of the site visitors not to go on “that” and “not here sir”, and “please go this way”. I did not hear any Greek language from them. Well this project is basically co-financed by the EU and the 2nd & 3rd CSF.That’s why the personnel from that site are mostly foreigners.

What is this ancient site about?

It is an ancient agora, the administrative centre of Roman Thessalonike, covered an area about 2 hectares in the heart of the city. Construction began at the end of  the 2nd AD on the site of an existing agora of the Early Imperial period.

The agora complex was discovered in 1962 during excavations on the site which the Hebrard plan, after the fire of 1917, had designated for the new law courts. In 1966, under extreme pressure, the then inspector of antiquities, Fotis Petsas, restored the only intact column found there, and this initiative determined the agora’s fate, because in 1969 the area was declared an archaeological site and its name was changed from Dikastirion (Law-courts) Square to Archaias Agoras (ancient Agora) Square.

A part of a hellenistic bath has been excavated.

Photobucket

It was abandoned during the 5th century, transferring the city’s administrative functions to Galerius’s palace complex and the buildings in the agora were plundered of their stone or converted into rain-water cisterns.

Photobucket Photobucket PhotobucketPhotobucket Photobucket

Photobucket Photobucket

The complex was organised around a rectangular paved area. Three sides were lined with 2-storey porticoes with a double row of Corinthian columns giving access to public spaces.

Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket

The south portico rested on a double, vaulted structure, part of which was underground (cryptoporticus).

Photobucket

Further south, along the entire length of the cryptoporticus, was a row of shops facing onto the ancient commercial street along what is now Philippou street.

Photobucket

Market Streets: (they closed the alley area so we cannot go down to see what’s in there)

Photobucket

Mini theater: Odeion

Entrance:

Photobucket

Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket
Photobucket

A view of the small theater from outside the site:

Photobucket

A view of the surrounding areas from the mini-theater (from the toppest):

Photobucket Photobucket

Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket

Outside the wall of the mini-theater:

Photobucket

In 1996-97 the cryptoporticus and the odeion began to be used as venues for cultural events. At thesame time following archaeological investigations and development work, two underground spaces were opened along Olymbou Street, where the portable finds from the agora can be classified and occasional exhibitions held. There found too are refreshment rooms, lavatories, and two underground rooms have been opened.

If you have added me as FS friend, you will see more photos from the ruins that I took even days after the 1st visit. I will be putting them up in due time.

More personal pics of mine and hubby:

Photobucket Photobucket
Photobucket Photobucket

This blogpost is on prior editing because I’m in a hurry to publish it. Ill pick up more details Sis Ceres!