Thalassa

In Greek "thalassa" means the "sea". Think of words like thalassemia, thalassotherapy, thalassocracy...they all derive from the greek word thalassa - my second love after Alkis. In my teens I thought I was very unlucky! I was born in Nicosia - the capital city of Cyprus. I couldn't see the sea nor could I go for a walk on a deserted beach just after school. I had to wait for the school holidays to spend a few days by the sea.

But life is weird at times. I met my husband in Switzerland -  a country which has only got lakes but when we finally decided to settle down in Cyprus, we had to move to Larnaca because of Alkis' job! I hated this place then. We only had one car then which Alkis would use to go to work. I was unemployed and living in a town which looked much stranger than Geneva. My only solace was the sea. I didn't know anyone in Larnaca then, so I'd often go to the beach and talk to the sea.

Finally, the sea won my heart. And later the people -called skaliotes - the people of Larnaca, like my best friend Stefania and many others. Right now, Nicosia, my hometown is more than 30,000 miles away while in actual fact it's only 50 miles away. 

And here's one of my most favourite greek songs - Nasoun Thalassa (If You Were the Sea) by Natasa Theodoridou.

Twenty years later, I feel I belong to the sea.

Thalassa

Comments

[Alexia M]

During the two years I spent in your beautiful country, I made some great friends and had some of my life's gretesr moments. There are a lot of things I can't forget but what I miss most here in Amsterdam is your sea. Your thalassa. Your golden beaches. Not just in Cyprus, but all over Greece. In Cyprus I have known mostly the beaches of Limassol like Dasaki, and I have also been to Finicades beach in Larnaca. The photos are super! I t5hink you are a great photographer, Anastasia, and I was wondering if I could have permission to use your photos in our brochures. Of course there will be a direct link to your blog and name,

[Karolina]

I don't live near the sea but because of my job I work on one of Greece's most beautiful islands and in the summer I can't have enough of those beautifull beaches! That is ....when I have some time off work. Great photos, by the way! And I hope that one day, I will be able to visit Cyprus. polla filakia!!!!

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[Anastasia]

Sure! You can use my photos, Alexia. And thanks for asking! I'm not much of a photographer, but I'm glad you like them.

[Anastasia]

Polla polla filakia back to you. Thanks, Karolina!!! :-)

[Agnes]

What a beautiful post Anastasia :-)))

[Kofla Olivieri]

Beautiful images, and heartwarming story! The ocean is one of the things I miss the most about home!!

[Lakis Ioannou]

I am not very fond of the sea maybe because of my bad connection to water!I am the mountain type,instead. My idea of relaxing is a morning walk in the forest, hiking,roasting chestnuts in the fireplace while it's snowing outside or just reading my favourite book under a pine tree. Yet what I like in your posts so much is their transaparency. I love the way you write with your heart. Great pictures too!