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overhead view of beach sifnos greek islands by Carla Coulson one of the places I love to visit

September 27, 2013

Sifnos – Places I loved

Today I am very excited to share with you places to visit on the Greek Island of Sifnos!

When the oversized ferry dropped its giant door and let us off on another Greek Island the excitement was high, just the same as the first time I put my big toe on a Greek Island.

Love rush is an understatement for how I feel about Greece and the Cycladic Island of Sifnos is now one of my new favourites.

Cheronnisos Beach Copyright Carla Coulson

Sifnos is surrounded by crystal clear water and if you love swimming as much as I do this is a real TREAT! Old fashioned beaches that look like they belong in a 70’s postcard abound and I imagine if you go out of season they would almost be deserted.

Vathi Beach Copyright Carla Coulson

We were so excited about Vathi beach and it’s tavern we were literally the only ones on it at 9am and camped under the tables to be sure we wouldn’t miss out on a lunch spot. I LOVED this tavern where you sit under the tamarind trees with your toes in the sand. The food was amazing. I ate enough big beans to start sprouting!

Vathi Copyright Carla Coulson

This picture-postcard church is at Vathy and you get the double whammy with water from both sides.

Zoodochos Pigi Copyright Carla Coulson

Now the Greeks know about building beautiful monasteries and they seem to like to build them in out of the way places, hanging off cliffs, perched on boulders or as in Sifnos’s case on its own private rocky Island.

Cheronnosis beach Copyright Carla Coulson

Loved this beach and the tavern that runs along the mini dock. Yep loved this tavern so much (not pictured) I was almost sleeping under the tables here too! Didn’t want to miss out on a seat at lunch.

Francesco and Friends at Faros Beach Copyright Carla Coulson

You will be forgiven for thinking we passed our entire time eating (well we almost did). We pledged to try as many taverns as possible and that came true! On the rocks at Faros was another fave.

The port from Saint Eliseus Copyright Carla Coulson

The Port from Saint Eliseus up on the hill. Looks like I was in a plane but just trying not to be blown off the cliff whilst taking this pic.

The transparent water always so difficult to leave Copyright Carla Coulson

Appollonia from Kato Petali Copyright Carla Coulson

I love walking the old paths that once connected the villages before the roads were built. This pic was taken on the path from Appollonia to Kato Petali.

Zoodochos Pigi Copyright Carla Coulson

Sifnos has 365 churches on the island and this is the big kahuna. In a spectacular setting..

Appollonia Copyright Carla Coulson

I was obsessed with this house and it’s simple entrance. I could imagine living here.

Artemonas Copyright Carla Coulson

And here. Now if that isn’t the best bouganvillea I have ever seen!! Love Artemonas a combo of village houses and big neoclassical homes with large gardens and lemon trees.. Divine. Definately would stay in this village next time.

Figs Kato Petali Copyright Carla Coulson

Gawd was having daydreams of living on this island and drying my own figs in the sun. Ate kilos from the trees along the roads

Ceramic Factory Vathi Beach Copyright Carla Coulson

This is one of the old ceramic factories in Sifnos up the end to the left of Vathi beach. I now drink my morning coffee out of the sweetest coffee cups this man and his son made.

Kittycat Copyright Carla Coulson

And the greatest thing about leaving your beloved cat at home is wherever you go in Greece you are reminded of him. Cats everywhere and I loved this little guy at the shop in Vathi.

Francesco Copyright Carla Coulson

There is a saying in Greece ‘una faccia una razza’ (which is actually Italian) which means ‘One Race One Face’. The Mediterranean has seen so many exchanges of culture through the centuries that it has become one place. When Francesco is in Greece they speak to him in Greek and he gets that inner glow of happiness to think the Greeks believe he belongs to their great country.

And of course just being in Greece makes you enjoy their love of life and teaches you about Kefi.

What to do in Sifnos:

Stay: In the fabulous village of Artemonas with it’s neoclassical homes and lovely gardens. Divine village

Swim: At Vathi behind the church, At Cheronnosis and the beach on the left before you arrive. Faros is lovely too

Eat: Gawd you can almost go anywhere on this island but don’t miss Manolis Tavern under the tamarind trees Vathi. Don’t miss the tavern at Cheronnosis that flanks the water. Fabulous.

Shop: Almond sweets! The island is famous for the beautiful sweets and Artemonas is the home to three great shops. The oldest one is after the square on the path coming from Appollonia. Ceramics.. Sifnos is famous for it’s beautiful ceramics and there are many shops in Kamares and Appollonia.

See: The villages on foot, take the path to Artemonas from Appollonia and also the villages of Kato Petali and Exambela. Beautiful.. Oh and as many of the 365 churches on the island.

If you would like some travel photography tips please click here or if you would like more Greek Island Inspiration please click here.

I hope you enjoyed these lovely places to visit on the Greek Island of Sifnos

“Happy is the man, I thought, who, before dying, has the good fortune to sail the Aegean sea.??? Nikos Kazantzakis, Zorba The Greek

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April 30, 2013

in Photography Tips, travel, Travel Photography

by Carla

13 Comments

Travel Photography Series Part 3 – Architecture

Venice for Gourmet Traveller Copyright Carla Coulson

My trip to Puglia inspired me to write this third part in my travel photography series on how to include architecture in your travel stories. In case you missed the first two parts, you can catch up on how you can include food and people into your travel stories.

Having a husband who is an architect has helped me to love architecture even more! This has become a favourite part for me of shooting a travel story.

Travel Means Architecture

There are important pieces of architecture that are typical to that place that will immediately tell the reader where the story is set.

Let’s take Paris and Venice as examples: the white facades and grey tin roofs are typically Parisian as are the canals of Venice, gondala’s and the Venetian faded walls and architecture. Most travel stories open with a shot that sets the scene so the reader almost doesn’t need to read the title, you know immediately that you are in Paris, Venice, Morocco or Australia!

Venice Copyright Carla Coulson Chasing a Dream

The fun thing about shooting a city is that there are many different types of architecture from iconic masterpieces (like the Doges Palace in the top photo), humble exteriors and details, modern masterpieces, chic areas and working class areas of a city and of course interiors..

Venice for Gourmet Traveller Copyright Carla Coulson

Iconic Masterpieces

Every city (almost) has an iconic piece of architecture (or two) that defines it. Sydney has the Opera House, Paris the Tower Eiffel, Venice the Doges Palace and St Marks Church and Florence the incredible Duomo.

Try and include an iconic masterpiece in your travel story, you can bring your own slant to it by shooting it in the light you like, or a particular time of day or something quirky in the foreground.

Venice for Gourmet Traveller Copyright Carla Coulson

Humble Exteriors

A well rounded travel story needs many different angles of the city which means showing different areas and architecture. I loved this simple small bridge over a canal in Venice and the colour palette and having variety gives your art director more choice. I also adored the working class island of Burano where the small fisherman’s homes were a huge contrast to the St Mark’s Square and the Doges Palace. Keep your eyes peeled for architecture that tells a different story to the iconic masterpieces.

Fisherman’s home Burano Venice Copyright Carla Coulson

Get Up High

In most cities there is an important landmark (such as the cathedral in Milan below) where you can get a different vantage point on the city. Can be fun too if there is a lift!

Milan for Gourmet Traveller Copyright Carla Coulson

Architectural Details

I rode, walked and skipped by this fountain a hundred times in Florence and I was always drawn to Neptunes butt! (Sorry guys) Architectural details take us in close to the art of a city and brings the focus up close.

Florence Copyright Carla Coulson

Inside Outside

Try and get into a city and show it from the inside out. That can mean as much as pushing open a door to see a courtyard or walking into the entrance of a museum etc. The above pic was a courtyard off Via Montenapoleone in Milan.

Milan for Gourmet Traveller Copyright Carla Coulson

Interiors

Interiors are another fabulous way to get in the architecture of a city. Getting inside adds depth to your story and tells a more intimate part of the cities life. The pic below was taken in the Armani Bar in Milan.

Interior – Milan for Gourmet Traveller Copyright Carla Coulson

Venice for Gourmet Traveller copyright Carla Coulson

This interior was taken in the Hotel Danieli in Venice which has an incredible Venetian Gothic staircase.

Simple Details

I am a huge fan of simple details, of striped curtains covering a doorway to a house, a carved face on a corner of a street, washing strung in front of a beautiful buildings.. Don’t overlook details, they often tell the best stories!