The ghost village “recipe”.
During my travels around Greece I have seen many settlements that used to be filled with life and now have become ghost villages. Reading about the history of those places I realized that there is a pattern in this procedure, kind of a recipe.
Until two centuries ago, the Aegean Sea was occupied by pirates, forcing the population of the islands and the seaside regions to build their settlements up in the mountains so that they cannot be seen from a passing by ship.
They had a harsh life there, occupying themselves with agriculture and stockbreeding but eventually they built beautiful villages with all sort of craftsmen and strong social bonds. World War II brought massive changes and poverty upon them. At the end of the war a big migration wave began.
Many people moved to the cities and others went abroad seeking for a better life while the rest saw the land of opportunity a few km away, next to the sea. One way or another, the villages were gradually left to decay, waiting for the next big social turbulence that may bring the people back to them.
Kalami in south Crete is one of those villages. Once the home of 600 people it was an admirable, wealthy village and commerce centre for the whole region. Nowadays only 9 people live there while the contents of the abandoned houses have been plundered over and over again.
It wasn’t until the 80s that Kalami was depopulated as the remaining residents moved at the seaside settlement of “Psari Forada”, in the beginning for the summer months and later for the whole year.
That’s why most of the houses were filled with belongings of the owners, that left as if it was something temporary but when there were no neighbours left, the locked doors and the window bars where not enough to keep the burglars out.
I feel a little bit sad walking through the deserted roads of a ghost village trying to make beautiful pictures out of the decaying scenery but I always have the hope that history will take its revenge and those places will fill with life once again!
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What a beautiful but sad post! It is always a bit of a strange feeling to walk around in a ghost town. So easy to see spirits of the past. Your photography here tells the story perfectly :) Much love - Carl
Thank you so much Carl for your generous comment!
It is sad indeed and it is happening all over the Greek countryside (and I imagine in other counties too).
I am really glad that you liked my post though :)
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Thank you!
This are beautiful photo's but what a sad story come with them. I really hope, just as you do, that these places will be once filled with happiness and laughter again. It makes me a little sad too to see this 'faded glory'.
Yes, “faded glory” is the best description!
Thank you for checking it out :)
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Great article @Fotostef
Continue using #bigwaves
Thank you so much for coming over to check it, glad you liked it!
It feels sad looking at the photos of the abandoned houses. In a way, the photos look beautiful but with it is that sadness knowing that this place was once inhabited and was filled of life and laughter. Even looking at the once greenland now filled with tall buildings have a way to make me sad. I guess that's part of the change. I hope that this place soon will come to life again. In time I guess.
Thank you for stopping by @filnette :)
Hi @fotostef. I stumbled upon this post and I thought about this post of yours. Maybe you can join in here :)
Thank you for letting me know!
I'll check it out.
These photos are eerily beautiful. Great job on this post!
Ivy
Thank you for your encouraging comment!
Much appreciated :)
You are so welcome! Looking forward to more of your photos :)
Ivy