July 2017 Cyprus-Athens

Posted on August 3, 2017 by Iakovos Hatzistavrou

Aglantazz 2017

Moments

The 43nd anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in the military cemetery in Nicosia with the graves of Greek and Cypriot soldiers killed in the 1974 from the Turkish invasion of Cyprus on July 19, 2017.

Athens, Greece:

If you like this share it:

We were there too

Posted on August 14, 2015 by Iakovos Hatzistavrou

Fengaros festival in Kato Drys in the Larnaca district, for another three-day run, filled with music, on the 31st of July until the 2nd of August. Celebrating its fifth birthday, Fengaros is today considered as one of the best and most highly-anticipated events of the summer. The bar has been set even higher this year, with the ultimate goal being the festival’s establishment as an important and major international event.

Bands and solo artists from Cyprus, Greece, England, France and the USA created an amalgam of music ranging from traditional to progressive, ethnic, blues, pop/rock, psychedelic, ambient, jazz and more.

This musical melting pot includes an attractive collection of names such as: the renowned world music act Banda Magda (USA), the Epirus stoner-rockers Villagers of Ioannina City (Greece), the beloved to the cypriot audience Flying Ibex (UK), the Cretan music virtuoso quartet Xylouris/Spyridakis/Persides/Katsikiotis (Greece), the uplifting The Burger Project (Greece), the freak-folk Le Juki (UK), the upcoming psychedelic-pop band The Cave Children (Greece), acts for children such as Dimitris Baslam’s (Greece), Alexia C.’s solo act (France), and Martha Mavroidi’s ethnic trio (Greece). From the local music scene, we’ll see names such as the veterans of cypriot rock To Marazi tis Fotoulas, the folk/progressive J. Kriste, Master of Disguise, and Tricoolore.

Three stages: the Main Stage, the Village Stage and the ABR Stage (in collaboration with Alternative Brains Rule), hinting at the festival’s pulse and vibe during its three-day take-over.

The festival’s organic athmosphere is further emphasized by the village’s graphic scenery, as the aesthetic of the surroundings will become once again a source of inspiration for both the artists and the participants

and after all, she finally slept :)

If you like this share it:

Children who stayed behind

Posted on June 30, 2015 by Iakovos Hatzistavrou

The deplorable living conditions of the enclaved Cypriot’s can be demonstrated by the simple recounting of their numbers following the Turkish invasion of 1974.
In July of that year the Greek Cypriot population of the area presently occupied by the Turkish army was 162,000. By the time the second phase of the Turkish invasion had been completed, in August 1974, 142,000 Cypriots were expelled or forced to flee, leaving 20,000, mostly in the Karpas peninsula (Report S/11488 of the UNSG to the Security Council dated 4 September 1974).
During the next four months, another 5,000 were forced to leave, resulting in a reduction of the Greek Cypriot population of the occupied area by 91% (Report S/11568, 6 December 1974, para. 43).
According to the latest report of the Secretary General to the Security Council this number has diminished to 427 Greek Cypriots and 165 Maronites (S/1122, 30 November 2001, para. 8).
The situation today seems better the enclaved are almost 350 people, the students in school of Rizokarpaso are only 19
On 24 of June in the school parents, students and official guests celebrated the closing ceremony of the school year

(EDITING by Slaviana Chekirova)

If you like this share it:

Mass weddings

Posted on June 22, 2015 by Iakovos Hatzistavrou

On June 19, 2015 on the beach of Larnaca Medieval Castle, married 70 couples, which were accompanied by about 200 guests.
For the fifth consecutive year, the Municipality of Larnaca and the Tourism Development and Promotion Larnaca in cooperation with tour operators from Israel, organizing this celebration event of massive civil marriages.

The intended spouses, majority Israelis and Russians, arrived by boat in Larnaca port from Haifa,
the transition of couples in the marriage celebration took place with vintage cars from the Old Car Club of Cyprus.

The area was ruled by the Police with a strong presence for the fear of terrorism, since on June 29 will be tried in criminal court, 26 year old Lebanese where in his house found 5 tons of ammonium nitrate

CURETED & EDITING by Slaviana Chekirova

If you like this share it:

Congratulations

Posted on March 27, 2015 by Iakovos Hatzistavrou

For the very first time in Cyprus history, a blind student take part in the National parade with his teacher

Andreas Solomou, 17-year-old blind student CYPRUS-LIMASSOL-NATIONAL PARADE-BLIND STUDENT Aggelos Aggelidis, his teacher

_MAR1511

When I read the news that a blind student will take part in the national parade I thought:

bravo to the lad

but when I went there to cover photographically the parade, I was not expecting that I would feel such emotion,

_MAR1621

_MAR1602

perhaps because everybody who watched the parade as you could believe that they he had gone only for Andreas.

Permanently applause and the world urges to Andreas touched by his effort.

CYPRUS-LIMASSOL-NATIONAL PARADE-BLIND STUDENT _MAR1789

Professor (Angelos Angelidis) that since last October helped this venture, begged me not to take pictures and that’s because there were even negative reactions, he told me sad that they said

that he do it for self-promotion

I asked Andreas why?, (why always there)

. he told me that he wanted this experience and why

. he wants to tell the whole world that everything can be done as long as you try,

. he wanted to tell people with disabilities to dare,

and finally how tired he is because almost every day people faced him like being sick

_MAR1804 For me was a unique experience,

Andreas made me smile

Andreas inspire me

Andreas and this kind of people they are leaders and not followers

We need them

If you like this share it:

Happy the new Year

Posted on January 2, 2015 by Iakovos Hatzistavrou

From the bottom of my heart, I hope and I wish all the best for you and your families

If you like this share it:

Michel Bonnardeaux

Posted on December 13, 2014 by Iakovos Hatzistavrou

In memory of a friend, the words are few and unnecessary

What remains is the beauty of moments and over all, the acts that determine our quality in this unique passage of life

Have a nice trip Michel Bonnardeaux and Thank you

If you like this share it:

God rest their souls, they know …..

Posted on July 22, 2014 by Iakovos Hatzistavrou

CYPRUS, Nicosia 15 of July 2014,

In the cemetery of Ayios Constantinos and Elenis but in separate sections are buried citizens,

soldiers and police officers were killed during the 1974 coup aimed at union (Enosis) with Greece, the morning of 15th of July 1974 were battles, against Cypriot Greek Orthodox Archbishop and president Makarios at the Presidential Palace.