Monastery of Kalamos. Ios Island, Greece.

From Chora, the main village of Ios, to Mylopotas, follow the dirt road at the end of the beach, I lead to the south coast of the island. This itinerary do offers the most interesting views of the place. By passing by Mylopotas and turning right at the crossroads, we can reach the splendidly isolated beach of Klima (accessible only on foot). But this was not my final destiny. I enter the main road again, and I get to the Monastery of Kalamos. Kalamos is a very well-preserved 200-year-old Byzantine building, which stills today a special place of worship for the locals. The place is a spiritual refuge, very peaceful and profound, and definitely deserves all the efforts to get there. The island has 365 churches as many as the days of the year, most of them are Byzantine. Everything is painted white, to resist the merciless heat of Greek summer, with blue or green doors and windows in accordance with the deep blue of surrounding Aegean Sea.

Mapusa market. Goa, India

The Friday market in Mapusa is the best market I have found in Goa. Mapusa comes from the Konkani words maap, meaning "measurement", and sa, meaning "to fill". The market dates back to as early as 1850, and we can buy almost everything, from fresh fruits and vegetables to colorful saris. Nearby, the city of Old Goa (Portuguese Velha Goa), the former capital of Goa, was founded about 1440 and conquered by the Portuguese in 1510. At the height of its prosperity (1575-1675), Old Goa had a population of 20,000. It is hard to believe that a small country like Portugal had such a strong territory in the other part f the world. By the mid-18th century, disease epidemics caused the Portuguese viceroy to move to Nova Goa (Panaji). From 1962 until May 1987, when it attained statehood, Goa was part of Goa, Damân, and Diu, a union territory of India named for the three districts it comprised. I visit Goa in April 2003 and I took a large number of people portraits. I particularly like this one. This woman, like Goa it self, shows a strong used face marked by the time, but still full of ornaments and traditional jewelry. Today, this pearl of the orient, entered the millennium with a burgeoning tourist industry and growing environmental problems, despite the fact that the government has shown some commitment to conserving its cultural and natural heritage.

The serenity of a Geisha. Tokyo, Japan

In my visit to Japan last March, the Geisha’s atmosphere definitively conquers my camera’s attentions. They are extraordinary and they fit in the traditional Japanese culture today as in the past. Geisha are expected to be excellent performers and entertainers of men; they should be refined in the art of conversation as well as a more traditional art such as dance or singing. Most Kyoto Geisha are adept of the Shamisen (a traditional Japanese 3 stringed instrument similar to a guitar) that they carriers in lovely handle boxes. We will certainly comeback to Japan later on.

Formentera. Balearic Islands, Spain

I had to start this journal by one of my favorite places. Formentera, in the Balearic Islands, in Spain. We all have a favorite spot, don’t we? Formentera have, probably, the best beaches in the word. Over the years, the fabled Spanish island of Ibiza has developed into a package-tour, with megaclubs and white nights. In contrast, Formentera, just two miles away, seems like a different planet, or at least a different social orbit. The smallest of the inhabited Balearic Islands, with no airport and few paved roads, Formentera has become a must seeing place for those who like the sun and the sea and a very relaxing atmosphere. I intend to go this summer…again!