Pindos, Tim Salmon`s Captured Moments
Take a stroll through time, witness life`s flowing journey, leaving behind traces—some recognized, others buried in the evolution of a society that`s lost touch with its roots, a society seemingly devoid of essence or hue.
Rural folks, surviving on values and wisdom, were sculpted by the vastness of space and the wisdom of experience. Wars, hardships, scarcity—they held back the potential of these people, overshadowing lives tethered to mountain villages by a political backdrop.
As the morning breeze caressed them, their struggle inspired inventive productivity in places considered inaccessible by today`s standards, a lesson we`ve overlooked with the onset of machinery.
Somewhere along the way, the essence of "sustainability" lost its true meaning. Back then, urbanization seemed like a lifeline amidst the darkness that shrouded mountain life till the end of the civil war—a period etched in the homes and hearts of those who suffered.
The survival skills honed in the mountains persisted, becoming the key to their endurance, fostering a community that clung to hope, yearning for a society rebuilt within the mountains` embrace.
Sadly, they couldn`t make it; the city drew them in.
Today, 50% of the country resides in a mere 3% of its land, a stark testament to the modern conviction to cram into urban standards. Before this scene fades away, before our last hope for a return to a more balanced existence evaporates, it`s crucial to seek and safeguard our ancestors` legacies. Let`s leave behind moral beacons for generations to come.
Enter Tim Salmon, the beloved explorer—a relentless admirer of Greek mountains, who set out early on to lay the groundwork for this mission. With dedication spanning five decades across Pindos` trails and villages, Tim made documenting and touring his life`s mission.
At 81, Tim`s legacy spans beyond his books like "The Mountains of Greece 1986," "The Unwritten Places 1995" (a tribute to Agrafa), and two editions of "Trekking in Greece: The Peloponnese and Pindos Way 2006 & 2018." He ensured that images and tales from post-war mountainous Greece, specifically the Pindos range, were preserved.
The photographs in his album, however we view them, tell their own story. But how did we manage to erase from memory all that brought us here? Why do we, for the past few decades, confine ourselves to urban realms, deprived of the clean water and the oxygen offered by the trees gracing our highlands? How many compromises can we endure when our bodies and souls yearn for nature, and life`s essence seems lost to most? For our sake, a link remains, held by the last of the mountain dwellers—a connection vital not to be severed. It`s a blessing to keep it intact. If we cannot muster the courage to stand where the sun kisses our faces, may we recall through these legacies of images and narratives.
Mountains, plains, islands—they are not just havens for leisure. Gaze back, and we`ll see they`re reservoirs of wisdom and respect, guiding us forward.
