Today is the day when the Archangel Gabriel brought some happy news to the Virgin Mary who, with a suspiciously impeccable sense of timing, does the whole Christmas thing exactly nine months later. Exactly 1,827 years later in 1821 (Bible literalists, get the math right and I might give you more credence), again with a suspiciously impeccable sense of timing, Greece rose against the Ottoman yoke and today is Greek Independence Day, a.k.a. Elliniki Apanastasi, like the Italian Risorgimento, but harder to pronounce and without the biscuits.

Had the Virgin’s sense of timing been more accurate, I want to add, she would never have got knocked up in the first place, but that would be needlessly antagonistic, so I won’t. Instead, I’ll do the Greeks.

Every year, the entire military might of the Greek armed forces flies over my office, making my windows rattle. This year, as it’s the last time I’ll enjoy the dubious pleasure of helicopters doing an Apocalypse Now over my house, I thought I’d embrace the event, go up to a hill used by planes to sight their flight path and try to get a shot of the Acropolis and flying machines together. The results are above.

Greece, like nearly every “developed” country alas, spends more on “defence” than on education.

I had to make my way past a very ‘establishment’ church that caters to the politicians living in a posh part of Athens and avoid getting roughed up by their bodyguards (“man with camera – must be an anarchist”), which prompted a strong desire to correct a notorious idée reçue.

The Greek Orthodox Church has spent centuries persuading its flock it was a lone beacon of Hellenism in the darkness of Ottoman rule. In fact, for more than 400 years, the Church acted as a Quisling government on behalf of a theocratic empire which made no division between church and state. Who else should administer its Greek provinces other than the country’s priests? History is not, or shouldn’t be, Manichaean, so this is a generalisation and there are many notable and heroic exceptions. Even so, I believe the Orthodox Church’s revisionist propaganda as much as I do the impeccable sense of timing of the Annunciation and the Epanastasi.

As for the present, it was a very windy day and I’m amazed (and grateful) how low the pilots flew over the city. If only they’d flown lower and more to the right to help me get my shots right… No one needs those television aerials anyway.

It is illegal to take photographs of military installations in Greece. Tourists, beware, this is not a joke. Britons may recall the case a few years ago of plane-spotters being arrested for doing exactly that. They were cautioned twice before being locked up. I wonder whether I have committed a crime here. If I have and the Greek police are looking for me, I want you to know that my real name is Elwood Blues and I live at 1060 West Addison.

But that's Rigley Field! Great shots. I think I like the last one the best of the Acropolis. I bet panning with the jets was challenging, don't have many second chances. oh, and love the commentary. dontblink · 2009-03-25: 12:15

Fantastic post Elwood! ; ) Thanks for sharing the information too. These are great shots, I really like #1, #3 and #4 awesome. ; ) pattyb · 2009-03-25: 13:04

Cool shots, thanks for the history lesson and healthy dose of realism :-) Jarvo · 2009-03-25: 13:08

Great shots - cool post! Memphis · 2009-03-25: 14:25

the aliens are attacking olympus Dragana · 2009-03-25: 15:30

La 1 est impressionnante.... nathaliedelmas · 2009-03-25: 15:41

" I ought to make this clear to the Turkish High Command, in case they feel tempted after looking at my post." Haha :) You caught some sharp images of the fast ones anyway! good job! twosome · 2009-03-25: 17:56

Great shots, #1 is GREAT! And I 2nd the comment by Jarvo, thanks for the history lesson. ShowMe · 2009-03-25: 18:01

Dear Mr Blues, we are glad you pointed out the fact that 43 squadrons of well armed, suprersonic Greek jets had already passed before our very pretty slower aircraft posed for your camera - you have a license for it, of course!! Perhaps you could solve a little puzzle that Sgt Poulosopoulos and I have been wrestling with since the General was shouting down the phone to us, earlier today. We have puzzled over maps, triangulations and gps read outs and 1060 West Addison appears to be missing from the documentation of our fair Athina. Perhaps you could give us directions, Just to add to our knowledge you understand. TheGreekPolice · 2009-03-25: 18:54

wow this post is so lively,,,even the Greek police came to sign :))) Only one thing,,I dont feel free to comment with the police around lol,,im not so brave as you to give my address....;) good set! TIM927 · 2009-03-25: 19:28

Reply to the Commander of the Greek Police, who was kind enough to stop by yesterday: Dear Commander Ouzo, Your natural modesty explains why you omitted the armored divisions rumbling past my house which make such patriotic cracks in my walls. My heart swells with pride every 25th March. Unfortunately, my lungs burst last December when you resorted to expired teargas after using up all your "fresh" stock. Perhaps you didn't use the right equipment when looking for my address. What you should have used was: * One unused prophylactic * One soiled * One black suit jacket, * One pair black suit pants * One hat black * One pair of sunglasses * $23 and seven cents. Oh, and about that soiled prophylactic? Your mother says hi. Best regards, Elwood a.k.a. Le Revenant revenant · 2009-03-26: 15:01

Ah, Sgt Poulosopoulos has pointed out to me that you are a comedian. So, you must work in one of the Ministries. I will phone the General immediately. He will be most relieved to hear that your photographs are official lies.. TheGreekPolice · 2009-03-26: 16:43

Well, you know what they say: δεν πρέπει να έισαι τρελός άλλα βοιθείσει αν θελείς να δουλεψείς εδώ... (Just in case the good sargeant wants to practice his English on the next batch of sunburnt female tourists arriving this summer: the above translates as "you don't have to be mad to work here, but it helps") revenant · 2009-03-26: 16:58

yes yes, I speak Greek, as everyone I arrest will testify to! TheGreekPolice · 2009-03-26: 17:02

#1 my fav. and interesting post too ! nOLO666 · 2009-03-26: 18:11

Epanastasy sounds very rude. When are you doing a friend's request? Only if unafraid of nudity, though. You are a blogfriend so feel free to join to look at more crappy pictures of sunsets ! (or maybe not sunsets) Can I say "nice pictures"? It is a striking image with teh very old Athens and the war looking planes. abumdance · 2009-03-26: 18:53

un bel exemple d'état policier!! on est flicqué partout!! le Sgt ouzo nous montre bien le point commun de tout ces fanatiques guerriers, la connerie :)) fantastic report btw! tomie · 2009-03-27: 06:23

beautiful pictures. modphotog · 2009-03-27: 15:36

Now that's what I call humour :)) yellodog · 2009-03-28: 18:35

The Black Helicopter Brigade was a great picture too, by the way maybe an alternative soundtrack might have been the Flight Of The Bumblebee yellodog · 2009-03-28: 18:38

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