Acropolis Rallye of Gods 2024 – Day1


 
 

A set of pictures I took on day 1 of this years Acropolis Rallye of Greece, the Rally of Gods. All photos where taken on stages 1 and 4, which actual is one stage, driven twice.

I wasn’t the best place for taking photos but the scenery was quite nice. Up in the mountains near the village of Pavliani. Usually you won’t think about green mountains, full of forrest when thinking about Greece. At least not in first place.

 

Krämerbrückenfest 2024

It was time again. The anual city festival was held last weekend. As it has become tradition, the merchands bridge (which gives the festival its name) again was decorated with an art project. 1000 colourful paper cranes had been installed between the bridges houses. 

An early morning bike ride was needed to get this shot without people. 

 

Jaw dropping moment, still can’t believe it

After last weeks massive sun flares, polar lights were predicted for the weekend. Even down to central Europe. I first saw a glimmer at 10 PM and instantly took a photo with my phone in night mode. That was the jaw dropping moment. Did I really witnessed polar lights for the first time in my life? The whole photo had a violet glow on it.
I instantly went up, set up my DSLR and took some more pictures out of the roof top window. Amazing. I frequently checked the situation throughout the next hours.
Around 1 AM the whole sky was glowing and those typical “columns” were visible by naked eye. Awesone! I grabbed my gear and went out to have a wider view and less light polution. This is what I got. Happy with the outcome and another tick off my bucket list: polar lights.

 

3:1

The Kernberge glow in the evening sun while the glorious FC Carl Zeiss Jena is going to beat “the others”

 

It ain’t artsy but it perfectly sums up a beautiful day. It has been a while since my last presence in the former “Home of the Kaninchen”, named after the inventor of the football stadium, Ernst Abbe.
The team, the weather, the light and 12.500 people created an awesome atmosphere. Even not finished yet, the new EAS makes watching football absolutely enjoyable. I really like what they did there.

 

Winter lights

After a few years break, I went to the annual “winter lights” event at the ega-park again this winter. I mean, it was in winter time but it did not feel like winter. At least on that day.
Lovely to see how the event spreads more and more over the park with every year. Almost the whole park was being illuminated by various light installations and animations.

As it was an unusual mild day, it had been a comfortable walk through the park with enough patience to find beautiful details. And some delicious Thuringian street food of course. Haven’t eaten a Bratwurst since months at that time.

 

 

The last pictures…

…of my trip to the Acropolis Rallye of Greece in September last year. Something I haven’t done before, but this post will contain more than one photo. All are taken at the Karoutes stage (8/11) on Saturday.
Again it was a perfect event and a perfect weekend and as always, a pleasure to have been there.

 

Sébastien Ogier / Vincent Landais

 

Ott Tänak / Martin Järveoja

 

Sébastien Ogier / Vincent Landais