Perfection is everywhere if we only choose to recognise it.

Hello everyone!!!

The Book of Tea by Okakura Kakuzō. 

This book was on my list for such a long time and finally, i found it.

It came to my book collection for only 6 euros.

A hardcover beauty, the way i like my books to be!! I can't wait to 

find some time and start reading it.

The Book of Tea (茶の本) by Okakura Kakuzō (1906) 

is a long essay linking the role of tea (teaism) 

to the aesthetic and cultural aspects of Japanese life.

Addressed to a western audience, 

it was originally written in English and is one of the great English tea classics. 

Okakura had been taught at a young age to speak English 

and was proficient at communicating his thoughts to the Western mind. 

In his book, he discusses such topics as Zen and Taoism, 

but also the secular aspects of tea and Japanese life. The book emphasizes 

how Teaism taught the Japanese many things; most importantly, simplicity. 

Kakuzō argues that this tea-induced simplicity affected art and architecture, 

and he was a long-time student of the visual arts. 

He ends the book with a chapter on Tea Masters, and spends some time talking 

about Sen no Rikyū and his contribution to the Japanese Tea Ceremony.

According to Tomonobu Imamichi, Heidegger's concept of Dasein 

in Sein und Zeit was inspired – although Heidegger remained silent on this 

– by Okakura Kakuzō’s concept of das-in-der-Welt-sein (being-in-the-worldness) 

expressed in The Book of Tea to describe Zhuangzi's philosophy, 

which Imamichi’s teacher had offered to Heidegger in 1919, 

after having followed lessons with him the year before.

“Tea ... is a religion of the art of life.” 

― Okakura Kakuzō, The Book of Tea

New add to my ring collection...

...and a few extremely cheap second handed books!

A few weeks back, i walked past this gorgeous mansion in my city.

But it was nightime and i couldn't take a clear picture.

Let me introduce you the

Ahmed Yusuf Kapantzis Villa at the Vassilissis Olgas street, 

also known as "NATO building" or "Red Cross".

Better pictures ahead 

all taken from here (site) text and original photographer.

It is a majestic building with eclectic style and effects art nouveau, 

designed by architect Pierro Arrigoni. 

It is estimated that was built between 1893 and 1895. 

Of the most unique traits is beige red mansion color of the facade, 

the asymmetrical organization of the facades, the tower-like endings of 

SE and NW wing morphology of the roof.

It consists of three floors, each of which is a separate apartment. 

The façade has numerous sheltered and free terraces and impressive tzamota 

and decoration patterns are data neoclassical, Renaissance, Art Nouveau and Arabic-Gothic. 

The walls inside are impressive performances 

with botanical subjects, landscapes and medallions with portraits.

The mansion was originally owned 

by Ahmet Kapantzis-it was a holiday family villa Kapantzis.

 After the Asia Minor disaster and the exchange of populations in 1926, 

was received as fungible assets in the public and used by the School Nurses.

During the Second World War 

it was requisitioned by the Germans and used by the Gestapo. 

Later housed there the EES Northern Greece, 

NATO services (for this is known as "NATO building") 

from 1954 to 1973 and the Management of the Organization 

for "Thessaloniki Cultural Capital of Europe 1997".

Recently became the property of Ivan Savvides.