This was a small English language bookshop in the town o Oia, on the volcanic island of Santorini, Greece. In a town without house numbers, Atlantis Books was located in the basement of one of the numerous whitewashed Mediterranean cave houses. A few years ago, Craig, Oliver and Chris settled a debt, found books, shipped them and came to Santorini. Together with some others, they collected driftwood from the beach and built a bookshop with beds. From then one, Atlantis became a second Shakespear and Co: a home to travellers, writers and their beloved books.

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Natalie was from California, in her mid-twenties, and well-tanned. With half of her face covered under her novelty sunglasses, she stood, chatting with us while we worked. She had been on the island for a year and a half. She feel in love with the place and decided not to leave, thus becoming an illegal resident after her tourist visa had expired. She worked as a waitress during the summer, and for the rest of the year, she just lived her life.

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One of my nights in Santorini was making Greek meatballs in Natalie's cave house at 3am. We drank lots of wine, smoked lots of cigarettes, and patted street dogs who came in for a shelter. I asked Natalie whether she regretted her decision, that she would never be able to leave this country. She was leaning on the half-opened wooden door and having a smoke. Her face looked tired after a long-day's work, but her smile was all soft and sweet, 'No. I think I've found my happiness. This is what i want in life.'

Every moment, there are beautiful things all around us. Yet most of the time, we're used to magnifying our sorrows and frustrations to their fullest because the pains are too much to leave behind. This is why tragedies are so sensational. On the contrary, happiness comes either so fast or so easy that we hardly dare to look at it fearing the next moment it will burst its bubbles and disappear forever.

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Just like the first words given by Alex Webb to the students on the first day of Magnum Workshop:'you need find your own way.' Find yourself, and then you'll be able to see the eternal beauties all around you.

Source: Xing May 2008