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Off Season Holidays on Ithaca, Ithaki. Greece 2007. Winter on Ithaca. |
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Winter on Ithaca 2006 - 2007 |
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Fri 26 Jan - A grey day on Ithaki yesterday. It wasn't cold, but it did look a bit miserable weather-wise. Below - Everyday views around Stavros during mid afternoon, when the streets were quiet and empty during siesta. The only sound was the buzzing of the transistor on the electricity pole. |
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A handful of old locals sit at the Kentro Cafe, where Stavros overlooks Polis Bay below. Not a car passes as the northern island sleeps. The swings at the playground are still. There's no movement, only a little wind gently sweeping through the eucalyptus and pine trees, stirring the air. By 4.30pm, little by little, Stavros wakes up. It's alive again. |
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Sat 27 Jan - Although the blue skies have abandoned us over the past week, the weather is still very, very mild. Morning dew keeps the island green despite the lack of rain. It's a great time to go for long walks along the tracks of ithaki and to focus on nature and the peaceful beauty of the island. Even a cloudy day reveals something special about this little island in the Ionian, that few know about, but all who do, keep so very close to their hearts. |
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Above - The coves and beaches across from Aphales Bay. Platinamo (above right), can only be reached by boat. During the summer months, its aqua waters tempt many sailing by, to stop and swim awhile. Some of the hardier locals have swum across from Aphales beach. It's quite a distance. It takes about an hour and then some, with your arms and legs working hard. |
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Tourist Attractions |
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Sun 28 Jan |
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We all agree, Ithaki is a beautiful island and there are many things about the island that attract visitors. Above - The historical and archeologically rich area of Pilakata outside of Stavros, where large ancient rocks protrude out of lush fields and where views to Aphales and Frikes, across hills and planes with cypress and olive trees, can focus your attention for hours. Pilakata is the site of one of the earliest known settlements on the island. Some have the belief that this is the location of Ulysses Palace, while other are convinced that Homers School above Platrithia, is the location. Those who believe Ulysses may be found on Cephalonia, well, Cephalonia would probably love to believe that, but Ithacans know Ithaki is the place for Odysseas...afterall, we have his bust in the town square. |
Tourist Detractions |
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Like everywhere in the world, the beauty of an environment can be taken for granted by those who share that environment, but on Ithaca, all would agree, the place is too small to litter it with building refuse, broken down cars and rogue trucks parking anywhere, incessant excavation of mountain sides, where the holes get bigger overnight, and negligent garbage disposal. So why is the island getting messier? Maybe some have forgotten just how precious Ithaki is to us all. Well, here's a reminder. |
Frikes has had a mini crime wave with break-ins and theft at a local mini market and a private home. Fingerprints were taken and the police are determined to stamp out this completely alien behavior to Ithaki. Thieving seems not to be limited to jewelry and cigarettes, but as seen in picture left, the large stones that frame doorways in the ruins around the island are also being stolen. Besides being completely immoral and illegal, this act also shortens the life of these precious ruins left from Ithakis past. This theft deserves further investigation. What can I say - Have camera will use it! |
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Today there is finally a winter bite in the air with a top today of 13C, but with the blue skies and crystal views all around, Ithaca is out and about enjoying the sunshine. Left - View from the outer edges of Stavros down onto Frikes Bay with the mainland mountains in the distance. |
Tue 30 Jan - Subscription to Argos Foundation - Ithaki Cats, for 2 please. |
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Last night, Ithaki Cats signed the papers to make the Argos Organization legal. Founders of this non-profit organization are Ester van Zuylen, Rien Post and Britta Niedergesass. With around 25 members so far, Alexandros Taflambas, lawyer and member of Argos, read the official papers to be submitted in court today, to legalize the foundation which is locally known as Ithaki Cats. |
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Members got together at the Vathy cinema last night, to agree on the name of the organization, and to give a general outline of what will be its agenda. Ithaki Cats priority for the time being is the neutering program for stray and owned cats on the island and the welfare of animals in general. Uncontrolled cat numbers are a problem that locals and visitors are sympathetic too. Alexandros Taflambas is helping the founders of Ithaki Cats to make the organization a reality. He is well known on the island as past Fimios organizer, and even this year, although not officially in charge of the Carnival, is helping the new Council with arrangements for the Carnival, that has grown in popularity each year due the endless commitment Mr. Taflambas has for Ithaki. Ithaki Cats welcomes his expertise and knowledge. |
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The Argos Organization, coming under the banner of Animals, nature and environment, will at some stage be able to address many issues facing this small island, but the founders insist this will be something for the future, as they are currently dedicated to the cats, keeping their numbers down and thus eliminating rampant and indiscrimate poisoning. Whether you're a cat lover or not, it's to everyones' benefit to keep the numbers of cats to a manageable level by humane means. When certain people take the extreme measure of poisoning the cat population, they may not think how easily a child playing in the vicinity of poison, may be poisoned itself. Before there is such an example, Ithaki Cats wants to make the Ithaki population aware of the benefits of the neutering program and the possible devastating consequences leaving poison out for cats, could have on the community. |
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Tourists to Ithaca, or any island in Greece for that matter, know very well what pests cats can be around the dinner table. During summer, cats really live it up with an abundance of food. They reproduce in vast numbers only to die of starvation, disease or poisoning when the season is over and their food supply has dried up. The founders hope to enlist the support and help of the local community through awareness and education to eliminate this problem in a way that doesn't create more problems. If you would like to support Ithaki Cats please visit their website - www.ithakicats.com. Make a donation of any amount or become a member for 15 euro. Any Greek or EU citizen can become a member and have a say. You can also volunteer your time, services or expertise. For further information just visit the website. |
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Left - Another Lefki sunset. There's no better place to be on a late Winter afternoon than in Lefki, where the sun sets last. |
Wed 31 Jan - Bought a couple of interesting books this week. Cover Pics below - 1. 'Properties of Ithaca 1820 - 1865' and 'Through the eyes of Spyro Meletzi'. |
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'Properties of Ithaca, Architectual plans from the period 1820 - 1865' (Above left) was published in 2006 and is a stunning book put together by Fimios Ithakis. It's all in Greek, but still very interesting to see some of the houses built on Ithaki during that period. Some still exist as ruins today. The language changes from Italian into Greek as it nears our end of the time span and gives a peak into the simplicity of building and expectations of that period. |
'Ithaki, Through the eyes of Spyro Meletzi' was put together by Tilemahos Karavias, previous Mayor of Ithaca and published in 2001. It's a photo journal of a time gone by. The black and white photographs span pre-war to 1956. The book is published in the Greek and English language, with interesting notes on the photographer and on the period. |
Both books, among other interesting Ithacan publications, are available from the Council offices, but Ithaca through the eyes of Spyro Meletzi can also be found in the book shop opposite the National Greek Bank in Vathy. |
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Above - Ioanna from Rent a Scooter and Yianni from Drosia Taverna soak up the sun over a coffee at Odyssea Cafe in Vathy. |
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Right - Aetos Beach in the south of Ithaca is unusually calm for this time of year, but there is supposedly rainy weather ahead. We'll believe it when we see it. The blue mountain in the back is Cephalonia. |
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(C) ithacagreece.com 2003 - 2007 |
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