January 2013 - Monday 21st - What a beautiful day yesterday. Lots of warm sunshine to enjoy.
Yesterday was a great day to be out. Although it seemed it may rain in the morning, it ended up being a really bright and warm(ish) day.
The Ithaki Yacht Club, Juniors, were on the bay in Vathy yesterday. The weather couldn't have been better for them.
Wednesday 23rd - Grey, cloudy and raining most of yesterday. Today seems more of the same with a chilly top of 12 C. We may get a few rays of sun after lunch, but with rain due on Thursday, it will be short lived.
Thursday 24th - Another mostly dark and rainy day today. A winter that fades the color from everything.
Looks like more storms coming our way through the night. Let the wind howl and the sky roar, just please don't let the power go out.
Friday 25th - What a wet a miserable day today. It rained 99% of the time.
It's so quiet on Ithaki, there isn't much to tell. Maybe with more bad weather (and apparently much colder weather) coming this weekend, we may even get a little snow on Anoghi. If we do, we usually have to be very quick to see it because with only a few breaths, the snow melts again quite quickly.
Left - Varka area of Stavros. At Varka the views are toward Frikes Bay, and are quite beautiful.
Below Left - How things have changed. Once we would sit in front of the radio and now we sit infront of the pc screen with media player watching the blue note while we listen to our favourite tracks.
The new law of 'no receipt - no pay' started a couple of weeks ago. Shops are obligated to display the manditory sign declaring that the consumer is under no obligation to pay if a receipt is not issued. Yet, if there is no payment, the consumer could be liable for theft prosecution. The fine for not displaying the sign is 1000 euro. This is so ridiculous to me. Who gives a receipt before payment is made in the first place. No one. By the time you know you're not getting a receipt, you've already handed over the money. Another 'kidsplay' tactic to fear everyone into paying their taxes.
Yes, tax dollars fuel a country, but what are Greeks actually getting for their tax dollar? Clean public schools, education, hospitals, medical care, no, no no, Greeks do get many new roads however. Handy for when they need to escape the tax collectors. Guess there's an upside to everything ;)
Sunday 27th - We've had our share of wild weather so far this winter. Wind, rain and more storms than we can count. The temperatures have definitely taken a dive these past few days too. Very chilly at times. While most were rugged up and comfy in their warm homes, I headed out in the rain to take some pics for today. Since my bout of shingles, I've been hit with quite a bit of fatique, so I haven't been out and about as usual, but today, I tossed the fatigue aside and put my face in the rain.
Over the past week, Ithaki has lost another couple of locals through heart attacks. Too young to be taken from us. A reminder that stress during these trying times, builds in all of us and so, whatever we can do for eachother to lessen the stress is something that the community is beginning to focus on more and more.
Left - A lonely vessel amidst the rain and fog on the Kefalonia Strait.
For a rainy Sunday afternoon, Vathy was quite busy. Many of the bay side cafes were actually full. Lots of cars parked in the streets.
It appears that starting from 21st June 2013, Nel Lines will be taking on the Messologi, Sami, Ithaki route. Let's hope it's a route that will stick all year around and not just over the Summer months. An island without a ferry is just a rock, it's good to know there are locals working in the background to make sure Ithaki continues to be an island.
Wednesday 29th - If you are planning to visit Ithaca over the next couple of days (or planning to leave) you may want to know that there is a 48 hour ferry strike 31st Januaury and 1st February. Ionis will not be doing it's regular route from Ithaki to Patras and back.
Wednesday 30th - Finally a blue sky day with lots of warm sunshine. Tomorrow it's back to being cloudy with cloud increasing more as we head toward the weekend.
On Sunday 3rd, Perahori cuts it's 'Pita' for the New Year at 5pm at the KAPI in Vathy, also on Friday night and Saturday morning, Kioni celebrates Papandis.
Thursday 31st - First month of 2013 is already over. A mixed weather bag today. A bit of sunshine, a bit of cloud. Despite the econimic situation, it appears that Ithacan businesses are quite positive about the year ahead. Going by early bookings with some of the tour companies, things aren't looking too shabby for the tourist season 2013.
Below - A sign the season is opening up a little with almond blossoms beginning on the tree.
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made into virtual postcards for you to send
to your friends and loved ones.
Nothing can replace a real postcard
but this is a good second place when you
want the card to arrive before you do.
ithacagreece.com Mobile/Cellphone App
ithacagreece.com now has an app for your
mobile/cell phone. Covering many
platforms. To download through your
Mob/Cell Click on Icon Above.
Send an e-Thiaki Postcard
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made into virtual postcards for you to send
to your friends and loved ones.
Nothing can replace a real postcard
but this is a good second place when you
want the card to arrive before you do.
