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June 2013 - Saturday 22nd - Some very hot days this past week. Nights have been sultry, and near the baysides, refreshing.
Left - Now, what DID people do before the phone connected to the internet?
It's the long weekend of Ag. Pnevmatos (Holy Spirit) so many Greeks have come to the island from the Mainland.
Sunday 23rd - After quite a few days of very, very hot weather, a cool breeze would be really nice, and cool breezes are mostly found around the baysides in the evenings.
Below - In Anoghi, not an area that would immediately come to mind when thinking of bright sunshine, is a solar farm. I had passed a large plot of land many times, wondering what would become of it once I saw it was being cleared and excavated. Now I know. Anoghi has a Solar Farm.
Left - Sunset over the Ionian.
Monday 24th - A rather quiet day today, considering it's the long weekend, but we do have some heatwave condition respite with a much cooler breeze for most of the day. Very pleasant.
Left - The Wolfram family from Austria/Kolieri enjoy a coffee and icecream at Dodonis in Frikes.
Important notice to those wanting to attend the Frikes Panighiri - The date has been changed to Saturday 29th June.
June is not usually the season for jelly fish, they usually show up in early May, but this year they're bobbing up and down at some of the beaches around Greece, and yes, a few here on Ithaca too. They're not dangerous. A sting is the worst you'll get (unless you are allergic of course).
There seems to be some major works going on at the Kathara Monastery above Anoghi. Hopefully the works will retain the charm of our little Monastery.
Thursday 27th - Only a couple of days before the first street festival in Frikes on the 29th. A little surprise this year with lights and chairs being set up at the other end of the bay (past Dodonis). If the lights and chairs are meant for the Frikes Panighiri, it will mean that the party will be far from the local restaurant businesses which will give the festival a more traditional feel.
Above - There's a new cafe and bar in Kioni, located above Avra Restaurant. A very modern look for the bayside village.
Lots and lots of yachts in Kioni (and Frikes, Vathy) last night.
The heatwave conditions seem to be over for this week with much cooler days and nights, and quite a bit of wind yesterday too.
The weather may be cooling for a couple of days, but the summer is definitely heating up in regard to tourist traffic on the island. Plenty of new faces walking the streets, lots of yachts coming in and also plenty of daily traffic through Day Tripper boats and bus tours.
Left - Picollo in Kioni is a nice little cafe bar right on the bayside.
Left - Spavento Cafe Bar is not only a Kioni institution, but still one of the best places in this picturesque bayside village, for music from around the world.
If you're in the mood for a party, don't forget that at Fiorendino's (orange bar in Frikes) Big Wednesday's are on again. Always a theme with lots and lots of fun.
Left - Avra Taverna in Kioni was the first restaurant I ate moussaka at in 1983, on my very first trip to ithaki. It still holds a special place in my heart. Back then, 500 drachmas would buy you a 3 course meal and wine, and visitors to the island were very special indeed. In 1983, there was a cafe (now Spavento Bar) and 2 restaurants - Koroni's (Avra) and Kapotes. That was it. Things have changed quite a bit since then, but one thing hasn't, and that's how pretty this village is.
Friday 28th - The Return To Ithaca week started yesterday with lots going on (check Events Calendar) for details. Dance companies, dinners, workshops, poetry, exhibitions. A full 4 days of entertainment crammed into this little island. Most of the activities are in Vathy. There are also posters everywhere.
It's been a windy couple of days, and yesterday morning it even looked like a few drops of rain had fallen overnight. The skies cleared pretty quickly however for a mostly blue sky.
I was correct in assuming the Frikes Panighiri will be held on the other side of the bay this year. The notification came in the mail yesterday. Oops, even beat the organizers with the announcement. I'm quite excited about it. My favourite Panighiria are the Exoghi and Anoghi ones because they don't hang on any business affiliations, so I'm hoping the Frikes Panighiri will also benefit from being on the non-business side of the bay, giving us all a more traditional experience of what a Panighiri is. A street festival and celebration.
Left - Varka, Stavros, from where you can see Frikes Bay and beyond.
Frikes was absolutely vibrating last night. Yachts everywhere and people from the yachts, actually at the restaurants and bars despite the cooler night. The same in Kioni. Stavros too, was a buzz of activity.
Left - The lights are up for tomorrow's festival in Frikes. Parking will be deferred to other areas around the village, so please be aware that the parking area is the venue for the Frikes Panighiri.
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Saturday 29th - Big night tonight. Frikes Panighiri and 'Return to Ithaca' continues with the Martha Graham Dance Company at the Garden Theatre in Vathy.
Left - The always lovely Raftos/Megalos family enjoying a night out by the bayside.
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A Collection of ithacagreece.com photographs
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
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mobile/cell phone. Covering many
platforms. To download through your
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