NOTICE: DUE TO WORKS, NORTHERN ITHACA WILL BE WITHOUT ELECTRICITY FROM 8AM TO 3PM ON THE 5TH, 6TH AND 7TH OF NOVEMBER...( CRAP! WHAT'S THE BET THE WEATHER CHANGES AND WE NEED HEATING.)
November 2013 - Friday 2nd - I imagine that most, if not all Ithacans, are quite a bit frustrated today with still no firm news on our ferry situation, and Ionian Ferries stopping their route to Patras today. The ticketing office, although with no clear timetable, has suggested that we will only have a ferry from Vathy to Killini 3 times per week, starting Saturday/Sunday, but nothing is for sure. Today, this subject was on everyone's lips, I wish it would have been talked about sooner around the cafes, we should have been demanding a service, regular service with a safe ferry, for months now. There have been a few people trying to move things along, but they are few, and obviously we don't rank too highly, due to our small stature as an island, to get what we need, let alone want.
Left - Ithaca's stand in mayor, Nikki Kassianou, the previous mayor's sister.
Monday 4th - Ithaca is still reeling from our ferry confusion. Unfortunately I don't have any more news. If you're planning on traveling, best call the ticketing agent the day before, or even better, in the morning to get more specific details. This effects everyone.
Left - Piso Aetos.
Left - Aetos. With all the ferry problems, among all the others, we do have some great weather to enjoy. It's November, and you'd never know it by the warm temperatures and blue skies.
Left - Sea taxi may be a way to go. Luckily we have one thanks to Odysseas Sea Taxi.
Yesterday afternoon, the Ithaki junior sailing club gave Frikes bayside a little boost. A perfect day.
Last night some residents from the south and the north of the island got together to discuss ways and means of moving Ithaca out of the dire situation it has found itself in. There were many opinions, but finding an answer to any of Ithaki's problems would mean scratching everything and starting again, something I suspect would not be easy to achieve with any community, but the current system of Mayorships, which are attached to a political party, has up until now not done ithaca any good. Personally, I think we need completely new blood, someone that cares more about Ithaca than towing any party line. We need more community participation, and most of all belief and hope that whoever takes the position in the future, will have the Ithacan community at the forefront of any decisions. Doing what's best for our community. You may not be able to teach an old horse new tricks, but you can put it out to pasture and let it graze.
Don't forget, there are powercuts planned for the 5th, 6th and 7th of this month. 8am to 3pm. That's quite a big chunk out of our working days. On Ithaca, when the power is out, the water doesn't run, the toilet doesn't flush, the petrol pump stays still and much much more, so it's not a little thing to have it out 3 consecutive days. Looking at the weather forecast, the temps will be getting cooler, and it will also be getting cloudier. Just our luck.
Tuesday 5th - With the end of October, starts the olive season. There is burning off going on all over the island, expect today. After a prolonged summer period with beautiful sun shining days, yesterday everything changed with rain and thunderstorms passing over the island for most of the day. Not a patch of blue sky to be seen.
It's not cold, in fact the temperatures are still quite mild, although after today, we may see a decrease in celcius just in time for the planned power cuts over the next 3 days, keeping northern Ithaca without electricity from 8am to 3pm.
Left, Below and Above - Colours and views from around the Aetos area. We drive past this area regularly when heading north of south, many visitors and some locals also prefer the beach here, but most of us just drive through, rarely stopping to take in the beauty of this area. Sure, I don't think there's anyone that's driven through from Xani down through Aetos that doesn't admire the view from the car or moped, but walking up (or down) the mountain road, can give you something you don't get while passing through. Details.
Unfortunately, there is still no solid ferry timetable or news. We, including the ticketing office, are pretty much up in the air, although the ticketing office will at least be updated, even at short notice. As for us, it's phone calls and so far Ithaca Poros and Killini. Best call Delas Tours for exact times and departure information. As it stands now, 3 times a week connection to the mainland via Killini, just isn't adequate. Not for us and not for Kefalonia.
Thursday 7th - It's been a difficult few days without electricity and ferry. With the power out from 8am until 3.30pm each day, makes the working day alot longer and more tiring. The silver lining is that seeing I can't do anything, because nearly everything requires electricity, I get the opportunity to head out and take some photos.
The day started off grey and rainy, but soon developed into another blue sky day, that makes the views a little special.
I would like to update the How To Get There page, but unfortunately there is no news to tell. I visited the ticketing office this morning and they are in the dark as are we all. For now until Monday, it's still Ithaca to Killini with no bus transfers.
With everything still wet from this weeks rain, Vathy square was pretty quiet until the sun began to shine again.
Above - Odysseas keeps watch over Vathy. He's not looking too happy about the ferry situation either.
Left - Luckily for the non ferry days, we have Odysseas Sea Taxi.
Three working days without electricity is a challenge, but I guess the linesmen working on the maintenance are even more challenged. The heights they have to climb...
Above and Below - Olive picking season is picking up speed now, at least when it's not raining. Locals from all around the island are heading into their groves to comb this years olive harvest from the branches. It's hard work, but locals seem to love it, taking picnic lunches with them and making a day of it.
Left - Kefalonia Strait.
Left - Mavrona Bay just south of Kioni. There are so many idyllic corners around our beautiful island. At this time of year, the light and colours tend to change almost minute by minute, making the same views different each time you look at them.
The Ithaca Book is a hard copy of some of the photos from ithacagreece.com and makes an ideal christmas present for the Ithaki lovers. I made this book in celebration of the 10th anniversay of ithacagreece.com , and it marks the hope I had when I first started, the hope I could manage to make an archive of this island for 10 years. As it happened, ithacagreece.com has just managed to do this and much, much more. It has, and continues to bring Ithaki businesses and accommodations to the online community world wide, making this tiny island known across the globe. It has always been a labour of love for me, and thus I wanted to have something concrete, like this book to have on my coffee table. ithacagreece.com IS the biggest website on one of the smallest islands, thanks to all of you who continue to support it and the businesses it brings to you.
Send an e-Thiaki Postcard
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
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
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
ithacagreece.com now has an app for your
mobile/cell phone. Covering many
platforms. To download through your
Mob/Cell Click on Icon Above.