Walking around the villages, you'd be hard pushed not to come across a ruin, in some places, almost around every corner. There are various reasons for this, but usually it's because the properties are tied up in so many parties, no one takes the initiative to fix them for someone else's benefit, thus they are left to deteriorate more and more.
Above - View to Limenia, just outside Frikes, taken from the road to Marmakas.
Clocks went back an hour today. Shorter days and longer nights from now on. The official end to the season. Next month, we'll see many getting out into their fields to tend their olive trees and groves, then there'll be burning off the dead branches as farmers and grove tenders prepare their trees for next season.
Above - The Hamburg cruise ship docked in Vathy yesterday, ferrying people across to shore via a small speed boat, where buses awaited to take them around the island for a tour.
For those interested or maybe even able to help, you may like to know that the Philharmonic, which has around 30 students, is this year, without a music instructor, due to there being no money to pay one. It's a real shame it has come to this, but as things have tightened up across the board, financially, it's no wonder this is also affected. I guess the Ithaki Council www.ithaki.gr could be contacted if you want to help.
October 2013 - Tuesday 22nd - Some very fine days this past week. Who knows how long it will continue, so best enjoy it while we can.
While there's some major confusion about ferry timetables and departures at the end of October, the only news I could get is that if you plan to travel on the 1st of November, you should ring the travel agency Delas tours early in the morning for details. They will not have any news until then.
Thursday 24th - Fine weather continues on ithaca. Perfect for walking... or swimming if you can bare it. Still a few tourists around, despite the lateness of the season.
Left - Odyssea Cafe in Vathy Square.
Left & Below Left - In Vathy and Stavros, preparations for Oxi Day are underway with flags going up along the bayside and children practicing the parade. Oxi Day is of course on October 28th.
Below - Exoghi ruins and views.
Left - Village of Lahos.
Saturday 26th - More fine and warm days. Just like summer, except cool mornings and evenings.
Sunday 27th - Tomorrow is Oxi Day around Greece, and going by the weather forecast, it should be equally as great as today. Fine and warm weather is predicted to continue for quite some time yet. Lucky us.
Left - The ferry connecting us with Lefkada is due to stop soon. It's a shame we can't have this service all through the year. Further disappointment is that the Patras route will cease for the next 2 months and instead we will have to make our way via Killini. A much longer journey from Ithaca. I'm hoping that someone will have the power to get us to Patras during this next period. It's not only for that however, also for supplies. What will happen is anyone's guess.
Monday 28th - Today the annual celebration of Oxi Day took place in Stavros and in Vathy with military and student parades to commenorate this momentus day in history.
Click Here or on photograph Left for more.
Latest news on our ferry situation is that we will have a ferry 3 times per week over the next 2 month period, which will take us from Piso Aetos to Poros on Kefalonia and then onto Killini. No Patras route. Don't take this as gospel, as things can always change, and often do. There are no timetables available as far as I know.
Apparently the internet was down this morning, not only on all of Ithaca, but also Kefalonia and Lefkada too. It came on again around 1.30 pm.
Wednesday 30th - Just a tick away from the end of another month, and we've been so lucky to have such fine weather when some parts of the world are either blown away or burning. Wishing all those affected by either fires or storms, they are safe and sound.
Thursday 31st - It's the last day of October and Ithaca still isn't 100% sure what our ferry timetables are from tomorrow onward. There have been some notices that the Eptanisos will do the Ithaca to Patras route from 1st November to the end of December, but then it will be on dry dock for 60 days for inspections and so far, although not officially confirmed, Ionian ferries will be taking us from Piso Aetos to Poros on Kefalonia and then onto Killini, but only 3 days per week - Tuesday Friday and Sunday.
So many cooks in the kitchen and not one of them knows the recipe. Unbelievable!
The ticketing office has advised that if you're planning to travel on the 1st, tomorrow, then you should ring them very early in the morning for details. I find this so unacceptable, as does everyone on Ithaca. Surely somone has to take responsibility for such a lack of information coming out for such an important problem. I've scanned all the local pages and Kefalonian pages, and no one has a clear answer, just conjecture and possibilities, when what we need are facts.
Left - Taxiarchis is not only the location of the local church in Platrithia, but also a place where you can view Afales and Platrithia down to Frikes.
Our weather continues to be just amazing for this time of year. Warm and mild, blue skies and green hills.
Tonight is Frikes', Rementzo Restaurant's last night for this year. They will re-open again next year in April.
I believe Symposium in Frikes may still work over the winter, and of course Fiorendino Bar will also be open for business throughout the winter. In Kioni, you can always count on Spavento Bar and of course the mini market, there may also be a restaurant open there with limited hours. In Vathy, the hub of the island, most of the establishments remain open, as in Stavros, the northern hub.
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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.
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mobile/cell phone. Covering many
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