As usual we continue to spend our summer holidays on Ithaca. We love the island, because there we have the impression to jump into a dimension of the past that is impossible to find everywhere. We watch daily in your website because, on this way, we have the impression to get there for as moment. Thank you. Enzo, Paola Italy
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We see you are off to Australia Erika. We will miss your updates, but we do wish you a wonderful trip. Would love to see some photos from Australia if you get the chance. All the best Mary and Tom UK
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Hello Erica, just a quick note to tell you that your photographs are getting better and better each time. We just love knowing that you are there keeping us in touch with our beloved Ithica. The winter photos are so moody and wonderful love the skies! Keep up the great work and have a great time visiting your family. Brian May UK
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Hi Erika, I just entered your site which brought back pleasant memories of our stay in Ithaca last summer. Even though we are aging and the long journey to Ithaca gets harder each year, we always enjoy visiting our island home! Hope you may be able to visit us in Koutoupi this year and don’t forget to bring your friends. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Esther Paxinos P.S. Spyro sends his regards and best wishes.
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hello erica, spoke to you from scotland before our 20th visit to othaki and quote, my little bit of heaven. does that ring a bell. not apun i can assure tou. when we arrived you clicked us at xanoy in vathy. all i wish to say is get well soon, take care and thankyou for giving memy beloved ithaki nearly every day. me poli agapi, margaret & ross x
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Hello,
Writing at your invitation to share holiday moments.
We have had holidays in Greece for 35 years but 5 years ago we
"found" Ithaca and were bowled over. We came with a package
and stayed in a little house on the fishermens road fronting right onto
the bay. We soon discovered our neighbour (up a tree picking figs)
also had the marvellous pan shop with blue chairs. He "retired"
2 years ago but we found him again in a newspaper shop. The
people who took on the pan shop have continued his traditional
food and very good too.
Our next visit found us above Dexa bay in a little house built by
Ricci (a wonderfully theatrical Englishman ) an d Dimitri also quite
theatrical but in a very Greek way. It was bliss. On the side of a
mountain with a view right across the valley. Birds circling and
singing. The silence was truly golden. We have been there ever since.
Ricci and Dimitri have departed alas but the present owner Judith
is a super hostess and has built a small swimming pool for each house.
So double bliss.
We have explored as much as we can of your wo nderful island. Sat
right up at the old village of Agnogi and gazed over the sea . Got the
key and went round the church with a lovely solomn old man.
Sat outside the kafeneion chatting to the never solomn owner.
There is a fantastic stuffed bird behind the bar - wings spread right out.
Lovely drive then down to the coast via Stavros. Very posh church!
Had lunch at Keterinas and supper at Yiannis who said he was the mayor.
His own label wine was great for me I was not driving.
Another day another fish lunch at Frikes and tea and ice cream at
Kioni. Endless stops for just one more photograph. and down to Vathy
with breathtaking views at every turn. Love the view from the taverna
right at the top looking over the narrowest bit as the sun sets over
Kelalonia.
Then the evening stroll around the harbour to decide where to eat.
Must have tried every one and not a dud amongst them. Poseiden
in the little road from the harbour was a favourite. Also the other pan
shop where the cook has a great moustache. And great food too.
Little place next to the Venetian house where we re met Dimitri.
Lovely fresh salads and a great selection of ouzo.
Must not forget Etectera by the coast guards boat for a final glass
of wine. They were expecting a baby in Decenber 2011. Would love
to know how things went for them.
As you will see from previous sentence we could not come this year.
We are hoping for 2013. Ferries etc allowing. All that must be
very worrying.
Finally we would love to bring some of our family to Ithaca but
would need a house for at least 6 and possibly 9. So let us know
if such a house exists!
This is just a little bit about how we found Ithaca. Have left lots out.
All the south and the lovely walk right round to Loutses beach for a
swim and listen to their jazz.
The walk up to the cave of the nymphhs (dont hold your breath )
Gawping at the yacthing types - wow.
Regards
Norma and Alan Frost.
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Worrying news about the changes to Ithaca's ferry. This could have very dramatic negative consequences for the Ithacan economy, not to mention massive inconvenience. That old third rate tub proposed as a replacement is bad news. If a big company like Strintzis is going broke it is very worrying. Hope to get over to Ithaca in the next year or so. Best George Florence
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Thank you for the link to ithacanews.gr. I think there you can get all the political news, but unfortunately the google translation (and every other I've tried) is so bad from Greek to English that I can barely even get the gist of it. It's a bit of a battle getting through it. The headlines however, give me some idea. Thanks - Patrick K UK
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Hello, I started planning my trip for next Easter (your greek Easter) a few weeks ago, but my time is limited. Only 4 days on Ithica plus a day there and a day back. I have to say I'm very concerned about the boat situation. I know you have no way of knowing whether it will be easy to get a ferry from Patrais, but please keep us updated on this situation. I've been looking forward to Easter there for a long time and would hate something like this to ruin for me (sorry I know that sounds selfish with all the worries Greece has) Keep up the great work and photos, they are so wonderful!!! Kate
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Hello my name is Tony and I discovered your wonderful island about 8 years ago on trip from kefalonia. The next year we booked up for a stay in vathy and kioni and we loved it,from catching the boat to gadiki beach to nights out at hani resturant watching the wonderful sunsets.this year we stayed in a Villa overlooking polis bay with Ionian island holidays and loved it.my kids are 16 and 11 and they also loved it, taki on the beach messing about making everyone laugh and chatting al the girls up thinking he's Tarzan was great fun.my wife and i look forward to ithaka like a long lost friend, always welcoming always beautiful . I've been going to Greece for many a year and I always tell myself that i will learn the language but that would take away the aura of the foreign land that we have come to love.i watch your site every couple of days all the way through the year and must compliment you on the great job you do.we are already dreaming of polis bay again for next year and will probably be putting off our bathroom renovation off again for the 8th time to come to beautiful ithaka.i wish everyone well in Greece as they have always welcomed us as a family with open hands. These are my girls Chloe and Abbie they've grown a bit since as this was our first trip on goat beach, you would think we were in the Caribbean . Thanks Tony , Stephanie, Chloe, Abbie.from Wales.
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Hi there Itaca, we had a great time!!!!! Annabelle, Mason and Terry
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Hello, just want to send you a big thanx for your great site. We got all we needed for our holiday, but the ferry timetables were a bit confusing. We've always holidayed on the other side of Greece, our fave is Syros, but were looking for a more relaxed atmosphere. We found it there. We will be telling our friends to give Ithaca a try. No disappointments. We loved Caramela bar and the Crepes bar in Vathi, didn't really head north very much, just Stavros. Nice town. The little bar looking down on to the beach was great too. Next time we'll go in August and get one of those festivals in they look like good fun. Again thanx for the site it was a great help. Charlie and Bronwyn
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To whom it may concern, after reading all the letters I believe I will be in the minority, but I did not enjoy my holiday on Ithaka at all. Firstly it's very expensive, and not only expensive, even the same establishments would put up their prices from one day to the next whenever it suited them. I did not find the people very friendly and the accommodation, although I was told it was beautiful, was dreary and not at all what I had hoped for. It was one of the cheaper ones (I will not mention which as I know you probably won't include my letter if I do) and just for your information, it's not one on your website, but from one of the agents in the town. Being forced to take a taxi (I don't drive) cost me an absolute fortune. Why is there no public transport? There's no doubt that looking at your website, the island looks idyllic, but in reality it's very expensive and there's not really very much to do unless you have alot of money for a taxi to take you around. In retrospect, I should have listened to my new friends from Kefalinia who advised me not to go to Ithaca because from the minute I got on the ferry, things went downhill from there. I will sign off with this - Unsatisfied.
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Hello Erica. Our holidays went by so quickly and we didn't get our faces on the website again this year. Was looking for you, but just never seemed to be around when you were. Oh well, we can still keep up with all the wonderful photos and of course our memories. Hopefully next time (may not be 2013, but hopefully 2014) I will see you in the street to take a photo of me and my family. Keep up the good work. Janice UK
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This is Titina from Lefki (who lives in San Francisco) it was so nice meeting you this summer. Thank you for all the pictures you post, my husband could see how much fun we were having in Ithaki. My invitation to come for coffee in my house in Lefki still stands, but now for next summer when we come back. You are such a wonderful person, it was such a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Titina Kolyva Paxinos
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Dear Erika, Thank you for posting the goings on in Ithaki every couple of days. Your pictures and words connects us diaspora Ithacans to the island. Your site truly must be a labor of love. Your lens has caught my parents, sister, brother-in law, niece and nephew and sister at the panigyria as well as other extended family and friends. Wish best wishes for your continued success, Demetris Dracopoulos
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Erica do you have a new camera your photographs are just so stunning this year. I so long for my second home. How lucky can you be to belong to Ithaca. We are so privalged. Tina Dellas Ayios Yiannis and Kioni.
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Hi Erika. Hope you and Dimitri are both keeping well. After 12/13 years of holidaying in both Kioni and Vathy twice a year this year we will not be coming at all due to illness and medical problems and Cameron doing his exams BUT we log on every day to the website just to remind us what we are missing. We hope all of our friends on the island weather the storm of Greece's financial difficulties and come out smiling at the end of it. Our thoughts and hearts are with you all. Have a good season and hope to see you all again next year. Pat, Terry and Cameron UK.
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Dear Erica
We are having a year off for all kinds of reasons, but I am keeping up with you all on your great web site and in this cold damp grey June in the UK(yes, really) we are already looking forward to coming back next year. What ever happens to Greece, we will never forsake Ithaca. We put the world to rights outside Rementzo & you took our picture last year, don't suppose you remember, but we can never forget Ithaca.
See you in 2013 Sandra & Doug UK
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Dear Erika, After returning home recently from our ( must be ) 15 visit to Ithaki since 2005 . I feel it important to email you to stress to ' ALL ' that Ithaki is still the 'best in Greece' for a Kala holiday . We have made lots of friends with the very special Ithacan people who are very positive of the future of their beautiful Island . You would not believe that Europe was having it's worst time ever , for these lovely people are there to welcome you just the same as ever . Good food , lots of laughter and I must add , prices are just the same as previous years too .! It was ' Heaven ' to be back there so much that we will be returning again in September . So three cheers for Ithaki and it's people , go and see it all for yourselves ' you really will not want to go anywhere else ' ever again . ! Ithaki's number one fan's , Elina and Rod Gilkes .( North Wales ) UK
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Hi Hope you don't mind me writing but we have been to Kioni several times in the past. I have been told that the restaurant Oasis is no longer trading. I hope this is not because of the financial crisis in Greece as they were such a lovely family and it was one of our favourite restaurants. We are hoping to visit next year and just wondered how things are in Kioni with all the problems we have been seeing on the television. It is such a lovely little village and one of our favourite places and I do hope that things will not have changed too much. Perhaps you could help. Kind Regards Donna
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Dear Erika, I visit your website everyday from my office in North Wales. I find it very interesting as an annual visitor to Ithaca and I love the photos of people and places that are familiar to me. At this difficult time for Greece I find your comments balanced and encouraging especially todays comment about the situation. Please keep up the great work you do and we look forward to our visit in September. Best regards Paul Tavernor
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Hello Ithaca and co, just before christmas, Sophie is born. She is ithacan in a way... Tifenn is well, Irene is happy. Everything all right. We miss Ithaca (and you), I work on Ulysse slowly, so I look very often at the pictures we took from the Island... We will send you a postcard soon.
All the best for 2012 ! Hope to see you again soon, Jean, Tifenn, Irene and Sophie, France
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Happy New to all on Ithaka. We hope to visit again this coming summer. Hope the economic crisis hasn't changed things too much. Regards - Toni and family.
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Thanks very much for keeping us overseas Ithacans up to date with local goings on, and all of your beautiful photographs. We love our little island, my wife was born in Lefki, and my father came from there too. We love looking at the great views of the ITHACA channel (all the maps list it so, don't give Kefalonia any more credit that they deserve.) Keep up the great work, it makes us love our island even more with the great way you present it. Lots of love from San Francisco USA Ted Paxinos USA
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Just wanted to say that your photos have been particularly wonderful these past weeks. Almost makes me want to leave the sun and head to winter with you all on Ithaki. Keep up the great work. All the best Joe Australia
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