Hi Erika, Thank you for getting up early. Stunning pictures!! :-) You have in fact had more snow than where we live in England! We have had only flurries but that is not the case for other parts of England. Take care! Mads xxx

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Erika, Many thanks for your constant information as we in Australia rely on you. It really is a shame regarding the ferries as we are now trying to sort out how we will be able to travel to Ithaca via road & sea. Even if we have to hire a row boat this will not stop us from travelling to Ithaca. We will be back May, June & July & look forward to catching up with you when we are in Frikes. Kind Regards - Paul & Helen Karavias Melbourne Australia

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Like many around the world we are plain delighted about the changes in Greece and like yourself we hope that different values can prevail - as you know we are right sick of this New Fascist - Statist approach everywhere in the world now…. It will crumble…eventually… Adrian UK

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Erica, The Thomases aren’t put off and 5 of us will be there early July. Fine for us, but I don’t know how you guys live with the uncertainty. Looking forward to seeing everyone again. Di UK

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Good afternoon Erika. My wife Julie and me have over the years spent many weeks holidaying  on Ithaca , always in Kioni , unfortunately we have not been able to return for about 3 years ,your fantastic website has been my constant link back to your beautiful Island . I can’t express how much I enjoy the photos but more importantly your comments and commentary on Greek and Island life. To have 17million hits is a fantastic achievement long may it continue. I am sure we must have met at some time , probably in Spavento you meet everyone there at sometime . We have such fantastic memories of you all , George, and Jenny ( I bet the Twins quite Grown up ) Barbi and Elaini, Yanna and Yanni , George and Gerty , Mr Delaportas ( captain Deon ), Bridgeta and Panis , Kostas the Taxi , Stathis and his family who had the Penelope’s Restaurant in Frikas and so many more , I am sorry if I have spelled the names wrong My Greek is not all it should be .

I watch with a shared fear and trepidation the political and financial situation in Greece I can only imagine how difficult things have been . To me , an outsider , its just not fair, Greece and all it’s people have always been so welcoming , so beautiful , and so helpful , I and millions like me wish you all the good fortune you deserve. Many thanks and continued success. Our best wishes and kind regards Trevor and Julie Riley         

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Hi Erika

Just felt I had to write a brief note to say how much we have enjoyed your fantastic site in the last few weeks.

We made a last minute booking to come to the Island [stayed above Kioni] last week after which, keen to plan our visit, I discovered your site.
Having seen so many locations and characters on your pages in the build up to our first every trip to Ithaca [or Greece come to that] it was surreal to meet with people or be standing in places that had become so recently familiar via your pictures. A little like visiting the set of a new favourite film with all the actors reprising their roles around you!
Your pages allowed us to see the island in more detail, first through your eyes, which, made the experience of actually being there so much more rewarding and somehow vivid.

Although I took lots of pictures during our stay your since our return to a wet and cold England, your site now provides me with the shots I missed at the time or was not on the island to take in the first place. Ithaca more than lived up to our expectations and the people delivered on the promises your photos provide.
Lots and lots of special moments and highlights for us some of which we would not have had without being prompted by your site. Still so much more to discover for ourselves so we can't wait to return but will make sure it's for longer next time.

I am now beginning to use your site to get some ideas and make a rough plan of the best time for us to come again. We loved the island in October but next time we would like to take in a panighiri or two and hoping that when we do return we may be able to do a bit more than say please and thank you in Greek!

Your producing such an amazing and unique record of the islands life it's just brilliant. Don't stop!

Thanks and very best wishes

Ian & Elaine Douglas

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hi Erica, Just thinking of a trip to Ithaca - the Ferry debacle has really caused immense destruction to ithaca (and the entire Ionian) Having to go to Killini via what seems like quite an inhospitable and treacherous journey from Athens then to arrive at Ithaca stranded at Piso Aetos at midnight is really an inconvenience die hard Ithacans must endure,  but not of any appeal to a casual traveller. Likewise having to somehow get  to Piso Aetos at dawn for the return trip presents a similar nightmare. It looks like Ithaca might need to start breeding donkeys and resurrect the agrarian economy unless this situation changes soon :(  Regards George

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My Ithaca experience was awesome from the moment I made contact with Erika on this site to my parting moment catching the ferry back to Kephalonia.
Special thanks to my hosts Ari and Yanna at Odyssey Apartments. They provide wonderful accommodation and were tireless in answering my endless questions. And yanna's Greek salad is the best!
And another special thanks to Ester for the Homer Walk. What a great way to spend a morning: in nature with intellectual stimulation and great company. Ester pitches the walk perfectly. She is a gem.
To the people of Ithaca, it is true, you are warm and friendly and you live in paradise.
I shall return.
Sincerely, Brenda Addie

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Hello Erica, I went to Ithaca for the first time this year and must say that it was as beautiful an island as you portray on your pages. Friendly people, albeit everyone speaks so loud I wondered if they were all fighting with eachother. Still a charming place. Brian and Joy.

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Dear Erika,
 
Correct me if I am wrong but I don’t remember seeing anything in your pages about the Iliad Project https://www.interportfolio.com/iliad-resort-greece/ although it has been talked about for some months in the town. Knowing you personally I would very much doubt that you would be in favour of such a despoiling of our pristine environment but a surprising number of Greek people I have talked to seem to be in favour of the idea. I believe that they see any type of tourist development as favourable for the island, believing that it would bring a lot more income to all types of businesses. Personally I would doubt this very much as such a project is in its very nature self contained probably with its own shops and restaurants and even possibly with its own car hire company (there could be road access via Kaminia or the Fish Farm road).  Equally no local people would be involved with the construction phase. And if a high proportion of the presumed 3-4000 visitors (about 1200 units of accommodation) were to take to the roads at one time chaos would ensue.
 
Firstly I believe that the very nature of such a development is completely foreign to the environment of a small Greek island. And most of the visitors that we have come to Greece exactly because such developments do not exist here. My experience of talking to the visitors who either come on their own, or with our 2 largest tourist companies Ionian Islands and GIC/Sunvil, is that they come here for precisely that reason. So if this development goes ahead they may come no longer. I have only talked to one engineer about this and he informs me that such developments are permitted within the existing law, and our island can support “only” one! He gave me the impression that it would be years before any proposal went ahead but other people I have talked to seem to think that it may be soon, indeed the web site gives this impression also.
 
Looking at the legality, I see that the proposed land area is 400 hectares, or 4000 stremata. Yet they are planning well over 1000 units. This would be possible according to the current law only if virtually all the land were currently agricultural, yet at a glance it looks mostly forest to me. Then again all the artists impressions show building right by the sea whereas I understood that it was not legal to build within 75 metres of the sea. Then I wonder about sewage so close to the sea and how effective all those vothroi would be. Or would they have their own sewage treatment plant? Surely not enough land for that. And I wonder whether all the proposed buildings will comply with our usual regulations regarding structural materials, size of windows/doors etc? It worries me that those with large amounts of money may be able to ride roughshod over all the usual procedures whereas the likes of you and me have to stick to the letter of the law.
 
Finally I also worry that if the project were to be achieved, the necessary customers may not materialise in the numbers expected and the scheme may eventually go into liquidation leaving the buildings in decay and the coast of our beautiful island spoiled for ever, a testament to the greed of man.
 
I have not talked to any of the mayoral candidates so I do not know their views. It would be great if someone could find out. Maybe a discussion could be started within your pages. I would certainly love to hear your own views.
 
Regards and best wishes, Nick Levy

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Hi Erica, thank you for the wonderful pictures and the news of Ithaca. We look in at least 4 times every week and miss it when you are away. Cheers - Bob

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Hi,
 
We’ve just returned from a very overdue (21 years) return visit to Ithaca.
 
Nothing, bar a few more houses has changed and the road to Marmaka from Frikes. We stayed with Nicki and Andrea at the Nostos and could not have been looked after better. It felt like coming home, everyone we knew of old remembered us and welcomed us warmly.
Also nice to meet a few new faces and some grown up ones who I only met as kids back then. Poppy and Nektario, Pete’s son (who’s name I can’t remember) runs things in Polis bay. Kiki’s son, and Luca (Nicki's son)
 
from your photos I see you spend time with George and Jenny, can you ask Jenny to check her email (hotmail account) that is on your website. I sent her a message and a photo of me with Costa and Dimitri’s parents taken back in 1993 for her to get to them as I can’t make any of Costa’s emails work.
 
Been home under a week now and still having withdrawal problems.
 
Here’s hoping the summer season is profitable for all and relatively stress free.
 
Our love and thanks to all we know and whom we met.
 
Tom and Dani Wykes,  Max, Molly, Connie, Jake. Greek Islands Club 1989 to 1993

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