April 2014 - Saturday 19th - It was a very cold Good Friday this year. Everyone adorned their coats and hats to gather at their local churches for the Good Friday liturgy and parade of the Epitaph through their streets.
This year I headed to Stavros, for the first time in 12 years, leaving the burning of Judas, which takes place annually in Kioni, to those who still bear a grudge, to photograph this big night on the religious and social calendar of every Greek.
For more photographs CLICK HERE or on photograph Left.
I guess we're all hoping for that wonderful sun-shining weather we had a few days back, to join us again before Easter Sunday.
Sunday 20th - Last night the most beautiful and traditional service for the Celebration of the Resurrection was held in the small chapel in Exoghi. A truly beautiful night that will be remembered with such great fondness for those who attended. Ag. Marinia could not be used this year due to some damage from the earthquakes we had a month or so ago.
CLICK HERE or on photograph left for more photos.
Happy Easter
Sunday 20th April 2014
After the last few days being so cold, wet and windy, locals were praying that it wouldn't continue on to today, because you can't have a soggy lamb on the spit, and cooking in the oven, although more convenient, isn't what Greek Easter is about, unless of course you have a whole litter of little babies in one household.
Most people get their spitroast ready early in the morning for the lamb to be done just right by lunch time. Greek Easter is a BIG occasion, the biggest for the year, and thus is celebrated big time from one end of the island to the other.
We had an opportunity again this year, to be invited around some of the homes to get a peek at how their Easter is celebrated. A big thank you to everyone that welcomed my lens into their Easter. I, as I'm sure, you, completely appreciate it.
FOR MORE PICS CLICK HERE OR ON PHOTO LEFT
Wednesday 23rd - A sky filled with Arabian dust over our heads today, and forecast to continue through to the weekend. Rain is also forecast, but not just any rain, muddy rain, as the dust from the sky is released through the Spring downpours.
Last year it meant the emptying out of swimming pools and pressure hose sales went through the roof. Hopefully it won't be as bad this year, but by the look of the dirty sky, it could even be worse. It's a phenomena that's not usual for this time of year, although with weather changes all over the planet, who's to say what's normal anymore. Temperatures will also be rising through this week.
Left - Members of Spyros Bouas party for Mayor, made it official today with signatures on all the right documents.
Saturday 26th - Funny weather these past days. Rainy, then sunny, then cloudy, then blue sky... I guess it's Spring.
Left - Stavros view down to Frikes Bay.
With yachts sailing in, the bayside villages are ready for tourism again. Another season of fun in the sun.
Left - Stavros, Varka region. Doesn't look like much sun here, but 10 minutes after this photo was taken, the sky turned mostly blue again.
It might look a little cloudy, but the temperature is fine, so the best place to sit is still outdoors at the cafes.
The island is carpeted in Spring flowers, and as we get closer to summer, more and more thistle flowers.
Left - Peter from Dodonis in Frikes. Over the past few years, Peter has built up a rather comfortable and charming place to spend time over a coffee, ice-cream or snack. It's located on the bayside, but away from all the bustle and noise. A quiet place to refelct or socialize with conversation, rather than shouts in the wind.
Ok, so there may still be more cats than people at this time of year, and as we know, these two populations always seem to increase in tandum with eachother, but over the past few years, the Argos foundation has been trying it's utmost to keep the cat population clean and well looked after, also neuted.
Cats have always been a lucky charm for the Greek islands.
Left - Alekos. Youtube star along with a few others I had sequestered for a dance sequence in one of my videos for lola demo.
Left - Gerry Cavadias from Libro D'Oro Bar and cafe in Frikes, is ready for action. His cocktail shaking wrist is agile and trained for a busy summer of mixing and shaking ahead.
You can find Libro D'oro opposite the Frikes Park on the bayside. Head on in and say hello.
Sunday 27th - A beautiful Spring day today after massive storms and rain overnight, but as we head closer to another day ending, there seems to be another bad weather front sneaking it's way across our blue sky.
Monday 28th - A rather stormy few days. Typical Spring weather. Today it's quite windy too, but with a few sunny breaks.
Yesterday afternoon Spyros Bouas, candidate for Mayor on Ithaca in the elections in May, headed north to meet with his running companions at Margarita Cafe in Stavros.
After months of landscape photos, these meetings give me a good opportunity to put some faces back on ithacagreece.com.
Wednesday 30th - It's the end of another month. It's been a mixture of stormy and blue skies, quiet and windy interludes and now it's head on into the main season. Tomorrow, the first of May, Greece celebrates May day with picnics around the country.
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.
