May 2014 - Thursday 1st - What better way to start off a new month than with a beautiful father/daughter photograph. Masos Deftereos with his daughter, Vassiliki.
Spyros Bouas, whom my husband Demetri is happy to stand beside during the upcoming elections had an open meeting last night at the Vathy cinema, outlining his parties intentions and opening up lines for questions from those who attended.
Friday 2nd May - Looks like the beginning of May will be a little less blue than what we are used to, but there's still plenty of sunshine in the breaks.
More boats sailing into the baysides now, more people walking in the streets, both locals and visitors. Soon our sleepy little island will be buzzing with activity again. Locally, the the header for news around the island is that it's election time. Everyone is busy working the crowd as to speak, trying to put their best foot forward. Seems like much of the campaigning is being done of facebook. Of course there are big banners flying in the May winds too, advertising various candidates. I always find subtle persuasion to be much more effective than blow horn, but the horses are out and on the track now so pick your winner.
As I've said before, I can't actually vote, but if I could, I would of course vote for my husband Dimitrios Vlassopoulos who stands along side Spyros Bouas as our Mayor candidate. Poppy from Rementzo is also on the ticket as a local Stavros candidate as are many other valuable individuals who I know personally to be honest and upstanding. These elections are so important for the island. They will either mean we keep going down hill, or we move forward (not the moving forward to big investments, but the moving forward as a strong, viable community). It's what we all need, some of us just don't know it.
Saturday 17th - Yes, it's been quite awhile since the last update, but from now until the end of the season, the updates will be pretty regular again. It was a little disappointing waking up to rain this morning, but mid afternoon, the sun came out again and made returning after a very cold Germany and Prague, worthwhile.
Monday 19th - Yesterday, the first round of elections took place around Greece. On Ithaca, the scoreboard didn't look that healthy for anyone, with only around 60% of people voting, some of whom didn't know their ticks from crosses invalidating their votes.
The order of preference looks like this:
1. Stanitsas
2. Livitsanis
3. Bouas
4. KKE
5. Kassianos
The big voting day will be next Sunday, the 25th May.
Meanwhile around the traps, things are still pretty quiet with local businesses declaring the numbers are very down this year. One of the factors for this must the ferry connection. Not having a route from Patra anymore, isn't good for anyone, not the local Ithacans, the visitors or the Kefalonians.
Thursday 22nd - Seems like quite a few of us on the island have been struck down by the flu (including me) and it's a doozy.
Yesterday, I unfortunately missed the Reunification parade and ceremonies in Vathy due to the flu, and am also missing quite a bit of sunshine. The weather is just perfect right now. People are already swimming, and as there aren't too many of us on the island, you can almost get a beach to yourself.
Below - We all know winter traffic is pretty thin on the ground, so when there is more traffic, please be careful so you don't end up like this.
This week again, it's all about elections. The 2nd round of local elections and also the European elections. There are more panels than you can poke a million sticks at as commentators and predictors inform us of how everything's going.
I'm really surprised that the extremists and far right are just getting a bigger and bigger strong hold all around the world. Have we not learned anything?? Makes me wonder. Just having returned from a trip to Germany and of course visiting the memorial wall in Berlin, it made me wonder what lessons have been learned that we again, would entrust our livelihood and well-being to those we know are seriously right-wing. Fascists and dictators work their charm well, most times you don't even recognize them as such, and let's face it, we're not that difficult to woo when it comes to our pockets. The right wing always bring us promises of greener pastures and money in our pockets, and I guess that's what the majority are attracted to. Talk about economics and everyone falls to their knees listening to the experts. I might just add, if there were experts in economics, then surely we wouldn't be getting into these crisis situations. We have experts in talking about economics, and sure, they speak really well about it. They even have the power to scare the hell out of us, and isn't that just where a population should be? Of course it is. Scared and fearful. We can get talked into almost anything in that state.
I should remember to take more potrait shots so I don't have to fill the space with my soap box rants. The thing is I'm not even that left winged, it's just that when I hear extreme right propaganda, it makes me pull completely left trying to balance it out somehow. Anyway...
Runners for Ithaki's Mayorship in Sundays elections are Livitsanis and Stanitsas. As you know my choice was Spyros Bouas, and although his face will still be at the council meetings, his 3rd place standing in the first round elections last Sunday, has eliminated him from the second round.
I wish the island luck with whoever takes the poll and hope something good will eventuate for the islanders and their fragile little rock.
Sunday 24th - Finally it seems the threats of rain and dark clouds have disappeared from our horizon leaving us with sunny days, the endless summer days we are used to even at this time of year.
Left - Years and years ago, Stavros had a Periptero (Kiosk), a place where you could get some snacks at any time of the day or night, newspapers, cigs and so much more. When it disappeared, it left a big hole in the community. Happy news is that Stavros will once again have a kiosk.
Not alot of yachts in the bays around Ithaca, but it's early yet.
Above - Kimi's butcher in Stavros has now been bought out by Marinos Blikas. The new billboard over the door is up and it's open for business again. We wish Marino good luck with his new venture.
Monday 26th - Nearly to the end of another month, and what a strange month it has been. The weather was unpredictable and the visitors are thin on the ground. Our big problem is that lack of a ferry connection to Patras.
Left - The perfect example of the generation gap. When asking the name of the river that runs through Prague, Judi (left) pulls out her map book while her daughter, Jessica, heads straight to her phone with wifi.
In the early hours of the morning, we woke to what sounded like an explosion. Apparently it was an earthquake between Poli and Fiscardo, but it really sounded like a bomb going off. Only 4 on the richter scale, so nothing to be concerned about, but it did sound very weird.
Above - If you stay at the newly vamped Captain Yiannis Hotel in Vathy, then you'll know this friendly face. Alexandros is in the pool bar, ready to take your order.
Captain Yiannis has done away with the tennis court and replaced it with a reception center and chapel. What a great place to have your wedding ceremony or special event.
Left - Lakis from Kohili restaurant in Vathy is open and ready to serve you with some of his great menu choices.
The local elections for Council have been won by Dionisios Stanitsas party.
It's not an easy job they've undertaken. Ithaca needs alot of love and care right now. Ithaca's community is on the back foot in regard to transport, but it's also in need of a council with foresight and genuine love for the island, not just the money that it can make from outside investors.
I'm sure the whole island waits with baited breath as to how Mr. Stanitsas will handle his new position. Youth is in the house.
Kioni doesn't seem to be doing too badly with quite alot of yachts in the bay. The little bayside village is always one of the Ionian fave's.
Left - George from Spavento Cafe Bar in Kioni, drops into Rementzo restaurant in Frikes for a quick chat a cold beer. He's getting his boat ship shape before all his attentions will be focused on his cafe bar.
Kioni's not doing badly at all in regard to cafe bars. It seems every time you blink, another is opening up. Great for the visitors with many more choices at their disposal.
Spavneto Bar in Kioni is really looking it's best right now. New comfortable chairs, the flowers are blooming and of course Jennie, your hostess, has the biggest smile on the island.
Spavento keeps it's traditional feel while others flock to get the 'big city' look.
The roadsides and fields are now beginning to be completely overgrown with weeds, drying out and becoming a fire hazard.
There's going to be a month of strimming ahead for the locals as they control the killer weed.
Can you feel it? I think Summer is on the way!! Come on over, despite the ferry problems, we'll find a way to get you here and get you back. It's actually not that bad, and for August, we'll no doubt have 2 big ferry runs per day as well as the local one from Astakos and Lefkada. It's not a big problem for you as a visitor, it's just a pain for us during the quiet season.
Wednesday 28th - Warm, sunny days now, but on Thursday, the temps are forecast to drop a little again.
Left - Frikes is fully awake after a damp and dark winter. Everything is looking shiney and summery again with all the restaurants open for business and the cafe bars with their music streaming out through the open doors and windows.
Left - So many people have taken Ithaca as their home away from home, sharing their love for this island over a seaside lunch is just the ticket.
Above - Juan sails into the bays around Ithaca each year, bringing visitors to our shores to enjoy what this beautiful island has to offer. A little snack of fresh sardines is just delicious.
Left & Below Left - Aleksander Margioni is taking some wonderful photographs of Ithaca, so it's about time they are shared I think. A man with a good eye and heart. After 12 years + of taking photographs of Ithaca, it's nice to get another perspective, so I'm hoping we can get a few more of his wonderful photos to feature on ithacagreece.com
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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.
