Ithaca is pretty green for most of the year so autumn colours are rare. There are still beautiful views across the island under the blue skies of this year's November.
Northern Ithaki says goodbye to Christos Daglas, who left us way too soon. I met Christos for the first time in 1992. He was a young man full of hopes and dreams, some of which he had achieved. A sad day for his family, friends and the island.
November 2014 - Saturday 1st - Beautiful day again today. A great start to November. The skies occasionally are a little smokey from the brush fires burning in the fields while the olive harvest goes on, but generally, it's fresh air and blue skies.
Frikes is all, but shut down now. Symposium was open as was Dodonis as I passed by, and as always, Kiki from the mini market, will be keeping the village alive through winter in the mornings and evenings for the locals shopping needs. The old hotel is also undergoing a facelift inside and out, so the streets aren't completely quiet.
Monday 3rd - Beautiful, beautiful days, although a little hard to breathe at times with fires burning off the olive tree brush. When there's a breeze it's not so bad, but when it's still, there are areas in which the smoke hovers and doesn't disperse.
Thursday 6th - Already near the first week of November being erased from the calendar. Yesterday the blue skies turned grey and we had a little more rain. Completely expected for this time of year, and of course, good for keeping Ithaki green.
Rumour has it that the old OTE building in Vathy will be taken over by a large supermarket chain. The word is AB Vassilopoulos, but this is just the word from the street which may or may not be reliable. With small business already suffering on Ithaca, with many having closed their doors over the past 2 years, I wonder how good this decision may ultimately be for the island. We already have 1 large Marinopoulos/Carrfour supermarket, and Vathy or Ithaca for that matter, can barely keep the shelves stocked there. My wish for Christmas is forward thinking for those who hold the reigns.
Monday 10th - After a week or so of rain and grey skies, yesterday the blue returned with a beautifully mild and sunny day for us all to enjoy Sunday.
There have been a couple of quite strong, deep tremors over the past couple of days, but nothing rattled here. One near Kefalonia of around 4.9 and another near Aighio in the Peleponnese just over 5.
Thursday 13th - Although we're definitely heading into winter, and despite the forecasts predicting one of the coldest to come, the temperatures are actually very mild. A little weird though. The sky just doesn't look right. Last night lots of lightning, but no thunder. Electrical activity of the ghostly kind.
Left and Below - Lefki
Left - The roadworks continue at Aetos. Personally not so keen on seeing the rubble tossed into the sea, although it may help the erosion.
Saturday 15th - Some sunny and mild days again. Ithaki's Indian summer.
Over the past week there have been power outs due to maintenance every morning, but north Ithaca seems to miss out on the benefits, because every time there is even a hint of rain, the fuse drops and the north is left without power until the electricity co. worker drives up north to flick the switch back to on.
The problem has been reported over a year ago, but DEH doesn't seem to count our little community as important enough to fix this problem that leaves north Ithaca in the dark 2 or 3 times a week. In case they are not aware, there are businesses trying to work in this part of the island too. Unfair practices.
After some major public service sector retrenchments over the past few years, the government has decided to open up some more government positions in local councils. For Ithaca, that means 18 new jobs. Pay is 490 euro per month if you're over 29 years of age and 427 if you're under.
Tuesday 18th - Typical November weather in as far as some days it's sunny, some days it's wet. Still much warmer than expected however.
Ithaki Theatre Group Forkinas is opening up the doors to budding actors with auditions on Thursday 20th November at KPE at 8pm. It's definitely a fun group to be involved with so if you're interested, I'm sure there'll be plenty to look forward to.
Friday 21st - Seems earthquakes all over Greece lately. On Ithaca, we feel pretty much protected even when the ground is shaking, but with recent quakes in Athens, it soon becomes clear just how fragile the ground we live on is. Makes me wonder if there's any deep sea drilling going on around the various sites in Greece.
Monday 24th - A few sunny days over the past week, but the temperatures have dropped a bit now. The Indian summer is on it's way out I think. Just hoping the predictions of a bitter cold window aren't true.
Left - Exoghi and the bell tower of Ag. Marina church.
Tuesday 25th - Very quiet times on Ithaca at present. The streets, both north and south are quiet, day noises are almost non existent.
Saturday 29th - Not much to say these days. A rainy day today and quiet around the streets again. the frantic consumerism happening around the cities in these days leading up to Christmas, doesn't exist here. Probably due to the lack of things to consume.
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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.
NOTICE:
Saturday 6th December at the
Health Centre is 6945858168 There will be free
health examinations for children and their development
from 9am to 3pm
Organizers are Vivi Paxo and Dionisios Stanitsas
Ithaki's Mayor.
