What's New On Ithaca Greece
May 2019
Tuesday 14th
It's been a bit chillier than normal for May and also with more rain than usual, but it should brighten up again soon.
Below - The road to Marmaka from Afales. Some of it has been paved. Once it's all done, it will be much safer to drive on and will most likely open up the area to some kind of development.
Thursday 16th - Everything around Greece right now, including Ithaca, is about the forthcoming elections, so let's leave that in the streets and at the discussion tables around the Cafes, here we'll look at flowers and people, the beautiful, the average and the strange.
Sunday 19th - After some strange May weather, it's nice to see blue sky again.
Monday 20th - One day blue the next day grey.
Below - A looming Niritos mountain top covered in heavy clouds.
Above - Aetos Bay shimmering in strangeness.
Above - Kioni Bay below with yachts moored and others still sailing around it's edges. The weather in the Ionian has been somewhat weird and uncharacteristic this year, except for the dust storms which have become a usual phenomena over the past few years leaving cars, homes and swimming pools brown with Sahara dirt.
With local elections looming, the Vathy Square becomes the political platform.
This year it appears that the econimic crisis has lifted in Greece with the Real Estate market once again moving upward. Over the past couple of years media had been spouting this without there really being any concrete sign that what they were reporting was in fact a fact.
This year I am happy to report with little hoohah, all the hard austerity we've been suffering under is slowly being lifted from our shoulders. We could still use some fundamental tax breaks, ones that were removed from us with austerity and that the rest of the world takes for granted, and necessary concessions for living in a remote area with limited work opportunities outside tourism which is so seasonal. We in Greece, still pay tax from 0 among other tax injustices. Politicians have been wearing their fancy suits and filling their swimming pools, sailing their yachts, since 2009, so no real sacrifices there. The real sacrfices were made by the people who actually paid their taxes and were then lumbered with the debt of paying everyone else's who didn't pay their taxes. For many, this sunk their boats, but for those who could hold on despite what seemed extortion by their own government, they will hopefully benefit from a renewed economy of hope. Hope that should not come in pillaging Greece through oil drilling and fracking. In an earthquake zone, deep sea drilling seems ludicrous, and fracking? well just ask anyone who has been impacted by it. It's an evil way to extract gas from the earth. Polluting water tables and land wherever the drill point hits.
If you want to join the fight again oil drilling and fracking in our pristine environment. You can join this group for information and petitions to sign.
https://www.facebook.com/noilkef/?tn-str=k*F
If you're on the island you can also ask Jennie Vlassopoulou at Spavento Cafe in Kioni or Poppy Pagoulatou at Rementzo Restaurant in Frikes to fill you in how you can help keep our environment without the pollution of oil and gas exploitation.
Yesterday the annual festival at Vigla took place. For some pics and news CLICK HERE or on photograph below.
Wednesday 22nd - A warm sunny day yesterday for this year's Unification Parade in Vathy. The numbers were down a little this year, but still those who were there mustered enough national pride for those missing. For some pics Click Here or on photograph below.
Sunday 26th - More bad weather ahead.
Above- Kioni Bay
Tuesday 28th - Finer weather but the temperatures are a bit cooler this year.
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Friday 31st - Last few days have been stunning. Temperatures just right, blue sky and lots of warm sunshine. Below - Kioni Harbour.
Above - Outskirts of Stavros on the way to Anoghi.
May 2019
Summer on Ithaca Greece
Tuesday 14th
The weather has been a bit disappointing, but there is still plenty to enjoy. Walking for instance. Since the tracks have been re-mapped and signed, it's now even easier to make your way around the island on foot.
Thursday 6th
Below - Going on holiday with a camera has changed with the selfie stick. Now people take photos of themselves on holiday instead of what they see.
Monday 20th -
Sunday 26th
Tuesday 28th
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Friday 31st - The end of another month and now that it's officially Summer, let's hope the weather catches up. It appears the island has been down in numbers for May 2019.
