What's New On Ithaca Greece
April 2020
Wednesday 1st
Despite 'self isolation' being the buzz phrase and April, which would normally be a time when Spring would lift our spirits and we'd all go out and enjoy eachother's company, food and laughter, having been stolen from us, there is still lots to be positive about. This inflicted non-activity is doing much to clean up our environment, the air and fauna. There are more birds singing than I've heard in many years. They're coming out of the trees and playing on the roads. Cats, slink around like they have been given the key to the city. People are a rare sight.
Thursday 2nd - For some of you out there, it's getting pretty lonely and even anxious. I hope some of beautiful Ithaki helps, if even for just a minute. Below - The mountain village of Exoghi which has some of the most spectacular views down onto Afales Bay and across the Ionian toward Lefkada.
Below - Stavros is quiet at best of times during winter, but this quiet is deafening, especially now during Spring, when most people would be out having coffee and chatting at one of the cafes or tavernas. We'd also begin to see an influx of visitors. They are missing too.
Monday 6th - With coronavirus taking up all our thoughts and lives, I'd like to suggest that you don't cancel your holiday on Ithaca, but merely postpone until we're all given the all clear. Viruses have a life cycle, this won't be forever and as it's a trying time for us all, I'm pretty sure we'll need our own little Ithaca to retreat to to enjoy what's important in life.
Friday 10th - With Ithaca under lockdown with the rest of Greece, news on the ground is a thing of the past for the time being, at least while residents are under quarrantine. We can still offer a few photographs however. Below - Afales Bay view from Exoghi with Platrithia in the distance and Kolieri below.
Above - Flowers blanket the fields around the edges of Stavros, seen here with Sotiros church in the background.
Saturday 11th - Very few people out and about, including ithacagreece.com. Police are stopping everyone and fines are inevitable. No gloves or masks. They must feel very safe, and so they can. No cases of covid-19 on Ithaca with no one coming onto the island, making it even safer. Below - Frikes bay surging up with wind.
Below - Exoghi, the beautifully traditional mountain village in the north of Ithaca. The views of course are spectacular from there and from above.
Sunday 12th - As this year, I won't be able to do the Easter Special, I'm inviting you all to send in a photo of your Easter that I can share on ithacagreece.com It can be an extra special Easter even under the restrictions we all find ourselves in. For me personally, it's just another time I can spend with the people I love, enjoying great times together, so whether your Easter is Western or Orthodox, let's just join them all together celebrate in our isolation!
Tuesday 14th - More restrictions starting from Saturday, maybe to keep people from moving around during Easter, but now no driving from the coming Saturday to Monday night. Probably to stop people from going back to their villages and their families for Greek Easter.
Above - Vathy. Below - Kioni.
Thursday 16th - This week, Easter has almost been annihalted from the Greek Orthodox calender. People everywhere are talking about a new normal, but I hope we only take the good out of that normal and not all the paranoia and fear. When this is over, I'm still going to hug and kiss the people I love, touch my friends, not run for cover if I hear a cough in the distance. There are probably millions of viruses and bugs all around us all the time, we've just not been made so hyper aware of them. Yes, let's be careful so we don't get ill and make others ill, but that's something we should have been practicing for a long time. In order to do that, people should be allowed to stay home when they're ill and not be under pressure to go to work. That simple thing, would change alot. Just remember, no one is worried about getting the Spanish flu now or the Plague, these have passed. Let's practice good hygiene, yes, that's important irregardless of coronavirus, but let's not forget to live. Let's not have fear make us voluntarily take on all these restrictions once coronavirus has passed. We are responsible for what's normal. HAPPY GREEK EASTER EVERYONE!
Tuesday 21st - I'd like to thank everyone who had the opportunity to send in a photo for this Lockdown Easter 2020 Special. Everyone in one place despite isolation. Click Here or on photograph below to see some of the ithacagreece.com community.
April 2020
Spring time on Ithaca Greece
Wednesday 1st
Greek Easter will not be a public affair this year. It will be celebrated by families in their homes. The Greek government is putting measures in place so that this law is strictly adhered to. Easter is usually the biggest date on the Calendar in Greece.
As I won't be able to go around taking photos of everyone's easter on Ithaca, I thought I'd send a message out to the world, Greek Easter or any easter celebrations, send in a pic or two so I can still make an Easter webpage. I'd hate for it to be empty, despite coronavirus. I don't care where you're from, send me a pic or 2. enquiries (at) ithacagreece dot com
Thursday 2nd
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Monday 6th - The start of another week, not that most of us can tell the difference at this point with our lives turned upside down.
Friday 10th - Easter will be strictly a family affair this year. No photographs from ithacagreece.com It will be the first time in 17 years I won't be going around to capture celebrations.
Saturday 11th - Below - Police in Vathy square, feeling safe enough to not wear masks or gloves, but the money is rolling in from fines from around Greece.
Please remember the open invitiation to send me photos of your Easter, Western or Orthodox so I can still make an Easter Special webpage. It would be so great to see all your faces in one place. Something else to unite us in our humanity despite being separated from eachother.
Thursday 16th - It's been a bit difficult taking photos over these restrictions, as we are under constant surveillance by police when outside, so our travelling circle has become very, very small. We will endeavour to take photos of Ithaca whenever it's possible.
