Cretan Vista Site News Archive June 2011

Cretanvista Site News & Reviews - June 2011 Issue 102

No links to sites with adult content accepted.

JUNE WEATHER..... Some like it hot! Very hot!! The 30's and 40's (and we don't mean the year!) were very much on the cards as things got very much warmer. But then perhaps that is our 'Raison d'être'. Best to stay out of the sun unless well protected...

  Current Chania Webcam             Current Cretan Weather Link
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                    Obituary. St Peter's Church - Dumbleton

St Peters Church, Dumbleton, UK
Last Resting place of Patrick 'Paddy' Leigh Fermour - WWII Cretan
hero and his wife Joan. See News Reviews (right).

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Astratigos Village Life.... Getting some.. XIII
(Continued from April - Previous click here).

At the end the last episode...
....Or possibly knocking the thing over and thereby setting fire to the only loo we had. At least we had fitted a plastic seat to ours, it would probably burn quite nicely encouraged by an exploding kerosene lamp.

Such an event would leave the privy seat less - but then that was the way our agent, who had the loo fitted, had seen fit to leave it originally. Seat savers unite!! Soon.........

So there we were - the loo seat firmly fixed to the loo and only the lunatic raised floor drains to fall over and set fire to the loo with the mighty Chinese kerosene lamp! Now we could get on with our next two phases the plasterer plastering the front house - inside and out - plus the vestibule, whilst we saved ourselves a little cash by fitting the old house with wooden beams and ceilings ourselves...

We started in what was then the largest bedroom, plus the corridor, bathroom and of course, least but very certainly not last, the Loo! That department seemed the most demanding, at least if one did not want to examine the interior of the unprotected roof tiles - there was no covering of any sort - each time one looked upwards! More importantly the loo walls stopped well short of the roof and was open to the full range of aromas, being at that stage open throughout the old house. Well, it was once a barn...

However, it was more 'Channel' No 5, as in the English Channel, rather then the French 'Chanel' No 5 fragrance. Definitely not 'Fragrance and beauty, Eau de toilet' at around $150 for 3 ounces, but definitely a very genuine item. Stand in any room in the old house at the wrong time and smell the width, if not the quality! Best avoided. The loo ceiling was first!

Inside the bathroom, the corridor and the main bedroom it was simply work, and plenty of it. A total if sixteen beams - not counting the 'smallest room' - each around 5'x2.5' (12.5x6cm) - around 1Ib.10oz per foot makes around 130ft of solid pine weighing around 211Ib (96kg). Doesn't sound a lot, but those sizes were after we planed, rounded the edges and sanded each one...

Each beam had to be lowered into either a stone or concrete slot cut at each end and tied into place with bolts - and guess who had to do that?! About 12 feet up a ladder in each case. 16 beams, 32 slots, about 100 size 10 screws (rawlplugs, elbow grease)... And then came the exciting bit. Pam and I had to use an improvised block and tackle to raise each beam into place for tying. Arms were simply not long enough! Try it yourself - 17ft plus beam - 2 sets of 6ft arms - leaves a big gap.....

Using two ladders was not an option, We inserted the end each beam onto each slot at an angle and then Pam winched the opposite end up so that I could maneuver each beam into place for tying and later plastering. Needless to say the going was not quite as smooth as it sounded. It was also quite warm....

But it was done. Then all we had to accomplish was to lay around 43 square meters of 118'x10x0.5' strips of tongue and groove to fill the gaps, matching each board to the next until all had been filled. About 103 or so boards. Plus the 43 sq meters rigid insulation. No problem, just a lot of hammering and sweat!

All the wood had to be rot-proofed first of course - specifically since our agent, when having the old house roof fitted, had allowed the roofer to do the job with no boarding and no roofing felt - in spite of our direct insistence that that must be done! It wasn't...

Our only other option would have been to remove the roof and start again, but then we had assurances that the roof would not leak if left without felt - it was a 'traditional' roof.....

The diagram sent originally by our agent blamed his labourer, who had supposedly made the last run af bricks around the roof too high - which would result, he said - if the roof was felted - in the felt sagging at the bottom edge and collecting water, which would then ether leak or overflow into the roof space. Imagine that...

Plus that posed a very, very, interesting question. Assuming for a moment that our agent's explanation was absolutely accurate, and that the rains in Spain - sorry - Crete, would run down inside the roof tiles and eventually balloon down and burst into the roof space, sinking my wife and family and my entire ship, why would no rain penetrate the completely unprotected roof tiles, but leak through felt covered ones?

Answers on a postcard please - as many words as you like, We have retained for posterity (and the book) our agent's original explanation and the diagram - in a very dry bank safety deposit box, in case we need to refer to it in the future when the rain really comes in instead of just dripping!....

Whoooshe....

Astratigos Village Life.... Getting some.. Is condensed from the book 'Pamela's House' - in current preparation... Continued in June...

In the News Reviews...
Sir Patrick Michael Leigh Fermour DSO, OBE.....
Patrick 'Paddy' Leigh Fermour renowned travel writer and never to be forgotten Cretan resistance fighter, Commander of the Order of the Phoenix, sadly died in London on June 10th 2011 age 96 years. He is buried next to his wife Joan, who died June 2003 aged 91 years, in the eastern part of the churchyard at Dumbleton in Gloucestershire, UK.

There were no children.

Sir Patrick married the Hon. Joan Elizabeth Rayner, (née Eyres Monsell), daughter of the 1st Viscount Monsell in 1968. She accompanied him on many of his travels until her death. They lived part of the year in their house in an olive grove near Kardamyli in the Mani Peninsula, southern Peloponnese, and part of the year in Worcestershire. In the 2004 New Years Honours Patrick Leigh Fermour was named a Knight Bachelor.

He was an Honarary Citizen of Heraklion (Crete); Kardamyli; and Gythyeio (Greece).

Along with Captain William Stanley Moss, as members the British SOE in Greece during WWII, Patrick Leigh Fermour was probably best known on Crete for the kidnapping of the German Commanding General Heinrich Kreipe, the story of which was made into a film - 'Ill Met by Moonlight' and the story of 'The Cretan Runner', by George Psychoundakis...

Sir Patrick Michael Leigh Fermour DSO, OBE
11 February 1915 – 10 June 2011 - Memoriam.

                                                 Link to Story .
                   *All Wikipedia links acknowledged.

Cretan Composer Mikis Theodorakis...
Or more properly put, the home of his father in Galatas, Chania prefecture of Crete, is being considered for a prospective museum to 'host and exhibit' items related to the composer....
                                                  Link to Story.

Plus, the new Kasteli airport...
Has anew deadline for tenders of October 18th. The 'initial' deadline for opening the bids and naming the winning bidder is now set at February 9th. Kasteli is situated at the eastern end of Crete near Iraklion not the north-western end of the island. the current Iraklion airport is said to be under serious pressure from an increasing number of tourists..
                                                   Link to Story

The current airport may not yet be open, but...
Apparently 'when it comes to planning, sooner is cheaper', although prices often seem to rise before 'sooner' arrives....
                                                  Link to Story.

Whilst on the subject of aircraft...
A Greek Air force F16 pilot had to take emergency action whilst taking off from Souda Bay airbase when his aircraft caught fire. Prompt action by the pilot resulted in a safe landing at the base some minutes later - minus his drop-tanks, which had been jettisoned into the sea.....
                                                  Link to Story.

And, an expensive crash...
But fortunately no injuries, as a different Greek Air force jet, this one a Dassault Mirage 2000 - a French built multi-role combat aircraft - crashed off the southern Aegean island of Samos. The two crew ejected and were picked up by a Greek army vessel sailing in the area....
                                                  Link to Story.

Migrants were back in the news...
When a FRONTEX border patrol boat intercepted 90 illegal immigrants from an Icelandic flagged 'OPV Aegir' 80 nautical miles off the southwest coast of Crete on June 11th. Four others were arrested on charges of migrant smuggling. All were landed at the port of Piraeus..
                                                  Link to Story.

Plus Police arrest two foreign nationals...
In Rethymno, Crete following allegations of raping and mugging a 29 year old German tour guide, immobilizing her and stealing a mobile telephone and 30€ in cash. Both those arrested are said to originate from India...
                                                  Link to Story.

Greece top drownings tables...
The highest number of drownings in Europe. Second in the world relative to population figures. 400 drownings or so a year (more than 1 per day!) with experts pointing out that there was a high risk to young children. With a horrifying warning - 'child drownings tend to be 'silent' as children did not understand what was happening to them'....
                                                  Link to Story.

Quick Link.
Creta Farms expands into Australia....
                                                   Link to Story
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                    COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT
All of the material produced by Cretanvista is copyright and belongs to someone who has spent time, effort and money to produce it. We are often willing to allow the use of our material for personal (non-commercial) purposes. For example our calendar photographs can be used to reproduce the pictures for your own individual calendars, or to hang on granny's bedroom wall.

We will however, take action against anyone we discover using our materials in any mass distribution exercise, especially for financial gain, unless specifically authorized by us and we are acknowledged as the source in the reproduction.
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FREE...
Cretanvista is a free site. We accept neither cash nor gratuities and sell nothing. We don't carry paid-for advertising. But we do try to give you information which you might want to know about.

Accommodation in Astratigos - For rent/Sale again....
The first house on the left as you enter Astratigos from Afrata - a large cream and green affair sporting two apartments two balconies and a small pool at the front . Live in Astratigos maybe?

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HOLIDAY VILLAS...
Another local owner has carried out some superb traditional renovations in Astratigos and has renovated what was once his own accommodation - maybe for your holidays! Book and check availability at:-
Crete-escapes.com

In Kolimbari - right on the beach near the tavernas, is:-

The Grand Bay Beach Hotel

Visit Interdynamic's website.

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http://www.provencebeyond.com/ Well worth a visit if you are interested in France, especially the southern parts.

FERRY SERVICES.
SOUDA BAY - PIRAEUS (Chania-Athens).

ANEK LINES operate daily return sailings.
Souda     -    Piraeus
21.00Hrs         05.30Hrs
Piraeus     -    Souda
21.00Hrs         05.30Hrs

PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU SHOULD ALWAYS CHECK TIMETABLES WITH THE COMPANIES OR THEIR AGENTS.

WEBSITE LINKS

Moving to Crete? Get Sound Practical Advice for free..

'Notes on Greece' is a British Embassy publication which gives information on matters relating to Greece. Obtaining a copy first hand from the British Consulate in Iraklion (Heraklion) will ensure that you have the most recent edition - and professional contacts with up-to-date and wide ranging knowledge on matters relating to Crete. Contact the consulate via:-

:crete@british-consulate.gr

An e-mail copy is available as a Microsoft word file - a very fast email of very useful information

Earthquake activity:
Most recent earthquakes in Greece - LINK

Local of Note in June - Link - only two of significance:

13 June: 3.3 ML, 04.11am: Undersea epicentre 17 km W Ayía Galíni (pop 1,369)
                                                                                                              Link to Story.

17 June: 4.0 ML, 03.21am: Crete. Undersea epicentre 40 km SE Ierápetra (pop 12,536)
                                                                                                              Link to Story.

Although earthquakes most certainly are a common feature of life in Greece. It is however, unusual for deaths, injuries and or damage to buildings to occur, which could lead to a false sense of security.

The author of a ten year study at the National Technical University of Athens says that Greece is sitting waiting for the next major earthquake without doing anything to mitigate it's effects. (Our italics).
                                                                                                                                        Link to Report.

There are certain existing buildings considered to be at risk from major earthquakes. Link to story. These buildings, which include a number of schools, are being investigated with the objective of safety. Link to story. Engineers have also called upon the government to institute checks on old bridges in Greece. Link (Item6.)
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A Little Extra (Current) News....
Anyone who read last month's missive in Astratigos Village life can be forgiven for having developed a sense of Déjà Vu. But this item really is about a completely different (replacement) roof. The original (oldest) roof went with the original demolition - caused by a lack of foundations under the front house. The second roof, the one referred to in the May 2011 article, was completed and installed back in 1994 while we were completing the original rebuild of Pamela's House. It was an exciting project....

But no, the roof rebuild I am referring to now was new in June 2011 - but, so as not to cause confusion - let me explain that it is the same rebuild. Or, to steal an English TV Title for a moment, 'Location, Location, Location' really did become 'Replacement, Replacement, Replacement'. Of the original front house roof that is!

Let me try to clarify. It seems simple enough, we have replaced the roof three times!

The first replacement could be classed as a side effect of out having to demolish our 'Front House' because our agent discovered that it had no foundations. We could hardly have left the roof on top and replaced just the walls - that would have been silly. So it had to go, and be replaced along with the replacement walls. Logical. Sensible.

The second replacement - only 17 years later - became necessary because the roof was failing - leaking severely in stormy weather, because, by my own hand apparently, I had accepted poor advice regarding the pitch of the roof from both agent and original roofer. Three repairs became necessary within the space of three months or so, and three independent advisors confirmed my dumb decision!....

The three repairs, two failures, followed by a third repair which worked brilliantly and lasted the remainder of the winter without a hint of a problem. Needless to say the 'Mastora' responsible for that, also go the job of redesigning and replacing the new 'third' roof...

With this last replacement, we are now hoping that 'that' to rephrase a coin, or do I mean coin a rephrase, will, for the third and final time, be 'That'!

Big Baths!
It seemed this month almost as if something of an 17th anniversary event was occurring as, immediately following the re-roofing's, to keep the water out, we were faced with a second major replacement in 17 years, this time to keep the water in! The original water tank, parked prominently on a first floor flat roof, had begun to leak. Although it at first appeared only a small leak, more of a dribble than anything else, it appeared to be coming from a flat side of the tank, not a plumbing joint or overflow situation....

Water being extremely important on Crete I examined the dirty damp patch on the tank. It was only about 8 inches long but it soon became apparent that this part of our tank, which holds one cubic meter of water, was almost completely rusted through. Giving a little thought to draining down and patching the tank - which would put off the evil (cost-wise) replacement day, convinced me that it would not be 'cost-wise'. It would simply mean a lot of effort for a small reprieve, a replacement tank was the best option. We were also aware that the continuous slight leakage could eventually find it's way into our cess-pit - and the continuous nature could add to lessening the time until the equally evil day came to call the gentlemen with the big pipe (and tanker) who would need to empty it. Very fast, but somewhat very smelly and expensive!

Again, I toyed with the idea of D.I.Y. but the logistics of working on a Cretan mountainside - find the parts; get them delivered; remove the old parts (including a meter square tank); fit the new parts and hope it all works when help may be 25Km away and not around for a couple of days and well... I didn't fancy playing Dutch boy finger in dyke for any length of time....

The answer was so very simple, and as always a family affair. Kiriakou, now the grandfather of this particular Cretan family, took a message. With, as usual, a big grin! He relayed the patch to his son, Aristithi. He confirmed the size of the tank and obtained it next day, sealing the newly welded edges with a suitable paint, which then needed to dry. His son (Grandson) Yiannis, delivered the tank with his father Aristithi, and a helper next day. Being a plumber, the younger Yiannis did the installation in no time at all , and seemed eminently pleased to take away the old tank for us.

Manhandling and installing a tank one meter square is itself a fairly big task. I accomplished all in less that three hours - with only the help of a another grandfather! The younger Yiannis (Grandson) was well pleased. Aristhi (grandfather's son) advised that I was still a young man! Grandfather Kiriakou said not to worry - I was a grandfather too!  Just keep it in the family?!....

Kalos Ithate Stin Kriti.
WB. Cretanvista. Bringing the sunshine, keeping the rain off!
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Site Content:- Last Change - additions to Wildflower galleries.

Notices.

We are still undertaking our upgrade of the site. Changes here have left some pages outdated - new houses; hotels; supermarkets; roads and all. But it all takes time; please bear with us.

**Our 2012 Cretanvista Calendars are now in preparation - printing soon!

Contacting Cretanvista..
We have now discontinued all direct email links. If you see an email address please ignore it.

Photo Galleries...
Calendar Photo Galleries:
A new one every year for the past decade! The 2010 Calendar gallery is complete and online now.. The 2009 calendar topic was 'Wild Flowers of Crete' (after our wild flower galleries) and the result was superb! Which is why we followed up the theme in 2010. And again in 2011! Because of our success we have already produced our 2012 wild flower calendar format (and our other themes continue), but of course that is not available until later in the year. But we can reprint any issue with the next year's dates - whatever year that happens to be! Have a look at the 2011 wild flowers calendar Link.

Wild Flower Gallery - Now at 360 different wild flower photographs online - plus dozens in preparation - Galleries 13 - 15 are open. 360 flowers online. Gallery 16 is developing - which will mean 384 online.. Plus we have added more reference information on redesigned pages - with more photos of each specimen to follow later. You may find an occasional duplicate, which we are keeping for the moment as the actual photographs will be different and will be used in a later planned re-organization of the galleries.

We are now well en-route to putting the first 50% of our target 1020 individual flowers on-line. But it all takes time. First find the flower (hopefully in full bloom); then get the photographs (sounds easy); put the photographs on-line (simply work); with basic information on each, making certain that it is accurate...

If you know the location of a rare flower please don't hesitate to help us photograph - we wont reveal your information to anyone else.

Please note also that All flower galleries have now been successfully re-coded to eliminate a bug which affected some Firefox browser versions. All the information will remain online at Cretanvista. With the advent of ipods, ipads, Blackberry's and other gizmos it will be much easier to take Cretanvista galleries on your field trips - and all the information that goes with them. **Your Amazon Kindle will display cretanvista perfectly.

Wildlife Gallery - the first two pages - 48 unique photographs, including some rare specimens of the Cretan fauna. Some is quite beautiful, some a bit scary/creepy, but all now add to our wildlife page and the ornithology gallery pages. Remember that it is always worth checking where you walk or sit before you do! Start here.

Chania Photo Gallery.
Our Chania photograph galleries commenced with a presentation from Klaus Dieter Thill, whose photographs of some old buildings in the area of the Venetian Harbour show a little of what we all sometimes miss. Have a look - it's worth it. Start here.

Miniature Chapels of Crete Gallery.
Klaus-Dieter Thill - author of Minaturkapellen auf Krista, a printed photo album detailing some of those enigmatic roadside shrines of Crete, has now contributed the first page of his Chania on-line gallery.

Cretan Art and crafts - Weaving pages...
Weaving is in full swing and natural dyes are being made up and the photographs taken to add to this section. We will be adding our pages on our new looms, equipment and new projects started as soon as we can. The weaving tends to take the time right now..

Our very first nature gallery...
Contributed by Anastasios Sakoulis, whose book on Cretan wildlife Moments of Cretan Nature is also on our site as a book review. Anastasios contributed 18 pictures of birds for addition to a gallery some time ago now. We will attach these to our bird-watching pages as soon as possible.

GENERAL: There are now 37 galleries featuring aspects of Cretan life, including sunrise and sunset pictures; Souda Bay War Cemetery; the gallery of magnificent wild-life pictures by Anastasios Sakoulis; our own wildlife gallery; the wild flowers; Chania; Mhlia (Milia) traditional village; etc.. etc...

Our improvements continue. We sincerely hope that you notice little - apart from increased enjoyment and ease of use. Keep visiting - your presence is what make all worthwhile.

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	Hotel - Taverna Lefka Kolimbari
	Offers - Unsere Preise - Οι προσφορές Sept/Oct

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