Cretan Vista Site News Archive September 2007

Cretanvista Site News & Reviews - SEPTEMBER 2007 Issue 55
No links to sites with adult content accepted.	SEPTEMBER WEATHER ..... A big contrast with last month - some quite cool days and nights, and even a couple of showers of rain. Strong winds took the edge off the temperatures on many of the sunnier days. The last few days of the month, however, were quite perfect - back to summer! Latest Crete Weather Link. _____________________________ VILLAGE NEWS The monastery in the valley ©:Cretanvista Of Paniyiri and Sardines.... Most people who come to Crete , even on holiday, will have noticed that the Cretans love to eat, drink and socialise. It surely is no coincidence that there are a lot of church celebrations during the warmer months – many of the churches have patron saints whose ‘name day’ falls in the summer – and this is invariably the reason for another get-together. In the old days of course, most people were fairly self-sufficient and there was little need to travel between centres of population. Villages at that time seemed to be mainly made up of one or two large families, so these church celebrations were hugely important in the social calendar. They were probably the only time you would be able to meet up with other people, so if you were young and on the lookout for a husband or wife, this was your best chance! Nowadays, youngsters have other tried and tested means of making contact, but the older villagers still do not travel about very much and enjoy meeting up with friends at the local church. Even if people have moved away from the village, they try to come back for the ‘paniyiri’, so there is always a lot of catching up to do. Although the focus of the event is the socialising, there is always the church service preceding the jollification. In true Greek fashion, this usually lasts for three hours, starting at 7 am. Fortunately it is not compulsory to turn up at the start, or even to stay for any length of time, so on a hot day most people go in, light a candle, kiss the icon of the saint, and come outside again. But there are always a few die-hards, who don’t like to miss a moment and hang on every word, chant or swoop of the incense! This month, it was the turn of the little Moni (monastery) in the valley below the village to have their ‘paniyiri’. Despite being called a monastery, it is actually a convent (there being no separate word in Greek). We are uncertain how many nuns are actually resident, as they are all absolutely identical – same height, same shape, same facial features, same glasses – and dressed in unrelieved black. There could be four or fourteen of them. When we go to one of these local events, we usually take ‘Mama’, an eighty-five year old lady from the village. There is always lots of scope for confusion here as she sometimes goes with her son, if he is in the mood and has driven over from Chania. This year was no exception as, yes, he may be coming over, but no, he may have no room in his car as he was bringing an elderly man from Chania, and maybe he would go to another ‘paniyiri’ anyway as it was on the same day. To add to the complication, Mama’s phone was out of order, so we had a fair amount of running around to do to establish the situation before we set off. The monastery is set deep in the valley below the village, down a winding track. The actual church is tiny, set against the hill and surrounded by rosebushes and trees. Of course there is nowhere to park near the church, and 85 year old ladies like to be set down right outside so they don’t need to walk, so there was a lot of manoeuvring (and muttering) by Richard to get us in pole position. You have to hand it to these nuns – they leave no opportunity for fundraising untapped! Before we even got into the church, there was one there with a collecting bowl, and after we had done the necessary inside and come out again into the sunshine, another one was doing the rounds. It was certainly a good turnout – tables were set among the rosebushes, and as the crowds arrived, they put containers of food, paper plates and plastic beakers out onto the tables. It seems the nuns only provide the location – the food and drink is BYO. There was plenty of it – breads, cheeses, olives, broad beans, sardines, two kinds of meat, cheese pies and lots of local red wine. There were two kinds of bread – the ‘artos’, which is slightly spiced and which is blessed by the Pappas – and the other kind which goes rather better with cheese and sardines. (Did you know that blessed bread never goes mouldy? I have a piece dating back to 2004, which is as hard as wood now, but it certainly isn’t mouldy!) The religious business concluded, and it was time for the main event. Everyone jostled and pushed their way to the front to be served, and we waited for several minutes in the throng before finding ourselves at the front, confronted by two identical nuns trying to sort out which of them was going to hand out the plate, the paper napkin, the bread and the sardine. (Surely there is a parable somewhere they should swot up on… if Jesus had taken as long as they did, the New Testament would still be in its first draft) Richard and I were fascinated to watch all the old ladies in action. They had all brought huge plastic bags – the size of pillowcases – into which they stuffed quantities of leftover food! I had obviously missed a trick by having brought a small handbag and no plastic bag, but I have to say that one sardine does it for me. Much chewing of the fat (in every respect) ensued as everyone chatted with everyone else, munched their sardines and caught up on the news. However, we were unable to stay for very long, as Mama had animals to feed, and none of us was in the market for a new husband/wife, so we loaded all her booty into the car and made our way home through the olive groves. Sardines, anyone?	In the News EU pledges aid in wake of fires ... More than 600 million euros has been promised for the regeneration of fire-ravaged areas.... Link to Story. Tour operators cancel trips ... Unsurprisingly, visitors have not been too keen to visit ancient Olympia so soon after the fires ... Link to Story. And now the floods... Part of Halkidiki suffered flood damage after heavy rain and hail... Link to Story. Prison rooftop protest.. An uprising at Crete's Alikarnassos jail led to 400 prisoners climbing onto the roof.. Link to story. New hospital for Santorini... Santorini is set to acquire 'one of the most modern hospitals in the region', according to the Health Minister.. Link to story. More than 350,000 euros returned... Some 120 fraudsters have returned money they claimed in emergency fire relief.. . Link to story. Extra lessons 'crucial' for students... Well over half of parents of high school pupils feel the need to send their children to private tuition after school.... Link to story. Knock-on cost of fires... It has been estimated that Greece's development and budget revenue growth may be reduced, and tourism affected, by the August fires... Link to story. Mayor accused of fire... The Mayor of Zakynthos, already under investigation for siphoning money, was charged with attempting to set fire to his financial records department.. Link to story. Voters concerned about rising crime... Security issues were paramount in the voters' minds in the run-up to the election.. Link to story. Arsonist admits to nine fires... A man with a history of mental illness has admitted starting nine fires in the Pelepponese .... Link to story. Killer roof to be repaired.. The roof over the archeological remains at Akrotiri in Santorini is to be repaired, two years after a fatal accident... Link to story. Microchip driving licenses next year... Greek drivers are to have new licenses to comply with EU legislation.. Link to story. New Democracy returned to power... No change after General Election... Link to story Mystery of dead birds...... Hundreds of dead birds have been found at Lake Koroneia near Thessaloniki..... Link to story Pensioners in suicide pact ...... Two pensioners in Athens killed themselves because of health problems.. Link to story Man killed on unlit national road..... A man died while crossing an unlit section of the national road near Chania... Link to story Appalling figures in child health survey..... 28 per cent of children between 4 and 7 in Chania are overweight and 20 per cent actually have high blood pressure... Link to story Tax dodgers beware... The newly re-elected prime minister is to take charge of a new committee set up to deal with corruption and tax evasion... Link to story 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. ________________________ The Cretanvista Review of Carol Palioudaki's 'Cool Guide to Living in Crete' (A gold mine of information) is, like the book, available now. Out Now - Get it at www.livingincrete.net Or visit www.coolpublications.co.uk ________________________
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 magnificent cream and green affair sporting two apartments two balconies and a small pool at the front and containing two holiday apartments. Live in Astratigos maybe? . TWO HOLIDAY VILLAS... .. Another local owner has carried out some superb traditional renovation on a ruined house - and has renovated what was his own accommodation - maybe for your holidays! Book and check availability at:- Holiday-rentals.com In Kolimbari - right on the beach near the tavernas:- The Grand Bay Beach Hotel Visit Interdynamic's website. ______________ 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 Hellenic Seaways commence daily return sailings from Monday 17th April 2006 Souda - Piraeus 21.00Hrs 01.45Hrs Piraeus - Souda 15.45Hrs 20.15Hrs PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU SHOULD ALWAYS CHECK TIMETABLES WITH THE COMPANIES OR THEIR AGENTS. WEBSITE LINKS
Moving to Crete - Practical Advice.. '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 in September:The month saw a number only a small number of earthquakes worthy of note which may be of interest to watchers of earthquake occurrences in Greece:-

01 Sept: 4.1 Richter Scale, 12.48 am. Cyclades.
             Epicentre north east of Athens.
                                                               Link to Story.

23 Sept: 5.6 Richter Scale, 3.56 am. Karpathos.
              Undersea epicentre west of the island.
                                                               Link to Story.


Earthquakes are a common feature of life in Greece and rarely cause damage or injury to people.

Recent comment has centered upon reassuring that whilst another Athens (1999) 'quake is unlikely (Link), a Tsunami caused by a 'quake occurs every 136 years Link to story.

States in the Balkan region are now cooperating in sharing information. Link To Story.

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.

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A Little Extra News....

Greece held a General Election on the 16th of the month and it couldn't come a moment too soon for us! For weeks preceding the event, the evening television programmes had been taken over by political debate - and, like any debate on Greek tv, everyone talks at the same time, making it impossible to understand.

The New Democracy party was re-elected, and the former Prime Minister, Kostas Karamanlis, returned to power. He was elected on a platform of promised changes, but we will have to see what happens.....

It seems that autumn has come early this year, and English friends who postponed their holidays here until after the really hot weather in August, have been a bit disappointed by the weather. However, we always welcome the disappearance of the cicadas during September, because that means we can enjoy hearing the birds again. We have been lucky enough to have a couple of flocks of bee-eaters in and around the village in the last couple of weeks. They announce their arrival with excited "chirring", then swoop over and swirl around, filling the sky with their bright colours and hunting calls.

Because of our annual summer problems of water shortage, we have organised a village petition to the local Mayor, asking her to intervene on our behalf to get us a new water main. Most of the village signed it, but we have the sneaking suspicion they have only done so to humour us, not because they think it will have any effect!

We have been spared the epic pasta-making session this year because our Cookery guru has been having her traditional stone house renovated this summer and has been living in the middle of a pile of rubble. That has ruled out much in the way of cookery lessons, as everything has come served with a large helping of grit and plaster. We have to admire her patience - it can't be easy at 85 years of age to have workmen in your house every day for four months!

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A Little Site News. (No Change this month).

But what to have to date isn't at all bad - judging by the 27000 plus (and rising) monthly unique visitor figures to Cretanvista websites. But taking nothing for granted, we are all hard at work - working on updates and getting out and about - obtaining the new information and photographs we need to keep Cretanvista well to the forefront of websites about Crete. *Two new galleries - our nature gallery and the WWII museum at Askyfou are progressing well. We treasure our visitors...Really!

Cretan Art and crafts - Weaving...
Our updated hand-weaving page is now on-line. This revision includes the first full project - start to finish! A beautiful traditional craft producing beautiful products. And much more to follow. *Weaving is in full swing and dyes are being made up and the photographs taken to add to this section.

Photo Galleries
Bird Galleries: Gallery Page 4 Online...
The first pages of our bird photograph gallery went on line in March 2006. Colin Turvey's Cretan Bird-Life photograph gallery (see February 2006 News) now has a fourth page. We are now working hard on adding page 5 - another 12 of Colin's bird photographs - which will bring the number up to 60 so far. A big plus for Cretanvista. *And we now have more of Colin's 'photos - though he did send some recently (really) - of an Boeing F18 Hornet jet fighter!! A rather different 'Bird'.....

Wild Flowers: Now 216 different wild flowers.
99% of photos have been taken right here at the base of the Rodopos peninsula. We are continually working on these galleries and will, as soon as practicable, be adding further online pages, including detailed reference pages and more photos of each specimen. We will be publishing our book - but all the information will remain on line. *More photographs are now being added.
And More - Athanasios Sakoulis, who contributed the magnificent gallery from his book on Cretan wildlife to our site Moments of Cretan Nature has now contributed 18 pictures of birds for addition to a gallery.

No Change - Still in line.
Anastasios Sakoulis, who contributed the magnificent gallery from his book on Cretan wildlife Moments of Cretan Nature to our site, contributed 18 pictures of birds for addition to a gallery some time ago now. We will attach this to Paul Smith's bird-watching page as soon as possible.

But that isn't all... Anastasios Sakoulis has also given us permission (and supplied the photographs) to produce a gallery of his latest book. A book of 20 superb postcards of Cretan wildlife called Naturally... Crete.

Miniature Chapels of Crete.
A first! Klaus-Dieter Thill - author of Minaturkapellen auf Krista, a real photo album detailing some of those enigmatic roadside shrines of Crete. Klaus has supplied photographs for this gallery which is now on-line here at Cretanvista. There will also be, of course, a review the book - which we have already. Klaus is not keen on that as the book is not publicly available, but we hope to persuade him!

*Klaus's photographs have arrived - we will be publishing these very soon now.

Calendar Photo Galleries:
A new one every year! The 2006 gallery is, of course, on-line (LINK) and the 2007 Calendar gallery is as good as complete. We are already arguing the topic selection for this year's 2008 gallery!

GENERAL: There are now 13 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, author of "Stigmotipa Tis Kritikis Freesis" (Moments of Cretan Nature); our infant gallery about house renovation; and of course our annual calendar galleries containing 60 or so pictures of north western Crete.

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E-Mail Requests..
We receive some brIlyant e-mails - really - and they are very welcome. But sometimes there is no acknowledgement that our answer has been received. We don't mind, but worry occasionally that someone may not have received an answer from us and think the worse of us! We will ALWAYS reply to e-mail so please, if you have mailed us and not received an answer - resend your mail - we didn't get it or have somehow overlooked it. Our response time is usually within 48 hours.

Personal Information..
We have been asked in the past to help locate people. We would love to be able to assist but regret that are unable to do this.

Questions and Answers..
Quite a lot of questions are received here at Cretanvista and, as with e-mails and other forms of communication, we do our best to supply valid answers. We never respond "Off the Top of our Heads" but always research the answer - even if we already have one (things change) before passing the information on. We provide links to appropriate alternative sources where we have them. The answers are given with the proviso that recipients are responsible for any action taken by them.

Guest Book. CLOSED. E-mail links are accepted. Website URL, Bulletin board and chat-room style links are not. Website links are removed automatically to prevent inclusion of sites without agreement.

The Cretan Vista Calendar Photos - Birds.
We trying to build a specialist calendar of birds - whilst we are building our own library photographs - contributions are always welcome. They will always be acknowledged and copyright will remain your own. (Please email us before sending pictures).

Bird Watchers - Paul Smith.

Paul Smith, Who was our resident ornithologist from almost day 1 of the Cretanvista websites, finally lost his battle against cancer on October 2nd 2007. Paul will be very sadly missed.

Our deepest sympathy goes out to his family from all connected with Cretanvista.

Our full obituary will be published in our next news page.

mailto:Webmaster@cretanvista.gr

Best Books..
Check out our easy to use 'Book Shelves' containing all our book reviews. Just point the mouse and left click in the boxes below. Bookshelf 3 is the latest....

BookShelf1

BookShelf2

BookShelf3

We will be updating the appearance of this section fairly soon - particularly the Icons leading directly to the bookshelves (maybe prettier than the ones above!) and perhaps the current 'new book' review box below.

Latest Book Reviews.... Latest - A Comparative Review..

Cretan Cookery - Stella Kalogoraki
&
Greek Cooking - Robin Howe

The 'Bookshelf' links (yellow) above contain all books.

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                      "How many sardines did you pick up?"




Wilf will be in charge again next month, so we will bow out for the time being. Hope you enjoyed having us!

Ann and Richard