CV NewsNovember 2003

Cretanvista Site & Local News - NOVEMBER 30th 2003 Issue 11
No links to sites with adult content accepted	NOVEMBER WEATHER WAS... November: the good weather finally broke. whilst still producing some very warm sunny days in the latter part, the rain which I said last month seemed close enough to touch - became close enough to touch early in the month! Some very stormy days (and nights) accompanied by superb thunder and lightning.. Thunder and Lightning Lightning at Astratigos Copyright Burgess 2003 Above: November 3rd 2003. Around 8pm - a storm accompanied by superb lightning prompted an attempt to photograph some on the balcony at Cretanvista. Pure fluke and a Minolta 7i set to auto gave us a very shaky second picture almost immediately! (Point curser at picture) The second picture shows severe camera shake as the photographer flinched in the face of a huge sheet of lightning which re-created daylight. The lines are caused by camera movement - not lightning - the daylight at 8pm is the lightning! Click here to enlarge picture. "I once owned a plaque:"(last month same column) In this column last month I pointed out that Cretanvista is a free site, not a business. We pay for our web hosting but do not generate (or seek) income. It is meant to be informative, but it is a bit difficult to collect information, take photographs, be intuitive and have sparklingly interesting content, for example, whilst at the same time washing the dirty dishes! I went on to say that We had two offers of free assistance.... I was wrong! We have three - well, nearly... Gregory Dudu, who tells us that he is a Zimbabwean National and Chief Security Officer to President Charles Taylor and is presently on asylum in Nigeria, wants to give us 30% 0f $17 million in US dollars and diamonds (packed in a box) just for helping him liberate these funds, which the president doesn't know he has...! Greg, he does now...he really does! And in any case, as you would know if you read our news page properly, we don't accept gratuities in any form. Which I think maybe why we don't have any - 'form' that is! Be aware. Reply with the information he seeks and your bankroll will become part of his. Or you will possess an illegal $2,890,000 - in a box!! But...Back to Reality... Offers of help. Well, I let some already present 'Helpers' down badly by saying we had two offers of help - even though it was accurate for that month. Paul Smith has been running the ever-popular bird watching page since August 2001 - almost as long as the site has been up. Superb highlights from his diary, monthly without fail. Visiting bird-watchers have also contributed news and photographs have all helped considerably to raise the site content and quality - we will be summarising these in our next (Christmas/New year) edition of CV News and naming names.. Of the two offers referred to above - We have now accepted an offer from David Smith of Lincoln, UK, to provide us with regular book reviews - starting in the New Year. Hopefully one per month. More details and name of the first review in the next edition, and I have personally two reviews outstanding. We intend accepting the offer from German friends with a house here on Crete to convert the site language and add German after Christmas.... To say nothing of Eric Rowe, who has been assisting and will be continuing to assist with the flower galleries - we only have a one right now but there are literally hundreds of pictures we need yet to show Eric for identification. To say nothing (!) (this time) of personal visitors to Pamela's House - the home of Cretanvista - from the UK and as far away as America. Eg. This month's picture (opposite rt) was sent by Leigh Jones from the UK - who hoped to become the first person 1. To get me in the picture and 2. To get me to publish it... Not that easy Leigh.. (not even for tea bags!) BUT there is a way. There are five definite blanks in the photo. I will reveal the contents of 1 blank for every donation (£1 or more) made directly to Gt Ormond St Hospital for Sick Children in London, which acknowledges Cretanvista and for which donators can quote by e-mail to me their GOSH donation number. Leigh will probably appreciate help! Photo Galleries En-Route... 1. Gathering olives and makes oil with Kolimbari Co-op.. 2. A little countryside wildlife.... 3. Barrel making with the Cooper of Kastelli! 4. Cheese making the traditional way - real milk! 5. Another real mountain Village - Anogia. The picture strip: Last months picture strip contained 4 enlargeable shots from a recent visit to Anogia. wool; weaving; Nikos Xylouris; the small Grillios museum; the unsurpassed mountain scenery of Mount Psiloritis;... This month I couldn't resist showing the full panorama of one of those shots - here it is!	In the News - Cretan Bank Robbers! Cretans have a strong reputation not only for hospitality towards strangers, but also for fierce independence, fighting spirit. Romans; Venetians; Turks; World Wars; Civil Wars; Military juntas... Any and every challenge has been well met. So what happens when one or two of these fiercely independent people decide to rob a bank owned and serving their own compatriots?... Link to Story: All's well that ends well?... But it must have been frightening at the time for many of those involved, the ultra modern Minoan Lines ferry Knossos Palace, carrying more than 100 passengers from Piraeus (Athens)to Iraklion, Crete had to commence emergency drill (life Jackets and muster stations) because of fire at 3.40 am. A lorry in the ships garage, loaded with 30 tons of flammable chemicals is reported to have caught fire whilst the ferry was approximately 40 nautical miles northwest of Crete. Although the fire was dealt with and other ferries and coast guard vessels reached the scene quickly, rescue helicopters alerted, the real difficulty occurred when the vessel docked in Iraklion. The fire had damaged the loading and boarding ramps and no other equipment was immediately available to disembark the passengers.... Link to Story. But then again..... Olympic Airways to the rescue from the nearby international airport - we watched the TV coverage in amazed admiration as two mobile aircraft-boarding stairways arrived and butted up to emergency exits on the side of the ship, enabling crew and rescue workers to help evacuate the passengers. The fire services were also getting passengers off a few at a time via their hydraulic ladders.... On the other hand.... There were many obviously distressed passengers in tears and some, equally obviously, very angry people. Note: We traveled Minoan Lines Ikarus Palace to Venice last year - our muster station was the main bar. There were no emergency drills... Luck of the draw! ____________________
Accommodation in Astratigos FOR RENT.... After the holiday season, the first house on the left as you enter Astratigos from Afrata - a magnificent cream and green affair sporting two balconies and a small pool at the front and containing two holiday apartments - is now for rent. Winter in Astratigos maybe? Tel: + 28240 222243. You can see inside at: www.villa-Astratigos.co.uk Maybe More shortly.. Another local owner has carried out some superb traditional renovation on a ruined house - and is currently renovating what was his own accommodation - maybe for your holidays! The New hotel in Kolimbari is open... If you want information visit:- The Grand Bay Beach Hotel At Interdynamic's website.
FERRY SERVICES Both ANEK and Blue Star Ferries have car ferry services between Souda Bay and Piraeus. Although an obvious competitor to the resident Anek Lines the Blue Star service times do not conflict from Souda. Anek currently leaves at 9.00pm whilst Blue Star leave at 11.30pm. WEBSITE LINKS
ROAD SAFETY REPEAT Following a series of fatal accidents involving heavy goods vehicles and passenger coaches in Greece earlier this year the Traffic Police are unlikely to overlook traffic violations of any kind. In some areas they test erring drivers not only for alcohol but also drugs. 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.		MORE FUN & SERIOUS PLEASURE PLEASE! I offer no apologies for keeping the next paragraph - which seems to have taken root on the news page!..... To our visitors who have taken the time to tell us that they have found our site enjoyable/ informative/ helpful/ or otherwise complimented the site - very many thanks. We are trying very hard and it's really good to know that you like it". Besides, my wife notes that many of you are ladies! Please don't stop!! ___________________ Here's another Guest Book comment.......... Remote User:04 SEP 2001 Time:12:52:01 comments: Compliments for this good cretan-site!... I found what I was looking for. Thanks! Jan Martens (the Netherlands). "I found what I was looking for. Thanks !" .....? *Yes, but Jan..... What were you looking for?.... Jan? JAN!.. He's gone! (Sorry!- But I really enjoyed it...WB ____________________
Kid-safe. Free. Unbiased. Innovating. Informational.. Cretanvista! Mirror Sites at:- www.cretanvista.co.uk www.cretanvista.com www.cretanvista.info COPYRIGHT All material on the site is strictly copyright. Any use in mass distribution - in print or on websites for example, needs our consent. All the material on the site is original and represents considerable time; effort and no little expense.		Return visitors to Astratigos......... Leigh and Viv Jones, visiting from the UK (pictured here last month), sent us a couple of photo's which included my goodself - (will the real Wilf Burgess please stand up!) perhaps in retaliation for my not providing the usual level of hospitality. So, white flag aloft, here we are ladies and gentlemen (Lt to Rt) Wilf, Pam & Viv Jones! £5 or so to Gt Ormond St Hospital for Sick Children via www.gosh.org fills in the blanks!

Earthquakes.... Wobbles continue...and continue...
Since the 4.8 Richter Scale undersea earthquake off Kythira on 17th September there have been ten further earthquakes affecting Greece, one off Agia Nikolaos on Crete, worthy of note. None of these 'quakes caused damage or injuries and could be described as part of normal life in this region - not something to be concerned about under normal circumstances.

29 OCT: 4.7 R. Nea Mesimvria, Near Thessaloniki.*
31 OCT: 4.3 R. Agios Nikolaos, Crete.Felt Iraklion.
31 OCT: 4.6 R. Antirio. Gulf of Patra. Stongly felt.
02 NOV: 4.3 R. Great Prespa Lake, NW Greece.
16 NOV: 5.3 R. Undersea between Cephalonia & Lefkas.
24 NOV: 3.7 R. Tymbaki Coast, Southern Crete.
24 NOV: 3.8 R. Tymbaki Coast, Southern Crete.
24 NOV: 4.0 R. Tymbaki Coast, Southern Crete.
24 NOV: 5.2 R. Tymbaki Coast, Southern Crete.
25 NOV: 4.5 R. Undersea Tymbaki Coast, Southern** Crete.

The first three Tymbaki 'quakes appear to be precursors of the 5.2 R shock of November 24th and the final shock of 4.5 R the aftershock. Again there are no reports of damage or injuries to property or people.

* Link - Expand Nea Mesimvria Report.
**Link - Expand Tymbaki Report.

None of these earthquakes caused damage or injuries and the rising magnitude should not be taken as an indication of increasing activity. There is constant activity in Greece and it's islands. Although at least one professor believes that there will be at least 4 major quakes in the future. Link.

A look at our earthquake page will show that there have been no serious quakes for some time - the last notable (not serious) on Crete occurring in May and June last year. No serious damage was reported. Our own page - earthquakes - will be updated shortly to include all recent 'quakes in Greece.
________________________________

Holidays in Greece sometimes go badly wrong ...
Last month we again highlighted some recent press releases here about holidaying in Greece that are hard to understand and explain. This year some of these stories have hardly been to the advantage or the reputation of Greece. But there is another side...

Chania, Crete.
Three months or so ago a friend who had recently retired to Crete after several years preparation developed acute and worsening abdominal pain. On a very dark and stormy Saturday night he agreed to let us take him the 25Km to the new Chania General Hospital. (The old hospital referred to in a story last month closed a couple of years ago). We arrived around 10pm, explained the situation to the reception office at the gate and were directed (in English) directly to the emergency Department. In a busy department late in the evening he was examined almost immediately and over the next two hours, when no cause could be diagnosed, screened with a full battery of clinical tests and x-rays. He was finally released at just after midnight - complete with his x-rays and test results, after paying the grand total of 43 Euros! The staff were efficient, pleasant and communicative. He has his medical history right with him if he ever needs it! He had to pay cash - Less than £30...

Samos, Greece...
The following is an extract from an e-mail from another friend at the end of August, in which he tells of the treatment his wife recieved after injuring her wrist whilst on holiday in Samos:-

"We were in Samos in May/June where we had a restful preparation for the wedding, although Valerie fell and broke her wrist - before the evening's ouzo!

The Greek NHS was first-class. In, x-rays, doctor and plastered (the wrist), more x-rays to check it had been set correctly, and out in 40 minutes! No charge as it was the weekend with no admin staff around. It took longer on the Wednesday before we flew home to have the plaster cut to ease the pressure. This time we did have to pay because I had forgotten to take the E.111 for the first time in twenty years.

3 euros to see the doctor and 3 euros 26 lepta for the x-rays. Our English Hospital was of course cheaper, but not so efficient. Another reason to contemplate following your example?"

Well, that's about it for now.....
On time again - just! Although we did have to pick up a few missed earthquake reports again from the end of October. But then, what's in a day? Or two?..... In Crete, as in the rest of Greece, a very common response to questions about involving action and time is 'Avrio....' (Tomorrow), but when the screws are really turned and the pressure is really on this is sometimes adjusted to 'Methavrio' (the day after tomorrow!). Really takes the heat off..!!

But don't get the wrong impression - Crete, and Greece in General is a hive of activity - people just start work earlier and then pretend to slack when it really is too hot to work...

E-Mail Requests..
I receive some brilliant 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. There is fuller comment in previous issues of CV News.

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. E-mail links are accepted. Website links are removed automatically to prevent inclusion of sites without agreement.

Book Reviews.
Because each book review is original - we steal nothing from the book covers or the reviews of others - it takes a little longer to deal with each. No point our reviewing the reviews when what readers really want to know about is the content! 'Books and good reading'.

View Cretanvista Calendar Photos 2003
(2004 Calendar Photos en- route)

Bird Watchers.
Paul Smiths' bird watching diary page remains very popular and hopefully Paul is well into his October diary. We are sincerely indebted to visitors who have supplied photographs. Currently we are displaying these in CVNews, (no room this month). Hopefully we will receive enough to start a gallery of Cretan sightings.
mailto:Webmaster@cretanvista.gr

Book Reviews - 2 current - *new book received...
The last recent review - 'Moments of Cretan Nature' by Anastasios Sakoulis, (ISBN: 960-91979-0-6) "Stigmotipa Tis Kritikis Freesis" in Greek - is a super book with some magnificent photographs. Our review is accompanied by a small photo gallery - our first review to do so. Our site pictures (from the book) are, we think, nice! The printed pictures in the book are in almost all cases very much bigger, nicer!

Books and Good Reading - Moments in Cretan Nature

Reviews in Preparation...
'Eleni' by Nicolas Gage. Published by Harvill - (ISBN 1 86046 346 0) first published 1983. Reprinted.

This is his true story of a son seeking to avenge his mothers murder by ELAS Guerillas during the Greek civil war. Real. Compelling. Harrowing in the extreme. Revealing the Greek psych as nothing I have ever read. But, unless you have no feelings, it could haunt you forever...... 'Eleni' (in preparation).

Books Received..
A gift from American visitors. 'LAND OF CRETE' 360^o
Panoramic Photographs. Meis Studio^©ISBN 960-86736-0-7. Absolutely Beautiful. Hope I can get permission to include a photograph. Thank you Jim & Karen.

Can this be you.....or yours?
Every so often when I am out and about taking photographs I come across someone who could be you - or something which could be yours (or theirs!!). Maybe passing in the opposite direction on a full tandem bicycle (yes, that happened); an unattended car with foreign plates; something which catches my eye and leaves me not knowing......... Either there was no one to ask or they were moving too quickly! I thought that perhaps site visitors might like to see or be able to help identify one or two 'unknowns' which have left me wondering who, or what I have missed.   Can this be yours?



                       Chania City Centre, Crete
         Dual purpose multi-role all weather Bicycle?

Until next month, best wishes from here on Crete. WB