Above - Low clouds moving in and covering the high end of Exoghi in the early evening , is a strange sight to see when all around the skies are blue.

Right - Yesterday, Thursday May 10, it was St. Nikolaos day, the annual Festival which celebrates this day in the Ag. Nikolaos church at Mavrona. This festival is one of the more quiet festivals around Ithaca, but very traditional and very special. Lots of wine and lamb on the Spit, locals enjoying eachothers company and the spectacular surroundings of the small bay of Mavrona, with fishing boats of many colours, bobbing in the clear aqua waters outside the church yard.

Sun 13 May - Above - Some very strange low clouds yesterday over northern Ithaca. No a cloud in the higher stratosphere, but down where we were, there were lots, loafing around the tops and crevices of the mountains.

Tue 15 May - Above - Perahori, the village close to the heavens on Ithaca. Views toward the island and Patras from this scenic hillside.

Bottom Left - Last night, the Ithaki theatre Group performed 'Cuckoo' for the last time, at the Cultural Center in Vathy. Lots of energy, surprising performances and alot of fun. Massos Deftereos and Maria Kougiannou overcame their bouts

of larengitis, and like real troopers carried on and gave one of their best performances. Alexandros Taflambas, sported the best candy pink suit ever seen on Ithaki and Tomi Dendrinou, excelled as the Spanish vixen. Personally I was surprised by Spiros Bouas and Massos Deftereos performances, having only ever seen them in their professional roles before, hidden behind a stack of paperwork on their desks. Their off-stage humour transfered well onto stage, as did that of Alexandros and Tomi. A special mention also for first timers Margarita and Stavros, who proved a sparkle can explode from a minor role. The audience was also great. They laughed, they cried (not really, but...) and lived Cuckoo with the Theatre Group.

Wed 16 May - Ithaca has been known to have snakes in the grass, but never before in a caravan, let alone in front of the Stavros church. Going troppo earlier than usual.

Thur 17 May - Above and Below left - Avra Taverna in Kioni. Costa from Avra takes a minute to say hello through his busy early dinner shift. With the Flotillas sailing into Kioni because there's too much noise in Frikes, he along with the others open for business, is having a good busy May this year.

Sat 19 May - It's been raining for 2 or so days now and the the views and light have changed quite dramatically on the island. There's still too much noise in Frikes so the streets are pretty quiet there. People seem to be getting in and out pretty quickly. In Kioni the yachts are rolling in, possibly because they can't stand the noise in Frikes, and in Vathy, as always there's traffic in and out of the bay. Some days a lot, other days not so much. In Stavros, it's the tour buses that dominate the streets. Rain or shine, they drive through, not slowing down for anyone no matter how narrow the road gets or how wet and slippery. Mostly around the villages, it was time to mop up after the rain, which flooded restaurant baysides with mud that flowed like a torrent down roads without guttering.

Above Top - Vathy Harbour

Above - Mopping up in Frikes

Right and Below - Dramatic skies moving over Ithaki

Mon 21 May - Rain, wind and storms again yesterday. Ithaca doesn't know what's hit it now that the cold is upon us again. Below - The walls are going up in Frikes. The Gods gift shop, Kikis Mini Market and Panos Gift shop are doing a little more than merely marking their territory, they are blocking out the colour and interest of the street. It's a real shame that the blend of old is obscurred by the Will to be separate. Some think it's a joke, others are seriously disappointed.

Right - Now that summer is approaching, the sunsets at Lefki are becoming more and more stunning. Last night a blood red sky coloured the Ionian after a mostly cloudy and rainy day.