Saturday 25th - Last night the power went out with the first drop of rain. Apparently a pole in Lefki was damaged and it left northern Ithaki completely in the dark until midday today.

With todays rain, heavy rain, and black skies which are forecast to see out the weekend, we can pretty much assume that we've reached the end of the Summer Season. The skies will get blue again, but Summer feels over. In Frikes, Penelope restaurant has closed up, Lucky packed up his umbrellas and lounges from Polis Beach and Yefuri in Platrithia has now changed to its off season times, opening only Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, except for Sunday Brunch of course.

Good news for Northern Ithaki families is that the far side of the island has finally been given its own school bus. Children up until recently, had to catch taxis to school. With the baby boomers into school age, the bus comes just in time. The bus route takes in Kioni, Frikes and all the Platrithia villages along the way to Stavros where northern Ithakis primary school is located.

The pics below were taken yesterday. As you can see, the skies were still very blue. Bad weather rolled in late last night with a little drizzle, but by the time morning came, Ithaki was covered in a low, black sky threatening to pour out rain from morning to night and more tomorrow.

Left - Tehnima Jewelry is housed by the oldest building in Kioni. The building dates back hundreds of years. Many go up the steps just to see the stone interiors, and if stopping to get a nice ring or necklace, well then, that's a bonus.

Sunday 26th - More rain expected today after yesterdays' downpours, which had the island looking grey and sometimes dramatic.

Yachters took to the seas in their rain jackets and the streets around the island, were near empty.

No Daytripper boats yesterday in Ithakis ports, the island was deep in winter mode.

Above Left - Aetos Bay. Above Right - Road to Lefki. Right - Stavros. The views are pristine after the rain and the temperatures are still warm and conducive to a swim. Below - Vathy Football ground and Basket ball court.

Monday 27th - Left - With the transport strikes, even Ithakis supermarket shelves are beginning to show the signs. Below - Skies are clearing after a weekend of much rain.

Tuesday 28th - We're very quickly coming to the end of September now. The weather is changeable - sometimes sunny, sometimes cloudy threatening rain, but all around, still very mild. The seas are also still warm. It's actually a great time to swim. Hardly anyone at the beach. Today, thunderstorms are forecast for the area, but our top temp is supposed to be 30C. Left & Below - Grey Afales Landscapes.

Holidayers coming to the island are always looking for the perfect pic heralding their Greek Experience to take back home with. Below is the most photographed face in Frikes.

Left - The corner shop in Ag. Sarantas village in the north of Ithaki. It's not just a corner shop, but a meeting place for the locals and visitors.

Thursday 30th - So here we are at the end of another month. September has been a little up and down in regard to weather, but after a long hot summer, rain isn't a bad thing. The rain has also done alot to clear the atmosphere of all the summer dust and mist that obscures our horizon. Now we have crisp clear views all around. Considering it is the end of September, there are quite a few people of the 'Visitor' kind around and of course, the yachters are still coming in, in droves.

Tomorrow morning at Polis Beach, the annual Marida Festival takes place. Hopefully the weather will be conducive and it doesn't get washed out. By the look of today, that seems unlikely. For a donation to the community you can eat as much as you like and enjoy a great morning along with the rest of us, so get along. Below - Vathy Bay.