Below - Some photographs taken by Tina Geohegan from last Friday's dance performance by our local Ithaki Dance Group which was held at the Garden Theatre at the Vathy High School.
July 2013 - Friday 5th - So let's forget that there aren't as many visitors here so far this year as everyone would be comfortable with, and instead concentrate on what we do have, warm sunny days and a mild sea that is very inviting. Locals have more time to speak with you, show you around and be more relaxed and visitors get to have this amazing island almost to themselves. It's not a bad trade-off. Many more visitors will come as we get closer to August and we'll all soon be wishing for quieter times, so we may as well enjoy them now, while we have them.
Left - A new Motocycle parts shop is opening up in Vathy this week. Moto Stand. Whatever you need for your bike, you'll be able to get it there.
While there is so much holidaying going on around the island, it's hard to conceive that most Ithacans are still at work.
Below - While in Vathy this morning, I had the opportunity to visit the Phillip Tsiaras 'Horse Boy' exihibition, part of the Return to Ithaca week, at the Gallery (once the Gallery Ouzerie). A simple, but poignant exhibition of Tsiaras paintings. Very colourful, large and small paintings. There was no literature as to what he used in his paintings, but there is a small book available of the pieces which the Gallery has on sale for 10 euro.
Saturday 6th - A warm and sunny day yesterday with a pleasant night, and although there were a few clouds in the sky as the day neared it's end, there's more fin weather ahead for today.
Left - Yiannis and Maria from Crete, with their friendly pooch, Bella
Polis Beach was buzzing yesterday, with umbrellas and sun lounges lining the shorefront. Lucky (above) and Taki (below) were ready to serve up the charm.
The position under the fig tree is a shady respite and a place to catch up on some news.
Sunday 7th - What is there to say... it's summer. Days are long and nights are short. In the summer mist, the horizon disappears more and more each day and it feels like we are floating alone around the Ionian.
There is some news around that we may have a double route from Ithaca to Patras starting from the 19th of July, but as there are no timetables yet, it's best to play it safe. Things can, and often do, change when it comes to this year's ferry service.
Peter Razos would like to honour his father who recently passed away in Australia, so I am happy to give him a few lines on ithacagreece.com
I am so proud of my dad. As we shared the last day that we would have with him, one prayer kept coming to my mind. "Thank you. Thank you, God, for giving me such a great father." On that day, I told my dad two things: please wake up, and I love you. I didn't doubt that my dad knew that I loved him. I just wanted more opportunities to tell him so. I wanted him to wake up because I couldn't i...magine what my life would be like without him, when he had been there for me my entire life. There are so many more things coming up in the future that I wanted to share with him. However, during his last hours, I had complete confidence that his passing wasn't due to a lack of strength and determination to stay with us as long as he possibly could. All of his life, family came first. He dedicated his life to us.
When some people lose a family member, you often hear about their wish to have resolved a conflict or to heal from some bitter feelings. This is not the case with my dad. He loved his Wife/Sons/Daughters an Grand Children Even His Grand Daughter Louiza Who Is In Transit. He loved all of his nephews and nieces. He loved his Brothers/Sisters. He Loved His Wife, their marriage was a model to his children that will be hard to live up to. He and Mom did most things together. He relied on her, and she relied on him. There wasn't one problem that they had that they didn't work together to solve, and they did it with a great attitude about life. They both knew what was most important in life, and it was their family.
I Will Honour You Dad Your The Greatest Man I Know
Your Son Peter Who Will Miss U Everyday X
Rest Now Pop Your Work Here Is Done X
Peter Razos
Monday 8th - Very warm days again now and the nights are more pleasant too.
Yesterday, I had the pleasure to be invited to Koutoupi by Spyros and Esther Paxinos, who invited friends and neighbours to their idyllic home at Koutoupi for a big Greek feast. Click Here or on photograph Left.
Tuesday 9th - Some hot days now, more sunshine than we know what to do with. Balmy, warm nights and lots more going on, although the tourist trade is a little down on other years.
Left - Yesterday the Raftopoulos family from Melbourne Australia/Frikes Ithaca, celebrated the baptism of Dion, son of Nick and Amy, who came across from the other side of the world, to celebrate in the Greek Orthodox way. For more photographs CLICK HERE or on photo left. A big thanks to Nick and Amy for giving ithacagreece.com the opportunity to share their special day with all of you.
Above - Libretto Trattoria in Vathy has a very special atmosphere and a menu that will make your mouth water.
Left - Peter from Fiorendino Bar in Frikes, the once upon a time, Metaxa King.
Wednesday 10th - We're zooming through July and still tourists are a little thin on the ground. Everyone is watching their pockets, and the big spending Greeks, who have been keeping Greece's head above water during the tourism times, are also holding back. If it wasn't for the Flotilla's and Day Trippers sailing in, most of us would be twiddling our thumbs.
There are rumours of Madonna coming/has already been etc etc, but I can't see everyone dropping what they're doing and heading on over just because the queen of pop could be here.
Below Left - As you all know, this year is ithacagreece.com's 10th year anniversary, and in celebration of this, I decided to make a book of some of the photographs I have taken. I haven't gone back over the 10 years, because to tell you the truth, the photos were a bit crappy on my other cameras, so I just picked some from the last 3 years, taken with my trusty Nikon D90. I investigated for quite some time how I could release this book for a reasonable price, but without sponsorship, the book is a little pricey as I've had to do it with a 'print on demand' publisher.
'Ithaca' the book, is in hard cover, full colour and excellent quality, with sizes of 12 x 12 inches down to 6 x 6 inches. An ideal coffee table book of Ithaca in all it's seasons. Page through photo left (click on book to page through) and if you'd like to purchase, please click on the Ithaca Book icon above.
If you've been keeping your eye on NEW, you will have noticed that from 22nd of July to 25th August, we get a bigger, faster ferry for the Patras to Ithaca route, which will be servicing the island twice per day, just like in the good days. That's good news. Bad news is that the ferry company that services Lefkada to Frikes, has stopped the ferry from now until September, preferring to service Fiscardo more.
Thursday 11th - The wind was a little cooler last night, bringing the evening temperature down enough for a light jacket and making for a more comfortable sleep.
Left - Love is in the air for Alistair and Pippa from Australia, who were engaged last night in Frikes. Congratulations!!
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to your friends and loved ones.
Nothing can replace a real postcard
but this is a good second place when you
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ithacagreece.com Mobile/Cellphone App
ithacagreece.com now has an app for your
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Mob/Cell Click on Icon Above.
Send an e-Thiaki Postcard
A Collection of ithacagreece.com photographs
made into virtual postcards for you to send
to your friends and loved ones.
Nothing can replace a real postcard
but this is a good second place when you
want the card to arrive before you do.
ithacagreece.com Mobile/Cellphone App
ithacagreece.com now has an app for your
mobile/cell phone. Covering many
platforms. To download through your
Mob/Cell Click on Icon Above.