Sun 13 Aug - 'Imagine Ithaca' opened to the public yesterday at The Gallery in Vathy. The Photographic exhibition, presented by Christos Raftopoulos, renowned photographer, gave a little insight into the mood on Ithaki during the winter months. His black and white photographs allow the onlooker to imagine this period on Ithaca for themselves as they move deeper into the shadows and the light of the images Christos Raftopoulos captured with his lens.

The 'Imagine Ithaca' collection will be published in book form in the future as was Christos Raftopoulos' 'The Children of Ulysses' collection of Portraits and Seascapes, on sale at the door each night of this, his latest exhibition. For further information on this collection you can click here.

Artists and lovers of art joined Christos in celebrating another presentation of his works inspired by the island he now makes his home, and presented on the island, of which he is now a participating member of the community.

'Imagine Ithaca' a collection of photographs by Christos Raftopoulos

Above - Helen, Vathy Hairdresser, and her son in Kioni. A little stuck after yesterdays' increasing wind stranded them in Kioni while on a Sunday boating trip around the island. Oh well, back on the road. Anyone heading south?

A record number of people attended this Panighiri in the mountain village of Anoghi. It was windy and frosty, but that didn't matter to a single soul. The dance floor was packed from start to end and at 3am there was still no sign of the crowd dissipating. Lots of young people getting back into the spirit of Panaghias Festival, dancing the night into dawn.

Mon 15 Aug - On a clear day the views down to Aphales and Frikes from the mountain village of Exoghi, in the north of Ithaca, are always spectacular.

Left - The village of Exoghi is quiet and still in the late afternoon. Not even a dog barks to interrupt the serenity. Blue skies to the horizon and a warm sun beats down onto the concrete roads of the village, some of which have been newly laid. The village Cafe, although its' doors are closed, is open for Summer business with beer and soft drinks. A community member will open the doors and serve you a refreshment if you are clever enough to guess the man or woman sitting at the corner outside, shading from the sun, is actually there to attend the customers.

Above - Porto Frikes Ouzerie gets an early night while almost everyone heads to Platrithia for the last big Panighiri of the Summer. Those wanting a quiet night and those merely Panighiried out, got to enjoy the intimate company of the shop keepers around the northern villages, until they too, headed to Platrithia for the Panaghias.

For many of the Northerners, the Panaghias at Platrithia is their favourite Festival. Many elderly in the Platrithia community finally get to enjoy a Panighiri of their own, to which they can get to by foot, and as it is the last big celebration of the season, the turn out is usually large. No one wants to miss this one. The 2 well stocked Bars, one on each side of the Square, are manned for the traditional big booze up that occurs there each year.

Thu 18 Aug - Rehearsals are in full swing for Dimitris Danis and Eder Cardoso presentation of Full Moon Love. Performance on August 19th in Vathys' old School Dormitory behind the High School, just up from the Avin Petrol Station.