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MAY
2nd, Sunday
The
season has started with Tour Groups bringing in their first customers.
They rolled off the ferry on Saturday afternoon and were settled in
to their places of accommodation, oriented in the ways of Ithaki and
helped through their first day. Rain was predicted for most of Greece,
but not on Ithaca, here it's sunny and warm. All the restaurants and
bars are open for business and there's no turning back now. Everyone
is excited and fresh-faced after a cold and very quiet winter.
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Kate
is the new Greek Islands Rep. She came earlier in the season to get
acquainted with the island and the locals before her duties began.
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Dionisis
Antonatos, taxi driver to the world, has a house in Frikes and passion
for the sea, so what better place to spend some time in May away from
the hustle and bustle of Piraeus. He's here enjoying the food and
wine at Ovelistirio. The new hang out in Frikes. |
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Apostolis
Maroulis lives in Canada, but he's here visiting relatives in the
village of Frikes , the place where he was born and has his family
home. HIs passion is hunting and fishing. Maybe he'll get a chance
to do that while he's here. |
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May
7th - From one day to the next the island seemed to fill up with
yachts and tourists. Unfortunately the weather is all over the place.
One day rain, the next day wind and then here and there a sunny
break. Contrary to what some visitors believe, Ithacan restaurateurs
actually have no say in what the weather will be. If they did, they'd
wish for sunny warm days every day. |
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Above
we have another group from WFT, these are the Corinthians. L-R John
(sorry I didn't get him in the picture, but he does get a mention.
General hand and sighted guide) Tony - visually impaired, but has
his own yacht and sails regularly, Sally is in the pink (1st mate),
Sue Dud, she's on her third yachting holiday and although bad weather
is a bit scary, loves the adventure and last, but not least, Peter,
he's the Skipper and although he looked a bit scary,he was found
to be a pussy cat. Happy
Sailing guys, it was a pleasure to meet you!!!!!. Monday
17th May - no
one can believe it's raining again and that the winds are still
blowing after all these weeks. Everyone who's come here to enjoy
the usual Greek late Spring weather is naturally disappointed. It's
too cold to sit along the bay and only the brave and the English
dare to get in the water. The island is slowly filling up with new
faces and all we need is the weather to turn up for the party. |
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WFT
Holidays sailed into Frikes yesterday, bringing with it the liveliest
group of yachties. Above we see the seemingly quiet lot from Big
Dipper, but don't be fooled these visually impaired people with
their sighted guides skipper and crew have an endless stream of
wit spouting from them. L-R Alan Hart (Skipper), Mike Hurst (sighted
guide) who is desperate to live in Australia. For marriage proposals
email jodiandeli@aol.com, MC Emar (ready for adventure and LOVE),
MC is a big flirt and has his own site starting in 3 weeks
live for the visually impaired.
, Adelle Tolladay (1st Mate) and Ann Yates, who apparently has
the biggest room on the yacht and an aversion to saying the word
sex. The Big Dippers have made it their task to get it
out of her before the trip is over in 2 weeks.
Welcome
to Rien, who's left his job and life in the Netherlands to settle
down on Ithaca.
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Monday
10th May -
Above Amanda is on Ithaca
with her husband and family introducing her children to the Greek
culture, something that is of great importance to her. Amanda is
a Greek / South African living in San Francisco and looking deliriously
happy about being on Ithaki, her ancestral home. Both her husband
and herself have their roots in Stavros. Ithaca website caught up
with her in Vathy having coffee with her cousin Brandon in the morning
hours and as you can see, although it's May, Ithaca is still wearing
it's winter wardrobe. Thankfully the day heated up as the strong
winds eased and the afternoon sun hit the concrete. |
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Nina
is here from Melbourne getting in touch with her roots on the island.
She's been on the road for the past 8 months traveling around Asia
and Europe and she still has more places to investigate before she
heads back home. Nina says she's hooked on Ithaca and wants to come
back next year with her sister. She's had a great time talking to
old locals who can tell her a bit about her ancestry on the island.
Next year she'll stay longer than the short week she has available
this time around.
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Wednesday
19th May
- In
Kioni the cruise ferries and buses are picking up speed as the weather
becomes milder |
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Something
to eat, a quick look around and it's back into the bus to the
next island destination.
The
weather's fining up. The past few days of sunshine have brought
everyone out and about again.
Welcome
to the President of Greece Mr. Costantinos Stefanopoulos to Frikes
The
Penelope family in Frikes, were proud to prepare a nd serve the
President and his many guests, a feast made with honour and love,
not to mention anxiety and sweat and a lot of hard work.
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Penelope
Restaurant ready and waiting. |
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Click
on Photo above for more pics
Thursday
20th May - The President of Greece, also the Minister for Democracy,
Mr. Costaninos Stefanopoulos comes to Frikes for dinner with a party
of 92 guests at Penelope Restaurant. All of Northern Ithaca congregated
in the small Port village to get a good look at the President, who
took time to meet the locals so anxious to shake his hand. In Greece
a politician in the hand is worth 20 super stars of stage and screen
in the bush. Everyone has been cleaning, cleaning, cleaning in preparation
for his arrival. The streets have never looked so good. The who's
who of Ithaca dressed to the 9's (11's some of them) and enjoyed
a special occasion, one which will be talked about into the next
generation. Kalos Hrthate.
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Frikes
has never seen the likes of such Security and Police presence. Sniffer
dogs took to the streets and every uniform known to man, Navy, Army,
Air force, Honoraries with badges on their lapels, surveyed, purveyed
and paraded the buzzing street of the village. |
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Above
- Patrick and Helen from Cornwall in the UK They both work
in the Police force and are enjoying the peace and quiet Ithaca
offers them. They've become regulars at Rementzo in Frikes where
they order up big on the fresh fish. Below - Michael and Jo Stubbs
from Burnham on Crouch Essex
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Edward
and Kate from London follow their yearly ritual of eating lunch
at Symposium. Each year they stay in Kioni and motor boat their
way to Frikes to enjoy a midday feast. They must really like Ithaca.
It's their 7th visit to the island. Bon Appetit.
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Wow!
What a day. Presidents and Bikers come to Frikes. The roar of their
engines could be heard descending the road from Stavros.
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| May
22nd - Right - Shelley and Trilby from London. Shelley
came to Ithaca 11 years ago and loved it so much that when the opportunity
arose to come again with her partner Trilby, she jumped at it. Both
Actors of British Screen and Theatre, they brought a little laughter
and colour to the island. If you think their faces are familiar then
this is the reason why. Shelley has acted in Bombay Dreams, Angel,
Tandoori Nights nd the popular Brit TV series The Bill and Casualty
as has Trilby, who also toured with the English Shakespear Company
and now teaches and Directs in a London School |
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Actors
shelley and Trilby
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| ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
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