April2018

April 2018, Issue No. 55

the CHANIA POST

www.cretepost.gr

Saharan dust registers highest levels in a decade

The Athens Ob-

servatory said that one of the largest ever transfers of desert sand to Greece from the Sahara in North Africa took place a few days ago.

According to satellite images, dust levels in the atmosphere were especially high in the southern part of the country.

The African dust covered the entire country and concentrations were the highest in the last 10 years, according to the observatory’s meteorological service.

PM10 levels exceeded 500 micrograms per cubic meter and blocked the sun’s rays, limiting the amount of solar radiation reaching the ground.

According to the observatory, the desert dust directly impacts the climate due to its interaction with solar radiation but also indirectly due to its interaction with the clouds.

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Offering a selection of local interest articles, interviews, news and views from around the region of Chania and Western Crete

With a local services section, a range of advertisers and pages of free classfieds, Chania Post is an essential resource for anyone living in or just visiting this area

Robust Revenue for Fraport in 2017 Driven by Greek Airports

Fraport Group announced

In the meantime, accordstrong revenue for 2017 ing to local media reports, up by almost 13.5 percent Fraport Greece is aiming to to 2.93 billion euros driven complete the overhaul budby significant traffic growth geted at 357 million euros at its airports with those of half of its Greek airports in Greece boosting profit in 2019, with plans to open by 234.9 million euros, the four of the airports under its company said in its year- management in 2020 and the remaining three in 2021. end financial results.

Briton found guilty for the murder of Tyrell Matthews Burton, back in 2013!

Everything changed in the case of murder of Tyrell Matthews-Burton, back in 2013!

The Court of Appeal in Heraklion found a 24-year-old Briton guilty for the murder of Tyrell, on Wednesday, Martch 21.

The jury decided for 15 years prison sentence by majority 5 to 2.

The accused young Briton was absent and an international arrest warrant will be issued.

Tyrell Matthews-Burton from Leyton was attacked outside a bar in the holiday resort of Malia during the fight involving up to 30 British tourists.

Crete in top five of TripAdvisor’s best world destinations

Blu Express schedules seven new routes to Greece in 2018 incl. Heraklion airport

Italian

carrier Blu Express launches seven new connections to Greece aboard a Boeing 737 aircraft, three of which were announced recently as follows: • Milan (Malpensa) – Heraklion From June 2 to September 16, 2018, once a week

Crete has come in fifth place among the world’s top destinations for 2018 in the Travelers’ Choice Awards of travel website TripAdvisor, hailed for “its rich archaeological and mythological history that’s reflected in its ancient ruins and cultural attractions.”

The Greek island also ranked in fourth place among the best destinations in Europe for 2018, with TripAdvisor users naming its top five highlights as the cities of Hania, Rethymno and Iraklio, the family friendly port of Hersonissos and the seaside town of Aghios Nikolaos.

In the global destination ranking, which measured the popularity of 402 destinations on 42 international lists, Crete came after Paris, London, Rome and Bali. It was followed by Barcelona, Prague, Marrakesh, Istanbul and New York.

CNN’s Best of Greece: Beautiful places and tastiest foods Many destinations rely on a couple of well-worn beauty spots to carry their images as a vacation hotspot.

When it comes to Greece, those picture-postcard scenes of blue skies, bluer seas and whitewashed villages are everywhere.

The sun-kissed Mediterranean country has enough perfect locations to last anyone a lifetime of vacations. And there’s seldom a better time to celebrate them on the week of Greece’s national day, March 25.

Here are 36 beautiful -- and delicious -- reasons to travel to Greece: 1. Naxos Portara

2. Karpathos 3. Ios 4. Fresh seafood 5. Pidima tis Grias 6. Sarakiniko 7. Santorini volcano walk 8. Skopelos 9. Pyrgos, the marble village 10. The Palace of Knossos, Crete 11. Ouzo 12. The golden wreath of Vergina 13. Paros 14. Nafplion Bourdji castle or Nafplion Palamidi castle 15. Pottery 16. Acropolis 17. Rhodes - Lindos 18. Changing the guard 19. Mycenae

PUBLIC BUS SERVICES - KTEL

20. Delphi 21. Chania 22. Meteora 23. Corfu town 24. Mykonos little Venice 25. Monemvasia 26. Melissani lake 27. Thessaloniki 28. Shipwreck beach 29. Mystras 30. Samaria gorge 31. Agios Dimitrios 32. St Barbara Park 33. Zagoria 34. Street art 35. Traditional diples 36. Litochoro, the gateway to Mt Olympus

is the Best Affordable and Safe Way to Travel to Chania, Rethymno, Heraklion and to all villages of Southwestern Crete

CNN.com

Photo of the Month by Stratos Solanakis

CHANIA POST

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Top tips for choosing home insurance in Greece

by John Paterakis - InsuranceLine

With

PLATANIAS Central Square Infokiosk, Botanical Park, Italian Factory Outlet and selected shops in Platanias

KISSAMOS Gramvousa and Balos boats, Elafonissi, Falassarna

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news & articles

so many different types of home insurance policies available, it can be daunting choosing the right cover for your home.

At a basic level buildings insurance covers the cost of replacing the bricks and concrete and rebuilding your home, but most people also choose to cover their contents too.

1) Buying a property abroad and in this case in Greece can be a worthwhile and enjoyable experience Wherever it is a permanent residence or holiday house, you need to consider protecting your investment.

Your property is exposed to many dangers, caused not only by natural but also by human causes. Fires, explosions, earthquakes, floods, burglaries, are all elements that can threaten at any time the property that you acquired with so much effort. We suggest always buying the cover of earthquake.

CHANIA Municipal Market, Airport, Public Bus Central Station, Old Harbour, Municipal Tourist Information Desk

KANDANOS-SELINO Paleochora Info Desk, Sougia, Kandanos SFAKIA Hora Sfakion Infokiosk, Loutro, Agia Roumeli, ANENDYK boats APOKORONAS Georgioupolis, Kavros, Vamos, Kalyves, Vrysses

building society will insist that you take out buildings cover (and prove to them you have covered the accurate re-build cost) but you are free to shop around and choose who you actually insure with.

You may be surprised at what can be covered by home insurance, so don’t be afraid to ask.

Here are just a few things that you may not have considered: * Garden features and outbuildings – worth thinking about increasing your insur3) Estimates – the key to the ance regarding swimming right policy pool, barbeque, garage and Always ensure that you have other similar things accurate estimates for both * Legal cover – offering legal the re-build cost of your home advice on a wide range of isand the replacement cost of all sues, from identity theft to the contents you had in mind consumer disputes when taking out the policy in * Water leaks – many policies the first place. This is the only will cover these because they way of seeing which policies know that acting quickly will are sufficient for your needs. prevent bigger problems/fur2) Beware of the upselling ther costs in the future mortgage broker!

4) Keep an eye on annual inMany banks and building so- creases 6) True value cieties encourage borrowers Most home insurance policies Underestimating the true valto take out home insurance will increase year on year on ue of your home’s contents is a that is tied in with their mort- the basis that re-build costs common mistake. gage but you may find you are also increasing, but be Overlooking a few of those are paying more than if you wary and always keep an eye recent purchases could mean researched the market and in- on these increases. If in doubt, that some items may not be sured through a broker. ask your insurer or provider for covered under your current It is always worth looking for more details. policy, or you could be paying the policy that suits you best too little or worse - too much! and provides the best value. 5) Don’t be afraid to ask for An up to date valuation of your Remember – your bank or cover possessions now could save

...and also in more than 100 points throughout Chania Prefecture!

disappointment in the future, so take note of what you have in your house that is of value and discuss it with your home insurance provider to ensure you have everything covered.

Taking photos of your possessions, particularly in the room in which they are placed, is also highly recommended as this will help support any claims you may make, if you lose them or they become damaged, and as well as this it is always worth keeping the receipts of household items to provide proof of purchase, the date of purchase and the price you paid. It is likely your insurers will ask for a receipt in the event of a claim.

Finally, don’t keep high value items in a shed, garage or separate outbuilding as it’s unlikely they will be covered under your main household contents policy.

For small personal possessions it pays to invest in a safe that can be secured down and hidden away in a cupboard.

Air Europa partnership extended. Over 130 long haul connections now on sale on Ryanair.com Ryanair, Spain’s No.1 airline, today (22 March) announced the extension of its flight partnership with Air Europa.

From now on, Ryanair’s 130m customers can browse and book Air Europa connecting flights from 15 European cities to Madrid and onward to 16 countries in North, Central and South America, including Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Mexico and the United States – all on the Ryanair.com website.

This extension to the successful Air Europa partnership is the latest initiative delivered under Ryanair’s “Always Getting Better” customer experience programme.

The next phase of this Air Europa partnership will be launched later this year and will allow Ryanair customers to connect onto Air Europa long haul flights through Madrid. Ryanair is continuing its discussions with a number of other long haul airlines on potential feed and connecting flight partnerships.

Ryanair CMO Kenny Jacobs said: “Ryanair is pleased to extend our partnership with Air Europa. Millions of customers can now book Air Europa flights from over 15 European cities to Madrid, and onwards to more than 20 long-haul destinations across the Americas.

This connecting flights service on www.ryanair.com, operated by Air Europa, is the latest initiative under our ‘Always Getting Better Programme’

and is an extension of the successful partnership with Air Europa which we launched last year, and which we hope will continue for many years”.

Globalia Group CEO Javier Hidalgo said: “We are satisfied with the partnership’s successful development which has placed Air Europa at the forefront and has significantly strengthened its competitiveness in the sector. We continue to renew our

fleet. Both long-haul, with the incorporation for more news click on http://cre tepost.gr of the new Boeing 7879, the most efficient plane in existence today; and middle and short haul with the progressive arrival of three new Boeing 737-800 this year. Air Europa has one of the most modern and young fleets in the world and has made them available to all the Irish airline’s clients, offering them the best value for money in flights.”

She was on Crete! Key person in murdered Maltese journalist case surrenders to police in Athens Russian national Maria Efi- spectively, and arrested her. two ridiculous charges of whistleblower Maria Efimova She was led before a prosecutor in Athens and ordered detained.

She is held at Korydallos prison, until an extradition request is examined.

Efimova is considered a key witness in investigations into widespread corruption in Malta carried out by journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, who was assassinated in October 2017, and the Russian whistleblower has since expressed fears for her own life.

“The arrest warrant against Maria Efimova is based on

Maltese authorities, that she made improper use of some tickets for her family and that she slandered a Maltese policeman,” Syriza Eurodeputy Stelios Kouloglou said in a statement, warning that an extradition to the island state would seriously endanger her life.

“Greek justice, which is investigating the case following her surrender to police, must seriously take into account the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, to whom the public-interest

had given revealing information about financial scandals,” Kouloglou added.

According to the Guardian newspaper, Efimova claimed that a private bank where she worked had been used for money laundering by local politicians and the family of Azerbaijan’s president.

Kouloglou told the newspaper that she had called him from the police station and had turned herself in out of fear for her life. She and her family have been living on Crete since 2017.

news & articles

mova, 36, a former bank employee named in international arrest warrants and mentioned as a witness in a journalist’s murder case in Malta, was arrested after turning herself in at a police station in Athens.

Efimova turned herself in at the Syntagma Square police station, and told police “there must be something against me”.

Police found two international warrants issued by Malta and Cyprus over charges of embezzlement and fraud, re-

Greece awarded as ‘top destination with best beaches’ at Moscow International Tourism Fair Greece was awarded as top of Russia’s major travel agen- formance of Greek tourism, tinations and thematic tourism cies who briefed her on their the steady rise in the arrivals of programmes for 2018 and Russian tourists, the dynamic 2019. emergence of new Greek desIn the context of the exhibition, Kountoura gave a press conference to Russian and international media on Greece’s national tourism and promotion strategy, which is focused on turning the country into a world-renowned tourist destination throughout the year.

She referred to the high per-

packages offered by Greece, as well as bilateral cooperation in the context of the 2017-2018 Greek-Russian Tourism Year.

Kountoura inaugurated the Greek National Tourism Organisation pavillion in the exhibition and talked with all co-exhibitors, representatives of regions and specific locations in Greece, participating institutions and tourism companies.

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destination with the best beaches in Europe by the Moscow International Tourism Fair (MITT) in Russia.

Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura, head of the Greek mission, participated in the official opening ceremony of MITT and received the award from the organisers.

Kountoura had successive meetings with representatives

The Yesterdays of Crete (part 7)

The Second World War / The Battle of Crete

by Hobson Tarrant gangs made it their business to In 1939, the United Kingdom

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guaranteed military aid to Greece if its territorial integrity was ever threatened.

The reason for this and the priority of the United Kingdom was to prevent Crete from falling into enemy hands because the island was strategically vital for the defence of Egypt. This defence was essential as with it came the control of the Suez Canal which was a waterway that offered the shortest route by sea from the North Atlantic ck on li c r s .g to the Indian Ocean via re new epost for mo ttp://cret h Mediterranean and Red Seas. The close link between the allied nation of India and Western forces was critical in the UK’s plans of war against its suspected enemies.

In anticipation of trouble Britain sent troops to the island with the consent of the Greek Government from 3rd of November 1940. This was primarily to protect the island but also had the effect of releasing the 5th Greek Division of Crete from its defence duties, which allowed for it to be transferred in readiness for problems on the Albanian front, should they occur.

But then on the 6th of April 1941, the Axis powers started to invade mainland Greece and simply swept aside all resistance within a few weeks, despite the intervention of numerous Commonwealth armies that fought side by side with the Greek forces.

As a result the Greek King George II and his government of Emmanouil Tsouderos were forced to flee from Athens to take up refuge on Crete from the 23rd of April.

Crete also became the main fallback point for any Commonwealth troops that fled from the beaches of Attica and the Peloponnese. These troops were then to be restructured in order to organize a new front of resistance that could be called upon as required.

After the mainland of Greece had fallen, Germany turned its attention to Crete in the last stage of what was known as the Balkans campaign.

On the morning of 20th of May 1941, Crete was attacked by the first major airborne assault in history. The Third Reich had launched an airborne invasion under the code name of “Operation Mercury”.

Adolf Hitler had sent 17,000 of his prized new force of paratroopers under the command of General Kurt Student. The plan was that they be dropped at three strategic locations that already had existing airfield’s, these were Maleme, Heraklion, and Rethymno.

Their goal was to swiftly capture and control the three airfields so as to allow reinforcements to be rapidly airlifted in by the Luftwaffe from mainland Greece. This approach had been designed in preference to the traditional amphibious landings in order to bypass the British Royal and Hellenic Navy’s who still controlled the seas around the island.

The first area to fall was Maleme, this was later analysed as being partially due to the local British commander failing to follow orders by launching an immediate counter attack on the paratrooper force, which was then recognised as best military practice. Thus the door for a flood of resupply and reinforcement had been left open and after ten days of fierce fighting, between the 20th and 31st May 1941 the island had fallen to the Germans.

Up until the 1st June 1941 however the defeated Allies who had not been captured, managed through a mass exodus to escape over the mountain passes to the Choria Skafia side of the island from where they were picked up by boat, before the Germans finally managed to close that route of escape.

Despite their significant victory the German invaders suffered exceptionally high losses of their elite German paratroopers, so much so, that Adolf Hitler forbade any further airborne operations on such a large scale for the rest of the

war.

Adolf Hitler and his German operational planners had made the grave mistake of underestimated the level of brave resistance that the Cretan people themselves would put up against the invasion.

Paratroopers were shot out of the sky by ancient Cretan farm rifles, upon landing, they were hacked to death with scythes and axes or simply beaten to a pulp in hand to hand combat.

The German elite troops were effectively overwhelmed by the sheer determination of the Cretan people not to be conquered by yet another invading enemy.

But the vicious carnage inflicted upon the German youth had its consequences once the occupation of the island was assured. Reprisal killings, wholesale slaughter and the burning of villages for resistance became commonplace.

But the Cretan spirit remained unbroken and the local population organized all manner of resistance from the very first days of the invasion.

Bands of guerrilla fighters and intelligence networks became common place from as early as the June of 1941. They formed groups that hid in the Cretan mountains or inaccessible ravines, hidden from view yet organised in their plans of attack, they were supported and supplied by local villages along the way.

Adding to the local resistance fighters, British army officers who had failed to escape, or who had even been landed on the island later, often coordinated their efforts. With the benefit of military training, hidden radios and the ability to call in specialist military supplies by air, the coordinated

hinder the German war effort in every conceivable way.

But then in the September of 1943, a memorable battle between the Germans and the resistance fighters led by “Kapetan” Bandouvas in the region of Syme, resulted in the deaths of eighty-three German soldiers and a further thirteen were taken as prisoners.

This act led to a series of summary reprisals, where German officers routinely used firing squads against innocent Cretan civilians or razed villages to the ground.

All manner of unimaginable cruelty was inflicted, the intent being to break the Cretan spirit, once and for all.

Standing out amongst these inflicted atrocities were the holocausts of Viannos and Kedros in Amari. The Destruction of Anogeia and Kandanos, and ‘The Massacre of Kondomari’.

(Note: we identify but a few, but more details can be found from Wikipedia if required).

Tales of the island of Crete’s war with Nazi Germany, its resistance and suffering, would fill many a book in themselves, but for brevity in our overview of the Yesterdays of Crete, we will sadly skip ahead onto the period of liberation.

Liberation...

By the later parts of 1944 the German thrust for world domination was slowly being squashed. Its forces were being withdrawn from Greece in order to avoid being cut off by the advancing Russian army that was moving west across Europe.

On October 13th of 1944, both Rethymon and Heraklion were liberated as the German occupying forces withdrew to take up defences around the Chania area.

Then on May 9th of 1945, the German commander signed an unconditional surrender at 10pm GMT on the 10th day of May at the Villa Ariadne at Knossos.

The war for the people of Crete had officially ended. (to follow – part 8 – Post war to the present day )

‘The Yesterdays of Crete’ is now available in paperback form from Amazon, or as an ebook from Kindle.

“A kiss of oranges and myrtle on Crete

by Mihaela Lica Butler - Agrophilia.com / Imustbeoff.com

Ah,

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Crete, the Minoan cradle, that place of legend, where Basils of the world still hope for Zorba to teach them how to dance the sirtaki at Stavros. That iconic tune of “Zorba the Greek” still echoes here, with every kefi, for Cretans are born to dance, and they couldn’t care less that before 1964 there was no Zorba dance: they made it tradition, because – and any Cretan will tell you – it frees your inhibitions, and renders you happy from the opening gentle tunes, n o k till your feet move so s clic ost.gr re new ep for mo ttp://cret fast and so high that h you feel like you could touch the skies with the hopping that seems to lift not only body, but the whole of your spirit. Oh, how I wanted to dance Zorba at Stavros! But my Cretan experience didn’t take me there.

Crete was a lot of things to me that March – we visited off-season, since that’s when you can truly take in the soul of the island. Cretans have something most people don’t have – they call it filoxenia, the love for strangers, and it’s real, overwhelming – a powerful sentiment that brightness your day, from the first kaliméra. Filoxenia cannot be explained: it’s felt in their dance, it shines on their faces when they smile so openly welcoming you in their homes, treating you like family from the moment you arrive, till you leave and they part with a glitter of sadness in their eyes: “come back soon.”

We arrived on Crete on a stormy evening. The clouds raptured over Koules in Heraklion like impossible swarms of raging raindrops opening the heavens above with the light of Zeus’s mighty thunderbolts.

The storm scared my little boy, Paul-Jules, and I remember telling him how the king of the gods was born on the island, and he watched me fascinated to learn how Zeus grew up in a

cave, raised by a goat. Then we arrived at Lato Boutique Hotel, and we watched the storm raising the waves of the sea as high as the walls of the fortress from our windows. Paul-Jules was tired after the long trip, but, this being his first encounter with the sea, he watched the storm spellbound, holding an aromatic orange in the cup of his hands: “Mommy, this smells so pretty.” Funny what children seem to notice when no one else pays attention.

The second day, after the storm, we continued our journey: destination Metochi Villas in Platanias, not far from Chania. This was about to become our home-away-from-home, for the whole three weeks we had planned on the island. The ride to Platanias is the fondest recollection I have of Crete. The memory of the fragrant orange was still fresh in Paul-Jules’s mind, so as we drove, he exclaimed “Oranges!” every time he saw a vendor waiting patiently on the side of the road for a car to bring the next customer. “Mommy, please, can I have some?”

So we stopped – at random, as such things normally happen. A short, elderly woman, dressed in dark colors, with a black kerchief covering her head, was waiting patiently in the shade, by her improvised fruit stall.

She promptly stood up when she saw me approaching. I wanted to buy a couple of oranges, but she only sold by the

bag. I don’t know how many were supposed to be in a bag, but I quickly assessed about 20 big and bright organic oranges – at 5 € quite a bargain.

All I had in cash was a 10 € bill, and she had no small change – I was her first customers that day. I got a bag of oranges, and a couple of lemons, and handed her the bill, with a poorly pronounced efharistó, to let her know that I didn’t care for change. For a short while afterwards we spent time pushing the bill back and forth: she didn’t want to take the money, it was too much, she was trying to tell me, showing me that for 10 € I could buy two bags. I would have, gladly, but our rental car was already full, and there was simply no more room for so many oranges. So I insisted, with parakalo and efharistó, till she gave up, and accepted the bill.

Then, something strange happened. The old lady wept – tears in her kind eyes, and the feelings that enveloped my heart in the mystic of the moment are still strong today. Her expression, as she thanked me, was humble and gentle, reminding me of the look in my grandma’s eyes when she returned home with flowers and basil from the church: I believed that those offerings were sacred.

So I gave that old lady a hug, and the moment I embraced her, I felt her scent: she smelled holy, like myrtle and oranges,

Ryanair: “Prices at Greek regional airports are too high” “Prices at regional airports are going up for no reason at all,” chief commercial officer David O’ Brien told reporters during a press conference.

O’Brien said that Fraport Greece has introduced new charges for parking overnight, as well as for fire services during aircraft refuel-

and also like olive oil, just like my own grandmother once.

Without thinking, I gave her a kiss on her cheek, and I wiped her tears, smiling, repeating efharistó – the only word I knew, which seemed appropriate.

Then I walked to the car, opened the back door, took an orange out of the bag, and handed it to Paul-Jules, whose cheerful voice welcomed the gift with a loud “yay!” The old lady heard him, and waved.

She followed me quickly, and as she approached, I saw she was holding as many mandarines as she could carry in her hands. She came to the back door, where Paul-Jules was busy sniffing the orange, and spoke softly, offering him the fruit. None of us could understand what she said, and I was too overwhelmed to say anything but “thank you.”

Then we drove away, leaving her there, alone by her oranges, and she watched us waving goodbye for a while, till we couldn’t see her anymore. Her scent of myrtle and oranges rubbed on my clothes, and I took it with me – in a sense it still follows me, and I feel that, in meeting her, I experienced the very essence of what filoxenia is supposed to be.

Meeting her triggered emotions that I had not expected: Crete felt familiar, safe, and warm, just like home. The look in her eyes reminded me of my childhood, a happy-go-lucky time under the loving care of my grandma. These feelings were so strong that for the next three weeks I didn’t feel like a tourist: I belonged there, I was supposed to make Crete my home.

Crete is today more than a cherished memory and a page in a travel diary: I left a bit of my heart in a kiss of oranges and myrtle, and I weep when I recall the scent of the woman whose kindness was the prelude of the best vacation of my life.

ing.

Furthermore, O’ Brien referred to the upward trend of Greek tourism in 2017, also noting that competitive countries such as Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia are opening up to tourists this year.

“We are considering to start flying to Turkey from late 2018,” O’ Brien said.

Three in one...

by David Capon

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Floral Surprises A few months ago I wrote about some of the intriguing systems plants use to disperse their seeds.

New research has shown the extraordinary speed that some seeds are expelled.

A short article in ‘Nature’ in March revealed that Dwight Whitaker at Pomona College in Claremont, California, and his team had used high-speed cameras to record seeds bursting out of the fruits of the wild petunia (Ruellia ciliatiflora).

It was already known that the plant expelled on s click ost.gr w e n its seeds at speeds of e r ep for mo ttp://cret h up to 15 metres per second.

The physicists have now shown that each seed may be rotating at speeds of 100,000 rotations per minute!

Not only that - the seed spins vertically, like a minute cycle wheel, but while the seed is thrust upwards and forwards the seed is rotating backwards.

I always enjoy the surprise on someone’s face when they first knock a seed head of the Squirting cucumber when in the Cretan countryside.

Although the seeds of the cucumber are ejected forcefully it appears that they do not have the complex motion of the petunia.

I wonder how evolution has produced such an intricate design for the petunia.

Plastic-The Ongoing Problem a) Biodegradation I was interested in a scientific paper that was ‘accepted’ in December 2017.

The paper is entitled “Biodegradation of weathered polystyrene films in seawater Microcosms”.

What interested me as much as the contents was the list of contributing scientists that was at the end of the paper.

The list included Evdokia Syranidou, Katerina Karkanorachaki. Filippo Amorotti, Martina Franchini and Nicolas Kalogerakis all of The School of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania and Eftychia Repouskou of the School of Mineral Resources Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania.

An extensive and detailed microcosm experiment was conducted in two phases in order to investigate the ability of indigenous or bio-augmented consortia to degrade weathered polystyrene films under simulated marine conditions.

The results suggest that acclimated marine populations are capable of degrading weathered pieces.

If any of the above scientists reads this article perhaps they could produce a synopsis in plain English for the readers of the Chania Post – I am positive they would do a much better job than me.

b) Plastic Mountain One of the facts quoted in the above paper on bio-degradation indicates estimates “that 1455 tons of debris are floating in Mediterranean and pieces with 1 mm2 surface area are the most abundant.

Moreover, recent studies revealed that elevated concentrations of plastic load were detected in surface waters close to coastline”.

I watched rubbish being brought to an area in Plaka on the morning of 18th March.

Loads and loads of plastic and polystyrene had already blown all over the village due to the high winds of Saturday and overnight, which many readers will remember.

Yet here were huge quantities being dumped and swept off the back of vehicles at the side of the road (by building contractors, I believe) and a ‘plastic mountain’ was created before it started shrinking as bits and larger items blew away – more plastic in the Sea, as well as clinging to plants and houses.

There has to be a better way of ensuring plastic is recycled – but I suspect that in this instance the persons depositing the waste did not care as it was left away from their personal neighbourhood.

seeding much earlier than normal.

At low levels there will be few orchids in flower at the beginning of the month and by the end, except for summer flowering plants, there will be few flowers to be seen.

To see wild spring flowers in quantity it will be necessary to climb towards the mountains but I suspect that the flowering season will be at least two weeks earlier than average even at those heights.

Swifts will be circling noisily around the Old Town in Chania; a sure sign that summer has arrived.

The bee-eaters and orioles will be seen and heard in the countryside during their brief stays before moving northwards for the summer.

But our resident birds are nesting early.

As I write this (19th March) young Blue tits have left the nest already and the babies in a nest of Sardinian warblers are ready to leave for the outside world.

This is very early.

These notes must seem very strange for visitors from Western Europe who have been suffering with unusually cold weather during March.

But I am sure that regular visitors to Crete in April will have April 2018 noticed the lack of snow on the The mild winter has meant that mountains in comparison to many plants are flowering and last year.

Google and the Region of Crete cooperate to extend Crete’s tourist season Google and the Region of part of the National Alliance In her speech, Gerovasili spoke and medium-sized

Crete announced the launch of cooperation to extend the tourist season of Crete by enhancing the digital presence of the island’s businesses and the digital enhancement of its culture.

The programme, part of Google’s Grow Greek Tourism Online initiative, is under the aegis of the Ministry of Administrative Reconstruction and is

for the Enhancement of Digital Skills and Labour in Greece.

The programme for Crete was announced at a special event attended by the Regional Governor of Crete Stavros Arnaoutakis and Google Marketing Director Maria Founta, while the event was welcomed by the Minister of Administrative Reconstruction Olga Gerovasili.

of a new production model that would rule out the possibility of a return to the past, distribute its benefits to the majority of citizens, and one that, above all, was based on extroversion and the country’s comparative advantages, the minister said.

Participants in the programme will be trained free of charge

by Google, so that the small-

tourism businesses enhance their digital presence and at the same time use the internet to attract tourists over the summer months.

“Their further specialisation in digital skills, in general, enhances the tourist product of the island and of the country, and this is our central choice and constant goal,” the minister said.

24 Hour Guarded Parking

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On woman...

“Many are the monsters of the earth and the sea, but none are as formidable as a woman” (Menandros)

by Panagiotis Terpandros Zachariou

Later that evening I had the privilege of meeting some Greek women, friends of Seferiades’ sister. Here again I was impressed by the absence of those glaring defects which make even the most beautiful American woman or English woman seem positively ugly. The Greek woman, even if she is cultured, is first and foremost a woman. She sheds a distinct fragrance; she warms and thrills you. on r s click re new cretepost.g o m ... The ordinary Greek girl r / fo http:/ whom one sees on the street is superior in every way to her American counterpart; above all she has character and race, a combination which makes for deathless beauty and forever distinguishes the descendants of ancient peoples from the bastard offshoots of the new world,”

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news & articles

- Henry Miller, The Colossus of Marousi, 1941-

Before we rashly interpret the above as nourishment for some kind of Greek aloofness, it is worth noting that the great American writer was referring to the Greek women he met during his visit in pre-WW II Greece.

A time when Greek society had not yet been ground through the gears of Industry and the demoralization it sustained during its closer association with Western style mass media of the post war era.

Not that it was all roses for the Greek woman of the countryside, who, beyond working in the fields, raising children and keeping house, often had to sustain the pressures of an authoritative husband and an equally strict society.

On the contrary, life was unforgivingly difficult.

However, she was indeed the cornerstone of the family, as well as a flowing stream of culture that she bequeathed to her offspring with her every move and gesture, whether it was her needlework for her daughter’s dowry or her often exaggerated adoration towards her son and all that it entailed.

If Hellenism had survived all the difficulties of its long past as something to be envied by all observant travellers it was largely due to the Greek fam-

ily securely anchored around the Greek woman, mother and wife.

From the Spartan mother who instilled in her son the sense of honour that came with the shield she handed him, the Macedonian women who had rushed to help their men in battle and were thus awarded the right to wear a helmeted head dress (as they still do in traditional costume) by Alexander the Great, to the Hepeirot women who carried on their backs food and ammo to supply their sons fighting the Italian forces in Albania, the woman of Greece has always risen above circumstances against all the plights that marked the country and will always constitute a point of reference of self-sacrifice and inexhaustible love and affection.

All is well up to this point, but nowadays all points of reference are being uprooted just as humankind is wrested from nature and traditions only to be thrown into large cities where there are no social hearths of human measures in which one can distinguish him/herself according to the virtues of his/her sex and nature. In such cities woman is fragmented, writhing in confusion beyond the identity of mother and wife, like that of a worker, a professional, a politician, as well as that of one who in all aspects of life must incessantly strive to achieve super-

ficial beauty as ordained and deceivingly promoted by the mass media.

Through the great hoax of “equality” woman is levelled down, thus losing her most significant substance - that of the nucleus of a human society.

As things may stand, the female of our species still exercises the greatest power over the formation of society. When her femininity and substance are altered, the very infrastructure of society is accordingly mutated, since the main pillar of this structure is family, an institution inseparable from the mother.

Quite prophetically did Henry Miller condemn in his above work, as well as in his “Air Conditioned Nightmare,” the dubious route that human development had taken in his country, since today serious crime in the U.S.A. has even reached the classrooms of elementary schools; and this due to the absence of a healthy society rooted in strong family institutions.

As is the case with anything powerful, woman is also a source of beneficial or destructive potential.

That is to say, the more beautiful of the two sexes may have always been a fountain of inspiration, creation, a symbol of fertility, birth, tenderness and affection, but she has also been regarded as a source of temptation, conflict, cause for wars (Helen of Troy), a symbol

of transgression (Eve, Pandora).

These contrasts attributed to the female of our species make her as beautiful and as dangerous as the sea and fire. Hence the Greek tenet “Beware of fire, women and the sea.”

“WOMAN” Oh, foam-embroidered, hissing matron, furl-unfurling Sea, you storm unleashing, undulating blanket of the deep, what passions, yearnings, secret longings have you surged to sleep, what barnacled, forsaken wrecks do in your bosom lie embraced by curving billows, lulled to slumber by your sigh.

And you bright dancers, swirling swayers, all-engulfing Flames, who men and mighty gods bewitch, vivaciously entice, the light that you endow them with is paid at costly price, for you Hyperion’s daughters, fiery hoarders, lick and lash at all that you insatiably devour and turn to ash.

Oh, Woman, what’s the sea or flame comparing them to you, for I’m tossed and cast much like a ship that flows along your wake, whose course is plotted out along the swells that form your shape.

And like a flame your feline aura’s wrapped around my soul.

Oh, element-begotten femme, I tremble at your call!

“Chaniot” migrants from Paris to Zimbabwe! by “Haniotika Nea” newspaper / translated by Niall Finn some period in another place. pendently and out of debt.” city which create this reality”.

Thousands of miles away “As for being in Greece, I feel a That way finally you learn

Kostas Sapounakis: In Belgium with his thoughts in the Apokoronas The 23-year-old Kostas completed high school at Genk in Belgium, where he lives and now works. He spoke to us about the shift from Chania to Genk. “It wasn’t at all easy or something you get used to, although now through my work I have some acquaintances and friends.” After coming of age and completing his military service, he tried to live in Greece but finally chose Belgium, explaining “It wasn’t that I couldn’t find work but I couldn’t find work that satisfied, since wages are better in Belgium. My basic dream is to return to Chania, more particularly to my village, Sellia Apokoranou, I wouldn’t want anything else.”

Speaking to the Chania News about his life in Belgium, he tells us “What I like here is the child support and health care.

It doesn’t exist in Greece. These are the grounds that I also want to take Belgian citizenship so as to be able to have all that. I have the opportunity to travel, so I have gained in that sense. Also, working conditions are more human.

It is just that whatever you do, you don’t escape – you just escape to where you are; it’s a rather complicated feeling. Quite a few relatives have come, I’ve got to know other Greeks, there is a Greek church and community here through which I have got to know some people and had the joy of being a godfather”, although he confirms that the godfather relationship is completely different from the Greek one.

Kostas also speaks of the reception he was given in Genk.

“There have been racist expressions but it is not as frequent a phenomenon as in Greece. You will rarely see it. I cannot say that I have felt racism except at a superficial level”, going on to say that “someone who has not been to Greece to see how we live, thinks of us as a Third World country, on the basis of what they hear, i.e. what is said.”

We then asked him what he missed through living abroad.

“The major thing I miss is my people and generally my home in my village where I loved for what I think of the most beautiful years of my life. And that’s my dream – to return at some point to my village and find work that lets me live inde-

Οnoufria Fiotodimtraki: Travel opens the mind The 27-year-old Onoufria spoke to Chania News about the opportunity to experience new things to get to know people and to discover new places. She has been living for three years in Berlin but also spends several months a year in the Austrian Tyrol.

“What appeals to me in Berlin is its multicultural character.

You have the chance to meet people from all over the world who share with you their culture, their history and generously offer you a taste of their cuisine. Every day you have a range of options for recreation and fun. Living in another country is a completely different experience from short trips abroad.”

Onoufria also tells us of the salary differential and of the health system, where both Austria and Germany are better than Greece. “An insured person has his own health card, with his medical history, which in most cases offers complete cover. I feel more secure about the future, I’m not afraid that something might happen, feel that it will be okay. I can also put aside some money.”

When we asked her what she misses about Chania and Greece, she mentions the food and her friends and family.

“The thing I found most difficult was the food, the quality of food: after being abroad a little while, I thought that we are the luckiest nation, especially we Cretans; nowhere boasts a cuisine such as ours, especially in Chania, with its fresh fish, vegetables and fruit.”

In addition, she speaks of the reception she received in Germany. “When I lived in Greece, I had never experienced racism. Of course, I had seen other people around me experience it. I believe there is racism everywhere. I have experienced it, because I am now a migrant where I’m living but it is not something that happens often. It is horrible when it happens but then it gives you food for thought. I think it would be a good lesson for every racist to live outside the borders of his own country. That way he will understand that things can be the other way round. I think that a large proportion of Greeks are racist and not only towards migrants but also towards people with a different religion, sexual orientation, et cetera.”

Finally, Onoufria describes the importance that travel has for her. “What I firmly believe and have adopted as a life philosophy is that people must widen their horizons, must travel, and take the opportunity to live for

about the place you are visiting and the world, while at the same time you see things that perhaps you’d never experience. Whatever difficulties you may encounter, what you gain is greater, while in the end you get to know yourself better!”

Εleni Athitaki: In the simplicity of Zimbabwe Until she was nine years old, 30-year-old Eleni lived in Zimbabwe and returned there after her studies for practical experience and eventually lived there, having created her own family there. In the discussion we had with her, for more news click on http://cre tepost.gr we asked her to give us a picture of the place that she now lives. “The people here are very happy and friendly and even if they are poor and in great difficulties they have a permanent smile, very friendly.

There is no crime and however absurd it may sound if you are available to work the economy is better in the sense that there is no credit. If you don’t have any money, you’re not buying anything and this I think helps when you do want to work because it is a different mentality.

It is a completely different situation.”

Eleni, who decided to live in the Zimbabwean capital of Harare, tells us that another important factor was the feeling of security. “There is no greater joy than to let my daughter run around outside and to know that she will not come to the slightest harm.” She goes on to say “Nature here is unbelievable and you have a great deal of space, while in Greece there are blocks of flats, with people living on top of each other.

Here, without any evil intent, a stranger who sees you in the street will ask ‘How are you?’ Or if somebody sees you looking sad they will help; even if they have nothing to give, they will help.”

When finally we asked about what she missed from Chania, she answered “However funny or squalid it may sound, I miss the food, the “staka”, the souvlakia, I really miss the sea and being able to swim as much as I want, or just looking at it. I greatly miss that scenery – Zimbabwe doesn’t have a coastline. On my last trip to Greece, I realised that although I was with my mother and all my friends, in my own neighbourhood, I didn’t feel complete – something was missing. The equivalent thing happens when I’m here in Zimbabwe; this is where I have my home, my friends but you know there will always be nostalgia and I will always miss Greece – the puzzle will stay incomplete.”

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Μaria Kokolaki: “Wherever you are, the important thing is the people” 29-year-old Maria studied law in Athens and has been Paris for the last five years. Two postgraduate diplomas later and having found work in lawyers’ chambers in France, she shares her experience with Chania News. “The main reason for living here was my studies and because I found something in my own field. If I hadn’t found something in my field I’m sure I would have found something in Greece, it isn’t the Promised Land. If you are doing what you enjoy, you can find a way of doing it anywhere at all, that I believe 100 percent.” says Mary when we ask her about the factors that led her to leave.

With regard to the treatment she received living in Paris, she told us “I didn’t have any problems; you are very often asked where you are from but without a sense of being marginalised, more that they want to learn about you. The people you meet in one country can also be found in another; they may welcome you nicely or they may not.”

“On the cultural level you can prepare yourself very well indeed but it isn’t something like that which helps you in a city.

I like the fact that I can go for endless walks, that there are many parks, and that in my working life I can work on what I enjoy. There is the social security system and medical care where things are a little more organised here but I don’t take that on board a hundred percent”, she says when we ask her about the things she likes about Paris. At the same time, she stresses herself that “the important thing is doing what you enjoy and being with people you like and who give you fulfilment. Certainly, Paris is extremely beautiful, but I think it is the people rather than the

lot more secure; for better or for worse I grew up in Greece and spent 25 years of my life there. What I miss most about Chania is the sea, my friends, my family.”

news & articles

from Chania – in places that range from France to Germany and from there to Belgium but also to exotic Zimbabwe!

Chania men and women who live far away from their home territory “take us on a journey with them” as they speak to “Haniotika Nea” newspaper about how they have experienced life abroad. Better wages, travel, knowledge of new cultures and people, a good health system and a feeling of security are some of the advantages mentioned by the people we spoke to. The good food, the sea and, of course, the faces of their loved ones, friends and family are what particularly cause them to have nostalgia for Greece and in particular for Chania.

Scan the QR code to book online your ticket !

www.e-ktel.com

email: info@e-ktel.gr

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The Botanical Park & Gardens of Crete grew from the ashes of that devastating fire Nearly 20 hectares of land

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news & articles

are waiting to welcome you, full of fruit trees from all over the world, herbs, medicinal and ornamental plants in a park different from others, where the land’s formation and the region’s microclimate make it a paradise for hundreds of plants and animals!

In the midst of this colorful and vivid landscape stands a burnt centennial olive tree, a memorial and a reference to the dismal fires of 2003, on s click re new post.gr o m the park’s history and r o e f /cret http:/ origin.

The newest and one of the most interesting sites of the Prefecture of Chania lies only 18 kilometers outside the city, on the feet of the White Mountains. It is ideal for visitors of all ages, combining enjoyments that only Crete can offer!

Shortly after you pass Fournes village and before the historical Lakkoi-Skordalou, a sign will direct you towards the Botanical Park, to an unprecedented tour of the region’s magical nature and the creative imagination of the four brothers who dreamt of and realized this unique heaven on earth!

When you first see the park and its facilities, it is impossible to imagine that this is the same expanse of the 15-20 hectares which burnt to the ground in the fires of 2003, today literary reborn from its ashes. In the place of the grey landscape stands a walking, educational and entertainment park-unique in its kind

in Crete – waiting for young and old, locals and foreigners, to get acquainted with the more than 150 species of fruit trees together with the dozens of herbs, medicinal and ornamental plants it hosts, while enjoying their walk through a lush natural environment. The secret of enjoying your visit to the maximum is to wander through the paths of the Botanical Park slowly and leisurely, making many stops for rest in the various suitable rest points available. Thus you shall have the opportunity to truly appreciate the beauty which you will encounter.

No matter how you see your visit here, whether as a scenic trek, or an interesting tour of nature’s paths, the Botanical Park is the ideal alternative proposal for a day’s escape from

the city’s noise and the fashionable beaches. The dramatic scenery here is composed of rare samples of the local flora and fauna, as well as tropical and subtropical species from all over the world, with new samples added daily, changing the look of the Botanical Park and providing visitors with a motive to enjoy it over and over again!

This adventure in nature which lasts one to two hours, follows paths of unique natural beauty and provides visitors with the opportunity to get acquainted with the numerous different plants and trees that grow on the two hundred square kilometers of the well-designed planted hillside. The appropriate signposting of the paths leads the visitor to various sections of the Botanical Park

(tropical trees, fruit-bearing trees, citrus trees, herbs and vineyards).

The lush landscape is completed by the lake in the lower part of the part, offering accommodation and protection to ducks, geese and other water birds (and rare species), even to hawks that fly in the area.

The park also has an open-air, stone atmospheric amphitheatre suitable for small (capacity for approximately 250 persons) events.

Depending on the time of the year, you will have the opportunity to enjoy flowers, plants and trees through all phases of their life-cycle, parallel to the various species of wild flora and fauna which they attract each season. Any time of the year you visit the Botanical Park, you will be impressed by the colors, fragrances and variety of species.

During the summer months, the best time to schedule your visit is early in the morning, avoiding the strong heat, and having the opportunity to complete your experience with an excellent meal in the park’s restaurant.

Its totally local, organic and seasonal philosophy will be unforgettable.

Operating Hours Twenty-tree of March to Noveber every day: Entrance is allowed starting at 9 am, all through the day, with the last entrance allowed no later than one hour before sunset.

• Admission: 6 Euros • Ages 6 to 12: 4 Euros • Ages 6 and under: Free with parents!

African dust causing problems for allergy and asthma sufferers and more dust and non-dust periods over If you or those close to you

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health & nutrition

suffer from asthma attacks you will be interested in the

by Miltiades Markatos scientific link between the Pneumonologist dust in the environment and your health.

Every year from February to October, our blue skies periodically disappear behind a blanket of haze which can be attributed to increased levels of Saharan dust in the atmosphere.

For those who suffer from asthma or other respiratory distress, it is also a sign to restock the medicine cabinet with extra refills for antihistamines and inhalers. It becomes entrenched in their daily routines, keys, lunch bag, hair brush, and yes the inhaler.

Just like we have grown on s click ost.gr w e n e r ep accustomed to wet and for mo ttp://cret h dry seasons, asthma sufferers have grown accustomed to the on and off season for symptoms.

The “on” season usually coincides with the months from February to October, which represents the summer months in the northern hemisphere and the period which signals the start of the migration of Saharan dust from Africa, to the Americas.

The migration of Saharan dust begins when storms in North Africa lift Saharan sand and dust into the upper atmosphere, where it is carried thousands of miles away.

Movement of the clouds can be tracked using satellite imagery or by ground observations.

Most people only notice the dust clouds when it shrouds the sunset in a yellowish haze and the hillsides disappear behind a blanket of haze.

Various studies have raised

concern about the potential link between the dust levels and the impact on human health.

Research which suggest that there may be a correlation between high concentrations of particles less than 2.5µm (0.0025mm) in diameter (PM2.5) and increases in emergency room admissions for respiratory and cardiovascular disease have been reported in North America, Asia and Europe.

The primary health concern associated with Saharan dust is the particulate matter—microscopic dust (less than the thickness of hair, < 2.5µm) which can sidestep the lungs’ natural defences.

These tiny particles can contribute to cardiovascular problems as well as respiratory diseases such as asthma, especially in children.

Recent research by Dr Monteil has shown that the symptoms of rhinitis in the student population exceeded 30 per cent.

The reasons for such high prevalence of allergic disease in youth remain obscure; however, preliminary data have hinted at a higher prevalence of these disorders among students attending schools in urban areas.

Studies have suggested that

there was a 17-fold increase in the prevalence of asthma from 1973 to 1996, with acute asthma attacks accounting for 22.3 per cent of hospitals emergency room visits in 1999.

This increase corresponded to the observed increase in African dust flux affecting various areas.

The dust particles also serve as a vehicle for the transport of known asthma triggers such as biological materials including bacteria, viruses, fungal spores and pollen.

They have also been shown to transport various pollutants such as metals and pesticides.

To date, more than 200 species of viable bacteria and fungi have been identified from air samples collected during Saharan dust events.

However, there is still uncertainty as to whether dust clouds could transport other asthma triggers such as pollen.

Recent research completed by Dr Marissa Gowrie of the University of the West Indies has sought to provide some light on this issue.

Dr Gowrie collected air samples for pollen enumeration over a two year period at Galera point, Toco, and at the University of the West Indies (UWI), St Augustine.

This sampling covered both

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A different pharmacy in the centre of the old town of Chania is waiting to share with you secrets of well being and longevity. Taste the biolo gical honey, the royal jelly, tea from plants carefully chosen in therapeutic recipes, high concentration and purity juices of pomegranate, cranberry, aloe. Orthomolecular nutrition with suggestions on detox programs and a carefully selected range of supplements, vitamins an gluten free products from all over the world.

In the same premises you can find a live homeopathic lab with 6.000 homeopathic remedies in stock and the ability to produce any kind of homeopathic form i.e. pills, granules, solutions etc Evangelia Sakka is the pharmacist in charge who has created that special pharmacy and will be happy to introduce you to that fantastic world but also suggest whatever will be more settable for you.

Our philosophy doesn’t stop on food and supplements but we want you to think of your mind and body as well. That’s why we have created next to our pharmacy the Green Care SPA. A SPA that helps to uplift your mind and body with biological face an body treatments, reflexology, reiky, su jok and moxa treatment, Bach flower remedies, homeopathy sessions, bowtech as well as nail therapies.

We are waiting for you to restart your life at Daskalogianni 43 - 45, SAKKA Pharmacy www.my-pharmacy.gr / www.greencarespa.gr

the two years.

Data for other environmental triggers for asthma: Rainfall, relative humidity, temperature, barometric pressure and Saharan dust were also collected.

This data was then correlated with paediatric asthma admissions (children 15 years and younger) at the Accident and Emergency Unit of the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC) to help develop a predictive model of asthma incidences.

Dr Gowrie found that very little African pollen is transported on these Saharan dust clouds.

However, the studies did suggest that local pollen in the presence of other factors such as dust concentrations, relative humidity, wind speed and temperature variations contributed to increases in paediatric asthma.

A predictive model based on the interactions of these factors was created, which is able to forecast paediatric asthma admissions for 84.7 per cent of the asthma cases studied over the two year period.

A key component of the model was the inclusion of lag time which took into account the incubation time before the onset of asthma symptoms.

The model is able to forecast paediatric asthma a week in advance, using asthma admissions from three days prior. It showed that asthma increases when there is a certain combination of factors, specifically days of high pollen, high dust, high wind speed, and high temperature variations, coupled with two consecutive days of high relative humidity.

“A Velvet Touch” “Thank you child, but how

Murder most foul…. and funny In the second week of April, fate – sometimes in the shape

the peaceful village of Vamos is the locale for not one but multiple murder plots.

Fortunately, the murdering (and the dying) are the work of local actors, staging the critically acclaimed “Anybody for Murder?” comedy

by Brian Clemens and Dennis Spooner.

When the love triangle of a wife, her husband and his mistress collides with another triangle of characters with an equally passionate desire to inherit a fortune, one person is inconsiderate enough to be an obstacle to “living happily ever after”.

Murder beckons as the solution.

Cunning plans are laid, only to be torpedoed by malignant

of a spectacularly untalented crime writer.

“Anybody for Murder?” is one of a number of plays co-written by Brian Clemens and Dennis Spooner, two of the most influential post-war British scriptwriters.

Brian Clemens, who died in 2015, was the main writer and producer for the Avengers series – selecting Diana Rigg for the part of Emma Peel – as well as creating the TV sitcom My Wife Next Door and working on a number of UK and American TV series including Bergerac and Highlander.

Clemens’ close friend Dennis Spooner, a former professional footballer with Leyton Orient, was equally prolific: his TV credits run from Thunder-

“Do you have a TV? All we see on our TV are nasty people.

Mummy won’t let me see but sometimes I sneak in when she’s not watching.”

“Gaia!”

“Yes, King Leo.” “Listen carefully little one as I am certain that you were meant to come here.”

“Why?” “To save all those you love from the nasty people. You have tears in your eyes small child but please try to believe me, for you, your mummy and daddy, and everyone in your world

birds, via Coronation Street to Doctor Who, Bergerac and the Avengers.

In fact it was Spooner’s introduction of humour into Doctor Who that is credited with allowing the series to survive multiple cast changes. Intriguingly, “Anybody for Murder?” – which neatly seasons tension with humour – was not published until 1990, four years after Spooner’s death.

This production, with an afternoon performance on Thursday, 12 April and evening ones on the following two evenings, is the work of the Toneel Drama Group, based in the Apokoronas.

Founded in 2009, Toneel (a Dutch word meaning “stage” or “drama”, the legacy of some Dutch founder members) has

will change.” for mo re n “How? I don’t underhttp:/ ews click on /crete post.g stand.” r “Very soon you will return to your comfy bed and all will be well when you awake as the magic is already flowing through your body.”

“I’m sorry but I can’t keep my eyes open.”

“Little Gaia, I will rejoice at your rebirth for the chaos will end and all will kneel at your feet.

As the new Mother of Planet Earth you will change your world.” rickhaynesauthor.com

“Anybody for Murder?”

The setting of our little play May seem familiar in some way.

It’s Greece, an island, small, remote That you can only reach by boat Where Max and Janet own a house But Max not only has a spouse He has a mistress, Suzy, too, Who has a life with him in view.

So Max has hatched a cunning plot – Let’s see if it works out or not! produced plays every year since.

A non-profit grouping of amateurs, they have in the process raised funds for local charities.

Past productions can be viewed on... www.toneeldramagroup.org

E-tickets to museums and archaeological sites coming to Greece E lectronic tickets for 11 Athens, Greek daily Kathi- Zeus, the Kerameikos ar- Museum.

archaeological sites will be available June 1st just in time for the surge of tourists who descend on Greece for the summer, local media report.

In addition to the National Archaeological Museum and Byzantine Museum in

merini notes that they will be available for other sites too.

“The e-tickets will also be usable at the Acropolis, Knossos and Messene archaeological sites, the Ancient and Roman agoras, the Temple of Olympian

chaeological museum and site, Hadrian’s Library and Aristotle’s Lyceum.”

E-Tickets are ubiquitous in the US, and already in use at such acclaimed institutions as The American Museum of Natural History, The Smithsonian, and The Holocaust

They will make it easier for the government of the Hellenic Republic to keep track of the number of visitors and security. The innovative initiative was made possible and funded by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation and National Bank of Greece.

p. 17

Many animals and people also live here.”

“You eat people where I live, mummy told me.”

“It has been a little while since someone made me laugh like you have. Thank you, little Gaia, but do you remember that I mentioned the word magic.”

“Is it real then?”

“Of course. Magic is everywhere. It lives in humans, birds, animals and fish, for our magic feeds us every time we take a breath. No animal, no man or beast has to kill others for food.

Here we live in peace.”

culture

did you enter our realm of magic?”

“I don’t know. I fell asleep that’s all I remember.”

“Were you dreaming? Can you recall anything?”

“No! Mummy says lions are dangerous. Are you going to eat me, lion?”

“Of course not. We are sustained by the power that springs from the earth and floats in the air.”

“What does that mean?”

“It’s magic child, the good magic that harms no living creature.

I am a Nemean, ruler of this land in the stars and in my astral body, I am known as Leo. What is your name little one?”

“Gaia.”

“A long time ago Gaia, all the stars above sent out sparkling lights of gold and silver, red and blue, to all the barren worlds.”

“What’s barren mean?”

“Empty places with no animals and no …”

“People?”

“That’s right little one. The wind blew, the rain fell, and after a long, long time new life emerged. My race of lions rule this world but we are not alone.

by Rick Haynes

Greece needs to rediscover and preserve old varieties Greek winemakers need to

rediscover and preserve old indigenous varieties that have been forgotten in recent decades, Konstantinos Lazarakis, who has earned the prestigious title of Master of Wine, told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA) in an interview published a few days ago.

There are 380 masters of wine worldwide, working in 28 countries, of which only two are Greek. Lazarakis was the first to win the title.

Speaking to ANA on the occasion of the 18th Thessaloniki International Wine n o k c Competition and the s cli .gr re new epost for mo ttp://cret h 4th International Thessaloniki Spirits Competition, organized by the Wine Producers Association of the Northern Greece Vineyard, Lazarakis said the label is the Achilles heel of Greek wines because they are all in Greek, making it difficult for foreigners to read.

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food & wine

Will we see more Greek Masters of Wine in the future?

“The second Greek ΜW, Yiannis Karakasis, graduated from our school. He worked in the Navy and simply liked wine, but decided to claim the title and win it. At the moment, two other Greeks are in the program – have been admitted and are studying – while others are expected to apply this summer. If we are lucky, in seven years from today we will have four more Greek MW.” Does having “Masters of Wine” from a specific country also affect positively the prestige and reputation of the wines produced by that country?

“Absolutely. We need as many people as possible to circulate globally in meetings and draw

attention to Greek wines in made many producers think the right way. And a Master of that ‘treasures’ might be hiding Wine can do that.” in their grandmother’s, says a lot. Statistically speaking, What do foreign MWs think among all these forgotten variof Greek wines today? eties, there are certainly some “They understand that Greek ‘treasures’. Other countries wines are now in living rooms. have also taken their winemakAnd that, potentially, some ers to the old vineyards so they of these wines may be “great” can save whatever might exist [wines]. The real question, how- there, before it is destroyed.” ever, is how this knowledge about Greek wines will go fur- How important are packagther. How will it reach the level ing and the bottle for wine where a consumer in a restau- sales? rant in London will have a list “Packaging plays a role in speof good wines in front of him cific cases, but if you do not like and think that the Greek wine the state, you don?t like the is just as good? On this, we are taste. The importance of the getting better, but we are not bottle varies from one market yet close. It takes time.” to another. In the U.S., for example, they do not like heavy In Greece, there are many bottles (where expensive varieties that have been con- wines are usually bottled); in signed to oblivion. Does it the sense that it is considered make sense to invest to bring that such a bottle has a high – them back to life? Do you and therefore unwanted – ecothink that “great wines” can logical footprint when it travels be produced from those? from Greece to the U.S. What is “Yes. We need to go back and very important is the label, and not just discover but also for me the label is the Achilles preserve varieties that could heel of Greek wine. I believe evolve into the next Malagou- that if we wanted to award the sia or the next Xinomavro. worst label in Greek wines, we The case of Malagousia, which would have had a lot of trouble came back to the forefront choosing. Take for example the thanks to Carras and Gero- label functionality. Millions of vassiliou’s love and care, and tourists are coming to Greece

and many are asking for bottled wine – and there has been a lot of effort to ask for bottled and not bulk wine – and there is not a single word in English on the label, so it makes no sense for the tourist to photograph the wine and upload on Instagram.”

Can a high price attract consumers believing that “since it is so expensive, is it also good”?

“If I try to convince my wife, who does not know about cars, that Maybach is an excellent car, presenting her the technical characteristics of the engine or exhausts etc, she will not be impressed. If I tell her that this Maybach costs 600,000 euros, her eyes will pop out and say “Wow!” There are two schools on the issue of price: According to one of them, the price is given by the market and is linked to quality. In this regard, there is an example of a very old winery in France which, while 40 years ago it sold its wines at a price equivalent today to 20 euros, it now sells 10,000 euros a bottle because the quality of the wine justifies it and the market allows it. According to the second school, we slap a high price on a wine on a whim and hope it will attract consumers who will feel that expensive means good.

But if, to attract attention, we sell a wine in Greece for 70 euros, the consumer will buy it once, perhaps even a second time, but the third time he will not buy it if the quality does not justify it. There are many such wines that have fallen by the wayside in Greece. Of course, if the quality of a wine is high and justifies the price, which is true of several Greek wines, then its prospect may be very positive.”

AMNA

special place in the Greek diet and this dates back to ancient times. In fact, ancient Greeks called it oxygala, and it was a food that they loved.

Traditional Greek yogurt is made from cow’s or sheep’s milk and contains valuable bacteria which has a positive impact on the entire digestive tract and system.

These good bacterias include the Lactobaccilus, which research has shown to have cancer-fighting properties.

Greek yoghurt also improves digestion, provides all of the nutrients of milk (protein, carbohydrates, fats, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin B complex and others). This is why it’s by far an all-round superfood

What is the difference between Greek yoghurt and regular yoghurt?

Besides texture, here are some other important differences between regular and Greek yo• gurt: • Protein- Greek yogurt has almost double the protein • of regular yogurt.

• Fat- Unless you’re using the nonfat varieties, Greek yogurt has about three times the saturated fat than regular yogurt.

• Sodium- Greek yogurt contains about half the sodium of regular yogurt.

• The reason that Greek yogurt is so much thicker and creamier than regular yo-

is strained off of it. Whey is the milk’s watery component, which remains after the milk has curdled.

Removing that liquid is what gives Greek yogurt its denser consistency.

Greek yogurt has more protein than regular yogurt.

Greek yogurt is considered a superfood partly because it provides more protein than regular yogurt. A 170 gram (six ounce) serving of Greek yogurt has just as much protein as 85 grams (three ounces) of lean meat, which makes it a great alternative source of protein. Plus, it’ll keep you fuller for longer than regular yogurt will.

Famous Greek Mediterranean diet healthier than ever As part of the Greek Festival

of Sydney, Dr Alfred Vincent will provide a fascinating lecture on food and drink in early modern Greece that traces the origins of the famed Mediterranean diet, Neos Kosmos notes in the following report: Many studies have indicated that the Mediterranean diet features an abundance of health benefits. In particular, Greece’s food culture is famous today for its proven ability to help protect against some cancers and heart disease.

But exactly how old and how traditional is it? What did Greeks eat before the introduction of potatoes, tomatoes and other “foreign” foods? How did the rich eat differently from the poor? What was the role of wine in people’s diet?

All of the above questions and more shall be answered in Dr Vincent’s lecture at the Australian Archaeological Institute of Athens at the University of Sydney.

Dr Vincent’s interest in food and drink from early modern Greece was inspired while editing an early modern Cretan comedy, and he more recently

returned to the subject while editing and translating the memoirs of everyday life in 17th century Crete by Zuanne Papadopoli (Ioannis Papadopoulos).

More variety During his work with archival documents from areas including Crete, Cyprus and the Ionian Islands, he discovered that today’s Greek diet differs from the one people had many centuries ago.

“The modern Mediterranean diet has much more variety than the rural diet of 1,5001,700 CE and in that sense it is probably healthier,” Dr Vincent points out.

“On the other hand, foodstuffs were produced without poten-

tially harmful herbicides or insecticides, and without chemical fertilizers.”

Yet, the most obvious changes in the diet are the foods originating from North and South America such as potatoes, tomatoes, and capsicums, which were not cultivated in Greece until much later.

Aside from food, Dr Vincent’s study also looks at wine, which was seen as far more than a tool for inebriation.

“Wine was not simply a recreational beverage; it had an important nutritional role,” he notes.

“Like olive oil, it was one product that could be kept over a long period without refrigeration. As for other alcoholic drinks, like raki or tsikoudia,

Benefits of Greek Yogurt The most impressive benefits of Greek yogurt include the following: • Improving your gut health • Boosts metabolism • Aids muscle growth • Strengthens your bones In case you are wondering how you can include Greek yogurt to your diet, it’s a great breakfast option, so you can add it onto your cereal or fruit. For a healthy snack there is nothing better than for more news cli http:/ /crete ck on Greek yogurt with honpost.g r ey and walnuts and don’t forget Tzatziki dip, which is made with Greek yogurt.

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we’ll leave them for the talk.”

Grapes were not limited to local consumption, and large quantities were exported abroad.

Health benefits While nowadays the Mediterranean diet is celebrated for its health benefits, it is surprising to know that Dr Vincent’s research has uncovered that the Greek diet was not devised for its health-giving qualities at all, but rather what was practical for the time.

“It was simply people’s way of using the resources of the land,” he explains.

“Red meat, for example, was not avoided; meat products of many kinds were widely consumed – except of course on fasting days – by those who could afford them. Those who were less wealthy would probably have liked to have more.

“In general, people were not concerned with weight loss, any more than they were aware of the healthy properties of olive oil as opposed to animal fats; they were more worried about having enough supplies to tide them over from harvest to harvest.”

food & wine

Greek yoghurt: One of the top superfoods of the world gurt is because the whey Yogurt has always held a that is loved worldwide!

Greek Oregano is the most flavoursome and certainly one of the best herbs in the world. Oregano grows practically everywhere in Greece and whether fresh or dried, it adds beneficial properties along with its characteris-

many dishes.

It is said that Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty, created oregano as a symbol of happiness.

Ancient Greeks would crown newly married couples with garlands of oregano as a blessing of happiness upon the cou-

realise the wonderful healing properties of oregano.

Rich in vitamin C, oregano also contains calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, potassium, copper, manganese and vitamin A. It has antibiotic and antiseptic properties, too. Oregano can relieve intestinal upsets and

munity, aids in digestion, improves heart health, improves bone health, detoxifies the body and also increases energy levels.

Oregano is used to treat flu, colds, gingivitis as well as a sore throat, while many use it as a gargling solution.

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Greek Oregano among the healthiest and tastiest herbs on Earth Most herb lovers agree tic fragrance and flavours to ple. They were also the first to abdominal pain; it boosts im-

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plants & gardening

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How to Clean Common Bathroom Problem Areas Cleaning

the bathroom is never a glamorous task.

While some aspects of the room are easy to clean, other areas can be trickier to get to.

In order to perform a bathroom deep clean from time to time, however, these areas must be tackled.

Keep reading for tips on how to get to these problem areas and to have a squeaky clean bathroom.

this part of your shower clean can result in a shower spraying unevenly as its holes have become clogged with dirt, grime, and mineral deposits.

This cleaning step may seem a little difficult at first, but there’s an easy solution to keeping a showerhead clean. In fact, you don’t even need to disconnect it from the wall!

To do this, you’ll need a rubber band and plastic bag that is large enough to fit over the showerhead. Slip the rubberUnder the Toilet Rim band over the top of the showUnderneath the rim of your toi- erhead and loop it around the let can also be a problem area. arm once or twice. Fill your Even when you use a brush plastic bag with white vinegar. on your toilet, it’s easy to miss Attach the bag to the head by this spot. To ensure it gets the slipping the bag opening unattention it needs, add anoth- derneath the rubberband. Let er half cup of a foaming toi- it sit for an hour, then run your let bowl cleanser after you’ve shower to flush the fluid from already scrubbed the toilet the area. Polish your showerwith your brush. Allow it to sit head with a soft cloth. and thicken for a few minutes.

Once it is fully foamed, use an Light Fixtures Behind the Toilet This spot can get serious- old toothbrush to scrub under Many bathrooms feature beauly gross, and it’ll only collect and around the rim for a deep tiful light fixtures as a part of a vanity or above a mirror. To more dirt, bacteria, and gunk clean. (Gross, but necessary!) keep their desired aesthetic the longer you go without and to maintain a useful level cleaning it. For this reason, you Showerhead should clean behind the toi- Not everyone always thinks to of light, they must be cleaned let every time you clean your clean their showerhead, but regularly. Since a bathroom bathroom. However, the pros- it’s an important bathroom sees so much traffic, these light pect of kneeling down and cleaning step. Failing to keep fixtures are prone to attracting

dirt, dust, and grime.

To clean these fixtures, turn off the electrical breaker that supplies the bathroom with power as a safety measure. Use a flashlight or portable lamp, if needed, as a light source while cleaning.

Next, remove the light bulbs and take down fixtures as possible. If your fixtures can’t be removed, they can be cleaned while in place. If this is the case, ensure you have stable footing to perform the task.

Wipe down the outside of fixtures with a rag or dry paper towel to remove dust and loose debris.

Grab a fresh cleaning cloth and wipe down the inside of the fixture. Using a damp rag, gently clean the fixtures with a cleaner like Windex. Dry the pieces with a towel and reassemble. Last, flip the breaker back on to restore power in your bathroom.

While a bathroom deep clean is certainly a chore, once it’s done you’ll love how spotless your bathroom is from top to bottom! These tips and tricks are the perfect way to ensure even the hard-to-reach and forgotten areas of your bathroom are sparkling.

for more n ews click http://cre tepost.gr

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reaching your arms behind the toilet can be off-putting and can even seem kind of disgusting. To avoid having to do this, start by spraying your cleaning product behind the toilet and also applying some to a cleaning brush or sponge attached to a long wand. Scrub the area from a distance with your convenient wanded brush. Use a dry sponge on a wand or a towel wrapped around a broom to dry the area when you’re done.

do it yourself

Tile and Grout Cleaning your floor seems easy enough, but it gets tricky when you have tiles and need to take care of the grout. These narrow lines are hard to reach, yet they certainly collect dirt, debris, and grime and need attention every once in a while.

To solve this bathroom problem, start by removing everything off of your bathroom floor. Then, vacuum or sweep the floor to rid it of loose debris. Next, apply a tile and grout cleaner liberally all along the floor, using a scrubby sponge to spread it evenly.

Allow the cleaning solution to sit for five to 10 minutes. This allows any dirt to loosen, making the scrubbing step easier.

Then, using your sponge, begin scrubbing. Also use an old toothbrush to carefully clean in between the tiles where the grout is.

After you’ve scrubbed, rinse the solution from your floor with lukewarm water. Dry the floor completely with a clean towel.

Animal cruelty awareness still has way to go in Greece Though Greece has made

significant strides in treating animal abuse as the punishable crime that it is, activists and advocates say the system is still largely dysfunctional and allows many perpetrators to get away with it.

“There have been cases where animals died because a prosecutor could not understand the urgency of issuing a seizure order, or because the order came too late. Judicial workers need to receive some form of training on the issue,” the head of the Greek Animal Welfare Society (PFO), Irini Molfesi, told Kathimerini.

“Last year we organized two events in Athens and Thessaloniki with the Supreme n o k c Court prosecutor’s office, s cli .gr re new epost for mo ttp://cret where top prosecutors h from the United States spoke to their Greek counterparts about the importance of tackling animal abuse,” she added.

That said, the biggest challenge lies in public awareness and cultivating the perception that not only will acts of

cruelty be punished but that animal abuse is also socially unacceptable.

In this regard, activists have criticized a move by Alternate Minister for Rural Development Yiannis Tsironis to cut fines in half if they are paid immediately, saying it sends the wrong message.

According to a law passed in 2012, animal cruelty can carry a fine of as much as 30,000 euros plus jail time, while every official complaint goes on the record.

“That is why it is so important for every incident to be re-

ported,” said Molfesi. “A complaint needs to be filed at a police station and it needs to be backed with as much evidence as possible to facilitate the investigation. The complainant should hold onto the protocol number so they can track the progress of the case through the system.”

Molfesi explained that in many countries, police officers receive special training that allows them while investigating reports of animal abuse to also look out for signs that the perpetrator may also be harming his or

Bill on strays withdrawn following protests A bill that had proposed Minister Vangelis Apostolou In its

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pets & vets

changes to the treatment of said the legislation would be pets and stray animals has reviewed and reopened to been withdrawn from pub- debate once the contentious lic discussion following ve- provisions have been revised. hement criticism by animal The Ecologist Greens party rights groups over its provi- had described the bill as “unacceptable,” with animal rights sions.

Agricultural Development groups highlighting 14 aspects that they object to.

current form, the bill seeks to prevent citizens and animal rights groups from helping strays, with fines or even prison sentences for such actions, the groups note.

New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis welcomed the bill’s withdrawal and pledged to restart the dialogue from

her family members.

She added that PFO helped organized a seminar on the issue a few months ago for 200 Greek police officers.

“Cruelty against animals is a social problem, even more so since it has been proven that people who abuse animals are more likely to mistreat people as well,” noted Molfesi.

According to available police data, 1,900 complaints were filed in January-September 2017, compared to 1,307 for the whole of 2015 and just 809 in 2004. Of those 1,900 complaints, 938 led to a criminal investigation and 157 suspects were arrested.

“We don’t know if this increase is the result of heightened public awareness or whether violence against animals is on the rise.

The only thing that we do know is that there are too many cases, which points to problems on many different levels of society, which are obviously heightened by the economic crisis,” explained Molfesi.

scratch.

In line with demands by animal rights groups, Mitsotakis said any legislative initiative must, among other things, protect animal, reduce the number of strays and provide training and information to pet owners.