September 2018, Issue No. 60 www.cretepost.gr
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GUARDIAN: Botanical Park and Gardens of Crete in World’s Top-10!
The 20-hectare Botanical Park and Gardens of Crete grew from disaster: a devastating fire in 2004 laid waste to the olive and orange groves around Skordalou village, so the local Marinakis family built the park to showcase the Mediterranean flora and fauna, and encourage hiking.
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editorial
...and also in more than 100 points throughout Chania Prefecture!
Octogenarian Cretan looks forward to student life An octogenarian Cretan has
realized a dream of a lifetime by being accepted to study history and archaeology at university. Dimitris Moudatsakis was among the tens of thousands of Panhellenic university entrance exam candidates who received their university offer. The 84-year-old, who retired 18 years ago, will be admitted to the Department of History and Archeology at the University of Crete in Rethymno. “I’ve wanted to study from a
However, throughout his life – he worked in bookbinding and printing – Moudatsakis had a love of reading and learning. “I was always reading. Every Saturday, when the staff were paid, I went and bought a book, which I read straight away!” As for studying in Rethymno, he said: “I will go to register normally and will go whenever I can. It’s a little difficult to get to Rethymno. I have my wife young age! I watched the other too, but I couldn’t. I didn’t have here too. I have to see what the kids go to school and I was en- the chance,” he told local media timetable is like.” vious of them. I wanted to go Cretalive. eKathimerini
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to approximately 30-40 percent of its total weight. Grinding carob produces flour to make bread, biscuits and rusks, while boiling it produces syrup, which is also a rich source of carbohydrates, calcium and iron. The carob tree is easy to cultivate as it does not require a lot of water and can survive long periods of drought. “It is a tree that is quite self-sufficient but which can also yield a lot when it is looked after,” says Miliaraki. The conditions for registering the carob as a Cretan symbol of cultural heritage are ripe. An increasing number of small-
scale producers on the island are creating an array of products based on carob and export rates are high, as its nutritional value has classified it as one of the world’s trendiest superfoods right now. As the process of getting Crete’s carob trees on the UNESCO list proceeds, Miliaraki is open to information and expert opinions that can help boost the proposal. So far, the only Greek product in the UNESCO list is mastic gum from the eastern Aegean island of Chios. “If we all make an effort, we can not only save this tree, but also showcase it for the treasure it is,” concludes Miliaraki.
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the carob tree: On the one hand it is neglected, and on the other it is deeply entrenched in the conscience of the Cretan people,” says Korina Miliaraki, president of the Agritourism Union of Crete and the Epimenides Cultural Society of Panormos, and the individual spearheading a campaign to get the carob tree onto the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. And a paradox there is indeed, as there are festivals on the island to celebrate the carob tree (the one in the village of Kato Pines is well known in the
it is also used for firewood. Nevertheless, the campaign to safeguard Crete’s tradition of cultivating and using carob in myriad ways is progressing, as the proposal drafted by the Epimenides Society has already qualified for the second stage of assessment. If all goes well, this will lead to its registration in Greece’s National Cultural Heritage List. “The carob tree saved us in World War II. Indeed, the livelihood of many Cretan people was tied to the tree’s existence,” says Miliaraki. According to the activist, carob is particularly nutritious due to its high content of calcium and
news & articles
Crete campaigns for the neglected, miraculous carob “It’s a funny paradox with greater region of Elounda) but sugar, which amounts
How Crete changed the course of World War II The Cretan Resistance caused significant damage to German morale and is likely one of the reasons why Hitler’s invasion of the Soviet Union was unsuccessful.
Our
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news & articles
car pulled up a dusty track next to a grove of olive trees. My guide, Stelios Tripalitakis, got out and started briskly walking in between their gnarled trunks, stopping every couple of metres to investigate objects he spotted on the ground. I followed, desperately trying to keep up in the heavy Cretan heat. “Ahhh, that’s just a bit on s click ost.gr w e n of fence,” he said, disape r ep for mo ttp://cret h pointedly examining a piece of rusting metal. Tripalitakis, 35, is one of Crete’s many wartime treasure hunters, devoting hours of his life to combing the island for military relics left behind when Nazis invaded the island during World War Two. Over the past two decades he’s managed to amass a collection of more than 40,000 items, transforming his living room into a makeshift museum. As we hunted for items to add to his collection, Tripalitakis told me that around 70 German paratroopers killed by local villagers were buried on this unremarkable-looking piece of farmland. Although their bodies were transferred to an official cemetery in the nearby village of Malame in the 1960s, many personal items, such as helmets or gravity knives, were left behind. “This land has been cleaned by the farmer recently,” Tripalitakis said. “So perhaps I might find something new.” Crete is a place where the past haunts the present. The island’s strategic position in the Mediterranean has sparked countless invasions, from the Venetians and Ottomans to, most recently, the Nazis. Hitler’s army set its sights on Crete in May 1941 after its conquest of Greece the month before, launching an airborne attack on the island using glider and parachute forces. Crete’s residents joined 40,000 British, Greek, Australian and New Zealand troops in defending the island, often shooting down
parachutes using their own rifles. However, the Allied forces misjudged the attack and, after an intense eight days of fighting, Crete fell to the Germans and the Allied forces withdrew. Feeling abandoned, the Cretans – who only four decades earlier had fought for and won their independence after 250 years of Ottoman occupation – came out of their homes and continued to challenge Hitler’s forces using whatever weaponry they had. It was the first time the Germans had encountered significant opposition from a local population. The Cretan Resistance is cited by The National Herald, an English-language Greek newspaper, as one of the factors that lead to the fatal delay of the the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, while also reducing the number of troops available for missions in the Middle East and in Africa. Despite repeated attacks from the Nazis on local villages and communities, the Cretan Resistance remained active until the Germans surrendered four years later, in 1945. This period of history hugely shaped Cretan identity, and even the smallest villages contain a memorial. “Crete has always been liberated by itself. Everyone has always fought for their freedom,” Tripalitakis told me. Tripalitakis’ hometown of Galatas, just outside the major city of Chania on the island’s northwest coast, was captured by the Germans on the sixth day of fighting. “When I was 12, the municipality of Galatas published a small magazine about the battle and gave it to all primary school pupils for free,” he remembered. “I was fascinated.” His interest was also piqued by the military debris that still litters the island. “Everyone has relics from the war. Cretan people didn’t have many materials, so they used whatever they could find,” he said. As the Cretans worked to rebuild their homes, fences were constructed from rifle barrels, roofs from aircraft parts, and helmets were turned into flower pots or containers for animal feed. These can still be spotted in some more remote villages.
“I realised, when I was very young, that all these things had to be saved, because over time they get destroyed or thrown away,” Tripalitakis said. “It’s really important for people growing up to learn about our history. If we don’t show them these items, they won’t learn.” Tripalitakis made his first searching trip in 1999, gathering pieces from a German aircraft wreckage on an islet off the coast of Galatas. Since then, he’s searched the entire island. “Sometimes I go once or twice a week, sometimes four,” he told me. “Sometimes I search for just a few hours. If I’m going into the mountains, I take a sleeping bag, food and water, and stay for a few days.” He’s even learnt how to scuba dive. “It’s so cool, feeling like you’re flying over a plane wreck.” Because of Crete’s many archaeological sites, collectors have to get permission from the authorities to use metal detectors. However, Tripalitakis usually prefers to search using just his eyes and hands. However, luck wasn’t on our side that day – our thorough search of the olive grove failed to deliver any goods, so we drove the 10km back to Galatas for a look around his museum. I walked into the apartment he shares with his father and fiancée, and was greeted by four walls of floor-to-ceiling shelves crammed with every memento imaginable, from rifles to cooking equipment to dressmakers’ dummies wrapped in German and British uniforms. Pieces of gliders and parts of sub-machine guns spilled out of the apartment onto the terrace and driveway. “I have everything, but there are still things I want, such as more motorcycles,” Tripalitakis said as he picked up a metal pot he had purchased from another collector the day before for 100 euros, and began to scrape the rust from it. There are around 50 collectors in Chania alone, 10 of whom have also turned their haul into unofficial museums. Other private collections can be found in the village of Askyfou in the Sfakia region, and in the villages of Somatas and Atispopoulo, south of Rethymno. Although none of these collec-
tors lived through the war, they devote their time to preserving the stories of survivors, veterans and heroes of the Cretan Resistance. “Sometimes there’s a bit of competition, but mostly we cooperate,” said Tripalitakis, adding that he’s even been made godfather to the child of a friend he met through collecting. “We put on exhibitions together, or sometimes we exchange things or go searching in pairs.” Tripalitakis’ most valuable item is some landing gear from an American-made Brewster Buffalo aircraft – only three of which were ever deployed to Greece. “I found it in the sea, 100m deep and buried under sand,” he said. “It took me five days to retrieve it.” Another collector has offered him 10,000 euros for the item, but he refuses to sell. Of course, some discoveries spark more powerful emotions than others. “I found the body of a New Zealand soldier, eight years ago,” Tripalitakis told me. “My metal detector got set off by the ammunition still on him. I think he had been buried by colleagues in a shallow grave. It was a shock to uncover it, but I actually felt happy to have found him, because I knew he could now get the proper burial and grave he deserved.” Tripalitakis called the police, who took the body for DNA testing. Since then, Tripalitakis has been desperately trying to find the man’s identity. “I’ve been through all the regiments and narrowed it down to 20 who are still missing,” he said. Tripalitakis estimates his fuel for trips has cost 50,000 euros, and he has spent another 30,000 euros purchasing items from fellow collectors. His passion has tested his family’s patience; he admits his father isn’t keen on the apartment’s transformation. But Tripalitakis insists he’ll never sell his memorabilia, “even if I was offered a fortune”. Instead, his plan is to secure a warehouse and turn the collection into a more official museum. “We cannot let the people forget history,” he said. “We keep it alive through these objects.” BBC
䄀最椀愀 䴀愀爀椀渀愀 䌀䠀䄀一䤀䄀
The Recent Fires by David Capon Following the fires in Atti- tal organizations, this truth Cypress trees are not very rain we had may have reduced
ca, as a member of the ΕΕΠΦ (the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature) I received from the Society, two days after the fire, a message of sorrow for the lives lost. In the message it was stated that the main conservation societies in Greece have come together to demand action for and I quote (translated) “this tragic evolution shows at the same time the absolute inadequacy and ineffectiveness of the current system of forest n o k protection. s clic ost.gr re new ep for mo ttp://cret “There is no longer any h room for evasion or delay. We owe it to everyone, citizens and the state, to ensure they realise that the salvation of people and Nature goes through the prevention of fires and the efficient management of forest land. As environmen-
has been firmly advocated for years. We consider it our duty to those who have wrongly lost their lives and their families to do our utmost to bring this knowledge into practice”. This extract summarises a hope for the future. The societies have issued guidelines for the future not just for Nature but have insisted the need for human needs, such as education and evacuation plans for each municipality. As for the fire in Apokorona I consider there is hope that the area may recover reasonably provided shoots of new trees and plants are allowed to establish themselves without the interference of grazing animals. Many seeds, corms and bulbs will have survived under the surface. Seeds of plants such as the Rock Rose abd certain orchids germinate readily after fire.
fire-resistant so there may be some time before the cypress areas are re-established. I hope the Forestry Commission have a few young, local trees in nursery stock that they can plant as soon as the cooler and wetter weather returns to assist in the area’s recovery. I am glad we received a lot of rain a week after the fire. This will have helped in the saving of some trees because the amount of rain we had will have meant water will have penetrated to the upper roots, at the minimum. One of the other major problems following fire in Mediterranean regions is that following a fire in summer the soil dries quickly and then soil particles are blown away. Also the rooting systems that bind the soil may be destroyed. The first heavy rains of autumn then wash away the soil. Again luckily, the
too much soil erosion – again assisting in recovery. I am sure people that have seen the area will be shocked and feel gloomy. Looking at areas of damage through my ‘ecologist eyes’ I am not as dismayed as I was before actually seeing some of the areas. I am, of course, sad about the lost livestock and wild animals as well as the human chattels that were damaged. Last year, in August, large areas of Kythira (north of Crete) were ravaged by fire. The latest issue of ‘η φύση’, the magazine of ΕΕΠΦ, arrived a few days after the fires here and in Attica and Lasithi and had many articles and photographs showing how the island was beginning to recover and the systems employed by ΕΕΠΦ to help the recovery. I hope we shall get a similar recovery in Apokoronas.
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news & articles
Are our pollinators important? by David Capon People who have been that these data were obtained data for 10 or 15 years ago but pollution is spreading to the driving for many years will remember how their windscreens were covered in dead and squashed insects after a drive in the evening or night, especially during summer. This no longer occurs and is another indicator that the biomass of flying insects has dropped by 75% in recent years. Last month I mentioned in a very late addition that researchers at the IGB in Germany have found a link between light pollution and this reduction in insect numbers. Our major pollinators are now not only being affected by pesticides, habitat destruction and climate change but light pollution is having an effect. Last month I mentioned that there seems to be a new fashion at some properties of having all of many garden lights on all night even when the property is unoccupied or the residents in bed. Together with data from the VIIRS satellite (via lightpollutionmap) and my GIS software I have created two images of light pollution in part of the Apokorona region. The first image is from 2013 and the second from this year. The increase in pollution is obvious, especially near Almyrida and Plaka / Kokkino Horio. Another worrying factor is
in March; before the tourist season! So you can imagine the problems for insects in mid-summer. I am not sure that there are
the 5 year change is worrying. And, if you look carefully you will see that the amount of pollution at sea has increased but also, very disturbing, the
White Mountains. As I said last month, flying insects are the major pollinators on this planet and without them…
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Wanderings and waking dreams An exhibition by John Tier- colour. He claims, “ There is no
ney, Cathy Cogill and Linda Talbot at the Sailing Club of Hania Neorio Moro, Old Harbour, Hania from Ocober 1 to 6 2018. Open daily from 10am to 10pm Opening Night October 1 7pm
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news & articles
John Tierney’s abstractions are explosive collisions of concept and colour open to personal interpretation. He sees them as “wanderings” – along a road to an unknown n o k destination. A strong s clic ost.gr re new ep for mo ttp://cret colour may induce the h first brush strokes, then the way evolves to a point on the horizon, taking baffling byways and eventually coming to a place that may already be familiar. He was in his early 30s when he started painting and was much influenced by growing up on a farm in America. He has since exhibited in countries from Mexico and France to Canada, Germany and Slovakia. H did a stint with the peace corps in Africa, teaching agriculture and how to build houses, painted in Rajasthan in India and lived on a kibbutz in Israel. This was all grist to his mill of melding emotion and fearless
big difference between realism and abstraction. They all flow with the same current.” He would steal into Montreal art schools and draw because the models were free but decided art school was not for him so did not attend. “I learned by hard work and looking at past masters,” he explains. “People react differently to my work, acccording to who they are. I express myself with colour and form which opens doors for me and others.” Cathy Cogill, who comes from Australia but spends much time in Hania, is drawn to the power of the sea and constantly paints it breaking. Within her waves lies a palette of colour, from deep green and light-
charged blue to the white froth and flow of the waves’ crests. She also paints aspects of life in Greece and has made mosaics which she studied in Cyprus, Delos and Ravenna. “Greece and the sea are the two themes that strongly define my life and my painting and to which I constantly return ,” she says. “My need to be immersed in these two visually stimulating places helps my endless exploration and representation of them. “For this exhibition I hope that my attempt to capture the power and fluidity of the breaking wave in a fleeting moment of time will provide a strong contrast to the timeless solidity of the iconic white-washed Greek architecture. And I think that the predominantly blue
and white palette creates an overall unity.” In her collages, Linda Talbot moves from echoes of Greek mythology to a comment on the devastation man is inflicting on our planet. This is a selection from several series of her work – from “Arcadia Re-visited” to “From Cloudscape to Clay” – a personal take on Earth and Sky. She creates the collages, often in mixed media, from watercolour to Indian woodblocks, monoprint and paper, veering from humour to ambiguous encounters in the past, present and future. There is a skit on the Three Graces at Home, imprisoned in empty bottles, Gaudi’s Garden House, inspired by that artist’s audacious use of colour and form and Blue Peacocks, combining an unworldly redhead with the artist’s photo of an oriental plate. Elsewhere she comments on the chaos and decline of Earth thanks to man’s negligence. “Burnt Out Forest” is a semi-abstract comment on traumatic demise, while in works from “The Secret Garden” series there is entrapment and ghostly implications in the dark. Linda Talbot
“Skerry“ by Rick Haynes
down on the hard bench adjacent to his stone cottage, Skerry watched the stars. Like pinpricks in the curtain of night, they gazed down on a weathered face. Unconsciously, a thin smile managed to break through his stare of incomprehension. He inhaled deeply. Old before his time the Norseman remembered the last few days. The boat had run aground on a sandbank not five hundred paces from the shore. With such a valuable cargo of silver, the three-man crew would not leave the boat unattended for the currents were running strongly and the chance of destruction, high. Ropes had been lowered over the side as one man would need to swim ashore and raise the village from slumber. But who would be mad enough to try?
ing white-flecked waves high into the air, offering only a deadly embrace. With the threnody of the wind increasing both men had lashed themselves to the small mast and prayed. With only their thoughts for company any concept of trust between them was being swept away as quickly as the storm. Eyes burnt with both fear and hatred. Plans were made inside soggy heads yet both believed they’d drown first. Too tired to care, Skerry and Cam initially failed to notice that the tempest had long since passed. Trancelike they steered the broken boat into the tiny harbour. Neither spoke as the silver was unloaded and carried to the village hall. Since then only the briefest of words had passed between them, the mistrust growing day by day. And with each new morn the day of reckoning grew ever closer. Skerry knew that he would be forced to share the coins with Cam after one month had passed as the law of the village
elders was absolute. One quarter of any treasure would be paid to them and the rest would be shared equally with the finders. Rubbing gnarled hands through his fuzzy grey beard and wind-blown hair, he looked once more to the heavens. The patience of time encompassed him for Skerry knew that a few more weeks mattered little now. After so many years of hard work with little to show for all his effort, Skerry had a plan that, once fulfilled, would ensure prosperity in his dotage. The wet stone lay in his left hand as he slowly moved the knife back and forward with his right, honing the edge until it could cut through bone. Turning his head upwards once more he envied the lands of the gods so far away. Skerry licked his lips and closed his eyes as he made a vow. Cam would never live long enough to collect his share. Alas for Skerry, Cam had the same idea.
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Sitting
Foul words stung insensitive ears as the crew of three argued. Raised fists led to knives being hastily drawn from leather belts. Skerry remembered his intervention, the anger, the soft words, and finally the realisation that one of them had to overcome his fear and swim. Lots had been drawn and, to the huge relief of Cam and Skerry, the luckless Ralf had been lowered into the hissing waves of fury. His tenuous hold on the unusually slippery rope gave way to panic and within seconds he had struggled as the cold seeped into his hands. Looking upwards towards his friends, Ralf knew from the looks on their faces that he was doomed. The draw had been fixed. As his final plea for help failed to sway his shipmates, he succumbed to the inevitable. One final insult, a release of his hands and Ralf disappeared to meet his gods in a watery grave. Cam and Skerry quickly looked away, unwilling to watch the demise of a shipmate. Grey waters were now throw-
news & articles
The church bell tolled mournfully before fading away like a lost dream. And like an old memory, the sound of silence followed, whispering at the wind’s departure.
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Coca-Cola Launches New Bottle Design Inspired by Crete’s Minoan Civilization Coca-Cola Greece has
launched a bottle design celebrating the Greek island of Crete’s rich culture and history. The design was inspired by Minoan civilization and Cretan mythology and uses the power of the world’s most recognized brand to promote Crete as an international tourist destination. The limited-edition bottle features a modern design inspired by murals of Knossos Palace (a UNESCO World Heritage site), the famous myth of the Minotaur and the ancient ritual sport of bull-leaping in n o k c Crete, Taurokathapsia. s cli .gr re new epost for mo ttp://cret h “We were inspired by Cretan values, tradition, and history,” said Diana Birba, marketing manager for Coca-Co-
la Greece, Cyprus, and Malta. “By depicting them in our first collectible Coca-Cola bottle for a specific region in Greece,
we aim to promote Crete as a memorabilia home with them, tourist destination, offer vis- and celebrate 10 years of makitors the opportunity to take ing our products here in Crete.” a unique piece of modern art
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food & wine
The 18 products that have kept Greek exports afloat A basket of 18 products has soaring presence in interna-
kept Greek exports afloat since the outbreak of the financial crisis, posting an increase of 71 percent in turnover abroad from 2009 to 2017, compared to just 25 percent for other exports (fuel excluded). According to a study compiled by National Bank of Greece’s Economic Analysis Department, it is those dynamic products that supported the local economy during that time and account for 30 percent of all Greek exports. They are split into two categories. The first category comprises basic commodities, which account for 27 percent of Greek exports. They have secured significant shares of international markets, and include aluminium (1.5 percent of the global market), marble (7.5 percent), olive oil (8 percent), olives (26 percent) and feta cheese (3 percent). The second category consists of up-and-coming goods that may only account for 3 percent of Greek exports, but have a
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tional markets: They include yogurt (7 percent of the global market), ice cream (1 percent), smoked fish (2 percent) and peanuts (1.6 percent). During the crisis years the basic commodities held their ground with an average global market share of 2.5 percent, while the up-and-coming goods almost doubled their share to 2 percent in 2017. At the same time, the rest of Greece’s exports saw their grasp on the global market drop from 0.16 percent in 2009 to 0.12 percent last year. Among the 18 products in the dynamic category – those that have managed to increase or retain their high market share and price level – are highly competitive commodities such as food with special quality features (olive oil, smoked fish, olives, yogurt, peanuts, feta and ice cream). There are also products that have bought into their market share by following a policy of low pricing, such as marble, cement and aluminium.
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Greek Reporter
Keeping pets safe in autumn The arrival of autumn brings a new set of challenges to pet owners, especially when the clocks go back, so here are some tips for keeping you and your pet safe and well as the nights draw in.
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pets & vets
All pets The change in seasons can bring on skin conditions, breathing issues, aching joints and allergies, make sure you are carefully monitoring your pets health. If you notice any unusual changes seek veterinary advice. Slug pellets are poisonous to all pets so avoid using them in your flowerbeds and pots. If consumed by your pet it may cause twitching, fitting, diarrhoea, vomiting, excessive panting, uncoorck on ws cli post.gr e n e r e dinated walking, muscle for mo ttp://cret h tremors, hypothermia and many other symptoms. If your pet is showing any of these signs take your pet to the vet immediately. Similarly anti-freeze and screen-wash have the same dangerous life threatening effect on pets as slug pellets do, so if you are getting your car ready for winter remember how deadly they are to animals. What’s worse is that there is a substance in anti-freeze and screen-wash that is highly palatable, so keep them away from your pets. This time of year encourages rodents to seek warmer shelter so do not leave any rodenticides down in garages or sheds where your pet could
get at them as these can also be fatal if eaten. Problems with fleas and ticks both increase over the autumn period, with a peak when people start turning on their central heating. Make sure you use flea and tick control and check your pets coats often. If a tick is found make sure to use the correct tick removal kit. Cats Some cats get a lot less exercise in these colder months as they don’t go outside so much. Do make sure you adjust their food intake accordingly to avoid them gaining too much weight, also make sure fresh water is always available. If your cat does continue to go outdoors during the colder months, make sure they don’t stay out for too long especially when temperature is below freezing. Look out for frostbite. It is most common on the ears, the tail and footpads and looks pale, glossy or white. Take them to the vet if you feel this is developing. Prevent potential burns by protecting your cat from open fires and heaters. Hoot your horn or bang the bonnet before starting your car as cats do have a tendency to curl up on the tyre or near the engine. Cats are the most inclined to eat anti-freeze so keep it locked away. Make a cozy place for your cat to sleep with some warm bedding, free from drafts and you
could even raise the bed off to walk with someone else so the floor as they love that. perhaps you could set up a walking group with other dog Dogs owners you know. Even with the darker mornings Avoid listening to anything on and nights and the worsening your headphones and taking weather, your dog still needs or making calls on your mobile regular exercise. Your dog is as any distraction can make unlikely to get the same level you more vulnerable. of exercise and access to the Always let someone know outdoors that he had during where you are going and how the summer, but it can lead to long you expect to be. Carry behavioural problems if your a mobile phone in case you dog does not have enough ac- need to call someone in an tivity and mental stimulation. emergency and always take a If your dog is getting less ex- route you know. ercise during the week, his fit- Play scent games in the house ness levels will not be as high or garden by hiding treats or as in the summer, so don’t go toys and letting him search crazy with his exercise at the for them. Make it very easy weekends as he could experi- and obvious to start with and ence health problems. gradually build up the level of If you are walking your dog difficulty. early in the morning or after Feed some or all of his meal in work, invest in a reflective vest a Kong or a treat dispensing or jacket for yourself and even ball. a reflective collar and lead Purchase a couple of interacfor your dog. If you take your tive dog puzzle toys or make dog to a safe area where he your own. A simple one is to can run off lead, you can pur- get a muffin tin, put a treat in chase small flashing lights that each hole and cover each treat are attached to the dog’s col- with toys that are safe for your lar so you can see where he is dog. Then allow the dog to and when he stops for a poo! hunt for the treats by lifting up The blinkers come in different the toys. colours which is useful if you Teach your dog a repertoire of have more than one dog. tricks. Also buy a good quality torch Go to training classes and with a good range or a ‘head- practice at home. light’ which keeps you ‘hands Remember that if your dog free’. is getting less overall exerKeep your personal safety in cise, make sure you adjust his mind when dog walking in food intake accordingly so he the dark and only walk in ar- doesn’t gain weight. The same eas where you feel safe such as applies if you are doing more where there are street lights or training with treats as a reother people. It’s always best ward.
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Why Do Allergies Get Worse in Autumn? While hay fever and aller- hard to tell what is due to aller-
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health & nutrition
gies caused by trees are usually associated with springby Miltiades Markatos time, seasonal allergies can Pneumonologist also spike during the early fall months. Cool autumn air harbors irritants that can be just as unpleasant as pollen. Allergens from trees and grasses float through the air in spring, summer and fall, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). These particles can enter a person’s nose, eyes, ears and mouth, triggering an allergic reaction. “The most common fall allergy is ragweed, which pollinates from August 15 to early October through most of the United States and on r s click re new cretepost.g o parts of Europe,” said Dr. m r / fo http:/ Jay M. Portnoy, chief of allergy, asthma and immunology at Children’s Mercy Hospitals & Clinics in Kansas City, Mich. “It causes hayfever, with symptoms that include sneezing, runny nose, stuffy nose, itchy nose and itchy, watery eyes.” Mold spores are also released in autumn, and become more common in the air as decaying leaves and other vegetation fall to the ground, Portnoy said. This worsens allergy symptoms because as mold particle counts climb higher, they become increasingly irritating to people with allergies. High mold counts also contribute to breathing problems among those with asthma, Portnoy said. “Sadly, fall is also virus season, with increased colds and the flu,” Portnoy told Life’s Little Mysteries. “Since all of these are happening at the same time, it is often
gies and what is due to infection.” Attempting to escape fall allergens by staying indoors probably won’t work, Portnoy said, because low humidity inside homes is another major trigger of nasal and lung allergy symptoms. Low humidity dries out mucous membranes and leads to inflammation, while cold, dry air causes the lining of the nose to become swollen, resulting in a stuffy and runny nose. While the ideal indoor humidity is from 35 to 50 percent, homes and offices may have a humidity level as low as 16 percent. Portnoy advises using a humidity meter, also known as a hygrometer, to keep track of the humidity levels. If levels are low, a humidifier may help relieve nasal problems. Changing vent filters and servicing heating systems can also ease symptoms. Vacuuming and cleaning the house often to keep dust mites, pet dander or other indoor allergy triggers under control may help alleviate discomfort, according to the NIH. But there’s still some good news for those suffering from autumn allergies. “Many people get better once the weather turns colder and stops fluctuating from warm and cold,” Portnoy said. “By November, it often gets better.”
leaves begin to change. The fall can be especially difficult for people who are sensitive to mold and ragweed pollen.But these seasonal elements aren t the only triggers that can make symptoms worse this time of year. There are also a few lesser known triggers.Here are four things you might not know about fall allergies, courtesy of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology: Hay Fever? Hay fever, a term from a bygone era, actually has nothing to do with hay. Instead, it s a general term used to describe the symptoms of late summer allergies. Ragweed is a common cause of hay fever, which is also known as allergic rhinitis. The plant usually begins to pollenate in mid-August and may continue to be a problem until a hard freeze, depending on where you live. See an allergist for prescription medications to control symptoms or to see if allergy shots may be your best option.
Lingering Warm Weather While most people enjoy Indian summer, unseasonably warm temperatures can make rhinitis symptoms last longer. Mold spores can also be released when humidity is high, or the weather is dry and windy. Be sure to begin taking medications before your sympAs most allergy sufferers will toms start. Track your allergy tell you, allergy symptoms can symptoms with MyNasalAlleralways be bothersome, turning gyJournal.org and visit with any time of year into sneezing your allergist to find relief. season. A runny nose, itchy eyes and scratchy throat can arise as Pesky Leaves the days get shorter and the Some folks might find it dif-
A life changing visit to our pharmacy can make you change the way you see life and put your body and mind in harmony. Have you ever visited a pharmacy to taste health? 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
ficult to keep up with raking leaves throughout the autumn. But for allergy sufferers, raking presents its own problem. It can stir agitating pollen and mold into the air, causing allergy and asthma symptoms. Those with allergies should wear an NIOSH rated N95mask when raking leaves, mowing the lawn and gardening. School Allergens It’ s not only seasonal pollen and mold that triggers allergies this time of year. Kids are often exposed to classroom irritants and allergy triggers.These can include chalk dust and classroom pets. Students with food allergies may also be exposed to allergens in the lunch room. Kids with exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) may experience attacks during recess or gym class. Help your child understand what can trigger their allergies and asthma, and how they can avoid symptoms. Be sure to notify teachers and the school nurse of any emergency medications, such as quick relief inhalers and epinephrine. No matter the season, it s important for those who think they may be suffering from allergies or asthma to see a board-certified allergist. An allergist can help you develop a treatment plan, which caninclude both medication and avoidance techniques. Having your allergies properly identified and treated will help you and your family enjoy the season. livescience.com acaai.org