May 2017, Issue No. 45 www.cretepost.gr
the CHANIA POST
Ryanair celebrates carrying 7 million passengers to and from Athens. More flights to Chania in summer
Irish low-cost airline Ryanair on Thursday, April 20, celebrated carrying 7 million passengers to and from Athens International Airport (AIA). The carrier, which began operating in Athens in 2014, will offer 19 routes from AIA this summer carrying up to 3.4 million passengers p.a. while sustaining 2,600 jobs in the Greek capital’s tourism sector, according to an announcement. Ryanair’s 2017 Athens summer schedule will offer 202 weekly flights, including a new daily route to Sofia and more flights to Chania in Crete (25 weekly) and Mykonos (one daily).
Greece’s Fraport-managed Airports Get New Websites German-Greek consortium Fraport Greece has launched websites for the 14 regional airports on the Greek mainland and popular holiday islands that are now under its management. Until now, online information for the majority of the specific airports was provided by the website of the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority. The new websites contain destination presentations and useful information for passengers for flight schedules, access and facilities. Users will also find info on matters relating to customs controls but also for more specific issues such as traveling with medical devices and pets. The new websites of “Daskalogiannis” International Airport is: http://www.chq-airport.gr
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A Cretan scientist in the fight against Parkinson and Alzheimer’s disease
New app for keeping Apokoronas clean Apokoronas council developed a new tool in its effort to keep the municipality clean. From may a new mobile app will enable residents and visitors to sent photos and comments directly to the council’s cleaning department of uncollected rubbish and large items left at the side of the road or by household waste bins. Mayor Koukianakis calls on residents and visitors to help the council keep the municipality clean for the summer season. Until the app is made available at the play store, you may call at +302825340522.
CRETE AMONG ’10 BEST EUROPEAN DESTINATIONS’
The island of Crete in Greece is considered the third “Best European Destination” by Money magazine, mainly due to its numerous attractions and competitive prices. Money is a magazine that is published by Time Inc. and includes articles that cover personal finance topics ranging from investing, saving, retirement and taxes to family finance issues.
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by Stratos Solanakis
CHANIA POST
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24h routes from Chania Public Bus Services Chania
Public Bus Services announced the beginning of 24h routes to specific destinations. Started from Friday, April 28: • Chania – Stalos – Agia Marina – Platanias – Gerani (every Friday and Saturday, from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.) Chania Public Bus Services will schedule more 24h routes in the next few weeks.
Delay in tax case rattles Greek winemakers Winemakers are increasingly revenues and another blow to concerned by the fact that a year and a half after taking recourse to the Council of State asking for the cancellation of the ministerial decision to introduce a special consumption tax (SCT) on wine, no verdict has been issued yet. Their case was submitted in January 2016 and discussed last May, but the decision has yet to be released. Meanwhile the tax has not fetched the anticipated revenues to the state while generating an increase in the illegal trade of wine and of grapes for winemaking, resulting in a further drop in state
law-abiding winemakers. “Small enterprises in the sector have a particularly big problem: While they submit data on their SCT, they have major debts due to the high contributions due and the cash in their accounts has been confiscated so they constantly incur fresh fines,” explains Giorgos Skouras, the president of the Hellenic Wine Association (SEO). The SCT on wine fetched less than 24 million euros into state coffers last year, according to SEP director Thodoros Georgopoulos, while the budget had foreseen revenues of 60 million euros from the tax.
ECO friendly paper - Please recycle When you finish reading... give it to a friend Find CHANIA POST at the following points: CHANIA Municipal Market, Airport, Public Bus Central Station, Old Harbour, Municipal Tourist Information Desk PLATANIAS Central Square Infokiosk, Botanical Park KISSAMOS Gramvousa and Balos boats, Elafonissi, Falassarna KANDANOS-SELINO Paleochora Info Desk, Sougia, Kandanos SFAKIA Hora Sfakion Infokiosk, Loutro, Agia Roumeli, ANENDYK boats APOKORONAS Georgioupoli, Kavros, Vamos, Kalyves, Vrysses Also in Chania taxis, Limnoupolis Water Park and in selected cafes, businesses and shops throughout Chania Prefecture.
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editorial
Money Magazine Includes Crete Among ’10 Best European Destinations’ to Money, the cost to spend a 3. Crete, Greece most weight to the price of airThe island of Crete in Greece is ing week for two on Crete would reach 4. Krakow, Poland fare, lodging, and food, as well as
considered the third “Best European Destination” by Money magazine, mainly due to its numerous attractions and competitive prices. Money is a magazine that is published by Time Inc. and includes articles that cover personal finance topics ranging from investing, saving, retirement and taxes to family finance issues. Taking into consideration the “record low summer transatlantic airfares” and the strong U.S. dollar, the magazine urges travelers to pack their walking shoes and travel from the United States to popular European destinations such as Crete, Paris, Prague, Rome, Italy and Barcelona, among others. Money named Crete a “best destination for your money” due to its world-famous sites like the Palace of Knossos, its outdoor attractions, beautiful beaches, distinct culture and cuisine. The Elafonisi Beach and the Balos Beach and Lagoon are suggested by the magazine as Crete’s must-see spots. Accord-
$3,697 as ticket prices have gone down nine percent since 2016, while hotel prices have dropped as well. The “10 Best European Destinations” are: 1. Prague, Czech Republic 2. Paris, France
5. Rome, Italy 6. Lisbon, Portugal 7. Budapest, Hungary 8. Barcelona, Spain 9. Berlin, Germany 10. Riga, Latvia The top 10 cities scored highest on overall cost factors, giving the
the biggest year-over-year price drops. Money also considered the number of restaurants and attractions each place offered, as well as experience factors like low crime rates, pleasant weather and ease of access to public transportation. news.gtp.gr
A Cretan scientist in the fight against Parkinson and Alzheimer’s disease Professor Nicholas D.
brain to boost a gene which clears out destructive sticky plaques. He has served as Vice President of Neurobiology at Oxford BioMedica plc, where he pioneered the first ever lentiviral gene therapy to the clinic for Parkinson’s disease (ProSavin®). The treatment, called ProSavin, which was discovered by Oxford Biomedica, is importing in the brain, by using a «disarmed» virus -three genes involved in dopamine production which is the basic chemi-
when it’s missing in Parkinson’s disease. «In that disease some neurons, which produce a substance, called dopamine, are degenerated, so there is a shortage of this substance, which is generated and transmit messages from neuron to neuron. The concept behind this treatment, which has entered clinical trials in France, was to be able with genetic way to reintroduce the cells in a specific part of the brain that had dopamine deficiency. We succeeded and we created this innovative
«The treatment is a painless and somewhat specialized introduction of the virus in this part of the brain. The patient is being operated for four hours with very thin needles which put the virus in this part of the brain, he remains in the hospital all night, coming out the next day and within a few weeks he shows a large difference in mobility» as he describes. It is noted that patients are at very advanced stages when fo news click dyskinesia appears. r more on http://cre tepost.gr «This treatment has
Council. In 2016 researchers, led by Professor Nicholas Mazarakis and Dr Magdalena Sastre from the School of Medicine, Imperial College London, published a research in the journal of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) showing that Alzheimer’s disease could be stopped in its tracks with an injection into the memory centres of the
cal neurotransmitter that sends chemical messages, the lack of which describes the brain disease called Parknson. Thus, genes turn some brain cells to dopamine producers. Dr. N. Mazarakis explains that this is a gene therapy that uses viruses, which are constructed so as to carry therapeutic genes and in this case three genes produce dopamine in the cell
virus and demonstrated a first cultivated neurons after making experiments in the brain in young and then older test animals that not only can we build the dopamine in a specific part of the brain that is lacking from but it was also shocking that this can be effective in young and older models which have all the cardinal symptoms of the disease,» as he says.
begun to show even to people that it is effective, this will be shown in phase two of the clinical trials that will come later after seeing the dose and ensure that we have no negative side effects. In the second stage we will be able to demonstrate how effective the treatment is, through statistical way» he says.
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ellines.com
news & articles
Mazarakis holds the Lucas-Lee chair of Molecular BioMedicine and is head of Gene Therapy in Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London. He is a molecular neuroscientist with an international reputation in gene therapy of neurological diseases. Nicholas Mazarakis is from Crete. His research focuses on investigating molecular pathways of neurodegeneration and developing translational gene therapies for neurological diseases. He received his Ph.D. from King’s College University of London and is an elected fellow of the Society of Biology. He has lectured in conferences worldwide and published in top science journals such as Nature, Science and PNAS. His research is supported by several grants including an Advanced Investigators award in 2008 and a Proof of Concept grant in 2013 from the European Research
Nothing to do? The first of the season’s vis-
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itors had not known it, but the past winter was one of by Yannis Xamonakis the longer lasting, coldest, apokoronasnews.gr wettest of any winters I can remember in Crete. So when my friends arrived for a visit from a far, far away place half the way across the world where it is always warm, they were at once surprised at and disappointed by the chill in the evening air and the amount of rain time they encountered during the ten days of their visit. A lot of time was spent converting Fahrenheit to Celsius and back, something which would have been on s click ost.gr w impossible without the e n e r ep for mo ttp://cret h aid of modern technology, and endless explanations about how unusual it is for this time of the year using all the weather facts available, and fiction when the facts would not be convincing enough. But explanations did not solve the problem we had with what to do. Or to be precise what to do without feeling cold, which excluded a number of activities. Driving to the beach was tried. And while sitting in the car was comfortably warm – with the engine running – the sight of semi naked Scandinavians emerging from the waves and lying on the beach to dry in the murky sunshine brought shivers down the spines of my newly arrived companions who thought this was too much to behold. Tried restaurants and cafes. All judged to be too cold despite the outdoor part of said establishments being populated once again by short sleeved
Norse visitors and locals in heavy coats who were enjoying the short spring sunshine before sunset when the temperature really dropped. And then it rained for a little more than a couple of days. Not the heavy winter rain that brings the side of the embankment down on the national road, but the sort of persistent light rain one encounters in the north of England. ‘I didn’t think there would be so much rain in this part of the world’ my visitors remarked. ‘Well, look around you - the place does not exactly look like a desert does it? Lush green hillsides, garden produce, rivers, brooks and lakes and snow capped mountains don’t come about without any precipitation’ I said, feeling smug with my improving use of weather speak. So we spent some time in Chania town where there were still some places with their heating on, and it must be said that for the last couple of days before my visitors left, there was brilliant sunshine so they got a flavour of what the place is usually like in the spring. And then proper spring came, but it was too late for my visitors who had already departed. A shame, but it got me thinking: there is in fact very little for visitors to do in Crete outside the warm summer months when people can sit outside to enjoy the culinary delights the place has to offer, enjoy the beaches and walk along the mountain paths and gorges. All year round tourism requires warm accommodation, running hot water and some availability of activities that do not expose the visitor to the ele-
ments. Perhaps a reduced version of the full range of cultural events offered in the summer months, but in an enclosed space. Or even, dare I say it, the introduction of film matinees. And for the more radical among us perhaps even a shopping mall like those existing in places of size similar to that of Chania town. Or perhaps a revival – in modern comfort - of traditional activities which have now died out and which managed to keep the residents of this island occupied in times past, during the long cold winter evenings. For there is no doubt it can get cold on this island particularly in the mountains I remember the occasion of my first visit to my grandfather’s home village, high up on the White Mountains through a newly built road. My grandfather had apparently left the village in a hurry more than a hundred years ago, under circumstances that were never disused in the family and I did not know what to expect. But what I met was an unreserved welcome and a guided tour to a cistern (an underground water reservoir used to water sheep during the dry moths) my grandfather had helped to build which still bears his name. It had been at the end of another hard winter, the yards and orchards had been covered under several feet of snow that year, the villagers said. The few remaining families who wintered there were still using their woodstoves in late May to cook and keep warm. In winter there was always the risk of power cuts with the village road – even the new one
- often snowbound, with a dodgy water supply and not a lot of chance for running hot water. Yet the people there had plenty to do. After they drove their sheep to lower pastures, they kept busy by cleaning and spinning or felting wool which they used for knitting and weaving rugs and blankets, making the traditional shepherd’s felt capes, carving wood and repairing the furniture and sometimes they would go hunting. A few years later and all that was changed by the new road and the four wheel drive trucks and the influx of tourists and imported clothing, and so the old activities went by the board and the traditional tools chucked out. “We do not want to go back to the times when we had to wear these scratchy old woollens” and old woman told me without the slightest hint of nostalgia for the old times in her voice. Now there was TV and the internet and social media and mobile phones to keep people busy in the village in winter and anyway, most of the residents started to move to lower ground to the south for winter together with their sheep. But it would be nice if, in these days of agro-tourism, we could start thinking about reviving traditional winter mountain life and some of the traditional skills in a modern context in well insulated warm buildings producing modern, soft to the touch products for the international market. And it would still be cold, but at least the visitors could not complain that they have nothing to do.
Commentaries... I
Greek were to be extracted from any modern, civilized lanby Panagiotis Terpandros Zachariou guage, the latter would revert to stone-age diction. When you have in-depth knowledge of Greek, not only can you play English at your fingertips, but have superior access to the semantics of the words as well, feeling their every nuance, ck on ws cli post.gr e n e r e since the derivatives for mo ttp://cret h of this diction functions exclusively within ancient and modern Greek (the latter being an unbroken continuum of the former). Beyond the obvious Greek words in English and all European languages, there exist within the latter countless Greek words that have been deformed through mispronunciation as they were carried by the Romans and passed on to
the barbaric tribes of the west and Albion. Let’s take “alms” for instance, which means ‘to show pity.’ It stems from the Greek ελεημοσύνη (Εleimosyne). Middle English ‘almesse,’ ‘almes,’ from Old English ‘ælmesse,’ ‘ælmes,’ from Late Latin ‘eleemosyna’ = alms, from Greek ‘eleēmosynē’ = pity, alms, from
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news & articles
A new ship for Cretan Daily Cruises “Atlantis” is the name of sors various cultural,
the new ship for Cretan Daily Cruises. The ship is 76m long and can carry 1.000 passengers with a speed of 18 knots. Cretan Daily Cruises offers dozens of jobs, reinforces the local economy, contributes with social sensitivity to the protection of the environment, spon-
social and sports events, participates in the conservation of our cultural heritage and assists the touristic promotion of Greece. Our ships comply fully with existing national and European legislation regarding the protection of the marine environment and apply all necessary safety measures.
‘eleēmōn’ = merciful, from ‘eleos’ = pity. Greek words reside within the warp and woof of all ‘civilized’ (Hellenized) languages, and if they were to be extracted from the latter, these languages would revert to Stone-Age communication. So indebted is the West and East to Greek that it makes
one wonder why no interest has been paid back to its land of origin by those who run the banking system draining the country of its economy... In other words, who is indebted to whom? (Not that the modern Greek governments are not to blame for their mismanagement, that is.... )
With large, comfortable ships at its disposal that combine welcoming crews, delicious Cretan cuisine, play areas and entertainment activities for children, Cretan Daily Cruises continues to do what it does best... to ensure quality and safety on-board and offer fantastic, unforgettable trips to small paradises on earth!
Destinations • • • • •
DAILY CRUISE FROM KISSAMOS TO GRAMVOUSA AND BALOS DAILY CRUISE IN SOUDA BAY (ALMIRIDA, MARATHI, LOUTRAKI, ISLET OF SOUDA SUNSET CRUISE, DINNER, LIVE MUSIC ΑΝD DANCE ON BOARD IN SOUDA BAY DAILY CRUISE FROM IERAPETRA TO CHRYSI ISLAND DAILY CRUISE FROM MAKRIS GIALOS TO KOUFONISI
Is the world becoming obsessed about driving commodity prices ever lower? The opinion of an Englishman
Is it something that only oc-
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news & articles
curs to me, or is the world getting obsessed about forcing commodity prices ever lower? I mean I fully understand the principle that for those with next to nothing to live on, then the ability to purchase items for less provides the opportunity to buy more. I also see that in instances where the initial price is unrealistically inflated that to hone down profit margins based on greed, can only be sensible and a good practice towards market leveln click o news tepost.gr e r o ling. /cre for m http:/ But the thrust of my conjecture lies with the incessant driving force that customer demand for unrealistically contrived or controlled prices, is that it gives the multinational suppliers an excuse, to behind the scenes, disproportionately cut corners on quality, whilst appearing to be the good guys by not introducing pricing hikes. By way of example of demand, I can recant many an instance where friends, relatives, neighbours and colleagues have boldly boasted to have found flight tickets, frozen foods, new shoes, garden implements or any manner of other products for a price less than the recognised market value. Yet I can
by Hobson Tarrant
barely remember an occasion when the quality of goods received has become the topic of conversation with respect to an expectation surpassed. Surely every commonly purchased item has an actual cost of supply, so why can’t we as consumers accept this fact and allow our suppliers to charge what is the true cost plus a realistic margin of profit, rather than encouraging a downward spiral of price focussed quality cuts. As a more personal observation, my reflection falls upon a breakfast cereal that once positively bristled with tasty nuggets of fruit as depicted on the box, yet over the years, and to no doubt strive to meet low cost demands or to increase profits, the 375gram of once appetising compote is now reduced to two pieces of desiccated raspberry and a bowlful of dust. Equally the ratchet spanner set purchased from the bargain basement which especially boasted every connector head ever devised by man, is no longer a once in a lifetime purchase, but a mere cheap tin facsimile which is guaranteed to bend, buckle or shatter on merest of contact with any form of metal, furthermore, neither can it be relied upon to adequately perform when asked to act as a simple lever to prize free the
plastic lid from a tub of semi chilled, double chocolate with coconut twirl ice cream. Long-life batteries, once a miracle of their age, now barely last a complete night when installed within a twenty five candle power, handbag friendly, Power-torch. The once famous, Doctor John’s patent jogging shoes, complete with go faster stripe and extra deep heal hugging gusset, can be soon found with an unglued flapping sole after a first brief introduction to a muddy puddle. And Sticky Tape? “Gosh! Don’t mention Sticky Tape...” I hear you cry. Who past the age of five can ever find the start line on this wafer thin roll of vaguely adhesive backed gossamer plastic? Yet when started, this once tearable strip is now so tough and eager to twist itself into knots that only people lucky enough to be born with a third hand to hold the scissors can claim its mastery. Yes due to the manufacturer’s sleight of hand on the quality control button whilst maintaining or reducing the price, this once magical invention of user friendliness is now as adult proof as any modern day high toxin pharmaceutical bottle. Now purely for brevity, as I don’t wish to become a bore on the subject, but I do feel that I
would be derelict in my duty if I were not to raise the focus on one further price driven, yet quality devalued item.... The humble household light bulb. Some twenty years hence, or possibly even more, a non-blow bulb was invented. However its author of creation was so severely berated by the lighting industry that his wonderful, no need for replacement, invention was systematically shelved. Hence we still enjoy the technology of yesteryear at a price that we have grown to accept as reasonable, for a machine blown ball of glass that surrounds a cheap twist of wire. And yes, the lighting industry magnates grin as we continue to purchase these delicate visual aids, which let’s face it, exist with a life expectancy that can be compared with that of a free range chicken egg that happens to be rolling down the fast lane of the main Cretan highway. So yes, in my humble opinion I do believe that many Western consumers in the world are becoming obsessed with holding commodity prices low or driving them down ever further, but it is not this fact that in itself causes me distress, but that the cost of such actions in masking the steady decline of acceptable levels of quality as a result.
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Vultures – The future? by David Capon There was a lot of interest
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from the articles about poison detector dogs on Crete and so I felt it might be interesting to provide more information on the problems facing our three vulture species. In March I received the consultation draft ‘Vulture – Multi-species Action Plan to Conserve African-Eurasian Vultures’ (MsAP). It is a large document but I have extracted and summarised the main proon for more news click r t.g os tep posals. http://cre The plan proposes eleven objectives and recommends associated results and actions towards its implementation. The objectives are shown below and I have added a few notes about each. 1. Achieve a significant reduction in mortality of vultures caused unintentionally by toxic substances used (often illegally) in the control and hunting of vertebrates. (For regular readers this is what was discussed in the previous articles) 2. Mortality of vultures by Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS) and occurrence and threat of toxic NSAIDs recognised and minimised throughout the range covered by the MsAP. – These are drugs usually prescribed and administered via vets. Some of the drugs, such as Diclofenac, are known to be toxic to vultures feeding on carcasses of dead animals, especially if the animal dies soon after the injection. (I do wonder what
effect these drugs have on human metabolism). 3. Ensure that CMS (Convention on Migratory Species) Resolution 11.15 on the phasing out the use of lead ammunition by hunters is fully implemented – Lead poisoning is a well-known threat to vultures, which can result in death, but more usually produces a number of secondary effects that will result in death. One report states that lead poisoning may be the most significant threat to Bearded Vultures in Europe. 4. Reduce and eventually halt the trade in vulture parts for belief-based use. (Luckily there is no main structure in Europe) 5. Reduce and eventually halt the practice of sentinel poisoning by poachers. (Again this is not a known problem in Europe; it is when vultures are poisoned by poachers as many vultures could direct anti-poaching personnel to the illegal killing of elephants, for example). 6. Substantially reduce vulture mortality caused by electrocutions linked to energy transmission and generation infrastructure – Death occurs when a bird comes into contact with a live line and touches another wire or a conductive pole. Vultures are large birds and are thus more likely to create a live contact than smaller birds. 7. Substantially reduce vulture mortality caused by collisions linked to energy transmission and generation infrastructure. Worldwide, millions of birds
OFF
die each year as a result of collisions with overhead power lines. I (and also the Hellenic Ornithological Society) have already mentioned in the ‘Chania Post’ the problems associated with wind farms and the death of predators as well as bats and insects. 8. Ensure availability of an appropriate level of safe food to sustain healthy vulture populations. The ‘cleansing’ of agricultural practices and the countryside has reduced available food for vultures. Feeding stations in isolated localities (away from disturbance) are a means of assisting vultures and we do have them here on Crete. 9. Ensure availability of suitable habitat for vultures to nest, roost and forage. Our expansion of activities, housing and roads into remote areas has had a direct impact on populations. This problem is the same for many species of birds, animals, amphibians and insects 10. Substantiallly reduce levels of direct persecution and disturbance of vultures caused by human activities. These activities include for example, quarrying, aviation, agriculture, mountaineering. 11. Support vulture conservation through cross-cutting policies, legislation and actions to enable mitigation of most or all of the most serious threats. There are 3 species of vulture on Crete: The Bearded vulture (Lammergeier) is a magnificent and impressive bird. There are about
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600 to 700 pairs in Europe and 6 pairs in Greece, Crete. An additional problem affecting the species locally is the lack of genetic diversity due to the few adults on the island. This could affect the breeding success and survival unless managed carefully. The sight of a Bearded vulture in flight is something that will not be forgotten. The Egyptian vulture has about 3.000 to 4,000 breeding pairs in Europe and now only 5 pairs in Greece. As a migratory species, coming north to breed, these numbers may fluctuate over a period but, in general, there has been a rapid decline in numbers over the last few years. Its main threats have been unintentional poisoning, food shortage, electrocution and NSAIDs. The Griffon vulture is the one species most often seen on Crete. There are about 350 to 400 pairs in Greece and about 32,000 pairs in Europe. Unintentional poisoning is the major threat to this species. This is a large bird that can be seen soaring on thermals, especially in the White Mountains, when it is considered to look like a flying tray. For each country in the area that has vultures the MsAP has identified the major problems under the different objectives. I am sure you will not be surprised, if a regular reader, that the main concern for Greece is poisoning. But, at least, we know that action is being taken to address this issue.
Cretan brand awarded as world’s best bottled water
The official award ceremony for the Cretan bottled water brand ‘Zaro’s Natural Water’ – which won a gold medal as the world’s best bottled water for 2017 at the 27th Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting – was held in the Cretan city of Heraklion. Zaro’s, which is drawn from natural springs on Crete’s Mount Ida or ‘Psiloritis, tied for the 2017 gold medal with AlphaPure Springs Water against a total of 600 on for more news click entries from all over the r http://cretepost.g world. “Crete is famous for its natural beauty, the hospitality of its inhabitants and its wonderful food. Now it will be famous for its water as well,” said Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting representative Jill Klein Rone at the ceremony. Zaro’s chairman Giorgos Stamatakis said it was a “historic
moment of vindication and pride for the entire Zaro’s family,” while the company’s general director Christoforos Papadimitrakis dedicated the award to all those that had contributed to its success. “It is a prize that has many names written on it: the names of Zaro’s residents that nearly
30 years ago literally collected the company’s starting capital, drachma by drachma. The names of the officials in the local authorities that supported the company over the years but also the 60 company employees that do their best to ensure that the water reaches our homes from the spring in
Amati intact, containing all its nutritional elements,” he said. The Berkeley Springs water tasting in West Virginia, United States is one of the oldest and largest water tasting competitions worldwide. AMNA
The real Cretan cooking experience
Cooking lessons by Fabulous Crete “The Home” Once upon a time there the grapes or the olives, the day something changed inside
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were two boys who grew up in Crete. They loved to go to the high peaks of the White Mountains to meet their grandfather. It was an idyllic village with an amazing view to the mountain over it. The kids played with the old man, walking around the mountain paths, cooking together, enjoying the countryside life. He loved them and they were all his life! He taught them how to farm and harvest
names of the plants and everything about the flora and fauna of Crete. He was a proud and brave man, tired from his life but still strong and happy. His passion was to cook and he was really good at that!! Many years after grandpa passed away, the two children, now men, met in their olive field. The boys are 25 years old now… They never forgot those days in their childhood and their grandpa’s sweet face! That
them. Something affected their thoughts. With one single look, they understood exactly what they had to do! They ran together to their grandpa’s home and saw the yard. It was easy. With passion and plenty of enthusiasm in 2016, the two cousins rebuilt some of the home’s damages and prepared a nice and warm place in which to do something special. It was important for them to teach and share their grandfather’s heri-
tage and revive his secret love to cook. Everything was made by the two boys with their own hands. The ideas of their beloved old man came back to life. Now they are ready to welcome you and live with you a unique experience! N ow everyone will know what is so special about this house. Everyone will be a part of the Cretan way of life and feel the warmness of the Cretan hospitality!
The first gin made from Cretan herbs!
The fertile terrain of Crete,
craft beverages and the endless world of flavors and aromas always inspired us, boosting our creativity. Charmed by the aromatic, full of character world of premium craft Gins we could not resist the idea of crafting a Gin with Cretan aromas. We climbed the cretan mountains, walked across blooming plains, fruit groves and exotic juniper forests and composed in our imagination an aromatic bouquet of Citrus fruits, cretan
n click o news tepost.gr e r o /cre for m http:/
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ic profile which harmonically balances the captivating aromas of citrus fruits and spring flowers with the robust aromatic body of juniper and cretan herbs. Αn elegant Gin of cosmopolitan attitude, refined nose and long lasting, silky aftertaste which
gushes freshness and unrivaled charm. A Gin that certainly deserves to be enjoyed … Solo, with tonic or as a base for minimalistic, aromatic cocktails. Sealed in limited bottles of 700ml, Solo craft Gin is only available in selected points of Greece and abroad.
British man teaches Greek cooking to dozens of travelers every day Greek daily newspa- “The goal here is to have fun, ingredients for dishes from living in several countries.
per Kathimerini reports in the following article the interesting story of Briton Stephen Akehurst who managed to share his love for Greece through food: “He came to Greece alone at the age of 17 after having lied to his parents. “I knew then that I wanted to live in Athens,” says Stephen Akehurst, now 38, as he welcomes me into a beautifully renovated space in the Greek capital, where he teaches Greek cooking to dozens of travelers every day. Here they learn how to make briam, tzatziki and moussaka – both regular and vegan – hear stories about dramatic or funny meals and learn some of the “secrets” of successful recipes, the kind that even mothers may hide from their daughters.
food & wine
herbs and spices. Two months later, our cretan craft Gin has flash and bones… a multidimensional, bold and expressive in aromas – just like the cretan earth – extract from juniper, cretan botanicals, lemon, orange and Grapefruit skins and spices such as coriander, aniseed and cinnamon. Representing the new generation of modern ultra premium Gins, our craft Gin is a contemporary London Dry Gin of limited production – small batch distilled – with botanical character and a fascinating aromat-
The 4 senses restaurant... Follow the Path of an absolute gastronomic delight...
not become chefs,” says Akehurst, the life and soul of “The Greek Kitchen: Culinary Experiences,” which started operating in the Varvakeios Market in downtown Athens about two months ago. “I chose this location on purpose, because it is the block that best represents Greek gastronomy. In the market you can find every type of meat or fish, while the streets around it sell the weirdest spices and best koulouria [sesame-covered bread rings] in town,” says Akehurst, who also organizes food tours. At the same time, he adds, you will find grocery stores run by immigrants from countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Georgia and Poland, to name but a few, who stock
We use and promote local, quality products in combination with the revival of traditional flavours and new gastronomic proposals from 12:00 pm to 00:00 at midnight.
Platanias, Chania Tel. +30 6976 860573 www.olive-tree.gr
around the world. “Some shops tell the story of different chapters of Greek history, as is the case with Miran and the population exchange with Turkey, which inevitably influenced modern gastronomy,” notes Akehurst, who is taking Greek lessons, as is his Bulgarian partner, Nevyana Kolarova. “By combining our knowledge, we offer services in Russian, Spanish, Turkish, Dutch, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish and, of course, our mother tongues.” But is it possible that two European expats know enough about Greek cuisine to teach it? “Our Greek associate, Vasoula Sakka, is entirely responsible for the cooking classes and the storytelling,” Akehurst explains, saying that he is always learning new recipes and modern versions of traditional ones by her side. Akehurst’s love for Greece did not start with food. “I had seen a photograph of the Temple of Apollo at Sounio and it moved me,” he remembers. “I told my mother I was just popping over to London, but I came back with a sunburnt back.” His first surreptitious visit was followed by dozens more, but back then the young Briton did not stay put anywhere for long,
“I started in Latin America and then went on to live in Amsterdam and Copenhagen, paying frequent visits to Greece, and in 2013 I started bringing traveler groups to Greece,” says Akehurst. “I went to my first farmers’ market in the neighborhood of Gyzi and realized how much I missed having an open-air market with fresh and affordable products in the the UK.” He was surprised by the range of cheeses Greece has to offer, which he puts at over 200. As a result, he’s not surprised that Greeks eat more cheese annually than the French.” Akehurst also noted differences in food cultures. “Dutch people eat for sustenance; here, people take pleasure in cooking and indulging in long meals. Cooking is important to Greeks and it is also associated with close family ties,” he says. “My parents never traveled, but I had a deep desire to discover the world that I heard was out there, beyond my village, beyond Brighton.” Despite his globetrotting ways, Akehurst says he is determined to stay in Athens, “just as I had originally planned” – for now, at least. “I imagine myself an old man living in Monemvasia, or Porto Heli if I’m rich.” eKathimerini
being difficult to care for, but actually learning how to take care of roses is somewhat simple. The main components involved with caring for roses that you need to understand are: planting, watering, fertilizing, pruning, and winterizing. Simply put, with the correct amount of water and sunlight and a little bit of grooming, your roses should thrive. And remember, roses are resilient plants. So, if you occasionally forget or muff something, the plants are surprisingly forgiving. Watering your roses regularly. The rule of thumb for watering roses is to make sure roses get about 2 inches a week. Deep soakings are much better than frequent, shallow watering. Set the hose at the
foot of the rose and let water trickle in. Or if you have a big bed of roses or roses and companions, use a soaker hose or install an in-ground system. Feed roses consistently before and throughout the blooming cycle and use fertilizer to support healthy growth: Use an all-purpose garden fertilizer, because it has balanced amounts of N (nitrogen), P (phosphorus), and K (potassium). Fertilizers touted especially for roses — such as Rose Food — are fine but not mandatory. In spring, as the plant emerges from dormancy, you can water with a tablespoon of Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) dissolved in a gallon of water to promote strong canes. Groom your roses to improve flowering and keep plants healthy: Using sharp clippers, you can spruce up
your rosebushes whenever something unattractive about the plant catches your critical eye. Here’s stuff you can cut out any time you see it: - Dead wood: Remove dead canes down to the ground level. - Damaged wood: Cut it back into about 1 inch of healthy wood. - Misplaced stems: Take off stems that are rubbing together (choose one and spare the other), stems that are taking off in the wrong direction, and stems that are trailing on the ground - Suckers: In a grafted plant, these errant canes emerge from below the graft union (the bulge at the base of the bush). The suckers look different from the rest of the bush - they’re often smoother, straighter, and lighter in color. Another clue: They sprout leaves and occasionally mon-
THIS IS THE MONTH OF... ROSE!!!
grel flowers that look nothing like the main bush. Deadhead and tidy up your roses for a cleaner, more bountiful rose bed. The plant looks better when you get rid of spent flowers. Also, because the goal of all flowering plants is to stop flowering and produce seed (in the case of rosebushes, to make rose hips), deadheading thwarts the process. So, the plant is fooled into making more flowers. Deadhead away! Prune roses in the spring to destroy all old or diseased plant material. Early spring is the best time to prune. If it’s still winter, your overeager cuts may lead to frost damage. Pruning roses is a straightforward process: Remove all non-negotiable growth, thin the plants, and then shape them.
only 3,90 € from 4,90 €
EXCLUSIVE OFFER ONLY FOR “EN KIPO” SHOP IN PLAKA, APOKORONAS AND ONLY FOR THIS MONTH
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Roses have a reputation for
plants and gardening
How to take care of roses
Inauguration of the Municipal Vet Clinic of Chania with German Vet volunteers On
the 10th of April the neutering program in the new Municipality Vet Clinic (MVC) started to function for the first time. The inauguration of the vet clinic as concerns neutering was made by … the German volunteer veterinarians and specifically by Mrs. Melanie Stehle and her assistant, who have neutered more than 500 stray animals of the Municipality, for which the latest did not bear the cost of even one euro, not even the vets’ lunch cost, the latest (as so many others …) being covered by the volunteer citizens. The Municipality of Chania has profited more than 40,000 euro on the toon tal and for the last 6 r s click re new cretepost.g o m r o / f months, a sum which http:/ is covered by the German Animal Welfare Association, coming from the German Animal Lovers citizens for the
stray animals of our country. Whoever heard today at the local TV channel the statements of Mr. Kontaxakis, the new Vice Mayor responsible for the stray animals, would form the impression that the Municipality has two veterinarians, who will neuter continuously and the problem of the stray animals will be solved very soon! It would be preferable, the elected rulers to speak the words of truth and knowledge. For the truth shines in the end. So, to clarify and to avoid erroneous impression, the Municipality has a municipal veterinarian from the beginning of 2017, who does not neuter however and it is not known when this will be accomplished. The European volunteer veterinarians are coming occasionally for 2-3 days, approximately every two months, not permanently and only
Online petition for a public vet in Chania Mr Mayor of Chania,i find the streets when got bored of
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pets & vets
myself in the position to set up this petition as at the moment i am fostering 14 puppies,feeding more than 30 dogs ,and dozens of cats,and all this just because you seem NOT to understand how vital is for the town to have a public vet. They all have been former beloved pets and thrown in
them. Mr Mayor, and anyone in the position to take decisions for the benefits of stray animals,you should thoroughly consider to set it up fast as,we,the animal protectors we will stop beeing the idiots of the town,as we are paying from our pockets for medical treatement,vaccinations,sterilisations,food,etc. And,YES, you need to make a
after the invitation and intervention of the Federation and under the uncomplaining help of the members and volunteers of the Animal Welfare Association of Chania “The Protection of Animals”. We would like to thank once more our local veterinarians, who -we should not forget -are professionals, for their offer to the Municipality of Chania for 100 free neutering, the medication needed being covered by the Municipality. We would also like to mention, that the late Lefteris Ambadiotakis was the Vice Mayor who understood, and worked on idea of the Municipality Vet Clinic (MVC) we have today and fought to overcome the unjustified reactions of the local residents. We owe him a lot …. With the MVC, which was one of our objectives and goals and for which we struggled approximately 5 years in or-
der to achieve it through postponements, delays, retractions, reactions, e.t.c., we took a step forward. In order though to reach the desired point, i.e not to have stray animals anymore, we have a long and uphill road ahead. The main responsibility does not belong to a third person but mainly to us, the owners of the accompanying animals, who continue with undiminished zeal!!! to abandon their animals and let them pregnant and then throw the baby animals everywhere. And then we have the audacity to complain about the packs. What an hypocrisy.
big change,cause if you don t do something about castrations,especially,we will all drown in strays, sick, crippled animals!the lucky ones,die quickly… And for those who are asking what are the organizations in the animal welfare are doing for the stray animals,i want to answer them back,have castrated your cat or dog???? So all you by not castrating
your animals,and not only,stop complaining about the noise and damages that you,yourselves created. And you,citizens of Chania,you have the power in your hands,you can vote for people who are willing to support any programs to give the animals in Crete a decent life! Vote here... https://secure. avaaz.org
Natassa Vyssinou Mpompolaki President of Pan-Hellenic Animal Welfare and Environmental Federation www.pfpo.gr
How to Make Your Vacation Rental Stand Out
Amenities You need to provide your guests with modern amenities. If available, your rental home should include internet and Wi-Fi, access to more than one television, and other modern conveniences like hairdryers and DVD players. Think about the things you use on a daily basis and stock your rental with them.
Provide Information Include lots of information about your city or town. Even before a guest books your Stay Modern home, provide them with a list Guests should not feel like they of things to do and places to go. have just entered a time warp You can even create an email when they visit your home. template to answer questions People expect more comforts and try to offer as much help as and amenities when they are you can when talking to guests on the road, especially when about potential bookings. it comes to furniture. Replace old and outdated furniture Stock the Kitchen with something new. When Your guests will probably eat purchasing furniture for your out more often than not, but home, choose pieces that can the kitchen should enable them stand up to abuse and mix well to enjoy a home cooked meal. with the surroundings. Always The kitchen should have a dishkeep furniture and walls clean washer, a microwave, a coffee and be prepared for spills and maker, pots and pans, cookcleanups. ing knives, flatware, plates and drinking glasses, kitchen utenDecorating sils, and anything else a guest
might need. It’s also a good idea to keep a stock of garbage bags, cleaning supplies, and light bulbs on hand.
could even feature people enjoying themselves at the home, like relaxing beside the pool or cooking hot dogs on the barbecue. It’s also a for more n ews click http://cre Market Everywhere good idea to give people a tepost.gr It’s tempting to only use one sense of the neighborhood site to market your vacation and compile a photo collage of rental home—and this ap- local dining and entertainment proach might work for some options. people. But if you’re looking for a maximum return, you’ll need Keep Everything Clean to place your rental on multi- At the end of the day, a clean ple sites and local ads. This will vacation rental home can make open yourself up to a larger all the difference. You can eipool of guests and help diversi- ther hire a cleaning service to fy your market. accomplish this or do it your-
Make a Video A walkthrough video can really make your rental stand out from the competition. The video should include a tour of the inside of the home and a quick look at the outside. The video
self. Either way, every room should get a thorough cleaning between stays. You also need to make sure everything is well stocked before guests arrive including toilet paper, extra bedding, and other supplies.
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Define Your Market Appealing to a wide market is great for peak seasons, but finding guests when things are slow will increase your investment. Discovering why people visit your area is key in defining your market. Is your home near a popular fishing river or beach? Is your area a popular destination for families? Whatever it is, capitalize on your market and outfit your house to meet that demand. If you focus too much on the wider market you run the risk of getting lost in the mix.
Decorating your vacation rental home doesn’t have to be a pain. You can add small touches that have big impacts. This includes hanging some artwork on the walls, putting throw pillows on a couch, or installing a collection of books and magazines for guests to enjoy. The key is to make your guests feel at home, but avoid making the space feel too cluttered.
do it yourself
There are many factors that contribute to a successful vacation rental home. With the competition getting better every year, there are things you can do to make your rental stand out above the rest. From marketing your home to offering modern amenities, here are a few ways you make your vacation rental the best of its class.
Tree Pollen Allergy You’ve by Miltiades Markatos Pneumonologist
got a problem with pollen. Do you know if the kind that bothers you comes from trees, and which ones to avoid? It’s a common cause of allergy symptoms, especially in the early spring. And it’s not just about the trees in your yard.
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health & nutrition
What to Know Tree pollens that trigger allergies tend to be very fine and powdery. The wind can carry them for miles. Inhaling even small amounts can trigger allergy symptoms. Trees that often set off allergies include: • Ash • Aspen • Beech on r s click re new cretepost.g o m r • Birch / fo http:/ • Box elder • Cedar • Cottonwood • Elm • Hickory • Mountain elder • Mulberry • Oak • Pecan • Willow People with tree pollen aller-
gies sometimes assume that trees with colorful flowers -- like apple or cherry trees -- will trigger their symptoms. But flowering trees usually have bigger, stickier pollen that doesn’t blow in the wind or cause symptoms. 3 Things That Make It Worse 1. Warm, windy days. Wind picks up dry pollen and sends it into the air. When it’s cold or damp, pollen counts are usually lower. 2. Certain fruits and vegetables. If you have nasal allergies to certain trees, you have a high-
er risk of allergic symptoms from some of these foods. For instance, if you’re allergic to birch trees, you may get itchiness or swelling in your mouth or around your face after eating almonds, apples, carrots, celery, cherries, coriander, fennel, hazelnuts, kiwi, peaches, pears, or plums. 3. Having trigger trees in your yard. How close you live to a tree makes a big difference. When one’s in your own yard, it could expose you to 10 times as much pollen as a tree down the
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
street. Tips to Manage Your Allergy Get tested. It’s important to know which trees trigger your allergies. Once you do, you can figure out how to minimize your exposure to their pollen. Avoid contact. It’s simple: Stay inside when pollen counts are high. Keep your windows shut. If you are going outside wear a baseball cap, and when you come in, rinse your face (including eyebrows and nostrils) and wash your hands -- and you may even want to change your clothes. Remove trigger trees. If one in your yard clearly causes symptoms, prune back the branches to reduce the amount of pollen it releases. You could also take it out and replace it with one that’s less likely to cause allergies, like apple, cherry, dogwood, fir, or pine trees. Treat it. Medicine -- antihistamines -- can ease or prevent allergy symptoms. Allergy shots and other forms of “immunotherapy” can also make a difference.
Snorkelling in Chania
The dive mask Snorkelers normally wear the same kind of mask as those worn by scuba divers. By creating an airspace, the mask enables the snorkeler to see clearly underwater. All scuba diving masks consist of the lenses also known as a faceplate, a comfortable skirt, which also encloses the nose, and a head strap. There are different styles and shapes. These range from oval shaped models to lower internal volume masks and may be made
The practice of snorkelling Although donning a mask and snorkel and swimming in any body of water would technically constitute “snorkelling,” by and large it is generally accepted that a “snorkeler” would don such gear and practice such activity within the vicinity of a reef, wreck, or other submerged objects, either to observe aquatic organisms including fish, etc. or to look at rock formations. Being non-competitive, snorkelling is considered more a leisure activity than a sport. Snorkelling requires no special training, only the ability to swim and to breathe through the snorkel. However, for safety reasons, instruction and orientation from a “experienced” snorkeler, tour guide, dive shop, or equipment-rental shop is recommended. Instruction generally covers equipment usage, basic safety, what to look for, and what to look out for, and conservation instructions (fragile organisms such as coral are easily damaged by divers and snorkelers). As with scuba-diving it is always recommended that one not snorkel alone, but rather with a “buddy”, a guide or a tour group. Some commercial snorkelling locations require snorkelers to wear an inflatable vest, similar to a personal flotation device. They are usually
bright yellow or orange and have a device that allows users to inflate or deflate the device to adjust their buoyancy. Especially in cooler water, a wetsuit of appropriate thickness and coverage may be worn; wetsuits do provide some buoyancy without as much resistance to submersion. Experienced snorkelers often start to investigate amateur free-diving, which should be preceded by at least some training from a dive instructor or experienced free-diver. Safety precautions The greatest danger to snorkelers are inshore and leisure crafts such as jet skis, speed boats and the like. A snorkeler is often submerged in the water with only the tube visible above the surface. Since these crafts can ply the same areas snorkelers visit, the chance for accidental collisions exist. Sailboats and windsurfers are especially worrisome as their quiet propulsion systems indicates that a snorkeler may be unaware of their presence, unlike any motor-driven craft, as sound travels farther underwater. A snorkeler may surface underneath one and/or be struck by such vessels. Few places demarcate small craft areas from snorkelers, unlike for regular bathers who may have areas marked by buoys. Snorkelers may therefore choose to wear bright or highly reflective colors/outfits and/or to employ dive
flags to utilize being spotted easily by boaters and others. On the other hand, some snorkelers may use camouflage in order to surprise unsuspecting visitors. Snorkelers backs can be exposed to the sun for extended periods and can burn badly (even if slightly submerged), without being noticed. Wearing appropriate covering such as a “rash guard” (in warmer waters), a t-shirt, a wetsuit and/or sunblock will mitigate the risk of sunburn. Dehydration is another concern. Hydrating well before going in the water is recommended, especially if one intends to snorkel for several hours. Proper hydrafor more n ews click o n http://cre tion also prevents cramps. tep ost.gr
Snorkelling locations Snorkelling is possible in almost any body of water, but snorkelers are most likely to be found in locations where there are minimal waves, warm water, and something particularly interesting to see near the surface. Generally shallow reefs ranging from sea level to 1 to 4 meters (3 to 12 feet) are favoured by snorkelers. Deeper reefs are also good, but repeated breath holding to dive to those depths limit the number of practitioners and raises the bar on fitness and skill level. There are daily snorkelling tours in Chania area and the old harbour area is the initial point.
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The snorkel A swimmer’s snorkel is a tube typically about 30-40 centimeters long and with an inside diameter of between 1.5 and 2.5 centimeters, and fitted with a mouthpiece at the lower end, and constructed of rubber or plastic. The mouthpiece is from silicone. It is used for breathing air from above the water surface when the wearer’s mouth and nose are submerged. The snorkel usually has a piece of rubber that attaches the snorkel to the outside of the strap of the diving mask. An older technique is pushing the snorkel between the mask-strap and the head, but this practice increases the chances the mask will leak.
from different materials; common choices are silicone, siliter and rubber.
sports & leisure
Snorkelling is mentioned by Aristotle in his Parts of the Animals. He refers to divers using “instruments for respiration”. Snorkelling is the practice of swimming on or through a body of water while equipped with a diving mask, a shaped tube called a snorkel, and usually fins. In cooler waters, a wetsuit may also be worn. Use of this equipment allows the snorkeler to observe underwater attractions for extended periods of time with relatively little effort. Snorkelling is a popular recreational activity, particularly in Chania. The primary appeal is the opportunity to observe underwater life in a natural setting without the complicated equipment and training required for scuba diving. It appeals to all ages because of how little effort there is, and without the exhaled bubbles of scuba-diving equipment.