May2018

May 2018, Issue No. 56 www.cretepost.gr

the CHANIA POST

Crete in Forbes’ top places to visit in Greece

Greece may still be fiscally flabby but it’s shaping up to be one of the world’s hottest destinations this summer and the country as a whole still offers better value for your money than other Mediterranean hot spots like Spain and Italy.

And Greece has literally hundreds of islands ripe for discovery., just like Crete.

• Crete (north side) Long a popular destination for Europeans seeking beach weather for six months out of the year or more, Crete is not only the largest of the Greek islands but in many respects the most spectacular.

Its mountainous terrain makes it a bit of a tough cookie to navigate on a short time frame, but if you think of it in terms of northern and southern sections it becomes easier.

The north is where you’ll find some of the most interesting cities, such as Heraklion and the nearby Minoan ruins of Knossos as well as Rethymno and Chania.

The latter two have retained many fine architectural details from Crete’s Venetian era.

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Fraport Greece and Crete Region to promote Chania as winter destination Fraport Greece CEO Alexan- the regional authority on plans der Zinell, attending a meeting with regional authority officials in Chania, expressed the company’s intention to begin dialogue with local authorities on working together to attract companies to regional airports during winter months.

The meeting took place to brief

for the development of Chania’s “Daskaloyiannis” airport, ANA reports.

During the meeting, Fraport was presented with a joint memorandum of all participants at the meeting stating that “our shared goal must be the economic development of Western Crete.”

Municipality established Old Town of Chania as a tourist zone

• Crete (south side) The south side of Crete is far less developed than the north, which is good news for those who appreciate dramatic landscapes and beaches.

We recommend starting out in Heraklion, the Cretan capital.

Have an authentic lunch at Peskesi and then rent a car from a solid local company like Auto Candia.

Then take Route 97 due south, stopping to see the impressive Minoan ruins at Phaistos along the way.

Follow the signs to Matala, once a hippie colony but nowadays a very lively beach town.

Municipal authorities recently tabled a proposal for the entire Old Town of Chania to be delineated as a tourist zone in efforts to facilitate visitation and boost city segments that are currently outside popular areas.

Chania Mayor Tasos Vamvoukas added that proprietors will also have the choice to open their businesses on Sundays during the tourist season and extend their operation by two hours in the evenings “without being threatened with fines for violating time requirements”.

Chania tradesmen have repeatedly expressed their opposition to shops opening on Sundays.

Other top places are: • Attica (Athens, Lake Vouliagmeni, Cape Sounion) • Thessaloniki • Milos • Paros • Karpathos • Corfu Forbes.com

PUBLIC BUS SERVICES - KTEL

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

Photo of the Month by Stratos Solanakis

CHANIA POST

Your local free paper by FTP Publications 73, El. Venizelou str., Chania, 73100 Tel. +30 6977 295075 Owner/Publisher: FTP Publlications Web: http://www.cretepost.gr E-mail: info@chaniapost.eu FB: http://www.facebook.com/chaniapost Twitter: @chaniapost Editors: Pandelis Giaitsis, Elpida “Hope” Katsarakis, Pandelis Spiridakis, Miltiades Markatos, Giannis Venetakis, Giannis Xamonakis, Petros Marinakis, Antonia Tsakirakis., Giorgos Atsalakis, Stavros Tsihlis, Manolis Karpadakis.

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Crete Region, SETE Team Up to Boost Greek Tourism Presence in Brussels In efforts to keep up with to upgrade contacts and its tor’s presence there. developments in the EU and launch awareness-raising actions, the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE) is closely collaborating with the Region of Crete, and will be holding its promotional and networking activities at the Region’s office in Brussels. he decision was announced

by Crete governor Stavros Arnaoutakis during a working group held recently at the Porto Elounda Hotel at Agios Nikolaos on Crete.

“We consider SETE’s initiative

presence in Brussels, very significant, and on our part, we are more that happy to host SETE’s meetings, contacts and conferences at our offices in Brussels,” said Arnaoutakis.

SETE President Yiannis Retsos underlined the fruitful cooperation with the Region of Crete and local sector professionals and thanked Arnaoutakis for the offer.

Since taking over as head of the confederation, Retsos has repeatedly stressed the need for SETE to strengthen its ties with key decision-makers in Brussels, and boost the sec-

“Right now, tourism is gaining much more importance on a pan-European level as issues concerning most European countries, especially those in the north, have come up…

This said, it is vital that SETE be present in such discussions,” Retsos said earlier this year following a visit to the European Commission.

The focus of SETE’s activities and contacts while in Brussels will be on overtourism, Schengen visa policy and overtaxation as well as EU decisions on issues of tourism, among others.

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, Italian Factory Outlet and selected shops in Platanias

KISSAMOS Gramvousa and Balos boats, Elafonissi, Falassarna KANDANOS-SELINO Paleochora Info Desk, Sougia, Kandanos SFAKIA Hora Sfakion Infokiosk, Loutro, Agia Roumeli, ANENDYK boats APOKORONAS Georgioupolis, Kavros, Vamos, Kalyves, Vrysses ...and also in more than 100 points throughout Chania Prefecture!

Forbes: The coolest beach in the world is in Crete The beach of Kommos in from a church’s back door into sky blue fringed by a wide arc

Crete is the coolest in the world according to a recent article published by Forbes magazine.

The leading publication’s contributor Anthony Grant describes this stunning Cretan beach as follows: “Kommos Beach in Crete is cool on all counts.

The first time I saw this overlooked Greek beach I very nearly rolled like a human boulder

its crashing electric blue surf.

That’s because my archaic insistence on using paper maps had put me on the wrong side of a village I was trying to find.

When I finally pulled up to a small Greek Orthodox chapel in the hope of asking someone for directions, I didn’t realize I would be on top of a bluff with swirling waves a couple hundred feet below.

That view had me swooning: a glorious expanse of liquid

tite just doesn’t apply. of white-gold sand, ringed by Kommos feels like a slice of pine green and beige moun- heaping nature at the end of tains behind. In the distance, the earth and it’s not somethe uninhabited island of Pax- thing you can resist.” imadia seems custom-made to fire up your wanderlust.

There are very many beaches in Europe that are, well, nice but also rather manicured and small. Here, pe-

British man arrested for photographing military facilities A 74 year old British man who, according to some local press reports is a resident of Apokoronas, has been arrested by military security while taking photographs of the 115 Fighter Squadron facilities at the Souda air base.

He is held in police custody in Chania. on suspicion of breach of regulations that make photographing military facilities a

criminal offence.

Police authorities have not released the mans name, but the investigations reportedly include looking at material on the man’s computer and telephone.

According to local reports the man claimed that he is a plane spotter but the authorities are not convinced, as it appears that the man has been known

to the authorities for similar breaches of the photography embargo and are considering charging him with spying.

He was reportedly arrested at a point of the airport perimeter between the military and civilian airports from where he could have a full view of the facilities.

He is alleged to have had in his possession photographs of the

115 fighter squadron facility, the US base of the airport as well as of the Naval base. Authorities claim that he should have been aware of the sensitivity of the situation, particularly as it is said that he was a former employee of the British Civil Aviation Authority.

Apokoronas News

RyanAir closes Chania Airport base and cancels all domestic flights from June 1 Ryanair, Europe’s No 1

discussions with the relevant airport operators to develop growth schemes (for all airlines) which would justify and sustain year round services and additional aircraft permanently based at Greek airports.”

Ryanair blames Frarport Greece for raising charges for the airline. Ryanair’s chief commercial officer David O’ Brien said the

company appealed to ministers to drop the charges.

‘We are not a philanthropic organization. We wrote, as you know, to several ministers and we said look, drop the taxes in the winter, and we will try to deliver the traffic”.

Ryanair will continue its Athens services to and from Santorini, Mykonos and Thessaloniki.

Hoteliers Call on Ryanair to Re-examine Chania Base Termination Chania hoteliers are calling In response, the Chania Hotels by the end of April, “in order to Chania’s on low-cost carrier Ryanair Association is calling on Ryto re-examine its decision anair and Chania airport manto slash its domestic flights ager Fraport Greece to re-asin Greece, and shut down its sess the decision in view of the base at Chania Airport on upcoming tourism season and of the company’s contribution Crete.

The Dublin-based airline an- to tourism and the local econnounced its decision to can- omy. cel four low-frequency flights In a letter, the Chania Hotels from Chania to Katowice, Association, one of the counMemmingen, Venice Treviso try’s largest representing hundreds of professionals, is calland Vilnius. ing on both parties to meet

find a solution together with the professional bodies of the Chania prefecture”.

“We are shocked by the upcoming developments set to lead to a reduction in flights at Chania Airport… all flights are very important because they boost accessibility to our destination with a significant direct and indirect economic impact on the local economy,” the association said in its letter.

Fraport reaction on Ryanair domestic flight cutbacks Fraport Greece respects the sons of the company. Fraport actions are focused needs and choices of Irish budget airline Ryanair to reduce its domestic flights in Greece, Fraport Greece general manager George Vilos said and still considers the airline as a strategic partner.

Fraport Greece, which operates and develops 14 regional airports in Greece, said that “Ryanair’s decision to reduce its flights in the domestic market is based on operational rea-

Greece respects Ryanair’s operational needs and choices, and (Ryanair) remains in any case a strategic partner operating in 9 of 14 airports, holding a significant market share and registering great growth in recent years in international destinations.”

Vilos added, “On our side, our priority is to serve the increased passenger traffic we expect at our airports this year, and our

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ews click o n http://cre tepost.gr

professionals go on to note that “the timing of the decision is ill-advised and unfortunate as it overrides all previous planning made by passengers, travelers and professionals”.

Indicatively, according to an annual survey carried out by the Technical University of Crete, Ryanair’s full-flight program contributed approximately 220-250 million euros to the economy in 2016.

towards flights only in summer and only that direction.” to international destinations; Ryanair said that as of June 1 flights that need fewer aircraft it would shut down its base in in Greece.”

Chania, Crete and keep only its He added that “two aircraft will Athens to Mykonos, Santori- be transferred from Greece to ni and Thessaloniki flights this Germany where they can generate higher performance on summer.

Earlier, Ryanair Sales and Mar- an annual basis.” keting director for Eastern Mediterranean Nikolaos Lardis said in a statement the reason for the decision was that the airport charges “encourage

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port charges at the majority of Greek airports encourage peak-only services in the summer on international routes, which require less based aircraft in Greece. Two aircraft will therefore be transferred from Greece to Germany where they can achieve superior utilisation on a year round basis. Ryanair remains open to

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airline, today (11 Apr) announced that it is reducing its domestic Greek flights and transferring aircraft from Athens (1) and Chania (1) to bases in Germany from June 1st where Ryanair is expanding its services.

As a result of this decision, Ryanair’s Chania base will close, which will also result in the cancellation of four low frequency flights from Chania to Katowice, Memmingen, Venice Treviso & Vilnius. Ryanair will continue to operate its Athens services to/from Mykonos, Santorini and Thessaloniki this summer, however all other Greek domestic services will be cancelled from June 1st.

Ryanair’s Sales & Marketing Manager for the Eastern Mediterranean, Nikolaos Lardis said: “Regrettably, current air-

The Yesterdays of Crete (part 8)

The Greek Civil War... by Hobson Tarrant arm their factions, communist other partisan force called the Once Crete had been freed population.

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from the German occupation the island and its people were left in a totally dishevelled state.

Lack of housing, food, clothing, infrastructure and social order meant that the main priority for the Cretan people was a daily struggle to exist and somehow create some basis for a future.

Meanwhile on the mainland of Greece wider problems were brewing which had in fact started to ferment even before the invasion by ck on li c r s .g the German army. re new epost for mo ttp://cret h The origins of what was to become the Greek Civil War started as far back as April 1941, it was caused by the divisions over which side to support in the occupation of Greece by Nazi Germany, Bulgaria and Italy.

While Axis forces approached Athens, King George II and his government escaped via Crete and then onto Egypt where he proclaimed a government-in-exile. This government was recognised by most Western Allies with the exception of the Soviet Union.

Winston Churchill among others encouraged the King to appoint a moderate cabinet to rule with, as a result he appointed two past members of General Ionnis Metaxas’s regime which had come to power in August 1936 in a coup d’etat.

But this government in exile failed to convince the Greek people of their relevance, and at the same time the Germans set up a government of collaborators in Athens which also lacked any legitimacy or support.

The government of collaborators which was also known as a puppet regime was further undermined when economic mismanagement in wartime conditions created runaway inflation, acute food shortages and famine among the civil

The power vacuum that was created was eagerly filled by a number of resistance movements which ranged from communist to royalist in their beliefs.

An active resistance first became evident in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, where Bulgarian troops were occupying the Greek territory, but soon large demonstrations were organised in the main cities under the heading of ‘ The Defenders of Northern Greece’ which were seen to be a party of patriots.

Then on the 27th September 1941 a larger party emerged, The National Liberation Front (EAM) which was the combination of four smaller groups which all espoused the Soviet philosophies of creating a broad united front against Fascism, this form of presentation also won wide support with the non-communist patriots.

These resistance groups began to launch attacks against the occupying powers and developed into wide ranging espionage networks, but the communist leaders of the EAM had wider plans to dominate the political scene in post war Greece, and so by force or subversive tactics they sort to destroy all other Greek resistance groups that stood in their way.

They murdered a number of other resistance leaders and undertook a campaign that became known as the ‘Red Terror’.

Then by the time liberation from the German occupation finally came in October 1944, Greece was in a state of crisis, brought about by the power struggles of the differing factions which soon led to the outbreak of a civil war.

The first signs of the wider civil disorder took place in Athens, on the 3rd of December in 1944, which was less than two months after the Germans had retreated from the area.

After receiving an order to dis-

leftists resigned from the government and called for an outbreak of resistance.

A riot, The ‘Dekemvrianá’ erupted and the Greek government police, with British forces standing in the background, opened fire on a pro-EAM rally which killed 28 demonstrators and injured dozens more.

The rally had originally been organised to demonstrate against the perceived impunity of the collaborators with Nazi Germany and also the general disarmament ultimatum, this had been called for by the acting British commander in Greece. The battle lasted for 33 days and resulted in the defeat of the communist EAM. Subsequently a Treaty of Varkiza was signed on 12th February 1945.This treaty spelled the end of the ascendancy of any left-wing organizations. Some parties were successfully, or at least partly disarmed, whilst the EAM soon shunned off its facade of being of a multi-party character, to become openly dominated by the KKE (Greek communist party).

Meanwhile the pro-government and police forces unleashed a ’ White Terror’ as it was known, violently attacking the communist left supporters which created an even further escalation of the tensions between the dominant factions of the nation.

The war erupted in 1946, when forces of a former group of revolutionary partisans called ELAS started to find shelter in the hideouts that were controlled by the KKE, which softened relationships between them.

The KKE by then were organized under a High Command headquarters of the DSE, (the Democratic Army of Greece, an armed body founded by the Communist Party in 1946, at its height it numbered around 50,000 men and women. The DSE was also backed by an-

Popular Civil Guard.)

The KKE as the leading political force of the partisans, decided that there was no alternative way to act than as a joint venture against the internationally recognized government that had been elected in the general election of 1946, which the KKE had boycotted.

The Communists then formed an opposition provisional government in December 1947 and used the DSE as its military arm.

The neighbouring communist states of Albania, Yugoslavia and Bulgaria offered logistical support to this provisional government, especially to the forces operating in the north of Greece.

Meanwhile the recognized elected government forces suffered a number of setbacks between 1946 and 1948, but with increased aid from America, and the failure of the DSE to attract sufficient additional new recruits, (partially due to the external split of the communist hardliners Tito and Stalin in 1948), the elected government army eventually triumphed over the communist forces in 1949 to end the Civil War. The final victory of the western-allied government forces led to Greece’s membership in NATO in 1952, and helped to define the ideological balance of power in the Aegean Sea for the entire Cold War. The civil war also left Greece with a vehemently anti-communist establishment, which would lead to the creation of the Greek military junta of 1967–74 and a legacy of political polarisation that has lasted until today. (to follow - Part 9 - The Military Junta ) The Yesterdays of Crete is now available in paperback from Amazon and ebook on Kindle.

Lufthansa Group Adds New Routes to Greece for Summer 2018, incl. Chania and Heraklion airports itive financial results in 2017 German aviation company New routes for Summer 2018 mos to Zurich this year.

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Lufthansa Group saw yearover-year passenger growth to Greece in 2017 of 12 percent and expects a similar increase to the country in 2018.

“This reflects the growing demand for popular Greek destinations and the tourism dynamic of Greece,” Lufthansa Group General manager Passenger Sales Greece & Cyprus, Konstantinos Tzevelekos, said.

Speaking during a media event in Athens, Tzevelekos said that Lufthansa’s on s click ost.gr w e n seat capacity for Greece e r ep for mo ttp://cret h rose by six percent, which proves that “the strategic decisions of the Group are in the right direction”.

According to Tzevelekos, for summer 2018, the Group’s network has been enhanced with new routes to and from popular Greek destinations.

Lufthansa Group operates in Greece with five airlines (Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Eurowings), has a presence in 20 Greek airports and offers 443 direct flights per week to 17 European destinations.

Τhis summer, Lufthansa will launch a new route connecting Santorini to Frankfurtroute and SWISS will launch a Kalamata – Geneva route.

Austrian Airlines will introduce 12 new routes this summer, while Brussels Airlines for the first time will connect Brussels-

with Corfu, Zakynthos, Chania, Kos, Mykonos, Kalamata and Santorini. Lufthansa Group’s low-cost subsidiary Eurowings this summer will offer 18 new connections from Corfu, Heraklion, Kos and Rhodes to airports in Germany and Austria.

Edelweiss, a subsidiary of SWISS, will link Chania and Sa-

Tzevelekos also referred to Lufthansa’s Business Lounge at Athens International Airport (AIA), which promotes Greek products to visitors. On his part, Lufthansa Group Senior Director Sales Central, Eastern and Southeast Europe Peter Pullem presented the Group’s strategy,

and added that last year was a landmark year for our Group with significant distinctions.

“Lufthansa became the first airline in Europe to receive fivestar certification from the British Skytrax Airline Consultant,” Pullem said.

Referring to Lufthansa’s brand refresh, including a new aircraft livery, Pullem said that the Group “is more modern than ever”.

Moreover, he said that Lufthansa continues to invest in new, more efficient aircraft, while advancing investment in personalizing and digitizing its services and products.

As part of its brand refresh, Lufthansa has launched the #SayYesToTheWorld campaign that also includes a contest, valid until April 15. which is based on three main The airlines of the Lufthanpillars: Premium Hub Airlines, sa Group serve 343 destinaPoint-to Point Airlines and Air- tions in 103 countries, offering line Services.

15,415 flights each week. The This summer, the airlines of the total fleet of the Group consists Lufthansa Group are offering a of approximately 728 aircraft total of 15,415 flights per week (December 2017), while new to 308 destinations in 103 aircraft arrivals will continue countries. until 2025. news.gtp.gr He referred to the group’s pos-

“He Wood – She Wood” by Rick Haynes and Lesley Talbot torments were threatening crumble and my cracked trunk low bent with the effort, but did When the age of the gods ing to tear them from the riverbank. will float along this river of tor- not break.

ended, their images, hewn into rock and wood, remained to crack and decay as centuries passed.

Aphrodite and her lover, Ares, had sought refuge in the guise of two mighty trees of willow and oak.

Zeus had discovered their illicit relationship and his vengeful wrath awaited them in the heavens. They chose to remain, sentinel and estranged, on Earth.

Through the ages, their power had seeped into the wood giving the trees the strength to survive. Yet, now, that potency was on the wane. n o The Earth had found the k r s clic re new cretepost.g o m r power to exert itself. / fo http:/ What had once been a stream of purity, supporting life for trees and beasts, had slowly evolved into a maelstrom of destruction around them.

Waters now ran deep. Stones and gravel thrown about in rag-

Espying a huge gash in his wooden head and his trunk braced against the foamy waters, Aphrodite spoke to Ares for the first time in years.

“Will you brood forever behind that rock, my God of War?” His head creaked on a weathered torso. Ares responded, his inner core threatening to break.

“Dearest Aphrodite, how graceful you look. Your arched back, your face still so beautiful. My love for you has never diminished. Alas, it is difficult to find the right words to explain my silence for my heart is fearful of the future.”

“Please try. Shake your troubled head and turn to face me, I beg you.”

Ares sighed. “It won’t be long before my time here is over. My seeds have long gone. I pray that they have found good soil to thrive. My own heart will soon

ment, never to return. Torn from this resting place to wander alone, yet my love for you will never die. You spurned my roots sent under the earth to seduce you. Strangling them with your greater power was a spiteful act, yet now, with time so short, I forgive you.”

Aphrodite sobbed. “I was angry, returning to my old life seemed impossible and I reacted. Why did you never tell me how you felt?” She screamed across the foamy waters. What have I done she asked herself, lashing her branches in rage at their stupid pride.

The mass of water was tugging at her body, the sound deafening. Was the level rising? Time to leave. “I’m coming, my love.”

With all her might she desperately sent out new roots. Pushing a way through mud and silt was difficult and Aphrodite’s Wil-

The waves grew. Her twisted branches and trunk groaned.

Aphrodite pushed harder. With arms swaying in the storm and heart close to breaking, her roots finally entwined with her one true love.

“Thank you my wonderful goddess. My strength is almost gone, yet with your arms encircling my trunk, I feel only love.”

As the waves tore the tree trunks from the soil and hurled them into the abyss of no return, two heavenly bodies entwined in love soared upwards.

Aphrodite whispered in her lover’s ear.

“We will once more roam across the celestial heavens. Together we will defy anyone who seeks to part us, even mighty Zeus. No matter his punishment my beautiful lover, we will always be together, forever now.” www.rickhaynesauthor.com

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Once upon a time on the roads of Crete…

by Niall Finn villages. From 1977 onwards, 30 passengers we couldn’t just There were times when go- route.

I had an old Japanese 32-seat- KTEL began to modernise. We stay on the road. So I went and ing up into the mountains or heading over to the south of Crete was a bit of an adventure, as indeed was the route to Heraklion.

And while for the visitor the hassle could have its enjoyable aspects, for the permanent resident it was a part of daily life. For this reason too, the role of the drivers and conductors in those days was not simply important.

Their work had a more social dimension, as is abundantly clear from their descriptions. The people who lived on the buses of earlier decades share with us their experiences.

“We were the link between town and village” “I first got behind the wheel as a job in 1971. My father owned a bus and as soon as I had completed my military service at the age of 21, I started work,” we hear from Michalis Psathoyanakis, for many years a driver with KTEL Chania – Rethimno. And his first route was one of the most difficult ones. “My friend the supervisor, Markos Kanitsakis, sent me off to Theriso – in March, in winter. At that time, the road was in very poor shape, much narrower, more of a lane. A difficult route for a new driver. At that time, the worst routes were to Theriso, Meskla, Selino and Sfakia. In the beginning, and during the 1970s, the roads were in a terrible state. Even when we went to Heraklion we had to take the old road – the modern national road didn’t exist. So you needed two hours to get to Rethimno and another 2 ½ hours to Heraklion.

For me, that was the toughest

er bus. Mechanical problems aplenty, you didn’t know if you would get to your destination.

Out of every 10 trips there would be one at any rate where you were stuck with clutch or other mechanical problems. And you can be sure there was neither air-conditioning nor heating: in summer it was boiling and in winter everyone froze,” remembers Mr Psathoyanakis. He also remembers the warmth of the people and the good relationships with the drivers. Yet problems there were. “I was heading to Heraklion one Sunday afternoon and when we got to Damastas a man came onto the bus who was drunk. He was shouting, swearing and touching the women passengers.

What an uproar! I had to find a place to stop where there were policemen so he could be removed from the bus because it was impossible to make him behave. However, people loved the buses; there were no private cars, so they needed us. Folk were also more outspoken in those days. The best passengers were those from Lassithi because they travelled that way very often. A remarkable feature of that period was that the drivers were considered to be a good catch as husband and had their successes among the fair sex.

In 1977, Mr Psathoyanakis drove the first 50-seater bus at a time an effort was being made to increase the route coverage. He also stresses the community role of KTEL and its buses. “The driver and the conductor were the people linking the town with

were also greatly helped by Mr Mitsoutakis,” he adds “in achieving the position we are now in, launching services to Thessalonica.”

Conductor but also … doctor, pharmacist, baker!

It was in 1965 that Prokopis Tomothakis began as a bus conductor, working for many years on the much loved mountain buses with which KTEL served the route Chania, Rodovani, Sougia, Koustogerako three days a week and then on three other days Chania, Rodovani, Temenia, Paleochora. Particularly loved by the residents of the province, and beyond, Mr Tomothakis was for many years perhaps even more important than the rural doctor! “The trip from Chania to Koustogerako took four hours!

We took with us on the bus rubber boots, shovels and mattocks because there are a number of spots where earth or rocks would fall on the road or where the road would be closed by snow in the winter. You couldn’t count the times we had to stop to clear soil, stones or snow.

I remember once we were travelling from Rodovani towards Sougia when we found the road blocked by a metre and a half of mud. The passengers disembarked and we cleared the vegetation from three terraces and threw it on top of the mud to form a roadway for the bus!”

On another trip, again heading towards An. Selino, while it was snowing, the windscreen wiper of the bus broke. “The snow was bucketing down and with

sat on the bonnet of the bus and cleared the snow off the windscreen with my hands while we drove the six kilometres to the village of Agia Irini. When we came to a stop there, my hands were numb like wood and I had goodness knows how many kilos of snow on top of me. They rubbed me for an hour before I recovered!”

Knowledge… of medicine In particular it was when it snowed that the problems multiplied. “We were heading out of Chania for An. Selino and the dispatcher said we would be better advised not to go because it was snowing. I had a chat with the driver, Yiorgos Parthalakis, a really tough fellow, and we decided we wanted to get the job done. With 30 passengers, we reached Sebronas but one and a half kilometres after that the snow began. We couldn’t go either forwards or backwards! We left the bus and all headed back to Sebronas but we had among us a woman who had been discharged from hospital and was returning to her house in Prines.

She wasn’t able to walk! I therefore carried her piggyback the one and a half kilometres back to the village. However, she didn’t feel well, was in poor condition and getting steadily worse. We then called an ambulance but it could not get any further uphill than Prasses. With three other passengers, we then carried her on our backs as far as Prasses, where she was taken on board the ambulance and off to hospital.”

Niall Finn

24 Hour Guarded Parking

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Desertification: The very real threat to Cyprus and Crete!

What can we do about deforestation? by Conor Bracknell Forests are an essential part continue at this rate, then the occurring due to deforestation. both products major causes of

of life on earth. Not only do they provide shelter for 80% of the planet’s land-dwelling animals, but they play an essential role in the carbon cycle too.

Deforestation has occurred since early human civilizations began to clear trees for housing and farming, but in recent times this process has accelerated rapidly, with an area of trees the size of New York lost to deforestation every two days. on s click ost.gr w e n If deforestation were to e p r or mo /crete http:/

deforestation.

Eating less beef, particularly from regions that cut into the rainforest to create grazing land (e.g. South America) is also helpful, and there are other ways to reduce your carbon footprint as well.

Protecting forests around the world is essential to creating a sustainable future, both for our planet’s wildlife and for ourselves. To tackle deforestation we need action and awareness both collectively and individually too.

Biodiversity and Land Degradation by David Capon

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world’s rainforests could be gone completely within a hun- Tackling deforestation Through the work of conserdred years. vation organisations, around 5 billion trees are planted or Impact of deforestation By soaking up excess carbon begin to sprout every year dioxide in our environment, roughly a third of those being forests act as a carbon sink, destroyed in the same timeproviding the first line of de- frame.

While these efforts are essenfence against climate change.

Much deforestation occurs tial, at an individual level there through the often illegal burn- is more we can do to tackle the ing of trees to create farmland, problem of deforestation. Rewith this act releasing stored ducing paper usage and avoidCO2 back into the atmosphere, ing palm oil is a great way to do with 15% of greenhouse gases your bit - with the extraction of

When my daughter was studying for a degree in Environmental Science and Ecology she soon realised why I was so concerned for Nature and the future. One of the fascinating facts she discovered in one module was that Crete is in the World’s top ten hot-spots for biodiversity. This island’s biodiversity is important but is under severe threat, especially at coastal areas, abd due to changes in agricultural practices and climate change. Additionally, Crete is important because of the number or endemic species.

Biodiversity continues to decline in every region on this planet, significantly reducing Nature’s capacity to contribute to Man’s well-being. The alarming trend endangers economies, livelihoods, food security and the quality of life everywhere. This is the core theme of four reports released in late March by the IPBES (Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services).

I, along with many environmentalists, consider that the loss of biodiversity is as damaging as the effects of climate change; although it should be noted that climate change is affecting biodiversity and vice-versa. In presenting the reports the Chair of IPBES, Sir Robert Watson, mentioned that we need to act now to halt and reverse the unsustainable use of Nature or we risk not only the future we want but also the lives we currently lead.

I could write many pages on the reports’ findings (and my own views) but I thought it easier to list some of the trends and data from the report ‘Summary for Policymakers of the

regional assessment of biodiversity and ecosystem services for Europe and Central Asia’.

Many of these data are alarming when you consider the size of the figures.

• 42%: terrestrial animal and plant species with known trends have declined in population size the last decade • 15%: per capita decrease in water availability (since 1990) • 25% of agricultural land in the EU affected by soil erosion (23% in Central Asia), which, combined with a decline in soil organic matter, might compromise food production • 9%: of the assessment of EU marine habitats of conservation interest have shown favourable conservation status; 66% have shown unfavourable conservation status • 26.6%: estimated proportion of marine fish species (for which trend data exist) that have declining populations, due to unsustainable fishing, habitat degradation, invasive alien species, eutrophication and climate change • 20%: diversity of arable crop species that have declined since 1950 in Western and Central Europe • 73%: percentage of assessments of EU freshwater habitats of conservation interest indicating unfavourable conservation status • 51%: extent of decline of wetlands in Western and Central Europe, and western parts of Eastern Europe, since 1970 • 16 - 65%: threatened species of crabs (bivalves 23 - 49%; crayfish 24 - 47%; gastropods 33 - 68%; dragonflies, 9 - 44%) in Western and Central Europe, and western parts of Eastern Europe • 71%: fish populations in de-

cline in past decade • 60%: amphibian populations in decline in past decade • 37%: freshwater fish species threatened with extinction (amphibians: 23%) in Western and Central Europe and western parts of Eastern Europe The last few figures are especially alarming and you may have noticed mostly associated with freshwater and freshwater habitats.

I have excluded economic figures from the list but one that has been calculated is what Nature provides as a feeling of well-being to humans (physical and psychological) and to tourism. It amounts to a median value of $1,117 per hectare each year. I consider that the value is dropping rapidly at the littoral zones in the Mediterranean due to rapid over-exploitation of the area mainly for tourism.

An earlier report from the IPBES is about land degradation and the findings are just as alarming. Land degradation has a huge affect on biodiversity, human health and well-being as well as affecting climate change. Again I have selected a few indicators: • Land degradation through human activities is now undermining the well-being of at least 3.2 billion people (almost half the world’s population) • Land degradation through human activities is pushing the planet towards a sixth mass species extinction • Less than one quarter of the Earth’s land surface remains free from substantial human impacts. By 2050 it is estimated that this will drop to less than 10%, mostly in deserts, mountainous areas, tundra and polar areas unsuitable for human use or settlement

• Wetlands are particularly degraded, with 87% lost globally in the last 300 years; 54% since 1900 • Between 1970 and 2012, the index of the average population size of wild land-based species of vertebrates dropped by 38% and freshwater species by 81%.

• 80% of the world’s population now lives in areas where there is a threat to water security.

• Land degradation, especially in coastal and riparian areas, increases the risk of storm damage, flooding and landslides, with high socio-economic and human costs.

• Transformation of natural ecosystems to human use can increase the risk of human diseases such as Ebola, monkey pox and Marburg virus, some of which have become global health risks by bringing people into more frequent contact with pathogens capable of transferring from wild to human hosts.

These are only a few points from this report and like the first they show how quickly Man is destroying the planet – ‘Our Home’. One of the problems with land degradation (and the loss of biodiversity) is that the average person does not see it or understand what is happening, let alone the effects. As with climate change, education is a key. Following education, we may get to a situation where many people will start querying and demanding change both on land degradation and biodiversity loss. But I sense that much more irreversible damage will occur before this happens. And, as Crete is a hot-spot for biodiversity it is important that more damage is avoided on our island.

Apokoronas Award to Postal Service – ‘Medieval Standard’ fect The citizens of Apokoronas

nication of whatever form may be dumped unceremoniously in a local Taverna, Mini Market, or Town square repository within the next five, ten or fifteen days, dependent upon postal staff availability.

OK, so this current level of service is comparatively new, and yes it would be true to say that the previous services via Vamos or Kalives were far more reliable, not to mention them being pleasant and helpful in every regard, but now we Apokoronas locals enjoy what the late Steven Hawkins described as a ‘Black hole’ of postal communication.

What matter that the Royal mail stamp, or similar from whatever country of origin, is in fact a ‘Legal Contract to deliver’. Yes by attaching a bonifide stamp, a legally binding oath is in ef-

p. 11

of sexual deviation and hypnotic fame), as scribed by the Tsarina Alexander (as the big unwashed Siberian man of religion was illiterate), the letters were sent over two thousand miles, under wartime conditions and yet responded to in less than a week?..

Outrageous!

But thank goodness our Apokoronas postal service doesn’t even attempt to replicate such nonsense in endeavouring to achieve anything like such modern day efficiency.

Same day, or even same week delivery as in most parts of Europe? What piffle and tosh!

To wait at least ten days for a letter or parcel to travel from the UK to Vrysses is the norm as far as we locals understand the current circumstance.

Thereafter a letter or commu-

news & articles

would unanimously wish to award the local postal service the unique accolade of having achieved “The Medieval Standard of Postal Delivery.”

Indeed praise be given where it is due, but not less than ten years hence the delivery of letters and parcels to our local homes and villages could be classed as becoming almost twentieth century, and furthermore it was improving by leaps and bounds...

But now, presumably by having kept a finely tuned eye of priority on profits and staff reductions, the local Post Office provider has successfully turned back the service clock almost as far as the year of Anno Domini 1500, and thus must be applauded for achieving such an impressively downgraded level of performance in such a short time.

How ridiculous it must have been in Dickensian times when a letter could be sent, received and responded to in the same day.

Indeed Tsar Nicholas of the Russia’s whilst commanding his troops against Kaiser Bill’s onslaught in the early 1900’s could receive notes of military strategy from Rasputin (he

by Reginald Arkwright

passed between sender and supplier, that the said goods will be delivered safely, speedily and directly to the name ascribed without undue delay or interference.

Yet here in Apokoronas, who should be held responsible and accountable under the law when our documents and parcels are merely plonked into a free for all, open town square container for any passing fingers to trawl over?

The only thin ray of sunshine on this whole diabolical pretence of a service is that the vast majority of Greek for mo re news clic k on citizens and the expat http://cre tepost.gr community are essentially very honest in their ways and customs.

To my homelands disgrace I could mention a number of geographical locations in the UK where such an adhoc open service of mail would have a shelf life measured in merely beats of a heart before all the mail would be taken, stripped of value and then discarded without ceremony.

So thus we hope that the Apokoronas Postal Service accept with grace their ‘Medieval Standard Award’ and do everything in their power to ensure that a Stone Age accolade is not soon to follow.

Scan the QR to book online your ticket !

Customers Services Transport for people with disabilities Baggage Lockers in central bus station Available free Wi-Fi

Parcels delivery to all destinations

www.e-ktel.com

email: info@e-ktel.gr Kydonias & Parth. Kelaidi, Chania 73100 |Information : 2821 093052 |Storehouse : 28210 97497 Kefalogiannidon Street, Rethymnon |Information: 2831 022212| Storehouse : 2831 022659

“Anezina and Me”… A true Cretan story ‘Anezina and Me’ by Tasos to foreign lands will help ease

Dourountakis is a true life story of the history of his family and the village of Gerani that dates back to the 18th Century.

Using the stories handed down from his grandfather and father, Tasos weaves an enchanting tale using his natural story-telling ability that visitors to his popular taverna in Gerani know and love.

It reveals the horrors of the Ottoman Occupation and the atrocities inflicted on s click re new post.gr o m upon Crete and its peor o e f /cret http:/ ple through word of mouth accounts from that time. The story continues with the joy of independence and the pain of the World Wars.

Tasos Dourountakis was born in 1940, and his first recollections are the sounds of the German occupation after the Battle of Crete. He also describes how love can overcome even the hardest of heartbreaks and the hope that emigration

the pressure of poverty after the years following the Second World War. Published for the first time in English, ‘Anezina and Me’ is already making an impression in the book sales charts where it is in the top ten bestselling books in its genre on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle versions.

Tasos Dourountaks has created a marvelous tale of local history that reads almost like a fiction novel, yet is all true.

With images from the author’s own collection that has been gathered with help from family and friends, you will see for the first time in print images that date back to the late 1800’s and early 20th Century that help visualise the story that Tasos is sharing.

‘Anezina and Me’ is available in paperback and electronic book and can be found on Amazon using the following link: Anezina and Me

Greek Museums, Sites See Rise in Visitors, Revenue in 2017 Museums and archaeo- was recorded in the num- ber of visitors and an 8.2 per-

logical sites in Greece wel- ber of visitors to Greek mucomed more visitors and seums, while an increase of recorded an increase in rev- 11.9 percent was recorded enue from receipts during in the number of free ad2017, according to data re- mission visitors and a 19.9 leased recently by the Hel- percent increase in revenue lenic Statistical Authority from receipts, compared with the corresponding period of (ELSTAT).

According to the data, during 2016. the 12-month period from However, in December 2017, January to December 2017, Greek museums saw a 2.9 an increase of 15 percent percent decrease in the num-

cent decrease in the number of free admission visitors as well as a 4.6 percent increase in their receipts, compared with December 2016.

During December 2017, the museum visited the most in Greece was the Acropolis Museum in Athens that attracted 1,593,362 visitors, up 13.3 percent compared to the same month in 2016.

The second most popular museum in Greece in December 2017 was the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, which welcomed 545,555 visitors and was followed by the Heraklion Archaeological Museum on Crete (426,191 visitors), the White Tower in Thessaloniki (268,149 visitors) and the Palace of the Grand Master on Rhodes (235,414 visitors).

... and some poems from our readers...

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culture

“A grim tale” (by Niall Finn) I never did believe in fairies, Pixies, goblins – just in raries.

For you for whom this dreadful word Is one you’ve never, ever heard, They’re monsters, just about knee-high, Who wreak their havoc on the sly.

They pack great mischief for their size And, sadly, humans they despise.

They live in wardrobes, does a rary, Unseen – in darkness – so they’re scary.

At Christmas, they are at their worst: The next week, when you’ve pulled and cursed To get your trousers on at last

It’s raries who have spent the past Few days preparing their surprise Of making them a smaller size.

But then I caught one! Not red-handed – Their hands are purple to be candid – But I could see what he had done And swore that I would end his fun.

They’re sneaky so I took some pains To wrap him round and round with chains, Drove to a cliff and there I stopped – Planned to watch him as he dropped.

I don’t speak Rary but his cry On seeing how he was to die Meant that to kill him I was chary: “It’s a long way to tip a rary!”

Monster myths (by Niall Finn) I’ve often seen, to my distress, That ogres get a rotten press.

Dragons, giants and the trolls Are also cast in baddy roles.

And that’s not fair, I’m telling you: The concept of the barbecue Goes right back to some ancient knight A tetchy dragon set alight.

Giants? Well, you’d have to say That they inspired the NBA. Ogres once were all the rage But now you need a Facebook page Their bulging eyes, all three abreast, Don’t bring them any friend request.

And as for trolls, they’re much maligned, In one old story that’s designed

To make them look all mean and tough For chewing up some goats called Gruff.

On their behalf, I’m asking you To overhaul your point of view If you can’t see a goat as meat Then you’d do poorly here on Crete.

A troll in fact is gentle, kind And doesn’t ever, ever mind Assisting with a household chore That you dislike or find a bore.

With half a chance you’ll see they can Keep bath and toilet spic and span Though you won’t see them (their disguise Protects them from our prying eyes) That’s where they live, these kindly souls, That we could call the toiler trolls.

Allergies... Symptoms & Types in a dog-loving country isn’t Learn the types of allergies in- life easy. Approximately 37%-47%

by Miltiades Markatos Pneumonologist

cluding food allergies, seasonal allergies, pet allergies, and many more.

p.16

health & nutrition

Respiratory Allergies • Spring Allergies There’s no cure but you can take steps to curb springtime allergies, from medication to household habits.

• Summer Allergies Summer allergies are usually triggered by pollen from grasses and weeds.

• Fall Allergies Ragweed, mold and dust mites are the biggest allergy triggers in the fall.

• Winter Allergies If you have indoor allergies such as mold and dust mites, you may notice on s click ost.gr w e n symptoms more during e r ep for mo ttp://cret h winter, when you spend more time inside.

• Hay Fever Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, is an immune disorder characterized by an allergic response to pollen grains and other substances. There are two types: seasonal, which occurs only during the time of year in which certain plants pollinate, and perennial, which occurs year-round.

• Pollen Allergies More than 25 million Americans are allergic to pollen from trees, grass, or weeds.

• Mold Allergy All of us are exposed to some mold every day, and usually, there are no problems. But if you have allergies to it, you can have a reaction if you’re around too much of it • Dust Allergy For creatures you can’t even see, dust mites can stir up a lot of trouble.

• Dog Allergy For a person with dog allergies,

of American households have a dog.

• Cat Allergy About 10% of the U.S. population has pet allergies and cats are among the most common culprits. Cat allergies are twice as common as dog allergies.

Food Allergies Is It an Allergy or an Intolerance?

Food allergies or food intolerances affect nearly everyone at some point. People often have an unpleasant reaction to something they ate and wonder if they have a food allergy.

• Milk Allergy If you suffer from a milk allergy, strictly avoiding milk and food containing milk and milk products is the only way to prevent a reaction, which can include immediate wheezing, vomiting, and hives.

• Casein Allergy If a glass of milk or slice of pizza causes swollen lips, hives, or other symptoms, you may have an allergy to casein, a protein in milk. Another milk protein associated with allergies is whey.

Some people are allergic to both casein and whey.

• Egg Allergy Egg allergies are more common in children than in adults. Reactions range from mild to severe.

• Wheat Allergy It can be a challenge to avoid wheat because it’s in so many things.

• Nut Allergy If you suffer from a nut allergy, strictly avoiding nuts, including peanuts and tree nuts like cashews and walnuts, and food containing nuts is the only way to prevent a reaction.

• Fish Allergy If you’re allergic to one kind of fish, your doctor may have told

you to avoid others. Here’s what to look out for.

• Shellfish Allergy If you’re allergic to one type of shellfish, you may have problems with others. Take these steps to make sure you don’t have an allergic reaction.

• Sulfite Sensitivity Sulfites are a group of sulfur-based compounds that may occur naturally or may be added to food as an enhancer and preservative. The FDA estimates that one out of 100 people is sensitive to the compounds.

• Soy Allergy If all you needed to do for a soy allergy was skip the soy sauce and tofu, life would be a breeze!

But soybeans are a big part of processed foods, too.

Skin Allergies • Contact Dermatitis Something touches your skin, and your immune system thinks it’s under attack. It overreacts and sends antibodies to help fight the invader, called an allergen. The result is a red, itchy rash where the substance landed.

• Hives (Urticaria) and Angioedema Hives, also known as urticaria, are an outbreak of swollen, pale red bumps, patches, or welts on the skin that appear suddenly -as a result of allergies, or for other reasons. In angioedema, the swelling happens under the skin, not on the surface.

• Allergies to Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac are plants that contain an irritating, oily sap called urushiol. Urushiol triggers an allergic reaction when it comes into contact with skin, resulting in an itchy rash, which can appear within hours of exposure or up to several days later.

• Allergies to Insect Stings

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

Bee, wasp, yellow jacket, hornet, or fire ant stings are the insect stings that most often trigger allergies. Most people are not allergic to insect stings and may mistake a normal sting reaction for an allergic reaction.

• Can You Be Allergic to the Sun? Most people’s skin will burn if there is enough exposure to ultraviolet radiation. However, some people burn particularly easily or develop exaggerated skin reactions to sunlight.

• Cosmetic Allergies Some beauty products can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions. Certain ingredients used in cosmetics, such as fragrances and preservatives, can act as allergens, substances that trigger an allergic reaction.

• Nickel Allergy A nickel allergy is a skin reaction that develops after exposure to nickel or items containing the metal.

Other Allergies • Eye Allergies Millions of Americans have allergies. Most of those millions have symptoms involving their eyes.

• Allergic Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye) Conjunctivitis is one of the most common and treatable eye conditions in children and adults.

• Drug Allergies Many medications can cause side effects, and certain ones can trigger allergies.

• Aspirin (Salicylate) Allergy If you’re allergic to chemicals called salicylates, you may need to avoid certain foods, medicines, and other products.

• Penicillin Allergy Since the 1940s, penicillin has been a go-to drug to clear up infections caused by bacteria. But some people get a bad reaction from taking it.

WebMD

Τen dishes you cannot leave Greece without eating!

One of them in Chania Continuing our series on informal eatery back in 1999, berries.

5. Moussaka What makes it great This perennial favourite, known far and wide beyond Greece, combines fried sliced aubergines, layered with a tomato and minced meat sauce, flavoured with onion, garlic and cinnamon, and topped with béchamel and grated cheese. Oven-baked to perfection.

Where to try it For a good old-fashioned moussaka, try Klimataria in Athens. Here the open-plan 3. Tomatokeftedes kitchen has been serving up What makes them great Similar to kolokithokeftedes, hearty home-cooking since but using tomatoes instead of 1927, and they also offer courgettes as the core ingre- cookery classes, so you can dient, tomato fritters are tast- learn to make moussaka just iest when made with cherry as they do.

Or, for a modern take on the tomatoes from Santorini.

These tiny fruits are packed dish, visit Santorini, known with flavour, thanks to the is- for its white aubergines. Here, in Fira, award-winning gourland’s arid volcanic soil. met restaurant KoukoumavWhere to try them On Santorini, locals recom- los does a moussaka soufflé, mend homemade tomatokeft- combining Santorinian white edes at Penelope’s next to the aubergines, smoked beef carchurch in hilltop Pyrgos. Own- paccio, smoked paprika oil er-cook Penelope opened this and tomato confit with cran-

Telegraph

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cheese, bound together with a light batter of egg and flour, and fried. A perfect choice for vegetarians.

Where to try them Although you’ll find kolokithokeftedes throughout Greece, they’re at their best on Crete. Take a table at Tamam in the former Turkish hamam in Chania and order a platter of kolokithokeftedes to share as a starters. “Tamam” means “just right” – and they are.

food & wine

unmissable dishes in popu- and has been serving up aular destinations, our Greece thentic home cooking ever expert reveals her favour- since. ites.

4.

Fresh fish What makes it great 1. Taramasalata Minoan frescoes, dating back What makes it great This creamy pungent dip to 1500BC, from Knossos on is many people’s favourite. Crete, depict fish and dolMade from smoked fish roe phins in great details. But (cod, carp or mullet), blend- going back even further, fished with olive oil and lemon, ing hooks and fish bones dishomemade taramasalata is covered by archaeologists in indisputably superior to the several caves in Greece prove bright pink industrial version that people were already consuming fish here some 11,000 sold in supermarkets. years ago.

Where to try it After a swim at Agios Sostis, With its extensive coastline (at an arc of golden sand giving 13,000km, the second longest onto a turquoise bay on the in Europe) and deep clean sea, remote north coast of Myko- Greece remains renowned for its excellent seafood. Fresh nos.

Above the beach, next to a fish should smell like the sea, whitewashed church, Kiki’s have shiny eyes and red gills.

Taverna (May-Oct; lunch only) Where to try it Varoulko is much loved for its short Michelin-starred Seaside in Piraeus, Athens, is homely no-fuss menu, includwidely regarded as Greece’s ing taramasalata appetiser. top seafood restaurant.

Here, owner-chef Lefteris 2. Kolokithokeftedes Lazarou serves up exquisite What makes them great Irresistible and best eaten seafood dishes at tables overhot, while they’re still crispy looking the fishing boats in on the outside but moist in Mikrolimano harbour – try the the middle, these tasty fritters fresh sea bass or sea bream, are made from grated cour- simply grilled, drizzled with gettes, flavoured with onion, extra virgin olive oil, and fresh mint and crumbled feta served with a slice of lemon.

kled with oregano.

Where to try it 6. Pastisada In Kardamyli, Lela’s Taverna What makes it great does a traditional horiatiki A Corfiot speciality of Vene- (generous portions, so you tian origin, pastisada is a de- might want one to share belicious meat casserole, usually tween two), using good lomade with beef, slow cooked cal feta cheese and succuwith tomato, onion, garlic and lent black olives from nearby olive oil, plus spices including Kalamata. Or, for an unusual cinnamon, cloves, all spice, contemporary twist, try Micumin, nutmeg, paprika, black chelin-starred Funky Gourmet pepper and bay leaf. Served in Athens – their degustation with thick tubular spaghetti. menu includes the most surWhere to try it prising horiatiki, in the form of In Corfu Town, just off the a white granita, bursting with Esplanade, family-run Rex all the fresh flavours of fo r more n has been serving up Corfiot a classic Greek salad. http:/ ews click on /crete post.g specialities since 1932 – they r do both moshari pastisada 9. Bougatsa (made with beef ) and kokoras What makes it great pastisada (with rooster).

Warm, sweet and sticky, for Or, in Kato Korakiana, like- most Greeks bougatsa is a wise on Corfu, Ettore Botrini’s filo pastry custard cream pie.

Etrusco (voted the top restau- If you live in Thessaloniki, rant in Greece 2017 by Athi- the term bougatsa includes norama and Alphaguide) also savoury pies too, filled with does a smashing pastisada. either kimas (minced meat) or tiri (cheese), as well as the 7.

Lamb Kleftiko sweet krema (custard cream) What makes it great version, sprinkled with icing What made it great originally sugar and cinnamon. was that it was free – arni klef- Whichever you choose, it tiko means “stolen lamb”, and makes a delicious start to the this dish probably dates back day, served up cut into biteto the time of the klephts size pieces, with coffee for (highwaymen who robbed breakfast. the Ottoman Turks).

Where to try it There are numerous variations In Thessaloniki, head for oldon this dish, but it is basically school favourite Bantis (since slow-cooked lamb, seasoned 1969), featured on Rick Stein’s with vegetables and herbs, Long Weekends: Thessalonieither baked in grease-proof ki (BBC2, 2016). Alternatively, paper parcels or braised in an Giannis is excellent too, and earthenware pot. Some reci- stays open till 3am, making it pes add a chunk of cheese too. ideal for a late-night snack.

Where to try it Since ancient times, the 10. Loukoumades Greeks have farmed sheep What makes them great and goats, which do well on Another outrageously sweet the poor pastures of its rug- and sticky calorie-laden treat, ged mountains. loukoumades are bite-size Metsovo, in the Pindos moun- deep-fried doughnuts, traditains, was founded by Vlach tionally served warm, drizzled shepherds. Here both Taverna with honey and dusted with Metsovitiko Saloni (+30 26560 cinnamon.

42142) To Koutouki tou Nikola A more modern version sees (+30 26560 41732) serve up them topped with melted excellent lamb kleftiko, best chocolate, chopped walnuts accompanied by a bottle of and a dollop of ice cream. local red Katogi wine.

Where to try them In Athens, Aigaion (Panepisti8.

Greek salad miou 46) has been specializing What makes it great in loukoumades since 1926.

This ubiquitous side dish Made to order, they’ll fry them (known to Greeks as horiatiki), up for you while you wait, and combines fresh chopped to- you can either eat them in the matoes, cucumber and purple Spartan tiled interior, at one onions, topped with a gener- of a dozen marble-top tables, ous hunk of feta cheese and or take them away in a little a handful of black olives, driz- white cardboard box. zled with olive oil and sprin-

“Koupes”... something traditionally different in Agia Marina!

A Cretan inventive restau- Cretan tradition, when some- You can taste exception-

rant, delivering traditional local recipes and special dishes of Mediterranean cuisine.

Its name comes from an old

one drinks down a full glass of wine... and then calls on another person to do the same... and so on - until everyone present has done likewise.

al steaks (of pork, chicken), grilled salmon, beef chateaubriand, rabbit cooked in wine with throumbi and green olives, beef pepper steak, and

many other specialties that will satisfy even the most demanding customer.

Koupes Restaurant is open every day.

Tel. +30 28210 68080

on r s click re new cretepost.g o m r o / f :/ p t t h

p. 18

food & wine

Greek wines travel through Canada and US on Annual Roadshow In celebration of the increas- Michael Madrigale, and Enolo- are always excited to return to show, ing popularity of Greek wines in North America, Wines of Greece have announced their annual road show and events schedule.

The road show is set to launch events in Canada, with first stop being in Montreal on May 1 and Toronto on May 8, followed by Seattle on May 8, San Francisco on May 10 and New York on May 15.

The events will be showcasing Greece’s wine culture to media and trade, and will be focusing on wines with a Protected Designation of Origin.

Local trade and media in each city will enjoy a Grand Tasting of wines from regions throughout Greece and will showcase different styles of classic varieties plus wines from up and coming Greek grapes.

Educational workshops that will explore the next generation of Greek wines with speakers Konstantinos Lazarakis, MW, well-known Sommelier

gist, Sofia Perpera, will also be New York and San Francisco, incuded. and be introduced to the Seattle market for the first time,” Greek wine exports to the US continues Perpera. on the rise Greek wine exports to the US Wines of Greece Canada/US from 2009-2016 grew by 81.6% Roadshow Schedule of Events in value and 28.4% in volume, • Montreal (May 1) according to Eurostat data, and • Toronto (May 3) the average price per liter in- • Seattle (May 8) creased 41.3%.

“Exploring Greek Wine…the Greek wine exports in 2017 Next Generation” Workshop rose by 14.8% in value com- presented by Konstantinos pared to 2016 and 5.5% in vol- Lazarakis, MW: 10:30am – ume.

11:45am “We will have a new gener- Trade Tasting: 12:30pm – 4pm ation of Greek winemakers To register for the Wines of present who are crafting world Greece Seattle Roadshow, class wines from our classic in- please visit: https://winesofdigenous and other relatively greecegrandtastingseattle. unknown varieties, while ex- eventbrite.com ploring their potential with • San Francisco (May 10) new styles of wine, single vine- “Exploring Greek Wine…the yard bottlings and wines with Next Generation” Workshop less intervention,” notes Sofia presented by Konstantinos Perpera, Director of the Greek Lazarakis, MW: 10:30am – Wine Bureau for North Ameri- 11:45am Trade Tasting: 12:30pm – 4pm ca.

“With the increasing populari- To register for the Wines of ty of Greek wine in the U.S., we Greece San Francisco Road-

please visit: https:// winesofgreecesanfrancisco. eventbrite.com • New York (May 15) “Exploring Greek Wine.. the Next Generation” Workshop with Michael Madrigale & Sofia Perpera: 10:30am – 11:45am Trade Tasting: 12:30pm – 4pm To register for the Wines of Greece New York Roadshow, please visit: https://winesofgreecegrandtastingnyc. eventbrite.com Follow Wines of Greece on Facebook at Facebook.com/ NewWinesofGreece and Twitter at @DrinkGreekWine.

The hashtag for the event is #WOGRoadshow.

About EDOAO (Wines of Greece) Wines of Greece is the national umbrella organization representing the wineries of Greece in their international efforts to introduce, educate and promote the modern revival of the Greek wine sector.

“Metaxia’s” restaurant... A great choice in Platanias!

Excellent quality products, and couples with a variety of

eye-catching and delicious dishes, cretan hospitality and high quality services.

These are the key elements that characterize and define «Metaxia’s» restaurant, located in the «heart» of Platanias, about 100 meters from the main square of the cosmopolitan village, 11 kilometers west of the city of Chania.

The restaurant has a large indoor room and an even larger outdoor patio, access and WC for babies and disabled guests and is an excellent choice for dinner, for families, groups

flavors and a very interesting wine list.

«Metaxia’s» restaurant is on the road leading to Pano Platanias, just 20 meters from the main old highway.

At a very close distance (200 meters) from «Metaxia’s» restaurant there is a municipal car park, where parking is free of charge.

«Metaxia’s» restaurant is open every day from 15.00.

Tel.: +30 28210 60223.

Facebook: Metaxia Restaurant Platanias Crete

for mo re n http:/ ews click on /crete post.g r

Nomada… Enjoy the refreshment with Cretan honey and Sicilian lemons!

“Bubbles, water, thyme honey from Crete and Sicilian lemons,a timeless entirely natural recipe, named after the most travelled genre of the Apidae family, the NOMADA Bee.”

sweetness and aroma that is uniquely spicy, 100% natural.

Manos and Nikolas Smyrlakis launched in 2013 a spirits company , the Finest Roots Spirits, specializing on re-inventing Greek Liqueurs.

Inspired by their journeys and old home remedy legends, they decided to create the first natural honey soda, and bottle

the worlds’t oldest and most travelled recipe.

The true essence of ΝΟΜΑDΑ.

The natural ingredients, the perfect terroir, the heritage of the recipe itself, the travelling and maturation of the recipe in time.

In any way you see it, ΝΟΜΑDΑ can be found everywhere. For us, the start was on the Aege-

an coast of Anatolia, where our grandmother passed this traditional treasure to our mother.

We researched for more than three years to find the perfect balance of each ingredient that would enhance both the taste and the benefits of the recipe, the oldest home remedy in the world.

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tic thyme honey from Crete’s unlimited summer sun, biodiversity with rare plants and animals.

The stunning landscape with high mountain range and island gorges contribute in the making of the most exciting honey variety in Greece and worldwide.

Origin from wild thyme,complexity, strong aftertaste and beautiful terroir.

Thyme honey is the most versatile variety, keeping the same organoleptic characteristics, despite the unstable weather hovering over the Cretan mountains.

Our honey is a natural energy boost with a flamboyant floral taste and fruity aftertaste with hints of citrus.

Our juicy Sicilian lemons grow around Mount Etna, where the Mediterranean climate of sunny hot days and cool nights.

The combination with the volcanic soil, gives a typical

food & wine

We carefully select authen-

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plants & gardening

on r s click re new cretepost.g o m r / fo :/ p t t h

FIND ALL OUR NEW PLANTSAND VARIETIES AT “EN KIPO” SHOP IN PLAKA, APOKORONAS

10 Terms Every DIYer Should Know

HVAC Because many home improvement projects center around or at least involve this household system, it’s an important one to know. HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. This is the system of appliances that makes up the heating and cooling processes of a

Circuit Breaker A circuit breaker is a device that resembles a switch and is typically located within the electrical panel or circuit breaker box of a home. This breaker shuts off the power to either a specified area or all of a home, limiting the amount of power floating through a circuit. This is an important item for any DIYer to know about as circuit breakers are mentioned in many projects involving anything electric around your home.

Grout For bathroom and kitchen projects, grout is referenced frequently. This is a hydrous mortar whose consistency makes it easily able to be placed or pumped into small joints or cavities. This includes in between pieces of ceramic, clay, slate, or tile.

Stud Studs are referenced time and time again in projects that involve carpentry around a home or hanging items on a wall. A stud is a vertical member of a frame wall, typically located between a bottom plate and top plate. These normally exist every 16 to 24 inches apart

from each other, providing structural support for drywall and sheathing.

will come up on your “to-buy” list. Plywood is a building material made out of thin sheets of wood that have been glued Caulking and pressed together. Given Similar to grout, the term “caulk- what a versatile material ing” is bound to come up again this is, it’s an important and again within home im- one to know. provement tutorials. It’s a process that seals gaps between Weatherstripping surfaces and is likely referred to The process of weatherstripin projects taking place in the ping comes up in a variety of kitchen or bathroom. Caulking DIY projects, particularly as works to protect water leaks individuals are getting their and acts as a seal against the el- homes ready for winter. This is ements. Caulking is something the process of sealing openthat would have to be done in ings and cracks around wina project such as installing a dows and doors. This is done new kitchen backsplash. with metal, wood, or plastic materials that prevent air and Dry Rot water from coming through This isn’t a term you want to the openings. run into in your DIY travels, but it’s still an important one to Plumb know, especially when work- This is a simple term with a ing with wood. Also referred simple meaning: “true vertical.” to as “fungal wood rot,” this is This can be compared to “leva fungus that eats away wood el,” which is a “true horizontal.” fibers, causing their diminish- Both are important to know in ment into a powder. This issue the world of DIY. thrives in moist and damp con- The world of DIY projects is ditions. vast, so learning and understanding some basic terms Plywood makes it easier to get a hanA man shopping for plywood dle of the projects you want to in a home improvement store. complete to make your home When you’re building some- the best it can be. Use this thing from scratch, it’s almost guide to put yourself on the a guarantee that this material road to becoming a DIY expert.

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

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Insulation For projects that aim to increase the energy efficiency of a home, this term is an important one to grasp. Insulation is material used to prevent heat loss in a structure, most notably in your home. It’s placed within ceilings, walls, and even floors to lock heat in and keep the cold out.

home.

do it yourself

If you love all things DIY, you’re probably familiar with a glossary of terms referring to carpentry projects, painting ventures, outdoor installations, or anything in between.

Becoming well versed in the world of home improvement can take time, but we have a cheat sheet prepared for anyone aspiring to be a full-on DIYer. Read below for 10 key terms that all home improvement masters should know off the top of their head.

How to Add Summer Fruits and Vegetables to Your Dog’s Diet Summer is coming and that your dog’s diet may lead to otene, phytonutrients and

means farmer’s markets, garden-fresh produce and refreshing, sweet treats.

Did you know you can share many of the same fruits and vegetables you enjoy with your pooch?

Think about it: we tell ourselves to eat more fruits and vegetables and we encourage our children to eat more vegetables and less sugar-filled candy, so why shouldn’t our fur babies also enjoy nature’s bounty of goodness?

Whether you make your dog’s meals from scratch, are looking for new and healthier treats for her or just want to supplement Spot’s diet with some low-fat, n o k c vitamin- and miners cli .gr re new epost for mo ttp://cret al-packed choices, addh ing fruit and veggies is an easy way to rev up your dog’s usual meals and treats.

Just like with children, the sooner you introduce produce into your dog’s diet, the more likely he will be to eat it and enjoy it.

Besides being a less picky eater, your best buddy will build a stronger immune system, have less weight issues and maintain that puppy-like energy needed for long walks and chasing squirrels.

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pets & vets

1. Plan Before You Change Your Dog’s Diet Introducing new foods into

digestive changes. Introduce only one new fruit or vegetable at a time and observe your pooch for any responses to the change.

Keep in mind that every dog is different so please check with your veterinarian to see which ingredients are suitable for your dog.

fiber.

It may take a bit of effort to get your pooch to eat fruit so keep trying until you find some she likes.

Some dogs like the crunch of apples while others like the sweet wetness of watermelon.

Always give your pups small pieces and thin slices to make 2. Know What NOT to Feed sure they don’t choke.

Your Dog Fruits acceptable for your Some plant foods are toxic to dog include: apples, apricots, dogs, so make yourself famil- bananas, blackberries, blueiar with the foods you need berries, cantaloupe, honto avoid and keep Patches eydew, mangoes, peaches, away from. pears, raspberries, strawberThe following is a gener- ries, and watermelon. al list of foods dogs should avoid. Every list I read seems 4. We All Bark for Veggies to name different foods and Adding vegetables to Lady’s have conflicting data. lunch will give her healthy I also know people who say antioxidants, lots of soluble they do feed their dogs cer- fiber, and plenty of vitamins tain items from this list with and minerals. no problems but again, check I make sure that Benny’s dinwith your dog’s health pro- ner always includes some fessional to be sure your fur dark, leafy greens as well as baby is eating properly and something orange – whether safely. that is pumpkin, sweet potaFoods to generally avoid in- toes or carrots – to ensure he clude: onions, garlic, leeks, gets cancer-fighting and imshallots, rhubarb, wild mush- mune supporting beta-carorooms, grapes, raisins, avoca- tenes. do, citrus fruits, nuts (espe- Vegetables your dog can eat cially macadamia nuts) and include asparagus, beets, bell the pits, seeds and rinds of peppers, bok choy, broccoli, fruits.

Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, 3. Fruits for Fido chard, cucumber, eggplant, Fruits give your dog lots of green beans, kale, lettuce, vitamins, minerals, beta-car- parsnips, peas, potatoes,

pumpkin, spinach, squash, sweet potatoes, turnips and zucchini.

5. How to Feed Fruits and Veggies to Your Dog While we might love our spinach and zucchini sauteed in olive oil with lots of garlic and spices, that recipe should not be on Scruffy’s menu.

Fruits can be eaten raw but remember to remove the pits, seeds, rinds and inedible skins.

Cut them into small pieces or thin slices to prevent choking.

Vegetables should be steamed, boiled or baked so they are easier to digest.

Again, cut the veggies into small pieces or you might mash or puree them.

This also makes it easier to incorporate the veggies into your dog’s usual food. You can also add fruits and veggies into homemade treats that will have your dog excitedly wagging her tail.

Your pup pal needs the healthiest diet to maintain all the energy that fetching balls and catching Frisbees requires.

Make sure his diet is well-rounded and includes lots of healthy produce.

Of course, don’t forget lots of belly rubs and ear scratches.

Woof!

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