Greetings from Gavdos

Ai Giannis beach

 

The fine for free camping, according to the draft of the new law on tourism doubled from 147 euros to 300. "The offenders are punished with a fine of 300 euros per person or per campsite or by car, charged by the certifying infringement or port authority police and collected according to the provisions of Article 104 of the Road Traffic Code of Law 2696/1999 (A57). Checks of mixed crews on penalty of a fine imposed by the police officer shown in control, according the draft.

I just wonder if the "authorities" dare do such a thing at Gavdos which is an island just for free campers. They give life to a really abandoned from every state authority place. Gavdos is one of the last reuges for free camping in Greece. And it will stay like this, whatever stupid laws they think to impose.

In my book there's an Introduction to the Greek Landscape (chapter: Greece for Beginners) where I try to explain about the illegal state of Greece phenomenon. Here is a small excerpt

Greece is a country of outlaws. In case that doesn’t reassure you, I can tell you that most are just occasional "illegals” that have to be that way mainly because the great ring leader is the Greek state itself – a governing body that compels you to behave illegally in order to survive. A classic example of this is the illegal buildings that are found everywhere. Even government buildings have been built illegally since no one bothers to enforce building regulations. Real power in Greece belongs to no more than a few dozen wealthy families who have arbitrarily built villas wherever they please because no one dares to check... There are thousands of other arbitrary buildings – from sheds to entire housing settlements – built illegally because there is simply no other way to get things done. In order to obey the laws of this country – a country that doesn’t even have a land registry – a citizen must bravely confront nonsensical bureaucracy and arbitrary decisions made by employees of the state. For example, urban planners will request a small “gift” for their services, regardless of whether what you’re asking for is legal or illegal. Innocent citizens are then faced with a dilemma: do the right thing and accept that your dream house will remain a dream, or pander to the illicit requests of state employees who hold your fate in their hands. It’s not difficult to guess what most people decide to do...

Ai Giannis beach

Lavrakas

the Lighthouse

View from the Lighthouse

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text & photos of this blog by Gregory Papadoyiannis

FEEL FREE TO SHARE EVERYTHING ABOUT THE GREEK ISLANDS

Greek islands top -9 (according to CNN)

CNN presents the top nine islands in and around the Cyclades, each with its marquee attraction

Best scenery: Santorini

Best nightlife: Mykonos

Best traditional village life: Naxos

Best kiteboarding and windsurfing: Paros

Best beaches: Milos

Best for nature lovers: Ikaria

Best Robinson Crusoe destination: Koufonisia

Best couples getaway: Folegandros

Best food: Crete

You can read the article here: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/15/travel/greek-islands

But of course I can't resist writing few comments about the list. Here they are:

Best scenery: Santorini – I can agree with this, but there are too many options here. Santorini is just the best-known-for it's scenery- island. Everyone knows about Santorini and the magnificent scenery in all the famous spots of the island. Still, I believe that the best scenery is the island itself when you approaching it with the ferry. And of course I can think of many more islands with excellent scenery like: Amorgos, Symi, Folegandros, Anafi and Sifnos to name just a few and if we have just to stay close to Cyclades.

Best nightlife: Mykonos – Nothing to say here. Only that you are not really a traveller if you choose an island for its nightlife.

Best traditional village life: Naxos – Well, I love Naxos, and I’d choose the village life there especially around the mountain Za and the picturesque vilafe of Apeirathos but still l think there is more traditional village life in Sikinos and many others.

Best kiteboarding and windsurfing: Paros - This is true. Only keep in mind that Paros is so overcrowded especially in August that even I was a surfer which I’m not, I would choose Lefkada.

Best beaches: Milos –  It is very risky when it comes to decide about the island with the best beaches. Everyone has his preferences but I wouldn’t recommend to someone to put it so simply. The best beach is always the one that you prefer. It is a different issue if there is an island with many beautiful beaches or many sandy beaches and another thing to say that this one has the best beaches. Oddly enough in my book I write about the beaches in island of Skopelos, not exactly in Cyclades, but this is not the point. The point is that almost every island of the Aegean Sea has a lot of beautiful beaches. And it’s up to you to enjoy them and then choose about the best.

Best for nature lovers: Ikaria – This is yesterdays news, or better said: ‘60s news. And this is for an island that I really and truly love. Nature lovers would enjoy it. But, please, if you are a real nature lover, go to another less inhabitant island. Or choose one of the thousand Greek islands which are not inhabitant at all.

Best Robinson Crusoe destination: Koufonissia – Well, there are two of them. There is Ano (Upper) and Kato (Lower) Koufonissi. The second one has no inhabitants and you could play Robinson Crusoe’s part, even if I can’t see any reason for Crusoes just few minutes away from a really wonderful island -and a real paradise for tourists such as the other Koufonissi. And as I mentioned before there is a thousand of deserted islands in Greece. Just find the way to approach them and then you ‘ll play Crusoe for real.

Best couples getaway: Folegandros – No, definitely not. In my guide the best island for couples is Astypalea. Not that a couple can't find the ideal island in Folegandros. The newcomers (and the fresh couples) always seems to find everything fantastic anyway. But, really I would prefer Amorgos, especially in May, or Santorini (definitely in May) or Hydra (preferably in autumn) or Schinoussa (any time) and then I would perhaps think of Folegandros.

Best food: Crete – Ok, but never say it to a native of Crete that you chosen the island just for the good food. People there are very sensitive about their island and you may have some troubles. Just say that Crete is the best island you have ever seen. I say the same. What else can I do?  I live here.

 PHOTO: the village Klima (Milos): for me the best coastal village I 've seen

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FEEL FREE TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS, INFOS & COMMENTS ABOUT THE ISLANDS

About Santorini

I could say a lot about Santorini. I will try to stick to the basics -my own basics. I have been to Santorini in every season and in every note of the love stave, if I can call it that way. In my four journeys, I was quite in love, crazy in love, barely in love (imagine, it was the same woman of the second journey) and the fourth time, married. So, I had the chance to see the island in every phase.
It goes without saying that Santorini is a rather touristic island; a multi-filmed island; an island ideal for cruise tourists. A rich island –and an island for the rich, fortunately not just for them. Because at the same time, it is an island that keeps its magic and mystery. Not like before, but it does. Thirty years ago, when I first went there, there was just magic and mystery...
(text from the 52 eyelands book, the photo goes back to the '8Os, i have no idea who the girl is)

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ABOUT SANTORINI'S BLACK OUT

From: enet.gr- EnetEnglish.gr

Ministers fly to Santorini following new blackout

Updated At: 20:50 Friday 16 August 2013

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras asked two of his ministers to sort out issues on the island of Santorini, where power outages were continuing for a fourth consecutive day on Friday

Interior Minister Yannis Michelakis and Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni arrived in Santorini on Friday as power outages on the island were continuing for a fourth consecutive day.

Santorini and its neighbouring Thirasia have been experiencing power outages since Tuesday afternoon, when a fire at the island's power station caused a blackout that lasted for several hours.

Apart from Michelakis and Kefalogianni, also ordered to the island by the premier were PPC managing director Arthouros Zervos and Hellenic Tourism Organisation (EOT) general secretary Panos Leivadas, who attended a meeting at the town hall together with the island’s mayor Anastasios-Nikolaos Zorzos and local authorities.

Following the meeting, Michelakis said that power would be fully restored by Saturday at the latest.

The Public Power Corporation (PPC) had initially assessed that power would be fully restored by Wednesday night, but different areas were still being supplied in rotation throughout Thursday, before a new blackout left the island without power.

The island's mayor said on Thursday that the municipality was planning to file a complaint against anyone responsible for the ongoing electricity problems. “It's time some people took responsibility for their actions,” Zorzos said in a statement.

According to PPC spokesman Kimon Stergiotis Thursday night's blackout was due to a breakdown in a power condenser.

Sources within PPC told AMNA news agency on Friday that efforts were being made to fully restore power by the end of the day.

They stressed however that hindering efforts were rough seas that delayed the arrival of auxiliary generators from Piraeus and other islands, as well as the difficulty of transporting and setting up the generators. 

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FEEL FREE TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS/INFOS/ COMMENTS FOR THE BOOK & THE ISLANDS

52 eyelands - What you will find/ What you won't find in the book

   52 EYELANDS - A SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY THROUGH THE GREEK ISLANDS

           available through www.paraxenesmeres.gr & www.amazon.com - kindle edition

What you will find here
For every island, you will find information about its history and its connection

with the other islands which belong to the same group.
You will also find basic information about how to get around and spots that I think you should not miss, in order to get a complete picture and enjoy your stay on the island. Keep in mind that this is a guide for travellers and not for ordinary tourists. As such, what I believe is most significant is to give you information based on my own experience, about the style, character, profile and personality of each island.
Along with the commentary on the islands, this book contains some basic yet essential tips for travellers to Greece – and particularly for those travelling to   the islands.
Moreover, there is a small section with some tips – one might say an emotional survival guide – for all those who need to know what to do during their first day on an island.

What you will not find

You won’t find recommendations about the best restaurant, the best night club or the best hotel on each island. This information can be accessed using many other resources. This is not a book containing typical advice for tourists and not just another classic travel guide for the Greek islands; there are already plenty of excellent ones to choose from. This is something unique that cannot be found anywhere else; it is a sentimental journey through the Greek islands and I want to share it with you.

Photo: Tilos

                                              Photo:  Mykonos

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FEEL FREE TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND INFOS ABOUT THE GREEK ISLANDS

52 eyelands - introduction

INTRODUCTION
This is a “sentimental” guide for travellers, through 52 of the Greek islands.
The term "sentimental guide" implies something more than a commonplace guide and I assure you that my book is not written in the style of a classic guidebook. There is already a plethora of classic guidebooks; the internet is rife with a lot of useful – yet even more useless – information. This book has simply been written out of an outrageous love for the islands, to describe of what it feels like to actually “live the island” – even for a week – and to find out what it’s like, from how it looks to how it can be characterized in terms of its deeper essence. I liken this process to getting to know a friend, or perhaps even falling in love.

For me, the islands have always been places where existence became meaningful. Each one of them bestowed a small gift and a confirmation that there is a simple way to be happy: by exploring another island or revisiting one that you’ve already been to after some time has passed. 
Travelling around means you need resources like time and money. But isn’t this also the way when it comes to creating friendships? It takes time to get to know someone, and furthermore, you need to be in the mood for this, to love him/her and enjoy his/her company. This is what happened in my relationship with the islands.  

Of course, nothing compares to the feeling of getting to know a new island, when you first see the lights in the middle of the night as the ship approaches the port. Then there’s the wonderful feeling of seeing an island, just like with your dearest old friends. That’s because every island is a unique creature, and all the islands are somehow just one island – this is what I’ve felt, even from the beginning. The same applies to humans.


52 eyelands    -  INSIDE THE BOOK                
A sentimental journey through the Greek islands
                 

www.strangedaysbooks.gr
www.paraxenesmeres.gr

Publishing advisor: Costis Malousaris
Foreign books: Giannis Petrakis

Text and all photos of the book: Gregory Papadoyiannis
www.eyelands.gr
info@eyelands.gr

Editor: Christina Markanastasakis
Translators: Georgia Alexiou
             Danae Roussou      

First edition: summer 2013
Cover photo: Schinoussa
Back cover: Tilos

strangedaysbooks,
somewhere in the world
ISBN-13: 978-1480138810 (CreateSpace-Assigned)
Copyright: Strange days books & Gregory Papadoyiannis