Promise

When I was running for council member in the latest local elections I made a promise to the mayor that if he got elected I would be available for non Greeks during the summer if they wanted to ask a question(s) about municipal/island matters. If they wanted to put an idea forward or even if they wanted to complain.

I will be in an office every week on a Wednesday for two hours (of the tourist committee) which is situated in the low buildings behind the children’s playground. It is the last office in the row and the shop on the other side of the road is Koxili bakery. The hours that I will be there are from 10.00 to 12.00 hours every Wednesday. There will be an notification outside on the door. The first time will be on Wednesday the 29th of May.

Bits and pieces

This photograph I took from my home this morning. What a great place to be! I am thankful.

I have not posted recently and photos that I have taken in the last few weeks filled my folder on my telephone so I decided to make a short overview of the last few weeks on Skopelos.

The weather has not been briliant and it is a shame when you are holidaying here for a short while. I can say that you cannot forcast a wonderful summer anymore. Every year the months and weeks are different but the weather can be useful for many things and not only for a beach visit. I see so many people cycling, motoring, walking, sailing, canooing and spending time on the sea. Hot weather is not always good for this particular kind of entertainment. Skopelos is such a divers island with its amazing nature and sea and enjoying it is soo easy! There are more and more small companies who can help you see the island en spend your time a little different.

Easter 2024 came and went and after the very sad passing of Papa Kostas only two churches held a big procession in the streets of Skopelos. The Christchurch held a smaller procession.

https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js

The Panagia church and its congregation left for the Faneromeni church and both churches and its congregation walked down to the harbor where the biers could be admired.

On the island plants, bushes and flowers are blooming although we have had a dry spring with an occasional storm with wind and rain.
Not a lot of rain has fallen.

It is not crowded on the beaches yet! Stafylos can be because it is the closest to Skopelos town. The sea is fairly cold everywhere.

This time of the year is amazing for hiking. You could walk from one hour to four if you want. There are guided tours and maps and books with walks. It is also fairly easy to walk by yourself. The walks will bring you to so many beautiful places! Today we were in the area of the monastery of Prodromos. A donkey path to begin with, a little bit uphill and then a straight, even, road back and a visit to the Pano Panagia monastery whic has been renovated recently.

What a great start of the day!

In memoriam Papa Kostas

Today Skopelos lost a beloved priest, a scholar, a writer but above all, a very nice and gentle human being. We offer our condolences to his wife Ourania, his children, his family  and especially to Alexandros, his son.

I will never forget that Papa Kostas came up to our house some years ago to officially bless a small shrine we built. We talked long about anything except the blessing until it got dark and I asked him if we could do the blessings. “Oh yes he said I almost forgot”. He liked to talk about the history of Skopelos and he has written quite a few books. We have his blessing here at home and that feels good.

Skopelos will miss him dearly.

The funeral will take place tomorrow, the 30th of April at 11.30 hours in the Pandelemon church near Mylos square.

No parking zone

Until September the 30st it is prohibited to stop and park vehicles (cars and motorbikes etc.) throughout the length of the harbour front in Skopelos town.
The no parking starts at the Gika coffee/pastry shop and until the Panagitsa tou Pyrgos church in the old harbour. The specific measure highlights the work done on the street and will give everybody that spend time there to fully enjoy the area.

Boats to and from the Sporades

The estimate is that next Tuesday the proposal of the government to subsidize the line “Thessaloniki – Northern Sporades” will be accepted by the Coastal Transport Council. The news was conveyed to the Parliament by the Minister of Shipping and Island Policy Chr. Stylianidis, answering a topical question of the member of parliament for Magnesia of the Communist Party, V. Metaxas on the subject of “Immediate measures for the ferry connection of the Northern Sporades”.

The start of the boat will probably be in mid June until mid September is my estimate (Daphne) Other years we had this boat for three months too.

The rest of the article is in Greek here

Ready to travel is the new Seajets acquisition “IOLKOS” ex Skiathos Express, currently tied up in the port of Volos and having already completed the change of signals and name.

The information reaching Skiathoslife.gr is start on May Day but so far there is no boat on that day, see below, but it can change..

The boat will sail to Agnondas on certain days and other days to Glossa.

Below are some examples from the beginning of May. Please check and book with local boat ticket offices and make sure that you understand all the terms under which you travel and can use the tickets to not have any confusion.
Source: https://tickets.seajets.com/trips.php?1/1/0/0/0/N/MTI/SKO/2024-05-01

The rest of the article in Greek is here

Volos Sporades with the ferryboat is un going and every morning the Flying Dolphin leaves early in the morning for Volos from the Sporades and returns in the late afternoon for those who want or need to spend only a few hours in Volos.

For times of these boats you can use http://www.openseas.gr

Update: 29 04 2024

I also heard there will be a second Flying Dolphin which will start from Volos in the morning so both Flying Dolphins will go back and forth between Volos and the Sporades.

Skopelos Scramblers will walk from Pirgos to Panormos

Last Sundays walk to Amarantos, although well known to the Scramblers, did not disappoint with views, a wonderful picnic and 12 walkers and two furry friends to chat to.

This Sundays walk begins at Sklavenitis supermarket Skopelos Town at 10.30 to organize transport. From there they will drive to Pyrgos, where the walk down to Panormos beach, will begin. It’s a good road again with wonderful views. Once Panormos beach is reached the group will set up their shared picnic and for sure some will brave the waters for a swim. Transport will be organized to take drivers back to the starting point of the walk.
Any questions phone Muriel 6983010118

Annual Literature festival; second year

Skopelos, 20-4-2024

PRESS RELEASE

INTERNATIONAL LITERARY FESTIVAL OF SKOPELOS

“LITERARY SPRING-NIKOS MARKOU” 2024

HONORED LITERATURE: SCANDINAVIAN

SKOPELOS, APRIL 27 Saturday & 28 Sunday 2024 VENUE ORFEAS CINEMA AND CONFERENCE CENTER. FREE ENTRANCE

With great joy and pride, the Municipality of Skopelos announces the 2nd International Literary Festival of Skopelos “Literary Spring-Nikos Markou”, honoring Scandinavian literature and featuring guest authors and translators from Norway, Sweden, and Iceland.

Greek readers, traditionally familiar with the “classics” of Scandinavian literature (Ibsen, Strindberg, Hamsun), began rediscovering the literature of the northern countries with the rise of Nordic noir in the early 21st century. However, the awarding of the Nobel Prize in Literature 2023 to Norwegian Jon Fosse has crowned a remarkably successful publishing journey of non-crime Scandinavian literature worldwide.

With this in mind, this year’s “Literary Spring-Nikos Markou”, in its second year as an international literary festival, dedicates its efforts to acquainting and rekindling the relationship of Greek readers with contemporary Scandinavian literature, its authors, and translators.

Official guests of the festival:

• Eirikur Ertu Nørdudal (Iceland): novelist, poet

• Jan Henrik Swahn (Sweden): novelist, translator

• Tomas Marco Blatt (Norway): poet, novelist

• Margarita Melberg (Sweden/Greece): translator

• Vicky Alyssandraki (Iceland/Sweden/Greece): translator

• Theodoris Rakopoulos (Norway/Greece): poet, translator

• Krystalli Glynidadaki (Norway/Greece): poetess, translator

Organizing Committee:

Krystalli Glynidadaki

Eleni Kosma

Lizzy Tsirimokou

Stamatis Perissis

Giorgos Papadavid

With the support of the Municipality of Skopelos and the Embassies of Norway and Sweden in Greece, Norwegian Literature Abroad (NORLA) and the Swedish Arts Council (Kulturrådet), the Region of Thessaly, and Thea Home Hotel.

Municipality of Skopelos

Storm over

(there used to be a very big tree there…)

Here are some results of the heavy storm, with winds reaching 10 Beaufour, that hit Skopelos island and other areas. The storm was expected last night but on Skopelos early this morning we had the most wind and rain. We are very lucky that around that time not many people were around. A lot of trees were uprooted and many branches were cut off. Some trees on the harbor front were trimmed after branches broke off and fell in between the coffee places. Walls caved in and stones came down from rock formations.

In Elios many trees on the beach were uprooted and some big branches fell in the playground area.

Source of both videos: Ευαγγελος Ευαγγελινος

The Scramblers start at 10.30 hours on Sunday

The Skopelos Scramblers will meet at 10.30 hours on Sunday at the Sklavenitis supermarket. Sorry for the mistake!

Bad weather coming

Bad weather is forecasted for the Thessaly province (Volos and Larissa included) and the Sporades. The weather will start tonight and can continue all day tomorrow, Saturday. EMY, the National Meteorological Service has send out warnings that heavy rain and strong winds can occur (see map) Please be careful.

Source: http://www.emy.gr/emy/en/warning/meteoalarm