Public works

Had a chance to get out this morning to see about a big hole in the ground out along the Stafilos road. Heading out, just before “Rosemary” pie shop, there is an exit to the left which leads to the Spa Hotel. That little road is a stream bed and was the cause of some major problems for downstream residents on the other side of the road.
The big hole was the result of the uncovering of the culvert beneath the Staphylos road which must have been built when the road was built many years ago and is linked to an underground canal system which leads all the way down to the river at Agios Riganaki (the T junction).

In any case, the culvert was either allowed to gradually become blocked over the years, or it became suddenly blocked with the mud and debris charging down from the direction of the hotel. The culvert is linked to an underground canal system which leads all the way down to the river at Agios Riganaki (the T junction). This canal system has “tributaries” which join it a various parts of its route, the most prominent is the one that passes under the Stafilos road at the turn off for the “Old Stafilos” road.

Looking east Sunday AM

Looking northwest

About 75m down the road from the first two photos, this canal parallels the road all the way down to the river.

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Skopelos through time

The last time a prime minister visited Skopelos was 1956, Konstantinos Karamalis. Not by helicopter as you can see.

(photograph from the Skopelos throughtime facebook page)

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Alonissos says “No” to plastic bags

An attempt by residents and organizations of Alonissos is underway to gradually cease use of “disposable” plastic shopping bags. The municipality plans to hand out over 2000 reusable 100% cotton cloth bags to islanders in a move to end the inevitable clutter from the one or two use plastic film sacks.

The program is initiated by the Mediterranean SOS Network and MOm / Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal, with financing of Thalassa Institute and the collaboration of the municipality of Alonissos.

“Its implementation should help to protect the coastal and marine environment of Alonissos, an island that hosts the most important surviving population of Mediterranean monk seal, Monachus monachus, the Mediterranean, but also to further highlight Alonissos as a destination for alternative tourism.”

They hope to have the changeover completed by the end of December.

Should Skopelos go in this direction? It seems that plastic shopping bags have many uses beyond simply their “first use” of getting purchases back to the house. Are the paper bags offered by many shops for fruit and vegetable buying any better if they also end up in the trash?

Good luck to Alonissos. Skopelos will be watching with interest to see how it works out

Zombie plastic bags emerge from burial to decorate local landscape after flood

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