Rhodos Island Greece

South African without Vuvuzela in Rhodos

2010-07-14T20:05:00.005+01:00

Welcome to the new improved Blog.

With Mitzi in Rhodes with a broken leg, I have now decided to get up and join her and leave Blighty behind, although my tenure on this island was fulfilling and prosperous the time has now arrived for me to get back to what I enjoy most of all. Sun, Sand and Sea.

I will still endeavour to get all the good places for you to see and visit and of course where to get the best prices for accommodation, restaurants, car and bike hire. So keep tuned into this space.

I will be visiting them all and will rate them on a 1-5 star for service, quality and of course most importantly Value.

With so much to see and experience on Rhodes this is the place to be, South Rhodes offers such a variety of historical and cultural events and places it is a must to experience, from water sports in Prasonisi to historic walks in Rhodes Town the whole island is a treasure.

Come and visit us there.

Where have all the visitors gone?

2010-04-02T15:09:00.002+01:00

Long Time no see.

The season is starting and the hotels, restaurants and sun sand and see are a beckoning.

Where on this planet do we have such hospitality and such good weather? South Rhodes is the place to be this Summer. They offer GOOD food, amazing sites and people. Forget about the economy the credit crunch and all the negative sentiments that are flouted in the media, curl up and pass away if you have to but I am going to enjoy every site, sound and smell I can find.

This is a new year with a new beginning, the English Easter and the Greek Easter falling in the same period denotes a togetherness and unity of culture, religion and celebration.

visitors to this historic Island can now embrace all of the above, come seek and find all that you are looking for, from walking through the gate that St Paul walked through to a Jewish heritage and so much more besides the sun sand and see, a culture that embraces Love and true hospitality.

See you there.

Visit Effie's Dream in Gennadi

2009-04-26T17:32:00.002+01:00

http://effies-dream.blogspot.com/

Easter celebrations

2009-03-22T16:51:00.004Z

Fireworks, Burning the Efigy of Judas and carrying the sacred flame. The light.

EASTER THE GREEK WAY

2009-03-22T16:23:00.004Z

The celebration of Greek Orthodox Easter is filled with rich and colourful Easter traditions, including the decorating of the epitaphios, building bonfires, shooting off fireworks at midnight, and enjoying a feast of lamb. Please see my reicipe for whole Greek lamb at the bottom of the Blog, I have also included other Lamb recipe's and goodies to go with it.

I always know when Easter is approaching because Visitors start asking questions like: "When is Greek Easter?"

So here are the dates till 2020.

2009 - Easter Sunday - April 19th

2010 - Easter Sunday - April 4th (same)

2011 - Easter Sunday - April 24th (same)

2012 - Easter Sunday - April 15th

2013 - Easter Sunday - May 5th

2014 - Easter Sunday - April 20th (same)

2015 - Easter Sunday - April 12th

2016 - Easter Sunday - May 1st

2017 - Easter Sunday - April 16th (same)

2018 - Easter Sunday - April 8th

2019 - Easter Sunday - April 28th

2020 - Easter Sunday - April 19th

An EU Statement on Renewable energy

2008-11-21T12:53:00.002Z

Energy policy for a competitive Europe
Europe's citizens and companies need a secure supply of energy at affordable prices in order maintaining our standards of living. At the same time, the negative effects of energy use, particularly fossil fuels, on the environment must be reduced. That is why EU policy focuses on creating a competitive internal energy market offering quality service at low prices, on developing renewable energy sources, on reducing dependence on imported fuels, and on doing more with a lower consumption of energy.

Should this statment be what the Greek goverment have to comply to, then I fail to see how they persieve to hold up all applications for renewable energy production and hold out on possible revenue recieved from investments. OR Do the wheels have to be Greased?

Renewable Energy ?? What now

2008-11-21T12:33:00.000Z

Greece is faced with a tough predicament. On the one hand, there is a shortage of foreign investment. On the other, it is energy-dependent, which means that every summer Greece has to import electricity from abroad – at high prices.
Burning coal has a dire impact on the environment and, at the same time, high oil prices are widening the current account deficit.
Meanwhile, ministry drawers are full of investment plans for renewable energy sources worth many billions of euros. In other words, if Greece is having multiple problems in the sectors of energy, the economy and the environment, this is largely due to the tardiness of state officials.
The country needs more foreign investment, a cleaner environment and electric power. Many of these shortcomings could have been tackled if government ministers had finally stopped dragging their feet and instead played a more active role in pushing these reforms. If they are not capable of pushing alternative energy solutions, they should at least give the green light for them. The Greek state has never been known for its speed. But it’s starting to get a bad name for its incompetence.

Rhodes requests drought plan (Athens News)

2008-10-19T19:28:00.002+01:00

The Rhodes prefectural council has asked
Thessaloniki’s Aristotle University to draft a plan
to save the island’s water reserves. The water
table on the island has dropped and become
salinated after several years of drought and the
effects of fires last July and August, when over
10,000 hectares of forest – over half the island’s
total – were destroyed.

One of the things we have to consider is water restrictions and better water management for the whole island, another solution would be a de-salination plant, but with the electricity supply as it is this would only become an option once the island decides to build a new power plant. This option would take years due to the politics and resource's required.
Rhodes it is time to save WATER or face the prospect of the island becoming a desert.

OLIVE HARVEST SEASON

2008-10-05T17:42:00.003+01:00

Olives are grown and oil is produced traditionally on the fringes of the Mediterranean, with Greece, Spain, Italy, France and Tunisia accounting for most of the oil produced. Increasingly, however, there are new entrants to the market with producers in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and California. The olive harvest begins in Autumn but the exact time depends on whether the olives are destined for eating or oil production. Not all the fruit on an olive tree is ready for gathering at the same time and pickers will return to a tree many times during the course of a harvest. Fruit for oil production is taken as soon as it reaches optimum ripeness when it will yield the maximum oil with the most flavour. In many regions, olives are beaten from the trees with long poles and the fruit is caught in large nets. Many farmers now harvest using tractors with claws which grasp the trunk of the tree and then vibrate to shake dislodge the fruit. But the best method of harvesting is by hand - picking each fruit and carefully placing it in a basket to avoid damage as bruised fruit produces poor quality oil.

Rhodos, we wish you a harvest of Abundance. Your baskets be filled to overflow and may your oil runneth over.

(Athens News) Protect Greece and the Power of Blogging

2008-07-26T12:46:00.004+01:00

Let us all take note of this article published in the Athens News. Tourism is the heart of the Greek economy.

Still time to protect Greece
When we held our meeting to decide on this week's lead story, we thought that maybe we were getting a little too negative by choosing to focus on the price gouging of tourists. People come here to have a good time, some of us argued, so maybe it gets to be a bit much to keep hearing about negative aspects to visiting Greece (or living here). In previous weeks we had already investigated how the haphazard opening times at museums and archaeological sites dishearten visitors, on the bad habits of taxi drivers, on how ferry companies are battling to control costs at a time of rising oil prices, and how prices for many goods and services are often more expensive in Greece than in other European countries (for everyone, not just visitors). We asked ourselves whether it was wise to add another negative story. The answers, though, were quick and convincing: This is the tourism season, if we are to be of any use to readers it will have to be now; our mission is not to make Greece look good (we'll let the country and its people speak for themselves), but to point out the problems and propose solutions; if the authorities are not doing what they should to remedy the situation, it's our job to point that out to them and to the public.
We know that Greece has a problem in that some people try to fleece tourists. Even one such profiteer is one too many. Because in this day and age, customers are empowered as never before: One unhappy person can spread his message around the globe instantly via a blog or forum that may be read by millions. Worse, though, an unhappy visitor is a blow to the hospitality that our parents and their parents, and countless generations before them, offered selflessly to visitors. An act against a tourist is an insult to our heritage and ourselves. That is why we were very happy to hear the comments by officials, including the tourism minister, that profiteers will be caught and punished. But we were also pleased to discover - through the comments of tourists and tour operators - that many, many people are happy with what they find in Greece. Every person who works to make our visitors happy is doing a service to Greece. Everyone who tries to fleece tourists thinks he is working for his own benefit. But he is not, because his irresponsible behavior harms Greece and harms the tourism industry which supports him himself and the national economy.
Greece is fortunate in that there is a growing awareness that our greatest assets can still be saved. There is still time to prevent the mindless development that is destroying some of the most beautiful parts of the country. There is still time to crush the unscrupulous individuals who want to profit at everyone else's expense. What people are beginning to understand is that we can't expect visitors to come to a country that we ourselves are destroying. And we can't expect them to sing Greece's praises when they go home if they have fallen victim to rogues.
The best way to protect our country's environment and our reputation as a destination for high-quality tourism is if every permanent resident and every visitor knows his or her rights and exercises them to the full. This is one clear instance where protecting our personal rights is our country's best defense.

How can we fight a fire without them

2008-07-26T11:00:00.003+01:00

Without these airbourne fire fighting warriors our Island would be charcoal today.
Pictured above is one of the many airbourne fire fighters and hero's of Rhodos.

Smoke and fire from behind the Castro Asklipio

2008-07-26T10:47:00.002+01:00

What a tragedy! First an earthquake and now raging fire, the Sklips have a resolve that amaze the world today. We are far away (England) but our thoughts and prayers are with you all, you are all very brave and tenacious to come through these hardships.
Rhodes Island is favoured by God. Give thanks daily for all your blessings.
Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.

Rhodos Island, Apolakia's Mammoth

2008-07-13T08:42:00.004+01:00

All the tourists that come with direct fleight from London-Canada-Australia-America and Greeks from DISPORA 2nd locals with Olympic Airways and other local airways.They are landing in Rhodos Island but Rhodos was part part of the Continent of Asia Minor as the findings prove recently the remains of a Mamouth/Elephant was found near the Village of Appolakia, South Rhodos, dating 4 Millions years old.
This is another reason to visit Rhodos, so intriging,so fascinating,so spectacular..it takes your breath away......

1969-1970-1971. Excavation and collection of Pliocene mammals near Apolakkia, Rhodos Island. Excavators: Dr A. Van de Weerd (Union Oil Company, Alberta, Canada), Dr P.Y. Sondaar (GIUU) and students. The collection consists of solitary finds of large mammals from different stratigraphic levels and different places. The horse Hipparion aff. crassum and the deer Cervus aff. philisi are dominant among the large mammals. The fossils have a Pliocene age, and were described by Van de Weerd, A., J.W.F. Reumer & J. De Vos (1982): Pliocene mammals from the Apolakkia Formations (Rhodes, Greece). Proceedings of the Koninkijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen, Series B 85(1): 89-112

This proves that Rhodos Island was originally part of the continent, the mammoth dates back to +/- 4 million years ago and the bones can be seen in an Athens museum.

The Jews of Rhodos and the Fountain in "La Juderia"

2008-06-29T09:33:00.005+01:00

Little Jerusalem” in Greece

Rhodes was planned and built around 407 B.C.E. by Hippodamus, the foremost architect of his time. It became the most aesthetic city in the Mediterranean basin and a harbor for ships from the Mediterranean and Africa’s west coast. Jewish traders settled in Rhodes as early as the second century B.C.E. Rome tolerated the Jews scattered over the empire until Christianity spread in earnest in the third and fourth centuries.
The crusaders ruled Rhodes during the 14th and 15th centuries. Jews lived peacefully under them, although they were confined to their own section of the city where they built their large synagogue in the 15th century. The Italian Jewish traveler, Meshoullam ben Menahem da Volterra described the Rhodians’ struggles in 1480. Jewish men and women participated then in battles to repel a Turkish attack. Due to massive destruction and the earthquakes of 1481, many Jews left the island, leaving only 22 Jewish families in 1493. Despite their poverty, they led their lives with dignity. The kehillah followed the Romaniot Greek-language tradition, the liturgy of which differs from both Sephardic and Ashkenazic traditions.
As the 16th century opened, Cardinal D’Aubusson initiated forced conversion of the Jews to Catholicism and other persecutions. His intended expulsions were rescinded only because he died suddenly. Soon after, Christian pirates captured more than 2000 Jews and forced them to work on fortifications. When the Turks, under Suleiman the Magnificent (1520-1566) besieged the island, the Jews sided with the invader who was victorious.
The kehillah prospered under tolerant Ottoman rule for nearly 400 years until 1912. Suleiman had encouraged exiles from Spain to settle in Rhodes and gave them favorable conditions, such as autonomy and religious freedom, housing and certain tax exemptions. Jews outnumbered the Turks and created in Rhodes a major Sephardic center that absorbed the earlier Romaniot kehillah and led them to adopt Sephardic customs and Ladino.
Community life centered around the synagogue. There was the large Romaniot synagogue, Kahal Gadol dating from 1480 and the Sephardic synagogue Kahal Shalom built in 1577 that is the only one still standing. There were two other smaller synagogues and several houses of study.
Reveling in the epithet “Little Jerusalem,” the kehillah was well organized and the Jewish quarter hummed with Jewish life. The upper echelons of Rhodian Jews were bankers, diplomats, doctors and international traders. The majority of the Jews, however, remained poor and worked as peddlers, tailors, blacksmiths and fisherman.
After the Balkan wars in 1912, Rhodes and its 4500 Jews came under Italian rule. The last great chief rabbi Reuven Eliyaahu descended from a line of Rhodian rabbis, aimed to confer Jewish values on the younger generation. As twentieth century ideas and contact expanded, many of the young Jews went abroad to study and sometimes to settle in foreign lands. While some were leaving the island, newcomers arrived during the war for Turkish independence from allied occupation. In 1931, the new Fascist governor, Mario de Vecchi, introduced anti-Semitic laws and closed the yeshivah.
Those Jews who could afford to escape, fled to Palestine, Tangiers, or Rhodesia. The Germans took control of the island in 1943. In 1944, the Gestapo entered and began mass deportation without any intervention by British forces. As the Nazis rounded up Jews, compassionate Muslim neighbors helped to hide Judaica and Liturgical articles. The objects were returned after the war and are now on display at the Jewish museum in Athens. Of the 1,641 Jews deported, only 179 survived. Few retuned to the island after the war. There were 40,000 Jews in Rhodes before the war. Now, only 35 remain.
Condensed by Henrietta Ben Ami from Synagogues Without Jews.

St Pauls Day 29th June

2008-06-20T13:14:00.004+01:00

St Pauls Second mission to Rhodos
St PAUL’S BAY, south of the ACROPOLIS at LINDOS. The white Chapel is dedicated to St Paul, who landed in RHODOS ISLAND in 43 AD, to preach Christianity. The Beach is called AGIOS PAVLOS in LINDOS.
He entered RHODOS city by a gate near the Ancient Harbour below the ACROPOLIS of LINDOS with its magnificent temples is called “St Paul’s Bay” and the small white Chapel that is called CHAPEL of AGIOS PAVLOS, is where Paul preached. When they dug at this particular spot, they uncovered stones with very old inscriptions that proved Paul was at RHODOS ISLAND.(Acts 21:1) While in LINDOS, visit the CHURCH of the VIRGIN MARY (PANAGIA) of LINDOS.
Beautiful Villages on the EASTCOAST of RHODOS ISLAND to mention: KOSKINOU, KALITHEA, FALIRAKI, LADIKO, AFANDOU, ARCHANGELOS, HARAKI, VLIHA BAY, KATAVIA and FARAKLOS, TSAMBIKA, KIOTARI and GENADI.
The Inland Villages on this coast are must to see. The idyllic TRADITIONAL white washed Villages that are on hilltops or on gentle slopes. Villages that are worth your visit, and will always remember are SALAKOS, PSINTHOS, MESSANAGROS, AGIOS ISODOROS, APOLONA, EMBONAS, LAERMA AND ASKLIPIO. The people here have a charm that is typically GREEK with their gentleness, and unspoiled GREEK hospitality!

Pioneers of Asklipio, Rhodos Island

2008-06-11T12:57:00.003+01:00

The centre couple are my Grandparents Manoly Emmanuel Sakelaris born in Asklipio 1888 and Despina Agapitou born in Asklipio 1898.My Grandfather ran away from the Village at the young age of 16.He took a boat to Turkey,where he stayed with a Turkish family.Here they taught him how to be a builder.And a good one at that.Then he went on to Egypt, to the Suez Canal, where he helped build part of it, went on to Sudan and travelled down to the Congo, Zaire today.He was an amazingly adventurous man. He then ventured to Tanganyika, and he went as far as South Africa. When he lived in the Congo, he recruited a lot of his village freinds, to join him in his adventures and to seek their fortunes. Many of them did find fortune and fame! 'Papou' became very ill (Blackwater fever) in Africa, and the doctors advised him to go back to his homeland, to die! Fortunately,with a lot of 'Tender loving care' from his family, he made an incredible recovery. Now he was ready to marry!! My Grandparents met in the Village and got married. Almost, immediately she was whisked her off to "Dark East Africa". 'Yiayia' had never been out of the village, let alone and now she was in the middle of Africa, to start her married life, with a stranger! In those days couples were 'matchedmade' in heaven. She must have been so scared. Anyone that was there in the middle of Africa, must remember what it was like, in those days, with an assortment of interesting pets, Lions, Elephant and a teaming of Snakes! She made the most of her situation. She put roots down, planted her roses, started her family and had a very successful marriage. And, when 'Papou' died, yiayia, at the age of 70, returned to her Village Asklipio, and started her life again, alone. We surely can learn a lot from her. "Never give up" was her motto. She died at 92 years of age. She was a real remarkable woman of her day. She will always be rememberered as the little lady that never gave up, Tenacous and a most loving heart. A 'KAPATSA'. A most courageous Lady. Fondly called 'PINIO- CONGOLEZA. She is always in our hearts. Maybe someone from the Gorio/Village can identify the HUNKS in the photo?

LITHOS COCKTAIL AND CAFE BAR KIOTARI

2008-06-10T19:18:00.004+01:00

Basili, one of the owners of Lithos Cocktail and Cafe bar in Kiotari, South Rhodos. Saying "HELLO and WELCOME" to the NEWLY Designed LITHOS. Come and relax and Enjoy!!
The Relaxing View and new Decor.
Watch This space. More to Come............

2008-06-10T19:01:00.001+01:00

FROM THE DESK OF AN OLD TiMER!

THiS & THAT STORiES FROM THE OLD TiMER ( CALLED ANCiENT BY MY GRANDDAUGHTER)

While tourists are having an unforgettable holiday in Rhodes, they will meet a lot of ‘MATHOUSALAS’ (A Century and more Old/young ‘HORiATES’ –Villagers.)
They eat a lot of Olive Oil (of coarse) and plenty of Olives (thus their Beautiful, ageless skin) and as Hippocrates (the father of Medicine) advises the use of a lot of Herbs which you gather and collect on your way around the Medieval Castles that u will surely visit. The timeless Origanum -Sage-Rosemarie-Peppermint gras -Thyme and so many more.(Always use in moderation)
They don’t cure illnesses, they treat the symptoms and they are wonderful Anti Oxidants! (if u know what I mean)
Those Old /Ancient ladies and Gents of old (some up to 100yrs old!) don’t know their exact date of birth but they do remember the Turks that were in Rhodes and the Italians that occupied Rhodes for a season.
U can visit Mussolini’s swimming pool in Lindos, where he was holidaying there during the Italian occupation. The funny side of the story is that Mussolini could not swim, so he would wear a life saver suite (1940’s style!) to be able to float!! He was a big chap! Mussolini’s bath is a Beautiful Bay behind Lindos.
What about the stories of Pirates of the Aegean Sea that forced the villagers of Asklipio to move their village from the coast of Kiotari to inland, in the mountains, where it is today!
Writer: Alexander Cass

YouTube - apmoy70's Videos

2008-05-31T20:13:00.000+01:00

YouTube - apmoy70's Videos

Goat Cheese

2008-05-26T12:38:00.002+01:00

Dietitian's and western world "buffs" would cringe and report all forms of dooms day prophecies on the consumption of this delicacy, the proof of the pudding however is that they live and breath to over 100 years old.
This precious lady and her husband are goat herders and their livelyhood is the goats the milk and cheese.
She has been making this cheese for how many years in surrounds that would have the Health and Safety Executive run for the hills.
Her secret ingredient is tons of love and dedication, most of her cheese these days is exported around the world as no "mizithra" (Ricotta) has the same consistency and taste. The other products from this factory include "Parmesan" The best way to eat this is to grate loads of it over a pasta and enjoy. This painstaking cheese manufacturing method is handed down from generation to generation but alas none of the younger generations want to learn the art anymore. Her secret cheese factory is hidden in the hills of Rhodos and very few people would be able to get to this gem, but ask around the village and everyone will be able to point you in the direction for a purchase of this delicacy. This cheese is best had with some village bread baked in her oven with a glass of "retsina"or ouzo.

EEYORE

2008-05-25T18:46:00.005+01:00

EEYORE (Greek style!)

“There is no character howsoever good and fine, but it can be destroyed by ridicule howsoever poor and witless. Observe the Ass, for instance: his character is about Perfect, he is the choicest spirit among all the humbler animals, yet see what ridicule has brought him to. Instead of feeling complemented when we are called an ass, we are left in doubt” MARK TWAIN 1894

These two special misunderstood donkeys, are Mom and Son. She was my 90yr old granny, at the time.
Many moons ago, they would transport her Olives, her handpicked grapes and hay. They were her livelihood. The mom was Grannies ‘Rolls Royce’. Her most treasured friends. She cared for them and truly loved them. They were her all! She even had a house for them, when it got too cold. The Village was full of them. I can still hear their ‘Eeyore’ as they walked thru the village, packed full of the days pickings.
One day, naughty as donkeys are, they sneaked off, and went into someone elses ‘kipi’ (veggie patch) and started to nibble the tasty treats. I suppose, some carrots and celery sticks!! The owner of the ‘kipi’ saw them, and shot them both. (I know who u are…..eeyore….eeyore…..)
Granny, lost her friends, transport, and livelihood in a moment!!!
I don’t think she recovered after that. She could not work….or ‘drive’ to her precious Olives and Vines. She had to walk, there and back, daily, in up to 45 degrees C.
This was how it was, those days of old. Most of the Greek folks, had a donkey. Now, unfortunately, they are rare and endangered. Hardly anyone in the Village has this loyal and faithful friend anymore. They have been exchanged for ‘modern’ technology!
Now, if u would like to see or ride a donkey, u will have to hire one, for 5 Euros, and u will be able to ride the donkey, and the donkey will take u high up a hill, to a castle?
So, when u do meet one of these special guys, remember to treat them with Love and Respect. They are somebody’s Friend and Livelihood!
This humble creature was also chosen to carry ‘The Kings of Kings’

Mitzi

Community Spirit

2008-05-25T18:00:00.002+01:00

Now this is the way to live! The lady doing the fire for the oven is our neighbor (Felitsa)and one of the most beautiful people you would ever meet, once she has the temperature correct in the oven (No Instraments) just the knowledge as handed down through the generations, she makes the most amazing breads, she then leaves the oven closed with a leg of lamb inside or a "stiffado"this is a beef stew with lots of onions and delicious.

All the other ladies in this photo are either family or neighbors, the community here have been looking after themselves in ways that would amaze most people, they will bess you with love, kindness and "gorta" (weeds boiled up with garlic and lemon) and an occosional bottle of olive oil. you will wake up in the morning and find this collection of goodies on your door step and would never know who put it there. Thank the Lord for people like these.

Art in the park

2008-05-15T18:09:00.002+01:00

This photo was taken in 2005 on our way back to the airport, the most amazing part of this sculpture is that the whole sculptutre is carved from a single olive tree stump. I would not even want to speculate on the time it took to carve or the price of it.

Needless to say, the way Mitzi travels (always overweight) we could not attempt to bring this one back. My next visit at the end of May I will be going around to this gentleman and inquire the time and price of such a sculpture. Once again another jewel on a small island.

May 15 2008

2008-05-15T16:40:00.003+01:00

Danny and Mitzi are still in England. Nicole and Sean are in the "Gorio" (asklipio)Yes it is difficult listening to them as they are about their business, spending time in the sun (Kent is wet and the woolies have come out again) but we will prevail.

We could be sunning ourselves on Lindos beach having a Walls ice cream or two watching the "sites" go by, but as it goes our passports are still with the home office in England.

This beach in Lindos is one of the most beautiful on the island and attracts all the beautiful people from all over the globe, you cant just lay and tan in this place you have to walk off the ice cream to go castle walking. Once in the castle your first stop is the giro shop (one of the best) right next to the donkey hire, this is the most filling,tasty giro in south Rhodos, thereafter it is just walking and seeing the castle or better still on the donkey you hired after the giro.