Shakespeare on Paros
Monday, July 6, 2009
Last night we went into Parikia for a mixture of culture and school play. As an extension to their English language studies a group of young people, with the help of their teacher, of course, presented a series of Shakespeare excerpts. There were sonnets and parts of plays around the theme, The Ages of Women.
The leads all did a credible job but it was obvious that some of the supporting cast was forcibly recruited. Over all the costuming, music and presentation were well done which made it an enjoyable show. The Elizabethan-style juggler stole the show, however.
In the advance publicity one of the players commented that as they rehearsed they understood the meanings of the English words and phrases but when they read a Greek language translation it lost meaning because of the different style of expression between Greek and English. This cultural difference is something we experience every day.
As usual we capped off the experience with a gelato from Gelato Sulla Luna. The pistachio was heavenly; made on the premises. Do visit Denise there and say hello from Michael of Aliki.
Posted by Paros Shepherd 12:50 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Weird Laws
Friday, July 3, 2009
1 July seems to be a common date for new laws to take effect. Here is a new one for Greece:
A smoking ban went into effect throughout Greece on Wednesday,
prohibiting smoking in all enclosed spaces and public services.
The law also prohibits the sale of tobacco to and by minors, the use of tobacco products in all enclosed public spaces, airports, public transport stations and on public transport means, snack shops, etc.
I first saw something last winter about this law but had not paid attention thinking that there would be more in the news. I have not seen anything until now. To me that indicates that enforcement will be quite lax, as it usually is on most regulations in Greece.
Also I do not see it making much difference on the islands. I was here two years before I ate inside an enclosed restaurant—that was during our first winter, I admit.
Photo is of your typical smoking section on Paros.
So we will see if the passing of new laws spoils our Greek island paradise.
Facts courtesy of ANA.
Posted by Paros Shepherd 12:25 PM 0 comments Links to this post
New: Athens Tourist Ticket
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
The Athens Urban Transport Organisation, OASA, announced a new “tourist ticket”: three days of unlimited travel on all modes of public transport for 15 Euro.
While we personally seldom spend more than 24 hours in the Athens / Piraeus area this sounds like a good deal even for two days. We find we are hesitant to take unfamiliar buses because they may turn the next corner and go a different direction. With this ticket you just get off at the next stop and take a different bus—a nice adventure of discovery.
The old one day, all mode ticket only cost about 3 Euro but included only one trip to or from the airport. So you couldn’t pop into Athens during an airport layover without buying two tickets.
This new tourist ticket also includes the tram to Glyfada and Piraeus as well as the Bus 400, which is a hop on, hop off service for the major attractions.
We have found Athens a terrible place to walk due to cars blocking the footpaths. Now you can take the Metro, or bus, or tram, or train everywhere and don’t need to walk. Cheers!
Posted by Paros Shepherd 4:21 PM 2 comments Links to this post
Milos: A Full Three Days
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Anyone interested in geology, volcanoes, minerals and the like must go to Milos. Everyone else will find it quite an interesting island with a lot of variety and differences from other Cycladic islands.
We stayed in the port town of Adamas but found the fishing village of Pollonia more pleasant; it reminded us of our home village of Aliki.
Other pleasant places were Plaka and Tripiti which overlooked a Roman theatre which overlooked an ancient port.
I won’t post photos here of the two areas that one always sees in articles about Milos, Sarakiniko and Papafragus, but we did go there and enjoyed the experience.
The highlight for me was the Mining Museum and the abandoned sulphur mine (see previous post for photo). The latter is difficult to find over rough and not clearly mapped roads. (Clues are to keep going straight and watch for signs reading Thiorichia in Greek letters.)
If you are into buying property on a Greek island, Milos should have some cheap places left because more than half the island is remote and undeveloped. A lot of the rest is wind swept with open mines, so you need a tolerance for dust and in places the slight smell of sulphur.
At the abandoned sulphur mine—the workers just up and left one day in 1958 when they found out the owners were bankrupt—I was fascinated by all the volcanic rock and minerals of infinite variety and colour laying everywhere.
We were also intrigued that the island has countless caves that were adapted for current use by the inhabitants.
Among the minerals being actively mined to this present day are bentonite, perlite, kaolin, and baryte. Look them up, if you want to know more.
Another highlight of our Milos visit was a meal at the O! Hamo taverna. We have never seen anything like it in Greece for charm and character. Then we were pleasantly surprised by friendly, efficient service and to top it off, the food was great. I strongly advise any island hoppers who are getting tired of the traditional taverna to make a point of discovering this place at the edge of Adamas. Its a place to write home about!
Posted by Paros Shepherd 6:18 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Tags Cyclades, Greek food, Milos
Milos and Sifnos: First Look
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
My wife, Karin, and I just returned from 6 days on Milos and Sifnos. Hopefully I will write up more about these islands, but here are a few photos to get started. Click to enlarge.
The first is Firaplaka on Milos.
The second is an abandoned sulphur mine on Milos.
This is the village of Vathy on Sifnos.
The old and new plus ever-young Karin in the ancient village of Kastro on Sifnos.
Posted by Paros Shepherd 6:39 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Tags Cyclades, Greece, Milos, Sifnos
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