I thought this was a great story with photos of a place to visit on Santorini.

http://www.freundevonfreunden.com/features/author-craig-walzer-runs-the-worlds-most-beautiful-bookshop-on-a-small-greek-island-in-the-middle-of-the-aegean-sea/ 

Until I became an expat or global nomad, whatever I am, I had no idea that a simple and ordinary matter such as getting your haircut would vary so much from culture to culture.

For instance in Prague where I am currently living there are no local barbershops; the Czechs either have it done at home or go to a beauty salon.  In recent times there are high end salons that cater to men only.  I find that the only way to get an economical and decent haircut is to find an older woman at a local salon, younger women just do not have enough experience with men . . . cutting their hair that is.

Sorry Greeks, but the best hair cut and barber experience I ever had was in Istanbul.  There it is common to recognize the barbershops by the towels hanging outside to dry.  In this case the shop near where we were staying looked clean and neat.  I got a perfect cut, a beard trim with hot towels and my ear hairs singed for something like $10.  The barber didn't speak English but a fellow customer did so we had a great time.

Among the worst haircuts was during the process of finding a barber on Paros.  In Naoussa there was an old Greek who looked like a German and insisted on cutting my hair the way he wanted not they way I wanted.  In Parikia the guy on Market street obviously did not want to serve me, saying the shop was full when no one else was there.  Finally a friend directed me to a little shop on a back alley with no sign and often as not a locked door.  To get a haircut you knocked at the barber's house door across the street and if his wife was there to hear you he came out and opened the shop.  You see, he was deaf and mute.  It only took two cuts for him to learn how I liked it.

Which brings us to the impetus to write this post.  On Facebook I discovered a bunch of old photos of Paros that included one of my barber.  The photo may be old but he and the shop look the same as when I was there.
                                                  

I have written before about the trials and tribulations of watching TV on a small Greek island. Now with internet streaming that is mostly obsolete.

For a few years now we have been using FilmOn to catch our favourite shows.  They have over 200 live TV channels from around the world--for free at standard definition.  You can pay for high definition or video on demand and other special events.  We have only been disappointed a couple times; the first being the World Cup--that was not available for free. But that was alright because it is more fun to watch at a taverna anyway.

Recently FilmOn started an affiliate program that I signed up for. So if you would like to help support our global nomad lifestyle, check them out
Cheers,

Links to previous posts about Greek island TV:
Greek TV and other Entertainment
Greek television
Expat life: Eurovision

This is an old story with a new development.  Last year we left Paros on Thanksgiving—in America, the date is nothing in Greece.  The day before we drove our scooters to the home of our American friends, Al and Ardy.  They were not only storing our bikes for the three months we would be gone, they threw in a big Thanksgiving feast as well.

So after drinks in the sun in their garden we went inside for dinner.  I took my camera in to photograph the food but left my windbreaker and camera case on an outside bench.  Later when it was time to leave I went to get them.  They were gone?  Was it some workmen from next door?  Unlikely, more likely was a neighbour's hound dog we had seen skulking around earlier.  So after much searching in the dark with flashlights, Karin and I left for Berlin and Prague with no camera case and no windbreaker.  The windbreaker did turn up the next day in a field with paw prints all over it, the camera case must be buried in someone’s yard.

The point being:  among the accessories in the case was a knockoff of a Gorilla tripod.  I had found it very handy but not gotten around to buying a replacement.  But today I signed up as a Google Affiliate for Joby, the maker of Gorilla products.  So I am now buying the real thing.  It is perfect for taking photos of yourself in any location as well as holding the camera still for night shots.  Just don’t leave it where a dog can steal it.

I have a page on my web site full of ideas of how to work at home on the beach.  Forbes Magazine highlighted a new way to finance the holiday/vacation life style:  buy a yacht using Time Shares.  Their article details how one person did it but the idea can be applied to anything, including a private villa on Paros with you as the paid caretaker.

What do you want out of life?  Do it better on Paros.

We are always on the look out for articles and books about Greek island life.  There was a new book out last June but I missed the “virtual book tour” whatever that is.

One reviewer had this to say: “When I agreed to read and review Cafe Tempest: Adventures on a Small Greek Island I did not know it was an expat slice of life read in the voice of a main character who, among other things, is writing about yoga mantras. Had I known that, I’d have rejected the book out of hand, thinking it yet another “me and my feelings in a land of wacky, colorful locals” story. And that would have been a shame because, what do you know? I rather liked this book.”

Read more from this reviewer here or read more at the publisher’s site here  Or USA readers can use the link below on the left for Powell’s Books and Europe readers can use the one on the right for Amazon U.K.

If anyone has read this book, please comment here.

Guest post by my wife, Karin:

A big decision has been in the making over the past few months in our house by the sea. Deliberations going back and forth, with discussions of personal dreams and desires. Which has been fun in a way, because these "meetings" required only my husband and I and usually a couple glasses of ouzo!

It all started last year, in fact, with our 10 day trip to Prague for the Christmas Holidays...and it was Love At First Sight for both of us! When we left, I dragged my feet, cried a few "real" tears, and vowed to come back. Michael, as always, was a bit more quiet about it all, but actually his mind started thinking...slowly at first, but gathering momentum as the year passed. A busy summer came, and fall and winter were before us.

Now as wonderful, lovely, etc as life can be here on this beautiful island of Paros, it has one BIG drawback. When the tourists go home, and the island belongs to the locals again everyone sighs a big sigh of relief. For a couple of months we really enjoy the peace and quiet….the empty roads….the empty beaches. Then reality hits us....when the shops close, restaurants close, friends go back to their "other" homes in various places...and we are suddenly left with what feels like: nothing. OK, the scenery is still to die for, but culturally, it is about a 0 on a scale from 1 - 10! We have no TV (long, technical story – others on the island do) and we can only read just so many books. And how many times can you walk around the island….talking to the sheep?

That is the time a person starts dreaming their dreams...of getting off the island and finding some culture that inspires! But where? As everyone knows, the economy this year sucks so it has to be someplace close to home and not so expensive to get there.

Turkey was an option, as we travelled there last year and thought how much we would enjoy going south, to Bodrum perhaps, and stay a month or two. But somehow that did not appeal as it really is not that much different weather wise to here. (Is it possible to admit that we get tired of sun every day? People who live where it is cold and grey would never say yes to that!) Then, in a flash, we both looked at each other and said, "PRAGUE"! It just sounded and felt SO right.

From Michael again:

So this Thursday, Thanksgiving in the US but nothing here, we are on are way off island until March. I will be keeping up this blog as I find Paros and Greece items to write about—probably about the same frequency as I have the last few months. But even better, Karin will be joining me in writing about our Prague adventures. Those readers who have seen her past photo journalism efforts know they are in for a treat.

Please add this link to your readers, RSS, bookmarks, favorites, whatever you use: http://www.parosparadise.com/CzechMates

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.

We have been back on Paros since Thursday and now on Sunday we are nearly settled in and caught up.  Though things will never be the same as before we left at the end of March.

Not only do we each have new computers and a new device to watch computer downloads on our TV, we also have lots of new clothes and many items of our favourite foods.  For instance we can get peanut butter and maple syrup on Paros but only at speciality import stores and at “special” prices.  One delicacy that we can’t get here is Beaver Horseradish Sauce, a national brand made in our home town of Beaverton, Oregon.

The photo above is just a portion of our bounty.

The major surprise we received when we looked over our veranda was our artichoke crop.  We left large plants with no buds but returned to prolific bushes.  Along with fresh local beets they made a great lunch today, especially with a touch of Beaver Horseradish Sauce!

 

 

We were also pleasantly surprised with the abundance of blooming flowers around our house.  It’s good to be back.

(Please click on photos to enlarge.)

 

 

 

My To Do list grows ever longer.  So until I get around to updating my blogroll of other Greece blogs here is a link to a Greek island web site that lists a few with the added benefit of edited descriptions.

Until I get my photos better organized here is a blog of Greece Images that are truly terrific.  You don't normally see black and white in this land of blue and gold so I chose this one to show.  Most images on the site are quite colorful.  http://greekimages.blogspot.com/

 

 

Do you want to know my innermost thoughts about life and travel? Last week I filled out a questionaire for the TravelPod site with the intent of posting it here as well. But they did such a good job of displaying it I will just refer you to The TravelPod Blog


That post commerates my selection as a Local Expert for Greece in their travel forums. You can find my "starter kit" or FAQ at this link: TravelPod Forum for Greece


Feel free to browse through the TravelPod site and forums; you will find some interesting people and information, if you like to travel that is.

I often receive requests for cost of living information from people considering life in Greece. My short answer is that Greece is not cheaper than anywhere else but that we live more simply on our island.

Below is what I wrote to a single, retired man who already lives simply in another country:

Off the top of my head I would say the following is a minimum budget for subsistence: In Euro per month

Rent on one bedroom flat within walking distance of shops and restaurants: 200

Electricity w/o heat or air conditioning 30

Telephone/ADSL internet package 50

Groceries 200

If you choose your flat wisely you will not need air conditioning because of breezes. Heating by electricity could run more than 300 Euro per winter; by oil easily 100 Euro less; wood about the same as oil. You can get better but not cheaper accommodation if you invest in transportation.

Of course most people will want and can afford better than that. Many wealthy people live well on Paros as well.

Yesterday I discovered another blogger who took a more extensive approach to comparing the cost of living between New York City and Athens. I would guess the results would surprise New Yorkers but not Athenians.

The article is too long and involved to summarize. I will just quote two items from her chart: in Euro

Athens New York

Haagen Dazs (500 ml) 6.32 3.07

Rice (500 gm) .55 .67

See the entire article and chart here:

http://livingingreece.gr/2008/11/10/greece-usa-price-comparison/

I always welcome emails about expat life; please write with your specific questions.

We are always on the lookout for books and movies about expat life in Greece. Our Dutch friends recommended Who Pays the Ferryman? . This was a popular TV series on the BBC in 1977 and was also translated into Dutch. I included the graphic below but the DVD is currently out-of-stock. You can find a review of the novel HERE

They just successfully navigated the Greece bureaucracy to obtain the license for their scuba diving centre: Paros Dive

Only three months late!

So, from yesterday on you can get PADI instruction and recreational dives with the most modern equipment from three transplanted Brits and one Greek.

They are located in the Paros Kiteboarding Resort at Pounda, but take a look at their web site. It has a lot of detail and photos and if you are lucky you will find their web cam of the beach. That link again: http://www.parosdive.com/

One of the highlights of our year is watching the Eurovision "Song" Contest. For those outside Europe it is an annual competition between countries that has been going on for eons and includes an expanded Europe such as Turkey and Israel. Each country has their own method of selecting who will represent them; some by popular telephone voting, some by TV executives. The final winner is now determined by votes from each country that are based upon telephone voting within each country; you cannot vote for your own entrant.

We first started watching when we moved to Ireland in 1996. At that time winners were determined by a panel of judges. Ireland was then a frequent winner. This year their entry was an embarrassment and probably a protest against what is politely called "tactical" voting. For instance Cyprus always gives their top points to Greece. This year Greece finished third despite a mediocre entry. The U.K. finished dead last despite a very good entry. The winner was Russia; there was no doubt it was a good song and sung by one of their top professional performers. The winning country hosts the extravaganza the next year. Which, by the way, always has very high ratings despite being considered blasé and kitsch.

This year we watched the first semi-finals on Tuesday night; missed the second on Thursday and watched the whole finals on Saturday--although I did fall asleep during the voting. We enjoyed the entertainment and appreciate that different people like different styles, also that our taste is not that of the young, music-buying market. Still, it is very disappointing to see that musical ability and quality is less a factor in winning than regional voting blocks.

I do wonder if this is a glimpse into the European future now that the EU has expanded by 10 eastern countries with more to come. There are many parallels if any one would like to comment.

Sometimes things get a little slow around here. We usually do one or two jigsaw puzzles a year. Somewhat of a Christmas tradition in our family. This year there was no time when we were in Oregon, but there is plentiful time here on Paros. I will say, though, we find artist's brush strokes much more difficult than photographs.

Read more about our expat lifestyle on our full service Paros web site.

While we are on the subject of work at home on the beach, or how to live and work abroad let's look an example of a Mexican dentist and his expat partner.

Every year we receive enquiries from people looking to escape from their hectic, high maintenance life styles and relocate to the slow pace of a sunny island. The big question, however, is how to pay for it. No one over 20 wants to live in a grass shack with no running water and plentiful running bugs. Most peoples' set of skills will pay for a summer season of fun, whether it is setting up a barber shop on the beach or the more typical waiting tables at a bar. It is the long, slow off season that requires some sort of off-island income.

I recently ran accross this site which should bring hope to dentists everywhere. --Doctors too, I read where medical travel is one of the fastest growing segments.