Typically we choose to spend our Easter in a very low key manner.  Yesterday we packed a picnic and scootered the length of the island to Monistiri Beach.  We had read several articles in Paros Life indicating this beach and the peninsula behind it were being converted to a nature and conservation park.

So I was quite surprised to see that the beach club there—long noted for wild music and parties—had been enlarged and that the beach umbrella stands were all set up for this season.  One never knows what is actually happening behind high-sounding press releases, I guess.  Maybe it means the music will be more conservative.

Anyway we had an enjoyable time hiking around and eating our lunch to the sound of water lapping on rocks.  We were offered a beer by some young men who were barbecuing a lamb on the shore.  They had come from Athens on the yacht in the photo.  On the way home we noticed a great many family gatherings which is the traditional way the Greeks spend Easter.

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Anyone who will be near Athens this 16-20 June should check out the 2nd Annual Athens Fringe Festival.  In addition to the more traditional music and stage performances the program includes bar poets, concerts in galleries, dance lessons, juggling, photography and film festivals.  Even the shops are getting into the act with White Night in Athens, whatever that is.  Most of the performances are at the Technopolis theatre in Gazi.

This weekend Karin and I are celebrating our 39th wedding anniversary and a milestone birthday for her—I don’t know if she wants the actual number published through out cyberspace.

Of nearly equal moment is that we were able to collaborate on a project that I have wanted to do for years:  prepare a comprehensive list and description of Paros beaches.  Karin wrote most of the text and I inserted relevant photos that I could find.

Please take a look by clicking the NEW! tab above.

If that doesn’t work try this link:  http://www.parosparadise.com/ParosBeaches.htm

All corrections, opinions and comments are welcome.  Please comment on your favourite Paros beach.

One of the motivations for this blog is that we enjoy sharing our Paros paradise.  Last week we stepped out of the virtual realm to share our island with a couple we met through blogging.

Chuck and Claire are an American couple that recently retired and are travelling around Europe in a camper van.  Karin quickly found empathy with their journey and became a pen pal with Claire.  While passing through Greece Chuck and Claire decided to park their van and ferry to Paros for a few days.  We are so glad they did.

I won’t put any excerpts of their visit here.  You must go to their blog to see the photos of Paros in March:  Our Greek Island Idle

Enjoy

Well, dear reader—the few of you left—we are now back on Paros enjoying the slow pace of digging out from under the back log of work.  Here we take a break by gazing out to sea or a short walk through the village.  In Prague our days were filled with hopping on a tram or Metro to some site, museum or shopping centre and we took our breaks in art nouveau coffee shops.

In fact we were so busy that my Prague blog is quite empty.  But Karin did quite a few photo journals that I eventually hope to include there.  So if you are interested in Prague check our CzechMates in another month or so or just watch here for a bulletin.

On Paros the sign of a new year beginning is not the Easter clean-up, which starts in earnest next week, rather it is the Art Appreciation series by IPAC—International Paros Art Circle.  I have written about this before.  To find these just search IPAC in the search bar at the top of the page.

Here is this year’s schedule:

This spring there will be a new series of Round Table Talks,
each one having a different speaker and theme.
They will start at 7.30 pm with a 40minute lead-in Talk
followed by discussion.

We hope you will be able to attend these interesting evenings, with lively conversation and discussion.

There will be cheese and wine to follow.

There is no charge and you do not have to be a member of IPAC,
just someone who enjoys art, creating it – or both.

The Talks and discussion will be in English.
Wednesday 17th March   Ramona Ghika, BA Hons Ceramic Design, Central St. Martins College, University of the Arts London

Subject: Endless Creativity:

Inspiration is everywhere. And if you don't see it, look again!

Wednesday 28th April  Ben Nash, Cartoonist
Subject: Sex, Death, Money & Madness:
Human frailty in the world of cartoons

Wednesday 5th May  Subject: will be announced

Please come and invite your friends. Everybody is very welcome.

at Apothiki Art Center in Parikia, 7.30 pm

Yes, Paros is busy in its own relaxed way.  We are looking forward to a lot of visitors to share it with.

Cheers,

I love that title and use it a lot when promoting my workshops on Paros.  But today it is announcing a series of free mini e-courses by deTraci Regula who edits the Greece Travel part of the About.com network.

She is offering the following:

• Plan Your Trip to Greece -  Plan your trip to Greece with these tips for Greek travellers
• Learn the Greek Alphabet in 8 Three-Minute Lessons - Learn the letters of the Greek Alphabet quickly and easily with these fun, easy lessons.
• Learn About Greek Mythology - Learn about the Greek gods and goddesses in this easy e-course on Greek mythology.

Think Greece  --  Have Fun  --  Sign up here