Apokoronas Our Home

Work has restarted at the side of the river in Georgioupolis. Currently all one can see is concrete and roadways. I hope it will look a lot better when it is eventually finished. The main problem this year in Georgioupolis ( apart from the ever present whiff in the air) is the lack of parking. Even during the quiet times of the day it is impossible to park, this has meant that all the side roads are now parked up - often on both sides leading to jams and gridlock. I was in a gridlock this week at midday in Georgioupolis and no one could go forward or back.  I know of several friends who have come to spend an evening in Georgioupolis, driven around and around and then left to go elsewhere. This is not good for the village - apart from the inconvenience and  look of the place. A new car park should have been designated before work began on the old football pitch - and by the way, was the new football pitch ever built? I don't think so! This morning was very calm ...

Did you know you could smoke a hookah in Georgioupolis? Better known in Crete as a "Nargile" and perhaps to you as a hubble bubble pipe. Today I discovered a beachside bar that had Nargiles to 'rent'  In all sorts of colours! So if you or your friends have ever wondered about "Hookahs" How they work, what are they like? Now you have the chance to try it out in Georgioupolis. Where? At the Tropicana. ..and by the way the sun beds and umbrellas are free! Watch out for Toneel's Summer play on August 20th at Tropicana, proceeds to the village funds.

Yesterday I paid a visit to the lovely village of Fres. After negotiating the road from Vrysses - which was more potholes than tarmac - I drove through the square and on to pay a visit to "The Cat's Pyjamas Rescue" In the light of the report from the government about funding for animal welfare we discussed their needs and the work they do. Ekathimerini wrote: " The Agriculture Ministry has set aside 1.3 million euros to be distributed to Greece's municipal authorities in order to build shelters for stray animals, the state-run Athens-Macedonia News Agency reported on Tuesday. The decision signed by Agricultural Development Minister  Giorgos  Karasmanis  and  authorized  by the ministries of Interior and Finance foresees the construction of special departments in all municipalities whose task will be to collect, tag, vaccinate and  sterilize  stray cats and dogs, while also offering medical treatment a...

Some jobs to do in Rethymnon today. After visiting OTE, Vodafone et al I had a wander around I saw an interesting looking shop with  Olive wood carvings But first I had to get past the guard! A large python just inside the entrance! Once past Mr Pythonakis - luckily looking well fed - I was amazed by the items in the store. 80% of the carving is done by the owner of the store. Looking across to the harbour is a very large yacht owned by a Russian oligarch. Further on I found a cafeteria with a bicycle theme An intricate arch The knife shops are still in abundance Rethymnon centre

Yesterday we had good friends Ged and Julie, founders of "Sara's Hope Foundation" and some of their friends to join us for a meal. we were particularly pleased to meet their visiting family. ( For those of you who do not know, the foundation raises money to bring families of children with cancer for a week long holiday in Crete. For the week they are looked after so that they can spend quality time together For more information about "Sara's Hope foundation" please look here . First everyone sat down for a meal. A big variety of dishes, tsatsiki, beetroot salad, cheese pies, mini quiches, fava, salad, tomato fritters, roast chicken, sausages, green beans in tomato sauce, rabbit stifado,  liver casserole, roast potatoes, followed by water melon and cantaloupe melon. All the vegetables and fruit had been picked fresh from the garden. Several of the guests just "happened" to have their guitars with them. ( One "happened" to h...

This morning I went down to Georgioupolis to discuss the location for a theatrical performance later in the summer. I took the opportunity to stop for a coffee and enjoy the cool sea breeze. It was good to see the village buzzing with activity, the beach was busy but not crowded. Blue Umbrellas Palm umbrellas! The sea very calm and blue