This morning I met Kiria Vakis who was on her way to the chapel of Agios Georgios. There might be lonely people on the island, but never lonely saints. I myself each day visit this holy man to say hello, a ritual belonging to the island life. Kiria Vakis strongly believes that ...
continue readingFriday, 4 June 2021
Sunday, 30 May 2021
A Robinson feeling
A long time ago I read the story about a German couple, they were utopians, that a century ago started a new life on Floreana, a deserted Galapagos island (The Galapagos Affaire by John Treherne). They hated the upcoming industrialization in the West and wanted a more simple life. I haven’t forgotten this story, especially because now, hundred years later, life... continue reading
Wednesday, 12 May 2021
The empire of stones
Lesvos has more stones than olives. You fall over them in the fields or bump into one of the millions of laid walls. There’s no piece of land without a stone wall. In the mountains they support terraces to prevent soil erosion. And do not think that on a beautiful Sunday a farmer says to his family:... continue reading
Friday, 16 April 2021
A Corona Blues
Sometimes I think that it’s not only people who are hit by the corona crisis. Nature may also have had a few blows. The weather keeps on yo-yoing with summerly temperatures and icy winter winds, which might be the cause for many flowers being a bit confused and hesitant to grow... continue reading
Wednesday, 24 February 2021
Two hungry cooks
Have you ever been lost in the Italian rice fields? You only realize that Italy is the biggest rice producer of Europe when you drive long them. But Greece also produces rice, although a lot less than Italy. When you compare the Greek kitchen to the Italian one... continue reading
Sunday, 14 February 2021
Refugees
The earth growls and shakes, the umpteenth southern storm of this winter pulls at branches and roof tiles, the second layer of snow has disappeared as quickly as the wind is raging; another storm enters, this time unrooting trees with the promise of... continue reading
Sunday, 24 January 2021
Gull's eggs
In 1970 the book Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach became a worldwide bestseller. It is a fable about a seagull who wants more than what’s on offer in the colony of gulls where he lives and where life mainly consists of searching for food. Jonathan wants to fly and he spends so much time just flying that... continue reading
Sunday, 10 January 2021
Power games
The world is under the spell of the virus and the power game in America, where unthinkable things are happening. Lots of countries, like Greece, suffer from a lockdown. The hope is that vaccinations will soon... continue reading