About asphalt and the coming disaster at Skala Eresos

There is some asphalt craziness going on on the island: several dirt roads are nominated to get asphalted, amongst others the popular walking route Eftalou – Skala Sykaminia. And then there is Skala Eresou, where a hotel complex threatens to get be build in the middle of the large beach. Continue reading

Rainbow island

 

Last month plenty of rainbows stood shining in the sky. Rainbows give a happy feeling, even that no stories confirm this. Of course the Greeks had a god responsible for this natural phenomenon: Iris. Continue reading -> https://smitakislesvos.com/en/rainbow-island/

Trees, balls and boats

For centuries Christmas trees have been decorated, first with fruit and nuts. Christmas balls only came later. Greece had its own Christmas symbols, even that nowadays there also are Christmas trees. This year there even is more than only Christmas trees. Continue reading: https://smitakislesvos.com/en/trees-balls-and-boats/

Orange energy

Bitter or sour oranges are best loved in England. Her popularity in the countries where they hang plenty in the trees decreases. A Spanish energy company found something to make them wanted again. Continue reading ->https://smitakislesvos.com/en/orange-energy/

The Sthandart

 

(Photo: Venny Limperi)

The armoured cruiser Georgios Averof will not get soon forgotten, because it led the Greek fleet when liberating Lesvos from the Ottomans. This year there also was The Sthandart, a replica of the Russian frigate from 1703. It seduced many people with her magic appearance on the Gulf of Kalloni. Continue reading: https://smitakislesvos.com/en/the-sthandart/

Just a day in November

There are some of those memorable days. Like on a sunny day in November you enjoy an outside lunch, at your feet water babbling against the wall of the harbour and happy rocking little boats, surrounded by the villagers going their usual way of life: continue reading: https://smitakislesvos.com/en/just-a-day-in-november/

Crispy snails

With the first rains in autumn the snails appear, where after snail catchers go for the hills to catch them. Snails are a delicacy when they end up on a plate, but they are a pest in the garden. What are we to do with them? Continue reading: https://smitakislesvos.com/en/crispy-snails/

Crow language

Birdwatchers used to be people that practiced bird prediction: by studying the movements of the birds telling the future. Like with crows. If you want to learn that art, you have to believe in it. And knowing which birds you see. Continue reading: https://smitakislesvos.com/en/crow-language/ 

The red island

Lesvos used to be a red island and remained that until some tens of years ago. The whole of Greece nearly disappeared behind the iron curtain. What would have become of this quirky country, that loves her freedom? https://smitakislesvos.com/en/the-red-island/

In an octopus’s garden

 

What will you do when plenty of fishes wash up the beach and why do you want to stop eating octopus: continue reading: https://smitakislesvos.com/en/from-an-octopuss-garden/

Stamp box

It is lovely to visit collections, or to make an own collection. It is also nice to drink beer, especially when in a beautiful tin or box: continue reading: https://smitakislesvos.com/en/stamp-box/

That heat

The recent heat wave, that caused biblical catastrophes, had us all flee to spaces where the aircon was working hard. History learns that there are many other ways to escape the heat, where water and air movement had a leading role. Continue reading: https://smitakislesvos.com/en/that-heat/

Pages full of Molyvos

 

More than once Molyvos is a back ground in books. Recently another two books that have a say about the village were published: the American book Fire on the island by Timothy Jay Smith and the African book Man op ‘n fiets êrens heen by Frederik de Jager. Continue reading: https://smitakislesvos.com/en/pages-full-of-molyvos/

A morning in Eftalou

It is very quiet on the island. Thinking back at the fizzing years when there were plenty of tourists roaming over the roads, it is difficult to remain hope that each crisis is temporary. Continue reading: https://smitakislesvos.com/en/a-morning-in-eftalou/

Cooking with bathing water

 

Cooking with seawater is not a bad idea. Because it still contains plenty of healthy minerals. And it makes food better tasting. Time to find bottled seawater, continue reading: https://smitakislesvos.com/en/cooking-with-swimming-water/

The ugly duckling of Lesvos

 

About an ugly capital, although with an environment full of remnants from the many layers of Lesvorian history: from the very old Stone Age to castles destroyed by the Ottoman. Kalloni: still at the centre of the island, continue reading: https://smitakislesvos.com/en/the-ugly-duckling-of-lesvos/