Friday 4 June 2021

Agios Georgios




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 ...


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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