Kef weather 30/09 - 09/10

Tuesday: Sunshine and a few afternoon clouds. High 23°C. Winds NNW at 2 bft to 3 bft.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy early with increasing clouds overnight. Low 14°C. Winds light and variable.

Wednesday: Light rain developing later in the day. High 23°C. Winds SSE at 2 bft to 3 bft. Chance of rain 70%.

Wednesday Night: Occasional rain tapering to a few showers late. Low 16°C. Winds SSE at 2 bft to 3 bft. Chance of rain 70%.

Thursday: Rain and thunder. Highs near 30°C and lows near 17°C.

Friday: Showers, maybe a rumble of thunder. Highs near 27°C and lows near 17°C.

Saturday: Rain with a few rumbles of thunder. Highs near 23°C and lows near 16°C.

Sunday: Showers possible. Highs near 24°C and lows near 16°C.

Monday: Sunny. Highs near 23°C and lows near 16°C.

Tuesday: Abundant sunshine. Highs near 27°C and lows near 16°C.

Wednesday: Plenty of sun. Highs near 27°C and lows near 16°C.

Thursday: Mix of sun and clouds. Highs near 27°C and lows near 19°C.

Thought for the day

from Bryan:

If you had purchased £1000 of Northern Rock shares one year ago it would now be worth £4.95; with HBOS, earlier this week your £1000 would have been worth £16.50; £1000 invested in XL Leisure would now be worth less than £5, but if you bought £1000 worth of Tennents Lager one year ago, drank it all, then took the empty cans to an aluminium re-cycling plant, you would get £214. So based on the above statistics the best current investment advice is to drink heavily...

Ground control to...

Two airplanes were forced to circle an airport on a Greek island for 30 minutes Monday because an air traffic controller failed to show up for an early morning shift, authorities said.
IHT

Re-cycling Kefalonia

Spotted two, new, re-cycling bins outside the school at Agios Yeorgios (Pastra). One for paper, one for tins (I think it was). You can deposit old batteries (i.e. Duracell- type, not car) for re-cycling at the Lighthouse taverna, Katelios.

Kefalonia review

"Sami itself has a long sandy beach..."

I always enjoy reading travel reviews, you learn so much. That one from the people.co.uk

Media strike

Greek Journalists’ Union (ESIEA) holds a 24-hour strike opposing social security reforms. The strike will result in a media blackout and Kathimerini English Edition will not be available on Thursday. It will be back as normal on Friday. Athens Plus will not be affected.
eKathimerini

A little wobble

A 4.1 mb wobble, 60km down, at 05:05 this morning, 26 km north of Lixouri. Rattled the door slightly but other than that, no obvious effect. Info at emsc

Kef weather 29/09 - 08/10

Monday: A few showers early with bright sunshine by the afternoon. High 22°C. Winds NNW at 3 bft to 4 bft. Chance of rain 30%.

Monday Night: Mainly clear. Low 13°C. Winds NNW at 2 bft to 3 bft.

Tuesday: A mainly sunny sky. High near 24°C. Winds NNW at 2 bft to 3 bft.

Tuesday Night: Clear skies with a few passing clouds. Low 13°C. Winds light and variable.

Wednesday: Light rain developing in the afternoon. Highs near 27°C and lows near 19°C.

Thursday: Light rain. Highs near 27°C and lows near 17°C.

Friday: Thundershowers. Highs near 27°C and lows near 19°C.

Saturday: Mainly cloudy and rainy. Highs near 23°C and lows near 16°C.

Sunday: Few showers. Highs near 24°C and lows near 16°C.

Monday: Areas of morning fog, then some sun. Highs near 23°C and lows near 16°C.

Tuesday: Mix of sun and clouds. Highs near 27°C and lows near 16°C.

Wednesday: Mix of sun and clouds. Highs near 30°C and lows near 19°C.

Athens News to fold?

Could be wrong, but from what I've heard, the imminent closure of the Athens News is nigh. I'm sure it will be missed by many Athenians.

Kef weather 28/09 - 0710

Sunday: Considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers. High around 21°C. Winds N at 2 bft to 3 bft. Chance of rain 50%.

Sunday Night: Overcast with rain showers at 0 bft Low around 13°C. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.

Monday: Mainly sunny. High 23°C. Winds NNE at 2 bft to 3 bft.

Monday Night: A mostly clear sky. Low 13°C. Winds light and variable.

Tuesday: Sunny. Highs near 27°C and lows near 16°C.

Wednesday: Showers. Highs near 23°C and lows near 16°C.

Thursday: Mix of sun and clouds. Highs near 27°C and lows near 19°C.

Friday: Showers possible. Highs near 27°C and lows near 19°C.

Saturday: Showers. Highs near 27°C and lows near 16°C.

Sunday: Showers possible. Highs near 23°C and lows near 16°C.

Monday: Times of sun and clouds. Highs near 23°C and lows near 16°C.

Tuesday: Times of sun and clouds. Highs near 27°C and lows near 19°C.

Kef weather 27/09 - 06/10

Saturday: Sunny with some cloud. High 23°C. Winds NNW at 2 bft to 3 bft.

Saturday Night: Some clouds. Low near 13°C. Winds NE at 2 bft to 3 bft.

Sunday: Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 23°C. Winds NNE at 2 bft to 3 bft.

Sunday Night: A few showers early with mostly clear conditions later at night. Low 13°C. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.

Monday: Mainly sunny. Highs near 27°C and lows near 16°C.

Tuesday: Plenty of sun. Highs near 27°C and lows near 16°C.

Wednesday: Sunny, showers possible. Highs near 27°C and lows near 16°C.

Thursday: Sunny, chance of showers. Highs near 27°C and lows near 19°C.

Friday: Sun and showers. Highs near 27°C and lows near 19°C.

Saturday: Mostly cloudy, chance of showers. Highs near 27°C and lows near 19°C.

Sunday: Sunny. Highs near 27°C and lows near 19°C.

Monday: Mainly sunny. Highs near 30°C and lows near 19°C

New Greek film on way

Nick Nolte, Haley Bennett and Carter Jenkins face a Greek holiday tragedy in the indie coming-of-age-drama "Arcadia Lost."

Bennett and Jenkins play step-siblings whose first family trip is cut short by a car crash. With their parents dead, the stunned teens roam the Greek countryside and befriend an expatriate vagabond (Nolte) who leads them to a mysterious spiritual ceremony.
hollywoodreporter.com

'Petrol strike' ends

Customs employees suspended their strike at 04:00 local Greek time after uproarious meeting of the Federation’s Council Board with only one vote in favour. The market’s fuel supply has already started but it needs at least two days to return to normal. In the meantime after the Economics Ministry legal action, the court ruled the strike abusive and illegal on the grounds that the strike was announced by an incompetent organ and the damage to society was disproportionate to demands of strikers.
ert.news

On yer bike

Cyclists gather(ed) in front of a Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) pavilion inaugurated by Tourism Minister Aris Spiliotopoulos yesterday in Thiseion, central Athens. The cyclists were helping the Tourism Ministry encourage Greeks to adopt healthier and more environmentally friendly habits, such as walking or riding a bike to work. ‘We must protect the main strength of tourism, which is the natural environment,’ the minister said.
eKathimerini

Shops on strike

Retail stores and traders will keep their doors locked on October 13 in protest at the government’s recent tax hikes and the ongoing financial woes of state social security fund OAEE.

The General Confederation of Greek Small Businesses and Traders (GSEVEE)said in an announcement its members from across the country will take part in the protest action.
eKathimerini

Kefalonia weather 26/09 - 05/10

Friday: Sunny, a few scattered clouds possible. High near 25°C. Winds NW at 3 bft to 5 bft.

Friday Night: Clear to partly cloudy. Low 13°C. Winds NNW at 2 bft to 3 bft.

Saturday: Sunny with some cloud. High 23°C. Winds NNW at 2 bft to 3 bft.

Saturday Night: A few clouds. Low 12°C. Winds NE at 2 bft to 3 bft.

Sunday: Sunny. Highs near 27°C and lows near 16°C.

Monday: Sunny. Highs near 27°C and lows near 16°C.

Tuesday: Mainly sunny. Highs near 27°C and lows near 16°C.

Wednesday: Times of sun and clouds. Highs near 30°C and lows near 19°C.

Thursday: Sun and showers, maybe a rumble of thunder. Highs near 30°C and lows near 19°C.

Friday: Cloudy with showers and thunderstorms. Highs near 30°C and lows near 19°C.

Saturday: Mainly sunny. Highs near 30°C and lows near 19°C.

Sunday: Mainly sunny. Highs near 30°C and lows near 17°C.

The Republic of Corfu?

Nearly 150 years after it was united with Greece, unrest is mounting on Corfu, the country's premier tourist destination, amid unprecedented calls for autonomy from Athens.

With the embattled Greek government ensnared in scandals barely a year after its re-election for a second term, disquiet is growing on the island.

Dissent is such that community and business leaders enraged with the wayward practices of politicians they see as distant and corrupt have set up a party to press for self-rule.

The island's infrastructure had deteriorated through years of neglect. Its road network - originally built by the British and seen as a feat of engineering - had become pot-holed death traps with more tourists dying on them every year.

Mon Repos, the one-time palace and birthplace of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, had been allowed to fall into disrepair; Corfu Town, a protected Unesco heritage site, had been left to rot in the face of official indifference while the island's heartland, once the inspiration for painters such as Edward Lear, resembled a war zone of discarded cars and rubbish, he said.

Instead of funding badly-needed public works, EU monies were being used to line the pockets of greedy politicians, the autonomists say.
guardian.co.uk


Or maybe the Kingdom of Kerkyra?

Kef 25/09 - 04/10

Thursday: Rain diminishing to a few showers this afternoon. High 24°C. Winds WSW at 2 bft to 3 bft. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a quarter of 2.5 cm.

Thursday Night: A few showers early, then clear overnight. Low 15°C. Winds NW at 2 bft to 3 bft. Chance of rain 30%.

Friday: Mainly sunny. High near 26°C. Winds NW at 3 bft to 5 bft.

Friday Night: A mostly clear sky. Low 14°C. Winds NW at 2 bft to 3 bft.

Saturday: Sun and afternoon showers. Highs near 27°C and lows near 16°C.

Sunday: Sunny with scattered clouds. Highs near 27°C and lows near 16°C.

Monday: Mainly sunny. Highs near 27°C and lows near 16°C.

Tuesday: Abundant sunshine. Highs near 27°C and lows near 16°C.

Wednesday: Sunny with a scattered showers. Highs near 27°C and lows near 19°C.

Thursday: Some sun with a few showers possible. Highs near 30°C and lows near 19°C.

Friday: Some sun with a few showers possible. Highs near 30°C and lows near 19°C.

Saturday: Mix of sun and clouds. Highs near 30°C and lows near 17°C.

Petrol shortage?

Hundreds of motorists are queuing at petrol stations since early morning fearing that continuing customs officers’ strike will cause fuel shortages. According to Petrol Station Owners Federation said that only 25% of Attika petrol-stations have unleaded petrol and diesel, warning that petrol stations in Attika will run out of petrol till afternoon if the strike continues. In Thessaloniki about 85% of petrol stations have run out of fuel while no serious problems have been reported in the rest of the country.
ert.news.gr


Haven't heard of or seen any problems on Kefalonia as yet

Pay & Display in Argostoli - update

I haven’t been yet, but I gather it started from this week. It seems that the Peripteros did not have the necessary scratch cards until now. From what I understand, you have to buy one for 50c which enables you to park for one hour and then you scratch off the start time in minutes, hour, date and display on windscreen. You can also purchase other value cards for two or three hours. The zone extends from the Bridge to the Port Office.

From what I heard, there are now plenty of parking spaces available.

From Jolly Roger

Kef weather 24/09 - 03/10

Wednesday: Mix of sun and clouds. High 24°C. Winds SSE at 3 bft to 4 bft.

Wednesday Night: A few showers this evening, becoming a steady, soaking rain overnight with a few rumbles of thunder possible. Low 16°C. Winds S at 2 bft to 3 bft. Chance of rain 70%. Rainfall near 0.75 cm.

Thursday: Rain diminishing to a few showers by afternoon. High 23°C. Winds NW at 3 bft to 5 bft. Chance of rain 70%.

Thursday Night: A few showers in the evening with clear skies overnight. Low 14°C. Winds NW at 3 bft to 4 bft. Chance of rain 30%.

Friday: Sunny with possible afternoon showers. Highs near 27°C and lows near 16°C.

Saturday: Mainly sunny. Highs near 27°C and lows near 16°C.

Sunday: Mainly sunny. Highs near 27°C and lows near 12°C.

Monday: Sunshine. Highs near 27°C and lows near 12°C.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny. Highs near 30°C and lows near 16°C.

Wednesday: Rain with a few rumbles of thunder. Highs near 30°C and lows near 19°C.

Thursday: Mix of sun and clouds. Highs near 30°C and lows near 19°C.

Friday: Times of sun and clouds. Highs near 28°C and lows near 17°C.

Heavy rain

Several cars were destroyed yesterday on Santorini following heavy rain that caused the vehicles to be swept away.
eKathimerini

GGi forums update

Just having a few last checks, should be back online in a day or two (GMT).

Pay & Display in Argostoli

Looks like the Pay & Display scheme in Argostoli is starting / being extended. I thought it was due to start in May but the leaflet I've got has a start date of yesterday (22 September), so I'm not sure if it's only just got off the ground or if it's being extended. When I get into Argostoli... (not that I'm in a rush to do that - but it's got to happen).

Kef weather 23/09 - 02/10

Tuesday: Mix of sun and cloud, possible showers. High 23°C. Winds W at 2 bft to 3 bft. Chance of rain 30%.

Tuesday Night: A few passing clouds. Low 14°C. Winds light and variable.

Wednesday: Sun and cloud with scattered showers. High 23°C. Winds ESE at 3 bft to 4 bft. Chance of rain 70%.

Wednesday Night: A steady, heavy rain in the evening. Showers continuing late. Low near 16°C. Winds SSW at 2 bft to 3 bft. Chance of rain 80%. Significant rainfall amounts possible.

Thursday: Sunny with a few light showers. Highs near 30°C and lows near 19°C.

Friday: Plenty of sun. Highs near 30°C and lows near 19°C.

Saturday: Times of sun and clouds. Highs near 27°C and lows near 16°C.

Sunday: Mix of sun and clouds. Highs near 27°C and lows near 16°C.

Monday: Mostly cloudy, chance of showers. Highs near 27°C and lows near 19°C.

Tuesday: Sun with a chance of showers. Highs near 30°C and lows near 19°C.

Wednesday: Mix of sun and clouds. Highs near 30°C and lows near 17°C.

Thursday: Mix of sun and clouds. Highs near 28°C and lows near 17°C.

Kef weather 22/09 - 01/10

Monday: Sun and cloud with a few scattered showers. High 23°C. Winds SSW at 2 bft to 3 bft. Chance of rain 30%.

Monday Night: Cloudy with a few showers. Low 14°C. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.

Tuesday: Mainly sunny. High near 25°C. Winds NNW at 3 bft to 4 bft.

Tuesday Night: Mainly clear skies. Low 14°C. Winds S at 2 bft to 3 bft.

Wednesday: Sunny, showers possible. Highs near 27°C and lows near 19°C.

Thursday: Thundershowers. Highs near 30°C and lows near 19°C.

Friday: Times of sun and clouds. Highs near 30°C and lows near 19°C.

Saturday: Sunny with a few clouds. Highs near 27°C and lows near 19°C.

Sunday: Mainly sunny. Highs near 27°C and lows near 19°C.

Monday: Mostly sunny. Highs near 30°C and lows near 19°C.

Tuesday: Mix of sun and clouds. Highs near 30°C and lows near 17°C.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Highs near 28°C and lows near 17°C.

Kef weather 21/09 - 30/09

Sunday: Mostly sunny but cool. High 24°C. Winds N at 2 bft to 3 bft.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy. Low 14°C. Winds light and variable.

Monday: Sun and cloud with scattered showers in places. High 23°C. Winds NNE at 2 bft to 3 bft. Chance of rain 30%.

Monday Night: Cloudy with a few showers. Low 14°C. Winds NW at 2 bft to 3 bft. Chance of rain 30%.

Tuesday: Mainly sunny. Highs near 27°C and lows near 19°C.

Wednesday: Sunny with scattered showers. Highs near 27°C and lows near 19°C.

Thursday: Showers, maybe a rumble of thunder. Highs near 30°C and lows near 17°C.

Friday: Thundershowers. Highs near 30°C and lows near 19°C.

Saturday: Sunny with some cloud. Highs near 30°C and lows near 19°C.

Sunday: Sunshine. Highs near 30°C and lows near 17°C.

Monday: More sun than clouds. Highs near 28°C and lows near 17°C.

Tuesday: Mix of sun and clouds. Highs near 28°C and lows near 17°C.

Bad year ahead for Greek tourism?

For the first time in the last four years, the country’s tourism professionals are pessimistic about the course of Greek tourism next season, even before the current one is over.

The mixed picture for this year has revealed some signs of upcoming crisis, with visitors’ numbers remaining at the same levels as in 2007, hotel occupancy rates going down and only tourism revenues going up, according to the most recent data. The main reasons are always put down to the international financial crisis and the internal structural problems of Greek tourism.
eKathimerini

Sounds like the same old song, sung by a different group. Maybe they're right this time? At a guess, the answer is to tear up more virgin countryside and cover it in concrete.

Kef weather 20/09 - 29/09

Saturday: Periods of sun and rain. High 21°C. Winds ENE at 3 bft to 5 bft. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around 1.25 cm.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy. Periods of rain early. Low 13°C. Winds NE at 2 bft to 3 bft. Chance of rain 70%. Rainfall around a quarter of 2.5 cm.

Sunday: Intervals of clouds and sunshine. High 23°C. Winds NNE at 2 bft to 3 bft.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy skies. Low 14°C. Winds light and variable.

Monday: Sun with possible afternoon showers. Highs near 27°C and lows near 19°C.

Tuesday: Sun with showers possible. Highs near 23°C and lows near 19°C.

Wednesday: Sun and scattered showers. Highs near 27°C and lows near 19°C.

Thursday: Sun with showers possible. Highs near 30°C and lows near 19°C.

Friday: Partly cloudy. Highs near 30°C and lows near 17°C.

Saturday: Sun and scattered showers. Highs near 30°C and lows near 17°C.

Sunday: A few thunderstorms possible. Highs near 28°C and lows near 17°C.

Monday: More sun than clouds. Highs near 28°C and lows near 17°C.

Hey ho, life in Greece

Couldn't post the weather forecast, etc, any earlier as we had a power cut from early morning until about 12:40. Hey ho! Skala seems unaffecetd but Roger had a very brief cut early his morning. Guess we were just unlucky.

Pirates take Greek ship

The fate of a Greek-owned cargo ship that had been en route to Kenya from Ethiopia was unclear yesterday after it was reported to have been seized by Somalian pirates in the Indian Ocean off Mogadishu.

The ship’s captain reported the hijacking at 5.30 a.m. yesterday to the Glyfada-based firm that owns the ship. There are no Greeks aboard.

The Centauri is one of more than 50 ships taken by pirates off Somalia this year. Several sailors are still being held for ransom.
eKathimerini

Talking of pirates, check out this new version of Google
(Looks kosher, thanks to Bryan for the link)

Kef weather 19/09 - 28/09

Friday: Sunny early, possible clouds later. High 26°C. Winds NNW at 3 bft to 4 bft.

Friday Night: Mainly cloudy. Low near 16°C. Winds N at 2 bft to 3 bft.

Saturday: Periods of rainlikely. High 23°C. Winds ENE at 3 bft to 4 bft. Chance of rain 70%. Rainfall around 0.5 cm.

Saturday Night: A few showers in the evening with clear skies overnight. Low 13°C. Winds NE at 2 bft to 3 bft. Chance of rain 30%.

Sunday: Sun with some cloud. Highs near 27°C and lows near 16°C.

Monday: Sun with showers possible in the afternoon. Highs near 27°C and lows near 19°C.

Tuesday: Periods of heavy rain. Highs near 23°C and lows near 19°C.

Wednesday: Sun and scattered showers. Highs near 30°C and lows near 17°C.

Thursday: Sunny with occasional showers possible. Highs near 30°C and lows near 17°C.

Friday: Cloudy with showers and thunderstorms. Highs near 28°C and lows near 17°C.

Saturday: Sun and cloud. Highs near 28°C and lows near 17°C.

Sunday: Mostly cloudy, chance of showers. Highs near 28°C and lows near 21°C.

Anyone for tennis?

Looks like there's a fairly serious tennis tournament on Kefalonia at the moment, more info from the International Tennis Federation

XL collapse, a rep's account

A holiday rep has told how she lost her dream job and was left stranded in Kefalonia after the collapse of travel firm XL Leisure. Thousands of tourists were abandoned in 50 destinations worldwide when the UK’s third largest package holiday group announced it had gone into administration last Friday.

Jenna Wood had been employed for just five months with Kosmar Villa Holidays – a tour operator which was bought by XL in 2006. The 23-year-old had been on the Greek island since July and was expected to stay in the Mediterranean resort until October doing the job she loved.

She said: “On Friday morning I got a call from my boss saying he needed to speak to me and went through the door and the reps were all there.

“He said, ‘Just to let you know, XL has gone bust and you have no jobs anymore’. I was just in shock, and thought, ‘Oh my God are you being serious?’

“We thought it was just a joke but he told us it was going to be all over the papers and television. I was totally devastated.”

The reps informed holidaymakers while being forced out of their own accommodation paid for by XL until fellow tour operator Thomas Cook was able to fly them home two days later.
getreading.co.uk

Weather warning

The weather will deteriorate in the weekend, with a drop in temperature, rain, storms and 8-Beaufort winds. Meanwhile, the Thessaloniki port authorities have issued a warning, as the weather will deteriorate in Thermaikos Gulf with north- westerly 8-Beaufort winds blowing in the area. They also advise those with small vessels to find shelter at safe ports.
ert.news

Beware exotic pets

Wildlife protection experts yesterday warned of a sharp rise in the illegal trade of wild animals – including many endangered species – following the confiscation of eight African chameleons from a pet shop in central Athens.

The chameleons, a rare and protected breed, had been removed from a colony in Messinia, in the Peloponnese, the only one of its kind in Europe. They were being tended to yesterday and are soon to be released back into the wild.
eKathimerini

Water shortages

The country’s water reserves are so low that it will take at least 10 years of proper water management for levels to be restored satisfactorily, experts say, noting that current reserves are adequate for the next three years.

Scientists from the Hellenic Committee of Hydrogeology and other experts said it was imperative that 200,000 legal and illegal drill holes around the country be checked as soon as possible.

Experts said the issuing of licenses for the operation of water bores should be more strictly regulated. The absence of comprehensive geological studies is another problem. This has led to some opportunistic firms selling bogus studies, experts warned.
eKathimerini

Kef weather 18/09 - 27/09

Thursday: Sunny with some cloud. High 28°C. Winds NNW at 3 bft to 5 bft.

Thursday Night: Mainly clear skies. Low 15°C. Winds NNW at 2 bft to 3 bft.

Friday: Sunny with some clouds. High around 30°C. Winds NNW at 3 bft to 4 bft.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy skies. Low 15°C. Winds NE at 2 bft to 3 bft.

Saturday: Periods of heavy rain and wind. Highs near 23°C and lows near 19°C.

Sunday: Sun with occasional showers possible. Highs near 27°C and lows near 19°C.

Monday: Some sun with a few showers possible. Highs near 30°C and lows near 19°C.

Tuesday: Sun and showers, maybe a rumble of thunder. Highs near 30°C and lows near 19°C.

Wednesday: Cloudy with showers and thunderstorms. Highs near 28°C and lows near 17°C.

Thursday: Sun and thundershowers. Highs near 28°C and lows near 17°C.

Friday: Cloudy with showers and thunderstorms. Highs near 28°C and lows near 17°C.

Saturday: Sunny with some cloud. Highs near 28°C and lows near 17°C.

A taste of Kefalonia

In the sun-bathed vineyards outside Argostoli, where the fictional Captain Corelli wooed his love Pelagia, the descendants of a real-life Italian soldier are conducting their own love affair with Greek wines.

Many consumers, when they imagine Greek wine, think with a shudder of retsina: a cheap white wine flavoured with pine resin served to generations of package tourists. But Greece has a longer winemaking tradition than its more famous European neighbours.

The wines of Kefalonia -- a verdant island in the sparkling waters of the Ionian sea -- were once prized across the Mediterranean, before centuries of colonisation, war and poverty brought Greek winemaking to its knees.

Now the small Gentilini vineyard, run by a distant relative of a 16th-century Venetian commander, is part of a new generation of winemakers using unique local grape varieties to put the country's vintages back on the map.
International Herald Tribune

Tourism to Greece holding up well

Greece Tourism Development Minister Aris Spiliotopoulos expressed his satisfaction over the course of tourism figures this year and said that the Greek tourism sector maintained its dynamism by showing a rising trend in new markets despite an unfavorable international economic conjuncture.

Spiliotopoulos said that according to figures published by the National Statistics Service, tourist arrivals at the country's major airports were up 3.0 pct this year and noted that July figures were unchanged at last year's levels.

He said Greece was among the winners of this year's global tourism market, with tourism foreign exchange inflows rising 8.5 pct in the period from January to June 2008.

The minister said tourist arrivals from Russia, Romania, Poland and Bulgaria surpassed one million visitors so far this year, with tourist arrivals from Russia up more than 40 pct compared with 2007. Cruise vessels arriving to Greek destinations were also more than 10 pct higher this year.
ftnnews.com

Greek weddings on the rise for UK couples

With UK consumers cutting back on spending in almost every area of their lives, it might seem surprising that weddings abroad are on the increase, with a huge increase in demand for Greek weddings. However, a wedding in Greece provides the perfect solution for many UK couples for a variety of reasons. With the average UK wedding now costing in excess of £18,500, couples are increasingly looking at alternatives.

For example, for just over £2,500, couples can enjoy a Greek island wedding consisting of a memorable beach ceremony and 3-course reception for 20 guests on a terrazza overlooking the Ionian Sea.

This price includes all the necessary extras such as champagne, photographer, flowers, wedding cake and arrival by horse and carriage. When you factor in the glorious Greek summer weather and the huge choice of scenic wedding venues including beaches, chapels, gardens, cruise boats and private islands, then a wedding in Greece seems like a dream come true.
easier.com

Unforgetable Zakynthos

An Ilkeston youngster has been left permanently scarred after an allergic reaction to a henna tattoo. Chloe Nicholson, nine, was on holiday in Zante, Greece with parents Rachel and Adam when she persuaded her parents to let her have the large tribal style tattoo on her upper arm.

Within 24 hours of getting the ink based design, which is supposed to last 14 days, Chloe's arm had started to blister.

Specialists have said there is no guarantee that the infection won't scar.
Ilkeston Advertiser

OA is dead, long live OA

The European Commission has approved a Greek government plan to rescue Olympic Airways, Greece's troubled national carrier, a Greek minister said.

The new company will keep the Olympic Airways name and logo, its profitable routs and airport slots in Greek and international airports.
UPI

Another young death on Zakynthos

Tributes have poured in for Samantha Price, of Shrewsbury, from friends and family, who have praised her “outgoing” personality.

She died after collapsing in a club on Monday morning on the Greek island of Zakynthos, where she was on holiday with three friends. Her family believe she may have suffered an asthma attack but this has yet to be confirmed.
Shropshire Star

One has to wonder

The Museum of Natural History of the Petrified Forest of Lesvos and the Association 'The Friends of the Petrified Forest', announced on Tuesday that the Petrified Forest is henceforth an official candidate natural monument for the proclamation of the 'seven wonders of nature', within the framework of the world competition through the Internet.
express.gr

Er, I think this a case of can't see the wood for the lack of trees.

Farewell, Olympic?

The Greek government on Tuesday was waiting for the green light by the European Commission to replace its debt-ridden state airline, Olympic Airlines, with a new carrier under the name Pantheon Airways.

Under the consolidation plan submitted by Greece, Olympic Airlines will be replaced by Pantheon Airways, which will take part in an international privatization tender.

According to state television NET, the new company will keep running all domestic flights, but will drastically reduce its international routes.
monsters & critics


N.B. This is unrelated to Olympic Holidays

Too many immigrants

Municipal authorities on the island of Patmos, in the Dodecanese, have said they are blocking their ports to would-be migrants coming from Turkey, as the unwanted visitors have exceeded the number of permanent residents on the island.

A total of 3,931 immigrants have arrived on the island so far this year, many transferred from the nearby islet of Agathonisi, where they had been abandoned by smugglers. This far exceeds the 3,000-strong population of Patmos, locals complained. Authorities on Agathonisi, which has only 100 residents, have also had enough. “We are not going to take them in anymore,” said community leader Evangelos Kottoros. Authorities said they have asked the Interior Ministry to set up a port authority unit on the islet to tackle the problem more effectively.

Meanwhile, hundreds of migrants waiting on Patmos for their fate to be decided have been put up temporarily in an old nightclub where conditions are said to be squalid. The owner of the old nightclub reportedly was the only local who agreed to help the migrants and this decision is believed to have been motivated by the 180,000 euros he is to receive from the Interior Ministry for his services.

But the least accepting of the migrants on Patmos, a popular tourist resort, is the local union of hoteliers. In a letter to the ministry, the union claims to be “totally against the transformation of sacred Patmos into a ghetto for hungry immigrants from Africa and Asia.” The hoteliers say the island must remain “traditional, clean and safe,” adding that it “cannot be promoted as a destination for high-end tourism on the one hand and permit hundreds of illegal immigrants to wander around hungry and dirty, begging and stealing from tourists.”
eKathimerini

Brit khat lover arrested

Greek police have arrested a British man on suspicion of trying to smuggle 16.8 kg (36.9 lb) of the narcotic leaf khat into the country, police said on Tuesday.

The suspect told police he had been paid by a group of Africans in London to carry the drug to their associates in Greece.

Khat is typically grown in East Africa and Yemen, where it is known as Qat. Banned in many Western nations but legal in Somalia and neighbouring nations, the leaf gives the chewer a mild amphetamine-like high.
Yahoo News

Kef weather 17/09 - 26/09

Wednesday: A few showers early then thundershowers by the afternoon. High near 24°C. Winds NW at 4 bft to 6 bft. Chance of rain 60%.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear. Low near 16°C. Winds NW at 3 bft to 5 bft.

Thursday: Sunny, with a few afternoon clouds. High 26°C. Winds NW at 3 bft to 5 bft.

Thursday Night: A few clouds. Low 16°C. Winds N at 2 bft to 3 bft.

Friday: Considerable cloudiness. Highs near 28°C and lows near 17°C.

Saturday: Cloudy with rain. Highs near 23°C and lows near 19°C.

Sunday: Sunny with occasional showers possible. Highs near 30°C and lows near 19°C.

Monday: Sunny with scattered showers. Highs near 30°C and lows near 19°C.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny. Highs near 30°C and lows near 17°C.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Highs near 28°C and lows near 17°C.

Thursday: Partly cloudy. Highs near 28°C and lows near 17°C.

Friday: Mix of sun and clouds. Highs near 28°C and lows near 17°C.

Kef weather 16/09 - 25/09

Tuesday: Lots of sunshine. High 26°C. Winds SW at 3 bft to 4 bft.

Tuesday Night: Cloudy with a few showers. Low 17°C. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.

Wednesday: A few showers early then thundershowers developing later in the day. High 25°C. Winds NW at 4 bft to 6 bft. Chance of rain 60%.

Wednesday Night: Clear skies. Low around 16°C. Winds NW at 3 bft to 5 bft.

Thursday: Partly cloudy. Highs near 28°C and lows near 17°C.

Friday: More clouds than sun. Highs near 30°C and lows near 17°C.

Saturday: Rain, heavy at times. Highs near 27°C and lows near 19°C.

Sunday: Chance of showers. Highs near 27°C and lows near 19°C.

Monday: Showers, maybe a rumble of thunder. Highs near 30°C and lows near 19°C.

Tuesday: Sunshine. Highs near 28°C and lows near 17°C.

Wednesday: Sunshine. Highs near 28°C and lows near 17°C.

Thursday: Partly cloudy. Highs near 28°C and lows near 17°C.

Kefalonia weather 15/09 - 24/09

Monday: Rain showers this morning with numerous thunderstorms developing during the afternoon hours. High around 27°C. Winds SW at 3 bft to 4 bft. Chance of rain 80%.

Monday Night: Occasional rain tapering to a few showers late. Low 18°C. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%.

Tuesday: Sunny early. Scattered thunderstorms developing later in the day. High 27°C. Winds SW at 3 bft to 4 bft. Chance of rain 40%.

Tuesday Night: Showers early becoming less numerous late. Low 17°C. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.

Wednesday: A few morning showers. Highs near 28°C and lows near 17°C.

Thursday: Mainly sunny. Highs near 28°C and lows near 17°C.

Friday: Mix of sun and clouds. Highs near 28°C and lows near 17°C.

Saturday: Plenty of sun. Highs near 28°C and lows near 17°C.

Sunday: Scattered thunderstorms. Highs near 28°C and lows near 17°C.

Monday: Scattered thunderstorms. Highs near 28°C and lows near 17°C.

Tuesday: Sunny. Highs near 28°C and lows near 17°C.

Wednesday: More sun than clouds. Highs near 28°C and lows near 17°C.

Katelios break-in

The Mythos bar in Katelios was broken in to yet again last night, around €500 was taken.

XL woes

Seems as though everyone on a package holiday, or flight-only through a tour company, managed to get back to the UK today, although a small number weren't flown to the airport they departed from. Looks like everyone still due to fly out from the UK on Excel has lost their holiday, regardless of which tour company it was booked with. Compensation should be available for package holidays but when that will be sorted out...

Water in the beck

Well, no sign of the promised rain as yet, although there was water flowing down the beck today for the first time in ages. Maybe the rain fell high up in the mountains?

Kef weather 14/09 - 23/09

Sunday: A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High around 29°C. Winds SSW at 3 bft to 4 bft.

Sunday Night: Thunderstorms this evening, then cloudy with rain likely overnight. Low 19°C. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%.

Monday: Thunderstorms. High around 27°C. Winds SW at 3 bft to 4 bft. Chance of rain 90%.

Monday Night: Thunderstorms during the evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low near 18°C. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%.

Tuesday: A few thunderstorms possible. Highs near 30°C and lows near 17°C.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy with a stray thunderstorm. Highs near 30°C and lows near 19°C.

Thursday: A few clouds. Highs near 28°C and lows near 19°C.

Friday: More sun than clouds. Highs near 28°C and lows near 17°C.

Saturday: Mostly sunny. Highs near 28°C and lows near 17°C.

Sunday: Partly cloudy. Highs near 32°C and lows near 17°C.

Monday: Mix of sun and clouds. Highs near 28°C and lows near 17°C.

Tuesday: Times of sun and clouds. Highs near 28°C and lows near 17°C.

Kefalonia weather 13/09 - 22/09

Saturday: A mix of clouds and sun. High 31°C. Winds SW at 3 bft to 5 bft.

Saturday Night: Clear this evening, then becoming foggy and damp after midnight. Low 21°C. Winds light and variable.

Sunday: Intervals of clouds and sunshine. High 31°C. Winds SW at 3 bft to 4 bft.

Sunday Night: Rain likely with a few thunderstorms. Low 20°C. Winds S at 2 bft to 3 bft. Chance of rain 70%.

Monday: Cloudy with showers and thunderstorms.. Highs near 28°C and lows near 17°C.

Tuesday: Showers, maybe a rumble of thunder. Highs near 30°C and lows near 17°C.

Wednesday: Mainly sunny. Highs near 28°C and lows near 17°C.

Thursday: More sun than clouds. Highs near 28°C and lows near 17°C.

Friday: Partly cloudy. Highs near 32°C and lows near 17°C.

Saturday: Rain and thunder. Highs near 32°C and lows near 17°C.

Sunday: Partly cloudy. Highs near 32°C and lows near 17°C.

Monday: Sunshine. Highs near 32°C and lows near 21°C.

Tourism revenues down

Tourism businesses have seen revenues drop by around 4 percent so far this year, despite the number of incoming visitors remaining unchanged from last year’s levels, according to the Association of Greek Tourist Enterprises (SETE).

Figures released by SETE earlier this week showed that tourists driving into Greece from Bulgaria and Romania have helped offset a small drop in visitors flying into the country in the January to August period.
eKathimerini

What's a Greek urn? Not enough.

Greeks have longer working weeks than many of their European peers, with one in four working more than 10 hours per day, according to a study made public yesterday.

The study, put together by researchers Eurofound, found that Greeks work an average of 45.4 hours per week versus a European Union average of 38.4 hours.

Based on trends in the labor market, working hours in the 27-nation bloc have been decreasing in the last 15 years – but not in Greece.

Nearly 26 percent of Greeks work at least 10 hours per day more than five times a month, the study shows, versus 16.9 percent of people in the EU as a whole.

According to national law, employees work a 40-hour workweek.

Low pay scales and a growing amount of part-time work are forcing many people to seek more than one form of employment to make ends meet in a development that has upped total work hours.
eKathimerini

Doctors to strike

Doctors at state hospitals across Greece will go on strike from Monday to Friday next week in protest at what they see as the government’s failure to resolve some basic issues affecting the National Health System, such as underfunding.
eKathimerini

Abducted child found on Kos?

Police believe a little girl found on Kos on Wednesday is Denise Pipitone, who was abducted from outside her home in Sicily four years ago at the age of 4.

Officers visited the island following a tip-off from Interpol, alerted by an Italian woman who visited the island at the end of last month and saw a little girl selling bracelets who resembled Pipitone.

On Wednesday, police spotted the girl on the island in the company of a 30-year-old Roma woman, who was arrested. The woman claimed to be the girl's mother even though the girl spoke only Italian and the woman only broken Greek.
eKathimerini




A DNA examination of an eight-year-old girl from the island of Kos, for which there were suspicions that she might have been little Denise Pipitone, who had gone missing in Sicily on September 1, 2004, was completed on Friday afternoon.

According to an announcement by the police, the examination of the genetical material showed that hereditary compatibility exists between the girl and the Albanian woman accompanying her and, therefore, they are mother and daughter.
Express

'ICS Monitoring Team' email

If you receive an email supposedly from the ICS Monitoring Team (???) delete it. If you do open it you'll find a message telling you that you're going to be suspended from the internet for illegal activities. Or some such b*ll*x. Whatever you do, don't click on the .zip attachment. Nasty.

XL goes pop

The collapse of XL Leisure Group has disrupted the plans of 85,000 holiday-makers already abroad, and has meant the cancellation of 200,000 advance holiday bookings.

The company, one of the UK's biggest tour operators, blamed its insolvency on "funding and cash flow issues".

In other words, it has run out of cash.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), using its ATOL scheme, has swung into operation to make sure everyone abroad gets home with as little disruption as possible.

But not all customers are in the same position.

What if I'm stuck abroad?

People on package holidays abroad who booked through the XL group's UK businesses, including those who booked a flight with its Freedom Flights operation, will be flown home at no extra cost by the CAA once it has made the arrangements.

If you booked a package tour or flight with another tour company which had planned to use an XL flight then that operator will also make alternative arrangements for you.

About 10,000 people who bought flight tickets on an XL plane either through the website www.xl.com or through a travel agent and are currently abroad are not formally covered by the ATOL scheme.

But the CAA says it will arrange to bring you home anyway, though you will be charged the cost price of the flight.

If you do not like that idea, you can make your own arrangements, at your own cost.

I have not flown abroad yet - what about me?

Do not go to the airport. Your holiday has been cancelled.
BBC

As I understand it, if you're due to travel on a package tour with another tour company on an Excel flight, your holiday shouldn't be affected, a different airline will be arranged, departure details will remain unchanged. Check with your travel agent or tour company.




More info on xl.com

Kef weather 12/09 - 21/09

Friday: Sunny. High around 32°C. Winds WSW at 3 bft to 5 bft.

Friday Night: Mainly clear skies. Low 20°C. Winds light and variable.

Saturday: A few clouds early, otherwise mostly sunny. Warm. High 33°C. Winds SW at 3 bft to 4 bft.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy early with increasing clouds overnight. Low 20°C. Winds light and variable.

Sunday: Partly cloudy with a stray thunderstorm. Highs near 38°C and lows near 21°C.

Monday: Scattered thunderstorms. Highs near 30°C and lows near 17°C.

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, chance of showers. Highs near 31°C and lows near 17°C.

Wednesday: Mainly sunny. Highs near 30°C and lows near 17°C.

Thursday: Times of sun and clouds. Highs near 30°C and lows near 17°C.

Friday: Times of sun and clouds. Highs near 33°C and lows near 17°C.

Saturday: Mainly sunny. Highs near 33°C and lows near 21°C.

Sunday: Sunshine. Highs near 33°C and lows near 21°C.

What's a Greek urn?

...the average monthly gross salary in Greece stands at 1,668 euros. The union groups argue however that the average income figure is actually lower since high salaries earned by 15 percent of the work force skew figures upward. Fifty percent of full-time workers in Greece earn a gross monthly amount of less than 1,250 euros, according to the labor groups.
eKathimerini

Greece gets competitive

Greece is ranked only 96th out of 181 countries in an assessment of the competitiveness of economies, despite gaining 10 positions from last year, as it scored poorly on the number of steps required to set up a business, according to a World Bank report.

The report, which examines conditions that facilitate and obstruct business activity, gave Greece a lower score than almost all of its European Union peers.

Albania, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Montenegro and Kazakhstan all scored better than Greece.
eKathimerini

Back to school

Some 1.5 million children and almost 200,000 teachers will return to classes today for the start of the new academic year as arguments continue about the shortage of teaching staff. It is estimated that Greece’s 15,750 schools are short of 2,000 to 5,000 teachers.
eKathimerini


With children heading back to classes today for their first day of the new school year, consumer group KEPKA said parents must pay up to 10 percent more than last year for basic school items.
eKathimerini

Pella unearthed

New excavations at a rich ancient cemetery in northern Greece have yielded gold jewelry, bronze and iron weapons and pottery, authorities said yesterday. Archaeologists digging in part of a vast burial ground near Pella, the ancient Macedonians’ capital, unearthed 43 new graves dating from 650-279 BC, a Culture Ministry statement said. The dead included 20 warriors who had been buried in the Archaic period, between 580 and 480 BC.
eKathimerini

Change of address

If you're visiting this temporary GoingGreek blog via the www.GoingGreek.info address please use this address instead while we work on the server changes: goinggreekblog.blogspot.com

Kefalonia weather 11/09 - 20/09

Thursday: Plentiful sunshine. High 33°C. ENE winds shifting to W at 3 bft to 4 bft.

Thursday Night: Mainly clear skies. Low 20°C. Winds light and variable.

Friday: Sunny skies. High 34°C. Winds WSW at 3 bft to 5 bft.

Friday Night: Clear skies with a few passing clouds. Low 20°C. Winds light and variable.

Saturday: Times of sun and clouds. Highs near 38°C and lows near 21°C.

Sunday: Isolated thunderstorms. Highs near 38°C and lows near 21°C.

Monday: Scattered thunderstorms. Highs near 29°C and lows near 17°C.

Tuesday: Partly cloudy with a stray thunderstorm. Highs near 29°C and lows near 17°C.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy with a stray thunderstorm. Highs near 29°C and lows near 17°C.

Thursday: Mostly sunny. Highs near 29°C and lows near 17°C.

Friday: Times of sun and clouds. Highs near 29°C and lows near 17°C.

Saturday: Mostly sunny. Highs near 29°C and lows near 21°C.

GGi update

At the moment I'm hopeful that GGi will be up-and-strolling slowly in around five days from now. That's not a firm date as I don't know what joys I'm going to discover along the way. But it's coming along.

Telecoms trouble

The price war that is raging between the country’s alternative telecom providers is costing the sector heavily, with growing competitiveness taking its toll on company balance sheets.

Data show that in 2007, telecom companies are estimated to have incurred losses of more than 200 million euros while liabilities reached 900 million euros.

eKathimerini

Pharmacists on strike

Pharmacies will be closed today due to a 24-hour strike by pharmacists in opposition to an amendment that forces them to give social insurance funds a 3 percent discount when they accept payment for prescription drugs. The amendment to the law requires pharmacies to then recoup this money from pharmaceutical firms.
eKathimerini

Kefalonia weather 10/09 - 19/09

Wednesday: Sunny. High 33°C. Winds N at 2 bft to 3 bft.

Wednesday Night: Mainly clear skies. Low 21°C. Winds light and variable.

Thursday: A mainly sunny sky. High 33°C. E winds shifting to WNW at 3 bft to 4 bft.

Thursday Night: Clear skies. Low 20°C. Winds light and variable.

Friday: Sunny. Highs near 36°C and lows near 21°C.

Saturday: Mostly sunny. Highs near 33°C and lows near 21°C.

Sunday: Afternoon showers and thunderstorms. Highs near 36°C and lows near 21°C.

Monday: Partly cloudy with a stray thunderstorm. Highs near 32°C and lows near 21°C.

Tuesday: A few thunderstorms possible. Highs near 32°C and lows near 17°C.

Wednesday: A few thunderstorms possible. Highs near 28°C and lows near 17°C.

Thursday: A few thunderstorms possible. Highs near 32°C and lows near 17°C.

Friday: Times of sun and clouds. Highs near 32°C and lows near 17°C.

Electricity prices kept down

Development Minister Christos Folias stated that the PPC (Public Power Corporation) is hammering out special social electric-power rates for the low income earners. As per the plan, about two million households will benefit from it as those with incomes up to 5,650 euros will be charged with lower rates.
news.ert.gr

Kef weather 09/09 - 18/09

Tuesday: Abundant sunshine. High 33°C. Winds NNW at 3 bft to 5 bft.

Tuesday Night: Generally clear. Low 21°C. Winds NNE at 2 bft to 3 bft.

Wednesday: Mainly sunny. Hot. High around 34°C. Winds N at 2 bft to 3 bft.

Wednesday Night: Clear skies. Low 20°C. Winds light and variable.

Thursday: Sunshine. Highs near 37°C and lows near 21°C.

Friday: Plenty of sun. Highs near 33°C and lows near 17°C.

Saturday: Mainly sunny. Highs near 33°C and lows near 17°C.

Sunday: Mostly sunny. Highs near 33°C and lows near 17°C.

Monday: Scattered thunderstorms possible. Highs near 33°C and lows near 17°C.

Tuesday: More sun than clouds. Highs near 29°C and lows near 17°C.

Wednesday: Sunny. Highs near 33°C and lows near 17°C.

Thursday: Mix of sun and clouds. Highs near 29°C and lows near 17°C.

The name's the same

Are you curious to see how many people in the globe have the same surname as you? Britain announced a new webpage www.publicprofiler.org/worldnames that responds to this question.

The data base includes 10.8 million surnames and 6.5 million names.
news.ert.gr

Olympic loss

Inflexible costs and fierce competition have turned 54 of Olympic Airlines’ 68 routes into loss-making ones, at least according to 2007 figures.

Apart from the services to Toronto (the direct flight, not the one via Montreal), Istanbul, Cairo and Tel Aviv, which are profitable, all other 36 routes abroad generate losses for the national airline that last year amounted to 114.9 million euros.
eKathimerini

Weird, Wild & Wacky

A dispute over land appears to have led an 85-year-old man to shoot dead his 80-year-old neighbor on the island of Salamina, near Piraeus, yesterday before he suffered a heart attack and died.

The neighbors had been in a dispute for some time about who owned a tiny piece of land between their two plots. An argument flared when the 80-year-old grandmother began taking down a fence that her neighbor had put up around the disputed section.

The 85-year-old argued with her and then went into his house to get his hunting rifle. He returned and shot his neighbor in the chest, according to police.

The pensioner then lost consciousness and collapsed. He was taken to the local hospital after neighbors called the authorities but was declared dead from heart failure. Neither of the pensioners was named.
eKathimerini

A retired Japanese diplomat and his Greek wife appeared before an examining magistrate Monday on charges of killing their daughter in their Greek island home.

Masami Tanida, 77, and his wife Maria, 67, were given 24 hours to prepare their defense.

The couple were arrested Saturday and charged by a prosecutor on the island of Evia with murdering their daughter, Amphithea, 36. Both suspects remain in police custody and deny the charges.

Masami Tanida served as Japan's ambassador to the Vatican, among other postings. Tanida settled in Amarynthos with his wife after retiring from the diplomatic service.
iht.com

Kef weather 08/09 - 17/09

Monday: Sunny. High 33°C. ESE winds shifting to WNW at 3 bft to 4 bft.

Monday Night: Mainly clear skies. Low 21°C. Winds light and variable.

Tuesday: Sunny skies. Hot. High near 34°C. Winds NW at 3 bft to 5 bft.

Tuesday Night: Clear. Low 20°C. Winds N at 2 bft to 3 bft.

Wednesday: Sunny. Highs near 36°C and lows near 21°C.

Thursday: Sunny. Highs near 36°C and lows near 21°C.

Friday: Mainly sunny. Highs near 32°C and lows near 21°C.

Saturday: Sunny. Highs near 32°C and lows near 21°C.

Sunday: Scattered showers. Highs near 32°C and lows near 17°C.

Monday: Sunshine. Highs near 32°C and lows near 17°C.

Tuesday: Scattered thunderstorms. Highs near 28°C and lows near 17°C.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Highs near 32°C and lows near 21°C.

Kef weather 07/09 - 16/09

Sunday: Abundant sunshine. Hot. High around 34°C. Winds N at 2 bft to 3 bft.

Sunday Night: Mainly clear skies. Low near 21°C. Winds light and variable.

Monday: Mainly sunny. Hot. High 35°C. SE winds shifting to W at 3 bft to 4 bft.

Monday Night: A mostly clear sky. Low around 21°C. Winds light and variable.

Tuesday: Sunny. Highs near 36°C and lows near 24°C.

Wednesday: Abundant sunshine. Highs near 36°C and lows near 21°C.

Thursday: Mainly sunny. Highs near 36°C and lows near 21°C.

Friday: Sunshine. Highs near 36°C and lows near 21°C.

Saturday: Sunshine. Highs near 32°C and lows near 21°C.

Sunday: A few clouds. Highs near 32°C and lows near 21°C.

Monday: Mainly sunny. Highs near 32°C and lows near 21°C.

Tuesday: Sunshine. Highs near 32°C and lows near 21°C.

Missing tourists

At least one of the two missing tourists returned to their accommodation in Katelios last night after seven days absence. The man was described as having a large slash across his face and clothes in tatters. They are due to fly to the UK on Sunday morning.

Captain George

Interesting report from some guests from Holland. They took a cruise to Ithaka that turned very eventful on the return journey. A short distance out of Vathy the captain discovered a passenger on board who shouldn't have been, apparently a middle-aged single female who mistook the cruise boat for a ferry. Captain George did a swift U-turn and deposited the said female back at Vathy, but not before trying to physically assault her. But he was too drunk and fell onto the deck. Setting off at full speed from Vathy, the captain handed the wheel to a deckhand while he (the captain) crashed out in a bunk. Cabin door open for passengers to see. The rather zig-zag journey back to Agia Efimia ended with Captain George resuming the controls, only to make three attempts at docking before crash landing at the quayside. From what I've heard, he was later arrested in Fiskardo.

Boring Kefalonia, cont.

Interesting video clip from Channel 4 re the bore holes being sunk on the Paliki peninsular. News item at channel4.com

Video clip at brightcove.com

Rocks rescue

A couple staying at Marina Bay had to be rescued from the rocks by police last night. Other guests had advised them the walk to Katelios would take about thirty minutes so they figured they would easily make it before dark. They discovered otherwise while on the goat track over the rocks between Mounda Bay and Agia Barbara beach. In desperation they phoned their rep, who in turn called the police. All ended well.

A couple of tourists staying in Katelios have been reported to the police and British Consulate as missing after not being seen for six days. Their baggage is still in their holiday accommodation.

Kef weather 06/09 - 15/09

Saturday: Sunny. High 33°C. Winds NW at 3 bft to 5 bft.

Saturday Night: Mainly clear skies. Low 21°C. Winds S at 2 bft to 3 bft.

Sunday: A mainly sunny sky. Hot. High 34°C. Winds N at 2 bft to 3 bft.

Sunday Night: Clear skies. Low around 21°C. Winds light and variable.

Monday: Sunny. Highs near 34°C and lows near 24°C.

Tuesday: Sunny. Highs near 34°C and lows near 24°C.

Wednesday: Mainly sunny. Highs near 34°C and lows near 21°C.

Thursday: Mainly sunny. Highs near 32°C and lows near 21°C.

Friday: Abundant sunshine. Highs near 36°C and lows near 21°C.

Saturday: Sunshine. Highs near 36°C and lows near 21°C.

Sunday: Sunny. Highs near 34°C and lows near 21°C.

Monday: Mix of sun and clouds. Highs near 34°C and lows near 21°C.

Cretans

A Cretan couple and one of their relatives were in police detention yesterday after allegedly hosting a private party at which some 4,000 gunshots are believed to have been fired, without provoking any injuries.

Police were called to the couple’s Hania home on Wednesday night after receiving complaints from neighbors. On arrival, officers said they saw people throwing used cartridges into the neighboring garden. Hundreds more spent cartridges were found on the premises. A subsequent search of the suspects’ home unearthed several weapons including an airgun and bullets for a Kalashnikov assault rifle.
eKathimerini

Multi-nationals pricing policies questioned

The Development Ministry intends to put an end to overpricing practices by multinational companies that see their products sold in the Greek market at higher prices than in other countries.

Consumers have repeatedly noticed the same product of the same brand being more expensive in Greece than in other countries.

From now on, if there is a difference in prices from country to country, the companies will have to explain and justify the difference, citing the price in Greece and in other countries.
eKathimerini

Greek postmen win top book award

The people have spoken and the oddest book title of the past 30 years has been selected: Greek Rural Postmen and their Cancellation Numbers. The impenetrable-sounding book, a comprehensive record of Greece's postal routes, is published by the Greek Hellenic Philatelic Society of Great Britain, which "exists to encourage the collection of Greek stamps and to promote their study".

The Diagram prize is The Bookseller magazine's award for oddly named publications, and this 72-page book has won the Diagram of Diagrams, for the weirdest title in the past three decades.
guardian.co.uk


Can't wait for the Hollywood blockbuster of this one: starring Brad Pitt as a village postman, Eva Longoria as a desperate housewife and a mad dog called Katerina.

Kef 05/09 - 14/09

Friday: Plentiful sunshine. High 32°C. SSE winds shifting to WNW at 3 bft to 4 bft.

Friday Night: Generally clear. Low 20°C. Winds WNW at 2 bft to 3 bft.

Saturday: A mainly sunny sky. Hot. High near 33°C. Winds NW at 3 bft to 5 bft.

Saturday Night: Clear. Low 21°C. Winds S at 2 bft to 3 bft.

Sunday: Abundant sunshine. Highs near 35°C and lows near 24°C.

Monday: Mainly sunny. Highs near 35°C and lows near 24°C.

Tuesday: Sunny. Highs near 35°C and lows near 24°C.

Wednesday: Sunny. Highs near 34°C and lows near 21°C.

Thursday: Abundant sunshine. Highs near 32°C and lows near 21°C.

Friday: Abundant sunshine. Highs near 32°C and lows near 21°C.

Saturday: Sunshine. Highs near 32°C and lows near 21°C.

Sunday: Mainly sunny. Highs near 35°C and lows near 21°C.

GoingGreek.info update

Barring a divine miracle, I'd think we're looking at ten days plus before the GGi forum is likely to return. When it does, it may look slightly different to when we last saw it.

Waiting for a bad hair day

A committee that has been examining whether any occupations should be removed from an official list that classifies them as hazardous and unhealthy, recommended to the Employment Ministry that 61 types of work should be removed. Among the occupations the committee said should not be included are hairdressers, waiters and people who work in the pharmaceutical or wine industries. Jobs which are classified as hazardous and unhealthy usually have generous social security benefits.
eKathimerini

Kef 04/09 - 13/09

Thursday: Sunny. High around 30°C. NE winds shifting to W at 3-4 bft.

Thursday Night: Generally clear. Low 19°C. Winds SW at 2 bft to 3 bft.

Friday: A mainly sunny sky. High 31°C. Winds WNW at 3 to 5 bft.

Friday Night: Clear. Low 20°C. Winds W at 2 bft to 3 bft.

Saturday: Sunny. Highs near 34°C and lows near 21°C.

Sunday: Abundant sunshine. Highs near 35°C and lows near 24°C.

Monday: Sunshine. Highs near 34°C and lows near 24°C.

Tuesday: Sunshine. Highs near 34°C and lows near 24°C.

Wednesday: Mainly sunny. Highs near 36°C and lows near 21°C.

Thursday: Sunshine. Highs near 36°C and lows near 21°C.

Friday: Abundant sunshine. Highs near 32°C and lows near 21°C.

Saturday: Plenty of sun. Highs near 32°C and lows near 21°C.

Clean cars

Finance Minister, George Alogoskoufis announced the introduction of a new road tax system, taking into consideration gas emissions and incentives for the withdrawal within a 5-year period of old technology cars, estimated to be 30% of cars still running on the roads of the capital city. The environment road tax, which will replace the existing road taxes, aim to reduce the number of old technology cars blamed for high emissions. Cars with high gas emissions will end up paying triple road taxes compared to "clean cars".
ERT NEWS

Bad e-cards

Beware e-cards purporting to be from greetingcard.org - this is a reputable organisation but the supposed e-cards are malicious. Here's what greetingcard.org say:

The Greeting Card Association is an industry trade association. We do not publish cards, nor do we have an e-card pick up. If you receive an e-card notification from our association (www.greetingcard.org), it is fraudulent and should be deleted.
greetingcard.org/e-card scams

The email I've been sent contains an .exe file - open that one and your computer's not your own.

Kef 03/09 - 12/09

Wednesday: Sunny. High 31°C. SE winds shifting to W at 3 bft to 4 bft.

Wednesday Night: Generally clear. Low 19°C. Winds light and variable.

Thursday: Mainly sunny. High 32°C. SE winds shifting to W at 3 bft to 4 bft.

Thursday Night: A mostly clear sky. Low 19°C. Winds SSW at 2 bft to 3 bft.

Friday: Sunny. Highs near 36°C and lows near 21°C.

Saturday: Sunny. Highs near 36°C and lows near 21°C.

Sunday: Mainly sunny. Highs near 34°C and lows near 24°C.

Monday: Mainly sunny. Highs near 34°C and lows near 24°C.

Tuesday: Sunny. Highs near 36°C and lows near 21°C.

Wednesday: Abundant sunshine. Highs near 36°C and lows near 21°C.

Thursday: Sunny. Highs near 36°C and lows near 21°C.

Friday: Mostly sunny. Highs near 34°C and lows near 21°C.

Kef 02/09 - 11/09

Tuesday: Abundant sunshine. High 31°C. SSE winds shifting to W at 3 bft to 4 bft.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear. Low 19°C. Winds S at 2 bft to 3 bft.

Wednesday: Sunny skies. High 33°C. SE winds shifting to W at 3 bft to 4 bft.

Wednesday Night: Clear skies early will give way to low clouds and fog after midnight. Low 19°C. Winds light and variable.

Thursday: Mainly sunny. Highs near 37°C and lows near 21°C.

Friday: Sunny. Highs near 37°C and lows near 21°C.

Saturday: Sunshine. Highs near 37°C and lows near 21°C.

Sunday: Abundant sunshine. Highs near 35°C and lows near 24°C.

Monday: Abundant sunshine. Highs near 35°C and lows near 24°C.

Tuesday: Mainly sunny. Highs near 37°C and lows near 21°C.

Wednesday: Sunny. Highs near 36°C and lows near 21°C.

Thursday: Sunshine. Highs near 33°C and lows near 21°C.

Storms hit Greece

Storms and heavy rainfall hit much of the country over the weekend, causing serious flooding in places.

The eastern port of Volos was one of the worst hit areas, with rainwater turning streets into virtual torrents and damaging ground-floor homes and stores. The fire service received hundreds of telephone calls to pump out water from flooded basements.

The prefecture of Magnesia was also badly affected. Angry residents complained to television journalists that municipal authorities had failed to clear street drains in anticipation of the first rains. Also in Magnesia, strong winds uprooted several trees.

At the port of Lavrion the stormy weather wrecked electricity cables, causing power cuts for several hours.

Bolts of lightning caused fires on the island of Skopelos in the Sporades, at Troizina in the Peloponnese, and in the coastal resort of Lagonissi, southeastern Attica.
eKathimerini

Very pleasant weather on Kefalonia :)

Boring Kefalonia

The theory that the Greek island of Kefalonia is the site of the ancient city of Ithaca, birthplace of Homer's Odysseus, has been strengthened by research.

British scientists have found new geological evidence to suggest Paliki, the western peninsula of Kefalonia, was once separated from the mainland by a narrow channel.

Scientists believe that if Paliki was once a separate island it could be the site of Ithaca, which Homer describes in the Odyssey as the most westerly and low-lying Ionian island.

Researchers found no solid bedrock in the valley that divides Paliki from the rest of the island, until 90 metres below the surface.

They said this suggests the strait was once a marine channel that was filled in with falling earthquake debris over the past 3,000 years.

channel4.com

Kalo mina

Monday: Sunny. High 31°C. Winds N at 2 bft to 3 bft.

Monday Night: Mainly clear. Low 19°C. Winds light and variable.

Tuesday: Partly cloudy. High 33°C. SE winds shifting to W at 3-4 bft.

Tuesday Night: Clear skies. Low 19°C. Winds S at 2 bft to 3 bft.

Wednesday: Mainly sunny. Highs near 37°C and lows near 21°C.

Thursday: Mainly sunny. Highs near 37°C and lows near 21°C.

Friday: Abundant sunshine. Highs near 34°C and lows near 21°C.

Saturday: Sunshine. Highs near 37°C and lows near 21°C.

Sunday: Sunny. Highs near 37°C and lows near 21°C.

Monday: Abundant sunshine. Highs near 35°C and lows near 21°C.

Tuesday: Sunny. Highs near 37°C and lows near 21°C.

Wednesday: Abundant sunshine. Highs near 37°C and lows near 21°C.