the CHANIA POST
May 2015, Issue No. 24
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Offering a selection of local interest articles, interviews, news and ther views from around the region of Chania and Western Crete
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Greek Airports Contribute to Europe’s Passenger Traffic Rise
Chania Airport Had The Highest Increase p.9
Cretan scientists found a way to control… ageing!
A. ENTRANCE & EXIT
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Major Airlines of the World Return to Cretan Airports
Research at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, published in the premier international scientific journal Nature, reveals an intricate molecular mechanism that coordinates the biogenesis and selective elimination of mitochondria, to regulate cellular energy homeostasis during ageing. p.9
A Cretan Wine Amongst Five of the Best Wines You’ve Never Heard Of p.11
What makes Platanias so special
p.12-13
READ ALSO... • A little piece of Crete on the Western Australian coast ............................ p.2 • What to look out for when you buy house insurance in Greece .............. p.2 • Mayor of Kissamos: “We will change some bad things in Elafonissi and Balos” ...........................................p.11
“Flying back to Crete” p.3
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Public Bus Service is the Best Affordable Way to Travel to... Chania, Rethymnon, Heraklion and to all Southwestern Crete
Sports radio on the web... www.sportfmxania.gr
www.gelamou.gr... only the good news !!!
by Elpida “Hope” Katsarakis NEA TV Journalist
Pablo Neruda
Hope is...
a waking dream.” Aristotle
happen, child. Anything can be.” Shel Silverstein
“You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep Spring from coming.”
To pin your hopes upon the future is to consign those hopes to a hypothesis, which is to say, a nothingness. Here and now is what we must contend with. Angela Carter
Still let my tyrants know, I am not doomed to wear Year after year in gloom, and desolate despair; A messenger of Hope comes every night to me, And offers for short life, eternal liberty. Emily Bronte
“The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater.” J.R.R. Tolkien,The Two Towers
“Listen to the mustn’ts, child. Listen to the don’ts. Listen to the shouldn’ts, the impossibles, the won’ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can
“The very least you can do in your life is figure out what you hope for. And the most you can do is live inside that
Hey
guys... psssstt, did you smell yet the xtra ordinary sumby Pandelis Spiridakis merness? gelamou.gr You will just have to rush an meet your therapist, cause if you did, there is not even one single butt staying at home. Summer expressing… As you clearly can see from our photo, you are all totally mad for fresh air, which means driving only scooter , going immediately to the closest beachside and walk with bare foot on the hot sand… Oh no no no no no, I can almost hear you and see all the ΄΄buts΄΄ getting out from your mouth. No no no , that’s winterness. Get rid of it quickly!
Just picture this. Jesus from Nazaret himself, I mean the well known 71 years old actor Robert Powell, drinks raki with people in Anogia …and you what? All you need is to dig and dive in the closet (come on now , don’t be fools) Searching swimming suit, towels, those funny orange beach sandals, the Indiana Jones hat and the suntan lotion. In the meantime why don’t you plant tomatoes and water melon in your garden? Make fun of this summerness spreading in your clothes, in your house…everywhere! That’s the great joy of these first sunny days. Oh sunshine the ultimate antidote!!! And start singing favourite summer songs . Don’t you dare to leave out Reggae Nights, but you can also try Summer Wine.
110 m2, on a 1000 m2 plot, large living room, 2 bedrooms, storeroom, parking, autonomous heating (oil-heated radiators), air-conditioning, panoramic views of Souda Bay and back-land, 10 min drive from Chania hospital.
p. 2
editorial
“Strange as it may seem, I still hope for the best, even though the best, like an interesting piece of mail, so rarely arrives, and even when it does it can be lost so easily.” Lemony Snicket,The Beatrice Letters
CHANIA POST
Your local free paper by FTP Publications 73, El. Venizelou str., Chania, 73100 Tel. +30 6977 295075 Owner/Publisher: FTP Publlications Web: http://www.chaniapost.eu E-mail: info@chaniapost.eu FB: http://www.facebook.com/chaniapost Twitter: @chaniapost Editors: Pandelis Giaitsis, Elpida “Hope” Katsarakis, Pandelis Spiridakis, Petros Chatzistavros, Giannis Kriaras, Nicos Lazakis, Miltiades Markatos, Giannis Venetakis, Giannis Xamonakis, Petros Marinakis, Antonia Tsakirakis., Giorgos Atsalakis, Stavros Tsihlis.
Live @ Love @ Laugh
(CHANIA) Furnished ground-floor apartment close to the APTERA archaeological site, and the national high-way.
Telephone (0030) 6980569733
hope. Not admire it from a distance but live right in it, under its roof.” Barbara Kingsolver,Animal Dreams
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No, not Cruel Summer, its bad luck. Leave this one out. “Summer Nights,” John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John (1978) can be rousing, No 10 in Top 30 Summer Songs of BILLBOARD. Ahhhhhhh don’t forget your first icecream, your favourite cocktail and for sure the first night bloom splish splash in the sea… Now we’ re all set. Summer do us a favour : detox us from all the niggling and the gruble cause we have lot of work to do with our special antidote – summerness and sunshine! Just glow you guys – eyes for watching, mind for planning and breathing for travelling. So simple – Live for long fun , Laugh for enjoying summer troubles and Love for bougelo party at the back yard! Told ya - not even one single butt quiet! Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie… our summer salut!
“Welcome to Chania” The picturesque port of Agia Kiriaki in Halepa, with one of his... residents!
Find CHANIA POST at the following points: CHANIA Municipal Market, Airport, Public Bus Central Station, Old Harbour, Municipal Tourist Information Desk PLATANIAS Central Square Infokiosk, Botanical Park KISSAMOS Gramvousa and Balos boats, Elafonissi, Falassarna KANDANOS-SELINO Paleochora Info Desk, Sougia, Kandanos SFAKIA Hora Sfakion Infokiosk, Loutro, Agia Roumeli, ANENDYK boats APOKORONAS Georgioupoli, Kavros, Vamos, Kalyves, Vrysses Also in Chania taxis, Limnoupolis Water Park and in selected cafes, businesses and shops throughout Chania Prefecture.
Major Airlines of the World Return to Cretan Airports
“Flying back to Crete”
Two
of the largest airlines in the world return this summer to Crete, along with other airline companies, proving that our island is one of the most popular destinations in the world.
British Airways After 30 years of absence, British Airways returns to Crete. The first flight of the new route arrived to Heraklion at 1pm on April 26, bringing 120 BA passengers from Gatwick to the island. Tourists were welcomed with traditional Cretan food and drinks. BA has scheduled four flights a week – every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday until 23 October but with the option to continue till the middle of November. Britain is the second biggest tourist market for Crete, with Germany first. Heraklion, was added to BA’s other new routes to Mykonos, Santorini and Thessaloniki and is expected to become one of BA’s most popular destinations
in Greece. The new route is the result on several year’s effort by local organisations and the region of Crete who have been trying to encourage BA back. “Heraklion provides easy access to some of the island’s most popular holiday destinations, but the vibrant city center is not to be overlooked. Heraklion ticks all of the shopping, dining
and sightseeing boxes of a city break. While the surrounding resorts will entice you with their stunning coastlines, embrace the glorious beaches by day and vibrant nightlife by night,” British Airways highlighted. Lufthansa The airlines of the Lufthansa Group are the first choice for holidaymakers and
leisure travelers. Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines will be expanding their flight program to attractive tourist destinations this summer. Another new sunny destination is Heraklion on Crete, the largest Greek island. Every Saturday, Lufthansa will be flying to Crete in almost three hours from Munich with an Airbus A320. All the holiday resorts and hotels on the 260 km long and 60 km wide island can be reached quickly from there. Crete offers visitors more than 1,000 km of coastline, with for mor e news click on countless coves and beach- http ://cretepost.gr es. The flight to one of the sunniest islands in the Mediterranean can be booked from EUR 129. “Greece has always been a key market in the region, proving that even in a difficult financial environment, numbers remain strong and show positive signs of even better results,” said Lufthansa in an official announcement.
Wallcliffe Road at the entrance to the township, is a little piece of Greece on the Western Australian coast. It was built by Geoffrey Edwards as a permanent reminder of the debt of gratitude owed to the Cretan people by the Allied soldiers who fought on Crete during the war. The church was completed in 1979. There is a plaque on the building which explains: ‘This symbolic Greek Orthodox chapel was given to the Greek people by Geoff and Beryl Edwards who founded the adjoining village and named it Prevelly as a token of gratitude to the Prevelly Monastry and surrounding villages on Crete, where after the Battle of Crete in 1941 the founder and hundreds of
Australian and New Zealand and British soldiers were sheltered, hidden and helped to escape to the free world.’ In August 1941, Geoffrey Edwards of Armadale, Western Australia, was evacuated from Crete on the HMS Thrasher, and vowed never to forget the Greek people and, in particular, the monks of the Holy Monastery of Preveli for saving his and other Allied troops lives from the 2/11th Infantry Battalion during the Battle of Crete. The monastery was a rallying point at the time for British, New Zealand and Australian soldiers who escaped from prisoner of war camps. After Edwards escaped capture, a shepherd led him to the safety of the Preveli cloisters, which overlooked the Libyan Sea, from where
he was later liberated. Determined to memorialise his experiences in Crete, he began construction on the Saint John the Theologian chapel at Prevelly Park over 35 years after his escape, dedicating it to the Greek people as a token of his gratitude, especially Agathangelos Lagouvardos, the head monk of the Preveli Monastery and the many villagers from surrounding areas who did so much for Allied servicemen during that time. It stands as a permanent monument to remind those who visit, regardless of ethnic background, of the debt and gratitude owed to the Cretan people by the allied soldiers who fought during the Battle of Crete. neoskosmos.com
p. 3
St John the Theologian Church, on
news & articles
A little piece of Crete on the Western Australian coast
A new tax law introduces and clari-
fies the definition of “tax residency” as follows: An individual is classified as a tax resident of Greece provided that: a) he maintains in Greece his primary residence or habitual abode or the centre of his vital interests or he is a consular or diplomatic employee or public servant working under a similar regime or a public servant of Greek nationality working abroad or b) is physically present in Greece for a period exceeding on 183 days during a given for more news click 12-month period conhttp://cretepost.gr secutively or sporadically for the fiscal year, during which the above 12-month period is completed. In some cases this paragraph is not applied even in case that the individual spends more than 183 days. Individuals who are not tax residents in Greece who have a tax filling obligation and are taxed in Greece only on their Greek source income are obliged to file an annual return to the Tax authorities of their country of residence “Claim for the application of the double taxation convention between their country of residence and Greece” or a tax resident certification. The form must be stamped by Apostil stamp. These forms must be sent to their accountant in order to be submitted with their Tax return. The Greek tax authorities require the
Tax Residency
residence certification in order to not tax your worldwide income so only your income that is generated in Greece will be taxed in Greece. Greek tax residents are entitled to a tax credit of foreign tax abroad (up to certain limits). However, in order for a tax credit to be obtained, a certificate by the foreign tax authority must be issued, certifying the amount and type of income reported as well as the amount of tax actually paid. A certificate providing only the amount of tax corresponding to the foreign source income is not sufficient. Please note that the certificate should refer to the period from January to December and an originally copy stamped by Apostil stamp as well as an official translation must be submitted to the tax authorities together with the income tax return. If such a certificate is not submitted to the Greek tax authorities, they will not consider foreign taxes for credit against the Greek tax assessment. If an individual who is tax resident in Greece intents to transfer his tax residence to his home country, they organize an accountant to make the last
submission of their tax return and to provide advice or assistance for any other formalities. An individual that is not tax resident in Greece, definitely be advised by an accountant, prior to sale of any property. Change of tax residence to a country with a “preferential tax regime” According to the text of the new Law, which render the change of the tax residence in the case of its transfer to a non-cooperative state impossible are not repeated. Furthermore, the prerequisites referred in the said provision and which defined
that, in case the taxable person transferred its permanent or usual residence to a state with a “tax preferential regime”, would still be subject to income taxation in Greece for its worldwide income for a time period of five years, since the date of submission of the declaration of change of the permanent or usual residence, provided that the taxable person was subject to income taxation in Greece for its worldwide income the last five years before the transfer and enjoyed significant financial benefits there, unless if he/she had its permanent or usual residence in that state, are also not repeated.
news & articles
What to look out for when you buy house insurance in Greece!
by Stavros Tsihlis Insurance & Investment Advisor
Last
year’s earthquake activity in Kefalonia reminded us all of a daunting and intimidating fact: Greece in No. 1 in earthquake activity in Europe and
No.5 globally! House insurance in Greece is not a luxury but rather a necessity. With the right home insurance coverage, you’ll feel comfortable knowing that, in the event of a disaster, your property is protected. Below are 6 points to take into consideration:
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1) The insurance firm: This is the most crucial decision to make! Remember that you are signing up for a potential claim that can
reach many thousands of Euros in order to re-built your house! What is the company’s financial record? What is the agreed timeframe for a claim to be handled? What is the solvency margin of the firm you are about to sign up to? You insurance advisor should be able to answer the above questions. This is much more relevant today as the Bank of Greece will revoke the licence of many insurance firms in the future due to their poor financial performance. 2) Don’t confuse what you paid for your house with rebuilding costs: The land under your house isn’t at risk from theft, windstorm, fire and the other perils covered in your house insurance policy. So don’t include its value in deciding how much homeowner’s insurance to buy. If you do, you will pay a higher premium
than you should. Keep in mind that the commercial / sale value is different from the construction cost / insured value. On the other hand make sure you include communal areas such as your pool, garage, patios etc. Your insurance agent should be able to advise you of the right amount of coverage.
3) Content cover in holiday houses: Many insurers will not accept content cover if the house is left unoccupied over a certain number of days. Make sure this is clear in your policy. Also make sure what the policy excludes, e.g. jewellery, bank cheques, watches etc. 4) Legal action: If you claim an amount resulting from someone else’s negligence, bad construction / material or deliberate action you may be allowing the insur-
er to take legal action against them in order to claim their money back! Ask your agent when you receive your compensation check. 5) Deductibles – excess amounts: Low premiums are always attractive. That said, you should have a look at your policy and clarify your participation in case of a claim. There is no point paying for a policy that is full of excess amounts and will never compensate you. Some insurers offer ‘’no-excess plans’’, ask your insurance advisor. 6) Automatic payments: Connect your credit card to your policy and you might be eligible for a small discount. You can also ask for a ‘’multiple-policy discount’’. Having your car, house, health and life insurance with ONE insurance firm can save you money.
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One of the Unexpected Pleasures of Spring The other day I was feeling perplexed
yet again by one of the numerous irrational regulations and procedures designed to make life difficult for those wanting to live in this country, when it occurred to me that ‘the system’ is probably part of the grand design of the Universe. Its mystical purpose is to moderate the pleasure of living in such a beautiful place. It is there as a reminder that we should not take our good fortune for granted and, for those prone to guilt, as a form of punishment to offset the pleasures of living here. But while under normal circumstances a lot of the ‘punishment’ meted out can usually be tolerated with good humour, it would take a very dedicated Buddhist to maintain the same take-things-inour-stride-because-this-is-the-Greekway acceptance after the winter we have had. As we emerge from on a very long, cold, windck cli ws ne e for mor and-snow-swept winter, r t.g os ep et http://cr one that has broken all previous records of rainfall and low temperatures, facing the task of repairing the damage to homes and gardens, getting rid of the traces of damp-induced mould caused by leaking windows and roofs, levels of tolerance are at their lowest. Still, with an early Easter, at least the long weekend put a stop to all contact with both officialdom and the irksome and lengthy bill-paying visits to the bank and telephone companies. Ahhh Easter. The coming of Spring. A time to reflect. A time to get out and visit some of the old haunts and meet up again with the migrating residents who winter in northern Europe to take advantage of a better heating system and watertight windows, and enjoy a few wintertime activities, and who are now flocking back for the summer together with the swallows. Hotels, rental properties and tavernas are getting their annual makeover in preparation for the holiday season, which this year is predicted to bring record numbers of visitors. The whole
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news & articles
by Giannis Xamonakis apokoronasnews.gr
of the country lives for the summer, it seems. In the old days, people used to live all year longing for the month-long, August holiday to visit their ancestral village and play at ‘village life’ before returning to the urban jungle, to a life that was only a means of financing the annual family holiday…. Then on the Tuesday after Easter, an unexpected emailed (!) notice from the tax office interrupted my calm reflections on the past, bringing me back to reality with an immediate tightening of the stomach. The tax notice contained a demand for unpaid property tax from 2013 – which I thought I had paid with the electricity bill, as was the case in 2013. That was all; for more information I should visit the local tax office. The tightening in my stomach was not about the outstanding amount, it was more to do with having to visit the tax office, which I expected to be a long and stressful journey into the absurd, as it had been many times in the past. Naturally, I could just pay up without asking questions, but I would hate to give the government any more than I have to – I’d much rather spend my money on my cats who, I might point out, unlike the government, do serve some useful purpose. So I reserved a whole morning for my tax office visit, taking with me a large file of every document I thought I might be asked to produce: bills, contracts, my parents’ birth and death certificates (I know, they are only valid for six months and mine were considerably past their use-by date), a translated copy of my driver’s licence in duplicate, a good supply of Rennies and some aspirin and set off for Chania. As soon as I went in the building I realised something was different. Wel-
comed by posters from the association of tax officers expressing their opposition to the unbearable burden of taxes on the Greek people, I walked through the double doors of the first floor hall and there was not a single queue in sight. In fact, there were hardly any other members of the public there at all. I was greeted politely by the clerk behind the first counter I approached. “It’s very quiet today,” I remarked. “Most work is done online now,” came the casual reply from the clerk as she looked at my notice on her screen. There was a simple and plausible explanation – DEH had kept the tax as an advance payment on the next bill, and unfortunately the amount had to be paid. But why did they not send me a reminder earlier? “The system is new – but there will be no charges for late payment.” And given that the power supply was disconnected for half the year, could it be that I should pay only half the property tax? “I don’t think so, but I will check with one of my colleagues to make sure,” she said. She had to go in person to see her colleague as she did not have the phone number of his office, she explained. I followed her up to the next floor, to
another hall with counters and open office doors, through which I could see piles of paper files of taxpayers’ records, but again no queues, no anxious, agitated members of the public in view. In fact, the only people wandering around were employees on their way to or from their break. The clerk came out of the office. “Sorry, a full year’s tax has to be paid if the property had electricity for any length of time during the calendar year,” and returning my notice she added, “At least now we know, don’t we?” The whole process took no more than 15 minutes and I didn’t even need any other documents, making my visit to the tax office an unexpected pleasure and paying the tax due – which I could do on line – much less traumatic than on previous occasions. So, even in this country some things can change to make life easier. Banks please take note. And in terms of the Universe, sorry, but a single easy visit to the tax office is not trade-off enough for long hard winters like the one we’ve just had. For there are many more ‘punishments’ left over to justify years and years of glorious springs to come.
Should Greece Pay Back Its Debt?
Security, the United Nations and European human rights bodies have repeatedly expressed concern that maintaining the course of fiscal consolidation foreseen by the MoU undermined the national social security system’s “capacity to maintain the population ‘in health and decency’ above the poverty threshold.” As a result of these policies and the dismantling of the collective bargaining system, real hourly wages in Greece fell by 25% by 2014. The minimum wage has fallen to its level of the 1970s. The minimum pension fell below the poverty threshold. As many as 35.7% of the population and 44.1% of children aged 11 to 15 are at risk of poverty or social exclusion. The economic depression became a fully-fledged reproductive crisis, with the population decreasing at the same time as rising emigration and decreasing fertility. The conditionalities of the loan agreements since 2010 have not only destabilized the economy and society, but they also made public debt even more unsustainable. Research by Gechert and Rannenberg of the Hans Böckler Foundation in Germany show that without austerity the Greek economy
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lenic Parliament, Zoe Konstantopoulou, set up the Debt Truth Committee – a special committee of the Parliament to investigate the truth about the increase in Greece’s public debt. Eric Toussaint of the Committee for the Abolition of Third World Debt is the team’s scientific coordinator. The Debt Truth Committee currently includes 35 international and Greek experts in law, economics, accounting, banking from Europe as well as Zambia, Ecuador, and Brazil. According to Özlem Onaran - member of the Debt Truth Committee in Greece and Professor of Workforce and Economic Development Policy at the University of Greenwich-there are well-established concepts in international law that question the legality, legitimacy, sustainability or odiousness of a loan agreement if and when it deters a state from meeting its obligations to its citizens to ensure adequate access to health and education, a life with dignity, and the right to organise. There is a long history of states making use of these legal concepts to enter into dispute with their creditors over their sov-
ereign debt starting with Cuba in 1898, the US in Iraq in 2003 and Ecuador in 2007. These legal concepts are the guiding references for the Debt Truth Committee: Is any part of Greek public debt before or after the Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with the Troika illegitimate? Was it contracted by a government without considering whether the public or general interest would be safeguarded? Was any part of it contracted in violation of the current legal or constitutional system? Has any part of the debt been granted on conditions that violate the social, economic, cultural, civic, and political rights of the people concerned? Were the loans intended not to save Greece but French and German banks? The creditor institutions as well as the debtor governments have an obligation to audit these aspects before any loan agreement is made. Did EU governments consider whether any of these loan agreements violated the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights? In the case of Greece, the ILO’s supervisory body along with other supervisory bodies of the European Code of Social
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On 4 April the President of the Hel-
would only have stagnated rather than lose 25% of its GDP. Implementing tax increases alone and no spending cuts by Katerina Polizou NEA TV Journalist would have been much more effective in lowering the debt to GDP ratio. The Troika did not adequately take into account the higher than average multiplier effects of cuts during recessions when designing the Greek programme. Our work at Greenwich for the Foundation for European Progressive Studies shows that the fall in wages alone explains 4.5 percentage points of the decline in Greek GDP. Contrary to the assumptions of the European Commission (EC) and the IMF, falling wages do not stim- for more news click on ulate net exports signifi- http://cretepost.gr cantly either. Dealing with the depression and humanitarian crisis in Greece requires measures to reverse both inequality and austerity, increase the minimum wage, re-establish collective bargaining institutions and the welfare state, and promote public investment in the social and physical infrastructure via a healthy and progressive tax system. This is, unfortunately, not how the creditor institutions understand structural change. Mario Draghi, the ECB President, has recently warned; “we are certainly entering into uncharted waters if the crisis were to precipitate.” To avoid the next potential Lehman moment, the sane response to the crisis would be to analyse the origins of the debt in Europe to shed light on adequate policies to generate sustainable development and social cohesion in Europe. The German export-led growth model also requires debt, but in another country, in Greece or Spain, hence it is as unsustainable as debt-led growth. However the EC, ECB, and the IMF are not guided by rational long-term economic and social concerns, but by erroneous economic concepts that serve the interests of the financial world. Therefore, the initiative of the Greek Parliament is of historical importance, not just for Greece but also for Europe as a whole.
Greek Airports Contribute to Europe’s Passenger Traffic Rise Chania Airport Had The Highest Increase
Passenger traffic in the EU for the
month of February this year grew by 6.2 percent, driven in particular by double digit growth in Greece, Ireland, Belgium, Portugal, Romania, Hungary and Lithuania, according to data released recently by European airport trade body Airports Council International (ACI) Europe. “EU passenger traffic keeps outperforming weak economic growth, building upon last year’s dynamic trend”, Olivier Jankovec, director general of ACI Europe, said. In February 2015, airon ck cli ws ne ports welcoming more e or m r fo r t.g os ep et than 25 million passencr :// tp ht gers per year (Group 1) saw a 2.9 percent increase; airports welcoming between 10 and 25 mil-
lion passengers (Group 2) reported a rise of 6.8 percent; airports welcoming between 5 and 10 million passengers (Group 3) recorded a 6.3 percent increase and airports welcoming less than 5 million passengers per year (Group 4) reported a 6.8 percent increase. “The outlook is now getting even brighter, as lower oil prices, the ECB’s Quantitative Easing policy and improving consumer confidence should all help further support demand for air travel in the coming months.” Greece In regards to Greece, the airports of Athens, Chania, Mykonos and Santorini are those that had the highest increase in passenger traffic in Europe for the month of February this year.
Cretan climber saved from Everest avalanche, when Sherpa took money, never showed up The age-old adage in Greek goes like pa had disappeared with the money we this: “You were lucky amid you unluckiness”. And that was definitely the case with nine Greek mountain climbers last week, who avoided being in a spot where a deadly avalanche struck near Mt. Everest because their Sherpa had taken their money and disappeared when they arrived in Nepal. “We arrived in Kathmandu last week and there we discovered that our Sher-
had given him,” Sophocles Plaitis, one of the climbers told state broadcaster Nerit, as quoted by the AFP. “We reported the incident to Nepali authorities then decided to return to Greece on Friday, the eve of the earthquake. In the end we were lucky, but we have friends at the (Mt. Everest) camps who are going through very difficult moments,” he added.
Not welcome in Gouverneto!
Crete
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and the Cretans are known for their hospitality and the warm welcome given to visitors. Unfortunately it’s not always the case and in the recent past the monastery of Gouverneto on the peninsula of Akrotiri seems to have made many steps in the opposite direction. The monasteries of Agia Triada, Gouverneto and Katholiko are the three best known attractions on Akrotiri. Whilst Agia Triada is on the circuit of many organized bus tours only the more adventurous will drive the narrow road that winds its way up the hill to the older monastery of Gouverneto. Most people go there to walk to the wonderful ruined monastery of Katholiko and maybe walk down to the sea where a tiny rocky cove also has some interesting ruins. The walk that traverses the hills of Akrotiri from Gouverneto to Stavros via Katholiko is also described in a few walking guide books and attracts the occasional walkers. A year or two ago the last 100m of road that leads to the monastery was cut off, then entirely fenced off forcing visitors to pass through the monastery grounds to access both the monastery and the path to Katholiko. Shortly afterwards signs appeared telling people what was forbidden (not inside the monastery but in the whole area which is essentially wild nature). This includes things like picnics, bathing at the sea and taking photographs. And whilst there are several large signs telling people what they can’t do, there is not one single sign showing where the way to Katholiko starts. With all these fences it is really not obvious any more. After hearing rumours that things had gotten worse I went today to see for myself. About two km from the end of the road there were two new
signs saying ‘No buses’. Later, passing through the gate of the monastery I noticed a sign that ‘Access to the sea has been permanently blocked’. And indeed once I got to the ruined monastery of Katholiko I found that several routes into the little river bed below had been walled off. There is no logical reason for doing this except, maybe, that they can: it’s church property after all. Closing the routes into the river bed also makes it impossible to follow the walk to Stavros and it could be quite a liability for walkers coming the other way and needing to get out of the gorge after a long walk. It is still possible to go in and out of the gorge via other routes (if you know them) but they are quite steep and could be hazardous. Additionally all the door openings into the old buildings have been closed off with unsightly wire meshing. There is no reason that I can see for wanting to prevent people from going into them. There is nothing to take and nothing to damage. And perhaps saddest of all: the wonderful, very tall olive tree that grows out of one of the ruined buildings (and that you can already see in a 19th century engraving in Robert Pashley’s Travels in Crete) has been cut right down to a height of a few meters. This is vandalism. I have no idea who is behind this but the message from the ‘Holy Monastery of Gouverneto’ as it likes to call itself in its warning signs is certainly clear: F… off, we don’t want you here. I guess the next (easy) step now is to close the gate that you have to pass through and we will have lost access to one of the most special places in the north-west of Crete. www.west-crete.com
The ACI Europe’s report showed that Athens’ Airport experienced a 24.7 percent increase in passenger traffic in February, the highest rise recorded in Group 2 along with the airports in London, Brussels, Lisbon and Dublin. The airports of Chania, Mykonos and Santorini also experienced the highest increases in passenger traffic in Europe in February as they reported growth of 94.4 percent, 46.4 percent and 37.8 percent respectively for that month. The three Greek islands are included in Group 4 with the airports of Ostrava (Czech Republic) and Volgograd (Russia). Non-EU airports Meanwhile, non-EU airports last February posted a much lower rate of passenger traffic growth (+1.3 percent),
mainly due to traffic losses in Ukraine and Russia as well as the impact of severe weather conditions in parts of Turkey. “Russian airports are generally seeing a sharp decrease in passenger traffic – with the country entering recession this year for the first time since 2009 and international sanctions taking their toll”, the director general of ACI Europe said. The ACI Europe Airport Traffic Report – February 2015 includes 209 airports in total representing more than 88 percent of European air passenger traffic. It is the only air transport report which includes all types of civil aviation passenger flights: full service, low cost and charter. news.gtp.gr
Young Cretan woman stayed in Nepal to teach English to poor children
Clio Roussomoustakaki is the young woman from Sitia, who was “trapped” in Nepal, due to the strong earthquake. But, why did Clio stay in Nepal? She went for vacations, along with her boyfriend and her sister. They arrived in Nepal early in April. Her sister left the country a few days before the earthquake, but Clio stayed in Nepal with her boyfriend, because she wanted to teach English to poor
children of a small village and told her mother about her desire. “She first called her sister. She told her that she was fine and that all infrastructure of the country has been damaged, due to the strong earthquake. She also told her that the airport is closed. She walked for two hours to reach the closest village and find a way to inform us via the web”, told the mother of Clio to “Patris” newspaper.
Cretan scientists found a way to control… ageing!
Research at the Institute of Molec-
ular Biology and Biotechnology, published in the premier international scientific journal Nature, reveals an intricate molecular mechanism that coordinates the biogenesis and selective elimination of mitochondria, to regulate cellular energy homeostasis during ageing. Mitochondria are indispensable and highly dynamic, energy-generating organelles in all eukaryotic cells that also play pivotal roles in fundamental cellular processes. Alterations in mitochondrial number, morphology, and function heavily impact cellular metabolism, and critically influence organismal physiology, health and lifespan. Mitochondrial dysfunction is a major hallmark of ageing and age-related neurodegenerative diseases, which highlights the significance of proper mitochondrial function. Therefore, maintenance of cellular and organismal homeostasis necessitates a tight regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis, balanced with the removal of damaged mitochondria. A wide range of complex and highly specialized molecular and cellular pathways have evolved to preserve mitochondrial homeostasis. Mitophagy is a selective type of autophagy mediating the elimination of dysfunctional or aged mitochondria, and the major mechanism by which cells regulate their mitochondrial content in response to stress of metabolic state. How cells coordinate the two critical and opposing processes of mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy to maintain cellular and organismal energy homeostasis was a mystery. IMBB researchers Konstantinos Palikaras and Dr. Eirini Lionaki, headed by Prof. Nektarios Tavernarakis,
have now discovered a sophisticated molecular pathway that tightly links mitochondrial biogenesis with mitophagy, to preserve energy homeostasis and promote longevity. Using the simple nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, IMBB researchers uncovered the central node of the pathway, an evolutionarily conserved protein on the surface of mitochondria, called DCT-1/NIX, which integrates both extrinsic and intrinsic signals to control mitophagy. Accumulation of damaged or superfluous mitochondria causes oxidative stress, initiating a dual retrograde response that orchestrates the induction of both mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy. This closed feedback loop preserves mitochondrial quality by neutralizing damaged, and generating fresh and healthy mitochondria, thus promoting longevity. Importantly, coordination of biogenesis and turnover of mitochondria enables cells to adjust their mitochondrial content in response to physiological demands, stress and other intracellular or environmental stimuli. In this context, age-related decline of mitophagy both hinders removal of damaged mitochondria, and impairs mitochondrial biogenesis, instigating aberrant accumulation of mitochondria. The novel findings reported by IMBB investigators reveal an elegant molecular mechanism, by which diverse physiological signals are integrated to modulate cellular mitochondrial content. The tight evolutionary conservation and ubiquitous expression of the regulatory factors involved in this highly coordinated response suggest that similar pathways uphold mitochondrial homeostasis to modulate lifespan across diverse organisms including humans.
Birds – Annual Breeding Census
by David Capon
“Spring is sprung, the grass is ris, I wonder where the birdies is.” (Anon)
It is that time of year and, yes, spring
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has arrived, at last! It has been an awful winter here on Crete that lasted through to Good Friday (10th April here in Greece). So it is pleasant to have the sun and blue skies again. Summer migrant birds are moving northwards to breed; some species will remain on Crete to breed while others are passing through and will only be in the area for a couple of days, or on for more news click more for some. But the http://cretepost.gr extract from the poem, shown above, may contain a very important question in the second line, for the future. Throughout Europe many people will be leaving their homes early in the morning carrying binoculars, pens, clipboard with recording sheets, stopwatch or phone with timer and maybe a small drink and sustenance for their morning expedition. They are making records of birds found at their appointed sites. These people have an interest in Nature and in trying to help the preservation of birds and their habitats. These people (mostly volunteers) are participating in the Common Breeding Bird Census and affording four or five hours of their time twice in spring. The data that are collected, especially over a period of years, provide very important information and trends that indicate what is happening to many bird species and their long-term movements. The object of this exercise is to help to provide for better conservation and management of bird populations and provide indicators of our landscape to support not only birds but wildlife in general. Recent data* are showing great concerns for many bird species, many of which were considered common throughout Europe. The concerns are consistent over Europe and in the last issue of the paper I highlighted the plight of the Turtle dove and more generally summer migrants. I do not intend to write about every species nor replicate what I wrote for the last article but will give two general examples of the problems using general indicators:
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1. Common farmland bird indicator EU (1980 – 2012). The indicators show a reduction in
numbers of about 54% over the 33 year period. Of the 39 species used in the indicator 23 are declining. To be fair 7 species indicate an increase and for 6 the populations appear stable. 2. Common farmland bird indicator – South Europe (1989 – 2012) This indicator shows a 31% reduction in the 24 year period and of the 37 species 16 are declining, 5 increasing and 14 are stable. I would say that the levels of reduction are far too high and we should be concerned. Here on Crete (and also Greece and throughout Europe) there is a need for more dedicated recorders to provide more data and a better coverage. I understand that I may be one of only two recorders on the large island of Crete. And I am sure you will understand that the island is very important for birdlife (and as I explained in the last issue also from an economic view). If you have an interest in birds, recognise your local species and can afford two mornings in spring every year (plus a small amount of time to consolidate your recordings) please consider joining the efforts. (If you are visiting Crete from another part of Europe please contact your national bird conservation society – e.g. for the UK the RSPB, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds). The more recordings that are
made and the greater the areas covered and the better will be the data available. The census is based on firm statistical and scientific strategies but the great value of the data comes from recording from the same position every year at approximately the same time and dates. Volunteers are able to select an area that is close to their home but the points where they are asked to record are selected randomly. Before your first recording session it is necessary to visit each point and determine a set route that you keep to every recording session. Also at the first visit you will be asked to record the habitat type, which is not as difficult as it sounds. I know from experience that you will remember the sites, the route you always take and notice any changes to the habitat. You will probably remember species that you recorded in earlier years at particular sites. The other information that needs to be recorded for the day is the temperature, and estimates of the visibility, cloud cover and precipitation. Here on Crete, the temperature changes greatly during my recording so I carry a small thermometer with me. There are date ranges that need to be adhered to for each of the two spring recordings but the system is fairly flexible. And, if you have the time, you could record in more than one area. Here in Greece, for more information please contact Danae Portolou at the Hellenic Ornithological Society (email:
dportolou@ornithologiki.gr) or if you would like to talk to me about my experiences and my recording here on Crete please contact me via david@artoncrete.me.uk. (I have adapted the recording sheets to suit my requirements and things like that may assist). There are also other important activities and other recordings that need to be carried out so if you are very keen and can afford more time then there is a lot to be done. If you feel that you cannot participate in the census but would like to help birds on Crete and Greece, please consider becoming a member of the Hellenic Ornithological Society. Not only would this help the Society financially but similar to the RSPB in the UK the more members the greater the influence. You can do this by visiting the website www. ornithologiki.gr With the support of many people throughout Europe and their influences on Governments I hope we shall never get to the situation of asking “I wonder where the birdies is”. (For non-native English speakers the extract from the poem states that Spring has arrived and the grass has restarted its growth. I wonder where the birds are? This was often quoted by the well-known comedian Spike Milligan). * To view some of the data, please visit http://www.ebcc.info/index.php?ID=558
A Cretan Wine Amongst Five of the Best Wines You’ve Never Heard Of
2014 Juanicó Benteveo Chardonnay | £7 or €8 When you think of Chardonnay, your first thought is probably Burgundy,
Australia or California. But this ubiquitous grape has found a good home in Uruguay. What’s so unusual about Uruguay wines is that they have a much more European style than any of their South American neighbors. Boy does this impress! Unoaked, it’s lively and fresh, with crunchy white fruit and plenty of vitality. An absolute bargain Alcohol: 12.5% 2011 Edoardo Miroglio Soli Pinot Noir | £10 or €14 OK, we’ve all heard of Pinot Noir, but grown in Bulgaria? Those who were regularly buying value wine in the 1970s may have picked up a bottle of Bulgarian Cabernet Sauvignon, but Pinot? Well, it’s actually really rather good for the money. Edoardo Miroglio’s wine is fresh with pretty red fruit
Mayor of Kissamos: “We will change some bad things in Elafonissi and Balos”
Mayor of Kissamos, Mr. Theodoros
Stathakis, said in the morning show of Nea TV that, there is no co-operation between the Municipalities of Kissamos and Kandanos-Selino for the management of Elafonissi. “If, until next week, there is no answer from the Municipality of Kandanos-Selino to proceed in a co-operation for the management of Elafonissi, then, we are obliged to proceed to give the commercial management -for this tourist season- to a private investor”, said Mr. Stathakis. It has to be mentioned that the Munic-
ipality of Kissamos was the manager of Elafonissi (western part) for the last ten years. As for Balos, Mr. Stathakis said that both canteens will close, because their operation is illegal. “We will also close the road from Kaliviani. We will make a parking area for all cars, because it is forbidden to go to the beach by car. The Municipality of Kissamos will proceed to lease buses to take tourists to the beach, until 7 p.m. Until the next morning, we will guard the beach and all paths heading to Balos”, said Mr. Stathakis.
that really wouldn’t look out of place in a lineup of entry-level Burgundy. Alcohol: 13.5% 2013 Frittmann Cserszegi Füszeres | £11 or €15 Hands up if you’ve heard of the Cserszegi Füszeres grape variety? No, me neither. I was introduced to this Hungarian wine by British importer Caspar Bowes and it’s nice alternative to Sauvignon Blanc. Aromatic with a fresh, fruity and rhubarb nose, it finishes with a dry streak that imparts a little kick. A bracing aperitif. Alcohol: 12% 2014 Karavitakis Vidiano Klima | £10 or €14 Crete may be the largest wine producer of the Greek islands, but it’s still home
to some little-known indigenous grape varieties. This wine is made by Nikos Karavitakis, who is the fourth generation to work the land here. It has an intriguing nose of baked apples and dried almonds, with a hint of lime on the finish. Alcohol: 13% 2013 Stobi Žilavka | £10 or €14 Made from the little-known Žilavka grape variety, this wine is an absolute delight. Pale with a nice clear straw color, it hails from the Republic of Macedonia. It has a lovely perfumed nose, with notes of quince, ripe peaches and lemon. Once sipped, it’s juicy and light with a slight pepperiness. A great match with spicy for more news click on http://cretepost.gr food. Alcohol: 12% Wall Street Journal
New rules for beach bars and sun loungers
Local authorities will be able to rent
spaces on beaches to be used as cafes and bars for two years, as opposed to one, but the businesses that sign these deals will be more limited in the alterations they can make to the natural environment. Municipalities will for the first time be able to sign up to two-year deals but will also have to increase from 20 to 30 percent the share of the revenue earned from such deals that has to be given to the state.The decision also introduces a number of stricter rules regarding what kind of structures can be placed on beaches. For instance, decking will be banned unless it is to make walkways for beachgoers. Also, bars
and cafes will not be allowed to place tables and chairs right on the beach but only on their premises. The government is also extending from 3 to 5 meters the distance from the sea at which sun loungers and umbrellas can be placed by businesses. The new decision also bans the use of any other structures, such as tents or pavilions, designed to provide shade. Last year, enterprises renting beach space were allowed to use structures covering up to 20 square meters. Mobile canteens can only rent half of the space they could last year (15 square meters rather than 30) and cannot have sound systems. ekathimerini.com
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the global age we live in, it should come as no surprise that there are literally thousands of different wines out there that deserve to be sniffed, sipped and slurped. And yet most of us, I suspect, fall into the trap of only ever drinking our tried and tested favorites, whether New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs or Napa Cabernets. This spring I’ve attempted to break the cycle and find wines that, stylistically, are both perfect for this time of year and highly unusual. Here are five springtime wines you’ve probably never heard of.
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Given
What makes Platanias so special Hospitality A century-old characteristic of the Greek people is their hospitality, a unique feature coming from thousands of years ago, travelling through the centuries in their genes . Hospitality in Crete – and, of course Platanias- has nothing to do with accommodation or finding a nice place to stay . You will be impressed by the warm welcome the people offer visitors, their friendliness, their kindness, their smile and their generosity. It explains the treat of- fered in the local restaurants, taverns etc at the end of on your meal. for more news click They bring you a small http://cretepost.gr bottle of “tsikoudia” (or “raki” as it is also called) -a local alcoholic drink – along with other “goodies”, free of charge , to show their pleasure at having you with them. After all, Zeus himself , the ancient god – father of all gods and humans –had declared that visitors were sacred and should be treated accordingly ! Beaches Platanias is well known for its long stretches of sandy beaches which extend all along the northern coast , from Platanias Village itself westwards right along the neighbouring villages of Gerani, Maleme, Tavronitis and Kamissiana up to Kolymbari . The cleanliness of these beaches and the crystal clear waters of the sea have righteously earned them “blue flags” and attract visitors from all over the world – visitors who come back to Platanias year after year for their holidays. Let’s have a closer look :
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Platanias Beach : Golden sands and crystal clear waters extending for kilometers along the northern coast with restaurants and taverns serving delicious food as well as cafeterias where you can relax and enjoy ice cream, refreshments or coffee. Gerani Village Beach : 1.5 kms of fine
sand and, in some spots, pebbles. There are deck chairs and umbrellas available as well as taverns and cafeterias. Maleme Beach : 1000 metres of clean sands, pebbles and waters ,with a blue flag award for enjoyable swimming and relaxation. Tavronitis village Beach : a well- organized beach with small or bigger pebbles , deck chairs and umbrellas as well as cafeterias, taverns etc. , ideal for quiet, relaxing holidays. Rapaniana village Beach : combining sand and pebbles, this beach is far away from the noise of most crowded beaches along the northern coast of the island and, if you don’t mind the seasonal winds (called meltemia ) , then it’s ideal for quiet family holidays. Kolymbari village Beach : Apart from other sights and monuments such as the “Gonia” Monastery and the Orthodox Academy of Crete , the Kolymbari village shore is lined with picturesque traditional taverns where you can enjoy delicious sea food and local cuisine dishes cooked with top quality ingredients produced locally. There are also numerous cafeterias serving coffee , refreshments, ice cream or snacks. Afrata village Beach : a secluded sandy beach only 3 kms away from Kolymbari, ideal for swimming and relaxation. Menies or Diktynna Beach : pebble beach with clear waters on the spot where,centuries ago, there existed a temple dedicated to the goddess Diana. Ravdouha village Beach :a quiet beach of pebbles, open to seasonal winds but with a rocky sea bottom , ideal for snorkeling. Environment The Platanias Municipality extends from the beaches on the northern coast of the island of Crete to the snow covered peaks of the Lefka Ori ( White Mountains) in the central- southern part of the island. Therefore, there is great diversity of landscape: the plains with the orange groves all around the Keritis River, the hills with the olive trees which produce extra virgin olive
The 4 senses restaurant... Follow the Path of an absolute gastronomic delight...
oil –famous worldwide for its miraculous qualities, the gorges and ravines, the amazing Omalos Plateau surrounded by the mountain range of the White Mountains. The most important gorges and caves worth visiting are : The Samaria Gorge The longest gorge in Europe with a total length of 18 kilometres . Its entrance lies in the Omalos Plateau and it is home to many unique specimens of the local fauna and flora as well as endangered species such as the local wild goat known as “kri-kri”. The Messavlia- Deliana Gorge Its entrance lies just outside the Messavlia village to the west of Platanias village (approximately 20 kms away). It’s easy to walk through and admire the plane trees and chestnut trees as well as the local flora which is at its prime in spring. The exit of the gorge is at the Deliana village only 5 kms downhill from its entrance. The Cave of St. John the Hermit in Marathokefala Village near Kolymbari, approx. 20 kms west of Platanias village. It is a church built in the cave on the spot where the saint is believed to have lived for 3 years. In the cave there is a spring producing holy water believed to be miraculous and healing. A religious ceremony is held in this church on Christmas Eve every year , representing and honouring the birth of Christ. The Roka Village Gorge a 2 km- long ravine starting from the village of Roka and ending, after a route among plane trees and many vertical cliffs, to the village of Deliana. The Vavouledo Ravine a 6km-long ravine running alongside a little river, full of plane trees and rich in local flora , ending up in the village of Palia Roumata where traditional “tavernas” await the visitor offering special delicacies and samples of the famous Cretan cuisine . The Tzanis Gulch in Omalos a vertical cavern extending to a length of 2500 metres and with a vertical drop of at
least 280m. There are many legends connected with this cave. Gastronomy Recent research carried out in seven countries all over the world shows that the Cretan diet is one of the best -or maybe the best –in the world helping the Cretans remain healthy and live longer than most other peoples. It is based on products grown locally such as olive oil, fruit and vegetables, dairy products, honey, nuts, herbs, wine. The star of the Cretan diet , however, is the extra virgin olive oil, produced on the island for centuries, which protects from serious diseases such as heart attacks and cancer. There are many restaurants and taverns in and around Platanias whose delicious food is cooked exclusively with pure local ingredients. If you don’t try it , then you are missing out on the tastiest experience in the world . Here is some more specific information on our local products : Extra virgin Olive Oil :it is correctly believed, according to scientific research worldwide that the olive oil produced in Crete since ancient times is the secret of longevity , health and fitness. It not only protects against heart diseases by minimizing cholesterol levels , it is also one of the best anti-oxidants and ideal for people suffering from diabetes. Cereals : the Cretans have been known to consume large quantities of cereals in the form of bakery products (most of them wholemeal ) , bread , bread rolls and crisps. Who hasn’t heard of the “dakos” (rusk covered in olive oil, crushed tomato and topped with soft white cheese or feta cheese sprinkled with oregano) ? It is believed to be of the highest nutritional value. Fruit and vegetables : It goes without saying that the Cretans consume very big quantities of fruit and vegetables since there is such a huge diversity grown on the island. From tropical fruit like ba-
We u s e a n d p r o m o t e l o c a l , quality products in combination with the revival of traditional flavours and new gastronomic proposals from 12:00 pm to 00:00 at midnight.
Platanias, Chania Tel. +30 6976 860573 www.olive-tree.gr
Activities
Culture- Religious Tourism All year round there are numerous cultural activities in the villages of the Platanias Municipality where you can get a taste of the customs and traditions of our land. Religious events and ceremonies are worth attending as they give you the sense of the deep religious character of our people who have great faith without being fanatics in any way. This explains the many churches and chapels all over the villages of the Municipality. Celebrations on the occasion of the saints’ name days is usually connected with feasting , folk dancing and music. Apart from the churches, many of them Byzantine and centuries old, there are many archaeological sites worth visiting as well as historical monuments –witnesses of the battles fought by the proud and brave Cretan people in defense of their land and freedom. Clubbing Visitors staying in Platanias can enjoy a very active night life in excellent night clubs. And, most important of all is the fact that they can feel safe in their entertainment since there are no extreme or unpleasant situations as is the case in other tourist resorts. Enjoy yourselves and leave all your worries behind! FC Platanias The Platanias Football team is the pride of the locals, giving them the opportunity to enjoy football matches between the best teams from every part of Greece. If you are a football fan, then, during your stay, you will have the chance to enjoy them in action. Monuments – Archaeological Sites The island of Crete has a thousand-
year-old history during which thousands of years, many enemies tried to conquer it but failed. Therefore, there are countless monuments- witnesses to all the events having taken place on the island and, of course many in the Platanias area. Some of the most significant ones are : Ancient Diktynna : an ancient temple dedicated to a Cretan goddess “Vritomartis” the counterpart of the Roman goddess Diana or the Greek Artemis. All that can be seen on the spot today are the remains of the temple as well as another Christian temple of St George- both were destroyed during attacks by pirates. However, there still exists a relatively secluded beach ideal for swimming and relaxing. A Tomb of the late Minoan Era : situated in Maleme village, this tomb proves how old the Cretan civilization is. All findings were taken and are kept for safety in the Archaeological Museum of Hania. The German Military Cemetery in Maleme : a monument of the more recent history of the land, on the top of a hill overlooking the Cretan Sea, is the burial ground of the German paratroopers and soldiers killed during the invasion and occupation of the island by the Nazis in May 1941 and all during World War II. The Fisheries Museum : located in Kolymbari village the Museum hosts collections of sea life specimens in an attempt to keep the fishing tradition of the village alive and to highlight the riches of the local sea bed . It also hosts exhibitions of contemporary Art in summer. “Olive and Olive Oil Factory” : a folklore museum located in Vatolakkos village which developed from a private collection and an old olive press, belonging to the Dermitzakis Family , into a folklore museum hosting collections of equipment, clothes and tools demonstrating the local rural life style of the Cretan countryside many years ago. “Olive Press “ : an old and deteriorating oil factory located in Dromonero village has been turned into a museum frequently hosting exhibitions of con-
temporary Art , attracting hundreds of local and foreign visitors. The Olive Museum in Vouves village: Privileged to have been set up right next to the “Monumental Olive Tree” aged at least 3500 years, both the tree and the museum attract thousands of visitors every year from all over the world. Small branches have been cut from this ancient olive tree on the occasion of the 2004 , 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games for the crowning of the athletes who won in each game, as it was customary to do in the Olympics in ancient Greece. The museum now hosts a collection of tools and equipment used in the past for the cultivation of the fields , the picking of the olive crop, the pressing of the olives for the production of oil, as well as the storage of this valuable product . It clearly shows the evolution in the history of olive growing and olive oil producing on the island of Crete from the very distant past till now. The Cretan Herbs Museum : the Orthodox Academy of Crete in Kolymbari hosts a unique collection of 9000 specimens of Cre- for more news click on tan herbs . http://cretepost.gr The museum is located right next to the Academy and the collection was donated to the museum by a French scientist who spent all his life studying the Cretan flora and collecting these specimens . Information Center of the National Park of the Lefka Ori in Omalos : situated at the entrance of the Samaria Gorge , it is actually a museum of Natural History , providing its visitors with information on the fauna and flora of the Gorge and the surrounding area. Museum of the Nazi Occupation ; situated under the church of Agios Demetrios in Upper Platanias village, it’s a memorial worth visiting in order to get the feeling of all the hardships the locals went through at the time. It was first built as a shelter and was recently reconstructed in order to be turned into a museum of the Nazi atrocities during the war and the Occupation. goplatanias.gr
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Shopping Numerous shops in the heart of Platanias village give the visitor the opportunity to buy a great variety of top quality local products or even brand- name products at very reasonable prices. Do your shopping in Platanias and enjoy the best service and the best products at the best possible prices !
Apart from the pleasure of swimming in the crystal clear sea and lying in the sun on the sandy beaches, there are numerous other activities to enjoy while in Platanias: diving, walking, trekking , sightseeing and climbing are only some of them.
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nanas and avocado to figs , dates, grapes, melons and water melons , not to mention the citrus fruit – these are but a few of the foods that supply them with all the necessary vitamins. Then, there are vegetables ,the consumption of which is triple that of the other peoples of Europe, all of the above ensuring that the Cretans get all the fibre, vitamins and minerals they need. Herbs : Crete has a great number of herbs , more than any other part of Europe. Local cuisine uses them in order to add flavour, aroma and important elements to the food they prepare. The most often used herbs are oregano, thyme, laurel, mint and fennel. Cretans enjoy a special kind of tea called “malotira” brewed with “mantzourana” or maybe some “diktamos” leaves- the most aromatic and healthiest herbs you have ever tasted . Honey :Thyme and many other varieties of honey have been produced on the island of Crete ever since the beginning of time so the Cretans are well acquainted with this superb product which, when consumed, helps kill microbes and viruses and enhances the circulatory system, the heart and the immune system . Dairy Products : The consumption of dairy products in Crete is greater than anywhere else in the world. The Cretans consume the delicious “graviera” cheese, the soft white cheese called “mizithra” , yoghurt –all of an exceptional taste and quality not to be found anywhere else. Wine : Ever since the Minoan era, wine has been produced in Crete – enough top quality wine to cover the needs of the locals but also to export to Western and Northern Europe.
Treat and travel through Cretan summer workshops Join
Crete’s Culinary Sanctuaries (CCS) on a journey of discovery on the magnificent isle of Crete, the center of Mediterranean Diet research. The workshops take participants on an exploration of the region during private, expert-guided tours of amazing archaeological sites, natural parks/botanical hikes, organic farms, olive oil factories and wineries. Participants are taught more about “food as medicine” during cooking classes with professional chefs and presentations by health professionals and alternative medicine practitioners. CCS is a Responsible Travel in Action program. Workshop attendees have an incredibly rare and beneficial opportunity to discover Crete’s heritage in the company of resident-specialists, while supporting community-run preservation initiatives. on for more news click Space is limited to 20 Athttp://cretepost.gr tendees.
About the Workshop Organizers Nikki Rose is a Greek American professional chef, writer and cultural-culinary seminar director living in Crete, Greece. She is author of “Crete: The Roots of the Mediterranean Diet” and founder of Crete’s Culinary Sanctuaries Network, an award-winning educational travel program. Rose formed CCS in 1997 to help provide tangible support to residents working on action programs to protect their heritage. CCS is an all-local network of over 50 small businesses and individuals, organizing accredited study tours for academic institutions and professionals covering culture, organic agriculture, nature and cuisine. Rose/CCS has received awards from National Geographic, the United Nations CBD, WTTC, and many other organizations. She is a global adviser for responsible travel/culinary heritage projects and featured in major media outlets.
Organized by: Nikki Rose, Founder of Crete’s Culinary Sanctuaries, an award-winning educational network featured in National Geographic, NPR, NYT and Lonely Planet. www.cookingincrete. com and Jacque Tarlton, Focus43 – Curator of Wellness Immersion Tours
Jacque Tarlton is founder of Focus43, a healthy lifestyle travel company whose trips provide a fun and experiential means to learn about healthy and mindful living, all while visiting beautiful destinations. Jacque formed Focus43 as a platform to educate and inspire individuals about healthy living through lifestyle modifications such as
nutrition, exercise and stress management. Jacque Tarlton states, “Focus43 is honored to partner with the award winning Crete’s Culinary Sanctuaries on the Mediterranean Culture and Cuisine Immersion Workshop. This is an incredibly unique and beneficial learning opportunity to work in Crete and immerse ourselves in the culture and cuisine that has been scientifically proven to improve health and longevity.” Mediterranean Immersion Focus: Mediterranean Cultural Culinary Immersion Crete, Greece / June 15 – 21, 2015 A 7-Day cultural-culinary immersion into THE Mediterranean diet and lifestyle Designed to provide an overview of the culture, nature and cuisine of Crete, with an emphasis on cuisine in helping to maintain optimal health; food as medicine and prevention Offers a unique, fun & beneficial learning opportunity Ideal for Food, Nutrition & Health Professionals Our base is in the foothills near the Minoan Palace of Knossos, where olive oil and wine has been produced for over four thousand years. This historic region is bustling with small-scale ag-
ricultural production in communities striving to sustain cherished traditions. We’ll explore the region during private, expert-guided tours of amazing archaeological sites, natural parks/botanical hikes, organic farms, olive oil factories and wineries. We’ll learn more about “food as medicine” during cooking classes with professional chefs and presentations by health professionals and alternative medicine practitioners. Over 20 teachers will present during this 7-Day Mediterranean Immersion. On-Site Tours - Archaeological and Historic Sites - Botanical Hikes - Usage of Wild Plants in Cuisine and Medicine - Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil Production Factory - Organic Vineyard and Winery - Organic Farms and Markets Presentations/Discussions - Cooking Classes by Pro Chefs and Traditional Cooks - Doctors, Nutritionists, Herbalists, Practitioners of Naturopathic Medicine - Holistic Health Agronomists-Eco Agriculture Experts and Ecologists - Community Sustainable Living Practices/Conservation - Sustainable Tourism Practitioners
Put A Smile on the face of a Sick Child
Crete For Life is a Greek non-profit
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news & articles
association made up of people from different countries who want to help children in need. We host free recuperative breaks for disadvantaged children, to make a positive difference to their everyday lives. We also support children in improving their present quality of life and their future prospects. Olimpia Theodoli, President and Founder of Crete For Life, imagined Crete to be just another crowded holiday destination, until she experienced the welcoming hospitality and the κέφι (kefi) of the Cretans, an untranslatable
word describing their spirit of joy, passion and exuberance. The combination of warm people and the beautiful nature of the island made me feel like a child again, bringing back memories of happy childhood days spent by the sea. She started to think of ways to share this good fortune; who would benefit more than children who have not been given a fair start in life? After much talking to friends and relatives and many hours spent at the computer, Crete For Life was started. Ten years later and we have achieved much thanks to our donors, volunteers,
friends, supporters, sponsors, partners… Our future ambition is to build a permanent, self–financing, recuperative centre by the sea in southern Crete, to be able to increase the numbers of children we can host, to improve the quality of their experience and to allow for the development of more support programs for them. If you would like to help with our work, would like to find out more on how you can support us then please get in touch via our website www.creteforlife.org We would be delighted to hear from you.
Recipes of the month... with green olives
Beef with green olives by Antonia Tsakirakis Cook
Ingredients: • 1 kg beef • ½ kg green olives • 3-4 ripe tomatoes • 1 clove of garlic • Cinnamon • Salt, pepper • 1 cup olive oil
Preparation: Wash the meat and cut into medium-sized pieces. Heat the oil in a pan and fry the meat until it browns. Add the chopped tomatoes, finely chopped garlic, cinnamon, salt and pepper and 1 cup of water.
Leave to simmer for about 20 minutes. In the meantime, toss the green olives into scalding hot water and when the meat is half cooked, add them to the pan. Cook for about another half an hour.
Cuttlefish with fennel and green olives Ingredients: • 1 1/2 kilos cuttlefish, cleaned • 5 spring onions, finely chopped • 1 glass EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL • 1 glass white wine • 1/2 kilo fennels, finely
on for more news click r t.g os http://cretep
• • • • •
chopped 5 tomatoes, grated salt and pepper 1/2 kilo tsakistés green olives Ink from three cuttlefish 2-3 cloves of garlic
~~~~~
Traditional Cretan Taverna
~~~~~
~~~~~
Preparation: Clean and cut the cuttlefish. Saute with garlic and spring onion and extinguish with wine. Add the fennel, tomatoes, olives, salt, pepper and ink dissolved in 1/2 glass of water and boil over low heat for about 20 minutes.
Drakona, Kerameia (20 km from Chania)
“Tzaneris & Archontissa”
Tel.: +30 28210 75997
www.tzaneris-archontissa.gr
Mob.: +30 6973 210487 / +30 6973 786747
Sweet recipe of the month
Hazelnut, Orange and Ricotta Cake
food & wine
Ingredients: - 1 cup (140g) hazelnuts, toasted and skins rubbed off - ¹⁄³ cup (50g) plain (all-purpose) flour - 3 eggs - ½ cup (110g) caster (superfine) sugar - 40g unsalted butter, melted - 4 cups (800g) firm ricotta - 1 cup (220g) caster (superfine) sugar, extra - 2 tablespoons finely grated orange rind - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract - 1 cup (250ml) single (pouring) cream, whipped to soft peaks - icing (confectioner’s) sugar, for dusting - 1 cup (150g) cherries, to serve
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Preparation: Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Line the bases of 2 x lightly greased 22cm springform tins with non-stick
baking paper and set aside. Place the hazelnuts and flour in a food processor and process to a fine meal. Set aside. Place the eggs and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat for 6 minutes or until tripled in size. In three batches, using a large metal spoon, fold the hazelnut meal into the egg mixture. Add the butter and gently fold to combine. Divide the mixture between the tins and smooth with a palette knife. Bake for 15 minutes or until dry to the touch. Set aside for 15 minutes to cool, before removing from the tins. While the cakes are cooling, place the ricotta, sugar, orange rind and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat on high speed for 4 minutes or until smooth. Fold through the whipped cream and set aside.
by Marilou - Chief executive chef at Marilou Cupcakes and more. info@marilous.gr
Line the base and sides of one of the cleaned tins with non-stick baking paper. Place one of the cakes in the base of the tin. Spoon the ricotta mixture over the cake and smooth with a palette knife. Top with the remaining cake and press
lightly to secure. Freeze for 1 hour or until set. Remove the tin, dust with the icing sugar and top with the cherries to serve. Serves 8–10. Tip: You can store this cake in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
“Nature in Art: Art of Nature”
David
Exhibition of art at The Mosque, 27th May to 1st June
Capon has an exhibition of work, with fellow artist Michaela Raeburn, in the Mosque on the harbour at Chania. Michaela is well-known for her collages and paintings using items from Nature such as shells, sand and feathers. Her bright and unique work is found in houses from Canada to Australia and Japan to Brazil as well as many homes here on Crete. A huge influence on her work is Crete and its beauty. David is a fine artist and tutor and will be exhibiting work mainly in oil, acrylic and watercolour. The paintings will show views and life of Chania and of Crete as well as landscapes, seascapes, wildlife and villages. He is considered
ws for more culture ne epost.gr click on http://cret “Ashes”
“Poetry Time”
Take my ashes back to Africa, somewhere that is wild, and let me mingle with a thousand years of dust. Let me fly on wind where eagles soar, and let me blow on hills amongst their whistling thorns. Let me slide in winding rivers unafraid of crocodiles, and let the midday sun no longer burn me. Let me soak in summer rain washed
Walking
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culture
by Elis. Pramateftakis Teacher
down the little streets of the gorgeous Old City in May, you will soon realize that something has changed radically this last month. It’s not just the sun which now prevails upon the clear blue sky. It’s not just the sparkle of the water which reflects clearly – like a mirror – the snow-covered peaks of our mountains (what a great contrast!). But it’s also the numerous people – locals and visitors – wandering happily, all so different and, at the same time, all so alike!! These are people of different origins, religions and cultures. Some are quite reserved when greeting one another. Some prefer a handshake, others a kiss on the cheek or even a hug. Some like their privacy, so not all topics are safe for small talk. Others, on the other hand, are like a tornado, expressing emotions – personal views and describing aspects of their life in great detail. Locals can open their houses almost to
to be a traditional painter and will be showing many works that he has not exhibited before, such as the painting of Kolymbari and the Gonias Monastery
in the photo. His paintings of Chania, for instance, differ from those of many other artists as he includes the people and their activities bringing the paint-
among the roots, and let me nurture grass of grazing buffaloes.
What I miss is that early first light, and waking birds that sing before flight. Misty rivers, lingering dew, shafts of sunlight, a day that’s new, and wispy, thin smoke from still warm ash.
Let me hide and rest among dark night, and give me back to Africa. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “I remember of Africa” What I miss is the wild untouched space, the smell of game in this African place. The dust and sweat of a long hot day, by an evening fire when there’s little to say. A moon that sails through a star-studded sky, hyaenas with a weird, wicked cry.
What I miss are rolling hills dotted with flat-topped trees, and dusty, worn rhino paths that beckon to follow wherever I please. Shallow wide rivers that slowly slide by, wide sandy banks where crocodiles lie, and dappled shade cast by big trees. What I miss are dots in the sky, big circling birds up there to spy, watch them descend where fat lions lie. And white sun-bleached bones with skulls hollow-eyed,
Chania, an oyster in May
everyone, offering a glass of “tsikoudia” and a “kalitsouni” as a sign of hospitality. It is really interesting to find out all the traditions each group of people carries. So many customs which pass on from one generation to the other, closely related to the location of their hometown, their history and religion. Here in Crete the traditions, the music, the food and the beliefs are kept like a treasure, so valuable and indispensable. Recipes pass on from one generation to the other and a home-made meal with extra virgin olive oil is of outmost significance when the whole family gathers around a big kitchen table. Cretan
ing “to life”. His interest in environmental science can also be seen in most paintings as he includes true cloud formations or other natural phenomena. Although much of the work on display will be larger paintings, he will also have a small selection of smaller paintings of birds, reptiles and animals and also older village buildings of the Apokoronas district. The exhibition in the Main Hall of the Mosque will be open from 10:30 till 20:00 every day – entrance is free. Michaela and David will be at the Mosque all the time and will be happy to discuss their work, inspirations and their hopes. David will have prints of many of his paintings for sale. no one will know just how they died, and herds of fat-bellied impala in spring. What I miss is wind on a ridge with buffalo bulls in long grass, shiny black horns, a danger to pass, and the click of a Zulu tongue. And dark forest where shy striped antelope dwell, leaf litter damp to the smell, with rocky ravines and tumbling streams, that’s what I miss and always will. by Anthony M. Whateley All poems included in a book called The Trees Grew Tall. it is a collection of short stories of wild Africa with 20 Poems. The ISBN No. 978-1-291-67295-4 and is available at Amazon.
make a beautiful necklace, a bracelet and flower ring. This ring will be put on their door and will be removed only in June, on St John’s day, when it will be burnt with all the others. That being said, Chania in May is like a big oyster. It has a great treasure underneath which remains to be discovered. It’s not only the nature – the sun and the serene landscapes. It’s not only the beautiful villages built on the mountains. It is the people who exist at the same place. At the end of the day, no matter where they come from, they all have the same needs, desires and thoughts. They all search for a sunny landscape to lie down with their families, they all seek for a happy moment to experience. They all taste the same food and drink wine from the same glass while dancing at a “panygyri”. They are people of the same world and they are happy only when they are together!!
dances are taught to young children from an early age and all the parents feel proud of their siblings while they‘ve dancing on a stage wearing the traditional costume. And of course, these children learn to keep their traditions for they are the salt and pepper of their lives. Old or modern, interesting or not it does not matter as long as they connect them to their great grandfathers. These days – on May 1st – for instance they all run out in the countryside Popi Loupassaki-eodoraki to pick as many flowers Crossroads to Galatas National Road Chania-Kissamos as possible. Then they Old Tel.: +30 28210 32359 - Books - Stationery - Consumables
- Office supplies - Gis - Photocopies
Cretan Costumes
comprise two separate clothes with a kerchief on the head. Country women wore the same clothes, but these were of lower quality and there was also an apron, called “prosergion”. The “sakofistano” (cardigan and skirt) was also common and it is still worn today, together with the apron, by elder women living in villages. Since the end of the 15th century, there is a tendency towards Italian fashion and wealthy Cretan country women follow the trends of urban women, who are dressed according to Venetian fashion. When male breeches appeared in Crete, female clothes were also influenced. Young women borrowed the male square and named it “ziponi” (jerkin) and decorated it with golden cordons, so that it was later named xrisozipono. It is worth mentioning that the “ziponi”, which leaves the chest uncovered, is very similar to the garment worn around the chest by women of Knossos. The “ziponi” was short and was worn over the dress, at first. Then, in the 17th century, the dress was divided in blouse and skirt. The blouse was gradually substituted by a woven shirt. Later on,
Cretan traditional male clothes Male clothes include many parts, the combination of which gives us the well-known picture of a Cretan man. Clothes are made by special tailors, called “terzides”. Firstly, a Cretan man wears a shirt. White was worn in weddings, happy occasions and fairs, while black indicated grief. After the death of Eleftherios Venizelos in 1936, Cretans began to constantly wear black shirts, as an indication of timeless grief, which they only change in happy occasions. Over the shirt, Cretan men wear a vest. It is sleeveless and it is made of good quality baize of a dark blue colour. It can be straight or open, which lets the shirt show, or cross-like, which crosses its two lapels on the chest and closes entirely on the front side with buttons and button holes on the sides. The lapels are decorated with many lines of silk cordons of a black
or dark blue colour, called “hartza”. Then, a Cretan wears breeches, whose origin is in the pirates of Barbaria. It is also made of dark blue baize and embroidered with a black cordon at the seams. The breeches are complemented by socks, which used to constitute a separate part, but later began to be sewn on the breeches. After that, men wear their shoes or boots, which are white or black depending on the occasion, before they start to fold their belt around, half on the breeches and half on the vest. The belt is weaved with fine wool or pure silk and it has a blur or red colour. Its length is about 8 m and its width is 50 cm. In the belt, Cretan belt fasten their knife, which had a black or light-coloured handle and is V-shaped, which is unique all around the world. Its case is usually made from expensive metal (silver) and decorated with rich embossed patterns. Then, Cretan men wear a chain around their neck, which is the only piece of jewellery they wear and has a watch attached to one of its ends, which is kept in the vest pock-
et. On their heads, Cretan men wear a fez, which was later substituted by a black kerchief with densely sewn frills. Finally, a square is worn over the vest. It is a garment with sleeves, waisted and entirely open in the front. It is made with cloth of the same quality and colour as the vest and breeches and is decorated with black “hartza” at various points. On cold days, Cretan men wear a mantle on their shoulders. This short mantle also has a hood, made of the same baize cloth as the rest of the clothes. It is also decorated with weavings on the shoulders, elbows, back and lapels and, inside, it is enhanced with red baize with impressive weavings.
these clothes were completed by the decorative apron, which remained from the Byzantine era. Nowadays, three characteristic pieces of female clothes are saved, each of which was first worn at a different part of Crete but then spread to the entire island. These are the “sfakiana” clothes, the “anogeiana” clothes, the “sartza” and the “Kritsa” clothes or “kouda”. “Sfakiana” clothes were worn in celebrations or by brides on their wedding day at the region of Sfakia and then spread to the entire western part of the island. This kind of clothes has the oldest characteristics of all kinds from the early 20th century. They comprise a voluminous skirt, which is usually dark red or brown. On the lower part, there are two wide golden cordons. The shirt is white and woven, silk or cotton and has rich weavings or attached lace at the sleeve ends. Over the shirt, women pot a waisted “ziponi”, whose sleeves can be removable. It is black, brown or dark red and it is made of baize or good quality velvet. It has gold weaving in the front and a V-shaped opening at one point of its lower part. The ker-
chief can be red or dark red and tied on the head or it can be white and put loosely on the head. A woven white apron can be added, which is decorated with rich weavings. “Sartza” or “anogeiana” clothes were named after a basic part of these clothes that is apron-shaped and is called “sartza”. It was worn on the entire island but even more at Anogeia, from which it took its name. These clothes comprise full trousers that are like trunk hoses at the lower part. A long full beige shirt is worn over that, which has the role of a dress, since it is so long that the trousers can just be seen at the lower part. There is a typical Cretan apron with reach weavings. The “sartza” is red and is tied at the back with its two tied ends put on the left side of the belt, which is also woven and red. The “ziponi” is made of baize in various colours, mostly black, and is richly decorated with golden cordons. There is a semicircular opening in the front, so that it does not cover the whole chest. The head kerchief is red or dark red with golden or yellow frills. “Kouda” or “Kritsa” clothes took their name from a skirt-shaped red garment,
which is called “kouda” (“train” in Italian). Because of the way in which it is worn and tied at the back it takes a special train-like shape. These clothes are very similar to “anogeiana” clothes, since they comprise full trousers and long full shirt as well. The difference is that there is wide weaving on the trousers, identical to that on the apron. The “ziponi” has the same colour with the “kouda” and it is longer, covering the hips. The head kerchief is characteristic. It is white, very long and is tied in a particular way. Head jewellery plays a significant role in women’s clothing, as they are not only used for decoration but also for protection. Chest, neck and waist jewellery indicate the financial and social status of a Cretan woman. The symbol-jewellery of the cross is also a significant part of women’s clothing. Moreover, Cretan women wear bracelets, rings and coins, which are sewn on the kerchief, on the chest and on the waist. Finally, women’s clothes are complemented by the “argirobounialaki”, the women’s knife, which is similar to the one that men carry, only smaller and fastened in the belt.
Cretan traditional female clothes As regards female clothes, Cretan women continue to wear Byzantine clothes even after the island’s occupation by the Venetians and apculture news proximately until the for more ost.gr conquest of Constan- click on http://cretep tinople in 1453. They
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tan costume is still worn in some villages as men’s everyday wear. It is also worn by men and women on the occasion of traditional celebrations. The arts of weaving and embroidering are combined in the costumes. A specialised tailor sews the men’s costume, which first appeared during the 16th century and includes the so-called “sariki”, a crocheted black scarf, which is wrapped around the head and the “stivania”, the boots that complete the costume. The formal costume was richly embroidered in dark blue or black colours and always included a silver knife and a scarf. The women’s traditional costume was introduced during the last 25 years of the 16th century. It appeared in two variations, the “Sfakiani”, i.e. the costume worn in the area of Sfakia, which later became the official costume of the entire island, and the “Anogiani”, which was designed later, approximately in the middle of the
17th century and was mainly worn in the area of Anogia in the province of Mylopotamos.
culture
Up to the present day, the famous Cre-
Tradition and History
Crete
Wild Flowers, Trees and Shrubs on Crete
has around 2000 species of plants. A large percentage of these are endemic, with 10% growing only on Crete and nowhere else in the world. by Petros Marinakis Botanical Park & Gardens 100 species of Crete’s endemic plants grow only in a specific area of Crete, the Lefka Ori mountain range (White Mountains) in the Chania area. An additional 38 species are confined to only 2 places in the world - Crete and the Karpathos. The Red Data Book of Rare and Threatened Plants of Greece includes 67 plants which grow on Crete, of these, 30 grow in the Lefka Ori. Some plants in Chania are very highly endangered - two of these species are recorded in the catalogue of 50 most threatened Mediterranean island plants. Rethymnon, Chania, Heraklion and Lassithi all contain a huge variety of plant species with many rarities. The nature of Crete’s s plant life with the new re natu e for mor many species which are gr click on http://cretepost. endemic to Crete is explained by its relative isolation as it broke away from mainland Greece over 5 million years ago and its mountainous nature which creates many isolated habitats untouched by modern life and development. In its 8,336 square kilometres of surface area, 260 kilometres from east to west and between 12 to 60km from north to south, the diversity of habitats on Crete create individual eco-systems in which particular plants flourish. The vegetation zones/areas are divided as follows: • Coastal or littoral area at an altitude of 0-20 metres • Lowland at an altitude of 20-300 metres • Semi or sub-mountainous 300-800 metres • Mountainous 800-1800 metres
• Sub Alpine 1800-2200 • Alpine +2200 metres Wild flowers such as Sea Lily (Pancratium maritimum), Tamarisk (Tamarix cretica), Cretan Theophrastus Palm (Phoenix theophrastii) are found near the sea. Mastic (Pistacia lentiscus), Oleander (Nerium oleander), Camomile (Chamomilla recutita), Spearmint (Mentha spicata), Myrtle (Myrtus communis), Cretan Ebony (Ebenus cretica) on the plains. At a higher altitude, Holm Oak (Quercus coccifera), Thyme (Thymus capitatus), Broom/Crop (Spartium junceum), Cretan Cyclamen (Cyclamen creticum), Iris (Iris cretica), Tulip (Tulipa orphanidea), Ligaria (Vitex agnus-castus) and many species of orchids - endemic Dactylorhiza romana, Ophrys lutea, Ophrys tenthredinifera, Ophrys cretica, Barlia robertiana. Yellow Mustard Violet (Erysimum creticum), Wild Violet (Viola cretica), Crocus (Crocus oreocreticus), Cretan Sfentami (Acer sempervirens) grow in the mountains. Cretan Dittany (Origanum dictamnus) in gorges/ravines. Ladania (Cistus incanus-creticus), Common Poppy (Papaver rhoeas). Semi-mountainous areas - Cretan Tulip (Tulipa cretica), Arbutus (Arbutus unedo), Styrax (Styrax officinalis), Drakontia (Dracunculus vulgaris). The gorges of southern Chania contain many rare and endemic plants. The Samaria Gorge alone contains over 400 different plant species, with 1/5 being endemic. In Rethymnon, the foothills of Kedros, near Spili are well known for orchids, with some 25 species growing here. Crete has many rare orchids. Every season has its own unique display of colourful, scented, aromatic wild flowers and herbs. In April/May, Crete has an abundance of wild flowers including fragrant herbs such as Sage, Thyme, Rosemary. A walk or drive through the countryside is filled
with the scent of these aromatic plants. The flowers of the Thyme plants are particularly important for the bees who produce excellent tasting honey from them. You will see Thymian Honey for sale all around Crete. Herbs such as Oregano (Origanum vulgare) grow abundantly during the Summer months. Rare species include: • Silene succulenta (Silene succulenta) • White Peony (Paeonia clustii) Found only in the White Mountains in the Samaria Gorge and above Anapolis and in the Dikti Mountains. • Cretan Hooded Cephalanthera (Cephalanthera cucullata) • Scabioza minoana ssp. asterusica (Scabioza minoana ssp. asterusica) grows only on Mount Kofinas in the Asterousia Mountains in South Crete. • Androcymbium rechingeri (Androcymbium rechingeri) A rare plant of sandy beaches • Bupleurum kakiscalae (Bupleurum kakiscalae) grows at the entrance to the Samaria Gorge Several wild tulips: Cretan Tulip (Tulipa cretica); Tulipa doerfleri is recorded only on one mountain plateau in central Crete; Tulipa goulimyi grows on Crete only at the Gramvousa Peninsula Orchidaceae: Mesara ophrys (Ophrys mesaritica) grows in the Mesara area of southern Crete; Sitia ophrys (Ophrys sitiaca) grows in eastern Crete; Epipactis cretica Edible and medicinal plants and herbs are still used extensively by Cretan people old and young. Women, men and often several generations of a family together can be seen gathering wild plants and herbs in the countryside, around towns and villages and in the mountains during all seasons of the year. During Winter and Spring fresh greens are gathered for boiling and serving with
olive oil and lemon. In Summer and Autumn, herbs for cooking and drying are gathered. Crete has many plants and herbs which have been used for centuries for their medicinal and therapeutic properties. While some of them are not used so much now for medicinal purpose, older Cretans with the knowledge of these ancient remedies still employ them in everyday life. Artichoke, Balm, Basil, Camomile, Cherry, Lemon and Mullein are just a few of the widely used plants and trees. Flowers and trees still feature extensively in Cretan folklore and mythology. On the 1st May every year, May Day (Πρωτομαγιά), there is a national holiday in Greece and Crete, when it is a tradition for families to go out into the countryside to pick flowers and make them into a wreath which is then hung on the outside of your house until 24th June. It is believed to ward off evil spirits and to bring good luck. Cars, buses, fishing boats and taxis are also adorned with flower wreaths on this day. It is no doubt connected with ancient Spring and fertility celebrations. Trees feature in Greek mythology. There is a very famous Plane tree (Platanus) at Gortyn (Γόρτυνα) in southern Crete. This sacred Plane tree is evergreen, one of only 50 known evergreen Plane trees on Crete, as most Plane trees are deciduous. Zeus is believed, while in the form of a white bull, to have abducted the princess, Europa, and carried her across the sea from Lebanon to Crete. Here at Gortyn, under this Plane tree she conceived 3 children, the mythic kings of Crete - Minos, Radamanthys and Sarpedon. Deciduous Planes are very common around Crete. Many towns and village on Crete are named Platanias, Platanes or Platanos, named after these beautiful Plane Trees which provide much wanted shade in many village squares. intocrete.net
Olive Oil Improves Blood Lipid Profile, Reduces Risk of Heart Disease
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cretan nature
by Manolis Karpadakis Terra Creta Marketing Mngr
LDL (Bad) Cholesterol LDL cholesterol is considered the “bad” cholesterol because it contributes to plaque, a thick, hard deposit that can clog arteries and make them less flexible. This condition is known as atherosclerosis. If a clot forms and blocks a narrowed artery, heart attack or stroke can result. Another condition called peripheral artery disease can develop when plaque buildup narrows an artery supplying blood to the legs.
HDL (Good) Cholesterol HDL cholesterol is considered “good” cholesterol because it helps remove LDL cholesterol from the arteries. Experts believe HDL acts as a scavenger, carrying LDL cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it is broken down and passed from the body. One-fourth to one-third of blood cholesterol is carried by HDL. A healthy level of HDL cholesterol may also protect against heart attack and stroke, while low levels of HDL cholesterol have been shown to increase the risk of heart disease. ‘Olive Oil as Medicine: the Effect on Lipids and Lipoproteins’, the first report in a series released this month by the UC Davis Olive Center, makes three key findings on the use of extra virgin olive oil to prevent chronic diseases. - Daily intake of two tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil improves blood lipid profile, which may reduce risk of heart disease. - To attain the health benefits of extra virgin olive oil, select EVOOs that are rich in phenols.
- Although food labels do not list EVOO phenol content and quality, choose highquality EVOOs that are packaged in dark containers with a harvest date closest to the most recent season. Authors of the report, researchers Mary Flynn and Selina Wang, reviewed data from human studies carried out from January 1998 to December 2014 to determine if extra virgin olive oil intake affected circulating levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDL), very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), and high-density lipoproteins (HDL). Unable to dissolve in the blood, cholesterol travels through the bloodstream bound to protein carriers called lipoproteins, which may be LDL, HDL and VLDL based on the amount of lipids they contain. LDL contains high amounts of cholesterol, which it delivers to the cells in the body. Although essential for normal functioning of the cells, at high concentrations low-density lipoproteins may deposit in the arteries, decrease blood flow to the heart and increase the risk of a heart attack. Maintaining healthy LDL levels is, therefore, essential to maintaining heart health. The Seven Countries Study on rates of heart disease published in 1970 was the first to highlight the lower incidence of heart diseases in countries where olive oil, as part of the Mediterranean diet, reduced risk of heart disease. In the new report, the authors found strong evidence of the benefits of EVOO in reducing blood cholesterol levels. Based on their review, they suggest that an intake of 1.5 tablespoons or
20 grams of EVOO every day for at least six weeks could be effective in lowering LDL levels by at least 10 percent. Use of high-quality olive oil with levels of total phenols of more than 300 mg/kg could be even more effective in lowering LDL levels in a shorter time. Studies show that another positive effect of EVOO is its role in reducing oxidation of LDL. Oxidized LDL, believed to be more damaging to the arterial wall than native LDL cholesterol, causes tissue injury and promotes the development of atherosclerotic lesions. Intake of 25 ml of high-quality EVOO, which has a phenol content of more than 400 mg/kg may reduce LDL oxidation in as little as four days. However, EVOO with total phenol content of 150 mg/kg may decrease LDL oxidation in less than four weeks. While high levels of LDL are deleterious to health, high levels of HDL are actually beneficial to heart health as these lipoproteins remove LDL cholesterol from the arteries. The report found that about two tablespoons of EVOO may increase HDL levels in just four days. EVOO with higher phenol content could possibly be more effective in rais-
ing HDL levels than those with lower phenol content. The report also found evidence that EVOO intake as part of a meal could improve VLDL or fasting triglyceride levels. All the literature reviewed for the report leads to the conclusion that EVOO with a high phenol content improves lipid profile and reduces the risk of heart disease. A major drawback is lack of information on phenolic content of EVOO on food labels, which varies with variety of olives, as well as the soil, irrigation, climate, ripeness, and extraction methods used to extract the oil. A 2010 UC Davis study found that phenol content of commercially available olive oil may range from as little as 80 mg/kg to as high as 450 mg/kg, and phenolic content diminishes with time. To ensure that you have the best EVOO, the authors of the report recommend buying extra virgin olive oil that has the most recent harvest date and is in a container that protects it from light. www.oliveoiltimes.com www.heart.org
Attacking Winter Surface Damage to Your Home by Petros Chatzistavros Civil Engineer (T.E.)
Spring is a time when the grass turns wonderfully green, birds are out singing, and the weather becomes comfortably mild as people venture out from their winter hideouts. It’s also a great time to take stock of your home’s condition after a long winter of cold, snow-filled storms, and to prepare your home for the springtime thunderstorms. With that in mind, there are a few areas of your home that likely sustained some surface damage and are in need of repair. Siding Damage to siding from winter weather can vary widely depending on the type of siding you have. Wood siding can lose lamination after being exposed to large amounts of snow, while vinyl siding can become brittle and crack in below freezing temperatures. When examining your siding, look for any cracked or damaged areas. Problem spots to concentrate on include under eaves and near gutter downspouts. Fill in cracks in vinyl with an epoxy and touch-up paint. With wood siding, use wood putty and paint to fix cracks or damages.
home improvement
Gutters It’s easy to overlook the gutters on your home as it’s hard to tell if they need cleaning from below. Because winter storms can do a number of harmful things to gutters, including ice dams that can crack or break them free from the house, it’s important to inspect them for any damage. First, take a ladder and inspect the gutters from above, removing any debris that may clog them and prevent proper water drainage. If any gutters are cracked or damaged beyond repair, then make sure you replace them appropriately. Roof The roof is your home’s first line of defense against moisture, and it likely took a beating over the winter. The first thing you need to do is inspect it to make sure there isn’t any significant
damage. Grab a ladder and look for any missing or loose shingles and replace them as needed. If the weather isn’t great out, then you can always go up in your attic and look for any signs of moisture. Make sure you only step on secure frames and not on insulation, and look for any light coming through your roof. Sometimes these leaks aren’t from damaged shingles but from missing or improperly installed flashing. Paint Now is a good time to see how the paint on the outside of your home is looking. Walk around your home and make a note of any paint that looks like it is ready to peel off or is already doing so. If the situation isn’t that bad, you can get away with simple repairs instead of repainting the entire house. Make sure you remove all the peeling paint, clean the area and sand it down before applying Peel Stop to prevent further peeling. After the primer has been allowed to dry, apply a final primer and then paint over it to match the existing color. Using this method will prevent further
Windows/Doors If you felt the winter cold a little too closely inside your home, then it’s probably a good idea to check the seals around your windows and doors. While replacing windows can be costly, an alternative is to add caulk and new weatherstripping to your windows and doors. Check for any drafts by placing your hand around your windows and doors to feel if any cold air is coming inside. Additionally, look for any cracks in window frames or damaged weather stripping. Apply caulk around needed areas and new weather stripping to keep that cold air inside during the hot months to come. Deck Repair Decks can often sustain heavy damage from winter storms, especially with
all the moisture and weight of snow they encounter. Give your deck a good cleaning with a pressure washer and hit it with a mold-resistant cleaner. In the process, you’ll be able to detect any loose or rotten boards that need attention. If the wood on your deck or patio is looking old and faded, then now is also a good time to stain and reseal it as needed. Driveway Cracks in a driveway or patio can be an annoying eyesore and can lead to further damage down the road. They can even be a dangerous tripping hazard if not fixed in a timely manner. Luckily, fixing cracks in concrete is easier than you may think. After cleaning the area that’s in need of repair, make sure you key out the crack with a chisel and clean out any debris created. Then, simply use a concrete filler to fill in the crack and allow it to cure. It’s a good idea to use a sealer afterward to prevent the concrete from staining. doityourself.com
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Are those fancy tool storage caddies
Make the Most of Your Tool Belt
and tool boxes really as convenient as they look? While they may be beautiful to look at and seem great for the storage of tools that are only used once in a while, a tool belt allows you to keep high-use tools easily accessible and all in the same place. A tool belt is totally necessary for those jobs around the house that need a few different tools to fix, such as a hammer, screwdriver, and nails.
Why You Need a Tool Belt A tool belt keeps all of your tools together in the same place and organizes them depending on what you use most and with which hand. Rather than having a bunch of nails mixed up with screws, nuts, and bolts in a box, a tool belt has a separate compartment for everything. Tool belts make repair jobs much easier because all parts and tools are within easy reach, right there on your hip.
Dominant Hand Tools When arranging the previously mentioned tools in your tool belt, it’s important to make sure that the tools you use with your dominant hand are stored on that side. When arranging your tool belt, for example, if you are right-handed, you will want to put the tools you use mostly with your right hand on the right side of the tool belt. The same goes if you are left-handed. In that case, your
dominant hand tools would go on the left side of your tool belt. Dominant hand tools are tools such as a hammer, screwdriver, or drill, which you use with your dominant hand most of the time. Helper Hand Tools Your helper hand tools should be stored on the opposite side of your tool belt, as these are the tools used by your non-dominant hand. While some of these tools can be used by the dominant hand at times, they are predominantly used by the helper hand while the dominant hand is using another tool to do most of the work. Some examples of
helper hand tools are a flashlight, tape measure, small hammer, chisel, and speed square. Which Hand Tools to Use Start with the essentials. Begin with the tools you could use for nearly any repair, design, or fix-it project. Your handy tool belt should include a hammer, screwdriver, wrench, and pliers. Include both a Phillips and flat head screwdriver, as well as some measuring and marking tools like a tape measure and pencils. These tools can be used for instances where you might need to hang something, mark the wall, or measure for a project. If you need more precise tools, such as specific sized wrenches, add these depending on the space you have left in the pockets of your tool belt. How to Organize It All While many tools can be switched between the categories of dominant hand and helper hand, decide in which hand you use the specified tool the most, and store it on that side. If the tool is stored on the wrong side, it can be inconvenient to have to reach across your body, the tools, and the tool belt to get to the tool you need while you’re repairing something. Be sure your tool belt has deep pockets so that nothing falls out when you when you bend or lean over. Each small pocket should hold one item, and bigger pockets can hold a few tools each, without too much trouble.
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What to Put Inside A tool belt should contain the most common tools you might need to fix or repair something around the house. These belts are designed with plenty of storage and can carry the weight
of many tools of all sorts. The more pockets, the better. Tool belts also have plenty of space for less-commonly used tools such as leveling tools and wrenches.
do it yourself
Choosing a Tool Belt Tool belt styles vary widely—they come in different sizes, with lots of different styles of pockets. Some tool belts have two main pockets in the front for carrying larger tools and dividers inside that create smaller storage pockets. If you just need a belt for basic tools, one with lots of little compartments can be pretty handy for small tools such as nails, adhesive, and tape. For larger tools and bigger jobs, a tool belt with larger pockets and straps for hanging tools is best.
Adult Sinusitis Guidelines Updated New Guidelines for Allergic Rhinitis Released
The
American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery by Miltiades Markatos Pneumonologist Foundation has presented an updated clinical practice guideline on adult sinusitis, with a greater focus on patient education and patient preference, published April 1 in Otolaryngology– Head and Neck Surgery. In the United States, sinusitis affects approximately 1 in 8 adults, with more than 30 million diagnoses and $11 billion in direct costs per year. More than 1 in 5 antibiotics prescribed in adults are for sinusitis. “More than ever before, there is a prominent role for shared decision-making between patients and clinicians when managing adult sinusitis — especially in deciding for more health news whether to use antibiclick on http://cretepost.gr otics for acute bacterial sinusitis or to instead try ‘watchful waiting’ to see if a patient can fight the infection on his or her own,” guidelines
chair Richard M. Rosenfeld, MD, MPH, said in a news release. The update recommends watchful waiting for initial management of all patients with uncomplicated acute bacterial rhinosinusitis, regardless of severity, and not just for those with “mild” illness, as in the 2007 guideline. “Intuitively clinicians often feel that sicker patients benefit more from antibiotics, but our recommendation is that watchful waiting or antibiotics are both appropriate,” Dr Rosenfeld said. “This empowers patients and clinicians to use antibiotic judiciously, reserving antibiotics for cases that get worse or don’t improve over time.” Another area benefitting from shared decision making is choice of symptomatic treatment, including analgesics, topical intranasal steroids, and nasal saline irrigation. The update includes a new algorithm to clarify decision-making and action statement relationships.
A multidisciplinary panel of experts in otolaryngology–head and neck surgery, infectious disease, family medicine, allergy and immunology, advanced practice nursing, and a consumer advocate updated this clinical guideline based on current evidence. Additional changes from the 2007 guideline to the 2015 update include: The addition of additional information regarding the role of analgesics, topical intranasal steroids, and/or nasal saline irrigation for symptomatic relief of acute bacterial sinusitis. Changed recommendation for the preferred agent when antibiotics are prescribed. The 2007 guideline called for amoxicillin alone, whereas the 2015 update recommends amoxicillin with or without clavulanate. Inclusion of several recommendations for management of chronic rhinosinusitis, which was not addressed in the 2007 guideline. These include addition
of asthma and of polyps as chronic conditions modifying chronic rhinosinusitis management, a recommendation for use of topical intranasal therapy (saline irrigations or corticosteroids), and a recommendation against using topical or systemic antifungal agents. “The update group made strong recommendations that clinicians (1) should distinguish presumed acute bacterial rhinosinusitis from acute rhinosinusitis caused by viral upper respiratory infections and noninfectious conditions and (2) should confirm a clinical diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis with objective documentation of sinonasal inflammation, which may be accomplished using anterior rhinoscopy, nasal endoscopy, or computed tomography,” the authors write. The American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation funded this guideline update and employs one of its authors.
Chamomile tea tied to lower thyroid cancer risk
Consumption of chamomile tea was
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health & nutrition
linked with a lower risk of thyroid cancer in a Greek study. Researchers interviewed some Athens residents about their lifestyle, eating and drinking habits and found that people who reported drinking more chamomile tea over longer periods of time were less likely to develop thyroid malignancies or benign growths than those who didn’t. While the study doesn’t prove tea prevents cancer, it adds to a growing body of evidence pointing to the potential health benefits of a Mediterranean diet including lots of lean fish, fresh vegetables and healthy fats in addition to tea, study co-author Dr. Athena Linos, an environmental health researcher at Prolepsis in Greece, said by email. “The finding was not surprising to me because many aspects of the Mediterranean diet have been shown to be protective towards cancer in general,” Linos said. Many people in Greece follow a Mediterranean diet. Out of every 100,000 people there, about 1.6 are diagnosed with thyroid cancer every year, Linos said. That compares with average rates of 13.2 and 5.2 per 100,000 people in the U.S. and Europe, respectively, “suggesting that it may be something in the
Greek diet – such as tea – which accounts for this difference.” Linos and colleagues examined cancer rates and dietary habits in 113 patients admitted to two Athens area hospitals for thyroid cancers between 1990 and 1993. They compared those patients to 138 people without thyroid cancer who were either healthy or had other unrelated diseases, and also to another 286 people with benign thyroid disease. Researchers interviewed participants about their medical history, diet and lifestyle habits, as well as consumption of alcohol, coffee and tea. Then they estimated the odds of developing thyroid cancer or benign growths based on tea consumption, comparing the outcomes for daily versus weekly cups of tea and exploring whether the habit had a bigger impact over several years. After accounting for age, gender, and body mass index, the researchers found that as consumption of chamomile tea increased, the odds of developing any type of thyroid malignancy significantly declined. People who drank chamomile tea two to six times a week were about 70 percent less likely to develop thyroid abnormalities. Thirty years of regular consumption reduced the risk by about 80
percent. The researchers also looked at the connection between thyroid cancer and consumption of two other types of herbal tea popular in Greece – sage tea and a blend known as mountain tea – and found that these also reduced the likelihood of malignancies, though the association wasn’t as strong as it was for chamomile tea. Because this review is based on data from the 1990s, it’s possible that lifestyle habits have changed since then, making the results less applicable to the way people drink tea today, noted Samantha Heller, a nutritionist at New York University’s Center for Musculoskeletal Caner and Sports Performance Center, in an email. Chamomile tea – which only comes from the Camellia sinensis plant – isn’t really tea, Heller pointed out. The teas in the study are really infusions of leaves, roots, bark, seeds or flowers of other plants. “The link between herbal infusions and tea consumption and disease is compel-
A life changing visit to our pharmacy can make you change the way you see life and put your body and mind in harmony. Have you ever visited a pharmacy to taste health? A different pharmacy in the centre of the old town of Chania is waiting to share with you secrets of well being and longevity. Taste the biolo gical honey, the royal jelly, tea from plants carefully chosen in therapeutic recipes, high concentration and purity juices of pomegranate, cranberry, aloe. Orthomolecular nutrition with suggestions on detox programs and a carefully selected range of supplements, vitamins an gluten free products from all over the world. In the same premises you can find a live homeopathic lab with 6.000 homeopathic remedies in stock and the ability to produce any kind of homeopathic form i.e. pills, granules, solutions etc Evangelia Sakka is the pharmacist in charge who has created that special pharmacy and will be happy to introduce you to that fantastic world but also suggest whatever will be more settable for you. Our philosophy doesn’t stop on food and supplements but we want you to think of your mind and body as well. That’s why we have created next to our pharmacy the Green Care SPA. A SPA that helps to uplift your mind and body with biological face an body treatments, reflexology, reiky, su jok and moxa treatment, Bach flower remedies, homeopathy sessions, bowtech as well as nail therapies. We are waiting for you to restart your life at Daskalogianni 43 - 45, SAKKA Pharmacy www.my-pharmacy.gr / www.greencarespa.gr
ling but not a slam dunk,” said Heller, who wasn’t involved in the study. “Chasing back a double bacon cheeseburger and large fries with a cup of herbal tea is unlikely to undo the deleterious effects of poor lifestyle choices.” Herbal teas may help protect against cancer or other diseases because of components linked to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties such as polyphenols and flavonoids, said Dr. Betul Hatipoglu, an endocrinologist at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. Still, “lifestyle as a whole matters,” Hatipoglu, who wasn’t involved in the study, said by email. “It’s possible that individuals who were consuming these herbal teas in the study were also more active and ate healthier.” Reuters
Choosing the Best Sunglasses for Your Face Shape as easy as you work to set off and there are which ones are
How to Pick Sunglasses If your idea of shopping for sunglasses is trying on a variety of pairs and glancing at the mirror, these instructions will take it to another whole level. Have you ever thought about UV protection? Durability? Visibility? The shape of your head and face? There’s more to sunglasses shopping than looking good! Picking Sunglasses for Protection Protect your eyes! Excessive exposure to UV radiation can cause a variety of problems for your eyes such as cataracts, burns, and cancer. If you want your sunglasses to protect you from these risks, look for pairs that block at least 99% of UVB rays and at least 95% of UVA rays. Also look for the amount of cover the sunglasses provide. Look at how much you can see around the frames, will the sunglasses let in sun from the top or sides? Don’t buy sunglasses if they’re labeled as “cosmetic” or don’t provide any information on UV protection. Look for scratch resistance, many lenses have very fragile coatings. If you are spending much money, you want them to last. Fortunately damaged lenses can be replaced for most models. Choosing Lens Color Wisely The color of the lenses doesn’t just affect your fashion statement, it affects how well you detect contrast and differentiate colors. Some colors enhance contrast, which can be useful; however, this is often at the expense of color distinc-
tion, which can cause problems (when you’re driving, for example, and need to be able to clearly differentiate the colors of a traffic light). Some sunglasses even come with interchangeable lenses so you can change the color easily, depending on what you’re doing. Gray lenses reduce light intensity without affecting contrast or distorting colors. Brown lenses partially enhance contrast by blocking some blue light.[3] Good for snow sports.[4] Also generally good for hunting in bright light, against open backgrounds. Amber/yellow lenses significantly enhance contrast because they block most or all blue light, and that makes them popular among hunters who benefit from that contrast when looking at targets against the sky. They’re bad, however, for any activity that requires color recognition (like driving!). Good for snow sports. Red/orange lenses are good for snow sports but only on overcast days.[4] If you’re a hunter, orange lenses are good for clay targets against open backgrounds. Violet lenses are good for hunters who need to see clay targets on a green background. Copper sunglasses will mute the sky and grass against a golf ball. Blue and green sunglasses enhance contrast with a yellow tennis ball.
Scientists develop perfume that smells better the more you sweat
Researchers have made a bizarre dis-
covery – a perfume that smells better the more the more you sweat. Scientists from Queen’s University in Belfast created a liquid that releases more of its fragrance when it comes into contact with moisture. This means you could could start to smell fantastic the longer you toil throughout the day. The perfume was designed by Queen’s Ionic Liquid Laboratories (QUILL) – composed of a raw fragrance that scientists “tagged” on to an odourless ionic
You’ve
liquid – salt in the form of liquid. The resultant “perfumed ionic liquid” emits aroma when it comes into contact with water, allowing more of the perfume’s scent to be released on to a person’s skin. The scientists say the perfume also has the ability to remove the bad odours that come from sweat, as compounds responsible for the smell are attracted to the ionic liquid, attaching themselves to it and losing their potency. Daily Mirror
‘Cretan aspirin’ expected to debut over the summer!
heard of the Mediterranean Diet and its derivatives, the “Aegean Diet”, or even better yet, the “Cretan Diet”, now get ready for the “Cretan aspirin”, which manufacturers hope will soon be found on store shelves near you. According to information, the so—called “Cretan Aspirin” will be ready this summer. The product comes after years of work by a research team at the University of Crete, in collaboration with the Union of Farm Cooperatives of Rethymno and the drug maker Gallenica.
Five reasons you didn’t get some rest during the Easter break With the Easter break over many feel
An international patent has also reportedly been given, with the “aspirin” billed as a “natural solution” to the common cold and flu. Only time and … decades of clinical tests will tell if it’s effective or not.
like they did not get any rest. Those complaining are not just being whiny or complaining for the sake of it. Greek psychologist Dr Liza Varvogli, says they may have just had a diffiicult winter with marital problems, children wories, new relationships or a break up, a disease, elderly parents, financial or work related problems. The main reasons people may not rest durign holidays, says Dr Varvogli are: - A conscious choice by the workaholics who are set on not getting some rest: they go to the beach with their cell phone or laptop.They have that feeling
by Nick Lazakis Optical expert
that they constantly ought to do something! - Being in a bad mood, preventing you from relaxing. - “Choosing” not to have a good time, because of negative feelings or because they want to punish themselves or someone close to them. - Wrong choice of company and place, ending up arguing or doing things they do not want to do. - Remembering all the unpleasant things that happened during the holidays instead of the good moments. boro.gr
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your face shape isn’t might think. There are frames that your killer features, frames that … don’t. So how do you know right for you?
First, you’ll need to figure out whether your face is round, oval, heart, or square. Having trouble deciding? An easy-to-use guide will help you find the right fit. Trust us: You’ll find your perfect pair in no time!
health & nutrition
Picking out the ideal sunglasses for
Pet Passport for Greece European
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pets & vets
Union (EU) Regulations for taking a pet dog, cat or ferret to Greece from within the EU, from rabies free countries or from a country by Giannis Venetakis with a low incidence of rabies. New Zoo Technician pet import regulations for the EU in effect on December 29, 2014. Greece does not quarantine healthy pets (cats, dogs and ferrets) from the above countries having resided there for the preceeding six (6) months that meet the following requirements in this order: - Your pet will need an ISO 11784/11785 compliant 15 digit pet microchip implanted by your veterinarian. If your pet has a microchip that is not ISO 11784/11785 compliant, you can bring your own microchip scanner. - Your pet will need a rabies vaccination after the microchip is implanted and more than 21 days** prior to entry but not more than the expiration date of the manufacturer of the vaccine. If your dog, for more pets news cat or ferret was vaccieu ost. etep ://cr nated before it was fitted http on click with a microchip, it will have to be vaccinated again after the microchip is implanted. - For pets entering Greece from a country with a high incidence of rabies, a Blood Titer Test administered no sooner than 30 days after rabies vaccination. (Have your veterinarian scan your pet’s microchip prior to the titer test.) Samples must be processed at approved laboratories. Assuming test results within acceptable limits, your pet can enter Greece no sooner than 90 days after the date the blood was drawn and avoid quarantine. This step is not required unless entering Greece from a high rabies country. - If you or a legal representative are traveling within 5 days of your pet, an accredited veterinarian must then complete a bi-lingual Annex IV for Greece within 10 days of entry for endorsement by the USDA or CFIA if traveling from the United States or Canada. If you are entering Greece from another EU country, then have your veterinarian update an EU Blue Pet Passport for your pet. - If you or a legal representative are not traveling within 5 days of your
pet, an accredited veterinarian must then complete a bi-lingual Annex I for Greece within 48 hours of entry for endorsement by the USDA or CFIA if traveling from the United States or Canada. If you are entering Greece from another EU country, then have your veterinarian update an EU Blue Pet Passport for your pet. See additional commercial transport rules below. - Unaccompanied pets traveling as manifest cargo will need a health certificate issued within 10 days of travel. Your airlines may also require a health certificate even if your pet is traveling with you in the cabin or as checked baggage. This completes a pet passport for your dog, cat or ferret to enter Greece. Instructions & Forms Once your pet has entered Greece, a 21 day waiting period is not required for subsequent visits, provided rabies boosters are kept up to date, and the other entry requirements listed above are met. Effective December 29, 2014: If your pet is entering Greece by air from outside of the EU and you are unable to travel on the same flight as your pet, you will need to sign a declaration confirming that you do not intend to sell or transfer ownership of your pet. You must show evidence of your travel within 5 days of your pet´s movement. Effective December 29, 2014: If you are not traveling within 5 days before or after your pet or if you are intending to sell, re-home or change ownership of
your dog, cat or ferret, then your pet’s transport will be considered a commercial transport, and it will need to meet the following requirements: - Your pet must originate from another EU or rabies-controlled country. - All requirements listed above must be met. (Annex I form instead of Annex IV form) - Your pet must be accompanied by an Intra Trade Certificate. - If your pet is entering Greece from another rabies-controlled country, it must enter through a Border Inspection Post approved to clear live animals, and notice must be given 24 hours prior to arrival. Puppies and Kittens: Rabies vaccinations cannot be administered prior to 12 weeks of age. Unvaccinated puppies and kittens may enter Greece with a microchip, an updated EU pet passport and a veterinary attestation verifying that their mother has been vaccinated against rabies and that the vaccination period during the labour period is valid. The pups or kittens must have not been in contact with wild animals and have not been exposed to rabies infection. Traveling with more than 5 pets: Effective December 29, 2014: If you are traveling with more than 5 pets over 6 months of age, unless you are traveling to a show or competition, your pets must meet the requirements as listed above (Annex I instead of Annex IV form), travel from a registered premesis, use a licensed transporter, register the transport on the TRACES system,
and also enter Greece through a Border Inspection Post (if you are traveling from outside of the EU). Exporting Pets from Greece: effective December 29, 2014, all dogs, cats and ferrets leaving Greece must be microchipped, vaccinated for rabies (in that order) and wait 21 days before leaving the country. If you are planning to take your pet on a trip to a country with a high incidence of rabies and returning to Greece, your veterinarian should do a Blood Titer Test before you leave the country. Failure to comply with these regulations will mean that your pet will be refused entry or returned to the country of origin or placed in quarantine, all at the expense of the person responsible for your pet. Inspection: All domestic dogs and cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the port of entry to Greece. If your dog or cat is not in apparent good health, further examination by a licensed veterinarian may be required at your expense. Other Animals: Birds, invertebrates, tropical fish, reptiles, amphibia, mammals such as rodents and rabbits are not subject to requirements of rabies vaccination, but may have to meet other requirements and should have a health certificate to enter Greece. Pet owners are strongly advised to seek further information from the relevant authority of their country and/or that of the country of destination. If your pet is not a dog, cat or ferret, and especially if it is a turtle or parrot, you should verify that it is not protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITIES). You will need to apply for additional permits if this is the case. Search their database. Over 180 countries participate and enforce CITIES regulations. Read more about CITIES. Veterinary Certificate: All countries have unique veterinary certificates. This form may differ from the veterinary certificate issued by veterinarians in the United States. (APHIS 7001) It is an essential part of the cat or dog passport.
1. Get an idea. Is this going to be a vegetable garden? An herb garden? A flower garden? If you choose to grow flowers, do you want annuals, which you must replant each year but which give color most of the summer? Or do you prefer perennials, which have a shorter bloom time but come back year after year? You can mix any of the above -- after all, it’s your garden. Just one bit of advice: Start small. ‘Tis better to succeed just a little, than to fail grandly. 2. Pick a place. Almost all vegetables and most flowers need about six hours of full sun each day. Spend a day in your chosen spot and watch how the sun moves across the space. It might receive more sun than you think. But don’t despair if your lot is largely sunless; many plants tolerate shade. Check plant tags or ask the staff at your local garden center to find out how much sun a plant requires. Put the garden where you can’t ignore its pleas for attention -- outside the back door, near the mailbox, by the window you stare out when you dry your hair. Place it close enough to a water spigot that you won’t have to drag the hose to the hinterlands. 3. Clear the ground. Get rid of the sod covering the area you plan to plant. If you want quick results, you can dig it out, but it’s easier to smother it with newspaper. A layer of five sheets is usually thick enough; double that if your lawn is Bermudagrass or St. Augustine grass. Spread a 3-inch layer of compost (or combination of potting soil and topsoil) on the newspaper and wait. It’ll take about four months for the compost and paper to decompose. If you don’t want to wait or if the area is covered with weeds such as creeping Charlie (Glechoma hederacea), you’re better off digging the sod out. 4. Improve the soil. Invariably, soil needs
a boost. The solution is simple: organic matter. Add a 2- to 3-inch layer of compost, decayed leaves, dry grass clippings, or old manure. If you dig soil (see Step 5), till the organic matter into the soil. If you decide not to dig or are working with an established bed you can’t dig, leave the organic matter on the surface and it will work its way into the soil in a few months. To learn more about your soil, have a soil test done through your county cooperative extension office. They’ll lead you through the procedure: how much soil to send from which parts of the garden, and the best time to obtain samples. Expect a two-week wait for their findings, which will tell you what your soil lacks and how to amend it. 5. Dig or don’t. Digging loosens the soil so roots can penetrate more easily. But digging when the soil is too wet or too dry can ruin its structure. Dig only when the soil is moist enough to form a loose ball in your fist, but dry enough to fall apart when you drop it. Use a spade or spading fork to gently turn the top 8 to 12 inches of soil, mixing in the organic matter from Step 4. In vegetable gardens and beds of annual flowers, turn the soil only once a year in the spring before you plant. The traditional method of preparing a bed for perennial flowers is to double-dig. Double-digging involves removing the top 8-12 inches of soil (usually from one small area at a time), loosening and working organic matter into the newly exposed 8- to 12-inch
layer of soil, replacing the top layer, then working organic matter into the top layer. It’s a lot of work, but it can make a big difference in how well perennials grow. Plants and Care 6. Pick your plants. Some people pore over catalogs for months; some people head to the garden center and buy what wows them. Either method works if you choose plants adapted to your climate, your soil, and the amount of sunlight in your garden. You can even surf the Internet for plants to purchase. Here are a few easy-to-grow plants for beginners. Annual: cosmos, marigolds, impatiens, geraniums, Calendula, sunflowers, and zinnias. Perennials: Russian sage, lamb’s-ears, black-eyed Susans, purple coneflowers, phlox, pansies, and daylilies. Vegetables: lettuce, peppers, tomatoes, and cucumbers. 7. Put them in the ground. Some plants, such as pansies and kale, tolerate cold, so you can plant them in autumn or late winter. Tomatoes and most annual flowers, on the other hand, are touchy about cold, so don’t plant them until the danger of frost has passed in your area. Midspring and midautumn are good times to plant perennial flowers. Check the county cooperative extension office or local garden center for a list of recommended planting dates. Some plants, such as lettuce and sun-
flowers, are easy to grow from seed. You can sow them directly in the garden. Be sure to read the seed packet for information about when to plant, how deep to plant, and how far apart to plant the seeds. If you’re an adventurous beginner, you can get a head start on the growing season by sowing seeds indoors before the last frost date. You can buy containers or flats designed especially for seedlings, as well as seed-starting soil mixes (available at garden centers). Follow seed-packet instructions, and place the containers on a sunny windowsill or under artificial lights if you don’t have window space. Be sure to keep the seeds and seedlings moist but not wet (or they may rot). An easier method is to buy young plants, called set plants or transplants. Just dig a hole and plunk them in the ground. 8. Water. Seedlings for more gardening news should never dry out, click on http://cretepost.gr so water daily while they are small. Taper off as the plants get larger. New transplants also need frequent watering -- every other day or so -- until their roots become established. After that, how often you need to water depends on your soil, how humid your climate is, and how often it rains. Plants are begging for water when they wilt slightly in the heat of the day. Water slowly and deeply, so the water soaks in instead of running off into the street. To minimize evaporation, water in the early morning. 9. Mulch. To help keep weeds out and water in, cover the soil with a couple of inches of mulch. All sorts of mulch are available, from pine needles to cocoa hulls to bark chips. For a vegetable garden or bed of annuals, choose a mulch that decomposes in a few months. For perennials, use a longer-lasting mulch, such as bark chips. 10. Keep it up. Your garden is on its way. Keep watering when needed, and pull weeds before they get big. Fertilize with a dry fertilizer about halfway through the season. If you use a liquid fertilizer, fertilize every month or so. And remember to stop and smell the -- well, whatever you grow. bhg.com
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ing and digging, although planning can take place before the snow melts. Gardeners spend most of the summer watering, weeding, and watching young plants grow. Fall is a good time to plant trees, shrubs, bulbs, and some perennials.
plants and gardening
Spring is a good time to begin grow-
Ten steps to beginning a garden
renowned, strictly spearfishing & freediving expo/event, including a lot of seminars, workshops and other activities. It is a three day Show with interactive participation of visitors and exhibitors; an expo, product sales, seminars by top speakers and experts, workshops, U/W video and photography contest combo. This year’s event took place from 20-22 March 2015 in the Peace & Friendship Stadium, Piraeus, Greece. Deepex 2015 again had a strong international character as exhibitors, speakers and visitors from Europe, Middle East, USA and Africa attended the Show. After the end of a very successful event, the organizer, Dimitris Kollias, stated “As the organizer, I would like to thank all the companies that trusted us, our top speakers from around the world who shared their valuable knowledge and experience, as well as all visitors who came from the extremes of Greece and the world turning Deepex into THE global Spearfishing/Freediving event. Everyone seemed to have a great time, and we are hearing it was very productive for most exhibitors. We know how hard they work to set up these awesome booths and make nice displays and presentations. The beauty and creativity of the booths seems to get better and better every year. We sincerely appreciate all your time and effort!
Some interesting numbers Deepex had 37 exhibitors (a total of 48 companies displayed), including four super prestigious brands from Hawaii, Ukraine, Italy and Tanzania. The number of visitors and guests exceeded 3500prs. Guests and visitors from Turkey, Oman, Lebanon, Kuwait, Qatar, Israel, Malta, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine, France, Croatia and England attended the show, strongly proving the title “International Regarding the events that took place, a Dynamic apnea competition and our traditional Spearfishing Video Awards,
kept the audience’s attention high. As for the seminars, some of the hottest names ofthe sport gave their best (Daniel Gospic, LorenzoBorri, Valentine Thomas), while the crowd gave a five minute standing ovation to the legendary, deepest man on Earth, Herbert Nitsch. Favorable comments so far: getting bigger and better every year, Saturday was crazy, great attendance, international and passionate crowd, professional appearance, Deepex staff is the best, already counting down, 364 days to Deepex 2016! A group of prestigious Italian man-
ufacturers that attended the show claimed that in the future there is no need to attend another expo but Deepex! Thank you! But foremost I would like to thank Deepex team that had methodically worked on every problem, making for an excellent organization. It was an honor having for more sports news you in the team and I am click on http://cretepo st.gr proud if I can coordinate and inspire such great and highly qualified personalities as you guys are! See you all at Deepex 2016. Official countdown has already started! Spearfishing time now!”
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Deepex is rapidly becoming a world
by Eftihia Pentaraki - Nea TV Journalist
sports & leisure
Deepex International 2015