The Ionian August 2010

The Ionian

English Language Magazine For The Ionian

Please recycle: give to a friend or neighbour when finished.

August 2010 Volume 1. Issue 6 COMPLIMENTARY/∆ΩΡΕΑΝ

Greek Honey: Food Of The Gods

Watch The Earth Spin

How To Survive August In Fiskardo Get Connected

The Ionian / August 2010 www.theionian.com

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News · Calendar · The Ionian καφενείο· Health and Beauty Environment · Art and Culture · Restaurant Reviews

AKTIO MARINE YACHT HAUL-OUT, STORAGE AND LAUNCHING REPAIRING - BUILDING - CHARTERING SAFE - SECURE - FRIENDLY - GOOD PRICES 5 MINUTES FROM AIRPORT

Nick & John Dimopoulos AKTIO—PREVEZA—GREECE

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TEL: (0030) 26820 61305 FAX: (0030) 26820 61306 VHF CHANNEL: 09 P.O. BOX 42 AKTIO MARINE 48 100 PREVEZA, GREECE

www.aktio-marine.gr

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The Ionian

Contents

CONTACT The Ionian

By mail: Lefkadiou Chern 24, Lefkada 31100 By email: admin@theionian.com Via our website: www.theionian.com By fax: Barbara Molin c/o (0030) 26820 61306 By telephone: (0030) 69486 46764 Founding Publisher: Justin Smith Publisher/ Editor: Barbara Molin Business Advisor: Yannis Dimopoulos Accountant: Pavlos Dagla: 26450 23008 Consulting Editor: Isha Peralta Deputy Editor: Cathy King Ithaca Editor: Ester van Zuylen Kefalonia Editor: Neil Evans Sailing Editor: Barbara Molin Layout: Barbara Molin Advertising Manager: Barbara Molin: 69486 46764 Preveza Sales: Kaz Kadomski: 69782 19385 Lefkada Sales: Dimitri Zakinthinakis 69482 05965 Printing: Typografeo, Preveza Distribution: Barbara Molin Subscriptions: Barbara Molin The Ionian encourages relevant letters, news items, photographs,

and manuscripts. Please include high resolution digital images with your typed articles. Include a short bio (50 words), a head shot, your name and full postal address as well as email and telephone number. The editor reserves the right to shorten, modify or reject outright any material submitted. The Ionian reserves the right to re-use any submission in any edition, format or medium. We cannot take responsibility for manuscripts or photographs sent in. For more information request writers’ guidelines or check our website: www.theionian.com

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Ionian Community News Ionian Calendar The Greek καφενείο

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Beauty and Health

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Environment

Honey In Greek Culture Eleni Synesiou Easy Greek Recipe and It’s All Greek To Me H2O... You Know Ann Ruffles Ionian Flora— Italian Arum Ester Van Zuylen

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Ionian Art And Culture

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Ionian Restaurant Review

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The Ionian Life

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Ionian Destinations: Kefalonia

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Ionian Destinations: Ithaca

Handmade Textiles Ulku Η Ψάθα Plato Chipz

Greek Honey: Food Of The Gods Eleni Synesiou

How To Survive Fiskardo In August Cathy King Sirens Of Kioni Michael Roberts

10 On The Water

Watch The Earth Spin Neil Evans

11 Be Practical!

Get Connected Jody Taylor

15 Classifieds 15 The Last Word Is Yours

PHOTO CONTEST: Send in your best photos of the Ionian. Twelve winning images will feature in The Ionian 2011 Calendar. Sub-

ject: People, Nature and Landscape of the Ionian. Sorry, digital images only. One per email. Please check photographers’ guidelines and contest rules at: www.theionian.com. The best photos will feature on our website and the winning entries will be published in The Ionian as well as the calendar. Deadline for entries: October 31, 2010. Send your entries to: photocontest@theionian.com.

Editorial Honey: The Food Of The Gods, by Eleni Synesiou. Eleni also writes about honey’s place in Greek Culture in the The Greek καφενείο .

Welcome to our new restaurant reviewer, Plato Chipz, who under this nom-de-plum, visited Η Ψάθα restaurant and made secret notes while gorging himself on some fabulous food. Hard work, Plato, but I suppose, someone has to do it!

Over in Kefalonia, Neil Evans leads us to where we can Watch The Earth Spin, while Cathy King shares her secrets on How To Survive It’s been hot lately, and likely to get even hotter, as you read this hot Fiskardo In August. off the press new issue of The Ionian., but we never complain— Michael Roberts gets bewitched by Sirens Of Kioni on Ithaca, Jody after all, summer will be over before we know it.

Taylor suggests we Get Connected to the internet the easy way, while In July, braving the heat, we distributed 1,500 copies of The Ester Van Zuylen shows us Italian Arum, the beautiful, yet deadly Ionian to even more places. Corfu and Paxoi Islands received 50 plants in our Environment column, and Ulku introduces us to Handmade Textiles in our Art and Culture corner. And to help you be more copies each, Ithaca 200 and Kefalonia 150 with the rest going to Lefkada Island, Preveza, Vonitsa, Paleros and Aktio. The marinas and boat comfortable in the heat, Ann Ruffles reminds us to drink more water in our Beauty and Health column. yards get a stack each as do chandleries, yacht services and yachties’ hang outs. News Stands and book and magazine shops get some and the Stay cool and enjoy reading. shops, restaurants and bars as well. This issue, as we go to press will follow suit. Still, if you are not quick enough and can’t find a copy, you can always go online and download a PDF one. Γεια σου, ~~_/) Barbara Molin This month we bring you the first of our harvest features, Greek

Hot!

Cover Photo: Dance Group From Karya ©Sakis Zogas, Photo Net — To purchase any of the photographs in The Ionian, please contact the Editorial Department: editor@theionian.com.

Publisher/Editor: ©Barbara Molin; barbara.molin@theionian.com; ΑΦΜ: 148426549. ΛΕΥΚΑ∆ΙΟΥ ΧΕΡΝ 24, ΛΕΥΚΑ∆Α, 31100 Telephone: 69486 46764; The Ionian is published monthly. Published on the last day before each month, approx. Complimentary magazine: Publication is for informational purposes only. Although The Ionian has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, the publisher cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions it may contain.

The Ionian / August 2010 www.theionian.com

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The Ionian News Send your news stories and photos to editor@theionian.com

The New Archaeological Museum of Nikopolis is now open The New Archaeological Museum of Nikopolis, situated between the modern city of Preveza and ancient Nikopolis, invites the visitor to take a look at the Roman and early Christian urban center of Epirus through its most important finds.

The Exhibition of the Museum is developed in two successive halls, the first of which presents the history of the city. Starting with the sea-battle of Actium that determined both the foundation and the name of the “City of Victory” and the elaborated Tropaeum of the seabattle, the visitor subsequently can see the way the Roman town had been populated and organized, the benefits with which it had been gifted and also aspects of public life and ritual as well.

Great importance is also given to the transition from the Roman to the early Christian era which is demarcated by the foundation of a new defensive wall and numerous basilicas in rela-

tion to the emergence of Christianity.

In the second hall, aspects of life and death in the Roman and early Christian town are presented. The location of Nikopolis determined its commercial importance, which is verified by finds from the whole Mediterranean area. On the other hand, workshops have been established in order to serve the needs of the new city and they are well contrasted to the domesticated activities of the inhabitants. The last part

of the second hall is dedicated to the burial practices of the Roman and Early Christian era.

The abandonment of Nikopolis demarcated a structural change in the use of the specific area which became an attraction for travelers, a major source of building material and also a battle field until its incorporation to the modern Greek state which started excavations at the archaeological site, as documented in the corridors of the New Archaeological Museum of Nikopolis.

Archaeological Museum of Nikopolis 5th km. of Preveza – Ioannina Road Tel.: 26820 89892 Visiting Hours: 08:00 – 20:00 Free entrance

The Ionian Community Calendar Please submit your community events to: calendar@theionian.com or call: 69486 46764.

Tuesdays - morning street market in Vonitsa.

call: 69486 46764 for more information.

August

22-29 48th Lefkas International Folklore Festival.

Ithaca Municipal Gallery: 1 Ten Images for Ithaca 4 - 15 Tina Masha , Byzantine painting 17 - 31 Klara Koitler, Painting 6 Lentil Festival in Eglouvi (Lefkada Island) 7 Preveza Sardine Festival (see story) 11 Celebration of St. Spyridon in Karya 14 Appollon Dance Group in Karya, Lefkada 15 Feast of the Assumption. The feast day of the Virgin Mary (in Greek Panayia, Παναγία) is celebrated with family reunions and it is the third most important religious holiday in Greece after Easter and Christmas.

It is celebrated with a religious ceremony followed by a great feast during which people dance, drink and eat all night long. This celebration is particularly lively and strong in the villages of Ligia and Vassiliki.

15 The Ionian 2010 Writers’ Retreat and Workshop organizing team meeting. Please

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27-28 Joe Brown at Agios Ioannis Music Festival, Corfu. www.agiotfest.co.uk; 26610 58177; 6974 932408; mcgovern@otenet.gr 29 Lefkas Communion service led by Rev. John Gulland of Holy Trinity Anglican Church Corfu, enquiries Jackie: 69366 47160.

September 8 Gennisis tis Panagias The birthday of Virgin Mary is celebrated throughout Greece with religious services and feasting.

16 South Ionian Regatta sponsored by Viho Yacht Club. Tel: 69788 89191 for information.

18-19 Corfu Enterprise Exhibition. Call Emma at: 69435 34654 or email: info@the corfuclub.com for information.

Preveza Sardine Festival

by Christos Sideris The August annual sardine festival is a festi-

val dedicated to the sardine, which is a local product of Preveza. The sardine festival is a very old custom celebrated in the harbour of the city since 1975. For the visitors, there is music and dancing, platters of grilled, local sardines, free white and red wine and a climate of genuine Greek tradition where the world spontaneously participates.

On that day, the whole city enjoys the tasty flavour of the delicious grilled sardines, which are very special because of their small size and their special flavour.

About two tonnes of sardines are grilled during the sardine festival! The feast of the sardine is celebrated on the first weekend of August as part of the Nikopolia Festival of Preveza and assembles over 15.000 people from the entire world. It is one of the most important events of Preveza!

This year, it is organized on Saturday, 7th of August at St. Andreas Castle. The entry is free, the wine too and the visitors pay only for sardines and salad approximately 3 euros. The festival starts approximately at 9pm.

For more information please use these two numbers of the Municipality of Preveza: 26820 29917 and 26820 25325.

The Ionian / August 2010 www.theionian.com

The Ionian καφενείο

Honey In Greek Culture

In Greece the use of honey in many feasts as a symbol of fertility and wellbeing has been common from the old times till nowadays.

by Eleni Synesiou Bread with honey was also given to mothers of newly born children.

All Christmas and New Year’s sweets are made with honey, as symHoney has played significant and varied roles in Greek civilization. bols of happiness and abundance.

In Greek mythology, in which honey is the drink of the gods of OlymMany traditional healings are based on old recipes with honey. pus, it is the symbol of knowledge, learning and wisdom. It is a food In the weddings of old times in Greece used to offer sweets with honey reserved for the elect, the initiated, and to exceptional people in this and walnuts, for happiness and fertility for the couple in their new life world and the next. Greek tradition claims that Pythagoras ate nothing together. but honey throughout his entire life.

Nowadays in Greece this tradition is coming back and many people The importance of honey for the humans is also praised in several clas- replace the bonbonieres with jars of honey and walnuts. sical texts of ancient Greece, such as Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, the Honey plays a great role in life of new married people as part of the Deipnosophists of Athenaeus, and in philosophical texts of Plato, Aristo- so-called “honeymoon”. teles, Democritus, and others.

Hippocrates, the father of medicine, emphasizes the nutritional and pharmaceutical value of honey.

Honey signifies truth. Truth was thought to be passed on by bees through their honey so that the elect could express it in their scholarship and poetry. This belief spread beyond the Holy Land into Europe. When it was said that bees settled on the lips of Plato, Pindar and St. Ambrose when they were children so that as adults they would speak and write only that what was true.

Gold Bee Pendant. Cast gold with gold granules soldered on the surface.

Bees have an ancient reputation as the bringers of order, and their Found at Chrysolakos at Malia. hives served as models for organizing temples in many Mediterranean The two bees are arranged symmetrically around a drop of honey. cultures. http://www.ancient-greece.org/museum/muse-iraclion.html

Easy Greek Recipe Cinnamon and Honey Fritters - (Loukoumades) 250 ml slightly warm water 5 gr. dried yeast 250 gr. plain flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 200 ml (olive or corn) oil, for frying Topping 5 tablespoons honey 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Courtesy wikimedia.org

Combine all the dough ingredients in a large mixing bowl, adding the flour last. Mix until well combined and the dough becomes medium thick. Cover it with a thick towel and leave in a warm place for about 1 hour, until it rises and almost doubles in size. Heat oil in a deep-fryer over high heat. Take a teaspoon (wet in water every time to avoid sticking) of the dough, and, using your hand, put it down into the hot oil.

Within seconds it puffs up and rises to the surface. Turn them over so they become golden all around - it only takes 1 minute. Take them out with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper. Serve 4-5 loukoumades on each plate, pour a tablespoon of honey all over them and sprinkle on a lot of cinnamon.

Serves 5

IT’S ALL GREEK TO ME! Greek word you already know: Προϊστορικός/pro-i-sto-ri-kos/prehistoric Αύγουστος Αργεία Σάββατο Κυριακή Σαββατοκύριακο µέλι µέλισσα γιορτή πολιτισµός

August Holiday Saturday Sunday Weekend Honey Bee Feast Culture

Av-ghu-stos Ar-yi-a Sava-to Ki-ria-ki Sa-va-to-ki-ria-ko Me-li Me-lissa Yor-ti Poli-tis-mos

DID YOU KNOW? According to mythology, Greeks discovered wine and it has been produced here for more than three thousand years.

Health and Beauty regulator.

Even mild dehydration can lead to constipation, headaches, lethargy and mental confusion

by Ann Ruffles and increases the risk of urinary tract infections The human body is two-thirds water. Without and kidney stones. it most people are dead within four days. In So what to drink? Research has shown that normal circumstances we lose 2.8 litres a day. although caffeine causes a loss of water, a cup The body is able to make some water by meof coffee still adds two-thirds the amount of tabolising food and taking water from food hydrating fluid that is in a cup of water. The leaving the average person 1.5 litres short, same goes for tea, juice, milk and sodas. The which is six glasses of water. only drinks that produce a loss of fluids are It is very hot now here in the Ionian and if those containing alcohol. you sweat or exercise this would be the miniNatural mineral water, pure water, or filtered mum shortfall so eight glasses would be better. tap water are better than all of these as they Water has many roles in the body. It flushes don’t disrupt your blood sugar balance. Tea, out the kidneys, dissolves minerals and acts as a coffee and cola rob the body of minerals. Sugdelivery system, a lubricant and a temperature

H20...You Know

The Ionian / August 2010 www.theionian.com

ary drinks provide calories and few nutrients.

So, if you want hydration, go for eight glasses of water a day. Try flavouring it with lemon, lime, ginger or mint all of which are abundant in the Ionian.

Ann Ruffles has 30 years experience teaching Home Economics and Food Technology in the U.K. She has a passion for nutrition. You may contact her through her website for more advice. www.yourforeveraloeshop.com

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The Ionian Environment Ionian Flora Italian arum / Arum Italicum / Aron's rod / Fidóchorto

by Ester Van Zuylen A cluster of red berries on a stalk - this is how the Italian arum shows itself in summer on the Ionian islands, where it's the most common of its kind. You can't miss it, because it stands out in shady groves where presently nothing else grows.

The plant is a native of Europe, but it also grows in other parts of the world. North of the Alps it is cultivated as an ornamental plant by gardeners aiming for a tropical look and they’re sold by florists.

South of the Alps it grows wild and can be invasive. The underground tubers multiply and are very hard to get rid of. All parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested, and handling it may cause skin irritation.

Dioscorides, a physician and pharmaassume the spade is a vagina and the spathe a cologist from the 1st century AD (yes, phallus: Lords-and- ladies, Willy lily, Priests him again) mentions that the root was pilly. Christian mythology mentions that the eaten as an aphrodisiac after the poiplant was once known as Our-Lady-and-ourson was eliminated.

Lord.

In autumn the arum appears as a Insects get trapped inside the spathe and fertilcarpet of large arrow-shaped ize the tiny flowers. Soon after pollination, the foliage begins to die and leaves covering the ground and the fruit turns from a cluster of green berries to bright orange red. the fleshy glossy leaves are up to The Italian arum scores high as a decorative and attractive plant but 35 cm long. They can survive very low for usefulness. winter frost and snow.

In spring, the flower appears and it can grow up to 40 cm high.

Ester van Zuylen has been living on Ithaki for the It is not really a flower—the past 6 years. She's an artist and a walking guide, and spathe is a modified leaf. Inside has a special interest in the history and the flora and this yellow leaf is a rod, and the fauna of the Ionian islands. actual flowers grow at the base www.islandwalks.com www.eye-space.com of the rod.

Many folk names for arums Photos by Ester van Zuylen and courtesy Wikimedia.

The Ionian Art and Culture Handmade Textiles

by Ulku Traditionally hand woven cloth has survived and is once again very popular all over the world.

Silk, cotton and wool weaving by hand is an age-old tradition on simple wooden framed hand and foot operated looms, which have great historical depth and meaning. Weaving skills and designs are traditionally passed down from talent of the weaver. mother to daughter. The motifs and designs of With fashion influences from different culthe textile or embroidery come from the special tures and traditions, scarves, shawls, curtains,

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table clothes, and runners can be made a blend of modern designs and colors, but still with traditional craftsmanship.

After a long period of decline in the art of weaving, several weaver communities are founded or supported, to continue and expand the tradition in Greece.

One can find hand made textiles in just about every town in the Ionian. In Preveza women work at the EOMMEX Organisation; in Philippiada there is a tapestry school and on Lefkada Island, the village of Karya, is famous for handmade lace and textiles.

The Ionian / August 2010 www.theionian.com

The Ionian Restaurant Review Η Ψάθα

by Plato Chipz I first visited Η Ψάθα (I Psatha) Taverna in 2008. I remember arriving slightly out of breath. It was the wife's birthday and I had been trying to lose her in the back streets of Preveza, so was impressed, given the amount of cake and candles she had consumed that day, that she had managed to keep up with me and drag herself up the slight incline of Dardanellion Street to Η Ψάθα (Straw) Taverna, where we were pleasantly greeted by the owner Yannis Kyriakis.

After being seated and sipping our celebratory soda water, the occasion was soon made all the more special as within no less that five minutes Yannis presented a dozen beautiful red roses at our table. Now, it's not every day that someone buys me flowers, but as it was wheezy breath's birthday, I gave the flowers to her. This kind and unexpected gesture made our visit memorable and special. Our return visits however, have always been because of the quality of the food and service.

Yannis acquired the building in 1978, and its interior was at the time covered in straw -hence the name. As you approach Η Ψάθα, you will notice it is a regular haunt for the good folk of Preveza to dine. Most evenings after 9 p.m. it will be very busy, but if you don't see a vacant table, panic ye not, Yannis will whisk one out of the ether before you can say, Jack Popadopoulos.

You will instantly spot Yannis, usually running, but the distinguished silver hair and smiling face will change to one of concern, if all his customers needs are not instantly attended to by his hard working and competent staff. Have you ever SEEN concerned hair?

After being seated and with your drink planted on your table you will be invited into the kitchen to view the extensive range of food on offer. The best octopus I have ever eaten may be available. Try it. No, it's not chewy.

Often bread served with the meal will be lightly toasted, which is a pleasant change from the usual doorstep. The house wine is also a tad better than you would get elsewhere, the kokino (red) has a richer fruiter flavour than the “cooking” wine one normally expects.

Our recent visit was as good as the first; we had superbly cooked and seasoned sardines for starters accompanied with fried courgette and followed by melt in the mouth beef and rice.

As is often the case in many tavernas, you will receive without ordering, a surprise dessert of the day, possibly melon or a small sweet cake way off the Richter Scale in sweetness.

If Yannis has time, he will be happy to chat, but as you will see, he is normally rushed off his feet.

At the end of the evening when requesting the bill, you won't fall off the chair a) because the prices are well in line with other similar restaurants in the Ionian, and b) the chair will, by this time be physically a part of you.

As I'm not qualified to issue star ratings, suffice to say that whenever we have friends visiting, Η Ψάθα Taverna is our first “port of call.”

LOCATION: Η Ψάθα is located just off the main pedestrian street in the old part of Preveza town.

Dardanellion 4, Preveza Tel: 26820 23051 Mobile: 6972 889504 G.P.S. N 38° 57.407' E 20° 45.200'

LOCATED JUST OFF THE MAIN PEDESTRIAN STREET IN OLD TOWN PREVEZA The Ionian / August 2010 www.theionian.com

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The Ionian Life Greek Honey: Food Of The Gods

By Eleni Synesiou Honey is a product bearing one of the longest mythological traditions in the world. In Greece, where the practice of apiculture began in early prehistoric times, we can find a plethora of myths relating to it. The most characteristic myth that reflects honey's special value for Greeks is its consideration as the food of the Gods of Olympus.

Apiculture is the art of beekeeping in order to produce honey. Due to the topography of the country, its climate and unique flora, apiculture in Greece is highly developed with long tradition, producing large quantities of all the top varieties of honey.

The country's honey is world famous, giving Greece one of the top positions in world class production methods, export, and use of this healthy and natural product.

Greek honey is the result of a collaboration between bees and one of the riches floras in the world, which are comprised of many aromaticpharmaceutical plants and herbs. Most of the areas to which beekeepers transport their hives, literally chasing flowers in bloom, are located in difficult to reach and rugged places, due to the particularities of the Greek terrain Almost all the plants, which make up the Greek biodiversity puzzle, have a very short flowering season (at most one month, in contrast to other areas of the world where flowering lasts many months), and thus the hives are continually transported from place

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to place, yielding a very labour-intensive honey.

Beekeeping is an ancient practice, and beehives have enjoyed a long history since they were first used as early as 900 BC. The beehive is the enclosed home of honey bees and it consists of a rectangular box that allows the beekeeper to slide out trays in which the bees have built their honeycombs. A smoker is sometimes used for calming the bees when a beehive needs to be moved to a different location A beekeeper does not control the bees in the hives; he simply owns the hives that the bees naturally live in. Taking care of the hives is a major part of the workday and involves checking them for other insects, parasites, birds, and other types of intruders that may disrupt the natural life cycle of the honey bees.

One of the main jobs of the honey bees is to make the honey, which is also their food source, within the hive. When it is cold or there is a lack of other food, the bees use their stored honey as a source of energy.

There are three types of bees within the hive: the queen bee, drone bees, and thousands of worker bees. It is the worker bees that raise the larvae and collect all the nectar that is eventually made into honey. When they collect the nectar they release pheromones which enable other bees to find their way back to the hive using only the smell.

The first step in making honey begins when field bees fly from flower to flower collecting the sweet juices or nectar that a flower provides. With their tongues, the field bees suck out the nectar and store it in sacs within their bodies. After filling their sacs with these sweet juices, the field bees fly back to their bee hive and regurgitate the stored nectar into the mouths of house bees.

These house bees are assigned the job of adding enzymes from their bodies to the nectar. The enzymes cause the water in the nectar to evaporate-thereby turning the nectar into honey. Lastly, the nectar is stored in a cell of a honeycomb. Overtime, the nectar ripens and becomes honey.

Most beekeepers encourage an overproduction of honey within the hive so that when this process is completed they can

take the excess honey without endangering the lives of the bees if they were to run out of other food sources.

During its lifetime, a bee will make from 0.51 gram of honey. In other words, 1,000-2,000 bees have to work to produce one kilogram of honey.

Approximately 4-5 kg of nectar are needed to produce one kg of honey! For every gram of nectar, a bee will work for 3 days!

Thus every one can realize why honey is a real gift of the nature and very precious for all of us.

The excellent climatic conditions of Greece, combined with abundantly growing indigenous herbs and plants, give Greek honey its exceptionally unique clarity, colour, texture and taste.

Honey helps maintain a healthy organism, is rich in micro-elements and vitamins, gives vitality and energy, enables growth of body and mind and forms the basis of healthy nutrition.

Greek honey is one of the most precious products of Greek Nature.

Eleni Synesiou, archaeologist and teacher of Greek literature and culture, lives in Preveza and is very caring of healthy way of life.

Photos by E.Synesiou

The Ionian / August 2010 www.theionian.com

The Ionian Destination: Kefalonia How To Survive Fiskardo In August

by Cathy King Take the most popular yacht harbour in the Ionian where space is at a premium even out of season. Add the high season crowds, a dash of Italian driving to pinch the last space on the quay from under your nose plus instructions shouted in every European language you can think of.

Mix in a stiff cross breeze. What do you get? Fiskardo in August of course!

It’s gridlock! It’s mayhem! It’s a place of near misses, shredded nerves and crossed anchors. A place where everyone is an expert until they have to dock under the critical eyes of everyone watching the manoeuvre go pear-shaped.

I love the sheer entertainment of it. We’ve seen a bow anchor dropped in the dinghy by mistake and an anchor remote cable caught up in the windlass and chewed to shreds. We’ve seen a kedge line eaten by a bow thruster and miraculously spat out again undamaged; we’ve seen a huge motorboat try to squeeze into a tiny space on the floating pontoon, its skipper ignoring the protests of the neighbouring boats.

The fact is that Fiskardo is a victim of its own popularity. It lies on the northeast corner of Kefalonia at a conveniently short sailing distance from the Meganisi channel, Ithaca and Lefkada.

The village is little more than a harbour backed by a cluster of shuttered houses attractively painted in pastel shades. As it was the only village in Kefalonia to survive the earthquake of 1953 that devastated most of the rest of the island, it is still a picturesque and quintessential Greek harbour.

And this is the trouble. Everyone wants to go there. And everyone does – with the result that getting a berth there in August is a bit like getting a seat for the World Cup final without a ticket.

So what do you do? Well, don’t despair — if you have your mind set on getting a spot on the quay, you could arrive early in the morning and

wait for someone to leave. It might be a while but if you’re patient and quick, you might get lucky.

And if not, there are alternatives to berthing on the quay. You can anchor off the rocks on the northern shore of the bay and take a long line ashore. You get the attractive setting but less of the mayhem - although you’d be wise not to stay there if a southerly wind is forecast as it’s a bit exposed.

If all the spaces along the rocks are already spoken for, there’s a well-

protected anchorage less than one mile south of the harbour. It’s a pleasant spot with a little beach at the head of the bay, and it’s within easy walking distance of the village. So after you’ve walked into town, you can sit at one of the tavernas drinking a glass of ouzo and congratulate yourself that you’ve survived Fiskardo in August without having to fight your way in there.

And how good is that?

Cathy King is cruising the Ionian with her husband Leighton onboard their Saltram 40, Makarma.

The Ionian Destination: Ithaca

Sirens Of Kioni

The day trippers are boarding their ferries and preparations for the night have begun: tables

by Michael Roberts into neat rows, table cloths and glasses, girls carrying heavy trays back to the kitchen.

After sailing these seas for twenty years, the For some days we haven’t felt like sailing Ionian has become my second home. And now away from Kioni. We were drawn here by the I find myself held captive by two sirens on the memory of Calypso Restaurant’s excellent island of Ithaca.

Rabbit Stifado. It is has a special sauce of caraFrom the cool shade of a corner cafe, the mid- melised onion with cloves, and it’s made with afternoon glare of sea on the pebbled beach and fresh local rabbit. the joyous children remind me of an impresNext night, after introducing two new sailing sionist painting or a scene from Fellini movie. friends to our 6 o’clock aperitif, Campari and My afternoon indulgence is ice cream with soda, they led us to their favourite place: Mills espresso poured over it.

Restaurant.

Now, every evening we join the volta along the quay and settle on a table at the edge of the pebbled beach beside the caiques.

Mills Restaurant has become one of our favourite places to eat. There are nice touches here like finer wine and water glasses, good house wine in a thin glass carafe, bread in a clever colander and flowers on each table.

There are geraniums around the terrace and five pots of tall standardised basil trees.

The Ionian / August 2010 www.theionian.com

But best of all is the food. Louisa is the new owner of Mills and she is a creative chef. It is refreshing to have different tastes from the normal Greek taverna fare. And the prices are quite reasonable.

For my first dinner I had chicken fillets in ouzo on a bed of pilaf rice, my sailing partner had veal in yoghurt, spinach and lemon sauce.

Next evening it was an excellent Lamb Kleftiko. Tonight it will be pork in orange sauce.

At about midnight, the sirens of Kioni come to our table and will not let us leave unless we promise to stay one more night.

Michael Roberts is a university professor, engineer and designer sailing in the Ionian.

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On The Water Watch The Earth Spin

by Neil Evans Recent oceanographic research has revealed that gigantic continentsized ocean vortices lower the surface level of the water by up to a metre compared with the coastal regions of those oceans. Of course, vessels plying those waters know nothing of their relatively depressed position, just as terrestrial creatures are oblivious to the fact that the solid ground under their feet rises and falls half a metre each day in harmony with the lunar cycle.

However, for astute observers of natural phenomena, it is possible to get a sense of the impact of the Earth's rotation on the physical world from high up on the north-west coastal road of Kefalonia that links the municipalities of Pylaros and Erisos.

From this 300-metre high vantage point above Myrtos Beach, looking westward across the sea on a calm day, it is easy to recognise the A giant whirlpool north of Assos, Kefalonia ŠNeil Evans distinctive spiral lines of a marine vortex several kilometres in diameter and caused by the U-shape of the island's north-west coastline.

But it's also worth knowing that many of the best experiences of this At times this enormous eddie can be seen as far north as the nature can be had outside the traditional tourist periods. The play of promontory of Assos; at others, quite near to Myrtos Beach itself. light, sea, clouds and mountains never ceases to amaze and raise one's It is at such times that danger lurks beneath the apparently harmless spirits on Kefalonia.

Ionian Sea, for when conditions are right, especially when the swell is large, ...danger lurks beneath the apparently harmless Ionian Sea there can be a strong undercurrent capable of sucking unsuspecting bathers far out to sea. In combination Take, for example, the interplay of sand and sediment washed down with the whirlpool in the bay this can result in a potentially tragic the mountain valleys into the turquoise-blue waters during and after emergency. And in the absence of nearby rescue services, the storms. These bursts of natural creativity turn the bays on the northconsequences can be dire. western side of the island into breathtakingly beautiful paintings on a Looking down on Myrtos Beach from on high can be an exhilarating watery canvas. experience and witnessing the turning of the Earth through the lines of So, why not consider planning a trip during the off-season, when even sea currents can sharpen our awareness of cosmic processes. more surprises await the adventurous traveller... and if you're lucky (or unlucky... ) enough to avoid experiencing the Earth shaking under your feet (minor earthquakes are common occurrence), you might be just as lucky in witnessing its whirling seas.

But remember not to leave any rubbish behind you or let a bit inadvertently slip overboard. Fortunately for us, our vortex is fairly clean, unlike those five continent-sized gyres, as they are now known, which have become the sinks of the world, gathering in their centres the plastic trash of the world's seas. It's a pity they couldn't just suck it all away into oblivion.

Alas, they remain perilous traps for marine wildlife and no such fantasy can hide the raw truth that we all share a little of the responsibility. Let's at least try to keep it to a minimum so we can enjoy the wonderful beauty of Kefalonia all year round.

Myrtos Beach (voted Europe's third best beach) on a winter morning ŠNeil Evans

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Neil Evans, an Australian-Greek teacher, artist and writer, has lived on Kefalonia with his Greek wife for 14 years. www.yessy.com/neilos-art

The Ionian / August 2010 www.theionian.com

Get Connected

Be Practical!

Reception is everything

by Jody Taylor

Reception is divided into 2G, 3G, and HSPA (High Speed Packet Access). The most basic connection is 2G, which will provide very slow The internet is a real boon to the cruising yachty, and there can be few internet access, and is fine for sending and receiving short emails. Howof us who don’t have a laptop aboard to keep in touch with friends and ever, to be able to send emails with attachments, or listen to the radio family via email – and to have access to such diverse services as weather without annoying interruptions, we have found that the connection must forecasts and even radio and TV from home. be 3G or above. Since my husband needed to send large attachments of The growing number of WiFi cafes satisfy the connection needs of up to 5MB, we had to find locations where we could get 3G or HSPA. most sailors, but for some who use the internet for work – and my husThe table below lists places that we have visited with corresponding band is one – intermittent internet access is not good enough. What we available connectivity. Get connected! needed was reliable and fast internet access from the boat, so that he could send and receive large files as attachments to emails.

This meant using one of the various mobile broadband devices Aghia Eufimia (Kefalonia) 3G (dongles) that provide connectivity via the mobile phone network.

Initially, we decided to use another mobile broadband, but found that Aktio HSPA in the areas where we were cruising in the Ionian, there simply wasn’t a sufficiently fast connection. However, we had heard good things about Corfu Town (NAOC Yacht Club and 2G ranging to HSPA (very the service from Cosmote and decided to give this a try.

Anchorage) intermittent) Itea HSPA Opening a Cosmote account To obtain a Cosmote dongle, the first thing that we had to do was have a local address. Preveza Marine Boat Yard in Aktio obliged by issuing a letter stating that we could use theirs.

The next step was to visit the tax office (there is one in Preveza and another in Lefkas town) in order to obtain a tax number. The tax office required sight of my passport plus a photocopy. They then completed the necessary documentation and issued a tax number on the spot.

Once we had the tax number, getting the hardware and contract was straightforward. All you need is your passport, tax number and proof of address. Take these to a Cosmote shop (or more usually a Germanos, who are agents for Cosmote), and they will issue the contract and the dongle. Set-up is easy – plug and play - with the installation software built into the dongle.

Kalamos

HSPA

Kastos

HSPA

Lakka (Paxos)

HSPA

Messolongi

HSPA

Paleros

2G occasionally 3G

Parga

HSPA

Petala

2G

Poros (Kefalonia)

3G occasionally HSPA

Preveza

HSPA

Sivota/Mourtos Vathi (Ithaca)

2G/3G from Mourtos harbour 2G in Butterfly Bay HSPA

Vathi (Meganissi)

2G occasionally 3G

Vlikho

HSPA

Vonitsa

2G

Contract terms Once you have the dongle there is nothing to pay initially. Our first bill covered a period of six weeks (which took us to the normal billing date of the first of the month). Thereafter, the bill is paid monthly, on or around the first week of each month.

Unfortunately, you can’t usually pre-pay, or pay by standing order, so you will need to visit a shop each month – or get someone else to do it for you. We simply find a Gemanos shop, take in the dongle mobile number, and pay. Most of the larger towns we have come across have a Gemanos shop, so this is not a problem.

Choosing the right plan There are various plans available. We chose the 5GB per month option, which costs €30 per month, plus tax. With this, we have found that we can stay online all day, listen to the radio, use Skype to call friends and family, as well as comfortably send and receive emails with large attachments without going over our 5GB limit.

The minimum contract duration is 12 months, but after an initial period of full payment (a few months – you will need to check this), this can be reduced to a maintenance contract of around €5 per month. This will hold the contract open, for example while you are back in your home country.

The Ionian / August 2010 www.theionian.com

Jody Taylor and her husband Paul have been cruising the Ionian on their 33 foot aluminium, junk rigged schooner Zefka, for the last three years. They plan to leave the Ionian in July this year and head west towards the Canary Islands for the winter.

KARYATIS TRAVEL Tourism And Tour Operator JENNY NOTA EL. Vanizelou & Salaminos 1, PREVEZA Tel-fax: 2682301077 Mob: 6930800603—6949225729 Email:karyatistravel@hotmail.com www.4uthesite.gr

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The Ionian Yacht Services To advertise: Call: 69486 46764; Email: advertising@theionian.com or go online: www.theionian.com/advertising.html and pay by credit card, debit card, bank transfer or PayPal. Please submit your ad by the 15th of each month.

MISSED THE BOAT? ADVERTISE in

The Ionian CALL TODAY: 69486 46764

ELPIDA KIRKY ENGINEERING SUPPLIES BALL BEARINGS, BEARING HOUSINGS, BOLTS, CHAINS AND SPROCKETS, FILTERS, HYDRAULIC HOSES

10 km TO VONITSA AND LEFKAS

IN AG. NIKOLAOS Tel: 69371 15056

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The Ionian / August 2010 www.theionian.com

The Ionian Yacht Services To advertise: Call: 69486 46764; Email: advertising@theionian.com or go online: www.theionian.com/advertising.html and pay by credit card, debit card, bank transfer or PayPal. Please submit your ad by the 15th of each month.

BOB PHELPS

YACHT CARPENTER NEW TEAK DECKS & INTERIORS WOODEN HULL REPAIRS LEFKADA ISLAND, AKTIO, VONITSA

TEL: 6932 877813

BRING THIS AD TO RECEIVE A 5% DISCOUNT ON LABOUR.

The Ionian Health Services

The Ionian Business Services Europcar Dimitris Gantzias Area Manager Head office: 16 Panagou St.

Lefkas Tel: 26450 23581 Fax: 26450 23282 Mob: 6944 585911 trvlmate@otenet.gr www.lefkastravelmate.gr

YOU RENT A LOT MORE THAN A CAR

Dimitrios Galanos Ethnikis Antistasis 47 (Shopping Street) PREVEZA Tel: 26820 28431

The Ionian / August 2010 www.theionian.com

ARE YOU SERIOUS about maintaining good HEALTH? Then take a look at our exclusive range of Aloe Vera Health and Skincare Products Forever Living Products and its affiliates are the world leaders in the production of Aloe Vera our products contain 100% stabilised Aloe Vera Gel More info at: www.yourforeveraloeshop.com

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The Ionian Restaurants and Bars ITHACA

LEFKADA ISLAND

FREE COFFEE WITH AD

VONITSA

FREE AFTER DINNER COFFEE WITH AD

PREVEZA

By car: Turn left before Vonitsa and follow the signs to ПРОΣ ПΑΝΑΓΙΑ or by boat: anchor in the bay just after the lighthouse at Ak Panayia.

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The Ionian / August 2010 www.theionian.com

Delivery from 11:00 (morning) until 02:00 (night)

tel: 26820 28550 tel: 26820 28198

Pita Grill Salads Breakfast

Spaghetti Coffees Desserts Croissants

Crepes Sandwiches Pizzas Omelettes

Alcohol Juice Drinks

EL. VENIZELOU AND I. MOUSTAKI ON THE SOUTH END OF THE QUAY, PREVEZA

Classifieds To advertise: Call: 69486 46764; Email: advertising@theionian.com or go online: www.theionian.com/advertising.html FOR SALE NEW APARTMENT FOR SALE 87 SQ.M. Fireplace, central heating, b.b.q. veranda with awning, modern kitchen, storage room. Preveza tel. 69463 74794

LOST AND FOUND Lost inflatable floor for a 2.4 m dinghy. Last seen half mile north of Apelike entrance, Meganissi in northerly wind tel: 69475 14872.

You Have The Last Word

ELLICAT Elegant, fast, classic cat fully equipped for the Mediterranean. Prototype of the 30ft Iroquois class. Built 1964, cold moulded wood, epoxy sheathed.

We have spent 3 months a year on her for 10 years and have just returned from Turkey.

Now ashore at Aktio Marine.

Hood sails, Yamaha 9.9 fourstroke, storage cover, dinghy in davits with 2hp Yamaha.

Excellent condition. 17,500 euros – any offer considered.

Reason for sale: age, us, not the boat.

Peter at: + 447974 643 894

We welcome your comments, letters and emails. Please write, not exceeding 250 words to: editor@theionian.com . (Letters may be edited) Several readers asked what happened to our Business Directory.

The directory has been growing steadily and so we’ve moved it to The Ionian website where there is more room and where advertisers have links added to their websites. To visit the directory go to: www.theionian.com/ directory.html. To list your business, send an email to advertising@theionian.com Dear Editor, I was very interested to read the article by Ann Ruffles on weight

management in the Health and Beauty section of the July edition of The Ionian. . However, I would like to know more about how to count calories and how many I would need to lose weight. Can you help me?

Chris (last name withheld) Dear Chris, Thank you for your comments. If you go to Ann Ruffle’s website you will find all the information there: www.aloeveragelinfo.com/ formula

©Kevin Jones www.sailingpics.com

The Ionian / August 2010 www.theionian.com

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FRESH LOCAL FISH, VONITSA RAISED MEAT, FREE RANGE EGGS AND HOME GROWN PRODUCE COOKED BY YOUR CHEF PANOS MARIS TO PERFECTION. MEET YOUR FRIENDS FOR A GREAT MEAL TONIGHT

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The Ionian / August 2010 www.theionian.com