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NOVEMBER WEATHER
..... Continued
Unseasonable! Some exceptionally nice sunny weather with temperatures in the
early 30's on occasion. But now the olives are no longer in need of rain -
we now have enough. And winter approaches....
Chania Webcam
Current Cretan Weather Link
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Astratigos
Village Life.... A bit confusing..
Well, there it is, gone! The old
Co-op supermarket opposite Lefka Taverna/Hotel in Kolimbari, is very
definitely no more. A bit of rubble to clear and the entire site (really two
sites since it straddles the main road into Kolimbari paralia - (the sea
front and the old village) is poised to become a grand new hotel. Only a
couple of minutes walk to the beach, the tavernas and old Kolimbari...
Which may lead the reader to wonder about the possibility of their being a
'new' Kolimbari. To keep along story short - yes, there is. For a couple of
very recent years 'New' was very definitely just that. 'Just that',
as the main link road to the fairly recent National Road was dug up, put
back, dug up again. Then moved to a completely new location, dug up, put back,
opened, closed, opened again, closed again...
I was, during these changes, once in a newly created one way system ('newly created' by
continuously moving road works) as I drove to the post office. By the time I
had checked our post the system had already changed, and my only exit had been
blocked by a huge Caterpillar mechanical digger. The driver kindly
raised the long arm of the business end to allow my escape before digging
into the road I had just used! It took another five minutes to find an
open route back to Astratigos.
And, if that was not enough, the cross roads sprouted traffic islands.
Picture if you will, an offset crossroad junction - main road passing
straight through a wide space with two offset (non aligned) side
roads. Now close the main road (as such) and make a side road the
continuation main road instead. The wide space might once have
been a village square, I don't know. But at this stage it was used by
every driver who felt lost to complete circles (a bit like navigating a
mental roundabout) until they became dizzy or made a decision of sorts
about direction. Oh, and the space was also used by the KTEL bus
company to u-turn their coaches within the melee! Exciting if you were
sat at the Rose Marie drinking coffee..
More exciting if you were in a small car attempting the u-turn with a KTEL
bus (or a cement mixer) on your tail.
The really serious problems arose
when the road-builders started installing the five small traffic islands
where there had previously been none. Looping the (imaginary) loop was no
longer possible - as the KTEL drivers quickly discovered. The locals had
also, apparently, had enough of dig-it-up put-it-down again, with the mess,
noise and sheer inconvenience of it all. They complained to the authorities.
The authorities complained to the road-builders. The latter stopped work and went home! It
was certainly much cleaner without all the dust (and mud created by local
businesses trying to keep down the dust with hose-pipes) and almost
noiseless. Apart that is, from the constant debate about what would
happen next..
What happened next should have been predictable, but Cretan life is anything
but that. Agreement was reached. The five islands were dug up, replaced and
the road resurfaced. Nice new road to the National Road, nice new road
towards Chania. Nice. All's well that...
Ends well? The road builders then moved into the old village and
sea-front, blocking the road in successive stages whilst new water
pipes were laid. It was like snakes and ladders for several weeks. The
alternative route was via the Rodopos village road - get that one wrong
and enjoy your day at Ag' Ioannis, or even Diktynna! Get it right and
end up where it all started, at Kolimbari Cross roads!
Just don't try
to reach the old village and anywhere west via the village road. Well, that wasn't strictly true - you could detour around the works if
you had a small vehicle by driving around the edges of the old harbour,
or the parallel tiny lane above the main route. The problem with those
options was that they were suitable for only one vehicle going one way
(parked cars don't help here, but stay parked). Mostly a gamble....
Still, the road-builders laid their pretty pipes, filled in the trenches,
did NOT resurface the now minefield like road (very suitable for off-roaders)
and moved on...
Moved on to the main road towards
Chania, closed it and dug it up. The diversion signs off the road were very
clear. But stopped after the first one. Well, that was no problem, the wrong
road led into the olive groves - the right back onto the closed road you had
just left!
It so continues...
All just 'a bit confusing'.... |
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In the News
Reviews...
Permission to appeal death verdict...
The British holiday maker who leapt from a Cretan hotel balcony holding
his two children has been given leave to appeal the verdict of unlawful
killing of his son, who died in the incident...
(Item 1)
Link to
Story.
Cretan police officers
blamed...
Including the Chief of Police for badly planning and executing a drug
raid on the Village of Zoniana, in the prefecture of Rethymnon, which
left one officer partly paralyzed after being shot in the head.
Link to Story.
Suspicion of revenge....
The killing of a 27 year old Cretan man - on release from prison pending
an appeal against a ten year sentence for being an accomplice in the killing
by his father of a neighbour in a property dispute in 2005 - is thought
possibly to be in revenge...
Link to Story.
Chania Hunger strike...
Fifteen immigrants, including Moroccans and
Palestinians went on hunger strike outside the Town Hall in Chania
on Nov 11th. protesting against delays in issuing residence permits...
(Item
2) Link to Story.
Whilst Chania police arrest...
Two brothers for allegedly trading in child pornography after finding
hundreds of pictures on a computer...
Link to
Story.
Whilst others turn out the light...
Cutting down a harbour street light and throwing into the sea...
(Item 8)
Link to Story.
And environmentalist protesters...
Obtain legal challenge to the Greek Supreme Court and Council of State
against the proposed 1.3 billion euro Cavo Sidero tourist development on
Crete...
Link to Story.
'Athens Plus' carried the same message...
Ecologists have serious concerns...
Link to Story.
Mount Athos Monastery account scrutiny...
Land dealing between the Vatopedi Monastery and the Greek State involves
politicians directly...
(Item 1)
Link to
Story.
..Develops into political scandal...
Better described perhaps as a developing political storm...
Link to
Story.
..Which is extending to involve...
Not only the Vatopedi deals but also the Cavo Sidero project on Crete...
Link to Story.
Whilst Greek Orthodox Monks fight...
Were involved in a 'bloody fist fight' in the Jerusalem Church of
the Holy Sepulcher - perhaps the holiest of Holy sites - with
Armenian Monks. Two of the fighting monks - one from each side, were
arrested.
Link to
Story.
Religion is still on the class list....
At least for Greek Orthodox children -
though foreign children of a different faith may be exempted from
attending....
Link to
Story.
But hear this.. Parthenon is Parthenon..
As fragments continue to be returned or loaned by countries which have
them, even the Vatican contributes - 'setting (another) example for others
to follow and finally restore the unity of the Parthenon Marbles' said Greek
Culture Minister Michalis Liapis.
Any chance the UK may follow I wonder? Cmon' Gordon Brown, give back
the Parthenon (Elgin) Marbles. British Citizens don't want the burden of
retaining property taken illegally from others... You would long be
remembered for doing good...
Link to
Story.
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