CV News Archive April 2004

Cretanvista Site & Local News - APRIL 30th 2004 Issue 16

No links to sites with adult content accepted

APRIL WEATHER ...
Variable still - but continue to be increasingly sunny and spring is definitely here now.   The often beautifully starlit nights were, however sometimes cloudy with occasional (rare) showers. Sometimes very cold, the weather at this time of the year is also sometimes very windy - sometimes sufficiently so to cause minor damage to plants and whatever is not tied down!

           Tepperman's Return - In Force!

              CretanVista Friends From America

Above: Well not the whole family and not in person..(!) Just as well maybe when you own only four plastic chairs and a copy of the very beautiful 'Land of Crete' by George Meis. Jim & Karen Tepperman (back row 2nd/3rd left) visited us whilst in Crete in 2002 and later gifted the unsurpassed George Meis book via Cretashop - Magic!**

Jim sent this family photograph a few days or so ago - it seems a just repayment for the generosity to put it online. We unfortunately don't have a who's-who, but I am willing to bet that Jim's dad is the guy in the centre holding the glass! An inveterate surfer would you believe...

Note the superb white - banded shirt Jim is wearing. To get one you apparently have to fall off your bike and break your collarbone - the stripes being medical strapping!! Since a news page does not have room for several family generations ( hence the picture is a little squeezed), by way of thanks for contributions to the site we have included a better copy of the photo - Click right here.

** 'Land of Crete' is currently with a site reviewer - we will be bringing the results as soon as the review is available. If we can get permission from the publishers, maybe a picture or two as well.....

Nature Still Abounds....
And we are still photographing and building galleries as quickly as possible - which is'nt nearly as fast as we would like... Over the past few weeks we have photographed so many wild flowers that we have been using our reference books almost like "I-Spy" tomes. Ticking off varieties of flower at amazing speed as we walked the Cretan countryside - mostly around Rodopos, but sometimes much further afield. A trip to the Akrotiri peninsula produced some superb new finds, to say nothing of the Giant fennels along many roadsides, including the one leading to the airport. Some we well over six feet tall.

A couple of trips to the Deliana gorge and surrounding area also produced further good finds - until, adding our bounty to last years trips (Omalos and the Rodopos peninsulla as far as Dyktynna included) we now have something like 3500plus pictures in our Flora and Fauna picture banks. When are we going to get some out? We have already started by adding another two pages (3 & 4) to the flower gallery. That maybe only another 24 new pictures but we think that you will like the quality..... If you have been before start at page three. Link to Gallery.

We have not forgotten the fauna lovers either - we have some nice pictures of Cretan wild-life which should appeal to the biologists /zooologists and entamologists among our visitors. But please, don't expect too much in the way of butterfly pictures when the gallery goes online. I was distracted so many times whilst photographing the flowers by passing butterflies that I can now shoot in perfect focus any that pass. The results do not resemble those in Butterflies of Europe by Tom Tolman (Illustrations by Richard Lewington) Princeton University Press 1997.

That book has beautiful illustrations, but my butterflies won't keep still. How do they do that...?

However, we have managed to train a lizard to pose for photo-shoots (really), our preying mantis tend not to move too quickly when walking and our larger moths (some as big as large butterflies) will keep perfectly still if not disturbed.

Nor have we been neglecting other parts of the site - book reviews have been seriously disrupted - first by my own illness, then by the illness of David Smith's wife Valerie (Both now mended!!). Two cures and an additional team member later (Ann Lisney) should have the book reviews rolling by the next edition of CVNews - Just one example. (More News on Ann in that issue - and hopefully a photo!).

NEW TV DOCUMENTARY...
For the second time the young ladies of the TV documentary makers Ricochet South have managed to persuade me to donate a little space for (Free!) an advert...

I admit to having been a little grumpy with them this time - maybe if they were to club together and make a small donation to GOSH (Gt Ormond St Children's Hospital) it would oil our works... C'mon ladies of Ricochet - make a sick child smile sooner for us!

CONTRIBUTORS WANTED FOR NEW CHANNEL 4 OVERSEAS PROPERTY TV SERIES

Ricochet South, the makers of
No Going Back are making new documentary series about the problems that can beset Brits buying property abroad. It will be a practical guide to avoiding the pitfalls pitfalls, with expert advice and tips.

Have you been taken for a ride by a rogue developer/agent?

Has your dream home turned into a building nightmare?

Has your property been wrecked by a natural disaster?

MAYBE WE CAN HELP …. GET IN TOUCH WITH US!

Tel: Hannah,Vicky or Charlotte +44 (0)1273 648 340

Or email: hannah.runham@ricochetsouth.co.uk

or charlotte.rodrigues@ricochetsouth.co.uk

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MORE FUN & SERIOUS PLEASURE PLEASE!

To our visitors who have taken the time to tell us that they have found our site enjoyable/ informative/ helpful/ or otherwise complimented the site - very many thanks. We are trying very hard and it's really good to know that you like it". Besides, my wife notes that many of you are ladies! Please don't stop!!

            GUEST BOOK LINK

NB. Please don't use the Guest Book to place website links - any URLs - or contact style messages, are automatically disabled/removed in the interests of minors. Questions can be sent to us privately at:

                cretanvista.gr

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House FOR SALE...
Cretanvista is a free site. We accept neither cash nor gratuities and sell nothing. We don't carry paid for advertising. But we do try to give you information which you might want to know about.

If you are looking for a house in Crete here is a private sale in SPILIA by an English couple - a house and an attached apartment suitable for holiday letting. No Agents involved.

We know this couple - have a look on the following link..

www.crete-house-sale.com

Accommodation in Astratigos FOR RENT....
After the holiday season, the first house on the left as you enter Astratigos from Afrata - a magnificent cream and green affair sporting two balconies and a small pool at the front and containing two holiday apartments - is now for rent. Winter in Astratigos maybe?
Tel: + 28240 222243. You can see inside at: www.villa-Astratigos.co.uk

Maybe More shortly.. Another local owner has carried out some superb traditional renovation on a ruined house - and is currently renovating what was his own accommodation - maybe for your holidays!

The New hotel in Kolimbari is open... If you want information visit:-

The Grand Bay Beach Hotel

At Interdynamic's website.

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www.provencebeyond.com Well worth a visit if you are interested in France, especially the southern parts.

FERRY SERVICES

Both ANEK and Blue Star Ferries have car ferry services between Souda Bay and Piraeus.

Although an obvious competitor to the resident Anek Lines the Blue Star service times do not conflict from Souda.

Anek currently leaves Chania at 8.30pm whilst Blue Star leave at 11.30pm.

WEBSITE LINKS

Moving to Crete - Practical Advice..
'Notes on Greece' is a British Embassy publication which gives information on matters relating to Greece. Obtaining a copy first hand from the British Consulate in Iraklion (Heraklion) will ensure that you have the most recent edition - and professional contacts with up-to-date and wide ranging knowledge on matters relating to Crete. Contact the consulate via
: crete@british-consulate.gr

An e-mail copy is available as a Microsoft word file - a very fast email of very useful information.

COPYRIGHT
All material on the site is strictly copyright. Any use in mass distribution - in print or on websites for example, needs our consent. Please respect!

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Here's another Guest Book comment..........

Remote User:05 FEB 2004

Time:22:05:14
comments: What a wonderful website, my husband and I visited Crete for the first time 18 months ago, and fell in love with it....

Signed: 'Sue and Michael'

*Well..... Er, we have never had anyone in love with the website before....? Oh, you mean Crete - join the club!!

(Sorry!- But I really enjoyed it...WB)

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Earthquakes.... Wobbling Still.....

Earthquake activity in Greece continues as usual. There were two quakes of note reported in April:-

07 April: 5.2 Richter Scale 4.30am - in the Prefecture of Forina with an epicenter reported approximately 70Km northeast of Florina. Link to story.

28 April: 5.0 R (undersea) 10.27am - Epicentre in region of Rio Anterio. Link to story.

None of these earthquakes caused damage or injuries and in the case of the Florina 'quake one a Thessaloniki seismologist said that the region is known to produce strong quakes. Link to story.

Earthquakes are a common feature of life in Greece and rarely cause any damage. The problem is that the ones that do are unpredictable. However, at least one professor believes that there will be at least 4 major quakes in the future. Story Link.
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Snippets...
Bird-life is best....EEC protection.
In a move that will certainly meet with the approval of our bird expert Paul Smith and no doubt all bird watchers who come to Greece, particularly to Crete, the EEC took court action against Greece on 5th April for failing to properly implement the EU's oldest piece of nature conservation legislation - the 1979 wild Birds Directive. Link to story.

"The school year begins every year"..
So said the European Commission on 30th March this year - the day before April 1st - when warning Greece that the Commission may take it to the European Court for infringing regulations governing the printing of textbooks for schools.

Greece apparently cited tight deadlines before the start of the school year for not opening the printing contacts to all member states. Personally I would have cited language difficulties (probably equally unsuccessfully) - how many other EU countries would want to print Greek?
Link to story.

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COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT
All of the material produced by Cretanvista is copyright and belongs to someone who has spent time, effort and money to produce it.

We are often willing to allow the use of our material to be used for personal purposes. For example our calendar photographs can be used to reproduce the pictures for your own calendars or to hang on granny's bedroom wall.

We will however, take action against anyone we discover using in our materials in any mass distribution exercise, especially for financial gain, unless specifically authorised by us and we are acknowledged as the source in the reproduction.
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In the News...

Crete the most popular destination....
After receiving low marks at school two German schoolboys, said to be worried about their parent's response, traveled 1800Km by rail - Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and FYROM to the northern border with Greece - without passports and without being stopped! Who said that Europe was not united?

The teenagers' (15 & 16 years old) exploit reads like a two man Eurovision Song Contest. Low marks at school? Not in geography surely? And top marks for their intended destination - Crete!! Link to story.

Bank robbers beware - this is Crete...
A would-be bank robber in Alikianos, 5Km or so southwest of Chania, found the manager, staff and customers of the Co-operative bank there somewhat less than co-operative recently. By the (very short- time) it took police to arrive he was already disarmed and ready for delivery. Best get your Euros at Gatwick!!
Link to story.

Easter celebrations extract a high toll...
On Crete and elsewhere... One dead on Crete, two severely wounded in other parts of Greece and not a few lesser injuries attributed to gunshots and explosives during the traditional Easter celebrations. Not to mention an Easter road death toll of 25 people in the Easter holiday exodus from Greek cities. Link to story.

The British are sometimes not in the good news...
26 year old London man was jailed reportedly jailed for 26 months for assaulting an 80 year old on the Island of Thassos. The trial was held in Kavala and heard that the young man was drunk and had no driving license. It was said that after the assault he tied the man's donkey to his jeep (which belonged to a friend) and drove away.
The donkey escaped and returned to it's village after which it's owner was located by the roadside.
Link to story.

Greece really does take the law seriously...
It can sometimes seem to outsiders that Greece can be somewhat high-handed when meting out justice. I have never personally found this to be the case, but do feel that should I ever be foolish enough to break Greek law, especially if it results in death or injury to others, then I can expect to be held accountable....

Four Years or so after the Express Samina sank off Paros with the loss of 80 lives, the Captain, First Mate and Second Mate have lost their professional licenses permanently. They are still facing serious criminal charges, along with other crew members and Flying Dolphin officials.. Link to story.

And whilst courts do not automatically find people guilty as charged the possibility of the experience or perhaps being found guilty of a lesser charge must be, without question, absolutely devastating..

Witness the proceedings against owners and builders of the Faran parmaceuticals factory - which collapsed in the Sept 1999 Athens earthquake with the loss of 143 lives, or the 2003 Vale of Tempe bus crash (April 13th 2003).
Link to story.
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Well, that's about it for now.....
Very late again...! I still have not caught up with publishing the news page since my illness, even though the world seems to move at a frenetic pace I do not seem to....

Easter - the church services, the Easter lamb barbeque (a total success in fine weather), the enlargement of the EEC to 25 countries (10 new entrants) and 74 million people and over 738,000 sq km (a bit of it mine!) and (showing without doubt that I am behind) Greece came only third in the Eurovision Song Contest! Not only that but a Church of Greece bishop has denounced the song as "pornographic". Mick Jagger take note (but isn't he good!) rolling stones may not cut a lot of ice here. And a divided Cyprus is still divided...
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E-Mail Requests..
I receive some brilliant e-mails - really - and they are very welcome. But sometimes there is no acknowledgement that our answer has been received. We don't mind, but worry occasionally that someone may not have received an answer from us and think the worse of us! We will ALWAYS reply to e-mail so please, if you have mailed us and not received an answer - resend your mail - we didn't get it or have somehow overlooked it. Our response time is usually within 48 hours.

Personal Information..
We have been asked in the past to help locate people. We would love to be able to assist but regret that are unable to do this. There is fuller comment in previous issues of CV News.

Questions and Answers..
Quite a lot of questions are received here at Cretanvista and, as with e-mails and other forms of communication, we do our best to supply valid answers. We never respond "Off the Top of our Heads" but always research the answer - even if we already have one (things change) before passing the information on. We provide links to appropriate alternative sources where we have them. The answers are given with the proviso that recipients are responsible for any action taken by them.

Guest Book. E-mail links are accepted. Bulletin board and chat-room style links are not. Website links are removed automatically to prevent inclusion of sites without agreement.

Book Reviews.
Because each book review is original - we steal nothing from the book covers or the reviews of others - it takes a little longer to deal with each. No point our reviewing the reviews when what readers really want to know about is the content! 'Books and good reading'.

View Cretanvista Calendar Photos 2003
(2004 Calendar Photos en- route)

Bird Watchers.
Paul Smiths' bird watching diary page remains very popular and hopefully Paul is well into his February 2004 diary. We are sincerely indebted to visitors who have supplied photographs. Currently we are displaying these in CVNews, (no room again this month). Hopefully we will receive enough to start a gallery of Cretan sightings.
mailto:Webmaster@cretanvista.gr

Book Reviews - 2 current - *new book received...
The last recent review - 'Moments of Cretan Nature' by Anastasios Sakoulis, (ISBN: 960-91979-0-6) "Stigmotipa Tis Kritikis Freesis" in Greek - is a super book with some magnificent photographs. Our review is accompanied by a small photo gallery - our first review to do so. Our site pictures (from the book) are, we think, nice! The printed pictures in the book are in almost all cases very much bigger, nicer!

Books and Good Reading - Moments in Cretan Nature

Reviews in Preparation...
'Eleni' by Nicolas Gage. Published by Harvill - (ISBN 1 86046 346 0) first published 1983. Reprinted.

This is his true story of a son seeking to avenge his mothers murder by ELAS Guerillas during the Greek civil war. Real. Compelling. Harrowing in the extreme. Revealing the Greek psych as nothing I have ever read. But, unless you have no feelings, it could haunt you forever...... 'Eleni' (in preparation).

Books Received..
A gift from American visitors. 'LAND OF CRETE' 360^o
Panoramic Photographs. Meis Studio^©ISBN 960-86736-0-7. Absolutely Beautiful. Hope I can get permission to include a photograph. Thank you Jim & Karen.

Can this be you.....or yours?
Every so often when I am out and about taking photographs I come across someone who could be you - or something which could be yours (or theirs!!). Maybe passing in the opposite direction on a full tandem bicycle (yes, that happened); an unattended car with foreign plates; something which catches my eye and leaves me not knowing......... Either there was no one to ask or they were moving too quickly! I thought that perhaps site visitors might like to see or be able to help identify one or two 'unknowns' which have left me wondering who, or what I have missed.   Can this be yours?



                     Rethymnon, Crete, Greece
               Unknown - parked near the old fort

Until next month, best wishes from here on Crete. WB