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Thassos - The Greek Political & Economic Crisis - and YOU
Public Service Announcements
Thursday, 06 May 2010

Thassos - The Greek Political & Economic Crisis - and YOU

You are more valued than ever!
Thassos is as peaceful as ever...Pachis Beach, Thassos

There will be many amongst you, intending visitors to Thassos, actual and potential, who will be asking what is the impact of the present economic, political and social situation on our beloved island. The short and immediate answer is no impact whatsoever. Thassos Island is as beautiful, as calm and as peaceful as ever, one of the finest places to relax and have a true holiday; away from the worries and all of the other concerns of your daily life.

It is true that there is an economic crisis in Greece, also that a few anarchists have taken advantage of the otherwise peaceful protests. This has been widely reported in the press, of course as the media always does, focusing on the most violent and negative aspects. This however is confined to the capital Athens, as well as to one or two other minor protests in other cities, with large populations, who are most impacted upon by the new economic measures.

On Thassos, everybody is busy preparing themselves for the summer, cleaning and tidying, undertaking last-minute repairs and maintenance, and filling their fridges and shelves with the wine, beer, and lovely juices that our thirsty visitors will demand soon after their arrival. The winter was mild, spring milder still, and there is an abundance of fresh local fruit, vegetables, fish and meat and you can come and indulge yourselves until the shirt buttons and the buckles on your belts burst. Bargains abound!

Life is still quiet here...Quiet Life Thassos

Hotels and restaurants, shops and bars, street traders, transport and all of the people and facilities that make your holiday so enjoyable are operating normally. Support them and come to Thassos as you had planned, and delight with them in the knowledge that not only are you having the wonderful holiday that you always have when you come to Thassos, but that you are helping put at least a small sector of the Greek economy back on its feet.

There may be occasional demonstrations in the future by the workers, but we will know of these in advance. Equally, if there is to be a strike that will be well publicised, we will try to give you information so alternative travel arrangements can be made.

If you have any questions, queries, enquiries or concerns of any nature, write to us ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ) as your first point of contact and we will either answer your enquiries honestly and frankly ourselves, or forward your enquiry to your accommodation provider who will then communicate with you directly. (We also welcome any messages of support as well as any observations that you may have either prior to or during or on your return for your vacations).

As the editorial in independent Kathimerini states:

“Greece is at the most crucial point of its post-1974 history and whether we destroy ourselves or not, whether we go bankrupt (economically and socially) or not, depends not just on our political leadership, but also on every single one of us individually and collectively.”

Come discover your paradise...Thassos Paradise

So, let common sense prevail, in the minds of the Greek politicians, the populist, in the media (Greek and around the world) and mostly amongst ourselves, visitors to Thassos and lovers of Thassos and of the Greek island way of life. Come to Thassos just as you always would have done, come to this beautiful island which is the same as it always was and always will be, the ideal place for relaxation for Greeks and non-Greeks, especially in these difficult times. Join with other holidaymakers and the local people in relaxing over a comforting glass of Tsipouro and a plate of local snacks, and look around at the natural beauty and the calm, and at the unchanged and unhurried way of life. Then ask yourself..."Crisis? What crisis?"

We await you with the welcome smile that you have come to know and to expect with open arms. We know that the Greeks, together with the friends of Greece, can take this country forward into the next decade with the resilience of the Greeks and most especially of the islanders with the support of their friends around the world, which they have always shown.

Let's remember why we fell in love with Greece!



 
Summer Time is Almost Here on Thassos Island
Achilles
Monday, 03 May 2010

Spring time is in full swing on beautiful Thassos Island and we are reminded that summer time is almost here as tourists are beginning to arrive onto our shores.

The winter period is a time for the natives and alike to reflect on the summer just past, and to relax in readiness for the season ahead. While the winter and autumn is a time of peace and tranquillity for some, the appearance of visitors to Thassos is a welcome sight for it brings new beginnings and an aura of activity all around us. The sun is shining and the sky is almost cloudless, so this makes us all happy straight away.

The island is bustling everywhere now as hoteliers are cutting their lawns and cleaning the accommodations as though there is no time to waste, which you will think is not like the Greeks at all! Siga, siga (slowly, slowly) is normally the way, and so it would be if only a bit of forward planning was put into place, but of course this is the Greek charm with everything left to the last minute...

 
Tsipouro in the High Street
Helen of Troy
Tuesday, 02 March 2010

Now I’m in seventh heaven. It was delightful last year to find a new supermarket opening just on the outskirts of Thassos Town, just beyond Theogenis football ground that had a nice if somewhat limited range of provisions, but more than anything, in my book, it sold dry fruit and nuts by the kilo and… wait for it... a strong, but delicious and a mild tasting, locally produced... Tsipouro..... BY THE KILO. An offer you couldn't refuse. And now, on my return this March, I find that there is a branch of the same supermarket which is opened just on the corner before the old harbour, and has exactly the same range of goods and prices.

So, I am not advocating shopping at any particular store nor undertaking any promotion, (we all have our own favourites) for any particular reason other than the fact that I myself find great joy in having one of my particular indulgences available near to where I'm living, and at a price which is so economic to me that I can't help but host small gatherings every afternoon or evening, before everybody goes home to eat, so that we can eat our local tasty snacks, mezes, and indulge in this delicious drink, brought to us from paradise, which is not only good for the soul but also good for the heart!

 
At what age does “the old man” stop being a “boy”?
Helen of Troy
Tuesday, 23 February 2010

Thankfully we have the Thassos VI ferry (the only covered ferry boat), which can come and go in up to gale force 7 Beaufort winds, and it is very rare indeed to find oneself stranded on either side of the small strait which separates Thassos island from the mainland at Keramoti. However, it does happen periodically, especially when it is very windy. When it happens and you only have three ferries running that day, the only thing you can do is settle down with a coffee and brandy as well as a good paperback and wait for the Thassos VI to arrive.

This happened last week, when we had two days of winter, gale force winds, and downpours which seemed to grind Thassos to a halt. The coffee bars at Keramoti are modern, comfortable, warm, very well stocked, have very affordable prices, and are never very busy at this time of year; so it is quite a pleasure to sit there for an hour or so to watch people come and go...

 
Metamorphosis Church - High above Kallirachi village
Achilles
Monday, 22 February 2010

Wow! Spring time on Thassos seems to be almost upon us. It is the middle of February and the sun is shining with an unbelievable temperature of near 20 degrees centigrade. “A few hours in the mountains is the order of the day.”, we thought.

So we set off with two of our friends and headed for Kallirachi village. Knowing that mountain tracks can be quite an ordeal for a normal car, our friends followed us on their motorcycle which can easily navigate Thassos' lovely mountainous terrain...

 
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