Action Against the Wind Turbines!

The people of Crete are a proud people. Vrahassi people are proud people. I hope they are not powerless in their fight to stop wind turbines being put on their mountain. The beautiful countriside that surrounds Vrahassi should be kept as a nature reserve. It is horrendous to think of roads being dug out of the slopes of Selena, of giant windmill being errected on the skyline, of precious oak trees being dug up. When tourists come to this area they come because of the natural beauty. They visit Sissi because of its beautiful harbour and pleasant surroundings. They come to Vrahassi to see the Griffon vultures, to walk the old roads and descover wild flowers, to sit in the centre of this traditional Cretan village and find the peace that a mountain location has to offer. What a tragedy if the proposed wind turbines change the face of this wonderful area. I wish the people of Vrahassi well with their fight against this happening. Cretan people don't give in easily! Vrahassi people never give in!

Love Jane x

Οι άνθρωποι της Κρήτης είναι ένας περήφανος λαός. Οι Βραχασώτες είναι περήφανοι άνθρωποι. Ελπίζω ότι δεν θα είναι ανίσχυροι στον αγώνα τους να σταματήσουν την τοποθέτηση των ανεμογεννητριών στο βουνό τους. Η όμορφη φύση που περιβάλλει το Βραχάσι πρέπει να κρατηθεί ως αποθεματικό της φύσης. Είναι φοβερό να σκεφτεί κανείς δρόμους να σκάβονται στις πλαγιές της Σελένας, γιγάντιους ανεμόμυλους να εικονίζονται στο ορίζοντα, πολύτιμα δέντρα δρυες να ξαπατώνονται. Όταν οι τουρίστες έρχονται σε αυτόν τον τόπο έρχονται λόγω της φυσικής ομορφιάς. Επισκέπτονται το Σίσι για το όμορφο λιμάνι του και το ευχάριστο περιβάλλον. Έρχονται στο Βραχάσι για να δουν τα Όρνια, να περπατήσουν στα παλιά μονοπάτια, να ανακαλύψουν αγριολούλουδα, να καθίσουν στο κέντρο αυτού του παραδοσιακού κρητικού χωριού και να βρουν την ηρεμία που μια βουνίσια τοποθεσία έχει να προσφέρει. Τι τραγωδία, εάν οι προτεινόμενες ανεμογεννήτριες αλλάξουν το πρόσωπο της υπέροχης αυτής περιοχής. Εύχομαι οι άνθρωποι του Βραχασίου να πάνε καλά στην πάλη τους να αποτρέψουν να συμβεί αυτό. Ο Κρητικός λαός δεν ενδίδει εύκολα! Οι Βραχασώτες ποτέ δεν ενδίδουν!

Με αγάπη Jane x 

My sincere thanks to George of Anablochos.blogspot.com for translating this post into Greek.

NICK TURLAND ARRIVES!

Mr Nick Turland is a very important person who works for the University of Missouri. He has written several books not least a mighty tome all about the flowers of Crete and he arrived in Vrahassi on Saturday to visit the 'Nature reserve' across the valley. Julia Jones, founder of the organisation known as 'Flowers of Crete' was with him together with his assistant, Babis, Professor Rosemarie John, botanist, a young lady Agronomist, and a lady from Croatia who specialises in Lichen. Then there was me of course, Mark who made a video of the trip, David and Zouki. We saw lots of orchids and the species list has almost doubled. Lydia and Vanessa helped me to serve lunch back at the Revolution Cafe-Bar where Nick signed my copy of his book. It all went very well.

The day, of course, did not end there. By 5.30 p.m. David and I were at BioAroma Natural Oils Distillery in Ag Nik to set up our display advertising my Spring Walks. I then spent the best part of an hour trying to sell raffle tickets before Nick gave his slide show and talk. That was extremely interesting, all about endangered flowers and the fact that sheep grazing was the main enemy together with road building, new developments and even botanists collecting and carrying away.

After the talk we all enjoyed a glass of wine (all except me that is because I have given it up for lent and am doing very well) and the chance to chat with all and sundry whilst milling around the museum at BioAroma.

The raffle was drawn and the first prize went to MR RAY WRIGHT with ticket number 17 green. Congratulations Ray.

Yiorgos Nicolaides the general Manager of http://www.crete-sailing.com/ was present to award the first prize of a 2 day cruise for 6 people on his sailing yatch but unfortunately Mr Wright lives in Ireland and did not attend the talk. Other prizes were presented.

We all had a good evening and finished it off by having dinner at (what we all call) the 'Prison' restaurant in Neapolis.

As you can imagine I was a little preocupied with arrangements for the above event hence no blog for a few days, sorry about that. It has tippled down in Vrahassi today so no walk and that I must say is a bit of a relief because I have things to do - 3 hr cello practice for one.

Now I have to concentrate on getting ready for the Soiree on Saturday, this month has wizzed by. Anyway, lots of good turns lined up.

Must go now, just to say 'HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY' to all mothers out there. I received a phone call from my daughter Jo and spoke to Grandson Jack. It made my day. Hope you all had a wonderful Mothers' Day.

MONDAY WALK FLOWERS OF CRETE

Great day today, walked to Pezoulia to see the orchids and lots more in flower now. Lovely sunny day even if a bit chilly. Saw a dead sheep on the road across the valley and the vultures were circling, didn't swoop for lunch though. Short post, must dash it's my lovely daughter's birthday tomorrow and I want to get a card off to her, e-mail that is. More tomorrow.

OH THE JOY OF ORCHIDS!

At last some of the Orchids that we found on our land about a month ago are beginning to flower. They are all shapes and sizes, all colours and all exquisitely beautiful. While the experts were busy cataloguing the species I wandered around thinking how wonderful my world in Vrahassi is. If you are interested in knowing the names of the flowers then click on http://www.flowersofcrete.com/

ESSENTIAL OILS FROM WILD HERBS OF CRETE.

David and I have just returned from a very enjoyable committee meeting for The Flowers of Crete which was held at the Park - Museum - Distillery of BioAroma in Agios Nikolaos courtesy of the proprietor, Sakis, a young chemist. It was such an enjoyable experience as you can see from the pictures. I came home with some Lemon Grass and Green Tea which I am told will help to combat my high cholesterol.