Rethymnon Carnival

David and I had a splendid weekend break in Rethymnon, where the Carnival atmosphere was sizzling. It all started with a short parade on Saturday night, followed by fireworks, after which what seemed like thousands of people funneled into the old town. Streets streamed multi-masked bodies, bar walls bounced to loud, throbbing music,  revelers danced in every space, restaurants churning out food to whistles and hoots, and the party went on into the small hours.

And on Sunday, the day of the big parade, things got even louder. I have never seen so many people in one place. We stood for two hours in brilliant sunshine, watching the parade, went for a drink, continued to watch the floats and hordes of be-costumed dancers on the coffee-bar TV, decided to go for a pizza, and still the Carnival procession flowed down the main street. It began at 2 p.m. and by 5 p.m. was still going. That's when we left to drive back to Vrahassi, but I suspect the end was nowhere near in sight. What energy these people had.

Anyway here are a few pictures so that you can see for yourselves. Hope you had a good weekend wherever you were. Vrahassi does seem quiet now. Oh, I forgot to mention that just as one bar has closed in the village, another one is to opening. Watch this space for further news. Byeeeee! Love Jane x

Walk With Donkeys Equine Sanctuary

If you are in Crete, or visiting this year, you may like to take a trip to the Walk with Donkeys Equine Sanctuary.

ABOUT THE SANCTUARY
 ‘Walk with donkeys’ sanctuary was started in 2006 and is run by Alistair and Suzanne. It is a ‘not for profit’ charitable organisation registered in Greece,the first  registered donkey sanctuary in Crete. We receive no money or help from the government. We rely on fundraising and donations to help us to look after these wonderful and previously abused animals.
 
After witnessing a donkey being left out in the sun to die we realised that we must start a home for unwanted donkeys so that their owners do not have to kill the donkeys when they are no longer of use to them.


The donkeys that we take into our sanctuary are given a 'till death us do part' home. We do not sell or give away these donkeys. We do not believe in subjecting old donkeys to stressful and long journeys so therefore do not re-home them in other parts of Europe.

Here in beautiful surroundings close to the village of Anatoli near Ierapetra, the donkeys can live peacefully and happily in the company of other donkeys. Here they receive love, care, food, water and any medical attention that is needed.

Space and freedom Zak, Coconut and Syd (3 old boys) enjoying their freedom and the summer sunshine

Room to run Zak, Syd and Willow enjoy the feel of the wind in their tails and have a run and a jump

We are asked a number of times whether we will sell our donkeys so that they can go back to be a working donkey. Once these donkeys come to the sanctuary they stay here. It would be very cruel to send a donkey back to a life of being tied up and alone after they have experienced the freedom, friendship and care they receive here. So as much as we need the money - the answer is A VERY BIG NO!

Please sponsor one of our rescue donkeys

WHERE WE ARE
 In the mountains between Istron and Ierapetra. Close to the village of Anatoli.
35 minute drive from Agios Nikolaos
20 minute drive from Ierapetra
30 minute drive from Mirtos

                                 WALKING WITH DONKEYS
                                          A fun day out
We raise money for the care of the donkeys by offering people the opportunity to meet these wonderful creatures. People from all over the world visit us for walks, children’s rides or just come to see the donkeys. It is not unusual for people to return year after year, and even day after day.

Please give generously and let us give more donkeys, like Coconut and George and Syd and Mr Jansen the Mule, a new home.

Coconut having a rest

George the day we found him

Syd when we first saw him We knew we had to rescue this donkey when we saw him like this with his legs tied together. He now lives happily with us and can move around freely

Mr Jansen the mule This mule was tied by a chain from its leg to a tree. Often the owner would forget to feed or water him. It took us 9 months to persuade the owner to let us take the mule and give him a new home. He is now free of chains and ropes and has many donkey friends

PLEASE COME AND SEE OUR DONKEYS.
 PLEASE TELEPHONE BEFORE MAKING THE JOURNEY

TO ARRANGE A VISIT OR WALK PLEASE TELEPHONE                                     0030 697 6088547
                                                                                                    0030 693 426 4012
OR E MAIL US ON                                                                                               info@walkwithdonkeys.com



DONKEY RIDES FOR CHILDREN

SHORT WALKS WITH DONKEYS

VISIT OUR SANCTUARY AND SEE THE ANIMALS

 

What wonderful work these two people are doing. Please take a look at their website and make a donation if you can. Every little helps towards the continuing success of their rescue center.  http://walkwithdonkeys.com/

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

Aren't I just the lucky gal to receive these fabulous flowers. I hope you are all having as wonderful a day as me. I have been relaxing, practicing piano and reading. Just what the doctor ordered. I've been a teeny-weeny bit off color lately, but thanks to pills and potions the docs are sorting me out. I have a barium meal to look forward to on Monday, but it can't be any worse than the camera down the throat job that I had last week. (It wasn't too bad really). 

Meanwhile book number two is with an editor, so early days but it is heading in the right direction.

I shall be playing the organ again at church on Sunday - it keeps me out of mischief!

And apart from that, all is well in the world of Jane. As for news in Vrahassi, I'm not there at the moment but David is keeping me informed. He says it has been cold, damp, a bit dreary (that's cos I'm not there) and quite a normal winter. Neapolis hospital is closing down except for the geriatric wing, and there have been demonstrations, but not as big as the demonstrations in Ierapetra, against the closure of the big hospital there.

I would imagine that most Cretans are hoping for a good holiday season as the economy is very troubled. So, if you are wondering where to go this summer, head for Crete, it is bound to help the people there. I shall certainly be taking my holiday in Vrahassi, I'm ready for a bit of sunshine, though the winter here in London has been a delight. 

Right now it is time for tea, have a lovely evening, I hope to resume blogging on a more regular basis soon.

Take care,

Love Jane x

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU.

I am now living in England, but still have strong ties with Vrahassi, so thought it would be a good idea to keep this blog going through 2013. 

This might be of interest to you:

The Anglican Church in Crete

part of the Church of England Diocese of Europe

                                        is pleased to announce a                                                         

Service of Holy Communion

On Sunday 13^th January at 11.00AM

to be held in the Church of

Agios Charalambos

Agios Nikolaos

by gracious permission of His Eminence, Metropolitan,

Nectarios, Orthodox Bishop of Petras and Cherronissos

All are welcome

For further details or directions please contact

                                Reverend Michael Crawford (0030) 698 691820

So, all the best for 2013 I shall be posting from time to time with any hot gossip that I have.

Love Jane x 

HELLO FROM BECKENHAM

Hello to all my blog watchers. You may have noticed that I have started a new blog - The Adventures of a Pensioner in Britain. I hope you will take a look, and catch up with my life at the moment. I have not abandoned Crete, rest assured, I will be back. But for now, I have decided that I would rather live in Britain to be near to my daughter, and within striking distance of my son.

So, I can't really comment on Vrahassi at the moment, other than I know that Cosmos bar has closed down, and George is now running Lefteris' bar in the center. That is George who used to run Cosmos bar.

The Greek government got their hand out from the EEC but I doubt that will put any more money into the hands of the Greek people. There are still lots of strikes taking place, though I cannot see what good that is going to do.

Anyway, life goes on. Do take a look at my new blog if you are interested. Oh, and don't forget that my book, Tears from the Sun - A Cretan Journey can be ordered from any good bookshop. It would make a good Christmas present for all lovers of Crete.

Have a good run up to Christmas everyone. Take care, bye for now,
Love Jane x

Halloween in England

It's Halloween Eve and I am in England. It's a bit chilly outside but fine and not windy. Thank God I'm not in New York just now. Horrible, horrible, horrible! There is no defense against nature when it strikes in such a powerful way. The sea has surged into the city, poured down subways, flooded basements. Thousands of homes are without power, and at least 13 people are dead. Hurricane Sandy has been demoted to a storm but the wind has not stopped blowing. There are fires in the city and devastation all along the east coast of America.

Meanwhile, here in England, I am contemplating buying a One-sy and making sure there are supplies of cocoa in the cupboard. I made my London debut at the Poetry Cafe in Covent Garden at the weekend, a good experience, and I have another venue lined up on 20 November.

I'm not sure what is going to happen to this blog, I can hardly write about Crete when I don't live there, but I am looking forward to returning for the month of March. Jo has enrolled us into a choir which starts on the 2nd November, so looks like there is fun to be had before Christmas. Tomorrow we are giving a bit of a Halloween Party for Jack and his friends, green face-paint at the ready. So, it's all go.

I hope you are all well, maybe I'll get into the swing of blogging again very soon. My love to all blogwatchers.
Jane x

Well, I'm not Sir Francis Drake, but when in England, as they say.

Yesterday I spent the morning learning how to play bowls at a lovely club in South London. It is more complicated than it looks, and there are lots of rules. There is also a dress code, gray trousers and white shirt, with special flat shoes so as not to scuff the green. It is all very 'proper'. But I seemed to fit in very well with the other ladies, and we had a good laugh. I went along with my grandson's other grandma and her friend, the power of three had nothing in it.

Earlier in the week, as I arrived back in London from a trip up north to see the other half of my family, I found myself at the base of the tallest building in London, (and probably Europe), The Shard, it was very Jack and the Beanstalk, towering right up into the clouds.

Today, Sunday, we all had a leisurely morning, then, not to be done out of my daily exercise, Jo and I took Jack (or it might have been, Jo and Jack took me) ten pin bowling. Grandma lost, mainly because the move from bowling green to bowling alley seemed to affect my delivery, I think I'll stick to the green, but it was fun.

The weather, wherever I have been for the past three weeks, has been very good, sunny, warm with only the occasional shower. In London, there is a constant sound of the coming and going of planes in the sky, and traffic on the roads, with a shuttle of trains every now and then. Worsborough Dale was quieter, but every now and then a police helicopter went overhead.

Well that's my news for today, I am going to watch the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games tonight, and enjoy a sit with Jo and Jack.

I wish you all a pleasant evening, and lots of fun in the week ahead.

Bye for now,
Love Jane x