Welcome To My Home

Karpathos, Greece.

Pomegranates, have been hung on our doors, an ancient ritual, a talisman, said to bring us bounty, the bounty that the summer ahead will gift us with.

Persephone, has left her kingdom, the underworld and has been reunited with her mother. Demeter, rejoices and the earth will sprout, springing upward — watered by the tears of a mother who has awaited the return of her lost, beloved child.

Thus, the pomegranate, a symbol of Persephone, spring, fertility and homecoming.

The season has turned once again, the muted colours of winter, restless have awoken from their slumber, have come out of hibernation, yawning on the dawn of new beginnings

Our vines have been pruned, new growth has timidly appeared which by the end of the season will be used to make our local wines.

The orchards have been tilled and fertilizer has been spread around the circular base of our fruit trees, organic fertilizer, composted with the manure of goats and sheep that is gathered throughout the year. Ecologically safe, respecting our piece of earth which in her bosom are held the key’s of life, our nourishment.

The holy olive groves have been tended also, new shoots have sprung to life. Shoots that will grace with their harvest, our tables and many of yours around the world, with what we call liquid-gold, olive oil.

Spring planting is over and the shearing of the herds has finally been completed, preparing them for the scorching summer day’s ahead. The heat teases us as it idles on the horizon. The summer when it arrives, will mock us knowing the days will be short lived and will have no mercy.

As we work during this time it is in preparation for the winter ahead. We always gaze before us, looking backwards will not feed us nor prepare us for those day’s of tumultuous weather when we are isolated from the rest of Greece and the world for that matter.

Gazing ahead, we toil as the myrmidion, always preparing for winter.

A good way of life, a respectable one, above all an honest one. A way of life I wished those who visited us respected more.

We call our tourist season, The Onslaught.

There was a time our island paradise was not known, barely on the map. It was a mythical island even to other Hellenes, that all changed when Forbes Magazine featured an article on the culture of my island…there are day’s I wish it had stayed unknown, safe and protected.

Tourists visit us by the thousands, weakly, daily, but some have no respect for our home.

They leave their trash on our virgin beaches, throw water bottles in the turquoise waters of my beloved Aegean, this behavior actually brings me to tears.

They disrespect us the women, with sexual innuendo, do they treat the women of their respective countries, as they do us?

Or is it our carefree, hospitable natures that lures them into this reckless form of abandoning the rules of discourse?

I have on many occasions collected cigarette butts, wrappers, rotting fruit, meat, pits, cans, glass and I am appalled to say, sanitary napkins, tampons, condoms and such from our beaches.

I have released octopi and other sea creatures from cans thrown thoughtlessly into the ocean, they never once thought of the damage to the environment. It humbles my heart when I watch the creatures swim away on those few ripples I make on their home

I have pulled my vehicle, motorbike on side of dangerous mountain roads to pick up the garbage thrown carelessly out of their windows. I find no shame in correcting their actions. The shame would be in not…

It is those, in my estimation, that should feel shame, they come, they see, they snub their miniscule noses at us with arrogance when they harm our environment. It is a seen as a personal offense to us.

When they make camp on our beaches, they drink profusely, get drunk and behave inappropriately, having sexual relations out in the open, disrespecting our elders and the children who play freely outdoors, disrespecting even themselves.

The children are raised not much different then I was, lovemaking or what some call sex, is seen as knocking on heavens door, enter, reach the heights of heaven BUT do it behind the privacy of a closed door. We do have private coves and caves for this type of behavior.

Nudity is of no issue to us on our beaches, we observe the human form modestly as a work of art, it is what is done with the form that we object to.

As I’ve mentioned earlier on, the roads are mountainous, curving, winding roads usually one lane for all directions, with unpaved ancient roads and offshoots that have no protective barriers. Those driving from the north of the island have the right of way, those travelling from the south must wait at the bend of the road, allowing those on a decline from the north to pass. The use of the horn is only allowed as a signal that another vehicle is approaching, its sound echoes on for miles around.

We have lost many lives, recently two very beloved young people, who were engaged to be married because of the arrogance of a visitor. I took us weeks to retrieve their bodies because the cliffs were difficult to scale and the use of equipment were useless in the area the tragedy occoured .

It is estimated that Hellas had- 32 million visitors in the summer of 2018, for every one local, three visitors, which is having a severe impact on our environment. It is estimated that 2019 had 38 million visitors, the number keeps climbing.

Restrictions on travelling to Hellas have been lifted since the outbreak of the Covid-19, the government took early precaution with which has helped us contain the virus, as of May 21st, 2020, Hellas has had 171 confirmed deaths and 2,278 infected in quarantine. We also have the 2nd oldest population in Europe, which is a worry for us. Every life is unique to us, yours and ours, we’d like you to be safe when visiting us. thus far our islands have not been affected. Please, take all precautions and follow the laws of your host country.

So… what I’d like to say to those visiting my homeland is,

Welcome, welome to the land of myth!

We appreciate you visiting us, we will go above and beyond to make your stay with us a memorable one, a voyage into our past and present, magical.

We never lock our doors, you will be embraced, coaxed into taking part in our wedding’s, baptismal’s, our Saint’s Day’s, dancing (we will even teach you the steps), we will share our camraderie, as we gather in the evening’s in our squares, singing and dancing for no reason but that we understand these day’s and life is limited to us, as the children play into the wee hours under the watchful eye’s of the village, our community.

You will always have something to eat, visitors are given food and drink and many times a place to rest if our hotels our filled to capacity (which they usually are). You will leave us wanting to return, already planning your next visit.

You will revel in our legendary Greek philoxenia. Our inbred hospitaltity, looking forward, always forward to you.

Please, show us some courtsey, please pick up after yourselves, there are designated refuse bins stationed in appropriate areas. Respect our women and children or there will be consequences. Respect our elders, they are our wisdom, they could be yours as well.

Imbibe, enjoy our homemade Ouzo and wines, drink moderatetly, responsibly, self control speaks to character, I believe those who choose to visit us are of good standing, that is why they do.

Also please, keep private relations private. Drive safely, we value your lives and the lives of our small population.

To many visitors our island is a destination, but for us — it is the only home we know.

As my wise father would say, “we don’t have much but we give all we have”.

Above all, please, please — enjoy your stay with us. We will be happy to have you.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/03/greece-tourism-at-record-high-amid-alarm-over-environmental-cost