Earth Hour 2009

Earth Hour is a global event organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and is held on the last Saturday of March annually, asking households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights and other electrical appliances for one hour to raise awareness towards the need to take action on climate change. Earth hour was conceived by WWF and the Sydney Morning Herald in 2007, when 2.2 million residents of Sydney participated by turning off all non-essential lights.Following Sydney’s lead, many other cities around the world adopted the event in 2008.  (Wikipedia)

And last night, so did WE!

What better excuse for a candle lit dinner and some star gazing? Environmentaly friendly romance.  Perfect. 

Danae

 

 

CretAquarium Is Open

New fishy stuff has been caught,  tanks have been refurbished, things have been ripped apart, rearranged and put back together again, tears have been shed, kebabs have been eaten …and after literally months the aquarium has re-opened all brand-new and shiny…

Report to come…

St. Peters

It’s been interesting watching the monastry being restored over the year. The brand new buttresses. The new roof and domes.  Now the arched windows.

Ursa Minor

Yesterday – the 25th March – is a Greek holiday commemorating something that I should be aware of but have forgotten. It involves Italy I think. So I took the opportunity to read an astronomy book I’ve been meaning to read for literally 25 years. (It was published in 1983 – and written by Patrick Moore – it might be Dad’s?). Practised some indoor stargazing for a couple of hours with the incredible Google Earth Star View. Then set out to do the real thing as night fell.

My first observation (apart from the obvious Ursa Major) was Ursa Minor. Follow the pan-end of The Plough to Polaris, the Pole Star – this the handle-end of Ursa Minor, which also contains a bright orangy star. As Patrick says “The strong colour of Kocab, the so-called Guardian of the Pole, will be immediately obvious.”

Sushi Night

Disko

Lemon And Ash Saturday

This post, and the day itself, is named after the way we prepared our sausages, with which we fed the local population, namely Leesie from Estonia and Petros the black sheep of Lendes. Leesie has been the only beach resident at Diskos this winter, collecting shells and taking photos. Petros kindly invited us to his remarkable home – constructed by him and furnished with the flotsam and jetsam of modern life. 

Respect to Vana and Ants for not being lameos

And the British Entry.

… almost unwatchable.

Vote for it anyway!

The Greek Entry For Eurovision.

This guy, Sakis, came third for Greece a couple of years ago – however IMHO that was a much better song. This one’s not a winner I’m afraid.

Vote for it anyway!

Snails

Like the French, Cretans enjoy snails as a delicacy. I can’t see the attraction – they’re so rubbery, slimy and tasteless. Anyhow if I did, I could harvest the bumper crop climbing up our neighbour’s wall.

To prepare snails:

• collect after it rains
• keep them in a snailery for 3-4 days
• feed them flour and carrots to cleanse their bodies
• fry alive in garlic and olive oil