A visit to lake Agia by Tom Ridell

Lake Agia ("aya") is one of Crete's less well-known beauty spots and well worth a visit. It is a favourite resting place for migratory birds and, therefore, for ornithologists and lovers of nature. You can reach it by leaving the National Road at the junction signposted for "Omalos" and continue along that road for several kilometres until you see a sign on the right hand side in the shape of a swan. Go past that sign for another kilometre until you see the second swan sign and turn right there up a narrow road. Follow the road until it crosses a bridge and sweeps to the left. At this point turn right and drive up a track alongside a stone wall to the end of the wall, then turn left before the café and go down the slope into the car park. The track is often lined with cars (especially on Sundays) but there's usually plenty of space in the car park. Climb the steps and you'll see the lake in front of you. The view is breathtaking! Lake Agia - November 2014 The café "Erasma" garden is accessible via a gate, which should be kept closed to keep out the geese! Watch your step because the geese leave sticky presents on the footpath. Cat drinking from the tiny watercourse in the café garden. In summer you may see large fish near the lake shore. This turtle was seen in mid July. Although they usually hide amongst the reeds, you may be lucky and see one swimming. The lake and its surrounds is a haven for migratory birds. This "Squacco Heron" was seen in mid April, 2016, and comes from as far away as South Africa. In early October each year, Greece holds the "Celebration of the Birds", when birds and people flock to this lake (and others). In Early October each year, Greece holds the "Celebration of the Birds", when birds and people flock to this lake (and others). Celebration of the Birds on October 4th, 2015. Visitors walking towards the small pumping station. Pumping station midweek when few people visit view of the pumping station and the sluices from the lake Algae flourishing in mid July. If you turn right out of the café gate and head past the pumping station, you will see the bridge over the weir in the distance. April 2016, following a mild, dry winter, the weir is already dry. There may be water shortages in summer.                                           8th December, 2015.                                     The weir as it looks, normally. Continue over the bridge and follow the path, which curves around a small patch of woodland with a stream. This shaded area is occasionally used by the locals for celebratory meals. Continue along the path to look at the small weir with bubbling spring adjacent. Continue to the end of the path to the cobbled area, where you might see the remains of an information sign and picnic table. Probably destroyed by high winds. Continue straight ahead, across the road that stretches up towards the village on your right. Enter the boardwalk and follow it past an industrial area to its end. Here you'll find an observation point from which you can see - absolutely nothing! It's surrounded by bushes and cane. Retrace your steps to the "Erasma" café and stop for a drink before continuing along the cane-lined path towards the other side of the lake. Beautiful canes in July. Here you'll find another boardwalk that sweeps round the lake to the right. The boardwalk takes you past another café. "Café - Snack - Playground" on the sign. After a short distance you'll reach another observation point. Retrace your steps to either of the cafés or the car park if you've seen enough. As work continues on the paths and boardwalks, it's quite possible that they will have changed by the time you read this. May 1, 2016

A typical few days of life in a Cretan village -

A resident of Apokoronas has written about a typical few days.

Saturday 16th April - Bougainvillea

I went for a ride on my motorbike. On a whim, I turned through the village and saw a greek friend in his garden. I asked him whether he'd be interested in cutting down our Bougainvillea.  The painter, had advised me to take it down. I started on it, yesterday, but I hadn't the stamina to complete the job

He followed me home to take a look. Then rode his scooter back home and returned with his son in the car.

They borrowed our ladders and tools and took down the whole lot, then moved the branches across the road.

Meanwhile, Gill had gone to a rehearsal

I rode my motorbike to Georgioupoli, had a snack in the square then a frappé near the beach. There were very few tourists around but I saw half a dozen clamber across the rocky causeway to the tiny church of St Nikolaus.

Sunday 17th April - Breakfast

We drove to Almyrida. We had breakfast with friends

In the afternoon we drove to Rethymno and had a wander around.

Monday 18th April - Dentist

Gill woke me just before 7 am. "The painter is coming today to paint the wall!"

"Oh, bugger." I hauled myself out of bed, eyelids glued together, and dressed.

The painter arrived at 8 am with ladders, paint and brushes. He clambered onto the balcony and began his preparations.

I watched part of a "The Voice" episode then Gill drove us to Vrises.

In the High Street she stopped to buy bread then again to drop me off at the dentist. He is called Sifis and  he trained in Athens. Amazingly I called on a whim, without an appointment and was treated right away. Unheard of in England!  It would be worth taking a holiday here for dental treatment because it's half the cost of treatment in the UK and the waiting times (if any) are usually hours rather than weeks! Less than half an hour later I was at the café with a repaired tooth and instructions not to eat or drink coffee for at least an hour. I sipped water. At noon we paid Gill's bill and walked to the supermarket for food, then back to the car. On the way home, Gill dropped me at the bank to withdraw more cash from the ATM.

I visited a friend who had an electronics problem, We spent some time fiddling and made it a lot worse! Gill drove to her sewing group. Gill cooked pork and celery for dinner. I hadn't had lunch so I wolfed it down, gratefully. Tuesday 19th April - Georgioupoli I arose early because the painter was returning to finish the work. He finished the balcony - which is all that I can afford this month. It's not cheap but he's expert, meticulous and leaves everything spotless. Gill went to her rehearsal. I worked on the electronics problem for a while.When Gill returned we drove to Georgioupoli and ate lunch in the square.

Afterwards we took a walk to see how the new hotel is progressing.

It's enormous and completely blocks the view of the beautiful church.

We discovered a new sand-filled groyne opposite the Cotton Club.

Gill cooked green beans for dinner.

I noticed that the humidity was below 50% today.

Wednesday 20th April - Walk

My nose was running. Feels like hayfever so I took a Cetirizine Hydrochloride.

We drove to Helen's house because Gill wanted to speak with her.

I was relegated to the garden with the dogs.

We drove to Vamos and parked at the Vrises junction.

An abandoned puppy had taken up residence behind the rubbish bin.

Our friends arrived and we set off on a walk to Litsarda.

We stopped at the turkey farm entrance to let one of the walkers catch up.

My feet were sore after the walk. We drove home but others went to a café for a chicken lunch.

I rode my motorbike to Georgioupoli and chatted to a friend at Stelios Bar, while I drank a Frappé. The sky was overcast and seemed to be threatening rain. I rode home. The air was still warm and humid.

Thursday 21st April - Overcast Morning

I finally hauled myself out of bed at 9am and had a shower. Feeling tired because of the tablet I took yesterday.

I answered emails then edited a web site.

Gill has a play rehearsal at 2 pm. 

Later I rode my motorbike to Georgioupoli and toured the town for a while. I was slightly cold while the 'bike was moving and wished that I'd worn my padded jacket.

My nose is still running from the hay fever.

Friday 22nd April 

I had a banana and a spoonful of beans for breakfast  (this strange diet  is my attempt to lose weight and combat IBS by the way!) then rode my motorbike to Gavalohori for an meeting. Afterwards I rode to Georgioupoli for a chicken gyros then back to the village.  I edited a booklet from America for a while.

In the evening we met our neighbours at our local taverna for an evening of entertainment by "Irish Bob", opened first by Eric Whibley who played guitar and sang powerfully and tunefully.

Gill & I left during the interval.

I did more booklet editing then went to bed.

My nose is still running- pollen season is here!