Celebrate Democracy...& Resist Tyranny

 

A pikelia--a bit of everything

Yet another unreal sunset

Mountain view from our porch

Finikounda in the morning, just down the mountain

Today is the 4th of July, which marks the 249th anniversary of Independence back in the United States. But what a difference in just six months of a new presidential administration. I have vowed both to myself and to a few others to steer clear of politics in this blog. Let others write volumes about the decay of democracy in America. Here, in the birthplace of democracy, we can only shake out heads in disbelief.

 

Where are all the peeps?

For the first week of July, this pristine sandy beach on the Ionian Sea—one of just a few designated “Blue Flag” beaches in the European Union—remains largely empty, which is just a bit mystifying.

Even the village at night, remains relatively quiet. In a place where a year’s income—for hotels, restaurants/tavernas, gift shops—is derived in just three months, this is a local cause for concern.

Finikounda's central church

"Bebis"--a friend's classic caique

This is both curious—for the casual observer, with memories of hectic nights in years gone by—and alarming for the merchants who rely on a steady flow of tourists, both Greek and foreign, through the end of August.

There are a few theories: the general retraction of the world economy; the effects of the devastating wars in Ukraine and Palestine (neither of which are particulary close by); the onerous regulations and countless laws imposed by the Greek government, in the name of “austerity.” The latter affects foreigners (expat residents and tourists—both Greek and European) and locals trying to make a living in a shrinking economy. With a local minimum wage of 900 euros a months--tolls and gas from Athens is about 60 euros, one way--the drop in Greek tourism is sad but understandable.

Perhaps the water crisis and the extreme fire danger, the extreme effects of climate change, are a cause for the diminished numbers—that is, for the 95 percent of humanity sufficiently intelligent to recognize the unequivocal and indisputable consequences of a warming planet.

If predictions hold true, partly or entirely, southern Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, and Greece will be nearly uninhabitable by 2050.

The upside, if you can call it that, is we have a largely unpopulated village and beach to ourselves.

Return of the Loggehead Turles (caretta caretta)

 

The sun is strong until it disappears

Signs of loggerhead turtle nest

We have sighted a few turtles swimming along the beach during the day, but it wasn’t until yesterday, when I ran to the “castaway beach”—called Kandouni—that  I saw the first signs of turtles having laid their eggs in the sand dunes.

Chilling out in the sweet shop

In a few months’ time, the baby turtles will emerge from the sand mounds built by their mothers and race to the sea. Some will survive the foxes, the sea birds, and the careless tourists to plunge into the surf, grow to be adults, and return one day to this same beach to lay their own eggs.

Some final images...

There is apparently a UFO in this video...or maybe the Turkish Air Force?