FP52b. My last approach, from the south, re-plotted 52b from the junction with FP50 N through the walled enclosure, all of which is quite clear on the ground and generally follows the previous Map. Going through the enclosure, at one point one has to leave the level olive terracing and strike boldly R up-hill. After leaving the enclosure, which it does in it’s westerly corner, the path proceeds through open country along the top of a ridge. This ends however and one is left guessing. Look for a wall to the R and proceed roughly parallel with this; soon you will see the walls of FP52c ahead where it bends S towards Kambos Korah.

FP43. Also on this recce, I walked what I have called FP43 (filling a gap in the numbering) This parallels the river bed between Yftiká and FP50. It starts just up from the double bend opposite a blue shuttered and gated villa with very colourful grounds. There is a little parking bay with an electricity pole and one needs to look carefully among the rubbish behind this to find this surprisingly pleasant and easy path recommended to me by Jana.. It follows the valley up-stream ending on the very noticeable, bulldozed track going up from the widening alongside the track FP50. The direct link twixt this path and the ruins of Kambos Korah is very decayed and difficult.

Minor updates/changes. The ‘British’ cisterna at Gaios has been repaired and repainted. See photo. Also in Gaios, the Main Square and much of the Quayside has been re-paved in perhaps an un-necessarily ‘tidy’ fashion. They erected new, lantern type, streetlights along the Quay in October 2007, and then took them all down again! I don’t know why.

The pedestrianization arrangements in Gaios and Lákka remain, both operating from Noon or a bit earlier. That in Gaios results in much dangerous traffic movement through the narrow street running east from the ‘bus station, with its blind, tight, right-angle junction with the Quay. In effect almost all traffic for Mongonissi and the south has to use this route as the roadway paralleling the Quay passing Ag.Anaryiri, is just too narrow for cars.

The Seaplane failed to operate in 2007 until September. What the situation is to be in 2008 remains to be experienced.

The earthquakes of October 2007 brought down a length of massive cliff at Emiritis but I am not aware (yet) of any other significant damage.

The old Soap Factory in Loggös is supposed to be imminently converted into apartments, but we have all heard this before!

A lot of Villas, long let and managed by long established firms have been taken over by other, newer enterprises. We shall see how they fare. The Bed & Breakfast establishment set up by a British couple in Kangátika, seems to be prospering.

There doesn’t seem to be as many Tavernas in Loggös as there once was. Those recently set up on beach-side locations - such as Leverechia and Monodrentri etc. may be stealing their trade.

Glyfada Beach Villa’s management remains as intractable as ever and the coastal section of Footpath 5 is still closed despite rumours of Litigation.

Jana and her friends have continued their programme of footpath clearances and there is a possibility of some Official action too. (Given time?) See the new Map for details.

Another mock-windmill has been erected, this time in the South of the island. The ‘cap’ is far too flat to have ever contained any machinery and shows no sign of being able to revolve and, more ridiculous still, the shaft protrudes, not from the cap as it should, but through the stone wall below! If one is going to create a replica, one should at least study the original!

THE FUTURE

One reads of many ancient cultures who enforced the death penalty against anyone who cut down an olive tree. They don’t do that anymore but the habit of cutting them down seems to be spreading at an alarming rate. It seems they are worth as much as firewood as they are as a fruiting crop! If not actually felled, they are being pruned extremely heavily. Both actions threaten to ruin the landscape. The proliferation of new villas, built in some of the most inaccessible and prominent places, together with their infrastructure requirements, seem to be quite out of control, if, indeed there is any control? If being done in the guise of supporting the holiday industry; very soon they will be turning away the very visitors they seek to attract.

On the 10a Map I have highlighted some of the larger areas where deforestation has occurred for unknown reasons - unless to build more villas - and it is sad that these blank areas show up so well in satellite imagery. This loss of vegetation, coupled with the seemingly dry winters of the last few years when the heavy winter rains have not materialised, may pose a serious threat to the Islands future.

Note the map insert for Kambos Korah has been deleted.
 

Map Updates Continued...