As usual the media in the UK knee-jerked over the fires in Greece. I saw some reports where they were giving the impression that it would be folly to go to Rhodes as it was in complete chaos with fire-refugees, both residents and tourists, fleeing everywhere. They gave the impression that the entire island was going up in flames whereas, even though it was indeed the worst fire disaster they’d ever experienced, still 70% of the island was unaffected. It seems to me that the only advice that ought to have been given to people who’d yet to go there, but had holidays booked, would have been simply to double-check the area where they were due to stay. Most would have found that their holiday accommodation was intact and that they needn’t worry unduly. Instead, reports on both major TV channels, at the height of the fires (which lasted well over ten days) indicated that the reporters felt that tour operators would be irresponsible to send anyone at all, and that they ought to be evacuating all their guests from the island.

In most of the areas where there were no fires and not much risk of them even approaching, the air quality was also not too badly affected, as the prevailing winds were taking the smoke and ash southwards, towards the areas that were definitely at risk, and then out to sea.

Now, as the dust and ash settles, and only a few pockets of fire remain, plus the operation to try to stop re-ignition from taking place (a common occurrence after fires of this nature) is going on apace, it’s important for anyone who can do so to think long and hard about how they can help the people who’ve lost homes and businesses in Greece, not just on Rhodes, of course. The best way is to come here and take a holiday, and see how welcoming the people will be when they sense the support they’ll be receiving in this way. 90% and more of Greece is unaffected anyway, and the azure sea, the pine forests and remote whitewashed villages, the quirky little tavernas and ancient archaeological sites, they’re all still here folks.

I don’t mind telling you that everyone here holds their breath during July and August as a regular occurrence. When you step outside in the searing heat that we experience during the two main summer months, you always scan the horizon for smoke, and heave a huge sigh of relief when you see none. Another bone I’d pick with the TV channels in the UK is that their reports used expressions like, “… and the entire island of Crete is on red alert!” The impression that gave was that if you lived in the UK and had a holiday booked on Crete then maybe you ought to reconsider. What the reports failed to mention (because their research into local conditions is abysmal) was that we’re on red or amber alert EVERY summer, and the vast majority of the time that’s all it remains, an alert, with a view to making local residents take more care about cigarette ends, BBQ’s etc. It goes with the territory when you consider the vegetation and the climate in these parts, global ‘boiling’ aside.

During the most recent heatwave, which only began to abate yesterday, we had temperatures in the mid-30’s overnight and, as I’m not a good sleeper anyway, I would take walks around the village at 3.30am, for example. So here below are some photos I took during such a walk a couple of nights ago. I rather like the atmosphere when the place is all tucked up and asleep. The greenish hue to some of these photos is due to the camera on my phone I think, and not to any odd natural nocturnal phenomenon…

And to finish off, a couple of archive shots that I quite like. The first is of an old ya-ya in Arhangelos on Rhodes, and the second is Rethymnon, here on Crete…

The photo at the top of this post is of the harbour at Rhodes, taken from that section of the medieval wall that separates the Mandraki area from the commercial port.

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