Ikaria (also
spelled as Icaria)
In the map,
Ikaria can be located to the east of Mykonos.
Mykonos is well-known to international tourists, but Ikaria not heard of.
Old people in
Ikaria live an active life carrying out basic tasks relating to their daily
living, unlike those retirement homes in “advanced” western countries – where old
people are being fed or served ready meals, and watched by health care
professionals. Certainly there are
differences between the two worlds. Old
people take care of themselves here so Geriatrics is not needed in Ikaria.
After the war
the Greek government used Ikaria to exile about 13,000 communists from 1945 to
1949, hence the island is also called “Red island” (Κόκκινο νισί).
Deprived of
state funding, the Ikarians had relied on the Ikarians in the United States for
help in building roads, schools and medical facilities. The quality of life improved
gradually after 1960 when the Greek government began to invest in the
infrastructure of the island and in the promotion of tourism.
Samos is the bigger island to the east of Ikaria.
If you plan to
visit Ikaria, you should include the adjacent Samos, it is a family-oriented
tourism spot with ancient ruins and museums, and there are ferry boats
connecting the two islands.
Since I like
mathematics, it is worth mentioning that the great mathematician Pythagoras (Πυθαγόρας) was born in Samos 570 BC. He is credited with the discovery and proof
of the Pythagorean Theorem.
Samos has very good sweet wines.
Patmos
Patmos is
found to the south in between the island of Ikaria and Samos.
Kalymnos
Kalymnos is
located to the south east of Patmos, but visiting this island is better
combined with Kos.
Kalymnos is
also known as the “Sponge divers’ island”, traditionally Kalymnian sponge
divers used no uniform or equipment and relied only on their abilities to hold
breath in the sea. After mid 80’s sponge
industry has declined as there are not much sponges left in the region. You can
read a good story of sponge diving here http://www.divingheritage.com/greecekern2.htm
Another interesting
link:
Earth science picture of the day, http://epod.usra.edu/blog/
is a
great blog to follow.
