It is a sunny and windless February morning. On Paros, an agricultural island by birth, Spring is making herself already felt. Our eyes are filled with the greenness of the new crops on the fields and the blueness of the archipelago that surrounds the land. A palette of cold colors, say the experts and the beaches are empty. Still, the brown earth and the stones that spring from her guts make up for the loss of warmth.
A group of young people brings on the coming of spring to the island. A spring of creativity, cultural expression, coexistence, ingenuity, communication, and harmonious transition from the old to the new.
As I’m writing this text, with Lefkes lying at my feet and the windmills around the village crowning my head, I’m wondering how to fit 40 years into an article.
In addition, the insects have 4 wings. But there are exceptions. 3/4 of all animals on earth are insects, and they were here long before us. For 350 million years, they have had the opportunity to develop and adapt to changing environments.
With a presence of over 20 years in Paros and with the participation of volunteers, the PAROS ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY-PAWS, has managed to build and operate for 2 years now a model, ecological and highly aesthetic pet shelter in Marathi, fully licensed and with all hygiene and safety rules.
In Naoussa, Paros, a re-enactment event called “Koursaroi” (pirates) is held every year on the occasion of the ninth day of the afterfeast of the Dormition of the Mother of God on the 23rd of August. Young men, dressed as pirates, as old-time seafarers, that is – or should we picture them as one-eyed and peg-legged? – step aboard boats and all kinds of vessels, then storm the port of Naoussa and abduct women. Next, the people of Naoussa counterattack and take their women back, saving them and their honour from the much-hated, barbarous pirates!
In the year 2019, which was, supposedly, the last normal year for tourism before the pandemic hit, more that 1,000,000 people visited Paros island. The vast majority came in the 6-month period between May and October, and more that 400,000 visited in peak season, between June and September. Permanent or semi-permanent residents of Paros do not exceed 20,000.
There were permanent residents in Paros and Antiparos before the tourist boom. But, since these islands became more accessible to visitors (by ferry, private boat or plane), the demand for residential property has been rising at a rapid rate.
On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution, we are happy to present you national costumes of that time with an emphasis on the Aegean region. The costumes come from the collection of “Naoussa, Paros” Music and Dance Ensemble, which has been active since 1988 in Naoussa and participated in a number of events in Greece and abroad aiming to maintain and spread the island’s authentic music and dance tradition.
She was called Magdalene and was born in Trieste in 1796. Her virtues, fame and beauty, coupled with her refined manners and European style, and, more importantly, her fearless soul inspired the sensitive youth of Enlightened Europe. A fascinating, romantic, selfless woman, a feminist before the emergence of feminism, a real Greek woman who made history and who gave away profuse love only to receive betrayal in every possible way.
