Perdika...past, present ...what about the future....

I thought I'd write a little more about my village today. It seemed the obvious choice this morning, as the grey skies had cleared, and the waters had got their sea blue colour back. Over the last decade, we have seen a change in our village, as more tourists visit, especially over the months of July and August. The change is not enough to give us the title of "holiday resort", as not having at least a six month season does not give the locals the chance to expand their businesses, but it is enough for people to have a job in the tourist industry, at least for three months of the year. The funny thing is that we are very close to some of the biggest resorts in our area Parga and Sivota, but because of the uniqueness of the area, a plus in my mind, it is not chosen as a holiday destination. Let me explain. The village is actually set in the mountains, overlooking the Ionian sea. The islands of Paxos and Corfu can be seen in the distance, and it is about 6 km from the coastline. Our beaches are about a fifteen minute drive...nothing really...and we have the clearest waters on this side of Greece. I think it is perfect. A smooth combination of nature, sun, sand and sea. There are hotels on all the beaches, small, family run businesses, but also very professional. There are also many rented rooms, a campsite which cater for every one's needs. It does actually provide something for all ages and all tastes. The hotels are in areas where peace and tranquility reign, but the village has plenty of authentic Greek restaurants, offering Greek specialities as well as international cuisine. Fast food outlets provide the traditional souvlaki and pita. Fishermen sell their catch every day, so fresh fish is always available. There are cafes offering coffee, drinks, ice cream, open all day every day of the year. A local cake shop brimming with fresh desserts is a must, and well at night you will always find one of the two bars playing any music you ask for, so you can dance syrtaki until your feet drop off. All this in the same area. Yesterday I wrote about the other facilities available, so I won't go into detail again, but apart from the other shops here, there are also plenty of places to buy souvenirs and anything else you may want. You really have to see it, to actually understand it. The small churches hidden within the forests are worth searching for, so trekking along the road to the beaches is a journey with surprises along the way. Personally, I love it, but I also know that once somebody visits, it does become a place you want to come back to.