New resolutions etc....

It's hard to believe that summer is almost over, that the school starts on Monday and that we will have to get back to routine....on the other hand looking forward to the new projects, new challenges and more time to work too:)
I hope to be able to accomplish some things that has been on my to do list forever.
I want to make my first quilt. With my fabrics.



I created the design of how it would looks and I also created the cheater quilt fabric.



There is also the contest on Spoonflower for the chevron cheater quilt design(that came handy), so you may see many wonderful cheater quilt designs and vote too:)

I also created 2 flickr group, one like the place to share the projects and creations you have made using my fabric designs, purchased through Spoonflower and other as the place to share your child's photos in Like flowers and butterflies clothing and accessories.
Hope to see you there!!!:)

Skopelos island: trip to Alonissos and marine park

This will be the last post as part of my vacation at Skopelos island, in Greece. There is so much left to show and tell, but I suppose that you can always browse through more than thousands of pics I took there.



In the harbor of Skopelos there are many boats, small and big, offering many different trips to the near beaches and even islands.








This little cruise trip was definitely one of the most enjoyable things during our summer Holidays in Greece and so unforgettable. We chose the " Sporades Queen" boat with the glass bottom offering the trip to Alonissos island and I would highly recommend it. Not that the glass bottom was of any use, but the nice crew on the boat and great stops, made our trip even more pleasant. We left the harbor at 10,30h and returned at 18h. The cost of the trip includes some drinks and a sandwich for launch, but the stops during the trip allows you to get some decent food or even to launch in the restaurant.



Alonnisos island, also transliterated as Alonissos or Alonisos, is a Greek island in the Aegean Sea. After Skiathos and Skopelos it is the third member of the Northern Sporades. It is 3 km E of the island of Skopelos. It is an authentic Greek island mostly known for its incredible natural beauty and its amazing beaches. The waters of the Greek island are considered as the cleanest in the Aegean Sea and have been declared a marine park because they are a breeding ground for the rare species of monk seal, the Monachus Monachus.



The National Marine Park of Alonnisos Northern Sporades was founded in 1992. It was the first of its kind in Greece, and is currently the largest marine protected area in Europe (approximately 2.260 km2). Besides the sea area, the park includes the island of Alonnisos, six smaller islands (Peristera, Kyra Panagia, Gioura, Psathoura, Piperi and Skantzoura), as well as 22 uninhabited islets and rocky outcrops. Species sighted in this area include dolphins and whales like the common dolphin , striped dolphins and the long finned pilot whale. Making their ponderous way towards distant nesting sites are also Loggerhead turtles. The seabed harbours extensive Posidonia sea grass meadows, various species of sponge and also the endangered red coral. Among the numerous bird species finding refuge in the Park is the cliff-nesting Eleonora's falcon and the red- black- and yellow-billed Audouin's gull, one of the rarest gulls in the world. Rare wildflowers, some endemic to these islands, also take advantage of the absence of human footprints.



Our first stop, only after about 20-30 minutes of ride was the main city and port of Alonissos.



This lovely village was the old capital of Alonissos until the earthquake in 1965 destroyed it and all its inhabitants deserted the village and moved near the sea to build the new capital, Patitiri.












It is located 3.5 kilometres west of the port and capital, built on the top of a hill with a fantastic panoramic view of the island, of Skopelos and the Aegean Sea. A lot of the houses in Palio Horio have been destructed or badly damaged but many of them have been restored by some few Greeks to house taverns, cafes or little shops. Most of these old houses have been beautifully restored by Germans and English who brought the properties after the earthquake at knock-down rates.



Old Alonissos is an idyllic and calm place with whitewashed old houses, narrow climbing paved streets and stairs leading to the top of the hill and to a lovely traditional cafe offering excellent traditional Greek sweets and having the most incredible and beautiful view. It is a really breathtaking experience.






Many restored houses have little balconies or verandas decorated with colourful flowers, adding a particularly joyous and aesthetic touch to the village. Some parts of the old Byzantine walls restored by the Venetians to fortify the city have survived the passing of time. The walk inside Palio Horio is a real delight and some of the surviving Byzantine churches like the chapel of Agio Anargyroi are worth visiting.

At the church of Agios Andreas are also housed the headquarters of the International Academy of Homeopathic, giving information and solutions for any kind of health problems. The lovely tiny square opposite the beautiful Christ Church is the ideal place to relax and enjoy a coffee in the charming little cafe with wooden chairs and tables.









This fantastic village can be reached by local bus or through a delightful donkey path walk starting from Patitiri, zigzagging through various trees, and offering a wonderful view.

Next stop for swimming was the beautiful beach Leftos Gialos. We stayed there for about an hour and a half and as the sea was pretty cold that day, the kids took advantage of the pool bar situated on the beach, under the palm and olive trees. It was a nice coffee break too:)




Next stop was Steni Vala, small village that I didn't like too much, but the tavernas in the town offered good food, so many people went to launch, and we finally had some time to fish from the boat and in that way to attract the dolpins on the way back to Skopelos, going through the Marine park. And our plan worked! The dolphins were soon all around and kids(including me and my camera) had such a blast running from one side of the boat to another, waiting for them to jump from the water;)







On the way back, we were enjoying some splendid views to the beaches around, they showed us the Blue Cave passing by and at 6 p.m we were safely disembarking in the Skopelos town.

Skopelos island: Glossa, Ag. Ioannis, Stafilos, Hovolo and Kastani

The other main tourist town of Skopelos is a picturesque hillside village of 1,200 people and views to die for. There are ruins in GLOSSA dating from 400 BC as well as Byzantine walls to poke about in. The houses in Glossa are mostly two storey with wooden balconies and the fields are full of plum and almond trees. Several dirt roads lead out of the port village to provide lovely walks to nearby sights of interest.

There is the ugly monastery of Agios Ioannis which perches high on rocks overlooking a small cove, the monastery of the Agion Taxiarchon, built on the remains of a 7th century Byzantine church and the Gourouni Cape which has a lighthouse.


Other roads and tracks lead down to deserted beaches. On the northwest coast are MYRTIA and KOUTRIA, while to the east there are pebble coves to be found at PERIVOLI, PETHAMENI, HONDROGIORGI, KERAMOTO, MAVRAKI and SPILIA. Like all remote north coast beaches they are prone to collect debris and rubbish. Many are difficult to find and only Spilia and Perivoli have roads leading to them. Pethameni is at the bottom of a steep and precipitous path but has small beach and some good snorkeling. Hondrogiorgi has easier access and so is popular with locals at weekends.




At Spilia there is a cave and a chapel built on a spectacular headland above a double coved beach. The headland was created when the cliffs collapsed into the sea and the chapel featured strongly in the hit movie musical Mamma Mia.









The island's main beach at STAFYLOS or STAFILOS is popular with families, but only because it is the nearest to Skopelos town - about 5km directly south out of the harbour. Access to Stafylos is off the main road and 500m down a steep tarmac road to some ever steeper stone steps. Tavernas at the top and bottom of the hill are most welcome for those on foot. For those using cars and bikes there are good car parks.




The narrow strip of sand and shingle at Stafylos, mostly shingle, is attractive enough - basking beneath steep and high scrub-covered cliffs. Its popularity has grown recently and the sandy bits get snapped up early.



The steep cliffs behind can seem a little oppressive and the narrow Stafylos beach only allows for one or two rows of sunbeds that are put out in high summer. The water is shallow with stone underfoot so beach shoes are needed. On the road above, near the bus stop, there are a couple of tavernas and parking for cars. Small hotels and apartments are dotted about the Stafylos hillsides.










A rocky limb that juts out to sea is home to the tomb of the former Cretan general Stafylos, who gives his name to Stafylos beach. Among the treasures unearthed at the tomb were a 15th century gold-plated sword which is now housed in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens.

Velanio beach is approached a short climb over the headland at the end of Stafylos beach. Velanio beach is bigger, steeper and deeper than its more popular neighbour. It is a mixture of stone and shingle and the further along the south-facing beach you go, the stonier Velanio it gets. The waters here are very clean and clear, ideal for swimming. The lovely beach at VELANIO is still a favourite with nudists though they now tend to stay at the far eastern end beyond a rocky outcrop that splits the beach in the middle. Velanio often takes the overspill from the family beach at Stafylos but it takes around 15 minutes to walk down from the bus stop on the main road, along Stafylos beach and over the headland. It has only a small cantina that opens in high summer. Lines of sunbeds occupy the more popular end of the beach; naturists make do with laying their straw mats on the smooth white stones. Velanio resort is said to take its name from old Roman baths 'valaneia' that were once reputedly sited here but locals say 'venanio' simply means acorn and dismiss the Roman link. There is a spring near the end of the beach. Pick your way through the naturists to get to it.





HOVOLO which is on the outskirts of Elios town and for me was one of the most beautiful beaches, not only because of the beautiful beach and crystal water, but even because of the plenty of natural shade provided by the high rocky mountain behind.

A few kilometre south of Hovolo beach brings you to the splendid beach of KASTANI. One of the island's sandiest beaches, Kastani was used for beach scenes in the hit musical movie of Mamma Mia. The approach is down a steep, pine cloaked and heavily rutted dirt track and there is not much room to turn at the bottom so take car with the car. A beach cantina with great music sometimes springs up in the summer but there are no other facilities. However, they had plenty of sun beds, umbrellas, baldachins and cushions all over the place and it was magical to just enjoy the natural shade under the pine and olive trees, drinking a coffee or juice:).