According to the Chinese, it’s the Year of the Water Dragon since Monday. Don’t tell these two – on Tilos the majority of the four-legged population would prefer it to be yet another Year of the Goat. Just wait until 2015, guys!

The future lies ahead.

I read recently that the European Union paid boat owners to destroy their wooden vessels and “upgrade” to fiberglass. Why?
Fortunately, whoever owned this one didn’t have a clue about it – and left a photogenic souvenir in a field in Agios Antonios.

Weathered boat

You were wondering what it’s like to film a documentary on a small Greek island?
Well, here is a sample work day:

- print out tax forms
- sort invoices and receipts for tax
- on way to office, speculate with bus driver Pavlos about who caused the hit-and-run accident in Agios Antonios that claimed an adult goat’s life
- check emails
- diarize funding deadlines
- screen test-shoot material
- draw up filming schedule
- fill out tax forms
- lunch break: invade a castle of the Knights of St John
- …

Castle of the Knights of St John - albeit a small one

Happy weekend everyone!

It’s Θεοφάνεια today, Epiphany. Which means, the little harbour of Agios Antonios gets almost as many visitors as in summer.

All eyes on the sea, please

Well, not quite, but despite the howling wind a few people turned out to attend the ceremony of blessing the waters during which a crucifix is thrown into the sea and retrieved by a fearless diver…

Papa Manolis blessing Agios Antonios harbour

… or a piece of string in this case.

Fisherman Antonis assisting the ceremony in his home port

Και του χρόνου!

If you look closely, there's a glimpse of the next islands (Karpathos & Saria) on the horizon (picture left).

All the best from Tilos to the World!!!

May 2012 be a year of peace, love, and understanding between people, of new adventures, enlightened decisions and heart-warming tales! May 2012 bring you all you wish for and then some!

We are looking forward to showing you more of the island and of The Island Bus in 2012! Stay tuned.

ΧΡΟΝΙΑ ΣΑΣ ΠΟΛΛΑ ΚΑΙ ΚΑΛΗ ΧΡΟΝΙΑ!!!

In time for the holidays finally revealed: the real author behind these lines.

Who writes this blog anyway?

ΧΡΟΝΙΑ ΠΟΛΛΑ!!! *** Merry Christmas!!! *** FRÖHLICHE WEIHNACHTEN!!!

Season's Greetings

The holidays are drawing closer, school is over, the teachers have set sail – and the crib is up in the square and illuminated. Well, partly illuminated.

Baby Jesus, the lamb and one of the Magi have a certain something in common

As I step closer for the photo, ten-year-old Angelos appears out of the shadows of his mum’s ζαχαροπλαστειο (or: sweets shop) and musters the plastic Holy Family thoughtfully.

“You’re quite tall”, he says to me, stating the obvious.
I nod in agreement.
“Almost as tall as that Magus there with the dark head.”
He points at one of the Three Wise Men surrounding the couple and their child.
I am just about to point out something about skin colour when Angelos concludes: “His light went out.”
He doesn’t mean that figuratively, but literally.
“Do you see?”, he says. “The baby is not lit either. Neither is the lamb.”

The newborn hiding in the dark

He is right.
“What happened?”, I ask him, thinking about crisis, electricity bills, austerity measures and the lot.
“Well”, he says, “the head of the tall guy banged against the roof of the stable, see?” He climbs in to demonstrate how the reed roof rests on Balthazar’s head. “That messed around with the cables. And I threw the baby and the lamb into the sea one year.”
“Did you really?”
“That’s what people tell me, at least. I can’t remember… and you know how rumours are generated here.”

He continues to stare at the unlit child in the crib and then turns and swaggers back towards the closed shop.
“Happy holidays!”, he shouts and adds: “I don’t think I want to grow as tall as you. People die when they grow very tall.”
As he sees that I am slightly taken aback, he smiles: “But you know how people tell stories here. Just don’t believe everything you hear!”

Good advice.
Merry Christmas, Angelos!

The camel doesn't really care too much about light and dark

ΧΡΟΝΙΑ ΠΟΛΛΑ!

Winter is time for trata fishing in the Aegean and these boats are doing their daily duty. When they are not moored in the harbour posing for photos, that is.

I think I might have mentioned it: it is not always sunny on Tilos.

But there is always some sun, somewhere

In case you sent any Tilian a Christmas present – or card – it might be in the picture below. Just look closely – and thanks for thinking of us!

The mail arrived!

Residents are kindly requested to empty their mailboxes regularly to avoid cluttering

…And in true Island Bus fashion, bus driver Pavlos just pulled up outside the house, blew the horn three times, shouted “Zeebillaah!” (That’s the Greek rendering of Sibylle.) and delivered a very lovely parcel for yours truly, too. Nice one!