Leaving their Welsh hill farm behind, Nick, Ros and their children arrive on the little-known island of Ikaria in 1978, having impulsively boarded the first ferry leaving Athens. Escape to Ikaria tells the story of how they become involved with the islanders and their way of life. Nick tries his hand at anything to get by: night fishing out in the Aegean, unloading the potato boats from Samos, mixing cement for wayward house-builder Datsun Jim, and tending the gardens of the old monastery where a solitary nun, Sister Ulita, controls the village's water supply.
A Scotsman Travel Book of the Year: A Welsh family’s story of running off to a lush Greek island in the 1970s, and the new life they found there. Leaving their Welsh hill farm behind, Nick Perry and his family arrive on the little-known island of Ikaria in 1978, having impulsively boarded the first ferry leaving Athens. Escape to Ikaria tells the story of how they become involved with the islanders and their way of life. Nick tries his hand at anything to get by: night fishing out in the Aegean, unloading the potato boats from Samos, mixing cement for wayward house-builder Datsun Jim, and tending the gardens of the old monastery where a solitary nun, Sister Ulita, controls the village’s water supply. Vivid and moving, this memoir is “a tale of risking all to pursue a dream . . . The story is told with disarming aplomb, packed with characters and incidents, and exhibiting much that is good in human nature” (Scotsman).
Leaving their Welsh hill farm behind, Nick, Ros and their children arrive on the little-known island of Ikaria in 1978, having impulsively boarded the first ferry leaving Athens. Escape to Ikaria tells the story of how they become involved with the islanders and their way of life. Nick tries his hand at anything to get by: night fishing out in the Aegean, unloading the potato boats from Samos, mixing cement for wayward house-builder Datsun Jim, and tending the gardens of the old monastery where a solitary nun, Sister Ulita, controls the village's water supply.
'Give me three years and we'll be millionaires,' Nick challenged his long-suffering family in 1980, when cash was king. 'I've got an idea that's going to take us to the top.' Tinkering with alchemy in an old stable he shared with a Shire horse, Nick discovered how to create the most convincing antique replicas ever made. He started by selling a few of his netsukes on a market stall at the Birmingham Rag Market and met extraordinary and eccentric people, the risk-taking gamblers with fast tongues. Each had their own money-spinning ideas; you name it, he replicated it for the wheeler-dealers chasing the dream. When Nick and his crew reached the rarefied circles of the London art world he realised he could be dangerously out of his depth. This is the unlikely and often hilarious story of where nothing but enthusiasm and self-belief can take you.
Three years ago, Spiri Tsintziras found herself mentally, physically and spiritually depleted. She was stretched thin – raising kids, running a household and managing a business. She ate too much in order to keep going and then slumped in front of the telly at night, exhausted, asking herself ‘What is it all for?’ Spiri’s quest for a healthier, more nourishing life took her from her suburban home in Melbourne to her family’s homeland of Greece, and to the small Greek island of Ikaria. The people of Ikaria – part of the famous ‘Blue Zones’ – live happy, healthy and long lives. Inspired by their example, Spiri made some simple lifestyle changes and as a result lost weight, gained energy and deepened the connection to those closest to her. Best of all, she didn’t have to give up bread or wine! Spiri’s heartwarming memoir, which includes delicious family recipes, will console and entertain anyone bogged down in the daily grind – encouraging you to put your health and happiness first. ‘My Ikaria is a kindly wake-up call to live a more mindful, meaningful and generous life – a joy to read.’ —Alice Pung ‘I applaud Spiri for sharing her fascinating and insightful journey to better health through My Ikaria. As our lives become increasingly busy and fast-paced, we can all learn valuable lessons from the Ikarians, who show us it’s not about striving to live longer but to live better.’ —Jerril Rechter, VicHealth CEO ‘Tsintziras gives an engaging account of her Ikarian journey, practically and philosophically, saying “they’ve reached across the seas and inspired me to live better”. This charming memoir may inspire you to live better too.’ —SAWeekend
Indispensable for all serious students of modern Greece and essential reading for anyone interested in Greek politics, economy, foreign relations and culture. The contributors, from four different countries, combine empathy and objectivity in their studies of modern Greek literature, the development of a genuine national language, the Greek ......
Embark on an enchanting journey to Ikaria in 2002, the renowned island of longevity, where fisherman Thimios and his resilient wife, Marika, unexpectedly give birth to identical triplets: Icaros, Dedalos, and Poseidon. As the triplets grow into handsome and strong individuals with vast experiences in love, they find themselves entangled in a unique tale of romance, cultural diversity, and extraterrestrial encounters. Marrying three awesome sisters of different religion, the triplets become the focus of their father-in-law’s concern, believing his daughters have been abducted. Wandering through twists of fate, the triplets, armed with mnemonic skills from their casino earnings, end up on an Argentinian ranch. There, they encounter extraterrestrial beings with extraordinary capabilities who guide them in escaping contracted killers and reveal the location of a coveted golden vein. However, their pursuit of the golden vein intersects with a dark plot involving exiled German ex-Nazi generals in Argentina preparing for a Third World War. The triplets, joined by their extraterrestrial allies, embark on a thrilling adventure to eliminate this new global threat. The journey unfolds across the Amazon, where tribal communities celebrate them as heroes. The saga reaches a climax on a new planet inhabited solely by ageless, sexually deprived, and stunning women. Unraveling the mystery of these women’s elixir of life, the triplets discover a dinosaur paradise, confronting both danger and desire. Brace yourself for a rollercoaster of excitement, as this riveting adventure transcends worlds and explores the limits of love, courage, and discovery.
Follow the adventures of the Orthelios Twins as they reunite after years of estrangement to face a long dormant evil risen to claim the world as her own.
