Category: Mykonos

Last month a heavy snowstorm hit mainland Greece and, incredibly, many islands in the Aegean sea, Mykonos and Santorini included. The scenario was charming. A gentle pale coat covered all the white houses in Mykonos town and beaches, with a layer that lasted for days.

Now that spring is coming, let’s briefly discuss how climate change hits Greece. The heavy storm was an exceptional event, but Athens was covered by a generous amount of snow like last year. A white Acropolis went viral around the world.

The increasing deforestation of the Attica region

The deforestation left the Capital without natural protection from the freezy winds during the cold months and from the scorching heat in summer. That’s why we’re assisting so often to extreme weather episodes happening closer and closer one to another.

In January 2021, the area was first hit by a warm anticyclone that brought high temperatures for a week (peaking 30 Celsius degrees), allowing Greeks to enjoy the beautiful beaches of Greece. After a week, the scene was completely different: it seemed a seasons mix.

January 2022 was not that dissimilar, but the grip of cold overwhelmingly arrived until Crete this time, reaching on its path Mykonos and Santorini as well.

Climate change increases unpredictable events

Climate change is leaving Greek islands more isolated than usual. The already powerful winds blowing in the Aegean sea are becoming stronger and stronger, slowing down or blocking the routes of the ships.

Tons of stray cats, dogs, and donkeys need support from the international animal lover community. You can visit the Mykonos Animal Welfare website here.

People experience discomfort, and significantly the rural and agricultural productions are damaged

It happened on Mykonos, but mainly on Santorini, where the wine production from the local grapes suffered a great loss.

Greece is still one of the countries in the EU where recycling is still critically below average compared to the other members. With a 14.4% average recycling rate between 2010 and 2019, the country is far from Germany, ranking first with a 67% rate.

Islands like Santorini, Mykonos, or even Corfu cannot manage the disproportionate quantity of waste they produce during summer, compromising the environment.

A revolution is anyway on its path

Tilos is the forerunner of a project to ensure clean, energetic independence to the Greek islands. A wind turbine and photovoltaic panels give the inhabitants all the electricity they need during winter. It covers the 60/70% of the request during summer when the island hosts tourists.

Would it be enough to protect Greece and its precious environment? More efforts certainly need to be made, but the route to preserve nature is the goal of the youngest greek generation.

2021 is a year of celebration in Greece. Two hundred years ago, the revolution that brought the country to independence began. Outside the Ottoman Empire, mainly in France and in the United Kingdom, people already thought about a kingdom for the Greek people, a trusty ally to destabilize the east side of the Mediterranean Sea.

Who’s Manto?

In these circumstances, we can introduce Manto Mavrogenous, the most famous heroine who took part in the revolution, supporting her compatriots. She was born in Trieste in 1796, under the Ausburg Monarchy, the daughter of Nikolaos Mavrogenous, a merchant from Mykonos, and Zacharati Bati.

She grew up in a wealthy and aristocratic family, having the chance to study Illuminism, a philosophical movement that profoundly influenced her way of thinking. Such a stimulant environment and the well-mannered societies she attended induced her also to learn French, Italian, and Turkish. “The beauty Greek” that was her nickname wasn’t just because she was a clever girl, but beautiful and charming too. Her way of thinking was more similar to the European girls of her age than her Greek peers.

Her father was a relevant member of the Φιλικής Εταιρείας (Filiki Eteria – the friendship organization), the most pertinent among the secret groups born in preparation of the 1821 revolution; supporting its activities, Manto talked about this organization every time she attended a social event.

The rise of the revolution in Mykonos

In 1821 Manto went to Mykonos, helping the locals to fight against the Ottoman troops. She spent her wealth selling gold and jewels to train soldiers, buy weapons, and equip the warships; she even fought several battles.

So, on the 22nd of October 1822, the Mykoniates succeeded in casting out the long-time invaders from their coasts. Immediately after, Manto showed relevant command skills, sending fifty well-trained soldiers and a six ships fleet to defend Tripolis in the Peloponnese region that greek revolters already set free.

A stretched love

The revolution got to the heart, so Manto decided to move to Nafplio in 1823 to join the main actions. It happened when Manto’s mother cut every bond with her, not accepting a revolutionary behavior from a woman of her lineage. In Nafplio, the future capital of the Kingdom of Greece, she met one of the heads of the revolt, Dimitrios Ypsilantis; she fell in love with him, but they never married, causing in Manto deep suffering.

Moreover, various Greek politicians didn’t respect their relationship because they were part of relevant, Russian-friendly families: a treaty that both the French and the English factions couldn’t stand. When Dimitrios Ypsilantis died in 1832, Manto returned to Mykonos, full of pain; she spent time writing her memories.

Last years and death

The revolution and the independence war came to an end, giving the greek people freedom. Ioannis Antonios Kapodistrias, the first Greek prime minister, named her honorary Lieutenant and gave her a house in Nafplio.

She died in Paros in 1848, where she resided since 1840, poor, after spending all her money during the Revolution.

The first movie called “Manto Mavrogenous” was filmed in 1971. During these months in Mykonos, a new film is under production to celebrate such a relevant anniversary. You can meet Manto in the main squares of Mykonos. A marble half-bust is there, with our heroine wearing war clothes.