Greece: The Law Legalising Illegal Buildings Is...ILLEGAL!

To Vima (English)

"The Council’s Ekaterini Sakellaropoulou explained that the 1337/1983 law on illegal buildings (the “Tritsis” law) was more than enough, meaning that illegal buildings constructed after the 31st of January 1983 will be demolished".

From In.gr

From To Vima (Greek)

What happens next? Demolition?

The Council of State has declared unconstititional the law that allowed property-owners of "illegal properties" to pay fines to legalise them.

That's how I understand it, at first glance.

I'm sure another more constitutional law will be drafted shortly.

Kathimerini (Greek)

The Secret Life of Sea Cliffs (COAST), Burton Bradstock, Lyme Regis

Today's BBC 2 Coast programme on Britain's sea-cliffs contained some fascinating sections on Burton Bradstock and Lyme Regis. Watch it on BBC I-Player

Corfu, Summer Blue Bus Schedule

Useful bus schedule, thanks to Trip Advisor

The Stones in LA, 27 April

Quite a work-out at Echoplex, a club in Los Angeles.

You Got Me Rocking/Respectable (YouTube).

Amazing grizzly photo of the lead singer in The Times (2), May 1, 2013. 

Extracts from the first tour date, at the Staples Centre, LA. Do Keith and Mick sing The Last Time chorus in tune?

Michelle Hanson on Mr. Whitwham and The Stones (The Guardian).

Corfu's Mon Repos Palace is NOT For Sale; Το Μον Ρεπό και η ιστορία της Κέρκυρας δεν πωλούνται

The Daily Telegraph recently reported (20 April) that the Palace of Mon Repos was up for sale (Daily Telegraph, Greece's Great Fire Sale).

"To that end, the royal palace on Corfu, where Prince Philip was born, is now also for sale. So too is a large coastal estate which, the government boasts on its website, is next door to land owned by the Rothschild banking dynasty".

Not so, says Mr Trepeklis, the Mayor of Corfu, with reference to Mon Repos.

"Από τη θέση του Δημάρχου Κέρκυρας δηλώνω κατηγορηματικά ότι η ιστορία του νησιού μας δεν πωλείται!

Το Μον Ρεπό, ανήκει στο Δήμο Κέρκυρας και στον Κερκυραϊκό Λαό και εκεί θα παραμείνει"

iefimerida.gr reinforces the Mayor's statement

Still, rumours persist that there is a potential buyer. Corfu Press speculates that it might be the British Royal Family.

Nooz.gr, a similar question

There were rumours back in 2011 that the Achilleon Palace might be for sale- see my posting then.

I am sure that's not true.

Ethnos article on Mon Repos

Greek Reporter, on Mon Repos :

"According to information cited on Sunday’s Ethnos journal, “It is a ‘provocative’ article, as stated by an agent in Corfu knowing the history of the property, this publication reflects the innermost desires of the royal family of Britain who is keen to acquire the Mon Repos, as they consider it their property. That was where Philip Mountbatten, Duke of Edinburgh and husband of Queen Elizabeth of England was born".

The Daily Telegraph, June 2011

I can make neither head nor tail of this confusing article from www.corfu-news.gr/localnews. It seems to have more to do with local politics than hard news (in Greek).

Corfu Press article, July 2013

On the OPAP deal

May Day: Strikes or Chaucer?

I could mention strikes, but I prefer a little Chaucer, a passage from The Knight's Tale, translated by A.S. Kline:



"So passed year on year, and day on day,

Until one morning in the month of May

Young Emily, she fairer to be seen

Than is the lily on its stalk of green,

And fresher than the May with flowers new –

For with the rose’s colour strove her hue;

I know not which was finer of the two –

Ere it was day, as she was wont to do,

She has risen, and dressed at first light,

For May will have no slothfulness a-night,

The season pricks at every gentle heart,

And makes it from its sleep begin to start,

And says: ‘Arise, perform your observance!’

And this made Emily rouse her remembrance

Of the honour due to May, and so to rise.

She was clothed fresh to watching eyes;

Her yellow hair was braided in a tress

Behind her back, a yard long, I guess.

And in the garden, as the sun up-rose,

She walked up and down, and as she chose

Gathered flowers, mingled, white and red,

To make a woven garland for her head,

And sang like an angel, as she went along".


(Translated by A. S. Kline © 2007 All Rights Reserved .

This work may be freely reproduced, stored, and transmitted,

electronically or otherwise, for any non-commercial purpose).

http://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/English/CanterburyTalesII.htm

Some Corfu May Days, Long Ago

To finish, a photo by TeacherDude, May Day in Greece