We sailed into Greece towards the end of their huge forest fire in
greece and olive trees
° Olive Trees ° Corfu ° Olympic Village
When
we visited the Olympic site in Greece in October 2007,
hillsides once covered with olive trees were still burning as a result of fires that started in August. We were shocked to see how close flames
came to the site of the first Olympic Games. However, because the
site is a national park, government funds are now being used to replant
the trees lost in that area.
A more serious problem is that of the more than 1 million olive trees
lost during the rash of fires, many were owned by small
farmers, and many of whom also lost their homes. Groups such as American Forests are working to protect and restore trees around the world. Global aid will be needed to help those
farmers regain their lives and plant new trees. Because of the scope
of the devastation, more concern is being given (rightfully) to stabilizing
the families with food, clothing, medicine, etc.
Initially nothing was being
done about replanting the trees, which are necessary for their survival
and which are a large income source for Greece and the farmers. Greece
is quite a poor country due, quite possibly, to the constant over-taking
of the country by various invaders through the years and current immigration from countries fleeing various strife in their own countries.
The indigenous olive tree (wild olivetree) first appeared in the eastern Mediterranean but it was in Greecethat it was first cultivated. Since then, the presence of the olive tree in the Greek region has been uninterrupted and closely connected with the traditions and the culture of the Greek people.
Corfu
If you ever wonder why various European cultures look askance at visitors, think about Corfu (which has a history not atypical of much of Europe).
At the crossroads of a number of civilizations from Italy to the Eastern Mediterranean, Corfu has been invaded repeatedly through the centuries and has has different names through the years, including Drepanon, Makris and Scheria (as it was referred to in Homeric epics). Today, Corfu is known as Kerkyra in Greece . . . a name that comes from Greek mythology; it is the name of the beautiful nymph Kerkyra, daughter of the river Asopo. Poseidon kidnapped her and brought her to the island where they bore a son named Phaeax, leader of the Phaeacians.
Corfu has been under Roman rule, Byzantine rule, the Crusaders passed through, the Sicilians took the island in 1258, followed by the Venetians (who are given credit for the olive groves). Genovese and Turks also made attempts to take over the island. Just before the start of the 19th century, Corfu, due to its strategic position, came under Napoleon Bonaparts and French rule. Turks aligned with Russians, ousted the French, and created the Ionian State. In 1807, Corfu was once again under French rule, and the Ionian Academy, the first Greek University was founded. The Italian fleet bombed Corfu in 1923, again during World War II, and was occupied by Italy in 1943. This all would make me suspicious of strangers.
When we visited the Olympic site in Greece in October 2007, hillsides once covered with olive trees were still burning as a result of fires that started in August. Flames licked dangeously close to the site of the first Olympic Games. However, because the site is a national park, government funds were being used to replant the trees lost in that area. A shot at the site of the Olympic Games in early Greece shows a burned hillside behind the stoneworks.
Reading departure signs in some big airport