#crete north coast

[blueiscoool]

Rich Votive Deposit Discovered in Sicily's Valley of the Temples

At least sixty terracotta figurines, female protomes, and busts, oil lamps, and small vases, a rich votive deposit of bronze fragments were found in the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, on the southwest coast of Sicily.

The objects were found in House VII b, which forms part of the housing complex north of the temple of Juno. The campaign is fully funded and supported by the Sicilian Region through the Valley of the Temples Archaeological Park, directed by Roberto Sciarratta, and is led by archaeologist Maria Concetta Parello.

In an announcement published by the Sicilian Region Institutional Portal: “The findings allow us to understand the dynamics of the destruction of Agrigentum in 406 BC by the Carthaginians, when the inhabitants had to flee in exodus towards the city of Gela.”

The votive deposit, which would appear to have been arranged above the destruction levels of the house, may tell the story of the time when its objects were recovered by the Akragantines after the destruction. To define with certainty the function of the interesting deposit will require further research, paying close attention to the stratigraphic connections between the deposit and the living and abandonment levels of the house.

The Valley of the Temples forms part of the ancient city of Agrigentum, situated in the province of Agrigento, Sicily. Since 1997, the Valley of the Temples (covering 3212 acres) has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

According to the Greek historian, Thucydides, Agrigentum was founded around 582-580 BC by Greek colonists from Gela in eastern Sicily, with further colonists from Crete and Rhodes. It was routed by the forces of Carthaginian general Himilko in 406 B.C. Agrigento’s residents fled to nearby Gela when Himilko sacked their city, but then he took Gela too. All of the Greek colonies on Sicily fell to Himilko and were made vassals of Carthage. Punic primacy would not last long, however. Timoleon of Corinth defeated Carthage in Sicily and liberated the Greek cities in 399 B.C.

By Leman Altuntaş.

[cincinnatusvirtue]

Countries that are no more: Republic of Venice (697AD-1797AD)

The first in a series I hope to feature on providing high level overviews of countries that existed and were influential to history or obscure and lost to most memory in time. The first up is the Republic of Venice.

Name: Serenisma Republega de Venesia (Venetian). In English this translates to the state's official name The Most Serene Republic of Venice. Also referred to as the Venetian Republic, Republic of Venice or just Venice.

Language: The official languages were the Romance languages of Latin, Venetian & later Italian. The regional dialect of Vulgar Latin in Northeastern Italy known as Veneto was the original language of Venice. This evolved in Venetian which was attested to as a distinct language as early as the 13th century AD. Venetian became the official language and lingua franca of the everyday Venetians and across parts of the Mediterranean although Latin would still be used in official documents and religious functions. Overtime, modern Italian was spoken in Venice though the Venetian language remains technically a separate language in Italy's Veneto region and the surrounding areas to this day.

Minority languages across the republic's territory included various Romance languages such as Lombard, Friulian, Ladin, Dalmatian and non-romance languages such as Albanian, Greek & Serbo-Croatian.

Territory: The republic was centered on the city of Venice founded in the Venetian lagoon on the north end of the Adriatic Sea to the northeast coast of the Italian peninsula. It also included the surrounding regions of mainland northeast Italy in the regions of Veneto and Friuli and parts of Lombardy. This became known as the terraferma or the mainland holdings of the republic. It also possessed overseas holdings in modern day Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Albania, Greece & Cyprus.

Symbols & Mottos: The main symbol of Venice was its flag which had the famed Winged Lion of St. Mark. This represented the republic's patron saint, St. Mark. Mark the Evangelist after whom the Gospel of Mark in the New Testament in the Bible is named. Mark's body and holy relics were taken by Venice and said to be housed in the Basilica di San Marco (St. Mark's Basilica) in Venice itself. Variations of this flag differed during times of peace & war. During peace the winged lion is seen holding an open book and during war flags depicted the lion with its paw upon a bible and an upright sword held in another paw.

The republic's motto in Latin was "Pax tibi Marce, evangelista meus" or in English "Peace be to you Mark, my evangelist."

Religion: Roman Catholicism was the official religion of the state but Venice did have minorities of Eastern Orthodox & Protestant (usually foreign) Christian denominations at times in its territory and it also had small populations of Jews and Muslims to be found in Greek and Albanian territories during the wars with the Ottoman Empire.

Currency: Venetian ducat and later the Venetian lira.

Population: Though population varied overtime for the republic due to a variety of factors such as war & changing territory and disease & its subsequent effects. There was rough population recorded of 2.3 million people across all of its holdings in the mid sixteenth century (circa 1550-1560). The vast majority of its population was found in the terraferma of northern Italy and the city of Venice itself with its concentrated population on the islands within the Venetian Lagoon. The Greek island of Crete and the island of (Greek speaking) Cyprus were the most populous overseas possessions of the republic's territory. The rest of the population was found its various holdings in the Balkans mostly along the Adriatic coastline.

Government: The republic followed a complex mixed model of government. Essentially it could be characterized as a mixed parliamentary constitutional republic with a mercantile oligarchy ruling over it in practice. It had no formal written constitution, and this led to a degree of evolution without exactly defined roles often in reaction to happenings in its history. The resulting government became more complex overtime as institutions became increasingly fragmented in their size, scope and duties, some almost obsolete but still retained and others not fully defined. Yet, the republic managed to function quite well for most of its history. It incorporated elements of oligarchy, monarchy & limited democracy.

It's head of state and government was known as the Doge which is akin to the term of Duke. Though this similarity of name ends there. The Doge was neither similar to a duke in the modern sense nor was it meant as a hereditary position. The doge was rather a lifetime appointment much like the Pope for the Roman Catholic Church. Furthermore, doges were elected by the ruling elite of Venice, namely its wealthy oligarchy merchant class. The doge didn't have well defined & precise powers throughout the republic's 1,100-year history. It varied from great autocracy in the early parts of the republic to increasing regulation and restriction by the late 13th century onward. Though the doge always maintained a symbolic and ceremonial role throughout the republic's history. Some doges were forcibly removed from power and post-1268 until a new doge could be elected, the republic's rule transferred to the most senior ducal counsellor with the style of "vicedoge". After a doge's death following a commission was formed to study the doge's life and review it for moral and ethical transgressions and placed judgment upon him posthumously. If the commission found the deceased doge to have transgressed, his estate could be found liable and subject to fines. The doge was given plenty of ceremonial roles such as heading the symbolic marriage of Venice to the sea by casting a marriage ring into the sea from the doge's barge (similar to a royal yacht). Additionally, the doge was treated in foreign relations akin to a prince. It's titles and styles include "My Lord the Doge", "Most Serene Prince" and "His Serenity". The doge resided in the ducal palace (Palazzo Ducale) or Doge's Palace on the lagoonfront in Venice next St. Mark's Basilica and St. Mark's Square.

While the doge remained the symbolic and nominal head of the government, the oligarchy remained supreme overall. The supreme political organ was the 480-member Great Council. This assembly elected many of the office holders within the republic (including the doge) and the various senior councils tasked with administration, passing laws and judicial oversight. The Great Council's membership post 1297 was restricted to an inheritance by members of the patrician elite of the city of Venice's most noble families recorded in the famed Golden Book. This was divided between the old houses of the republic's earliest days and newer mercantile families if their fortunes should attain them property ownership and wealth. These families usually ranged between 20-30 total. They were socially forbidden from marrying outside their class & usually intermarried for political and economic reasons. Their economic concerns were chief to the whole of the republic and most centered on Eurasian & African trade throughout the Mediterranean Sea's basin. Members of these families served in the military and eventually rose to prominent positions of administration throughout the republic.

The Great Council overtime circumscribed the doge's power by creating councils devoted to oversight of the doge or executive and administrative functions (similar to modern executive cabinets or departments) whereas the doge became more and more a ceremonial role. The also created a senate which handled daily legislation. They also created a Council of Ten set to have authority over all government action. Other bodies were formed from this Great Council and others overtime. This resulted in intricate and overlapping yet separate bodies which found themselves subject to limitations with various checks on virtually each other's power. Essentially running as committees or sub-committees with checks on another committee's powers. These bodies weren't always completely defined in their scope and overtime their complexity led to battles to limit other's power (with limited success) along with gradual obsolescence and sometimes slow grinding administration.

Military: The military of Venice consisted of a relatively small army and a powerful navy. The famed Venetian Arsenal in Venice proper was essentially a complex of armories and shipyards to build and arm Venice's navy. The arsenal in Venice has the capacity to mass produce ships and weapons in the Middle Ages, centuries before the Industrial Revolution allowed for modern mass production in economic and military applications. Venice's military was designed towards protecting it possessions both in Italy and its overseas territories. The primary concern was to secure Venice's trade routes to the rest of Europe as well as Asia & Africa. It faced opponents' overtime ranging from the Franks, the Byzantine Empire, Bulgarians to other Italian city-states, France, Austria, the Ottoman Empire and Barbary Corsairs along with European pirates in the Adriatic and Mediterranean. It played key roles as a naval transport in other powers including throughout the Crusades. It also played a key role in the infamous Fourth Crusade which culminated in the Sack of Constantinople in 1204 AD, an event which fractured the Byzantine Empire into a half-century of civil war between successor states before a weakened revival in the mid 13th century. The Byzantine Empire would linger until the 15th century when the Ottoman Empire finally conquered its last remaining portions. Many attribute this loss to in part to its weakness still resulting from that 1204 sack lead by Venice. The Venetian military would exist until the republic's end when The French Republic's Army of Italy under Napoleon Bonaparte conquered the republic, a conquest in which the Venetians surrendered without a proper fight.

Economy: Venice's economy was based largely in trade. Namely control over the salt trade. Venice was to control salt (preservative of food) production and trade throughout the Mediterranean. It also traded in commodities associated with the salt trade routes to Eurasia and Africa. These commodities could include other foodstuffs (grains, meats & cheeses), textiles & glassware among other items.

Lifespan: 697AD-1797AD. Though the exact founding of Venice itself hasn't been determined. It is traditionally said to have taken place in the year 421 AD. At a time when Roman citizens in northeast Italy were escaping waves of Germanic & Hunnic barbarian invasions that contributed to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. The going theory is that these Romans evaded barbarian attacks by building their homes in the Venetian Lagoon by hammering wood stakes to form a foundation which sunk into the muddy shallows and petrified. Upon which they built their homes and created a cityscape marked by streets and canals interlaced. Venice remained a community of fishermen and merchants and was nominally under the control of the surviving Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire). It avoided barbarians overrunning the land but also was removed enough from Constantinople that it was relatively autonomous and became strategically important as a port. Other islands in the lagoon also banded together with Venice in a loose confederation of sorts by the 6th and 7th centuries which increased economic productivity and security for the city. The first doge was said to have been elected in 697 AD under the name Paolo Lucio Anafesto, though there is dispute about his historicity. Anafesto supposedly ruled until 717 AD. This is traditionally regarded as the foundation of the Republic of Venice.

Venice's third doge was Orso Ipato who reigned from 726-737 and he is the first undisputed historically recorded doge whose existence was confirmed. Orso also known as Ursus was known to strengthen the city's navy and army to protect it from the Lombard Germanic invaders who had overrun and ruled Italy by that time. Though nominally part of the Byzantine Empire, by 803, the Byzantine Emperors are said to have recognized Venice's de-facto independence. Though this view is disputed somewhat, it nevertheless remained virtually independent until its collapse in 1797.

Venice also partook in the slave trade of non-Christian European populations from Eastern Europe and transferred them to North Africa, selling them to the Arab and Berber (Moors) of the Islamic world.

As the 9th century progressed, the Venetian navy secured the Adriatic and various trade routes by defeating Slavic and Muslim pirates in the region. The Venetians also went onto battle the Normans who settled in southern Italy and Sicily in the 11th century.

Venice provided naval transports for Crusaders from Western Europe starting with the successful First Crusade.

The High Middle Ages (1000AD-1350AD) saw the wealth and expansion Venice increase dramatically. However, over this period Venice gradually came into mixed relations with its former ruler the Byzantine Empire. The Byzantine Empire endured corruption, civil war and foreign invasion which saw it alternate between periods of waning power and restored power. Venice provided the Byzantines with an increased naval force when needed and many trading commodities. In exchange for this, Venice was granted trading rights within Byzantine territory and a place within the "Latin Quarter" for Western Europeans in Constantinople. The Byzantine populace though calling themselves "Romans" having taken on the political & cultural institutions of the Roman Empire which lived on in the East long after the Western half's collapse, were in fact mostly Greek by ethnicity, language and culture. Their religion was the Eastern Orthodox or Greek Orthodox branch of Christianity which was often at odds with Roman Catholics of Western Europe. Resentment at the religious and cultural differences along with the economic displacement the Venetians and other Italian merchants from Genoa & Pisa had caused in Constantinople's maritime & financial sectors contributed to the 1182 "Massacre of the Latins" in which the Byzantine Greek majority of the city rioted and slaughtered much of the 60,000 mostly Italian Catholics living within the city. Thousands were also sold into slavery to the Anatolian Seljuk Turks.

This event lingered in Venice's memory as its trade in the city was reduced for awhile. Though trade resumed between the Byzantines and the West again shortly thereafter, the event soured the perception of the Greeks to Western Europeans. This along with a subsequent power struggle for the throne of the Eastern Roman Emperor fell into Venice & Western Crusader's hands in 1202. Looking to originally ferry Western Crusaders to the Levant against the Islamic Ayyubid Sultanate of Egypt & Syria. Events transpired that devolved into Venice conspiring under its doge Enrico Dandalo along with other Western leaders and a Byzantine claimant to the throne that resulted in the first successful sacking of Constantinople in 1204. The city was ransacked, some Greek citizens murdered by the Crusaders & classical works of art destroyed or looted (most famously the four bronze horses of St. Marks in Venice) and politically, the Byzantine Empire would be temporarily fractured between competing Greek dynasties while the Crusaders along with Venice created the short-lived Latin Empire, which controlled Constantinople and its environs while Venice also acquired Greek territories which it was to hold for centuries. Venice also came into conflict with the Second Bulgarian Empire at this time as its support of the Latin Empire of Constantinople encroached on the Bulgarian's land. Eventually by the mid 13th century the Latin Empire (never fully stable) collapsed, and the Byzantine Empire was restored until the mid-15th century but forever weakened as a result of the 1204 sacking of its capital.

Venice reached trade deals with the Mongol Empire in 1221. As the century wore on, it also engaged its rival in Western Italy Genoa in some warfare.

The 14th century is generally regarded as Venice at its peak as it faced down Genoa in a number of battles and came to be the most dominant trading power in the Mediterranean, though it was impacted by the Black Death plague. Nevertheless, into the 15th and even 16th centuries, it partook in a number of wars which saw it gain territory on the Italian mainland, establishing its terraferma domain.

By the 16th late 15th and into the 16th century new threats had emerged such as the Turkish Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman capture of Constantinople in 1453 is seen as the end of the Middle Ages as the last political vestiges of the Roman Empire vanished from the world stage. However, a number of Byzantine Greeks escaped on Italian ships during the conquest of the city and others escaped Greece in subsequent years. These refugees brought with them artistic and cultural heritages that reemphasized the classical forms of Ancient Greece and Rome and lead to the Italian Rennaisance in art & other forms of culture. Ideas which emphasized humanism and spread to elsewhere in Europe overtime.

While there was a cultural flourishing in Venice and elsewhere due to the Rennaisance. There was also the first signs of economic and political decline as well from the 16th century onwards. The Ottoman dominance in the Eastern Mediterranean meant the traditional trade routes to the East were cut off by an often-hostile Muslim power. Additionally, other maritime powers in the West namely Spain & Portugal had recently begun exploring the continents of South & North America and in time France, England & the Netherlands would join in them. This decline in Eastern trade and the newfound trade routes dominated by other European states in the Americas and Asia (by way of rounding Africa) would render trade with Venice gradually obsolete. Venice would still maintain what trade it could in the Mediterranean, but it also focused on production and placed increasing importance on its Italian mainland possessions rather than just its declining position overseas in Greek territories, including the loss of Cyprus to the Ottomans in 1571. Though the Venetian navy with other Christian powers won the notable naval victory against the Ottomans in 1570 at Lepanto.

It was also involved in the Italian Wars between various rival city states and the power struggle between the Papacy, France and the Hapsburg realms of the Holy Roman Empire and Spain.

Other factors that impacted the declining trade in the 17th century included an inability to keep up in the textile trade elsewhere in Europe, closure of the spice trade to all but the Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese, French and English and the Thirty Years War (1618-1648) which impacted Venice's trade partners.

Ongoing wars including a 21-year siege of Crete by the Ottomans saw further losses. Although Venice partook in the Holy League headed by the Holy Roman Empire (under Hapsburg Austria) which saw some minor temporary gains from the Ottomans in southern Greece before losing them again in the early 18th century.

War and loss of overseas territories along with a stagnant economy was slightly offset by a somewhat strong position in northern Italy. Nevertheless, its maritime fleet was reduced to a mere shadow of its former glory and it found itself sandwiched still between Austria and France. Over the rest of the 18th century, economic stagnation and social stratification remained prevalent while Venice remained in a quiet peace. However, the French Revolution reignited war in Italy and while Venice remained neutral, it would soon get caught up in events.

The Austrians and the Piedmontese (Italian) allies were beaten by the French Republic's Army of Italy headed by an up-and-coming general named Napoleon Bonaparte. Bonaparte and the French army crossed the borders of northern Italy into Venetian neutral territory to pursue the Austrians. Eventually half of Venice's territory was occupied by France and the remainder of the mainland was occupied by Austria. By secret treaty the French and Austrians were to divide the territory between themselves (Venice was consulted in the matter). Bonaparte gave orders to Venetian doge Ludovico Manin to surrender the city to French occupation to which he abdicated his power. The republic's Major Council met one last time to officially declare an end to republic on May 12th, 1797, after 1,100 years. Venice was placed under a provisional government and ironically the French looted Venice stripping it of artworks to grace the Louvre Museum in Paris along with the Arc d'Triomphe, taking the famed four bronze horses of St. Mark's to adorn the triumphal arch in Paris, the very same horses Venice had confiscated from Constantinople in 1204. It was a symbolic end to the republic, the irony of which did not escape commentators at the time. Following Napoleonic France's final defeat in 1815 the horses were returned to Venice and St. Mark's where they remain today. Venice itself was given over to the Austrian Empire.

The Republic of Venice has a historical legacy in terms of its economic accomplishments through control of trade and its innovative mass production of ships, armaments & trade commodities. It also holds a political legacy worthy of study given it was a unique and enduring polity for 1,100 years. One that maintained a complex and at times chaotic form of government that still managed to function and endure for centuries.

[ltwilliammowett]

Nef of a galley made of rock crystal, decorated with gold, rubies, enamel and emeralds, made by Saracchi in Milan, late 16th century.

The hull of the ship with the so-called chart house is decorated on the long sides with scenes from the Greek mythological world.  

One recognises the flying Perseus with sword and Gorgon shield, who will save Andromeda, chained to a rock, from a ravenous sea monster. Zeus can also be seen in the form of a bull. On his back he carries the king's daughter Europa to abduct her to Crete. On yet another shore, the beautiful Helen is stolen by Paris and his companions and taken in a ship to Troy. And so a final scene leads to the north-west coast of Asia Minor, where King Agamemnon and his army lay siege to the city of Troy.

[canadianabroadvery]

he Palace of Knossos is located just south of modern-day Heraklion near the north coast of Crete. Built by a civilization that we call the Minoans, it covers about 150,000 square feet (14,000 square meters), the size of more than two football fields, and was surrounded by a town in antiquity.

[mariacallous]

A protest movement that began on the Greek island of Rhodes has spread to the north of the country with activists of the so-called ‘Towel Movement’ protesting in Chalkidiki for the restoration of full public access to Greece’s beaches.

Greeks are increasingly frustrated by the takeover of large stretches of coastline by private businesses that illegally restrict access to beaches and frequently charge exorbitant sums for the rent of sunbeds.

On Sunday, residents of Nikiti and Nea Potidea in Chalkidiki chanted ‘the coast belongs to the people’ and ‘every beach will be free’.

Scheduling a new protest, organisers declared, ‘We claim our rights, we defend public spaces’.

The Towel Movement began in June on the island of Rhodes. It spread to the island of Paros, where residents measured the area of beach occupied by parasols and documented its expansion despite a lack of permits in many cases. Naxos, Crete and Attica followed.

Greek law does not recognise private beaches. However, according to a report by Greece’s public broadcaster, some 80 per cent of Crete’s Falasarna beach – considered one of the most beautiful in the world and part of the Natura 2000 network of protected areas – has effectively been fenced off by private businesses operating without permits. The fines they face amount to roughly half a day’s takings, which critics say is far too low to act as a deterrent.

In May, Greece’s Supreme Court sent a memo to prosecutors reiterating that it remains illegal to block access to public beaches and that those who violate the rules should be sanctioned.

[ukdamo]

Today's photo was taken at Karfi - high up on the Lasithi Plateau, Crete. I was there to visit the archaeological remains of the ancient Minoan sanctuary and town. The photo shows the view north to Malia and the coast.

[head-post]

Greece turned into climate change hotspot

Greece has become a climate change hotspot, with average temperatures rising by 1.5 degrees Celsius over the past three decades, according to a new study published on Tuesday.

According to the study by a team of scientists from the National Observatory of Athens, who examined changes in temperature, precipitation and sea temperature using data from Europe’s Copernicus service, the Greek territory as a whole has seen a temperature increase of about 0.05C per year and 1.5C over the nearly 30-year period from 1991 to 2020.

The study said that in many regions – mainly in northern Greece away from the coast – temperatures increased by about 0.07C per year, meaning that the average temperature in these areas increased by more than 2C over the period.

There was also a fairly significant reduction in the number of frosty days across the country, with a greater reduction in frosty days in the north-west of mainland Greece, as well as a 1.5C increase in sea surface temperature, with the maximum increase occurring in the northern Aegean, Ionian Sea and around the island of Crete.

The period also saw an increase in the number of days with heavy precipitation, estimated at 9-10 days over a 30-year period, as evidenced by the increased flooding the country has experienced in recent years.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has labelled the Mediterranean as a hotspot for the global climate change problem.

In July, the Greek island of Rhodes underwent an evacuation of all hotels threatened by wildfires. More than two thousand people were taken out by sea. Strong forest fires had been raging there since July 18, and on July 22 the fire reached three hotels in the village of Kiotari.

Read more HERE

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 8.27 (after 1920)

1922 – Greco-Turkish War: The Turkish army takes the Aegean city of Afyonkarahisar from the Kingdom of Greece. 1927 – Five Canadian women file a petition to the Supreme Court of Canada, asking: "Does the word 'Persons' in Section 24 of the British North America Act, 1867, include female persons?" 1928 – The Kellogg–Briand Pact outlawing war is signed by fifteen nations. Ultimately sixty-one nations will sign it. 1933 – The first Afrikaans Bible is introduced during a Bible Festival in Bloemfontein. 1939 – First flight of the turbojet-powered Heinkel He 178, the world's first jet aircraft. 1942 – First day of the Sarny Massacre, perpetrated by Germans and Ukrainians. 1943 – World War II: Japanese forces evacuate New Georgia Island in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. 1943 – World War II: Aerial bombardment by the Luftwaffe razes to the ground the village of Vorizia in Crete. 1955 – The first edition of the Guinness Book of Records is published in Great Britain. 1956 – The nuclear power station at Calder Hall in the United Kingdom was connected to the national power grid becoming the world's first commercial nuclear power station to generate electricity on an industrial scale. 1962 – The Mariner 2 unmanned space mission is launched to Venus by NASA. 1963 – An explosion at the Cane Creek potash mine near Moab, Utah kills 18 miners. 1964 – South Vietnamese junta leader Nguyễn Khánh enters into a triumvirate power-sharing arrangement with rival generals Trần Thiện Khiêm and Dương Văn Minh, who had both been involved in plots to unseat Khánh. 1971 – An attempted coup d'état fails in the African nation of Chad. The Government of Chad accuses Egypt of playing a role in the attempt and breaks off diplomatic relations. 1975 – The Governor of Portuguese Timor abandons its capital, Dili, and flees to Atauro Island, leaving control to a rebel group. 1979 – The Troubles: Eighteen British soldiers are killed in an ambush by the Provisional Irish Republican Army near Warrenpoint, Northern Ireland, in the deadliest attack on British forces during Operation Banner. An IRA bomb also kills British royal family member Lord Mountbatten and three others on his boat at Mullaghmore, Republic of Ireland. 1980 – South Korean presidential election: After successfully staging the Coup d'état of May Seventeenth, General Chun Doo-hwan, running unopposed, has the National Conference for Unification elect him President of the Fourth Republic of Korea. 1982 – Turkish military diplomat Colonel Atilla Altıkat is shot and killed in Ottawa. Justice Commandos of the Armenian Genocide claim to be avenging the massacre of 1+1⁄2 million Armenians in the 1915 Armenian genocide. 1985 – Major General Muhammadu Buhari, Chairman of the Supreme Military Council of Nigeria, is ousted from power in a coup d'état led by Major General Ibrahim Babangida. 1985 – Space Shuttle Discovery is launched on STS-51-I to deploy three communication satellites and repair a fourth malfunctioning one. 1991 – The European Community recognizes the independence of the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. 1991 – Moldova declares independence from the USSR. 1992 – Aeroflot Flight 2808 crashes on approach to Ivanovo Yuzhny Airport, killing all 84 aboard. 2003 – Mars makes its closest approach to Earth in nearly 60,000 years, passing 34,646,418 miles (55,758,005 km) distant. 2003 – The first six-party talks, involving South and North Korea, the United States, China, Japan and Russia, convene to find a peaceful resolution to the security concerns of the North Korean nuclear weapons program. 2006 – Comair Flight 5191 crashes on takeoff from Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky, bound for Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta. Of the passengers and crew, 49 of 50 are confirmed dead in the hours following the crash. 2011 – Hurricane Irene strikes the United States east coast, killing 47 and causing an estimated $15.6 billion in damage.

[transferplan-crete]

Stalida, a perfect blend of relaxation and adventure

Stalida is a village that lies between Malia and Hersonissos on the north coast of Crete, 30 km from Heraklion airport. It is a lively resort, attracting tourists from many European countries. The heart of Stalis can be found in the 5km long coastal road, which is lined up with several kinds of shops and establishments. During sunset time, a walk along the beach is a 'must do' for all visitors. The beach itself stretches for several kilometres, up to the eastern part of Malia. Moreover, the beach is sandy and the waters are shallow making it ideal for younger visitors. Also, the beach diverges into two parts and is separated because of a short rocky cape in the middle. Stalis beach is very well organized and offers several amenities such as, sun loungers, umbrellas, lifeguards, beach volley courts, showers, beach bars, water sports, changing rooms and every other facility you might need. Stalis is also famous for its Cretan date palm plantation, which is one of the few in Heraklion prefecture. Stalida itself was named after the Greek verb 'stalizo' which means 'stop for resting' and that's Stalis main difference with Malia and Hersonissos and other similar resorts. There you can just unwind in one of the small family hotels and have some terrific long walks along the coast or simply sit in a coffee house and just watch the world go by. For adrenaline junkies and hiking enthusiasts, the Bulgarian trail that ascends all the way up to Mohos offers an excellent opportunity for a trek. The trail was named after some Bulgarian POVs from WW2 who were forced to build it. The total distance to Mohos is 5 km but the trail itself is strenuous, always on the incline and with no shade, thus making it a challenging hike. On the way, you will be able to cross a pedestrian bridge above the highway and a few kilometres away you will reach the monastery of the Virgin Mary. Once you reach Mohos you can enjoy a well-earned coffee in one of the local establishments on the main square. Alternatively, the Mohos trail can be done in reverse or descend through another Mohos trail towards Malia. The main difference of Stalida from Hersonissos and Malia is that this place is ideal for families. You will find peaceful small hotels where you can relax, have a walk and enjoy a terrific view of the bay of Hersonissos.

[dfroza]

A storm of life faced.

we all have these in some form.

and so we need to trust in heavenly hope.

Today’s reading of the Scriptures from the New Testament is the 27th chapter of the book of Acts:

The date was set for us to depart for Rome, and Paul and some other prisoners were transferred to the custody of a Roman officer named Julius, a member of the Augustan Division. I, Luke, was permitted to join Paul for his journey to Rome, along with Aristarchus, a Macedonian brother from Thessalonica. We boarded a ship from Adramyttium that was stopping in ports along the coast of Asia. We stopped the next day at Sidon, and Julius kindly allowed Paul to visit friends and be taken care of by them. We sailed from there north of Cyprus because the winds were unfavorable. We passed Cilicia and Pamphylia on our right and then came to Myra in Lycia. There Julius found a ship from Alexandria heading directly to Italy, to which we transferred. The winds were still contrary, so we made slow progress for a number of days and with difficulty passed Cnidus and sailed south toward Crete and past Cape Salmone on its eastern end. Sailing conditions were adverse to say the least. Finally we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea on the south coast of Crete. We had lost a lot of time already—it was late in the year for sailing—following the Day of Atonement, and conditions had deteriorated from adverse to dangerous. Paul tried to warn those in charge.

Paul: Sirs, if we proceed, I can see that our voyage will be dangerous and will involve heavy loss, not only of cargo, but of the ship itself; not only of the ship, but also of our lives.

But the officer ignored Paul and instead trusted the ship’s pilot and owner who felt they could proceed.

We had two choices. We could anchor in the harbor at Fair Havens and spend the winter, or we could proceed west along the coastline, hoping to reach Phoenix and wait there for calmer spring weather. Fair Havens was not a good option, though, being vulnerable to winter storms; so most of us agreed we should try to reach Phoenix, whose harbor was more protected. One day a moderate south wind began to blow, which made an attempt possible. We weighed anchor and sailed west, staying near shore. Then things got scary. A violent northeaster, the Euraquilo, blew down across Crete. We were caught. We couldn’t turn and sail into this fierce wind, so we had no choice but to let it drive us. We briefly found a bit of shelter from the wind near the island of Clauda. We had been having trouble securing the ship’s lifeboat; but we were able there to hoist it up and send down cables to brace the hull, which was in danger of breaking apart under the strain of the storm. The wind was relentless, and soon we were again being driven southwest at the mercy of the storm. We feared it would drive us all the way to the Syrtis Banks, down near the North African coast, so we threw out the sea anchor to slow us down. All through the night, the storm pounded us violently. The next day, the crew threw the ship’s cargo overboard; and the day after that, they discarded any of the ship’s equipment they could do without. Days passed without relief from the furious winds, without a single break in the clouds to see sun or stars, even for a moment. Despair set in, as if all hope of rescue had been cast overboard as well. On top of all of this, the crew had been unable to eat anything because of the turmoil. Paul saw the crew had reached a critical moment. He gathered them.

Paul: Men, if you had listened to my warning, we would still be safe in Crete and would have avoided this damage and loss. I was correct in my warning, so I urge you to believe me now: none of you will die. We will lose the ship, but we will not lose one life. So keep up your courage, men! The God I belong to, the God I worship, sent a heavenly messenger to me this night. He said, “Do not be afraid, Paul. I’m not finished with you yet. You are going to stand before the emperor! You can be certain that God has granted safety to you and all your companions.” So listen, men: you must not give up hope! Keep up your courage! I have faith in God that things will turn out exactly as I was told last night. Here’s what I foresee: we will run aground on some island.

Imagine what happened: It’s the 14th night of our nightmare voyage; we’re being driven by the storm somewhere in the Adriatic Sea. It’s about midnight, and the sailors are taking soundings, fearing we might run aground. “Twenty fathoms,” somebody calls out in the darkness, then a little later, “Fifteen fathoms.” We’re nearing land! But hope quickly gives way to a new fear. At any moment in this darkness, they realize, we could be smashed onto unseen rocks. So they drop four anchors from the stern and pray for first light.

Then some of the crew decide to make a run for it on their own. They say they need to let out more anchors from the bow, and this will require lowering the ship’s lifeboat. They actually plan to abandon us; we realize what’s going on. Paul quickly speaks to the officer and soldiers.

Paul: Unless these men stay on board, you won’t survive.

So the soldiers intervene, cut away the lifeboat, and let it drift away. We wait. Just before dawn, Paul again gathers everyone on the ship—all 276 of us. He urges everyone to eat and encourages us not to lose hope.

Paul: Listen, men, we’ve all been under incredible stress for 14 days. You haven’t eaten anything during this whole time. I urge you to take some food now because it will help you survive what we’re about to face. And I want to assure you—not one of you will lose a single hair from your head. We’re all going to make it—all 276 of us!

Then Paul takes a loaf of bread and gives thanks to God in front of all of them. He breaks it, takes a piece, and begins to eat. A fresh surge of courage seems to fill their hearts as they also begin to eat. After satisfying their hunger, the crew lightens the ship by throwing the remaining wheat overboard. Day finally breaks. They survey the coastline and don’t recognize it, but they do notice a bay with a beach—the best place to try to run ashore.

So they cut the anchor ropes, untie the steering oars, hoist the foresail to the wind, and make for the beach. But then there’s a horrible sound, and we realize we’ve struck a reef; the bow is jammed solid, and the waves are smashing the stern to pieces. The soldiers start talking about killing the prisoners so they won’t swim away and escape; but the officer wants to save Paul, so he stops them. He tells those who can swim to jump overboard and swim to the shore, and those who can’t, he tells to hold on to planks and other pieces of the ship when it breaks apart. Some hours later, we reassemble on the beach, each one safe and sound.

The Book of Acts, Chapter 27 (The Voice)

Today’s paired reading from the First Testament is the 10th chapter of the book of Exodus:

Eternal One (to Moses): Go pay Pharaoh another visit. I have made his heart and his servants’ hearts as hard as stone, so that I can perform My wondrous signs among them and reveal My power. I have done all these things so that you can tell your children and grandchildren stories of how I treated the cruel Egyptians with contempt and performed My signs among them. I have done all this so that you may believe I am the Eternal.

So once again Moses and Aaron went to see Pharaoh.

Moses and Aaron: The Eternal, the God of the Hebrews, has a message for you: “How long do you plan to resist Me and refuse to humble yourself before Me? Release My people, so that they can go and serve Me in the desert. If you refuse to release My people, tomorrow I will fill your land with locusts, and they will blanket the ground. There will be so many that you will not be able to see the ground! The locusts will devour every crop the hail did not destroy, and their horde will strip every tree that grows in your fields! They will fill every corner of your houses, your servants’ houses, and all the Egyptians’ houses. This will be a spectacle that none of your ancestors have ever seen—never from the day that they were born until this present day.”

Moses then turned and left Pharaoh.

Servants (to Pharaoh): How much longer will you let this man trap us? Why don’t you just release the people and let them go serve the Eternal their God? Look around you! Don’t you see that Egypt is in ruins?

Then Pharaoh had Moses and Aaron brought back to him.

Pharaoh: Some of your people may go and serve this God of yours, the Eternal! But not all. Who will be going with you?

Moses: No. All of us must go—the young and the old. We will take our sons, daughters, flocks, and herds with us. We are all going into the desert to celebrate a great festival to the Eternal.

Pharaoh: The Eternal had better be with you if you really think I am going to let you take your little ones with you! Look, I know you have some evil plan. I can see it in your face. No! I will allow you to take only the men to go and serve the Eternal One, since that is what you have been asking for all along.

Then Pharaoh had Moses and Aaron thrown out.

Eternal One (to Moses): Stretch your hand over the land of Egypt and call forth the locusts, so that they may invade Egypt and devour anything that grows from the earth and everything the hail did not destroy.

Then Moses raised his staff over the land of Egypt, and the Eternal directed the east wind to blow over the land all that day and night. When the morning dawned, the east wind brought with it a cloud of locusts. They dropped from the sky and overran the land of Egypt from one end to the other. Countless numbers of them swarmed in the air and crawled over the ground. Never had there been nor would there ever be again such a swarm of locusts in Egypt. The locusts blanketed the whole land until the ground was smothered in darkness. They devoured every plant growing in the fields and stripped every tree of its fruit, everything the hail had not destroyed. Not one green leaf was left on any tree, not one plant was left growing in the field anywhere in the land of Egypt.

Pharaoh immediately sent for Moses and Aaron.

Pharaoh: I have sinned against the Eternal your God and against you. Now, please forgive me, just this once; and pray to the Eternal your God, and ask Him to take away this plague of death from me.

Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to the Eternal for him.

He caused the winds to shift, and a strong west wind blew and lifted the cloud of locusts up into the air and drove them out into the Red Sea. Not a single locust was left in all the land of Egypt. But He hardened Pharaoh’s stubborn heart, and he refused to release the Israelites.

Eternal One (to Moses): Raise your hand up toward the heavens, and a great darkness will cover the land of Egypt, a heavy, oppressive darkness.

So Moses raised his hand up toward the heavens, and a deep darkness settled over all the land of Egypt for three days. It was so dark that people could not even see each other, and no one dared to venture out from their houses for three whole days. But all the people of Israel had light where they lived. Once more Pharaoh sent for Moses.

Pharaoh: You may go and serve the Eternal. Everyone can go—even your little ones—but leave your herds and flocks behind.

Moses: You must also allow us to take our herds and flocks as sacrifices and burnt offerings, for we must offer them to the Eternal our God. We need to take every single animal—not a hoof can be left behind—because we need some of them to sacrifice to Him. And until we get to where we are going, we will not know what animals we need to worship the Eternal.

But the Eternal hardened Pharaoh’s stubborn heart once again, and he was unwilling to release the Israelites.

Pharaoh (to Moses): Get out of here, and never come back! If you ever try to see my face again, I will have you killed!

Moses: What you say is true. I will never see your face again!

The Book of Exodus, Chapter 10 (The Voice)

A link to my personal reading of the Scriptures for Wednesday, may 1 of 2024 with a paired chapter from each Testament (the First & the New) of the Bible along with Today’s Proverbs and Psalms

A post by John Parsons about inner transformation:

"Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness" (Matt. 6:33). This is the right approach to life: Open your heart to heaven and seek God's presence before you do anything else (Prov. 3:5-6). This is particularly important at this time, friends. Do you want your mind to be confused, excited, depressed or angry? Do you want others to decide what is important and "real" for you? Then turn your attention to this world and its rumors and tendentious news. The mass media thrives on trouble - whether real or imagined - and serves to manipulate people by making them afraid. The newsmakers of this world understand that fearful people make their most loyal consumers...

Consider the godless assumptions that underlie the "obvious" news of the this world, however. Purported and alleged experts are lined up; the dialog is scripted; sound bites are repeated on a relentless schedule, images and videos are crafted, yet you will hear nary a word to call upon God for healing and deliverance. God is simply "not there"; he is not part of the narrative of the present crisis or trouble. Yet nothing could be further than the truth!

The LORD God must be the first principle of our thinking or else we will become deceived, regardless of the formal validity of our reasoning. There is a difference between soundness and validity, and if we do not begin with truth, our thinking will be impaired, even if we accidentally make inferences that turn out to be empirically true. Therefore we must be vigilant and vigorously challenge ideas that attempt to seduce us away from the truth and divide our affections. We must learn to identify the false assumptions that deny the knowledge of God and take “every thought captive” to Messiah. We must be on guard for subtle and calculated appeals to compromise our faith (2 Cor. 10:5).

If we find ourselves in a state of recurring temptation, we must examine the underlying assumptions that are at work in our thinking. If we dig deeper, we are likely to discover that we are doubting that God cares for us, or we are fearful that God will not meet our needs. We must therefore counter such faithless assumptions with God’s revealed truth, and that means regularly studying and reviewing the Scriptures to remind ourselves about what is real rather than what is illusory. We then can learn to look at life as it really is - a spiritual world, a “valley of decision,” a corridor that irresistibly leads to the world to come. Each soul is on a journey to meet with God for judgment... God does not leave us comfortless. He has promised to never leave nor forsake those trusting in Him. The Lord is your Good Shepherd who walks with you during your sojourn through this temporal world (Psalm 23).

A voice says, "Cry!" And I said, "What shall I cry?" All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field" (Isa. 40:6). “All flesh is grass” (כָּל־הַבָּשָׂר חָצִיר) - we are here today but gone tomorrow. We have only so many chances to turn to the LORD and make up our minds that we will serve Him. Our Torah portion this week intimates, “man is a tree of the field," i.e., הָאָדָם עֵץ הַשָּׂדֶה, Deut. 20:19). The righteous man is described as a “tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth fruit in his season” (Psalm 1:3). If you stand in front of a tree to watch it grow, however, you will see nothing. But if you care for the tree, nurture it over time, and provide for its needs, eventually you will see its fruit appear. God gives us each a season to repent, but if that proves fruitless in our spiritual lives, eventually we will be “cut down” (Luke 13:6-9).

The Scriptures warn that a “double-minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8). The word translated “double-minded” is dipsuchos (δίψυχος), a word formed from δίς, “twice” and ψυχή, “soul.” The word describes the spiritual condition of having “two souls” that both want different things at once. It is therefore a state of inner contradiction, of having two separate minds holding contradictory thoughts. “How long will you go limping between two opinions?” Notice that the word translated “limping” is posechim (פּסְחִים), from the same root as Passover (i.e., pasach: פָּסַח): How long will you pass from one thing to another? How long will you play “hot potato” with your commitments?

Being doubleminded makes us “unstable in all our ways.” Such a cross-eyed approach leads to disorientation and confusion. The Greek word used to describe being “unstable” (ἀκατάστατος) is the same word used to translate being "storm-tossed and not comforted" in last week's Haftarah portion (LXX: Isa. 54:11). The image of a ship being tossed in the sea pictures a state of distress and peril. Interestingly, the description of being “not comforted” is lo nuchamah (לא נֻחָמָה), which comes from the very word translated as “repent” or “regret” (nacham). When we are double-minded, we are “storm tossed” and unable to experience the comfort that comes from genuine repentance. We are like “a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind” (James 1:6).

On the other hand, singleness of vision concentrates the will and produces wholeheartedness, conviction, stability, inner peace (shalom) and genuine character. As Kierkegaard said, "purity of the heart is to will one thing." “I have set the LORD always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved” (Psalm 16:8).

The Apostle Paul taught that we are not to be "conformed" (συσχηματίζω) to the pattern of this fallen world but rather be "transformed" (μεταμορφόω) by renewing our minds, so that by testing we may discern what is the will of God (Rom. 12:2). Note that the word translated "conformed" in this verse means to accept the world's scheme (σχῆμα) of understanding things, that is, to passively go along with the world's matrix of lies, wishful thinking, propaganda, etc. The word translated as "transformed," on the other hand, means to be metamorphosed or radically changed into a different kind of nature with a different source of being itself. Such transformation comes from having our minds “renewed” -- the word used in this verse (i.e., ἀνακαινόω) means being “made new on the inside,” and therefore renewal is the gift of teshuvah (turning to God).

Understand, then, that the foundation of all transformation of inner character and outward conduct comes from the miracle of having a renewed mind. I use the word “miracle” quite intentionally, since by itself “right thinking” is powerless to help the sinner truly change his ways, and therefore something more - radically new life and healing power from heaven, is what is necessary. Indeed "the beginning of transformation of character is the renovation in the very centre of the being, and the communication of a new impulse and power to the inward self" (Alexander Maclaren). Amen, may the LORD God work out our salvation and give us the grace to walk our days in the light of his countenance.

[ Hebrew for Christians ]

========

Psalm 16:8 reading:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/psalm16-8-jjp.mp3

Hebrew page:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/psalm16-8-lesson.pdf

4.30.24 • Facebook

from yesterday’s email by Israel365:

Blossoms and Blessings

By: Shira Schechter

APRIL 30, 2024

My four-year-old son recently went with his nursery class on what appeared to be a typical school outing. But as I studied the WhatsApp pictures his teacher sent I realized it was far from ordinary. Instead of a routine visit to a local park, they ventured to the house next door to fulfill a special commandment. The Hebrew month of Nisan offers the unique chance to recite the Blessing of the Trees—a once-a-year tradition where one praises God for the beauty and fullness of His creation.

“Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who left nothing lacking in His world, and created within it good creatures and good trees with which He gives pleasure to people.”

This blessing, known in Hebrew as Birkat Ha’ilanot (the Blessing of the Trees) is recited upon seeing blossoming fruit trees in the month of Nisan. It celebrates nature’s renewal and the nourishment these trees promise. Hidden within this blessing is a metaphor for human potential, reminiscent of the homiletic interpretation of Deuteronomy 20:19, which suggests man is akin to a tree in the field.

כִּי־תָצוּר אֶל־עִיר יָמִים רַבִּים לְהִלָּחֵם עָלֶיהָ לְתָפְשָׂהּ לֹא־תַשְׁחִית אֶת־עֵצָהּ לִנְדֹּחַ עָלָיו גַּרְזֶן כִּי מִמֶּנּוּ תֹאכֵל וְאֹתוֹ לֹא תִכְרֹת כִּי הָאָדָם עֵץ הַשָּׂדֶה לָבֹא מִפָּנֶיךָ בַּמָּצוֹר׃

When in your war against a city you have to besiege it a long time in order to capture it, you must not destroy its trees, wielding the ax against them. You may eat of them, but you must not cut them down. Are trees of the field human to withdraw before you into the besieged city?

Deuteronomy 20:19

Yet, how can we reconcile the ideal vision of a world lacking nothing, described in this blessing, with the palpable suffering around us—tragic losses, severe illnesses, and global conflicts? What about the people who live in poverty and those who, as of this writing, remain in Hamas captivity? Can we honestly say that the world is not lacking?

Chana Weisberg, a Toronto-based author and lecturer, found an answer to this question as she observed her toddler who had blossomed significantly over the past year.

Weisberg likens the potential hidden within each of us to the unassuming buds on fruit trees, which hold within them the promise of future nourishment. Though they seem plain and insignificant, these buds contain the essence of life—potential that is imperceptible to the untrained eye but critical for survival. In a few weeks, those green buds will become juicy and luscious fruit.

“Is man like a tree in the field?” Weisberg suggests that just as a tree’s flower buds possess the potential for future fruit, each human being harbors the capacity to foster a world filled with peace, unity, and perfection. Our actions and insights have the power to cultivate a world that truly “lacks nothing,” a vision echoed in the words of the blessing.

Therefore, despite the challenges and apparent deficiencies we face, we are called to nurture the potential within and around us. Through collective efforts, we can unveil the inherent fullness of God’s creation. In Weisberg’s words, “Each of us holds the keys and the prospects to make our barren world bloom into a redemptive one. We need only have the eyes to see and discern what lies beneath the tiny bud of each of our positive actions, and have the courage to create a world that does not lack in anything.”

Today’s message (Days of Praise) from the Institute for Creation Research

May 1, 2024

Waiting

“Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?” (Mark 13:4)

Within a week of His approaching death, Christ sat down with His disciples to talk of the future. He would be leaving, terrible persecution would come, but He would return. Purposefully, no date was given. Their curiosity was no doubt great, but Christ had other charges for them. Instead, Christ focused on other issues, and His instructions apply to us just as surely as to the disciples.

Whether things are going well or not, we must not be misled into a false sense of security. The disciples were looking at the beautiful and serene temple and grounds, but Christ predicted unprecedented destruction. “There shall not be left one stone upon another” (v. 2).

Nor should we allow ourselves to be deceived by false prophets (vv. 5-6). Scripture gives ample information to allow us to identify and shun these “wolves in sheep’s clothing.” But to our shame, false teachings permeate our churches and television airwaves.

Furthermore, when natural calamities and world turmoil cascade in on us (vv. 7-8), we must not be frozen with fear. These things must come (v. 7). Persecution must come also (vv. 9-12). We must not allow ourselves to be intimidated in our witness or tripped up by bitterness.

Instead, we must “endure” and remain loyal to Him (v. 13). We must be at work to spread the gospel to all nations (v. 10) in spite of the opposition. And, “take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is” (v. 33).

As the events in the Middle East escalate and take on a character that could lead to the sort of conflagration Jesus prophesied, let us commit ourselves to the attitude of heart and life He commanded. JDM

[crosschartering]

Best Places To Charter A Yacht

Best Yacht Destinations In The World: Best Places To Charter A Yacht

Taking a yacht vacation is the epitome of luxury, regardless of whether you own your own boat or charter one out for a special occasion. Fortunately, there are so many incredible places all around the world to set sail from based on the water conditions, weather, scenery, and surrounding attractions. Discover the Best Places To Charter A Yacht, curated for those seeking the pinnacle of luxury and relaxation against picturesque backdrops and pristine waters.

World's Best Yachting Destinations

Here are our top picks for the best places to charter a yacht and how to plan your trip to one of these amazing yacht destinations.

Greece

Greece is an essential place to go yachting for any sailing enthusiast. There are more than 3,000 islands and islets here, and the region truly is best explored from the water. Santorini, Crete, and Mykonos are popular islands to visit. But you can also check out lesser-known parts of Greece if you have your own vessel. Consider the Port of Lavrio for a unique Greece experience.

Southeast Asia

There are also some amazing sailing charter destinations in Asia, including Thailand, Singapore, and South Korea. Thailand, for example, offers a lot for sailors, including tranquility on the water, friendly locals, delicious food, and fun nightlife. When you plan a yacht charter in this part of the world, you’ll have plenty of opportunities for diving and snorkeling from your yacht too.

British Columbia, Canada

With a backdrop of evergreen forests and dark blue waters, Vancouver Island in British Columbia is one of the best places to charter a yacht in North America. The Port of Victoria is an excellent location for yacht transport and is a popular spot for Alaskan cruise itineraries. With plenty of sheltered bays and craggy inlets, the region is a lovely place to check out the nearby San Juan islands and see wildlife too.

Spain

Another one of the best Mediterranean yacht charter locations in Spain. The Canary Islands are a popular place to sail off the coast of Spain and Africa. This is a year-round sailing destination with unspoiled nature and sheltered marinas. For a relaxing vacation, consider starting your journey in Palma.

Turkey

Fethiye, Turkey is one of the best places to charter a yacht as well. There is so much coastline and many marinas and seas in Turkey, which are only made better by the secluded anchorages and lovely beaches. Turkey offers lots of cultural opportunities to learn about and stunning scenery to admire.

New Zealand and Australia

New Zealand and Australia are among the best places to charter a yacht because of their unique geography and great beaches. Along the northeastern coast of Australia, you can sail around the Whitsunday Islands, for example. Auckland, New Zealand is a popular place to call your home base because of the many tourist attractions and opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Transportation to the World’s Best Yacht Destinations

We hope that you have been inspired by these top yacht destinations around the world and are now dreaming about your next trip. At Cross Chartering Yacht Transport, we help yacht owners like you move their yachts safely and securely to ports all over the globe. There’s nothing like experiencing the best sailing charter destinations from your very own yacht, so let us handle all the logistics. Request your yacht transport quote on our website, or contact us at 954-686-6802 to learn more about shipping your yacht by sea for the first time!

[ramirezd4nna]

WATER CONSERVATION IN HISTORY

Humans have relied on public water resources for their survival and progress throughout history, dating back to the establishment of permanent villages millennia ago. Yet, in the early stages of civilization, the challenges of securing a consistent and clean water supply were met with a seemingly straightforward solution: relocation. When wells were exhausted by overuse or rivers contaminated with human waste, these early inhabitants simply uprooted their settlements, seeking pristine, untouched locations. However, as societies evolved, particularly in arid regions of the Middle East, Africa, and China, where burgeoning cities and permanent agricultural lands demanded a stable water supply, the concept of water conservation was born. These ancient civilizations grappled with the necessity of safeguarding their water resources, setting the stage for the development of the world's first water conservation practices.

Throughout history societies have succeeded, in part, because of water management plans that ensured a steady supply of unpolluted water through periods of drought (prolonged shortage of rain) and flood. The desert empires of Mesopotamia and Egypt flourished by using elaborate irrigation (crop watering) and plumbing systems to distribute water from the rivers Tigris, Euphrates, and Nile to cities and croplands. The Ancient Greeks constructed drainage systems and huge stone sewers at the palace of King Minos at Knossos on the island of Crete almost 5,000 years ago. Water engineering was one of the great hallmarks of the Roman Empire. The Romans built aqueducts, canals, irrigation systems, city sewers, and indoor plumbing throughout their vast empire. (The modern English word plumber comes from the Latin word for lead, plumbus, and the ingenious Roman lead workers, plumberium, who engineered the world's first reliable indoor plumbing.)

Civilizations and empires have also failed because of poor water conservation practices or water management. Populations that have overused their water supplies or have allowed their water to become polluted have suffered serious consequences. Many archeologists attribute the mysterious disappearance of the Anasazi people from the American Southwest to inadequate water supply. Diseases caused by poor sanitation and poisoning from lead pipes were, ironically, two factors that contributed to the fall of the Roman Empire. Improper waste management has also played a major role in the spread of diseases such as the bubonic plague that killed millions of Europeans during the Middle Ages. Waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, typhus, and dysentery thrive where sewers bearing waste from infected persons empty into a public water supply. Scientists only began to understand the dangers of microscopic bacteria in sewage-polluted water after an epidemic of cholera killed thousands of people in Europe and the United States in the 1830s.

History of the American conservation movement. The idea of conservation only began to gain popularity in the United States at the end of the 1800s. Until then the North American frontier had provided seemingly inexhaustible natural resources, including abundant fresh water. By the 1890s however, European settlement had reached across the entire continent, and the census of 1890 declared the American frontier closed. Unrestricted sport hunting had slaughtered the bison herds of the Great Plains and killed off the flocks of passenger pigeons that once migrated (traveled periodically) down the Atlantic coast. Logging, grazing, mining, and hydropower (power from water energy) development threatened America's most dramatic national landmarks. Niagara Falls, for example, nearly lost its untamed water flow.

The Gilded Age at the end of the nineteenth century was also a time of unregulated resource exploitation and social inequality that made conservation an appealing idea to the general American public and to government leaders. Powerful businessmen of the mining, timber, railroad, and ranching industries became immensely wealthy as they laid waste to America's pristine forests, prairies, wetlands and waterways. At the same time, most Americans saw their living standards decline. Without government oversight, laborers, owners of small businesses, and independent settlers were at the mercy of the economically and politically powerful industrialists. While the powerful of the gilded age enjoyed luxurious estates and the diversions of high society, average Americans received low wages, worked in poor conditions, and lived in crowded cities and towns.

Gifford Pinchot (1865–1946) founded the conservation movement in the United States in the late 1890s. Pinchot argued that the best use of nature was to improve the life of common citizens. Pinchot's ideas were inspired by his observations of environmental destruction and social inequality that resulted from unregulated wilderness exploitation during the 1800s. He was also influenced by the writings of other nineteenth century explorers and naturalists including George Perkins Marsh and John Wesley Powell. Pinchot had great influence during the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt (1901–9), and he helped to steer conservation policies from the turn of the century until the 1940s. (Roosevelt was an avid hunter and an ardent conservationist in his own right.) Pinchot became the first head of the U.S. National Forest Service when it was established in 1905. Its motto, "The Land of Many Uses" reflects Pinchot's philosophy.

Conservation efforts have continued in the United States since the era of Roosevelt and Pinchot. Government agencies, groups of private citizens, and even business leaders have developed strategies to protect America's natural resources. The U.S. government has set aside millions of acres of public land as national forests and parks, and a large group of agencies now manage the nation's natural resources in a scientifically and economically reasonable manner. Universities and professional schools offer courses in resource management and natural sciences such as biology and geology. The discipline of ecology, the study of communities of plants and animals that live and interact in a specific environment, blossomed as scientists, engineers, and policy makers sought to understand the natural environments they were charged to protect.

[judod]

امتلك فيلا 220 متر في كريت ايلاند ماونتن فيو الساحل الشمالي Crete Island North Coast

[hardynwa]

Deadly Mediterranean wildfires kill more than 40

More than 40 people have died in Algeria, Italy and Greece as Mediterranean wildfires threaten villages and holiday resorts, and thousands have been evacuated. Greece is preparing for more evacuation flights from Rhodes, as fires also rage on the islands of Corfu and Evia. The current long heatwave shows no let-up - temperatures are expected to rise above 44C (111F) in parts of Greece. Fires in Sicily and Puglia have forced thousands of people to flee. High winds and tinder-dry vegetation mean firefighters are struggling in many areas to douse the flames and create firebreaks. The heaviest death toll so far is in Algeria, where the 34 victims included 10 soldiers surrounded by flames during an evacuation in the coastal province of Bejaia, east of Algiers. Bejaia is the worst-hit area, accounting for 23 of the deaths, local media report. Algerian authorities said 80% of the blazes had been put out since Sunday, but a massive firefighting effort continues, involving about 8,000 personnel, hundreds of fire engines and some aircraft. Fires have also raged in neighbouring Tunisia, where 300 people had to be evacuated from the coastal village of Melloula. In Greece, the Civil Protection Ministry warned of an "extreme danger" of fire in six of the country's 13 regions on Wednesday. A team of climate scientists - the World Weather Attribution group - said this month's intense heatwave in Southern Europe, North America and China would have been virtually impossible without human-induced climate change. Two pilots died on the island of Evia, just north of Athens, when their Canadair firefighting plane crashed into a ravine. Elsewhere on the island a man's charred body was found in a remote rural shack. On the island of Rhodes more than 20,000 people have been evacuated from homes and resorts in the south in recent days. An airport official told AFP news agency that more than 5,000 had flown home on more than 40 emergency flights between Sunday and Tuesday. Holiday firms Jet2 and Tui have cancelled departures for Rhodes for the coming days. Tourism accounts for one in five jobs in Greece, and the industry is vital for Rhodes and many other islands. The UK Foreign Office has not advised against travel to the affected parts of Greece, but has urged tourists to check with tour operators for updates. Thousands of people have also been evacuated on Evia and Corfu, while Crete - another major holiday destination - is on high alert. Italy has been hit by contrasting extreme weather events - with deadly storms in the north and wildfires in Sicily as well as several more southern regions. A couple in their 70s were found dead in a fire-gutted holiday home near Palermo, after fire came close to the boundary of the city's airport. An 88-year-old woman also died near the city. Parts of the city of Catania went without water and power after cables burned in temperatures that climbed to 47.6C on Monday. On the mainland, in Calabria, just east of Sicily, a man aged 98 was trapped by flames in his home and his daughter and son-in-law suffered burns while trying to save him. A wildfire in the Foggia region, on Italy's Adriatic coast, forced the evacuation of 2,000 people from hotels and campsites. The blaze approached Vieste from a nearby national park. The storms in the north, meanwhile, claimed two lives on Tuesday - victims of falling trees. Tornadoes, hailstorms and gale-force winds of up to 110km/h (70mph) struck Lombardy and other northern regions. Chiara Rossetti, 16, was on a scouts' summer camp trip when her tent was hit by a tree in the province of Brescia. "We are experiencing in Italy one of the most complicated days in recent decades - rainstorms, tornadoes and giant hail in the north, and scorching heat and devastating fires in the centre and south," said Civil Protection minister Nello Musumeci. He said he intended to appeal to the EU to boost its fleet of Canadair firefighting planes. Fires also broke out on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica in the early hours of Wednesday. Gales of up to 130km/h (80mph) whipped up the flames and for several hours three villages came under threat. Read the full article

[dan6085]

The United States has military bases located in many countries around the world to support its global military operations. Here is a list of the 50 largest US military bases located outside of the United States, along with some details about their location and purpose:

1. Camp Humphreys - South Korea - Home to the US Army's 8th Army and over 30,000 personnel, Camp Humphreys is located south of Seoul and is the largest US military base in South Korea.

2. Ramstein Air Base - Germany - Located in southwestern Germany, Ramstein is the headquarters of the US Air Forces in Europe and Africa and home to over 54,000 personnel.

3. Kadena Air Base - Japan - Located on the island of Okinawa, Kadena is home to the US Air Force's 18th Wing and over 18,000 personnel.

4. Yokota Air Base - Japan - Located near Tokyo, Yokota is home to the US Air Force's 5th Air Force and over 14,000 personnel.

5. Camp Arifjan - Kuwait - A major logistics base located in Kuwait, Camp Arifjan is home to over 13,000 personnel and supports US military operations throughout the Middle East.

6. Ali Al Salem Air Base - Kuwait - Located in western Kuwait, Ali Al Salem is home to the US Air Force's 386th Air Expeditionary Wing and over 5,000 personnel.

7. Bagram Air Base - Afghanistan - Located north of Kabul, Bagram is a major logistics and air transportation hub for US military operations in Afghanistan.

8. Al Udeid Air Base - Qatar - Home to the US Air Force's 379th Air Expeditionary Wing and over 11,000 personnel, Al Udeid is a major logistics and air transportation hub for US military operations throughout the Middle East.

9. Incirlik Air Base - Turkey - Located in southern Turkey, Incirlik is home to the US Air Force's 39th Air Base Wing and over 5,000 personnel.

10. Naval Support Activity Bahrain - Bahrain - Located in Manama, Bahrain, NSA Bahrain supports US Navy operations in the Persian Gulf and is home to over 6,000 personnel.

11. Camp Lemonnier - Djibouti - A major logistics and intelligence hub located in the Horn of Africa, Camp Lemonnier is home to over 4,000 personnel.

12. Naval Station Rota - Spain - Located on the southern coast of Spain, Naval Station Rota is home to the US Navy's 6th Fleet and over 5,000 personnel.

13. Souda Bay Naval Base - Greece - Located on the island of Crete, Souda Bay is a major logistics and support base for US Navy operations in the Eastern Mediterranean.

14. Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia - British Indian Ocean Territory - A remote island base located in the Indian Ocean, NSF Diego Garcia is a major logistics and support base for US Navy operations in the Middle East and Asia.

15. RAF Lakenheath - United Kingdom - Home to the US Air Force's 48th Fighter Wing and over 5,000 personnel, RAF Lakenheath is located in eastern England.

16. RAF Mildenhall - United Kingdom - Located in eastern England, RAF Mildenhall is home to the US Air Force's 100th Air Refueling Wing and over 3,500 personnel.

17. Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson - Alaska - A joint Army and Air Force base located near Anchorage, JBER is home to the US Army's Alaska Command and over 10,000 personnel.

18. Naval Air Station Sigonella - Italy - Located on the island of Sicily, NAS Sigonella is a major logistics and support base for US Navy operations in the Mediterranean and Africa.

19. Aviano Air Base - Italy - Home to the US Air Force's 31st Fighter Wing and over 5,000 personnel, Aviano is located in northeastern Italy.

20. Spangdahlem Air Base - Germany - Located in western Germany, Spangdahlem is home to the US Air Force's 52nd Fighter Wing and over 4,000 personnel.

21. Rota Naval Station - Spain - Located on the southwestern coast of Spain, Rota is home to the US Navy's 6th Fleet and over 5,000 personnel.

22. Camp Bondsteel - Kosovo - A major logistics and intelligence base located in Kosovo, Camp Bondsteel is home to over 700 personnel.

23. Kunsan Air Base - South Korea - Located on the western coast of South Korea, Kunsan is home to the US Air Force's 8th Fighter Wing and over 3,500 personnel.

24. Osan Air Base - South Korea - Located south of Seoul, Osan is home to the US Air Force's 51st Fighter Wing and over 5,000 personnel.

25. Camp Casey - South Korea - Located near the border with North Korea, Camp Casey is home to the US Army's 2nd Infantry Division and over 5,000 personnel.

26. Camp Red Cloud - South Korea - Located near Seoul, Camp Red Cloud is home to the US Army's 2nd Infantry Division and over 4,000 personnel.

27. Thule Air Base - Greenland - Located in northern Greenland, Thule is a strategic early warning radar and satellite tracking station for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and home to over 1,000 personnel.

28. Camp Darby - Italy - A major logistics and support base located near Pisa, Camp Darby is home to over 2,000 personnel.

29. RAF Croughton - United Kingdom - Located in central England, RAF Croughton is home to the US Air Force's 501st Combat Support Wing and over 1,500 personnel.

30. Camp Marmal - Afghanistan - Located in northern Afghanistan, Camp Marmal is a major logistics and support base for US military operations in the region and home to over 2,000 personnel.

31. Camp Buehring - Kuwait - A major logistics and training base located in Kuwait, Camp Buehring is home to over 5,000 personnel.

32. Camp Victory - Iraq - Located near Baghdad, Camp Victory is a major logistics and support base for US military operations in Iraq and home to over 5,000 personnel.

33. Camp Ar Ramadi - Iraq - A former US Marine Corps base located in western Iraq, Camp Ar Ramadi is now home to the Iraqi Army.

34. Camp Taji - Iraq - A former US Army base located near Baghdad, Camp Taji is now home to the Iraqi Army.

35. Camp Liberty - Iraq - A former US Army base located near Baghdad, Camp Liberty is now home to the Iraqi Army.

36. Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam - Hawaii - A joint Navy and Air Force base located near Honolulu, JBPHH is home to the US Pacific Command and over 20,000 personnel.

37. Andersen Air Force Base - Guam - Located on the island of Guam, Andersen is home to the US Air Force's 36th Wing and over 2,500 personnel.

38. Naval Base Guam - Guam - Located on the island of Guam, NB Guam supports US Navy operations in the Western Pacific and is home to over 6,000 personnel.

39. Naval Air Facility Atsugi - Japan - Located near Tokyo, NAF Atsugi is a major logistics and support base for US Navy operations in the Pacific and home to over 6,000 personnel.

40. Misawa Air Base - Japan - Located in northern Japan, Misawa is home to the US Air Force's 35th Fighter Wing and over 5,000 personnel.

41. Camp Zama - Japan - Located near Tokyo, Camp Zama is home to the US Army's Japan District and over 4,000 personnel.

42. Yokosuka Naval Base - Japan - Located near Tokyo, Yokosuka is a major logistics and support base for US Navy operations in the Pacific and home to over 13,000 personnel.

43. Camp Foster - Japan - Located on the island of Okinawa, Camp Foster is home to the US Marine Corps' III Marine Expeditionary Force and over 10,000 personnel.

44. Camp Schwab - Japan - Located on the island of Okinawa, Camp Schwab is home to the US Marine Corps' 4th Marine Regiment and over 2,000 personnel.

45. Camp Hansen - Japan - Located on the island of Okinawa, Camp Hansen is home to the US Marine Corps' 3rd Marine Division and over 6,000 personnel.

46. Camp Kinser - Japan - Located on the island of Okinawa, Camp Kinser is home to the US Marine Corps' 3rd Marine Logistics Group and over 2,500 personnel.

47. Camp Courtney - Japan - Located on the island of Okinawa, Camp Courtney is home to the US Marine Corps' 3rd Marine Division and over 3,000 personnel.

48. Camp Mujuk - South Korea - Located near the city of Pohang, Camp Mujuk is a major training base for US and South Korean forces.

49. Camp Casey - South Korea - Located near the border with North Korea, Camp Casey is home to the US Army's 2nd Infantry Division and over 5,000 personnel.

50. Camp Humphreys - South Korea - Home to the US Army's 8th Army and over 30,000 personnel, Camp Humphreys is the largest US military base in South Korea.

These bases play an important role in supporting the US military's global operations and their strategic locations allow for rapid response to potential threats and emergencies around the world.

[rjnello]

Last Week In Crete

For my wife’s birthday, we went to the Greek island of Crete with two friends last week. I had never been to Greece, let alone Crete. First time for everything… [Approaching Heraklion Airport, Crete. The uninhabited islet of Dia is visible to the right. March 11, 2023. Photo by me.] We rented a house in a tiny village slightly in-land of the north coast, somewhat between Chania and…