I read Ursula’s Ikaria platform with joy and interest, which, together with her and your contributions, has become an important source of information about Ikaria. As a “half-icariot” it is high time that I got in touch to report on the south side of the island from time to time.
Getting to know the island of Ikaria and the prospect of working with people there was a dream for me. At the end of the 80s I quit my job as a health and nursing teacher. I then lived on Ikaria with my 4-year-old son for two months, slept in the wild on a flat roof in Jaliskari and quickly fell in love with these diverse, unique landscapes.
From then on, I returned year after year as J. Canacakis’ assistant to accompany grieving people in seminars. Through this creative work I got to know Ikaria in a very sensual way.
I really liked the wild nature with the sea, the gorges and waterfalls, the high mountains with their ancient stone formations, the caves, the variety of flowers, the scents, the warm people and the fine food. No wonder the seed of love unexpectedly fell to the bottom of my soul. Kiriakos, a kind, fine person, gave the island a different face. We lived together for 15 years, in Ikaria, Switzerland and Australia, until his sad death in 2006. It was a lovely back and forth, we discovered so much in common, new and exciting things as a couple, I didn’t want to miss a second. The north side of Ikaria (Avlaki, Stavlos and Jaliskari) became my second home, the south side remained quite foreign to me. We only went over for banking purposes.
In 1998 we bought a 200-year-old farmhouse in Katafigi, just below the top of the pass on the way to Agios Kirikos, renovated it over the years and quickly felt at home.
When I read the posts on Ursula’s platform, it seems to me that only the north side exists in Ikaria. I understand that very well, as it happened to me for years. To the annoyance of many Ikariots on the south side, the government only controls tourism in the north in a very one-sided manner. One reason for me to speak out is to introduce you all to our house and especially the surrounding area, to put together ideas and tips for excursions on the south side of Ikaria, and to report on the people who live and work around me.
So I hope to contribute something to the “wholeness” of Ikaria and to awaken joy and interest in a beautiful, different area.
I have known Ursula since 1987. We have always been connected by our mutual affection, shared interests such as grief work, sound massage, circle dancing as well as the connection to Ikaria and the special thing about being Swiss who have found their loved one in Ikaria.
Written by Edith Bühler Jud, at home in Ikaria and Switzerland