Our project...

Progress so far. The roof will have to wait a couple of weeks.

DIY wooden pergolas

First of all, Happy New Year, all the best to you and your families. 

Usually we start the year with a photo wishing you Happy New Year but this time things were a little bit hectic. We decided to construct on our own two wooden pergolas to provide extra shade for the coffee house!!! Here are a few selected pictures of our work. We still have a lot to do but the weather is not playing nice at the moment. Lots of rain and strong cold winds, followed by snow on the mountains around the plateau, make it difficult to work outside.

These are the two metal pergolas we want to replace, on the right and left of the coffee house.

Disassembling the first one.

Indoor painting of wooden beams and purlins.

Installing the first ledger board.

Securing the posts and the corbels for the girders.

Girders in place.

Adding the rafters.

The same process will be followed in the second pergola.

Progress of the second pergola up to now.

6 meter rafters for the second pergola.

We will keep you up to speed with as many regular posts as possible, weather permitting.

10 Reasons to Visit Gavdos...and then some more!!!

1. The boat trip to Gavdos

Leaving Agia Roumeli and heading to Gavdos

Gavdos on the left & Gavdopoula on the right

Gavdos, the island of the nymph Calypsos

Approaching Gavdos, Crete in the background

Karave, Gavdos' harbor

2. Biggest variety in isolated beaches

Sarakiniko, the island's most famous sandy beach

Natural harbor at Sarakiniko beach

Sarakiniko beach, the sign reads: Drive slowly

Sarakiniko beach

Korfos beach from the path to Tripiti Bay

Aliki beach from Tripiti Bay

Gavdopoula from the path to Potamos beach

Sorry, we did not have the time to visit Potamos beach, next time. Other famous beaches are those of Ag. Ioannis, close to Sarakiniko beach, Pirgos, Stravolimni and Lavrakas. All require quite some hiking time to reach.

3. Numerous churches

Only a few...

Agios Pavlos, in honor of the Apostle's visit to the island in 64 AD

Panagia on the left and Christos church on the right, from the road to Korfos

Agios Nikolaos, Gavdos' oldest church

Agios Nikolaos

Agios Nikolaos

Agios Nikolaos, Gavdopoula at the far end

Agios Nikolaos' interior

Agios Nikolaos, crack on the roof

Ag. Georgios & Ag. Ioannis at the far right, on top of the hill

Ag. Georgios

Ag. Georgios

Rest area at the back of Ag. Georgios' church

4. Building designs and other constructions

University of Crete, Gavdos - South European Field Station for the Environment & Culture

Heliport, Gavdos

Two-storey house that was used as German headquarters

Gavdos' Radio Station - FM 88.8

The sign reads: Everyday to Kastri, Ambelos, Vatsiana

Russian Scientists' house

Lada!!!

Private house at Vatsiana, Gavdos

Private house at Korfos, Gavdos

Karave harbor from Korfos

5. Long walks among deserted old stone houses

Path to Tripiti Bay on top of Korfos

 

Path to Tripiti Bay, well marked

 

Korfos beach & Karave

Path to Tripiti Bay, pine forest

Small gorge but unbelievable steep ascend, Tripiti path

Stone house, Tripiti path

Photo taken from the other side of the second gorge, on the path to Tripiti Bay

Stone house, Tripiti path

Stone house, Tripiti path

Stone house, Tripiti path

Path to Tripiti Bay & Aliki beach

Path to Tripiti Bay & Aliki beach

Path to Agios Goergios, Kedre's cedar forest and the beach of Lavrakas

6. Southernmost Point - Tripiti Bay

Tripiti Bay, Kamareles

7. The Lighthouse!!!

8. Sunrise at Korfos beach

9. Sunset at the Lighthouse

10. You get to watch the lighting over Crete, from Sarakiniko!!!

The departure - arrival frenzy at the harbor of Karave...

Karave Harbor

Some magnificent views of Crete from the ferry boat

Road to Anopoli and Anopoli village on the left

Road to Chania

Patsianos, Kapsodasos, Frangokastello fortress and the road to Kallikratis

Goodbye Gavdos, till our next trip...

Gavdos on the right & Gavdopoula on the left