Everyday a task accomplished - Everyday a step closer - Exciting moments

Itha108 is taking shape. 

I used to enter a building site and now suddenly it feels like coming to two beautiful serene houses between rocks and trees. Looking at blue water and blue sky from every corner on the retreat is such a great experience to everyone who has visited. My friends, teacher buddy's, family, students and acquaintances who came to visit the yoga retreat have mentioned how special it is and unusual for the island of Ithaca. I am grateful for all the compliments received. 

My vision is finally visible.

The outdoor yoga shala is under construction. The 80m2 wooden platform on stilts is between the main house and the yurts. The shala is shaded by oak trees with views over the sea and on the other side a rocky mountain covered with cypress trees gives you a real opposite.   



   

You can see the main house in the background 

Sea view
 

Mountain view

An inviting entrance via stairs build into rocks to the outdoor living and eating area is unique. A pergola provides shade and comfort for any time of day and weather. 

The outdoor kitchen and breakfast counter has been fun to create. The end result is to imagine. 

Different angle of the outdoor kitchen with the main door for the indoor kitchen in the background 

Base of Yurt 2 

Base for Yurt 2 and base of Yurt 3 behind

Yurt 1 is higher up and has the most spectacular views 

Path from the main road to the stone house. This is one of three entrances to the retreat. 

You can see the main house in the background. To the right of the far corner of the stone house is the outdoor kitchen. 

Indoor kitchen is waiting for a marble top, back plate, extractor fan and other important stuff. Next week it's going to look different again.

Photo above shows a view from outside to the inside. 

The stone wall has lights out of old roof tiles. 

Lucky cook

Main house upstairs bedroom view  

The library is a cool room in every sense. The builders favourite break-time place. I think politics was discussed that morning judging by the raised voices. My Albanian isn't very good.  

Local children having fun or maybe the parents?  

An unusual looking boat called "Fair Lady". According to a friend its new, but build in vintage style.  

Filiatro Beach, but I call it Bob Marley beach. Each time I visit at some point Reggae music is playing. They had a beach party last night, but I missed it.   

This beach you can only access by boat. Its absolutely stunning. 

And look at the water.

Yes its Greece and not the BVI

Stone House Kitchen and Studio

The outside marble-floor effect is stunning 

Beautiful to walk-on with bare feet 

Nearly finished and ready to move in July

Perfect breakfast area. 

The warm morning sun enjoyed in full or you prefer sipping chai partly shaded under a tree. 

Or sit around the corner under a pergola.

I am designing the outdoor kitchen totally different to what I had in mind. The lay-out changed during the building works. Every day a new challenge awaits us. To be taken out of your comfort zone is refreshing.    

The main house in the background with six double bedrooms and ensuit bathrooms, a yoga shala, cloak room, shower room and a library with a terrace. 
Leading out of your bedrooms on the first floor is a balcone and on the ground floor are terraces.  

Moody sky

Cooling down after a class

See you on the  mat

Shanti

Namaste

January on Ithaca

Landscape photos from North Ithaca

Winter months on Ithaca are more like spring. As soon as the rain stops and the sun is warming the air wild flowers apear over night. 

Traditional windmills on Ithaca, now listed and protected. In the past it was possible to convert them into a house, not anymore. 

A typical sight during a walk. Goats are not wild each one is accounted for and they roam around freely with no care in the world. 

From Marmaka beach it takes about a 30 minutes swim to reach this island. Tradition says you can ring the bell at the little chapel on your left. In front are two underwater caves to swim through, testing your lungs. The water is cristal clear, you can have your eyes open, the salt water is mild.  The water is so clear that all the way during your swim across you see the bottom of the sea. Back at the beach a Cantina serves fresh salads, dips, grilled fish and a good coffee. 

Keep on walking up the hill and you come to a plateau where several ruins are for sale. It's a magic area, but has no facilities such as electricity, main water or telephone connection. A heaven for eco enthusiasts.   

We had a lot of rain.

Starting in Kioni, further North-East, a charming chapel is a sanctuary. The sterna in front is old and not in use anymore. In the past water was collected by a slope and the water was pulled up by a bucket from the centre.

The ferry comes either from Venice or Ancona in Italy to Patras. The island in the background is not habited and I heard the wild life on this place is amazing.  

Typical Greece.

Kioni, a fishing and tourist village. In the front along the sea where boats arrive and ancor for the night many tavernas, bars and coffee places are packed with people during the summer months. 

The village has attracted people from all over the world and traditional houses have been converted to magnificent homes in line with strict Ithacan building regulations.  

Most of them overlook three windmills. A landmark arriving by foot, bike, car or boat.

Walking to Homer School along this beautiful stone path, many stories predict Odysseus palace was in its surroundings, leads to this beautiful opening ....... 

with a waterfall. Worth having a guided tour.

The view is towards another fishing village named Frikes with beautiful restaurants, serving fresh fish and other specialities from the island. 

Flowers are a pleasure. 

Vines in the winter to my taste look sad, but I like the rich earth producing wild flowers during winter and spring.

Lots of them around!

Camomille tea.....

Venetians occupied the Ioanian Islands for many hundred of years and architecture can proof this to date. Still now building restrictions are based on a Venetian style.  







Hill top village with another church!

Walking through rugged terrain suddenly this park like area opened up. Ithaca is full of surprises. 

In the background is neighbouring Lefkada. During the summer many boats hang-out along the many secluded beaches. The water is warm, cristal clear and it has some sandy beaches. 

Happy 2013 - exciting times for Itha108

Use your imagination; 

breath in warm winter air; feel the sun burning your back 

and listen to the sound of waves and birds:

The ground floor of the main house is on your left. Three double bedrooms with en-suit bathrooms occupy this floor, with french doors leading to a terrace looking South West towards Kefalonia. You can relax on a daybed, read your book on an Indian swing or walk down to one of many secluded beaches. Often you find yourself alone even in August. Have a siesta in your cool bedroom.

The first floor has further bedrooms, a library and a terrace with spectacular view over the sea and sunset. A perfect place for dinner.  

This photo was taken from the outdoor living space, which is between the main and the stone house. The side wall gives you an idea of bedroom space and view you are going to have. 

Below the three bedrooms, on the lower ground floor is a yoga room supplied with fresh air and natural light. I am excited about the excavation of a rock along the right side. This is going to be an interesting feature behind a large window. During the heat of the day, if you like to practice yoga in a cooler place the rock gives you the feeling of a cave. At night lit up, what a sight! I can't wait to practice and teach in this room. It's going to be incredible, even my engineer expressed an interest in yoga.  

I mentioned an out-door living space. This is going to be it. The photo was taken inside the stone house kitchen with its massive door. The view is towards the main house. The area is eventually covered by a pergola and on the right side along rocks an out-door kitchen perfect for breakfast and lunch. An ideal lunch place as it's totally shaded. 

This area has many interesting places for daybeds, low tables and floor cushions. No need to sit at a table for lunch if you don't feel like it. 

This is the front of the kitchen and breakfast is served on this terrace.  Enjoy the morning sun or if you prefere shade plenty of trees for you to sit under.  

Your back is turned to the stone house and part of the breakfast terrace is still a building site. The sea looks far, but it's only seven minutes walk away! 

Bath tub or you own plunge pool? 

View from you bath tub. The large stone steps are going to be day beds and to your left around the corner is a shower area.   

Growing on one of the many beaches below Itha108 is this extraordinary looking olive tree. It is coming out of a rock surrounded by salt water?  

If you are an early morning person this is worth seeing. At full moon the night light and energy is amazing even at 6am in the morning.