Kokkari

Three people died by drowning on Saturday (27/7) in separate incidents in Attica, Argolida and Samos.

Specifically, at noon, the Port Authority of Markopoulo was informed that a 77-year-old Greek woman was pulled unconscious from the beach of Agia Marina, Porto Rafti.

She was transported by ambulance to Evangelismos, where she was pronounced dead.

Samos coast guard officials on Friday rescued 13 migrants near the seaside village of Kokkari along the northeastern coast of the eastern Aegean island.
Officials also discovered the body of a 65-year-old woman who, fellow occupants said, died during the crossing from Turkey. Officials said the woman appeared to have died of natural causes.

On this luxuriantly green island on the northeastern edge of the Aegean, covered by pine forests, olive groves, citrus groves and vineyards, myth and history take on a special allure. This was the birthplace of the goddess Hera, Zeus’ wife; of Aristarchos, the celebrated astrophysicist who first expounded the theory of the earth’s rotation; and of the great mathematician Pythagoras.

Europe has many undiscovered gems for travelers. One of these was ‘unearthed’ by ‘Best European Destinations’ and it was found on the island of Samos. It is a small town called Kokkari and the site ranked it 3rd in its list revealing the long history of Samos, including the birthplace of the father of mathematics Pythagoras, astronomer Aristarchus and philosopher Epicurus.

Europe has incredible destinations, which are known worldwide, such as Amsterdam and its canals, London for its shopping and museums or Paris the City of Light.

But, Europe has also thousands of hidden treasures, from Rothenburg in Germany to Preko in Croatia and Faial in The Azores.

Another boat tragedy involving children was noted off the straits of the island of Samos. A boat carrying migrants attempting the perilous crossing capsized under unknown circumstances, resulting in 12 drownings. Among the dead were three little girls, five little boys, three men and a woman, however it is believed that the number of victims will rise as the investigation is continuing.

By Debbie Papadakis

It’s hot! It’s August, and we experienced the ‘blue moon’ at the end of July while I was lying on the beach at Artemides near Athens. The waves whispered destinations that I had yet to experienced in order to feel the chemistry of Summer.