Peter Kambasis

Cuba was beautiful, the people were so nice, and the food, well, the food was really bad. I would probably never go back there, mainly for that reason. I’d read up before we went, and I wasn’t expecting much regarding the food there. But man everything was bland. Seriously, I am not picky AT ALL when it comes to food. But if you’re going to spend that kind of money…

Second thing that bothered me is just a personal thing. Don’t get me wrong, the people in Cuba were so nice. Everyone at the hotel was super cool, and awesome to talk to. But it made me depressed when I left. I really felt sorry for everyone. We brought a ton of things to leave there for everyone.

Even though we were greeted with smiles EVERY DAY I could tell that they were not happy. They say they are happy, but they weren’t.

Hopefully things change and Cuba slowly opens up their doors to the rest of the Western world. So those people don’t need to live the way they do now with “limited everything”.

If you’re a nerd, you’ll love this place. It was awesome.

Well, after taking a ton of photos of this place in 2004, I was happy to see (this year) that the construction process is finally doing something…

Apparently the columns, along the Sacred Way side, had large metal beams in them, that had rusted over the years? Hence why they were removed in 2004. They’ve recently put them back and the structure looks more like it did when I first saw it as a child.

Any electronic/gadget/anime/toy collector freaks out there? Visit Akihabara. It’s wicked. I went twice while I was there.

I went to Montreal for the long weekend and had an awesome time. I wanted to see more films at the World Film Festival (which ended today) but there wasn’t a very good selection of films this year. Did anyone else see anything that they thought was good?

This island, just a 3-4 hour ferry ride from Patra, was the first island I ever went to. As a kid, I never really left Nafpaktos or Athens (where my grandparents lived), and was pretty much stuck there as I was too young to drive. So it was refreshing when a friend of the family, his mom and my first cousin, suggested I tag along for a 4-day trip to Zakynthos.

I think the best part about our trip was was when I found out that my family’s name (kambasis) came from this island. This was discovered when I ran into some other “Kambasis’” at the hotel we stayed at in Kalamaki. I think the place was even called “Villa Kambasis” if i’m not mistaken? Although Apollo keeps coming to mind for some reason too? (On a side note: I don’t know if it’s true or not, but apparently my family descendants, that spelled their name “Kampasis”, were a band of thieves that went around the island stealing whatever they could get? I don’t know if it’s true or not. I guess I’m writing this here today in hopes that someone will correct me if I’m wrong! :p )

Anyway, Zakynthos had some of the best beaches, the bluest skies and water I’d ever seen in my life! And at that time. Still one of my favorites that I’d visited, I hear from people all the time that the island has changed so much since those days. And if this place is better than it was back then (I’m talking early 90s) then this is one place I have to go back to very soon!

...But then again, I was only 10 years old. I mean I love the heat, but it’s really hot up there!! And for some strange reason? I tend to visit the Acropolis at the worst times!! When it’s August, and in the afternoon, and considering it’s in the middle of Athens (pollution doesn’t help either), I’m surprised I’ve come back alive from the adventure! :)

It’s really not that bad, honest. And when I went last year, I was surprised with how much Athens had cleaned up! I could actually breathe!!

I’ve uploaded some photos from my trip in 2004. I’ve taken so many photos of me standing in front of the Parthenon that I decided not to this time around. Instead, I focused in on details of two of the structures there: the Parthenon and the Nike Temple. Cheers!

Besides it’s history, and beauty, Nafpaktos has a great night life. Whether you’re just looking for a nice place to have dinner, or for a few drinks, or to dance it up until the early morning, it’s got something for everyone. If you’re on the way from Delphie to Patras, stop off in Nafpaktos for a few days. You won’t regret it!

Nafpaktos, the “Jewel of the Corinthian Gulf,” is a modern little city with ca. 16,000 inhabitants. The picturesque, mainly Venetian Castle, from which ramparts descend to enclose the little Harbour, recalls its medieval past when it was known in the West as LEPANTO. The plateia (square), shaded by jacaranda trees, looks across the Gulf to Peloponnesus Mt. Panakhaikon.

Ancient Nafpaktos, was taken during the arrival of the Doric Clans in 1104 B.C. The town was destroyed by earthquakes in 583 B.C. Later the town was occupied by the Ozolian Locrians, and was taken in 454 B.C. by the Athenians. Here they established a colony of Messenians, who had been dispossessed by their Spartan conquerors. The place played an important part in the Peloponnesian War; it was successfully defended in 429 B.C. by Phormion and in 426 B.C. by Demosthenes against the Spartans.

In 338 B.C. Philip the 2nd of Macedonia, occupies Nafpaktos from the Achaians and delivers it to Atolians. In the 218 B.C. Nafpaktos becomes the capital of the Aetolic Confederation. Nafpaktos is classified in Dominant of Epirus in 1205-1295 A.D., the town becomes a Venetian Colony in the year 1407-1499 A.D., Occupied by the Turks in 1499, Lepanto is chiefly celebrated for the victory which the combined popal, Spanish, Venetian, and Genoese fleets, under Don Juan of Austria, gained over the Turkish fleet on Oct. 7, 1571.

At last Nafpaktos was liberated from the Turks, in 1821-1829 A.D. Saint Dimitrios, protector of the city of Nafpaktos, was martyred in 305 A.D. defending Christianity. He is also regarded as the Patron Saint of Thessaloniki and its saviour during difficult moments.

Nafpaktos is one of the few Greek towns that managed to survive and pass from prehistorical age to present time. The town for more than 3.200 years of turbulent life, appeared under various names, such as, Nafpaktos from its founding Lepanto by the Venetians, Epahtos by the Byzantines, Enevahte and Nepahtos by the Turks.

It’s primary name came from the fact that the area is located historically as naval colony, where ships were manufactured, by Loric races and later by Doric ones. Nafs (ship) + pignimi (manufacture) = Nafpaktos.

Taken from http://www.nafpaktos.com/overview.htm

Yeah, both my parents are Greek, moved to Canada in the late 60s early 70s, but since 1990, we’ve tried going back every two years. We now have a home there in Nafpaktos, a great little vilage that’s changed so much over the last 20 years. Click on the link (the word Nafpaktos) to check it out!