|
Sooner
or later, there are times in everybody's life when things begin to go wrong.
Each day brings a disappointment or yet another seemingly insurmountable
problem. What can one do to change things for the better and get hold of
a new, brighter perspective on life? The answer is to follow me on a Skyros
Holiday to the magical
Greek
Island
of
Skyros
which lies in the northern
Aegean
Sea
.
Here, on unique, life-changing holidays, like-minded people gather together,
having chosen a specific course or activity that appeals to them.
`The
sixty four thousand dollar question' is, of course, `What makes a Skyros
Holiday different and more meaningful than others with similar programmes?'
I think it is largely due to the world-class, distinguished and highly
qualified teachers who come here to teach guests. Equally rewarding (in my
experience) has been the company of my fellow holidaymakers for -
without exception, they have been the most stimulating, friendly and inspiring
people imaginable - the
sort you never seem to meet in your home town!
Delicious, home-cooked
Mediterranean-type meals are served on the terrace at long wooden tables
I
have experienced two holidays at Skyros Village Centre which perches dramatically
on a cliff-top overlooking the mountains and sea. It lies on the edge
of the
Island
's
small, beautiful, ancient capital town -
also called
Skyros
. On
my first visit in 1997 my course was entitled `Expanding Your Potential'
and on the second, last
autumn, `Older is Bolder'. Both were life-enhancing experiences
providing practical and stimulating ideas. By learning to let go of my
rigid beliefs and habit patterns, rethink my life and determine what is
important by listening to the advice of tutors and other people's
experiences, I really have been able
to improve my outlook and quality of life back home.
Who
goes on Skyros Holidays? On my first visit in 1997 there were seven
doctors and their wives, a handful of young couples and a sprinkling of single
men and women. On my recent course last October, things were entirely
different. The ages of my companions were mainly between 30 and 50-odd
and virtually
all were professionally employed and most (though not all) were single or
separated from their partners. Although I was the only person not in
this age
group, never for one instant did I feel an outsider. In fact, the warmth
and friendliness
shown me by everybody throughout this entire two week holiday was
overwhelming and turned out to be a miraculous healing power in itself.
It enabled
me to come to terms with my husband's comparatively recent death and
realise that life on my own can still be upbeat and rewarding.
The Aegean from the terrace at
Skyros 
You
may think that spending each morning studying a particular subject is the
last thing anybody would want to do on holiday. Not so at
Skyros
!
In this warm-hearted, relaxed atmosphere, one's mind is constantly
opened to stimulating
new ideas offered by distinguished teachers and celebrated writers
(last year the Poet Laureate was one of them). Listening and conversing
with other like-minded holidaymakers also seems to bring profound and
meaningful results for, remarkable though this sounds, one's own
experiences are often the same or very similar. These deep and
meaningful conversations
often lead to lifelong friendships.
A miscellany of activities whilst at
Skyros
What
else does one do apart from attending the courses which run for 3 hours
every weekday morning with titles ranging from `Life Choices, Life Changes,
to `How to Make Sense Living in a Mad World.' A typical day at Skyros Village
Centre begins with a Yoga session followed by breakfast and Demos -
the Greek name for a
discussion on community affairs. Various items would then
be discussed and announcements made about the day's programme. A
participant may recite a poem, sing a song, or describe a personal,
meaningful experience. Finally
there is a short instructive lesson on the Greek language.
With
a few exceptions, the courses held at Skyros Holiday Centre concentrate
on offering positive ideas and ways to get more out of life in the future
by overcoming personal problems and improving one's sense of wellbeing.
I can assure you that these courses are never 'airy-fairy', for
Skyros
is a
down-to-earth place where ordinary people like you and me (whatever our careers
or station in life), come to make a positive stab at learning how to change
our lives for the better.
If
the idea of attending a course to improve your lifestyle does not
appeal
you can join the popular 'Skyros Centre Writers' Lab' which also runs here
throughout the summer months. These are master-minded by editors and top
world-class writers (last year the Poet Laureate was one of them) who guarantee
to inspire all who attend to plunge into the riveting experience of creative
writing. They will also advise on every aspect of the written word and share
your joys and struggles be they fact, fiction or biography.
Last
year, a new studio workshop opened at
Skyros
offering courses on painting and film making. Other course subjects
offered during 07 are listed in the
Skyros Holiday Brochure -
(see
below) along with details of this Company's other
Centre on
Skyros
-Atsitsa. Here, there is a wide choice of practical handicraft
courses along with others suitable for the sport-orientated.
|
After
a delicious lunch (the meals at Skyros are vegetarian and
include mouthwatering dishes such as Baked Cauliflower Cheese,
Stuffed Tomatoes and
Peppers, Courgettes in Cheese Sauce and salads, all prepared `on
the spot'
by a splendid local lady cook. We sit at long tables on the
sunlit terrace beneath
the shade of almond, fig and pomegranate trees and, after
helping to clear
up we retire, snooze in the sun, catch up on reading and writing
or join others
for the 15 minute stroll to the beach for a swim. At
6.30pm
evening activities begin with a variety of different activities -
perhaps
a session of meditation,
yoga or kairos ( a
`listening' experience), a performance of music or
song or a taste of local colour or culture.
A
corner of Skyros Centre, bedrooms and balconies
Afterwards,
magic is in the air, as everybody sets off in small, friendly
groups into town for dinner. Numerous tavernas welcome
Skyros
holidaymakers
with open arms, serving their favourite home-made versions of Moussaka,
Taramasalata, Souvl'aki or some other Greek speciality. These meals
are enlivened by copious quantities of Greek wine, with the
result that everybody
`let's go' and exchanges riveting accounts of their day's
activities and
often their life stories as well! Eventually we would wend our
way back through the silent, atmospheric, moonlit alleys to our
beds. `And where are they'? you may ask. In tiny, enchanting
self-contained restored Greek village homes near the Centre that
have been modernised. Alternatively, you may
stay
in one of the newly-built, spacious self-contained apartments
(also near the Centre) with large balconies offering views of
the mountains and sea.
From
time to time other delights are laid on such as a visit by coach
to Rupert
Brooke's grave, or to board a boat for a sail along the coast to
swim and
picnic. On one of these occasions we sailed (accompanied by
dolphins) to a tiny
deserted island. Here, we swam and dined at a beach taverns as
the moon rose,
turning the sea into sheets of molten gold. Another time, we
explored
Skyros
town under the guidance of a knowledgeable guide and, a few days
later, visited the Museum.
Here, the Curator told us that
Skyros
has always been known as the
Island
of
Poetry
because great poets throughout history have lived
here and worshipped this island - long
before Rupert Brooke fell in love with
it, too.
Looking
back on this Skyros Holiday, over and above all else I shall
never forget
the comradeship and fun we shared and the riotous concert we produced
one evening. We recited poetry, sang songs, played the guitar
and even made a stab at belly dancing! Then there was the
never-to-be forgotten beauty
of ancient
Skyros
town itself, with its shops, tavernas and scores of white
painted, cubed cottages spilling down the hillside.
But,
it is the people I will remember and the meaningful advice I
received from my tutors and
companions. It has changed my life by helping me to make the
most of each day and inspiring me to plan my next moves on the
stage of life.
FURTHER
INFORMATION
Further
details of Skyros Holidays on <www.skyros.com>
Tel: 020 7267 4424 Ask
for the
Skyros
07/8 Brochure which gives full details of all the courses running
at Skyros Holiday Centre and Atsitsa.
Price
for 1 week at The Skyros Holiday Centre in March 07 starts from
f475 per
person and rises to 1995 for 2 weeks in August. Transport is not
included. One
takes return flights to
Athens
where one is met by a Skyros Holiday guide who
accompanies holidaymakers on the overland journey by coach and
ferries to
Skyros
and back.
The
price above is also based on sharing a room with a partner or
another course
member (allocated on arrival). Single rooms (booked in advance)
are available
for 1125 extra per week.
Atsitsa
This
is another Centre on the
Island
which is run by the same Company.
It lies on the west coast beside a string of beautiful sandy
bays surrounded
by forests and mountains. It is called Atsitsa and is run along similar
lines to the Skyros Holiday Centre but the accent is on
practical courses
that include music, ceramics, water colour sketching, mosaics
and digital
photography.
Also
available here is tuition on canoeing, surfing, sailing,
abseiling and survival skills.
Prices start at 1475 per person for one week with full board in
June, rising to 1995
p. p. for a 2 week course in August. Basic accommodation is provided
in wooden huts with shared washing and toilet facilities but accommodation
is also available in a Stone Villa and a Taverns, both situated close
by. Flights and transport arrangements are the same as for
Skyros Holiday Centre
above .
(18/4/07)
|
|
|
