24/09/23

[Maik]

Kef fire risk 24/09/23: Medium

Today’s bank rates:
1 €UR = £0.8931 GBP
1 €UR = $1.0954 USD
£1 GBP = 1.1197 €UR
$1 USD = 0.9129 €UR

Based on Alpha Bank exchange rates, these are widely used by exchange agencies in Greece.
Other banks likely to offer a different rate which may be marginally higher or lower.
Banks and foreign exchange offices normally charge standard 2% commission.
You may get a better rate changing your holiday money in advance at e.g the Post Office.
NB: some f-ex agencies advertise "No Commission".
Invariably, they deduct commission before they (don't) advertise the rate.
Foreign exchange offices are businesses, not charities.

Ten day weather forecast for Kefalonia:
This is an overall forecast, due to the mountainous terrain the weather can be very localised.
Updated forecast @ weather.com

Day, Date   Hi°/Lo°   Wind sp   Wet   Forecast
Sun 24/09   27°/18°   20 km/h   85%   Thunderstorms probable
Mon 25/09   25°/18°   14 km/h   66%   Thunderstorms probable
Tue 26/09   25°/18°   09 km/h   83%   Thunderstorms probable
Wed 27/09   25°/18°   11 km/h   78%   Thunderstorms probable
Thu 28/09   26°/18°   10 km/h   24%   Mostly sunny
Fri 29/09   26°/19°   13 km/h   38%   Thunderstorms possible
Sat 30/09   26°/19°   16 km/h   22%   Sunny
Sun 01/10   26°/18°   15 km/h   24%   Mostly sunny
Mon 02/10   27°/18°   14 km/h   23%   Mostly sunny
Tue 03/10   26°/19°   16 km/h   18%   Mostly sunny

[Maik]

Body of a 38 y-o male recovered yesterday afternoon from the sea off the Holy Monastery of Grigorios, Mount Athos

Body of a young male reported missing while swimming from Turkey to Greece recovered this morning from the sea east of Pserimos

[Maik]

Last night's power outage in Argostoli was fixed but speculation is that it was a temporary repair requiring a more involved long term solution.

[Maik]

New road map for real estate purchases and short-term rentals in Greece

A series of sweeping changes to laws regulating the market for short-term property rentals via online platforms, such as Airbnb, is being planned by Greece’s national economy and finance ministry, which will soon introduce the new measures.

These will even the playing field regarding the taxation of such properties relative to hotels and rented rooms, abolish the use of cash for property purchases, and impose stricter penalties on owners and managers who fail to declare properties as short-term rentals to the tax office.

Another important measure is the new requirement to pay VAT and have open books for those who own or manage more than two short-term rentals, as well as the imposition of a visitor’s tax and climate-crisis tax on 170,000 properties, as charged in hotels and rented rooms.

https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1220803/new-road-map-for-real-estate-purchases-and-short-term-rentals-in-greece/

[Maik]

Greece to begin offering new, electronic ID cards on Monday

https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/09/24/greece-to-begin-offering-new-electronic-id-cards-on-monday/

[Maik]

A long read report on an interview with former Greek Minister of Finance starting with, "What could be more delightful than a trip to Greece to meet Yanis Varoufakis".  Well, I can think of a few things... theguardian.com

[Maik]

More storms to hit Thessaly Mon to Wed

An SMS message via the 112 emergency number has been sent to residents of the Thessaly region, the regional unit of Fthiotida, the northern part of the island of Evia and the Sporades Islands warning of strong storms and hailstorms from Monday to Wednesday.

Specifically, the message states: “Dangerous weather phenomena (strong storms, hailstorms) from the morning hours of (Monday) and for the next two 24 hours in…Thessaly, Sporades, Fthiotida & North Evia. Limit movements during the duration and follow the instructions of the authorities”.

Thessaly is still slowly recovering from huge floods from September 12-15.

https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1220820/more-storms-to-hit-thessaly-mon-to-wed/

[Maik]

Man gored to death by bull at Spanish festival

A man has died and his friend has been injured during a bull-running festival in eastern in Spain, authorities say.

The man, 61, was gored in his side during the event in the town of Pobla de Farnals in the Valencia region on Saturday. He underwent emergency surgery but died on Sunday.

His friend, 63, was attacked in both legs by the same bull and is in a stable condition in hospital.

Deaths and injuries during bull-running festivals in Spain are not uncommon.

There are hundreds of such events - in which bulls are released on city streets with people running ahead of them - across Spain every year.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-66905583