By Apurba SaktiSigri, a small village of around 300 people, located in the south-west tip of the island Lesvos in Greece is a charming discovery for any tourist. This Mediterranean locale can be the temporary recluse that you have been looking for and with its offerings will surely surprise you to the core. And for all you know you may end up coming back asking for more.
As part of a group of 39 students, I had the privilege of exploring Sigri and get captivated by its way of life. People here are friendly and nice in tune with the easy going Greek culture. Downtown comprises of a handful of restaurants. While during the day you will see a sprinkling of people hanging around, these can get pretty bustling as the sun goes down. Our stay there coincided with the 2008 Euro-cup and we saw these places get loaded, especially the Australian Café and Bar with its outdoor TV. Wondering around in the village is a joy for it has a plethora of picturesque sights.
Especially if you have a knack for photography, your appetite will get a taste it will for sure savor. Amidst all of it the village now has individuals who rightly acknowledge the importance of
sustainability as far as tourism is concerned.
The village which has not yet been exposed to over-tourism can be vulnerable to the adverse affects that it brings mainly because of the combination of two aspects: a) its small population with lack of infrastructure and b) its potential of being a coveted recluse. The potential can be guessed from the fact as stated by Michael Backman (a Professor at Lund University, Sweden who spends a part of the year at Sigri) that the older generation who once left the village are coming back after making money elsewhere and the younger generation is staying back. Not ever have lived in a place as small as this, I for sure was amazed by what Sigri had to offer and can understand why people are coming back. This coupled with the fact that people are aware of the consequences of over-tourism might just be magical combination for Sigri to prosper in future.
As part of a group of 39 students, I had the privilege of exploring Sigri and get captivated by its way of life. People here are friendly and nice in tune with the easy going Greek culture. Downtown comprises of a handful of restaurants. While during the day you will see a sprinkling of people hanging around, these can get pretty bustling as the sun goes down. Our stay there coincided with the 2008 Euro-cup and we saw these places get loaded, especially the Australian Café and Bar with its outdoor TV. Wondering around in the village is a joy for it has a plethora of picturesque sights.
Especially if you have a knack for photography, your appetite will get a taste it will for sure savor. Amidst all of it the village now has individuals who rightly acknowledge the importance of
sustainability as far as tourism is concerned.
The village which has not yet been exposed to over-tourism can be vulnerable to the adverse affects that it brings mainly because of the combination of two aspects: a) its small population with lack of infrastructure and b) its potential of being a coveted recluse. The potential can be guessed from the fact as stated by Michael Backman (a Professor at Lund University, Sweden who spends a part of the year at Sigri) that the older generation who once left the village are coming back after making money elsewhere and the younger generation is staying back. Not ever have lived in a place as small as this, I for sure was amazed by what Sigri had to offer and can understand why people are coming back. This coupled with the fact that people are aware of the consequences of over-tourism might just be magical combination for Sigri to prosper in future.
