By Elena Kholodova
If someone would like to make a top-list of tourist resorts that are the most popular in Russia, a number of quite recognizable names would be mentioned. Antalia, Hurgada, Marbella, Dubrovnik, Goa – these are the places that have been chosen by my nationals because of prices, location, exotics and availability, and which are still attractive for the most of wishful office workers who are looking forward to a long-awaited holiday. As hypnotized zombie owners of big and small fortune, oligarchs and house-keepers keep on following the habitual procedure which is invariably leading to the well-known journey. By escaping the life full of every day happenings, jitters and rush people want to have great confidence in their spare time: known hotel, expected service, predictable climate. Just half a year ago I was in the list of these individuals. Before June 2008, before I have got to know Sigri… Those who are fed up with routine and traditional holidays full of Russian native speakers, sticking behavior of service stuff towards Russian girls accompanied with abusive “Natasha”, who are looking for silence, calm and tasty colorful tourist life, those are strongly recommended to visit Sigri.
Please, do not understand me wrong and do not enroll me in a necrophil or a suicide club, but Sigri is actually a place to die. I mean, this is the place where everyone can “rest in peace”. Because, without any philosophical insinuation, only birth and death are the states in which you can feel absolutely free of your past and future. So, let me introduce you Sigri, the place where you have a happy chance to be reborn. What makes Sigri so unique? What makes it worth visiting and coming back or maybe staying for a longer time? Once I asked Kostas, the owner of one of the coastal restaurants “What is Sigri?”. The answer was unexpected: “Sigri is me”. And he was right as nobody else!
Sigri as a chameleon takes on the only colors and emotions that you need and just you can understand. Sigri is open for your wishes and it is waiting for the moment to satisfy your needs. You want three “S” of good holiday, the sun, sand and the sea, and you will find them in Sigri. Are you adherent of a peaceful and organized rest with chaise lounge and cocktail? You are very welcome to a public beach. Are you dreaming about wild and pristine environment? The savage beaches, like Faneromeni, covered with volcanic sand and calling you with turquoise sea are waiting for you. Do you want to stay in silence and sense the harmony? The varied landscape offers you plenty of places where you can easily run into nature. And this is about everything. The fancies of ancient history looking for archeological and architectural sites can satisfy their curiosity visiting the neighboring monastery and the Turkish Castle that has been protecting the harbor since 1746. Gluttons and tourists with sweet tooth will be beloved guests in one of the small restaurants around Sigri offering well-known lobsters, fresh fish and sea-food, as well as traditional Greek dishes. An interesting thing is that if the food that you are dying for is not in the menu today, the owner will be happy to cook it another day. Such personal orders are not the lot of elite but the luxury available for anyone. More of that, the Museum of Natural History opened on the top of hill hosts a part of petrified forest where you can see the natural works of art that are at the same time the bearers of information about the Earth’s history and evolution. In addition to the mentioned above Sigri is absolutely safe. There are not so many resorts around the Europe where you can feel so secure. Due to not numerous population of the village everybody knows each other. Doors can be left opened, children do not have to be strongly cared, belongings can be unattended.
Sigri is a piece of heaven designed for connoisseurs, not for mass consumption. Indeed, promotion of the uniqueness and support of the habitual life-style are the keys and pledge for saving the features of this place. When you visit this place, let it pass through you. And couple of weeks later coming back to your city answering the question of your friends “What is Sigri?” you will say “Sigri is me!”
