Author Topic: Update Plakias: At the end of March/April 2024  (Read 122 times)

Offline kokkinos vrachos

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Update Plakias: At the end of March/April 2024
« on: April 24, 2024, 10:10:58 AM »
Kalimera, I've been in Souda/Plakias since 26 March.

The weather was great until 15 April. Unusually warm for this time of year, temperatures between 25C and 30C. It was very windy for 3 nights. In the night from 19th to 20th April it rained for the first time.
Since 16th April the weather has been changeable, sun and clouds alternating, often windy.

In Plakias everything is open 98% of the time. This year, at the end of March and April, Plakias is busier than in previous years. Especially on Sundays, many residents from Rethymnon come to Plakias for an excursion. On Sundays, the caf?s and tavernas are already very busy at lunchtime. There was live music every Sunday at Gorgona.

The beaches of Souda, Plakias and Damnoni are all still unorganised. The 3 tavernas on Damnoni Beach are also not yet open.

There are hardly any changes in the village. The Tasomanolis taverna is a building site. After the small greengrocer's/organic shop in the side street near the Throubi taverna closed in November 2023, the shop is empty. The Agapi massage has moved to the main street next to the bridge.

Construction work on the new promenade is almost complete. The main street is already finished and is completely made of bricks.

https://rethnea.gr/nea-opsi-apokta-to-paraliako-metopo-plakia/
The biggest changes are the construction of new houses. There are 200 authorised concessions for new houses in and around Plakias this year. There is a lot of building going on, especially between Souda and Selia. New villas are being built everywhere. Another focal point is towards Lefkogia. In 2025, there should be even more licences for new houses.

The Kotsifou Gorge has been closed since 13 March 2024 due to a landslide.

In recent years, Plakias has developed from a tourist resort that was more or less dormant in winter to a town with a permanent population (like Agia Galini).

Plakias is now to have a secondary school. Until now, pupils have had to go to Mirthios after primary school.

Ta Leme, kv
"I hope nothing, I'm not afraid, I'm free." Nikos Kazantzakis

Offline Barny

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Re: Update Plakias: At the end of March/April 2024
« Reply #1 on: April 24, 2024, 12:05:35 PM »
Changes for the better?

Barny.
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Offline kokkinos vrachos

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Re: Update Plakias: At the end of March/April 2024
« Reply #2 on: April 24, 2024, 08:24:24 PM »
"Changes for the better?"

Kalispera Barni, I welcome the change or the process from a tourist summer resort to a proper town (like Agia Galini). Many families from Albania have recently moved to Plakias and the surrounding villages. There has been a large German-speaking and English-speaking community for many years.

I naturally take a critical view of the rapid construction of houses. Especially the many villas between Souda and Selia. In the long term, Plakias will also grow together with Lefkogia.

What struck me negatively in October 2023 was how the beaches from Souda to Damnoni were covered with sunbeds and umbrellas.
However, a stricter law has now been passed and I'm hoping for a positive change.
A new law was passed on 29 February 2024. In future, 70% of a beach is to be free of sun beds, as the government announced.

https://www.timeout.com/news/these-are-the-new-beach-rules-to-know-when-visiting-greece-031524

https://www.zarpanews.gr/chania-i-nea-aristera-apokoronoy-gia-ton-neo-nomo-peri-aigialon-ti-proteinei/

Another problem is of course the rubbish lying around in the landscape. When I walk from Plakias to Souda, the amount of rubbish on the roadside is unbelievable.

Kalo Vradi, kv
"I hope nothing, I'm not afraid, I'm free." Nikos Kazantzakis

Offline JBMouse

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Re: Update Plakias: At the end of March/April 2024
« Reply #3 on: April 25, 2024, 04:55:20 PM »
Bad health has stopped me getting to anywhere in Greece in the past few years, and my last visit to Plakias was October 2019 (but did get to the Pelopponese in October 2020) so there were zero major changes to the village then, but now? Not too sure, but whatever I and other tourists think, it is up to the local residents to choose, and, if they approve it all, then so be it, us tourists must accept the changes. Over development of more houses is not good, but it's not our village, local voices are the only ones to count.
Of course the people of Plakias are one of the main draws to me after 20+ years of going there, and they remain, and I hope I can still count many of them as friends, so my views on the changes must wait untill I can go and see for myself, God willing.