Madro Travel

Skopelos | Greece

Our island, Our future

In an age of greater awareness of the negative impact pollution has on our planet, tourism is one of the main culprits: transportation, over-development and depletion of natural resources help to make sure it is not an environmentally-friendly industry. Skopelos relies on tourism and is faced with these issues -- while attempting to maintain its own cultural heritage and a clean living environment. Madro Travel has a policy of raising the awareness of holiday makers to things they can do here on Skopelos which can make a ‘real’, and positive, difference to the destination and the people living here. As an agency, we wish to actively encourage discussion on and participation in sustainable activities on Skopelos. Madro Travel aims to promote "sustainable tourism." (nature and wildlife activities), ecotourism (promoting yet protecting natural areas from mass-tourism and development), and agrotourism (educational holidays in agriculture and culture to sustain rural population). In these ways, tour operators, local businesses and visitors alike can genuinely appreciate and respect the culture and natural landscape of our island. A holiday spent exploring the countryside and villages, learning about the production of local cuisine and crafts can be a refreshing and rewarding break from city life. The informed traveller can also be directly contributing to the sustainable tourism effort by supporting the communities working to preserve their local traditions. Remember, if we all work together, our message will reach more people, change more minds, and touch more hearts.

Kostas Kalafatis

Kostas Kalafatis on Skopelos

KOSTAS KALAFATIS was born in Thessaloniki in Greece. He was taught byzantine music by his father and has been a singer since a young boy, when he would sing in the Orthodox Church. This influence and his Asia Minor origin, make up the essence of his voice.

At fourteen years of age he bought his first guitar and started, at the age of 16, playing and singing in bands. He has chosen to spend his career in making real music. For 35 years he has shared his knowledge of the Greek Rembetiko (urban and folk song genres) working mostly in Thessaloniki, Patras and the island of Skopelos where he has lived for the last 30 years.

Kalafatis expertly interprets Smyrneiko, Rembetiko and popular Greek song, as he proves especially when he is singing. He plays guitar and also a variety of stringed instruments of the Eastern Mediterranean such as the bouzouki, lute, oud and baglama.

He contributed as a composer on his latest CD entitled "Thessaloniki Patra Skopelos", which includes a remake of old songs and some contemporary compositions of his own and other composers.