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.

Alkyon days

Halcyon Days

Alkyon was one of the seven daughters of Aeolos, god of the winds. Her husband was king Ceynx, who in turn was the son of the deity Eosphorus (Hesperius). Ceynx was very content with his wife and life, and decided this happiness was reason enough for him to call his wife Hera, after the queen of the gods. He also made Alkyon call him Zeus. This, of course, inflicted the wrath of the gods, and the couple were changed into birds as a punishment for their hubris.

According to another myth, Ceynx drowned in a shipwreck during a trip to consult an oracle. Alkyon was so much in love with her husband that when she heard of his death, she jumped from a cliff, so that they could be together for all eternity. The gods took pity on them, and transformed the into sea birds. Alcyone was turned into a Kingfisher, or Halcyon, and Ceynx into a Gannet, or Ceyx.

The Kingfisher has its nesting period during the winter solstice. Alkyon's father, Aeolos, ensures that the winds don’t blow and the weather is warm for some days after the 15th January - when the eggs of these birds hatch. During the winter months when the weather is calm for a few days, the Greeks say we have "Halcyon days".