“Ready?” “Ready!” “Hold on” e siamo partiti. I quel momento ho sentito che tutti i miei pensieri rimanevano lì sulla terra ferma, mentre il resto di me andava verso quell’isola sconosciuta che ho subito sentito come casa... In questi giorni non ho dovuto pensare a niente, mi sono rilassata tantissimo e soprattutto ho imparato un sacco di cose. Anche se siamo state un po’ sfortunate con il tempo, direi proprio che l’ultimo giorno abbiamo recuperato. Credo che descrivere le sensazioni provate in compagnia dei delfini sia inutile, non saprei esprimermi adeguatamente. Voglio solo dire che se potessi, starei qui ‘a tempo indeterminato’! E’ stata un’esperienza profonda che spero proprio di poter ripetere. Un grazie speciale a Susie e Stefano che mi hanno fatta sentire perfettamente a mio agio. Grazie a tutti.
Aurora, Italy
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Che bello trovarsi tra amici e condividere la stessa passione. Formidabile, ci siamo conosciuti da poco ed è come se ci conoscessimo da sempre. La pace che il mare ti sa infondere è tangibile anche qui alla base di Episkopi, a casa. Sì, la mia casa per una settimana, il luogo dove si imparano cose molte importanti, ma soprattutto dove si impara a convivere con persone che provengono da vari paesi e culture, con abitudini e comportamenti diversi. Una palestra di vita molto importante che insegna che la condivisione e la tolleranza sono il segreto per un futuro migliore, un futuro di sorrisi e di pace. Grazie a Tethys e ai volontari che hanno condiviso con me questa settimana. Un sincero augurio di gioia e serenità.
Anna, Italy
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I have really enjoyed my time in Episkopi. I did feel a little down-hearted at the beginning of the week with the rainy weather, however this extra time did enable us to enjoy a long walk to Kalamos and thus explore some more of this beautiful island. We also had more relaxing days and ate very very well!! I enjoyed the lectures we had each day (sounds strange eh!); it was very interesting as a Vet to find out more about dolphin behaviour and ecology and discover about the risks of overfishing. The last day was definitely the high-point of the trip. Lovely sunshine, calm seas and finally a dolphin sighting!!! It was very interesting to get involved in data collection, the theory of it is very different to doing it in the field! Dolphins are very addictive animals to observe, you could watch them all day and never get bored. I would definitely be interested in doing a research project like this myself in the future! What a job!! Thank you to all involved!
Rebecca, U.K.
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Due to bad weather conditions, unfortunately we were unable to go and look for dolphins for the firsts days. We tried so many times, but the sea just would not let us look for the dolphins. Instead however, we were able to walk to the village of Kalamos and investigate the main part of the island seeing stunning scenery and beautiful beaches as we walked. The disappointment was soon cleared on the last day. We saw many dolphins, which was an amazing experience as we were able to see them in the wild, watching them eat, play and rest. It was fascinating to see how Susie and Stefano collect their data and it was good to be able to help them to do so. Each day Stefano would give us a lecture about the different aspects of dolphin life including behaviour, data collection and the increasing problem of over fishing (something that I was not really aware of before!!). The lectures were not only informative, but enjoyable as well. I did find the experience thoroughly interesting and definitely I am glad I have done it! Thank you to everyone, especially Stefano and Susie ☺
Siobhan, U.K.
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The sighting we had was the highlight of the trip. I didn’t realise we would see so many dolphins in one group, probably about 20. It was really interesting to see their different behaviour and watch how they interact with each other. I also enjoyed seeing different wildlife in the sea such as Cindy, the sea turtle that lives in the harbour! It was frustrating to wake up on the first days and see the rain but today has definitely made up for those times. The lectures and work have been informative and given me a lot to think about. I feel the experience has increased my ability to understand why sustaining the oceans is such an important issue. It has been nice to meet people from different backgrounds and share new recipes and ways of living. The cats were a welcoming addition to the house as well ☺
Chloe, U.K.
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