European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 24, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thanasis Cei Piotis and Marine Telstra on the Balcony of their House outside the Village of Kotlos you can go Home again islander views tourist Boom As mixed Blessing editor s Noli in development of tourism Economy  both positive and negative effects on tiny Region. In Greet a one place where this i particularly evident is Kopelos in the  islands. In recent years there has been a major upswing in development Ami numbers of visitors. Some of the 6,500 islanders have mixed feelings about this Progress which hits financial benefits for them but also Niters the landscape and lifestyle of their Home. By Norm Zeigler travel outdoor writer Thanasis clip Solis roots Are in the Rocky soil of Kopelos. I Lis family has been on the Island for More generations  they know cultivating the land wresting a living from the Sim. Ii is where he would like to spend the rest 01 his life. It was not always this Way. Until about ten years ago the islanders lived mainly from agriculture mostly Olive and fruit Orchards and fishing. The  Export was the Sweet Sun dried prunes. Tire was poor clip Solis says. We have the plums. The olives. But it was t enough to  Many of the dining people left. The jobs were not on Kopelos. They were in Athens Salonika or on the freighters that sailed to Distant ports. He was one of those who left. He found a Job in Athens for iwo years working conduction. Then he served As an officer in the Creek army. But the pull was there he had to return to his Island. Gei Piotis knows what hard work is. He got his first Job at 10, wailing on tables at a restaurant near the Harbor and kept it until he left for Athens. In those Days the tourists had not really discovered Kopelos but still visitors came. One of the things he liked Best about the Job was being among the people the off islanders. I met 0 percent on the Island. Right now we live from  like Many people in newly popular resorts areas he has mixed feelings about the changes. I like it and i Don t like it he says. He likes the fact that there Are now jobs. Young people no longer Are forced to leave. Up to now it is Good he says. But he fears an influx of outside capital big holds and Quick Buck operators who look for Only tin  he has already seen a few those Tio come intending to operate a business for a year or iwo make big Money and leave. They Are not careful for the tourist he says. This is not Good for my Island. I am afraid if so Many people like ibis come they will ruin  but for now it is still a special place to live where you can leave your House door unlocked and the keys in your car. I feel Safe Here he says. Since the hard Winter of 1983-84, which destroyed or damaged Many fruit Trees his Mother and father no longer cultivate their Orchards. Now they also help in the restaurant. His Mother s homemade pita bread is a favorite of the customers. It is summer time again for 20-hour Days in the restaurant. But Gei Piotis has a code you should never be too Busy to help someone. I like to be kind to people he says. If they need help or advice he takes the Lime to give in. If you go to Skopetos Slop in at the Platanos restaurant one Block up from the Harbor at the Easl end of Lown and say hello to Thanasis and Marifke and the rest of the family. One of the Many still unspoiled beaches on the Island of Kopelos in Greece s sporades islands. August 24, 1989 stripes Magazine