SCOTLAND: "Che" in Greece

We commented on the Scottish island of Eigg, which hippies have colonized with the aid of CHE (Center for Human Ecology). I flippantly asked if Che was named afÁter Che Guevara.

From Athens, Harry Papasotiriou reports: "Speaking of Che, remote islands and the perils of mass tourism, allow me to claim that there are Greek island havens for hippies that are presumably more conducive to getting in touch with one's inner feelings and the universe, etc., than cold and rainy Scotland.

This year I vacationed on the tiny Greek island of Donusa, which has 160 permanent inhabitants who have somehow managed to spread over one major and three minor settlements (they could scarcely fill a single Athenian apartment building). While we - meaning a few families with small children - enjoyed the main settlement, which is mildly developed by locals respectful of local traditions, without yet being overwhelmed by the mass tourism that has been lamented in earlier WAIS messages.

We also visited remoter beaches that have attracted hippies camping on the beach - who by the way entertained our children wonderfully (perhaps because they are rather childlike themselves). Whenever a ship from Athens arrived at the island, which was only twice a week, a representative of the main hippie community would carry a banner of Che Guevara to attract the new arrivals. Then they would all march behind the banner through the main town, on the way to their more remote beaches, much like mass tourists behind their tour operators".