Yannis Andricopoulos, author and Skyros co-founder

Born in 1939, Yannis Andricopoulos (Γιαννης Ανδρικοπουλος) spent the formative years of his life in Athens – years scarred by wars, deprivation and political repression. ‘We managed to survive’, he says, ‘but only on grains of hope’.

With a BA in Politics, in 1964 he joined the Athens daily Avghi and in January 1967 he was sent to ‘swinging London’ as its correspondent.  The appointment was, however, short-lived as the Greek dictatorship closed Avghi down in April 1967 and deprived him of his passport.  His actions, the colonels claimed, were ‘detrimental to the national interests of Greece’.

While a political exile, he earned a Ph.D. in History from London University. He was also elected as the head of the Greek National Union of Students (EFEE in exile). The latter’s activities caused, among other things, his expulsion from a number of East European countries.

In 1974 he resumed his career as a London-based correspondent first for Avghi and then for Eleftherotypia, another Athens daily. In the same year, he also published his first book, 1944, Κρισιμη Χρονια  (1944, A Critical Year), an edited version of prime minister Churchill’s personal papers on 1944 Greece. He has since published three more books on 20th century Greek and European history (Οι Ριζες του Ελληνικου Φασισμου, Το Ευρωπαικο Αδιεξοδο, Η Δημοκρατια του Μεσοπολεμου). As a journalist he has reported from various trouble spots of the world.

In 1979 he co-founded, together with psychotherapist Dina Glouberman, Skyros Holidays, described by The Guardian in 2008 as ‘the first and still the best’ alternative holiday. He still co-directs it.  Ten years later, from 1989 to 1994, he also edited i-to-i, an alternative London publication, which attracted contributions from numerous established journalists and authors.

His trilogy – In Bed with Madness, The Greek Inheritance and The Future of the Past – was published by Imprint Academic in both the UK and the US in 2008. Inspired by his involvement in the truculent world of politics and the graceful, personal world of Skyros, the Trilogy takes a critical view of contemporary politics and culture.

History, Politics and Dreams, his latest book, was published in London in May 2015.

History, Politics and Dreams by Yannis Andricopoulos

This literary nonfiction book by Yannis Andricopoulos (Γιαννης Ανδρικοπουλος) takes the reader on a journey through history, politics and ideas on the strength of his personal experiences in Greece and England, the countries he views respectively as mother and wife. While factually accurate, the story is an engaging tale of dreams and doubts, illusions and disillusionment, hope and despair portrayed both poetically and also humorously. The book turns from page one into a compelling, vivid and dramatic account of the conflicting priorities and values that shape our lives. 

A part of this story is taken up with people such as ex-king Constantine, Margaret Thatcher, James Callaghan, Thabo Mbeki, Indira Gandhi, Turgut Ozal, Constantinos   Karamanlis, Andreas Papandreou, Giscard D’Estaing and many other leading figures whom the narrator met over the years as a journalist.

Leaving history behind, the story moves into the quandaries of our post-faith, post-ideology and post-everything world. Impelled by feelings of excitement and frustration, joy and anger or, in the case of Greece, mirth and gloom, it also highlights the need for a new, radical vision to help us resist the dispiriting cynicism of our times and face the future with confidence. 

This conclusion leads the storyteller to the Greek island of Skyros where several hundred Europeans question and challenge every year our culture’s assumptions and confirm their commitment to the fundamental human priorities and values. In the heart of his own thesis is the belief that the creation of a decent society is not the job of the state but of each one of us. 

‘Yannis’ honest, engaging and flamboyant voice’, one reviewer said, makes this book ‘an immensely readable work’. It is written, another reviewer stated, with the ‘clarity and sophistication of a genius’, an assessment that reminded another reviewer of some other books ‘deservedly seen as great’. ‘Every paragraph’, another pointed out, ‘contains a thought-provoking phrase’. 


Yannis has published eight non-fiction books – four in Greece and another four in the UK.

History, Politics and Dreams is available through
www.amazon.com
www.gardners.com
Waterstones, WH Smith, Foyles, Barnes & Noble, The Book Depository, Blackwell Books and also office@skyros.com

We've been listening to you and here's our response...

Dear Friends of Skyros,

We've noticed from your emails and phone calls that there's a trend towards wanting more one week holidays in Atsitsa this year, particularly early and late in the season.

In the height of the season, many of you still want a good break for a fortnight but the trend seems to be towards more short breaks as well as one long one. Although we're close to the season beginning in Greece we are, nevertheless, both able and happy to accommodate your requests. 

It is possible, of course, to join any of these weeks together. We can book you an extra night in Atsitsa in between holidays. This change won't affect those who've already booked a two-week holiday. It simply opens up additional possibilities. Transfers to and from Skyros island will be rearranged to accommodate the increased number of one week holidays. 

See our new expanded programme below and online here.

With our best wishes,

From All at Skyros

Isle of Wight

More week-long holidays in Atsitsa this summer . . .

Sunday 7 – Saturday 13 June (AT1)
£545
Drawing & Painting, Yoga for Every Body, Windsurfing, Rock Choir, Cuban Salsa, Mindfulness, Stand-up Comedy, Writing from Life

Sunday 14 – Saturday 20 June (AT2a)
£545
Bodywork, Yoga for Every Body, Windsurfing, Singing with Soul, West African Dance, Drawing & Painting, Digital Photography, Life & Fiction (creative writing)

Sunday 21 – Saturday 27 June (AT2b)
£545
Bodywork, Yoga for Every Body, Windsurfing, Singing with Soul, West African Dance, Drawing & Painting, Digital Photography, Life & Fiction (creative writing)


Sunday 28 June – Saturday 4 July (AT3)
£545
Open Art Studio, Yoga for Every Body, Windsurfing, Finding Your Voice, Dance, Meditation, Massage, Reflexology, The Art of Swimming, Starting Your Novel

Sunday 5 – Saturday 11 July (AT4a)
£545
All My Life's a Stage, Hatha Yoga, Windsurfing, Sing Your Story, Open Art Studio, Dance, Qi Gong, Massage, Reflexology, A Sense of Place (creative writing)

Sunday 12 – Saturday 18 July (AT4b)
£545
All My Life's a Stage, Hatha Yoga, Windsurfing, Sing Your Story, Open Art Studio, Dance, Qi Gong, Massage, Reflexology, A Sense of Place (creative writing)


Sunday 19 – Saturday 25 July (AT5)
£545
Landscape Adventure, Vinyasa Yoga, Windsurfing, Everyone Can Sing, 5-Rhythms Dance, Meditation, The Power of Laughter, Mosaics, Rhyme doesn't pay? (creative writing)

Sunday 26 July – Saturday 8 August (AT6)
£1,245
Landscape Art, T'ai Chi, Vinyasa Yoga, Windsurfing, Everyone Can Sing, 5-Rhythms, Meditation, Passionate Living, Mosaics, Abseiling

Sunday 9 – Saturday 22 August (AT7)
£1,245
Passionate Living, Yoga with Awareness, Windsurfing, Music & Singing, Watercolour Painting, Storytelling, Theatre Workshop, Circus Skills

Sunday 23 – Saturday 29 August (AT8a)
£595
Music & Singing, Yoga with Awareness, Windsurfing, Comedy Improvisation Painting, Photography, Trapeze, Passion Power & Presence, Public Speaking


Sunday 30 – Saturday 5 September (AT8b) 
£545
Music & Singing, Yoga with Awareness, Windsurfing, Comedy Improvisation Painting, Photography, Trapeze, Passion Power & Presence, Public Speaking

Sunday 6 – Saturday 12 September (AT9)
£545
Life Choices, Beyond Yoga, Windsurfing, Harmony Singing, Painting, Photography, Trapeze, Comedy Improvisation, A Life Full of Stories (creative writing)

Sunday 13 – Saturday 19 September (AT10a)
£545
Mindfulness, Beyond Yoga, Windsurfing, Music & Singing, Dance & Performance, Art from the Heart, Comedy Improvisation, Humorous Writing

Sunday 20 – Saturday 26 September (AT10b)
£545
Mindfulness, Beyond Yoga, Windsurfing, Music & Singing, Dance & Performance, Art from the Heart, Comedy Improvisation, Humorous Writing

Contact us

If you would like more information about any of our holidays we would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

phone: +44 (0)1983 86 55 66

email: office@skyros.com

Online chat: www.skyros.com 

Yoga for Every Body Atsitsa Bay, Skyros island, Greece

Dear Friend of Skyros,

It's time to start planning ahead for a summer break! And whether you have little experience of yoga or plenty, head for Atsitsa Bay on the beautiful, unspoilt island of Skyros.  

Atsitsa's outstanding yoga teachers will accommodate both absolute beginners and those with more experience. Courses are held amidst lush gardens and pine and fruit trees overlooking the azure sea. 

Atsitsa, friendly and bursting with life, offers a wide choice of courses five hours per day for four to five days per week. In addition, enjoy fun evening activities, an unrivalled community atmosphere, options for health & beauty treatments and opportunities to explore Skyros island.

Request your copy of the 2015 Skyros holiday brochure by dropping us a line at office@skyros.com or call us on 01983 86 55 66. Don't forget your Friends of Skyros discount applies if you've been on any of the holidays before. 

Find out more about this summer's Atsitsa yoga teachers below. All prices given include twin shared accommodation, all meals and a choice from a wide range of courses and activities. See the full programme of Atsitsa summer holidays at www.skyros.com/atsitsa_program.htm and secure your place online here.

With our very best wishes,

The Skyros Team

The Grange, Isle of Wight

Marina Sossi - Yoga For Every Body

Marina Sossi qualified with the British Wheel of Yoga. Marina's yoga course welcomes everyone whether you are a total beginner or experienced yogi. 

Her teaching is accessible and supportive with clear instruction, personal attention and encouragement. The focus is on finding simple ways to incorporate physical practice and yoga philosophy into everyday life and to feel supported, happy and healthy.

Marina's Atsitsa holiday dates:
Sun 7 - Sat 13 June 2015 (1 week) - £545
Sun 14 - Sat 27 June 2015 (2 weeks) - £1,045 
Sun 28 June - Sat 4 July 2015 (1 week) - £545

David Olton – Hatha Yoga

David is the creator of Yoga Ballet Fusion and Contemporary Yoga, both styles of which he will be teaching in Atsitsa as part of his course. He will also teach a gentle and slower themed class blending Somatics and Yin Yoga designed to release deep held tension in the body through pandiculation, breath work and slow passive stretching techniques. The sessions will have a meditative quality and are suitable for all those who want to relax and let go. 

David's Atsitsa holiday dates:
Sun 5 - Sat 18 July 2015 (2 weeks) - £1,145

Andreas Vetsch – Vinyasa Yoga

Andreas trained with masters in India and the US. He runs his own Yoga Centre on the shores of Lake Konstanz in Switzerland and leads retreats all over Europe. This teaching is mostly inspired by Jivamukti Yoga and Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. Participants will experience yoga as a spiritual path and will feel the innate healing power of the practice. They will find out what sort of practice is most beneficial for them

Andreas's Atsitsa holiday dates: 
Sun 19 - Sat 25 July 2015 (1 week) - £545
Sun 26 July - Sat 8 August 2015 (2 weeks) - £1,245

Ken Eyerman – Yoga with Awareness

Ken is trained in The Feldenkrais Method, Awareness Through Movement. As well as regular yoga workshops, Ken offers his Yoga with Awareness holidays internationally and returns to Skyros for his 25th season! Ken seeks to work with you, by developing core movement, and helping you tune into the constant flow of life energy essential to maintaining health and clarity of mind.

Ken's Atsitsa holiday dates:
Sun 9 - Sat 22 August 2015 (2 weeks) - £1,245
Sun 23 August - Sat 5 September 2015 (2 weeks) - £1,195

Kenneth Ryan – Beyond Yoga

Ken has always placed great emphasis on restful awareness and he loves to share the many epitome eastern teachings, which are simple realisations of the natural state of being. Whether holding steady, even strong postures or jumping along to a more energetic practice, you can expect to discover great openness and energy with ease. 

Kenneth's Atsitsa holiday dates:
Sun 6- Sat 12 September 2015 (1 week) - £545
Sun 13 - Sat 26 September 2015 (2 weeks) - £1,045

If you would like more information about any of our holidays we would be happy to answer any questions you may have. Please email office@skyros.com or call 01983 86 55 66. 

Write Your Masterpiece with Skyros' Writers' Lab

The Writers' Lab offers a wonderful opportunity to learn directly from distinguished writers, to share the joys and struggles of the creative process, and to discover strengths and polish skills. Courses are open to novices with a secret passion for writing as much as to writers who already have a book under their belt. Arrive with work in progress or just an empty page - all are welcome.

The Writers' Lab will be taking place in both Atsitsa and the Skyros Centre on Skyros island in Greece this year. See this summer's programme here or see our holidays in date order below. 

Drop us a line at office@skyros.com or call us on 01983 86 55 66 to request your FREE brochure. Don't forget your Friends of Skyros discount applies if you've been on any of the holidays before.

With our very best wishes,


The Skyros Team

The Grange, Isle of Wight

Helena Drysdale - Writing from Life

One of the best routes into writing – both fiction and non-fiction – is through our personal experiences and memories, and some of our most interesting material comes from our own lives. This course will explore the techniques of using that material to tell our stories as well as we can.

Helena Drysdale writes a mix of travel, memoir and biography. 'Mother Tongues, Travels through Tribal Europe' was Book of the Year in the Independent, Times, Irish Times and Sunday Times.


Location: Atsitsa Bay

Dates: Sun 7 - Sat 13 June 2015 (1 week)


Price: £545 includes 6 nights full board, twin shared accommodation and Atsitsa courses/ activities.


Steve Attridge - Life and Fiction

This course includes imaginative ways of tapping into events and experiences, memories and people in your life. Discover new ways of writing about life and strategies, tips and techniques for turning these into powerful fiction. By the end of the course you will be a more accomplished writer and teller of your own stories.


Steve has published 17 books including adult fiction, psychological thrillers, children's, history and comedy. His latest, a crime thriller called The Natural Law went straight to number one in the Amazon Kindle Bestsellers.


Location: Atsitsa Bay

Dates: Sun 14 - Sat 27 June 2015 (2 weeks)


Price: £1,045 includes 13 nights full board, twin shared accommodation and Atsitsa courses/ activities.




Steve Attridge - Starting Your Novel

Want to get going on that novel? This course looks at getting ideas, developing them and making them work. It covers the main points of creating character, plot, setting, genre and point of view. Workshops, talks and exercises will give you lots of ideas and enthusiasm for your writing. 

Twice a BAFTA nominee, Steve has also won RTS Awards and Writer's Guild Awards. He has worked as a writer and lecturer running Masterclasses, short courses and University courses including Oxford, Warwick and Sheffield.

Location: Atsitsa Bay

Dates: Sun 28 June - Sat 4 July 2015 (1 week)


Price: £545 includes 6 nights full board, twin shared accommodation and Atsitsa courses/ activities.


Stephen Clarke - A Sense of Place

When writing about a place you have to make it your own. The result might be a novel, a memoir, a screenplay, travel article or sonnet. But whatever you write, it needs to be you. This course will help you to decide what you really want to say about a place and how you want to say it. Then you can really start writing.



Stephen's book 'A Year in the Merde' has sold over 1.5 million copies in 20 languages. Since 2004 he has produced a book every year including four more Merde novels and the bestselling '1,000 Years of Annoying the French'.

Location: Atsitsa Bay

Dates: Sun 5 - Sat 18 July 2015 (2 weeks)


Price: £1,145 includes 13 nights full board, twin shared accommodation and Atsitsa courses/ activities.


Deborah Levy - Life Writing

Join author Deborah Levy and explore what is at stake when we tell a story, the importance of what we leave out of the story and how to bring it to life. The course will include an exploration of point of view, time, everyday objects and voice with reference to one of Freud's most provocative and entertaining case histories.



Deborah writes fiction, plays and poetry. Her work has been staged by the Royal Shakespeare Company and her novel 'Swimming Home' was shortlisted for the 2012 Man Booker Prize. 

Location: Skyros Centre

Dates: Sun 19 - Sat 25 July 2015 (1 week)

Price: £545 includes 6 nights half board, twin shared accommodation, the Writers' Lab course and early morning yoga.


Mez Packer - Aspects of Novel Writing

Whether you are just beginning to organise your ideas or working on your next 'opus', this course will give you a clear understanding of the technical and creative aspects of novel-writing. Focusing on structure, character, plot and voice this course will look at elements that keep the reader wanting more. 



Mez Packer is Senior Lecturer in Media and Communication and visiting Lecturer in Creative Writing at Coventry University. Mez has varied writing interests from scripts for apps and transmedia projects to short stories.



Location: Skyros Centre

Dates: Sun 26 July - Sat 8 August 2015 (2 weeks)


Price: £1,245 includes 13 nights half board, twin shared accommodation, the Writers' Lab course and early morning yoga.

Leigh Russell - Successful Fiction

This course presents techniques to engage readers’ interest and keep them turning the pages. Offering plenty of scope for students to develop their own writing skills, the course will consider areas including character, plot, structure, pace and language.



Leigh Russell is the bestselling author of the Geraldine Steel and Ian Peterson crime series. Her debut was shortlisted for the Crime Writers Association Dagger Award for Best First Novel in 2010.



Location: Skyros Centre

Dates: Sun 9 - Sat 22 August 2015 (2 weeks)


Price: £1,245 includes 13 nights half board, twin shared accommodation, the Writers' Lab course and early morning yoga.

Monique Roffey - Life Writing

This is a course in writing from life that might take the form of poetry, prose or creative non fiction. The course will cover a diverse range of subjects including the form and options available to tell your story, how to craft stories on the page, the ethics of writing about living people and how to write about childhood.



Monique Roffey's latest novel is called 'House of Ashes' and her last novel, 'Archipelago' won the OCM BOCAS Award for Caribbean Literature in 2013. In 2010, her novel The White Woman on the Green Bicycle was shortlisted for the Orange Prize and the Encore Award. 

Location: Skyros Centre

Dates: Sun 23 August - Sat 5 September 2015 (2 weeks)


Price: £1,195 includes 13 nights half board, twin shared accommodation, the Writers' Lab course and early morning yoga.

Amanda Smyth - A Life Full of Stories

While learning to unlock your creative writing life, and immersing yourself in the tantalizing world of words, this course will help you develop a reliable and practical tool kit to produce meaningful works of fiction. What makes a great story and how do we find our own unique way of writing it down.

Amanda Smyth's first novel 'Black Rock' won the Prix du Premier Roman Etranger 2010 and was selected for Waterstone's New Voices in 2009. It was also selected for Oprah's Summer Reads 2009. Amanda's second novel 'A Kind of Eden' was published in July 2013.

Location: Atsitsa Bay

Dates: Sun 6 - Sat 12 September 2015 (1 week)


Price: £545 includes 6 nights full board, twin shared accommodation and Atsitsa courses/ activities. 

Tony Hawks - Humorous Writing

Drawing on his own experience of having written several bestselling humorous books and having appeared on top comedy programmes, Tony will use a variety of techniques to bring out the fun side in you. The focus will mainly be non fiction, but who know where things may go...?



Tony is the author of the bestseller 'Round Ireland with a Fridge', the story of his quest to hitch round the circumference of Ireland within a month... with a fridge. The book became a top 10 Sunday Times bestseller and has now sold over 800,000 copies and has been translated into several languages.



Location: Atsitsa Bay

Dates: Sun 13 - Sat 26 September 2015 (2 weeks)


Price: £1,045 includes 13 nights full board, twin shared accommodation and Atsitsa courses/ activities.


Contact us

If you would like more information about any of our holidays we would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

phone: +44 (0)1983 86 55 66

email: office@skyros.com

Online chat: www.skyros.com 

Discover Your 'Secret Destination' in Marrakech

This March we have a very special opportunity to attend a course offered by Skyros co-founder and imagework pioneer Dr Dina Glouberman in Marrakech. Learn how every journey has a secret destination and discover your own together with Dina. The trip will be led by longstanding Skyros contributor Zoë Harris who will ensure you quickly become acquainted with Marrakech.

Dates: Sat 14 - Thurs 19 March 2015
Price: £695 including 5 nights accommodation, breakfast and arrival dinner, Skyros courses, local talks and visits and an excursion to the Atlas mountains
Friend of Skyros: receive £30 discount

To secure your place, call us on +44 (0)1983 86 55 66 
or book online. 

Can't make these dates? Take a look at what else is on this season in our 2015 brochure here: http://view.intellimag.com/go/skyros2015



With our very best wishes,


The Skyros Team


The Grange, Isle of Wight

Marrakech

Marrakech is Morocco's fourth largest city and is known as the 'red city' due to its blush coloured walls. Be inspired by the colourful souks piled high with glimmering lamps, bright spices, rugs and leather. Adventure to the Atlas mountains and view this mountainous stretch separating the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines from the Sahara Desert.

Accommodation

The luscious Riad Star, decorated in traditional Moroccan style, was once residence of vaudeville star, hero of the French resistance and civil rights pioneer Josephine Baker. The Riad Star is a celebration of the human spirit. The heart of the property is a classic courtyard complete with dipping pool, fountain, Moroccan sitting room, dining room with stunning feature fireplace and a hammam & massage suite.

Travel

Take any flight into Marrakech to arrive in the late afternoon on Saturday. EasyJet, British Airways and Royal Maroc all offer good options at very reasonable prices. Arrivals will be met and transferred to the Riad. Enjoy an arrival dinner together and get to know your holiday companions. Book your return for any time on the last day of the holiday. 


November dates: Sat 14 to Thurs 19

Can't make the March dates? Join us for our next trip in November. Artist Sarah Livingstone, who has a special interest in mindfulness, will be accompanying the trip and offering the opportunity to craft your own journal. Explore the museums, souks and markets and get inspired by Moroccan design and colour. The course is suitable for any level of creative experience or confidence, including none!

Contact us

If you would like more information about any of our holidays we would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

phone: +44 (0)1983 86 55 66
email: office@skyros.com
Online chat: www.skyros.com 

Remembering Rupert Brooke On The Greek Island Of Skyros

Rupert Brooke, the great English romantic poet, died in the opening months of the First World War on April 23, 1915 on a hospital ship off Skyros island. His remains rest in a serene olive grove on the island's southern coast, a 'corner of a foreign field that is forever England'. Join us this May to commemorate the 100th anniversary of his death and celebrate his life's works, as well as to enjoy the island at this especially lovely time of year.

This special week-long event on Skyros island runs from Sunday 24 to Saturday 30 May and offers opportunities for creative writing, poetry, drawing, singing, songwriting, walks, talks and visits. The event will be facilitated by singer, composer and artist Susie Self, granddaughter of John Drinkwater, one of the Dymock Poets that included Rupert Brooke, and Kevan Manwaring, author and specialist on Brooke's poetry.

We are delighted to announce that Mike Read - radio disc jockey, writer, journalist and television presenter - will also be joining us. Mike is the founder of the Rupert Brooke Society and created a museum at the Orchard Grantchester. He wrote Brooke's biography Forever England: The Life of Rupert Brooke as well as writing music to Brooke's verse as performed by the Kings College Choir and the Eton College Chapel Choir.

Dates: Sunday 24 - Saturday 30 May 2015

Price: £545.00 includes 6 nights half-board, twin shared accommodation, Skyros courses, talks and visits. Single upgrades are available.

Friend of Skyros: those who have previously been on a Skyros holiday before receive a £50.00 Friends of Skyros discount.

Travel: fly to Athens and then take the Aegean Airlines domestic flight to Skyros island on Sunday 24 May at 14.35. See www.aegeanair.gr. On the return, travel back with the early morning ferry and coach to Athens airport on Saturday 30 May. Alternatively, book to stay with us in Skyros village for an extra night and take the domestic flight back to Athens on Sunday 31 May.

Book your place on this very special anniversary event by calling us on +44 (0)1983 86 55 66 or email office@skyros.com to secure your place. 

With our best wishes,


The Skyros Team


Isle of Wight

Contact us

We would be happy to answer any questions you may have on any of our holidays. Get in touch by . . .

phone: +44 (0)1983 86 55 66

email: office@skyros.com

online chat: www.skyros.com