Icaria

A calm, long life without any stress among a close and friendly community. Are you at all curious where people live like this? Somewhere in the Aegean Sea is a small island called Icaria. It got its name from Icarus, the young man in Greek mythology, who flew too close to the sun and fell into the sea underneath. The island is mostly mountainous, but you can also find many nice beaches there.

Not only among Greek people is the island known for its hot mineral springs. The Thermal Springs of Ikaria are considered as some of the most radioactive springs in the whole world. The water can treat chronic diseases like rheumatism and arthritis.  

What else makes this island so special? Many scientists from all over the world try to find out the reason why so many cetenarians live in Ikaria. One in three people on this island live 90 years or longer.
It’s true that in Ikaria people have a slow pace of life. No clock is working correctly; they simply don’t care about the time. Also, many of them take afternoon naps – maybe these naps extend their lives? Furthermore, they drink a tisane every day. The “mountain tea”, made from dried herbs, which are easy to find on the island, is very popular.
 
The Ikarians diet is rich in olive oil and vegetables, low in dairy products (except of goat’s milk), and meat products seem to be a very important factor for a long life.  

Moreover Icaria has a tradition of producing strong red wine. Therefore homemade alcohol is also a part of a healthy diet.

The lifestyle of the Icarians is worth mentioning. They walk a lot, which keeps them fit for a long time, and they are never in a hurry.

All these factors make Icaria sound like an idyllic place to live. Healthy, locally produced food, homemade wine, sunshine, a strong tradition of solidarity and friendly people.

Who wouldn’t want to live here?