Itisallgreek2me

My handsome friends, Bob and Oliver, Costas' house - Spetses

I had travelled to Limni on Evia, expecting to spend a couple of days relaxing on the beach, before my much anticipated return to Spetses and Costas.  The first day we had rain and overcast skies.  Tuesday morning I headed for the nearest beach where I managed just two and a half hours of glorious sun, occasionally interrupted by clouds.  My host Maddi had kindly invited me to have lunch with her and her husband Stathis, it was Maddi’s birthday but I did not find that out until after my arrival.  We had lovely salmon wrapped in proschetto, three different salads and wine – all very healthy.  Maddi and I found plenty of things to talk about and it was not until 1800 hours that I returned to my apartment, with a pizza they had given me for my tea.  Many of the people of Limni began celebrating the Virgin’s birthday that night and the loud music continued until 0430 hours, unfortunately, affording one a minimum of sleep. 

Yesterday, in brilliant sunshine, I left Limni on the 1130 hours bus back to Chalkida.  In the mountains, not far out of Limni, crowds were coming and going from a church, the centre of Panagia (Virgin Mary) celebrations held every year on 8 September.  Some people boarded our bus to return to their villages, carrying pots of food, bread and bags of apples.  The driver had a conversation with one such passenger, an elderly lady dressed in black who was carrying a pot of food.  He was concerned she might spill it in his bus but she replied he had nothing to worry about, it was in a plastic bag and basically, shut up – speak only if I spill it!  Just another one of those moments of simple amusement.  

Arriving in Chalkida there was only time to buy my ticket, eat a little bread, a hurried toilet stop and on another bus bound for Athens.  I had telephoned Costas the night before to say that I could be delayed as the public transport workers were going to strike in Athens yesterday from 1100 to 1600 hours.  I arrived in the big city around 1520 hours, then learnt that I had a good 20 minutes walk in 32 degree C heat to the nearest Metro Station “Attiki”.  Managing to squeeze on to the first train out of there at 1600 hours, it took me only to Syntagma.  There the crowds were 10 fold, however, I made it on to another train to Monastiraki Station where I changed to the third train headed for the port of Piraeus.  With such a fight for bums on seats, once on the third train and able to take off my back pack, I was quite happy to stand.  In Piraeus, I bought my ticket for the Hellenic Seaways catamaran “Flying Cat 2” which I boarded at 1715 hours then telephoned Costas to let him know I would be arriving in Spetses at 1925 hours.

As expected, I received a warm welcome from Costas who was waiting at the port to greet me.  When we arrived at his house, two of his four cats (all rescued from the streets) namely Bob and Oliver, also extended a warm welcome – like I was a long lost friend.  Shortly after, Costas needed to go to work at Bar Spetsa but I followed about an hour later after I had had time to unpack, shower and change – it had been a long, sweaty journey.  Just like during my time here earlier this year, at the beginning of the evening we had time to sit and talk, then it gets busy.  I drank my two 5 Star Metaxa brandies on the rocks and my two bottles of water, retiring at 0100 hours.  Costas finished at 0500 hours, it can be as late as 0700 hours and he does this every day from the 1st of April until the 31st of October, year after year, which is very tiring.  Bar Spetsa is successful because of him, the music he plays, the atmosphere and the drinks – you will not find more generous servings anywhere, nor will you always find drinks true to the bottle label as you do in Bar Spetsa – it is such a great place!

As of 1 September, a new Law here in Greece supposedly forbids smoking in indoor public places – an interesting concept when the Greeks do whatever they want to do, not what they are told to do.  Apparently, there is to be some leniency during the first month, however, after that a 60 Euro fine for the perpetrator and a 600 Euro fine for the owner of the establishment.  From what I have observed in the first week, it ain’t going to work! 

Unbelievable weather here today on Spetses, still very warm.  Before meeting up with Costas at Bar Spetsa at 1400 hours to go out for lunch, I called in to see Susan at Mexis Studios, where I stayed earlier in the year.  Susan said she knew I would come back!  Since Costas does not have the Internet, Susan has very kindly said I can come here and sit in the garden anytime I want to go on line.  Costas and I, we had a yummy lunch at “Spetsiotiko” – a restaurant on the sea front – he has gone to sleep while I take time to write and update my blog.  Of course, tonight I will return to keep him company at Bar Spetsa.

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 9th, 2010 at 6:11 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.