Itisallgreek2me

Ray and I at Liotrivi Restaurant

Disappointingly, the weather these past few days has not been as good as forecast.  Although very warm with highs of around 30 degrees C, unfortunately, clouds rolling in has at times spoilt the chance to increase my suntan which seems to fade quickly when one does not top up daily.  Last week we even had rain, of the kind that falls from the sky with laspe (Greek for mud).  It is like a red dust and covers everything, it is horrible, however, the nightlife would take some beating.

Last Sunday 8 June was Pentecost which marks the end of the Easter season in the Christian calendar and celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles.  With Monday having been a Public Holiday in Greece, from Friday onwards swarms of people began to arrive on the island.  The sun beds and umbrellas came out at Agios Mammas beach and the tables and chairs outside at Bar Spetsa.  A lot of Athenians amongst the arrivals but also many regular visitors who have been coming for years and who enjoy the atmosphere of Costas’ Bar.

I have had just one night at home during the past week … that was Thursday.  On Friday, Taya a young Georgian who cleans the Bar daily and does chores at the house for Costas when I am absent, she came in to keep me company early in the evening.  When we finally got to close the Bar, yet again Costas came home via the bakery with more delicious pastries.  Saturday evening I had arranged to have dinner out with Ray and Heather.  At 2030 hours we met at the Poseidonion Grand Hotel for an aperitif before dinner, sitting out on the terrace watching all the people milling around.  Ray and Heather had two amazing looking cocktails, while I enjoyed an ouzo with lots of ice.  Normally we three all pile on the bike, however, with Heather’s skirt requiring her to ride side-saddle, Ray suggested I walk to the Bar while he delivered Heather to Liotrivi (The Olive Press) then Ray returned to collect me.  Our Albanian friend Roland is the chef at Liotrivi and he had recommended his Carrot and Smoked Salmon Soup which I had to start … it was just divine.  The location of this restaurant is amazing, as you sit out in the warm night air, all the lights around the harbour reflecting on the water, while watching the small boats returning people to their multi million dollar yachts anchored nearby.  When it came time to leave, I was more than happy to walk down to the Bar … I desperately needed to work off the large meal I had partaken of.  At the Bar we met Andy and Lesley whom I had not seen since they surprised Costas walking into the Bar on the night of the Closing Party for the season, marking the 25th Anniversary, some 18 months’ ago.  They are on Spetses with Andy’s friend John who is visiting Spetses for the first time and Geoff and Liz who were married here on the island in 2009 … Costas was their best man.

On Sunday, Costas announced we would eat out and so we went to Agios, a restaurant in the Dapia which many people have been raving about … we had until now forgotten it was there.  Although it does not have a view of the sea, we sat on the terrace with a view of the old Sotirios Anargyros Mansion and a pretty little green square nearby … we were not disappointed.  That evening I went early to the Bar, at first sitting outside with Dave and June whom I have only met for the first time this trip, although Costas has often spoken of them and John and Julie who live here permanently.  It was John who kindly helped me out last year when my PC Notebook succumbed to water during November’s storm.  Carol, the wife of Panayiotis from Spetsiotiko was with us too … when Carol left for home, I had another drink before calling it quits just after 0200 hours.

Yesterday, Monday – I left the house just before 1300 hours to meet Costas at Point of View for a coffee.  Nikos was also there, very proud to announce the safe arrival on Friday of two wee brothers for his son Spiros whose baptism we attended last year … mother Tina and twins all doing well.  Lunch followed at Spetsiotiko … on arrival going into the kitchen and choosing a wonderfully fresh fish each to be cooked for us.  I was dressed and ready for the beach so headed straight down … alas, after only 20 minutes and fed up with the clouds, I made my way back home.

For some days we have been hearing rather vocal birds in our garden.  We did not think much about this until yesterday … it was yap, yap, yap, so with no let up in the racket, we decided to take a closer look.  There were a pair of blackbirds, obviously distressed about something, however, we could not see what it was.  Then, last evening just before dark, I found their baby, not tiny but about half the size of its parents, on the ground.  I picked it up and put in on higher ground … alas, it could not fly and just went plop, back down on to the lower level.  What to do?  How had it survived in our garden with four cats and the odd extra cat visiting?  I telephoned Costas at the Bar, telling him what I had found and asking what he thought I should do.  “Leave it to mother nature”, he said.  There is nothing like a bird lady on the island.  I will leave on Saturday, therefore, it is not possible for me to try hand rearing it.  Now, some 24 hours later, this small creature is still in our garden, it and it’s parents having survived another day.  We can only hope mummy and daddy will be able to feed their baby until such time that it can fly away.  We have no idea where their nest is … most likely in our large bay tree, however, the growth is very dense and it is impossible to see just what is hidden away there.

Sadly, this is my last week on the island and my last Blog for now … I fully intend to make the most of every minute until I depart on Saturday.  Yesterday would have to have been one of my best nights ever out in Bar Spetsa … I walked down around 2230 hours.  The first person I spoke to was our friend Chris … recovering from a broken arm, it was lovely to see her out and about again.  Soon after, she and her German friend Ernst moved on and I joined Geoff and Liz, Andy and Lesley and Carol at their outside table.  When Carol and I eventually moved inside, I sat for a while with Sally and Andre, yet another English couple, then later met a crowd from Melbourne, including 92-year-old Mel … lovely people whom Costas has known for a long time, he has often spoken to me about them and in fact, he visited them in Melbourne last year on his way out to New Zealand to meet me and my family and friends.  There was a guy sitting alone at the bar … for sure, I knew the face – it was Patrick, an actor from Detroit, Michigan whom I had not seen for two years.  So, I kept Patrick company for a while, Ernst returned late for a couple of beers … it was gone 0500 hours before Costas closed and I felt that I had been playing musical chairs all night!

Next week I will be back in New Zealand where, of course, it is Wintertime right now.  I am especially looking forward to seeing my family but very little else … the reality is, it will be cold and I must work another 4 months.  Anticipated arrival date back in Greece of 10 October … all things being equal.  Bye bye for now.

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