Itisallgreek2me

With Clare and Jane in Bar Spetsa

Odyssey … meaning a long wandering and eventful journey.  I think one can safely give this name to the current crisis in Greece.  Events continue to unfold with no clarity as to what will happen next.  These are very worrying times for the Greek people.  Tomorrow the hastily called referendum will take place in which the people are required to answer a 72 word question with either a No or Yes answer.  Many are unclear as to what they are voting for and many will be deprived of their voting rights as with all the banks closed for a week now, they will not have the funds available to return to their remote village or island to vote which is what they are required to do.

Here on Spetses there is no real sense of anything being other than normal although I believe overall it is much quieter than at this time other years.  Last evening I only went down to the Bar at midnight, however, it was daybreak before we made our way home after having one of the best nights ever in Bar Spetsa.  It was Jane (Costas’ late wife Wendy’s daughter) and her friend Clare’s last night of their holiday before leaving to return to the U.K.  Previously, about a year ago, I had met them both albeit briefly, however, this past week we have gotten to know each other well and their company has been wonderful.  Also holidaying on the island are two friends George from Glasgow (who has a very wicked sense of humour) and Chris from Wigan … Tuesday will be their last night here for this year.  I was also surprised to see Andre and Sally, another English couple I met in the Bar last year, back for their annual island holiday.  Pavlos and George, Spetsiot George, Pandelis, Ernesto … all people I know well then Gerald popped in to show his visiting friend Paul the “hole in the wall” Bar!  Later on in the night, Ray and Heather arrived … we all had such a good time and so many laughs.

Today I have taken things easy, didn’t even venture down to the beach as the weather wasn’t that marvellous with rather a lot of clouds.  Instead I stayed home and made two large pots of Greek Fish Soup, some of which we had for our lunch but most will go into the freezer for easy meals when Costas is busy.  On Wednesday we had lunch at Kaiki Beach with Ray and Heather and Russell and Kerry … Costas rode his bicycle there, however, I walked down.  Although I do have my own bicycle now (I don’t think I have ridden a bike since I was at school) I have yet to take it on a trial run.  The bike came about when one day last week Costas asked me would I like one as he had a bike that Panayiotes wife Carol had been using which she no longer requires so I thought, why not, it will come in handy on occasion, however, I can see myself continuing to walk almost everywhere.  We have been invited to a Beach Party for Russell and Kerry on Tuesday afternoon (their last week here) at Paradise Beach (I will go, Costas will not, all too much on top of the hours he is working) … perhaps I will christen the bike then.

Today (Sunday NZ time) my dear friends Viv and Dave will be departing Auckland … destination Greece!  They are planning a five night stay in Athens before coming to Spetses on Saturday 11 July so I am hoping any potential unrest will not disrupt their stay in the capital.  I am excited and so looking forward to meeting them on the quay in a week’s time.  I am sure their 8 night stay on the island will be memorable … I have yet to meet anyone who has not had an amazing time on our Greek island paradise.  Greece needs the tourists to keep coming and I can see no good reason for why they should stay away.

This entry was posted on Saturday, July 4th, 2015 at 6:53 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.