Famers market

Once a week there is a huge outdoor market down the road, up a couple of hills and along the coast in Ermioni.  It used to be a regular outing for us to visit the market, buy  fresh fruit and vegetables, stock up on knickers and cheap clothing, have a beer on the waterfront and return home with a car full of bargains. 

No Longer.  It costs us 15 euros return to get the car on the ferry boat, another 20 for petrol and that's before we have barely started.

Recently though we did manage to go down to Ermioni on a bitterly cold day and stocked up for all the family and various friends and neighbours.

Turnips and their leaves, radishes, beetroot, all eaten for the leaves and the bulbs

The 'refugees'  are Pakistanis and Indians who have been working in the fields and orchards around here for many years.  Most of them have brought their families over as well and in our area they have built their own temple.

This area is also very popular with Germans who have bought or built beautiful holiday homes.  Over half the voices you hear at the market are foreign, including mine

Such a bitterly cold day was not ideal for bargain hunting.  In mid summer you must shop before 10am or suffer under the unrelenting sun

Nuts and dried fruit by the kilo

Local wine sold by the producer

Honey and all its side products, a balm for treating cuts and burns, honey comb and bee pollen.  I once bought a jar of bee pollen which is supposed to work miracles.  I did eventually manage to use it all but it was furry and tasteless and not nice even with yoghurt and fruit.

A few cut flowers but mainly small plants for the vegetable garden and flowers and trees in pots for replanting.

My untrendy shopping trolley 

Time to go indoors for a warming capuccino and a toasted sandwich which they serve  with potato crisps.