By the Sea

After our seafood lunch on Palm Sunday at Methana we came back along the beach of Vathi. deserted in the winter but still with three or four fish tavernas open, selling once again fish from their own boats, greens gathered by the women and everything homemade including the wine.

This family are cleaning shellfish from the sea beside them.  They sat on a couple of boxes with their ouzo, a glass of water and a knife to open the shellfish.  From sea, to hand to mouth all washed down with a sip of aniseed flavoured ouzo.  A perfect Sunday afternoon for some

We came across an even more pleasant taverna right beside the sea, with tables under the shade of  a spreading tree.  We stopped for coffee but next time it will be a plate of fish and a greek salad.  Simple, cheap and fresh local food and wine

Looking back along the harbour road

This little church has a popular fiesta.   K remembers when he was just a boy and all the family from Poros, Methana and villages inbetween would gather here.  They all came by foot bringing food, water and bedding piled onto a donkey or carried on their backs (the women's backs).   The families slept out under the trees and enjoyed two or three days of celebration and rest from their hard daily toil of herding the sheep and goats, loading donkeys, gathering olives, figs, walnuts and almonds

Today K gathered handfuls of wild fennel to bring home and use in our salads and lenten dishes.  Fennel is similar to dill but has a strong aniseed flavour, almost as though you have added a few shots of ouzo liqueur to your cooking

Another church.  We turned off the road to visit a little bay which is popular for swimming in the summer

Deserted in the winter but I can see its attraction in the summer,  The church courtyard is completely shaded and there are built in tables and benches along the walls.  A perfect picninc spot  ... if you get there first

There were words written across the road in several places.  Someone must know what it's all about but complete double-dutch to us (all greek to you).

Basically it says 

You, with exchanges  became 'rouf'

?