Nels Bels Cockle Shells

Grandaughter Nels had a long weekend

On Saturday morning we all left early to travel to the city of Argos (think greek myth 'Jason and the Argonauts') an hour and a half away.  Argos and the agricultural city of Larissa further north are the hottest cities in Greece.  It was 29o on Poros, 35o in Argos.

Nels sat an English exam for her first certificate.  First a written exam and then oral.  I am sure she passed with flying colours. 

While Nels waited to sit the examinations we found an old style cafenion to drink coffee and enjoy some airconditioning

The men at the far end of the room are playing cards.  A cafenion was traditionally a male stronghold but nowdays women are more than welcome.  Men come to pass their time while wives back home are cooking and cleaning.  They chat with friends over a greek coffee, play card games or backgammon and just enjoy the company of other men all keeping out from under their wives' feet.

No ouzo, beer or raki today.  A simple iced coffee (frappe) and a bottle of cold water

Then we raced back so Nels could take part in the 10,000 metre run that is part of the triathlon taking place on Poros this weekend

The photo above shows the smaller children and some of their Mums running the 1,500 metre event.  Some of the kids looked as young as 4 or 5

The finishing line down in the main harbour

There is a medal for everyone taking part plus a banana and a bottle of water as they cross the finish line

Nels devoured a sandwich in the car on the way back, got changed in a cafe bathroom and made the starting line with minutes to spare.  

Here she is passing the finishing line, still going strong after a gruelling 10k s in the still hot sun.

She made straight for a seat on the curb and a bottle of water while we all gathered around to congratulate our champ

Nels was the third woman to cross the line.  Here she gets her third place medal.  The other two women were much older and more experienced.  She also got a medal for being first in her age group

One of the family volunteers

Well done Nels

και εις ανοτερα

Upwards and onwards

Oh and the day didn't stop there.  First there was a 'pasta party' for all involved in the Porosea events, then almost a hundred dancers, including Nels and all the family , took part in a dance event highlighting the unique moves of a greek dance called the 'harsapiko' which were perfected years ago by those from the island.  This dance is called the 'Poriotiko harsapiko'.  The idea is to, next time,  get the whole island involved and try for a place in the Guiness book of records.

The day ended with a concert on the waterfront

Amen