Visiting Time

My grandson thinks the relatives from downunder arrive in relays every summer according to the luck of their draw.  Everyone puts their name in a hat and the lucky visitors for  2108............ my niece from Perth followed by my nephew and niece from NZ.  

Last year we had a different set of relatives, my older brother and his family, the year before that my younger brother.  Middle brother visits at will, weddings, baptisms, even the middle of winter. They've all been here with us many times over the years, in Piraeus, Crete, the island of Salamina and now Poros.

Their children are now coming separately on European holidays, combining Greece with France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Croatia and of course London.  My niece  was visiting for the 4th time.  Our most frequent flyer.  It's a long way to come from downunder.  From NZ it is almost 24 hours in the air, besides all the waiting and transfer time, plus a couple of plane changes.  Perth, Australia is a little closer.

No need to pick her up at the airport.  She manages her travel from her iphone or whatever electronic device she owns and arrives as scheduled on the hydrofoil

Straight across the road to the T-Cafe for a greek iced coffee

Her cousins pop in to say welcome and arrange  the activities for the rest of the day.  Sunbathing, swimming, a siesta and eating

Fai, fai paidi mou............eat, eat my child, she will hear again and again

First night is souvlaki night

The most popular of greek food, except the greek salad

A 'healthier' plate of pork or chicken souvlaki on a skewer with piles of chips

Or a luscious pita wrapped around gyro, tzatziki and fried potatoes with tomato and onion

Poros is crowded and we were lucky to get a table for the 12 of us .

*15th August is fast approaching and the island is humming.  Even at midnight there was still a steady stream of people ambling downtown, kids full of energy chasing each other along the harbour and demanding icecream.  The parking area down by the car ferry was crazy full.  All the parking spaces were taken and cars were parked haphazardly wherever there was the tiniest space to squeeze into.

We  re-discovered another beach to hang out

Chairs and a table in the shade, beers from the canteen, a sandy beach (no stones) and the water just a metre away

Family BBQ time

Organised chaos

This is our summer-evening terrace

Sometimes we can see the lights of coastal Athens.  That night was a bit hazy but we did espy the rogue billy-goats gnawing on the olive trees next door

Kathryn has found this year that she can communicate with the whole family.  She always could but a lot of it was sign language and giggling 

The grandchildren all speak english now so she was at ease with english conversation and instant translation

The last day was spent at the beach again

Moussaka by the sea in the evening

drinks on the waterfront for her farewell

Adieu.  Till you return......

*15th August is Assumption Day and the most important day on the Orthodox calendar.  Greece closes down for this holiday