Summer Something-s

It's still too hot to write.   It is 8pm and the sun is sinking fast but I still have to sit in front of the fan to keep the sweat from stinging my eyes.  September 1st is not the beginning of autumn here.  

The wild billy goats are snuffling around in the field next door and the cicadas are still screeching away although at this time in the evening their voices are becoming a little feebler.

Did you know the world was supposed to end on 23rd September last year?  Well, just in case you were wondering , it didn't end.  I'm still here, no Nibiru, no planet X collided and turned me to dust.  

I just survived another summer.

What is it with these giant pink flamingos?  Last year they were everywhere, in the water, on the decks of yachts, floating out to sea.  I photographed this one in our old neighbourhood.  We have real flamingos in an estuary near us but they are white, not pink, just now.

And yesterday we saw a stork perched on the top of a power pole.  I was so excited I forgot to take a photo.  Storks are common in northern Greece where their huge nests are balanced precariously on high poles.  I remember their clack, clack sound.  I have never seen a stork this far south.  I  presume it was resting on its journey south to a warmer winter climate.

This is definitely a summer-something.  Not a 'something' that a real Greek man would drink.  

Alcohol free, or just lighter, beer was very popular this summer.  This one tasted quite fruity and was really refreshing

This fruit is called 'frankosyka' in greek.  Prickly pear in English and I see it is also called 'linguee'.  The fruit is sweet and tasty but so difficult to pick.  The 'pears' are covered in very fine prickles and can cause great discomfort if they get into the skin.  They have to be picked with gloves or  long handled scissors and peeled without the rind touching your skin.  They grow like mad here.

A sandy beach and the calm clear waters of the Saronic Gulf.  A wonderful way to cool off and spend the day, just swimming, reading and gazing at the activities of those around you ... with a cold drink in hand

What would a blog post about Greece be without food.  This dish is 'spetsofai'.  Multi coloured peppers (capsicum for those downunder) and village sausage stewed with fresh tomatoes.  And that is a bottle of ouzo in the background

To clear the palate at the end of a meal, at the end of the day, a slice of icy watermelon

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