Beware the Hare

Hareface (Lagokefalo) were this year's danger in our seas.

Silver-cheeked toad fish

Known around here as 'hareface' 

    Ugly damn thing isn't it

Has strong neurotoxins and it's bite causes a very nasty wound.  There is a bounty out now, 2 euros a fish.  They have appeared around Poros and have been caught by local fishermen.  They are not edible. 

Their numbers are increasing rapidly.  It's a number one predator and is causing harm to the fishing industry.  They eat large numbers of squid, octopus and cuttlefish

This jellyfish, medusa in greek, is known in english as the purple jellyfish, surprise.  It's sting can be quite painful but not dangerous

It's numbers are increasing and we have been warned

The brown jellyfish on the other hand is completely harmless

You can pick it up without painful consequences

I remember years ago the waters around here were full of these.  I haven't seen one in years.  The same with seahorses.  Our girls when small would sometimes find these curious creatures floating near shore and capture them.  I made them put them back but we did keep one which dried out and is probably in a jar in someone's house still.  

There were sea cucumbers, starfish and sponges too. All gone

Then there's the Lionfish

Lion fish

At least this one is edible.  However,

though their poison is rarely fatal to adult humans it May cause paralysis, vomiting, diahhrea, swelling of the tongue, heart failure, convulsions.............and death

With warming seas they migrated through the Suez canal and  are now increasing in huge numbers in the Aegean

So, how come they're edible.  It's their spines that are lethal.  The solution to stop their invasion is to eat them, so we are told.  

The spines are cut off with a kitchen knife and then they are filleted.  That's as far as I read.  There's a campaign in Crete to include them in gourmet menus.  I'd eat them, if they were served nicely on a platter with a seafood sauce, but no way I'd ever chance my life cutting off their spines with a kitchen knife

Stinging seaweed

In the bay below us there is a seaweed called 'kokotsoni' attached to rocks.  Wikipedia says seaweed doesn't sting.  This one sure does.  I stumbled one day slipping and sliding as I entered the sea, fell over and sat straight down on a rock full of these.  Hell it hurt!!   It's a wonder I didn't go into shock.  Even with a special cream the sting took hours to calm down and I was in pain for at least a week.  

When there was a canteen down there the boys cleared this stuff away from the beach.  I often wonder when I swim there now if it has come back again.  It looks like friendly old seaweed waving with the tide.  It aint!!!

Mosquitoes carrying the West Nile Virus

These mozzies became a big problem around Greece this year even in the Attika area which broadly includes us. They cause fever and rash and can be deadly.  We had lots of warnings on TV news shows.  Fortunately they seem not to have reached Poros, this summer. But we have been warned

Basking shark called  'sapounas' or in greek or a dog fish 

A slow moving filter feeder, harmless to humans. Spotted now and again around here

Another nasty looking creature but this one is harmless.  If you know what you're looking at that's fine but for most people a shark is a shark.  Sharks bite and they're nasty.  I'm not going to swim up and ask it's name. 

Athens Trip No 2

 Our day in Athens

All's well that ends well

It was drizzling early this morning but held off while we boarded the 'Aero 4' on Poros and disembarked in Piraeus.  The seas were calm and the Catamaran half empty.

One of the taxis at the port, waiting for tourists, took pity on us and drove us right from the gangway of the Catamaran to the entrance of the hospital. He charged us 5 euros extra, for the harbour pickup.  Worth every euro.

We spent 5 hours at the hospital getting Ks tests done and 2 more hours sitting in the warm comfortable hospital waiting room drinking coffee till it was time to return to the harbour. 

Many hours but K got all his checkups completed while I finished reading a book and then used their strong Wifi to do a few online crosswords and catch-up on emails

It's the Onasieo Cardiology Hospital. Built many years ago by the great Aristotle Onassis and gifted to the Greek people.  

All Ks scans and tests here are covered by his Navy insurance. First results look good so his shoulder surgery can go ahead as planned with the Cardiologists approval.

We had a bit of a wait but no complaints. Staff were helpful and  friendly.  The doctor that did K's scan completed his 12 month military service at the Naval Base on Poros.   He remembered K, a Commander still on active duty back then, and the fresh raisin bread that came hot out of the Base's ovens every morning.  All the family remembers those raisin loaves.  The baker back then was a civilian who baked outstanding bread. 

Unlike the turkey and cheese sandwich, on 'wholemeal' bread, we bought at the hospital canteen.

 Can you believe this list of ingredients.  All in Greek naturally and I'm not translating.  It starts off with 'flour', ends with  'trace of nuts' with another '50' things inbetween.

The return was uneventful. As we climbed down off the gangway there was our daughter Elli welcoming us back with open arms.  Her happy smiley face warmed the cockles of my heart.

 

After a natter and a catch-up we found out car, parked nearby in the early morn, and went home via the souvlaki shop. What better ending than a few skewers of pork,  greasy chips and a glass of wine

Our guardian angel was looking after us

Thanks

28th and Sunshine

 An awesome day 

In every way

The sun came out this morning and looks like it will stay. Today is a most important National holiday.  Greece is celebrating 'Ohi' Day. OHI - NO.

 This day on 28th October 1940 Prime Minister Metaxas said 'No' to Mussolini who had delivered an ultimatum demanding occupation of Greece. Next morning Italian forces invaded through Albania.  The Greek army pushed them back over the snow covered mountains of northern Greece in a brutal 6 month campaign.  It was the first major defeat for the Axis forces. 

Today there is a military parade in the northern city of Thessaloniki, capital of Greek Macedonia.

  On Poros waterfront school children parade, wreaths are laid, speeches are made and all the island will gather to clap and cheer.  Not us though.  We no longer have small children in the parade and we have a stressful journey tomorrow. 

28th October is also the birthday of my dear brother Paul. Pictured here on one of his many Poros visits with sis in law Karen and K.

Happy Birthday Paul

A sign that someone up there is looking out for us

This feather appeared out of nowhere on our coffee table this morning 

Tomorrow we have another trip into Athens to the Onaseio heart hospital where K has to have some tests before they'll do his shoulder surgery.  We are stressing about the tests and taxis and timing. I believe we've been told to chill. We'll be fine 

Today I found growth in the garden

My green pepper plants grew happily all through summer and produced nothing. Suddenly they're bending over with fruit. Better late than never 

Flying the Greek flag

K raises our Greek flag a few days before all National celebrations

Granddaughter Luli with the Mayor of Poros

She was presented with a special award for her acceptance into the Athens School of Economics

Here she is with her Mum, front right

Petros with the glasses on his head is another award winner, a national kayak champion.  A future Olympian 

An awesome day

In most ways

It's raining again

We have an early morning sailing. I hope we are not stranded.  Friday there is a  national strike and there will be no boats sailing anywhere.  We need to be there and safely back tomorrow 

Rain Rain .......Enough!

 

A bit of a Rainy day 

Thanks Elli MoU for going out in this storm and Danae down on the harbour

Imagine all over the island, every set of steps has turned into a raging waterfall flowing down to the sea

Spying Out the Land

 I walk late afternoon with my phone on a strap around my neck, camera ready, trekking stick in hand. Sometimes I listen to music or a podcast.  I stop and stare through fences into empty yards.  I'm the neighbourhood spy, letting K know what's happening, who's out and about, which dogs barked at me. Nothing much happens around here. The same dogs bark at me and I tell them off.  They should know me by now. 

Finding something of interest to photograph is becoming increasingly difficult. Half the houses are empty.  Their owners only come for a few weeks in the summer

Olive harvest has begun. That's something different

Off street parking 

End of the pomegranate season

Out in the wop wops. Houses across the ravine, amongst olive groves and pine forest

Dead end? Road works?  The signs don't stop convoys of quad bikes roaring past

Walking with my marmalade friend. I have a handful of biscuits in my pocket if I'm walking his way. He'll follow me, complaining all the way if I forget them.

The other side of our wall. The grapevine needs pruning. After New Year 

Fertile plateau called Fousa with its small vineyard parcels turning from a dry brown to a lush green

Is it possible to get excited over a rubbish bin?  Yes, indeed.  This one is at the top of our road. We no longer have to load up the car and drive 2 kilometres with our rubbish.  Everytime I go for a walk I take a bag of rubbish with me.  We have to make sure the council knows it's used and appreciated.

Fattening the Fowl

 *'Christmas is Coming and the goose is getting fat' 

I know it's 2 months away but  this year we already feel a bit of Christmas cheer 

We've had our family Secret Santa draw and I think I've got my secret present sussed.  It was done with an online app this year as all the grandchildren are away in Athens.  Everyone but K and I sailed through the whole procedure.  It took me a whole load of head scratching, altering passwords, setting up accounts and all the usual online difficulties to get the app up and working.  Finally got Nana and Grandad in the draw. 

I made it easy for the Secret Santa who drew my name. I had a list of gift ideas ready and gave it to my daughters to pass on.....if asked.  It's not so 'Secret'. Some people are just down-right difficult to buy for.  I, for one, need 'hints'.  

K has turned on the lights of all our Greek Christmas 'sea vessels' 

They're all on timers and brighten up our lives from 7pm till 2am

*Christmas is coming and the goose is getting fat

Please put a penny in the Old Man's hat

If you haven't got a penny a ha'penny will do

If you haven't got a ha'penny a farthing will do

If you haven't got a farthing 'God Bless you' 

Nursery Rhyme and Christmas Song from the 19thC 

Marathoners

 These two girls will be running the Authentic Athens Marathon on November 8th

The marathon takes 3-4 hours, running 42.195 kilometres (26.2 miles)  from the village of Marathon to the Marble Stadium in Central Athens

Athletic sisters, Nels and Poppi

Both are runners and rowers 

They have been training all summer 

Never mind the high temperatures or their busy summer jobs

Here they are running round Poros, training up hills and along the coast roads

Nels running a half marathon last year in Rhodes

And grinning all the way

The history of the Marathon began in 490BC.  A Greek soldier called

Pheithippides, 2,500 years ago, ran the same route these girls will run

The short story -

The Greeks defeated the Persians at the Battle of Marathon.  The Greeks were outnumbered and not expected to win.  Pheithippides ran the 42ks to deliver the news of the great victory.  He burst into the Athens Senate

'Nike, Nike....

Victory, victory

Rejoice

We conquer'

Then he collapsed from exhaustion and died

......So the story goes

These two girls have trained too long and hard to be overcome by exhaustion.  They'll wipe their brows, drink some water and pose for their  victory photos.

2 very determined, and fit, young women

Of course you'll be reading more

A victory blog

After their victorious run