Porosea

This one of Poros's annual sporting events, a multi sport get together comprising swimmimg, biking, running races, a triathlon and an *aquathlon.  

*To quote wikipedia
'The sport of aquathlon consists of a continuous two stage race involving swimming followed by running'.

All the family was involved naturally, the grandparents just as spectators and cheerers-on.  

Poros people are very athletic, you would think.  They certainly love their evening walks, old and young, usually in pairs or groups, walking for miles, chatting and scanning the verges for edible greens, herbs and wildflowers.

  During the  year *we host rowing events, canoe, kayak, water skiing champs, off road bike races, athletic get togethers, football matches, and this two day multi-sport contest.

* I re-discovered the italic button!

The swimming races and aquathlon took place at Russian Bay

Our 2 champs, one ran 10ks the other 5 ks.  They both got medals.  First in their age groups and another for being Poros champs.  A lot of athletes came from out-of-town

Lucky Duck.  He first turned up at a rowing event in someone's handbag, a forgotten Xmas present.   We got 2 firsts and a third then so now he appears at all our sporting events. 

After the medal ceremony the party began.  Free pasta for all those involved in the Porosea activities and some for us, just because we clapped so hard.  It was tasty with a light (sorry, lite) dill flavoured sauce

Those not running were volunteers, standing in the midday sun on *snake infested  roads handing out water and stopping all the traffic so runners and riders had a clear field

For a few hours all the roads on Poros were closed.  No cars or bikes could move till the all clear came.  People arriving on the island by boat had to wait a couple of hours for taxis and the car ferry closed down till the roads re-opened.  

*very few snakes here and its mainly a squashed one in the road that you see but rustling in dry grass along the sides of the road was a little unsettling for some

After the pasta party came the mass dancing along the main harbour road, a long line of local greek dancers.  ( Yesterday's video was the  music known as 'Zorba's Dance' )  Now that I've 'got' this video thing I'll make them a little longer.  I had an elderly (older than me) lady on one side pushing me and another with a hand in the middle of my back.  If I hadn't moved I would have ended head over bottom in the middle of the dancers.  The older they are the harder they push.  Useless trying to keep in front in a greek queue. 

 Then came a very loud live concert on the quay till the wee hours.
We stayed till midnight.  That was extreme sport as far as I'm concerned.  Can't stand loud music or crowds.  At midnight the streets were still full of families with small children, couples, groups, greeks and tourists strolling along the harbour road which was closed all night because of the dancing.  Impromptu dancing continued till the band stopped playing.  You cannot keep a greek in their seat once the rhythm starts beating.