Saturday 18 July 2020

Why Do I Do It?

We went down to the market early to get tomatoes, karpuzi (watermelon) and zucchinis. As we were down in the harbour and it was early we  sat for coffee at the 'Green chairs'. There were only three tables with people and they were well spaced. Our friendly waitress was wearing a mask and spraying tables.


Mine was a  freddo espresso.  The others had greek coffee, a single and a double

The Green chairs are right across the road from our 'big' supermarket.  So I popped across to buy bread and some other essentials.

Every time I go down town I say 'never again'.  And yet a few days later there I am again.  

Across at the supermarket it was still early morning and all the oldies who get up early had come down to shop.  There was no-one outside the shop counting heads, the staff, all masked, were still filling shelves and it was slightly chaotic, for us islanders.  There is hand cleanser at the door so I cleansed away and holding on to my cloth shopping bag I started in.  Push, shove, it was a free for all.  I was the only customer wearing a mask and these oldies (older than me anyway) were out to get served first, get the best, or else.  I stood back and let them go.  Some of them I must admit, knew why I was taking a step back and did the same but most of them couldn't care less.  

It was as though we hadn't had all these months of lockdown, cries of indignation now that tourists are bringing in new cases, worry for elderly relatives, endless news broadcasts warning us that we could go into quarantine again.

When I came out there was no hand cleanser at the exit door so I rushed across the road and grabbed the bottle from the cafe table and washed them all away.  

The young are blamed for having wild, overcrowded beach parties.  Come and shop at a Poros 'super' market and you'll see what the oldies are up too.

Last night it was announced that masks are now compulsory in all supermarkets and large shops.  

Religious fiestas are held all over Greece during the summer.  On the 15th August, Assumption Day, the whole country closes down as everyone migrates back to their villages to celebrate their local 'Maria'.  The revelling often goes on for days with, as well as the church services, feasting, drinking, singing and lots of dancing.  The government had decided that these could continue, in some form, this summer.  They changed their mind on that and all 'panagyria', religious festivities, have been banned.  Church services are still allowed, at the moment, with only a certain number allowed inside the church.  The services at our local church are broadcast over loud speakers and there are chairs outside.

Rules are changing.  

We'll see!

25 comments:

  1. That all sound quite scary to me. I hope people will wear masks from now on. It's one thing being a local and trying to be careful but now that you are opened up to tourists it's a different story. Stay safe, this virus isn't going away any time soon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, it's those imports we are all worried about. They come here on holiday and forget about all restrictions.

      Delete
  2. It’s the same here. Everyone blaming the government. They are too stict. They aren’t strict enough. But it’s the average person at the supermarket. Charging in not caring about social distancing whinging about not being allowed to do what ever they want. These are the one flouting the rules and causing us all to suffer

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You got the nail right on the head. It's the Greeks, locals and city slickers who are ignoring the rules.
      Talk about push, shove and shouting for attention. And these were oldies who are the most vunerable

      Delete
  3. People continue to amaze me with the way they behave.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There might not be any cases here today but tomorrow morning there could be ten. Then what are they going to do. Idiots

      Delete
  4. I hope that you don't get a second wave of it like they have in Aussie. Mind you, I hope we don't either as the border is going to open at some stage.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They are talking about a second wave at the end of August. Hope 'they' are wrong!

      Delete
  5. Last week the French government announced that as of Monday everyone will HAVE to wear a mask in shops. Quite what they were expecting the viruses to do in the meantime, they didn't say. During that optional mask-free week the viruses would have been having a field day! No logic anywhere any more.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In the beginning most people did wear masks. Well now they can just darn will get used to wearing them again.
      You wonder why, in such enclosed spaces it wasn't already compulsory.
      I hope it's not too late.
      There was a new case on the island of Skopelos yesterday. Paros and Aegina have a few cases.its slowly spreading

      Delete
    2. I'm afraid that this was inevitable. Open borders are open to viruses as well.

      Delete
  6. The second wave is already here. A mask must be worn outdoors and everywhere.But as everywhere there are people who use them as a collar for the neck.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I saw you were having more caes of the viris now. And yet Israel was once on our list of countries allowed to come into Greece. So was Serbia and Roumania. All in lockdown. I really hope we don't have to go there again.
      That's where most masks end up here too.

      Delete
  7. Masks are about caring for each other - i protect you from me, and you protect me from you. They only work when we understand that my mask isn't to protect me and choosing not to wear one is not being blase with my own health but saying 'i don't give a damn about anyone else's'. Widespread voluntary adoption of mask-wearing says a lot about community cohesion and the respect and care that those people have for each other.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, that's what a lot of people don't realise. They may choose not to wea a mask but they are putting us at risk as well as them. I think the locals will comply like they did in the beginning here but will those on holiday worry. They might if they are fined 150 euros of course

      Delete
  8. Every politician seems to contradict themselves at the moment with their Covoid advice.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Trouble is that no one knows what the next day will bring. Now with our borders open and tourists from many countries in the world coming in including the english and possibly americans from the end of July, they, like us, wait and watch and take measures day by day.

      Delete
  9. I don't know why you worry so much.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I worry because I do not want to get ill and I do not want my husband to get ill. Even the ones who don't have bad enough symptoms to go to hospital end up with long term problems. Why should we run the risk of catching this nasty virus when with simple measures, masks, hand washing and keeping our distance we can far more of a chance of keeping safe and healthy.
      There are now cases on half a dozen of the islands and they have gone up from none daily to 50 or 60. This is how the last lockdown started.
      I want ny children to have work. I don't want the borders closed.

      Delete
    2. How do you know all this information?

      Delete
    3. Look what's happening around the world!
      Listen to what people are telling us. People who have suffered, a lot longer than just 2 weeks, and still have problems a month or so later.
      And it's not just health, it's economics too. My own family have been out of work this winter. They are still struggling .
      We need tourism. We need visitors, greek or foreign. Just let them follow the rules

      Delete
  10. Some people here are pushing for our borders to be reopened. I am dreading it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We all felt complacent when the island was closed. Now I go down to town and so many faces are unknown.
      They really do make you take a step back.
      I had stopped wearing a mask. Not any more

      Delete
  11. I go out as little as possible! I wear a mask all day at work, and need that break. We all need to wear one, that's the bad news. I hope y'all don't have a spike in cases like we've had in the U.S. Balloon Fiesta is cancelled, State Fair is cancelled, everything is cancelled, because people won't behave responsibly.

    ReplyDelete
  12. So many times one hears young ones being blamed for being irresponsible, yet here are all these oldies setting the example. Stay safe :)

    ReplyDelete