Monday 16 August 2021

15th August

 15th August.  The biggest holiday of the year. A church holiday marking the Dormition of the Virgin Mary.  To everyone's disappointment this year it falls on a Sunday and workers don't get an extra days holiday.


Athens has emptied of cars and greek people and they all seem to have come to Poros for the week.  If you want to visit central Athens this is the best time to do it, as long as you don't mind the  midday sun.


Poros is full.  Cars are everywhere.  There's always a line outside the supermarket, cafe tables are like hen's teeth and if you want to eat you'd better make a reservation.


We go for coffee in the early morning when tourists are still sleeping and sit on our table for a few hours enjoying the strange sight of all these transients.  We spend the mornings drinking freddo espresso and watching the yachts smack against each other as the car ferries create waves making fast journeys between island and mainland.


Then we go home and keep out of their way.  Our neighbourhood has filled up and the once upon a time youngsters have grown into rowdy teens and almost adults.  For the past two nights one of the houses across the valley has had noisy parties till 5 in the morning.  By road they are a kilometre away but as the crow flies they are too close for comfort and noise carries very clearly.  They had better leave soon or shut up before someone around here explodes.


We spent a very quiet 15th August, sleeping late because of the disruption and then drinking coffee and observing the ants.  This wasp was swatted to the ground, deceased.  5 minutes later it was surrounded by an army of tiny scurrying ants who pushed it up flagstones and down into the ruts between before, one metre and 10 minutes later, disappearing with it down a hole.  

They've got enough dead flies and wasps to last them through several winters.  


On the Eve of the Feast of the Virgin we were invited to a taverna by the sea.  It's a very greek taverna with hard uncomfortable wooden chairs with woven mat bottoms. That doesn't stop us from always being the last to leave. 

 Typical of its kind.  Greek salads and courgette fritters, chips, tzatziki, fresh fish if you can afford it and grilled meat.  It's the first place we bring all our family when they visit.  Lots of good memories and even more photos.


This was towards the end of the evening.  A table full of half empty dishes, mucky plates and assorted drinking glasses.  Everyone relaxed and happy.  We had birthday cake as well.  Our favourite greek relative was celebrating her birthday and her name day.

Kronia Polla Yioula. xx


21 comments:

  1. That looks like a feast and a good time was had by all.

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    Replies
    1. A good time was had by all. We were the last to leave

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  2. Love the taverna festivities but would not like the rowdy parties across the road!

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    Replies
    1. The rowdy people may just have left. No lights tonight.
      I'll get a waterside table for us when you visit. Make sure you haven't eaten for a week

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  3. We love those courgette fritters. What a feast - and colourful. Apologies if any of those rowdies were our neighbours. You may send them back.

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    Replies
    1. They'll be sent back with a flea in their ear. They started again at 1am. Not on!

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  4. I'm guessing that's quite normal over Summer, people enjoying the last of the season.

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    Replies
    1. Not the rowdy party part. The younger ones usually go downtown to the bars and make a nuisance of themselves. Our neighbourhood used to be quiet!

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  5. It’s lovely to see people enjoying life
    A scene we won’t be seeing here for a long time yet unfortunately
    Very envious right now enjoy

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    Replies
    1. I wonder after this weekend how the covid cases will climb. There's been a lot of parting all over the country

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  6. What a wonderful photo. Lovely to have a big family event!

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    Replies
    1. Yes, it is nice. A very relaxing evening with no cooking or washing up!

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  7. Looks like a good time was had by all.

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  8. The Quinze Aout, 15th Aug (can-zoot), is the French national holiday, but there seemed little enthusiasm for it this year.

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    Replies
    1. All of Catholic and Orthodox Europe must have closed down for this big summer holiday. I'm surprised there wasn't more celebration over there

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  9. Love it! Looks like you're having so much fun!

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  10. The feast looks like it was scrumptious! Kronia polla!

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  11. Hope the rowdy party people go home soon and you get your life back. Dinner out looked amazing.

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  12. Must be strange having your place over-run with tourists again - just wish they could do it a bit more quietly!

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