Sunday

When we are finally let out of quarantine someone had better give us a medal.  Our family, three families, were amongst the few who stayed at home on Sunday.  I know it is the biggest celebration of the year but supposedly we are in lockdown.  Few others around here stayed at their own home despite the 300euro fine for being out and about.  We heard very loud music coming from across the valley and somewhere over the hills until the wee hours.  Even our elderly neighbour had a small gathering though they were her daughter's friends, not hers.  News of the islands parties are slowly filtering in via facebook and the telephone.  

Our two daughters and 5 grandchildren all live on the island, minutes away by car.  Each family had their easter feast in their own home.  This is the first time in 45 odd years that I haven't taken a photo of our lamb turning on a spit.  

My very traditional greek husband makes this years sign of the cross three times over our doorway with the Holy flame.

At midnight in our neck of the woods all the houses around us, across the valley, were brightly lit up, as was ours.  Someone had gone to the little church down the hill and rang the bell for almost 10 minutes and the sound of firecrackers could just be heard from  the beach below.

In our old neighbourhood our daughter and family went out into the street at midnight to wish everyone 'Christ is Risen'.

Next morning there was no lamb on the spit but we did have a traditional skewer of kokoretsi, all the insides of the lamb wound up with the metres of carefully cleaned intestines

There was lamb on the menu but it went into the oven with a pile of potatoes.  As usually is the way in our house there was far too much food for two.  The cats and ourselves will be eating leftovers for days to come.

In amongst those pieces of lamb was half a sheep's head with one eye and the teeth from the right side only, the tongue but no brains

Down on the roof of our old house our daughter and family also had a skewer of kokoretsi and a mixed grill

Meanwhile round the bay the other third of our family also had a mixed grill out on the balcony

We shared videos and photographs all day long with our girls and friends who usually eat with us on Easter Sunday.  Through social networking we weren't completely alone which made us feel a little more part of an easter crowd but also rather sad.

There was dancing and lots of laughter, but only through cyber space

K is vowing to put a lamb on the spit on that big BBQ as soon as the restrictions are lifted.  I'd be quite happy if they all just came around for coffee

Waiting for tidbits

The Carnival is Not Over

I thought there would be a lull in our bartering way of life with all of us in isolation but our rural way of living goes on.

We got a care package from elderly neighbour Vaso's son before he left to isolate in Athens with the inlaws.      Plastic water bottles full of their last years wine, a dozen of their fresh chook eggs and a big bucket of oranges. 

Since then we've had an endless variety of goods coming in over the garden gate, besides our grocery shopping brought by our girls.

A bag of fresh fish thanks to a fisherman in the family.  Only professional fishermen are allowed out now.  A deputy Mayor in Crete who went with friends on an, amateur, fishing  trip  got fined 5,000 euros.

 Yesterday a friend down the road brought us a large bowl of eggs, there must have been 20.  In the afternoon Vaso's daughter brought us another 20 eggs.  All these eggs would normally be kept to be dyed red for the easter table.  Some of them will be for sure but the rest we passed on to our daughters who come up with shopping and medecine.

We passed on a bag of fresh fish and another loaf of bread to one of the egg providers.

Another bag of citrus fruit was passed over the gate a few days ago.  Vaso's mandarines.  They are spot on, big, sweet and juicy.

A long piece of piping was retrieved from the recycling bin and that slid through as well.  Our old bbq, made from a hot water cylinder has, after 10 years or more, rusted underneath so there is a new one being built.  Gives K something to chew on during the day instead of chewing me out.

More eggs than you could shake a fist at arrived today.  Chooks everywhere are laying overtime.  Tomorrow is dye-red-egg day

But the most unexpected and wonderful gift was a pot of icecream.  This is a present from one of the girls but I have to keep it for after the Easter lamb on Sunday.  

Yah hoooooo

Passing the Time

6th day of quarantine

Commandos on Duty

I wrote this post a few days ago about a visit from the armed forces but didn't post it because suddenly I found other things more topical to comment on.

On their visit the commandos sat in the coffee shops. Coffee shops now closed and if they re-patrol  they will not want to come into contact with anyone on the island and vice versa.

Cruise ships were still coming in daily up till a few days ago, off-loading tourists for a few hours. The Mayor had to make a complaint and threaten to cut mooring lines before they stopped. Actually what surprised me most of all was that there were still enough tourists to make the daily cruise worthwhile.

The ship made a daily cruise of three islands, Aegina, Hydra and Poros.  No more cruises, and no more unnecessary journeys of any kind

Last week though.........

 The island was visited by a couple of boats of special forces (commandos?)

Whether they were looking for illegal refugees, drug smugglers or our local plantations of cannabis we don't know.  They all went off for coffee at a waterfront cafe so it couldn't have been too serious

Now we can all sleep soundly knowing the boys are on patrol

So

Next time their boat appears in the strait it will probably be to stop the locals escaping the quarantine. Or more likely to stop Athenians trying to join our island quarantine 'paradise'

On the northern border with Turkey European countries have contributed troops and equipment to put a halt to the influx of illegal migrants.  The young, aggressive 'army' of young migrants are still there on the other side of the fence, urged on by Erdogan to rush the barbed wire, even aided by Turkish troops who with armoured vehicles attempted to push through the barriers and uniformed Turkish police were photoed firing tear gas and fire bombs over the border fence.

Bulgaria who also has a close-d border with Greece and Turkey flooded the river Evros, making it more difficult for migrants to cross by boat or swim across. 

Greece is sending  an obvious message that Europe has united to defend it's borders.  

Europe elsewhere has returned to a continent of individual countries each closing their own personal borders. 

United we stand, divided we survive

Delivery

Menoume Spiti

We Stay at Home

is the slogan of the hour, the day, the month and probably the year.

Who was glad to see the back of 2019?

Couldn't have been worse than 2020

We needed some medical supplies

They came up via the children

The bag was tied to the gate

We shouted out  'howdy-dos' and they were off into the horizon

Athletic grandchildren getting some exercise on the back road where they will only meet goats and tortoises

This is SPARTA!

Gerard Butler, the Scots actor who played Leonidas in the film '300' came to Greece last week to take part in yet other celebrations.  It is 2,500 years since the Battle of Thermopylae, in 480BC

  The film '300'  is the story of Leonidas, King of the greek state of Sparta, who with his 300 Spartans and about 2,000 soldiers from other parts of Greece,  faced the Persian army.  They  held the narrow pass at Thermopylae for 3 days.  Leonidas and his men were all killed. The rest were either killed or surrendered.  Spartans never surrendered or showed weaknes.   Spartan mothers expected their sons to either come home  victorious or be carried back dead on their  shields.

The Persian forces are thought to have been between 100,000 and 300,000.  When the Persian ambassador ordered the Spartans to lay down their weapons Leonidas yelled 'come and take them'.

All fesitivities have been cancelled but Butler did manage to take part in the first day of the Olympic torch relay, carrying the flame into the city of Sparta.  When he reached the statue of Leonidas he shouted out 'This is Sparta' much to the crowd's delight.

UK Government’s Coronavirus outbreak plan - Yes Minister

Sorry, we are closed

A very empty island

Yesterday cafeterias, tavernas and bars had till 5pm to close up and put away chairs and tables.  There is a fine of 5,000 euros for those that remain open.  

Our favourite waterfront cafe the 'green chairs' is deserted, though still selling take-away coffee.  Take away food and drink can still be sold but no-one is allowed to sit down

Our supermarkets still have toilet paper and yesterday did a roaring trade.  From today no more than 5 people can shop at one time, depending on the size of the shop of course and there must be 2 metres at least between each person at the check-out

We had to go to a family funeral yesterday.  There was not a huge crowd.  Half were inside and half outside.  The brother of the deceased came from Athens and wore a mask inside the church.  He took it off when he got outside and started shaking people's hands.  He obviously hadn't grasped the seriousness of the situation  especially as he is of a 'certain age' himself and his wife is in bad health.  I  hope they are both ok.  

Just a further note on the funeral.  We all went down to the graveyard and then waited half an hour while the grave was widened.  The coffin wouldn't fit in!

There was no social coffee and liqueur afterwards.

Now we are truly isolated.  Just K and I.  Till when?  Well after easter I imagine.

An empty waterfront

Many greeks still haven't quite  grasped the 'stay at home' part of it.  The government had to close organised beaches and ski centres.  With nothing else to do people were flocking to both.  Where else are the beaches and the ski slopes working at the same time? 

Today the public beaches had a few too many people and tv news was showing crowds of Athenians out for a walk in the parks.  

We have to have someone to tell us over and over again 'stay at home' does not mean meeting friends in someone's home for beers and pizza, gathering in the parks to watch the children play, sitting outside gossiping with neighbours.  It means 'stay at home' and away from other human beings.  It's going to be a while before it all sinks right in.

That means not going to church either.  And holy water will not protect you from the virus

Olympic Flame

March 12 2020  Greece

The Olympic flame was lit today.  Because of the corona virus only 100 people  attended the ceremony.  

All preparations are going ahead for the games in Japan where the flame, lit today at Ancient Olympia, will light the flame in the stadium in Tokyo on July 24th,  signalling the beginning of the 32nd Olympiad.  This is the 2nd time Japan has hosted the summer games, the first being in 1964

The Olympic torch will now be relayed around Greece for one week.  Next Thursday at a ceremony in Athens at the Panathenaic Stadium, home of the first modern Olympic games in 1896, the flame will be handed over to Japanese 

Latest News

Today the Hellenic (Greek) Olympic committee has decided to suspend the Olympic torch relay in Greece (Hellas) to protect the health of the Greek (Hellenic) population from the corona virus.

Huge crowds were gathering as the flame entered each city on its route so far .  In agreement with the Ministry of Health the Olympic committee decided on the cancellation of the remaining relay.

The delivery of the flame to Japan next Thursday will take place as planned without the attendance of the public.

Thank you 

www.greekreporter.com

for that news

Warm and Spring-like

It's official.  We have the virus.  Schools are closed for 14 days.  No concerts, theatre and no spectators at athletic matches.  The owner of top Greek soccor team Olympiakos has tested positive for the virus.  So have Tom Hanks and his wife.  They appear to be self isolating down in Australia.

Coffee shops are still open and as busy as usual here but elsewhere  people are staying at home. 

Hey, what to do with schools closed and the sun shining.  Lets go swimming.  Only the crazy side of my greek family would and did do that.  A picnic on the beach.  Good idea.  A plunge into the freezing Saronic Gulf?  Nothing to them.  They have been plunging all winter.

A deserted cove.  

Fun in the still-winter sun

Watched only by a herd of goats.

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson for Greece 2021

Tom Hanks has just acquired Greek citizenship and his wife Rita Wilson is Greek/American.  They have been coming to Greece for years for summer holidays and own at least one island house.

Right now they are inviting the world to attend the 200 year celebration of Greece's Independence from the Ottoman Turks in 2021.


The Bicentennial will celebrate 200 years of the modern state of Greece.  Hanks and his wife have released the video above, inviting everyone  to join in.

They are great ambassadors, cheerfully sending a positive image. Just what we need right now.

Invasion

A literal invasion. 5-6,000 migrants are trying to break through Greece's northern border with Turkey.
Turkey opened its borders and is allowing thousands to enter the no-mans land between the two countries and approach Greece. Greece's border is closed so a war with guards has started. The young  migrants are throwing rocks and are trying to cut their way through the barbed wire and barriers.
Scary stuff even if the battle is taking place hundreds of miles north of us.  What happens if there is a sudden invasion of these aggressive  young migrants who, it is reported, are from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran and Morocco, economic refugees.
Greek police and army meanwhile are answering with tear gas.
The Turkish leader is saying they have not received enough aid for the 3 millions of Syrian refugees already in Turkey so is sending them on to Europe.
Still refugees arrive by sea from Turkey landing on greek islands which already have thousands living in terrible overcrowded camps.
Details of fighting on the border has taken over from virus reports, although there is not much news there. Unofficial carnival parties are taking place in the cities although all celebrations have been cancelled.  There are huge fines for towns who continue with the festivities.
We are preparing for a big family party to celebrate the beginning of Lent.

Preparing the chairs and tables

Discussing the shellfish menu

We've Got it Too!

The first, official, case of the coronavirus in Greece was reported yesterday way up north and today there are three more hospitalised in Athens.  

It's spreading.

Downtown today the ships' chandler shop had a big case of antiseptic handwash on sale and they are selling builders masks at a terrific rate.  You know, those masks that people sanding floors use, stiff white industrial masks.  I presume the chemists have sold out of the others.

Round at the supermarket they were doing a shelf check to stockpile essentials for when the virus hits us here.

I can see the island being cut off,  Supplies dumped on the jetty across on the mainland to be picked up by overalled workers from Poros who will spray the boxes with antiseptic before loading them on the car ferry.  All done without any contact with the contaminated mainlanders.  That's of course if supply lorries are allowed on the roads and warehouses are still sending supplies.  Who knows

This is a long weekend, the last three days of carnival with parades, concerts and frenzied revelry all over the country.  It has all been cancelled, even here.   In the city of Patras and elsewhere they have been making floats and costumes for the big parade for over 6 months.  The people say they will still come out and dance in the streets.  No virus is keeping their spirit down.

The eternal flame for this years Olympic games is due to be lit with great ceremony on March 12 at ancient Olympia.  But there are hushed whispers that the Olympic games may be cancelled as well.
The Olympic flame should be carried by teams of runners for 8 days throughout Greece before being sent on to Tokyo where it is/should be relayed through Japan before ending up at the opening ceremnoy in Tokyo on July 24.  We shall see.

There is no panic here.  No shelf emptying.  Everyone is talking about it in the cafes though.  Joking about it.  

The places where it might spread  are the refugee camps.  Greece is finally building closed refugee 'towns' with container housing, wifi, aircon, schools, hospitals,  meals provided.  They are supposed to be a more humane way of housing 20,000 refugees, with barbed wire fences, and no entry or exit without proper papers.  There has been fierce fighting with police on the islands where the refugees are centred.  Islanders want the refugees to be housed elsewhere in Greece..  The refugees don't want to be there.  Greece is only supposed to be a brief stop for them before continuing on to Germany and France and the rest of Europe.  Who doesn't want them.  

I thought I heard the PM saying that greece would not accept anymore refugees.  That's impossible.  Turkish leader Erdogan is sending them over the sea in leaking boats as fast as he can.  

K is watching football, Arsenal playing Olympiakos, the Piraeus team.  The greeks have already lost one match against Arsenal and that was played in their home stadium.  K is very quiet.  

We saw the Greek team getting off the plane in England, all wearing face masks.  The government was going to cancel all football matches from today onwards but they seem to have gone back on that.  This weekend's football is going to take place as normal.  There would be rioting and throwing of molotov cocktails if all entertainment was suddenly taken away from the greeks.

Updates to come, no doubt.