Saturday, 14 September 2013

POSTCARD FROM POROS

ANNE'S ADOPTED JELLICLE CAT AND CATERINA'S CHOICE

I've been getting lots of sun. And lots of rest. It's really hot.
Days, I dive by the wreck. Nights, I swim in the blue lagoon.
Always used to wonder who I'd bring to a desert island.
Days, I remember cities. Nights, I dream about a perfect place.                                                                  LAURIE ANDERSON

 Friday 13th Sept 2013
The island of Poros relies on tourism and to that extent it is buffered slightly from the economic crisis. Well, at least it is for four months of the year. Some restaurants have told us their season is from 24th May to 22nd September and that's it. That means a lot of them close next week. Many tall, all in one accommodation, restaurant, cafe concerns are closed down already in the Askeli beach holiday strip where we are staying.

The weather is changing, the water is cooling, the days are not as hot and rain is even predicted in a couple of days. We're seeing the season's tail end mix of eastern European, American, Russian, English and Italian tourists under the hotel run beach umbrellas showing off a fascinating range of physiques and plastic surgery in shades of white, crimson and tan.

The ubiquitous Greek pussy cats are here as much as every other place in Greece. Anne, who does not call herself a cat person has taken a shine to one particular moggy who slouches about outside our apartment. She does seem to have a bit of character and a turbo charged purring apparatus. The cat that is.

Greeks manage to pile the family on their scooters all without helmets. I even saw one dad on a scooter, a babe cradled in one arm, the other hand on the throttle while the other kids sat fore and aft of him. The island is refreshingly free of any work place health and safety or litigation concerns or particularly strict rules about anything except flushing toilet paper down the toilet. There's a fuzzy feeling of benign indifference with social cohesion.

Walking down the old town quayside restaurant strip at night is a buzz. There are lots and lots of restaurants, most more empty than full but still lots of people, both tourists and locals. The yachting/luxury launch fraternity keep these restaurants afloat. It's a walk at the boat show to wander home after dinner past them all, backed in, Med mooring style, showing off their interiors. There's still some money in Greece.

Annette and Campbell have headed off on Annecam while the Alleways are still here having repaired their anchor winch. Louise and Caterina visited us and charged up computers while they had a swim and hot showers.

Anne and I, for those that actually read this far, are in a holiday rhythm of swim, saunter, swim. To avoid getting too relaxed I do long distance admin with insurance policy loose ends, blocked credit cards from donating to my neice's charity, over servicing rental agents and other reality checking background events necessary for supporting this seemingly floating existence.

TIP. Click on a pic for the slideshow.

    
THERE IS, OF COURSE, GREAT BEER IN LIFE FOR THOSE WILLING TO TAKE THE JOURNEY
AND YET MORE FOR THOSE WILLING  JOURNEY TAKERS


  













MOONSET, POROS
LOVE A GOOD LED SILICONE CANDLE
STEPPING OFF JANNER FOR ONE LAST DINNER TOGETHER
THE ROMANCE OF TRAVEL
MORE ROMANCE OF TRAVEL
ANCHOVIES BY CANDLE LIGHT
A RED AND A WHITE BOTH COLD GREEK WINES
A BLINDFOLD TASTE. NOTHING ON THE NOSE
ONE SIP OF THE RED AND I CONFIDENTLY DECLARED IT THE WHITE
NOT MUCH BETWEEN SOUTHERN GREECE WINES


GOOD STRAIGHT BACKS RESEARCHING AIRFARES

No comments:

Post a Comment