End of Term Report
Four months on - So what makes Cretan life interesting – and different living in a foreign country?
The sky is blue and the sun shines on the mountains every morning
Watching the sunrise and sunset.
The night sky is always clear and there are thousands of stars (remember Joni Mitchell’s Matala song?).
Filling the house with the sound of Cretan music on radio.
Walking to the village Kafenion for the bread and pick up the post each morning.
Children of all ages playing carefree in the street till late into the evening.
Sheep in the garden or the next door field - to the delight of Rufus and Buffy.
The cicadas making incredible noise outside.
Strange things flying around and small creatures scurrying around - lizards in the garden, scorpions in the bath and a praying mantis watching you eat your evening meal.
Eating (and drinking) on the roof terrace almost every evening in the cool – as everyone does, often accompanied by the gentle sound of gunfire.
Sweeping up the buckshot from the terrace the following morning.
Jam and cake making and BBQ cooking.
Buying from the "tiri-man (cheese)" and other passing pickups selling all you ever need.
Local Cretan evenings at the local taverna (not for the tourists) – wild dancing and plaintive songs long into the early hours.
Attending the baptism of the local priest’s baby in one of the seven village churches high up in the hills.
Travelling to Thessoloniki for our first Greek wedding - wonderful.
Greek TV - and not a mention of the USA or Bush on the news, international news is largely Turkey and Italy, possibly a mention of the UK and France. Strictly news about Greece, local and national, from wild fires, deaths on the roads to new sets of traffic lights and school plays.
Hiding from the recent heatwave in air-conditioned rooms, sleep in the afternoon, eat late in the evening and retire to bed when all the chores are done (I have not worn a watch since arriving here).
Slowly becoming acquainted with more and more local people. Everyone seems to have time to pass the time of day or talk, cars stop in the middle of the road so the driver can talk to a passing friend. Every evening our neighbours do their "volta" or walk through the village to see neighbours and no doubt gossip about the strange English couple.
The running battle between Rufus and our resident hedgehog.
Driving – Greek-style.
Struggling with the Greek language.
What do we miss – nothing except Fish and Chips and a good Indian restaurant!….. and family and friends, of course.
New photos to follow.
The sky is blue and the sun shines on the mountains every morning
Watching the sunrise and sunset.
The night sky is always clear and there are thousands of stars (remember Joni Mitchell’s Matala song?).
Filling the house with the sound of Cretan music on radio.
Walking to the village Kafenion for the bread and pick up the post each morning.
Children of all ages playing carefree in the street till late into the evening.
Sheep in the garden or the next door field - to the delight of Rufus and Buffy.
The cicadas making incredible noise outside.
Strange things flying around and small creatures scurrying around - lizards in the garden, scorpions in the bath and a praying mantis watching you eat your evening meal.
Eating (and drinking) on the roof terrace almost every evening in the cool – as everyone does, often accompanied by the gentle sound of gunfire.
Sweeping up the buckshot from the terrace the following morning.
Jam and cake making and BBQ cooking.
Buying from the "tiri-man (cheese)" and other passing pickups selling all you ever need.
Local Cretan evenings at the local taverna (not for the tourists) – wild dancing and plaintive songs long into the early hours.
Attending the baptism of the local priest’s baby in one of the seven village churches high up in the hills.
Travelling to Thessoloniki for our first Greek wedding - wonderful.
Greek TV - and not a mention of the USA or Bush on the news, international news is largely Turkey and Italy, possibly a mention of the UK and France. Strictly news about Greece, local and national, from wild fires, deaths on the roads to new sets of traffic lights and school plays.
Hiding from the recent heatwave in air-conditioned rooms, sleep in the afternoon, eat late in the evening and retire to bed when all the chores are done (I have not worn a watch since arriving here).
Slowly becoming acquainted with more and more local people. Everyone seems to have time to pass the time of day or talk, cars stop in the middle of the road so the driver can talk to a passing friend. Every evening our neighbours do their "volta" or walk through the village to see neighbours and no doubt gossip about the strange English couple.
The running battle between Rufus and our resident hedgehog.
Driving – Greek-style.
Struggling with the Greek language.
What do we miss – nothing except Fish and Chips and a good Indian restaurant!….. and family and friends, of course.
New photos to follow.
posted by Robert Burrell at
3:42 am
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