The Long Way Home

A long needed shower was forecast for today. A few drops teased us but despite a lot of cloud activity and distant thunder, it appears unlikely there will be a reprieve in this all-too-dry Messinia summer.

We sadly said goodbye to Grizabella and the gang (poor Ranga is getting around on three legs – as the adventurous one, she may have been bitten by a snake) as well as the villagers. We’re off to spend our last week in Athens.

Clouds begin to form over the village.

The clouds make for wine-dark seas.

Most people have left here too so the beauty of the place reigned in silence. Relative silence, that is: above the island of Schiza two trainee fighter pilots were flying a course one after the other. Close enough to see and hear, the F16s were quite mesmerising – a bit like a slot car track.

The last swim was delicious. By now most of the tourists have left and the beach resembles its former self – isolated and peaceful.

It’s odd to be looking into a giant mirror while driving a car.

Tolls galore on the national highways.

Are we in China? Shouldn’t this sign say ‘fish wharves’?

That’s what Martina’s been telling me these last few days. Nearly finished work.

Taking a break in the shade of a fig tree. Talib eating melons in the background.

Crate by crate, the truck fills…

2080 kilograms of Cabernet went to the C.A.I.R. co-op to be sold… the remaining tonne will go to Agios Isidoros to be distilled for Souma (raki, grappa, tsipouro… that kind of thing). Very hot work. The vines were very laden with fruit.

…it’s off to work we go. We heard there is lots of picking to be done in the vineyards of Rhodes, so we sailed there for some seasonal employment and the odd swim.

Scenes from the voyage on the Blue Star 2 passenger ferry:

We bought yiayia some Crocs in Kalamata. She really likes them, and they will help prevent her slipping on the many tiled surfaces in her new home.

The day after the Panigyri, spaghetti with octopus is the traditional meal. Panagiota, Vangeli, three of their daughters, Skrombola, and Laki joined us. Everyone was in high spirits and much singing took place after the meal.

Fotinoula was her usual lively self.

Another Panigyri… this time in Galleika.

The local butcher provided the roast pork…

…and posed with the head.

But we also had our own Schizotiko wild goat, accompanied with potatoes, served in a tub…

Chryssa and Martina enjoying the atmosphere.

Fotini is the first one to eat…

Only in Militsa can you find such a combination of elements. A Swiss resident hanging out with an Aussie, with a Japanese bike surrounded by 500 tomato plants in Western Messinia.

See you soon, Christos!