A Walk in the Park

While it has been a busy week for Mr Tsipras and his government, it has been exceptionally quiet for us here in Kavousi. Unfortunately, John’s sister and brother-in-law, Bridget and Herb, had to cancel their 10 day visit here, starting last Tuesday, due to illness. We were sorry on many counts. Firstly, they were ill, secondly, we were looking forward to seeing them, thirdly, we liked the thought of good wine and lots of interesting conversation and finally it was our opportunity to show them where we live now. However, the good news is that they are now feeling a bit better and hopefully we will see them later in the year.

It might have meant that I could spend the week playing tennis which was a tempting prospect. But this was not to be because the weather was a bit erratic last week with a bit of rain and a lot of wind. Ierapetra car park began to look like a swimming pool!

 

So my new Christmas tennis outfit remained in the wardrobe. At the end of the year, I was beginning to feel embarrassed by my baggy track suit bottoms and faded t-shirts. Everyone looked much smarter than I did, so John and I went to Intersport in Heraklion and he kindly paid for an update to my image. I had looked to see what was worn by other women tennis players around here and so the result was influenced by that.I am just hoping it improves my tennis as well!!!!!

So John and I knuckled down to some Greek study, odd jobs around the house, spending money on the car (new headlights required as well as work on the brakes), sorting out photograph albums, getting used to new multi-focal glasses (more large amounts of money spent) and having the luxury of following political events in more detail than usual and even watching a bit of the Australian Open.

There was also some social interaction – a good evening with Pauline and Chris in the local taverna, coffee and a Greek lesson with Maria, a short visit from Hans and Christopher bringing us some of his very delicious marmalade.

The highlight though was a walk that we have done so many times before to the Ancient Olive Tree. The weather was sunny and had some warmth in it. I took my camera and I was keen to photograph the new buds and emerging beautiful flowers. As we walked though the village though, it was a small kitten that caught our attention first.

Kittens are always cute and this was no exception.Then we passed some of the desirable residences in our village

which have definite possibilities but actually they have charm as they are!

Since coming here, I have had so much pleasure looking at the flowers. However, my knowledge of them is sadly lacking and this year I decided I would, at least, find some names for the flowers with the help of a book entitled ‘Plants of Crete’, bought by our good friends, Rosie and Mike, some time ago! My hope is that is I take a photograph of the flower I have some chance of identifying them. More likely, I just get it wrong. Still, I can but try to learn from mistakes.

As we walked up the E4, we enjoyed the Bermuda Buttercups. It says in my book, that they were introduced into Malta from South Africa and are now overwhelming fields and gardens in the Mediterranean area. This is probably true but they are a pretty sight!

and the different coloured anemones.

We meandered up the track, past a eucalyptus

to the olive tree, stopping often to admire the view or just to look around us.

At the Olive Tree, we sat down

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and reflected how nice and peaceful it was just to be there. This is not the oldest olive tree but it does look pretty old!

And it is a good feeling to be able to appreciate even a small insect

beside where I was sitting. There is a small building at this spot and I wandered over and photographed some chillies and some of the flowers in the pots. Such beautiful colours.

On the way down we admired some butterflies (I need some practice in photographing butterflies!!!)

a huge mass of the herb, Rosemary,

and the almond tree coming into bud,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Much of the olive picking is now finished but you can still find olives.

The house on the edge of the village looked rather splendid,

as we continued to see yet more flowers.

These, below, were just exquisite, peeking out at us. I haven’t yet worked out their names!

We passed our car and I could not resist one more photo of the expensive headlight, just purchased and managed to photograph myself as well!

It was a mistake but I quite liked the result!!!!

And then we were back home with flowers beginning to cover the damage to the ground from the building of the wall.

A great walk and a lovely day.

Sheila