Robin's Nest ...Crete: January 2013

Tuesday, January 29

You cannot beat the markets!

MARKETS have always been the source of good value. Freshest possible fruit and vegetables and bargains galore. We have always loved markets, in any country we have visited over the years, and now, in Crete we have a market locally every day of the week.

In Heraklion there are main ones of Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturday. They are the same, but not the same, they just differ mainly in size. There are always variations, and today it was time for fruit and vegetables and then a really excellent bargain. A leather bomber jacket, just the right size and style needed for just 20 euros, about 17 pounds. It was perfect, not sure where they come from but delighted with the find. The last time a shop in Heraklion was checked out, the best price was 250 euros - some difference!

Tuesday, January 22

What a Catastrophy!!!

Dusty our rescued cat has certainly used up at least one of his nine lives this week. He came home in the morning and made straight for the box that he sleeps in after a night out - nothing new about that, other than not going to his food. Two hours later it was a different story.

He was miaowing as loud as possible, and would not let us anywhere near him. Gradually his front leg started to swell and he was still creating a real racket - time for the vet.

The drive to Heraklion was loud from the back seat as we made our way to the vet. When we got there we explained what we though it was. By now his leg was lifted up in obvious pain. The vet went to check and was confronted by a very angry cat. A sedative injection said the vet. he will be asleep in ten minutes - wrong - 25 minutes later he was still hissing at the vet as she examined the leg and revealed a near three inch long tear in the skin, the result of fighting. The fur was cut away dressed and antibiotic pills dispensed and we were off back home. The swelling has gone down but he has been kept inside for the time being.

Sunday, January 20

Feed me, feed me!

WE have always admired the Greek hospitality, but even we were surprised the other day during an excursion to the southern area around Mires. There were three coaches packed for the trip, mainly to go to three local monasteries. The first was in the area called Plora, although our coach driver decided he knew a better route, and in fact ended up arriving 30 minutes after the other two.

By the time we did get to this little monastery, who were celebrating their name day, the building was packed and there must have been around 100 more outside. Although it was a bright day it was a little chilly in the wind, and many, including us, we offered a seat inside where there was free coffee along with honey biscuits, fruit, nuts and sweets and holy bread in abundance.

As the ceremony in the church finished we moved to the exit where we all stopped and were handed large plastic bowls full of rice pilaf and a large piece of lamb, along with a bread roll and another drink. We can never understand how they can cater on such a scale, but more so how many to cater for, there is always enough. It was then to Mires for coffee before the larger monastery at Kalyviana, where there was almost biscuits for all along with drink. The hospitality also continued on the coach where no one, but two large boxes of chocolate cake and biscuits came around, together with nuts and Raki, the national firewater.

Wednesday, January 9

50 Years and going strong!!

YES - 50 year married this weekend, and there were some who said that it would not last more than a couple of years!!!
We are having a small party in a local taverna inc luding food and drink with friends from the village, and I have arranged a couple of surprises for Pat the long suffering wife. By the time Saturday comes around a BIG surprise will be unveiled, so watch this space as it will be updated also.
One surprise for her will being to see the poster that is published here. It shows photographs from the years gone bye, I designed them into into a poster and then had a local firm print then poster size and these will be adorning the walls on arrival. You cannot have a party without a cake, so that's another item ticked off the list.
The biggest surprise should happen a day or so before, but, hopefully photos of this will be published here when it happens, fingers crossed - so watch this space as they say.

Friday, January 4

Greatest comedy sketch - ever!!!!!

This has to be the best every comedy partnership. Sharp writing and great execution. Voted the best every comedy sketch in the UK. You will remember it forever. Follow the link and enjoy.
http://youtu.be/LaO5nZIUW4I

LIFE IN GREECE

WE NOW live in a traditional village, with tavernas, a butcher, baker (no candlestick maker! and three kafenions and three tourist shops, and currently just the one mini-market, so it's a short trip to the main part of Hersonissos for groceries. Although away from the busy towns, we are only minutes from Hersonissos and 15 minutes from the capital Heraklion, where there are big markets on Tuesdays, Wednesday, Thursdays and a massive one on Saturday, as well as major stores and airport. Retired from a busy lifetime in newspapers, marketing and hotels, to set up an independent marketing and consultancy for local businesses, but in a very part-time fashion Now we are fully retired to a beautiful island where there is always something to do, and visitors to entertain. Of course the weather helps, we are able to swim from May 'til October, and venture out to explore the countryside and tee-shirts still in late November! The local social club for seniors, invited us to join, a good choice (KAPI) arrange many events and activities throughout the year. They also arrange holiday opportunities, and excursions to parts of the island which we would never normally see. Winter is quieter, but our village square still remains open, but without the tourists and there always seems an event or party to attend every week, the places that stay open also have fires during the colder months, so there is always a warm welcome.

FRESH & DIRECT

THERE is something special about Greek villages, and our village, Pano Hersonissos is no exception. The services that brings fresh food as well as clothing, shoes, fish and cheese, is always welcome in the village, but you never really know what will come, or even when, we also have one that sells pots and pans alongside tools. Sometimes it's sold from the back of a van, or car, sometimes it's on a barrow pushed through the village.

Recently we were in the village square having shopped in the main town, and were relaxing over a coffee, when a scruffy looking pick-up pulled up. The old man got out and started to shout about his wares. This time it was fresh fruits and cheese, all of which you are invited to try first, some he grows, others he buys, and sells for a little profit.

We usually have fresh orange juice everyday, so we buy oranges from the trucks that come round - 10 kilos for 5 euros, and usually a few more added for good measure! That's about 20 pence a pound.

Within minutes along came a second truck, this time with fish straight from the local harbour, while already at the top of the square there was a woman with a push-along cart, piled high with clothing. The village shops do not appear to have a problem with these traders, and are often the first in line to buy.

We were in the square one day, when suddenly a man appeared at our side, plate in hand with huge chunks of his own local cheese to try. If you liked it, you bought what you needed, it's a free and enterprising market, and they take advantage of it, but the customer always knows that the food is fresh, and if you miss one, another will be along - some time.

Now on Sundays were have flowers and plants from a local man whose friends now come along with their own local cheeses, as well as speciality sausages. They cook up some to sample knowing that the smell attracts the locals - subtle marketing.

WORLD-WIDE INTEREST

MANY THANKS to all of you around the world who have now visited our Blog, so far we have been seen in no less than 90+ countries, which is staggering. So we can only say: Welcome, velkommen, Добре дошли, vítejte, welkom, bienvenue, willkommen, καλωσόρισμα, benvenuti, bienvenida, and hoşgeldin - which takes care of most!! We never intended the Blog to be a daily event, it was primarily for family and friends, but they are already scattered around the world. We have been most impressed by the range of the countries, and still remain. grateful for those who come back time after time. Hopefully most read the Blog in English, but we understand that the translation tool is a valuable asset. We have asked a couple of friends who are not English if the translation is good,and their verdict is "mainly ok, and that it helps if they are stuck with a certain passage of writing" We shall hopefully continue with the style and flavour of the blog along with our news and photos, as and when things are of interest. Photographs and now a recipe section will now have their own tabs at the top of the main page, we encourage you to try the recipes.

Robin's Nest ...Crete