It's much too much

TOWARDS the end of last year we met Americans Duane and Cheryl, who moved into the village, about 200 metres from our house.  Since then we have become good friends, and they are good company.
  We have a taverna in a nearby village called Kokkini Hani where we sometimes go. Phyllis, Scottish co-owner is a real laugh, excellent sense of humour, and business partner Ganni is a really good Greek chef.  During the year they have what they term “buffet nights” In reality a group of people are invited, usually 20 or so, many are regulars, including us.
  The building is small and very traditional, in fact it sits on the edge of a car-park, is hardly advertised, and is not really easy to find.
  We mentioned this to the Americans who were keen to experience it for themselves, so along they came. They were very surprised by the quality and the quantity of the food,. On this night we had: Greek salad, tzaziki, fava, two kinds of pork, two kinds of chicken, fried fish, potato salad, sausages in sauce, two kinds of liver and a beef dish. Much of the produce comes from Gannis’ own animals or from his vegetable plot, it’s always fresh and there is a vast amount of food, no matter the numbers. The biggest surprise however comes at the end of the night, when the cost is €10 a head, about £8!!!
  Of course there is Raki to drink and fruits afterwards, and you cannot leave feeling hungry. The Americans have already demanded to be informed when the next one of held.
  For us it was also an opportunity to catch up with a Dutch family, who have been coming to Crete for more that 20 years. We keep in touch by e-mail, but it was extra nice to catch up personally.

There is always time for a party!!

AS SURE as night follows day you can be certain that going out with a group of Greeks will end in a party of one kind. It was just that yesterday with a trip towards the southern shores of Crete with a excursion organised by a cultural/church group from the village.

  The signs were there as soon as the coach pulled up to meet us in Pano Hersonissos, when we spotted one of the party carrying an accordion.

  First stop was to the new Amazonas Animal Park just outside Neapoli. Set high in the hills above the town with stunning views, it's mainly a sanctuary for exotic birds. It's well laid out on steep paths with well presented cages for parrots and macaws. It's not really animals, although there are goats and a donkey, and they need to widen their horizons to a greater audience.

  Ierapetra was new call sitting the the sun to taken in the delights of a beach side coffee and the fortress, before Miros a pretty village on the coast and eventually a splendid and cheap lunch high in the hills of Pano Symi before setting off for the area around Viannos, scenes of much war activity and eventually back to the village.

  Lunch was where the party was. We had already had music and signing on the coach, but, as soon as lunch was under way out came the accordion again, more signing and then group dancing, it was a splendid way to spend the afternoon.