Water water everywhere - except the village!!

WE have come used to water pressure being reduced, especially during the tourist season, well we are an island of course and there are great demand on supplies during the summer. But this weekend has been a real problem, not just for us, but for the whole village.
  The problem started on Saturday, continued through the weekend and was finally resolved today (Monday) - we simply did not have any water, or, sometimes just a trickle, but the whole village suffered.
  We restricted ourselves to just the one toilet, we usually have a watering can on standby filled to flush the toilet, but it was a pain. The problem was a pumping station breaking late on Friday night, parts had to be found from Heraklion, there were delays, once found they had to be fitted and tested, before the supply was back.
   Anyone with a family must have had real problems, not able to wash up of course, but you could not use a washing machine, have a shower or restrict yourself to using bottled water - something we always keep in the house.
  Service was returned late on Monday afternoon, so we could imagine a lot of families getting showered quickly in case the fault returned.

Autumn - a time to reflect

AUTUMN is Crete has been days of warm sun, lazy days in the local cafe drinking coffee and generally watching the world go by.

  Tourists have virtually disappeared from the island and our village, Pano Hersonissos has entered a new time-zone. All the tavernas, bar one, have closed, leaving the locals, and us to use the kafeneions. These are always well supported through the whole year, and in recent sunshine a pefect setting. 

  The kafeneions prepare and sell traditional food, and it's very good value. The first rains, albeit little, have started, but not enough to discourage a walk out. On Sundays one enterprising trader from Kastelli, about eight miles away, comes to the village his van laden with plants and small shrubs. He has done a great trade in the village and will be here until the heavy rains come. His family own a garden centre and his enterprise has been good for him.

  One of the tavernas on the edge of the village square has taken a big step forward. During the years that we have been here we have noticed that they really have no trade to speak of. For whatever reason they have embarked on a major change. The place has been re-designed, with a fresh decor, so we shall watch this one carefully over the coming months.

  Soon most locals will be out checking their olive trees, looking for a good harvest. A recent newspaper article in England listed one oil from chania, as one of the very best. When we checked, the selling price was 39 euros for half a litre!!!! It had to be very very special for that. We are more than happy with the oil we have thank you. Current value if you have to buy it locally is around two euros a litre, we certainly have no complaints from our local suppliers.

Anyone for cake or fish or animals?

VILLAGE life can be fun, especially when things are unexpected. Over the years we have been here we have witnessed many changes, but one thing is remarkable as a village, and that is the variety of goods and items that are brought here for sale, almost certainly a throw-back to life in Greek villages many years ago.

  We have grown accustomed to the cheeseman, the fishman, the family who come around with a van jam packed with household items and the handcart laden with clothing, as well as chickens and rabbits.

  Today there was something totally new, and perhaps a reflection on the financial situation in the country. People are looking for new ways to generate income, and we were stopped in our tracks by two women holding large aluminium cases in which were cakes and other sticky goodness to tempt the palate. They included balaclava (layers of phylo pastry packed with nuts and honey), as well as other traditional pastries, including the custard pie so popular here. There was too much for us we explained, and the women moved off to try their luck in the tavernas, and even the bakeries!!

  They eventually got back into their car and drove off, having made several sales,, making way for the fish trucks from the harbour and then individuals selling anything from DVD's to socks and even jackets. Never a dull moment,

It's what village life is about

HAVING lived here in the old village for seven years we have become accustomed to the ways of the village, but there is always something to surprise us.

  We decided after returning from Chania to go out for a meal instead of cooking at home. There is a small taverna opened only this year by a young lad we have always seen in the village. His father owns a taverna at the back of the villiage square, but son Petros has branched out on his own. We were having our meal but we noticed lots of people came in, did not eat or drink, but went to the bar, and then left! The penny suddenly dropped. The village kiosk is closed until next week due to a family illness,and rather than the whole village be without cigarettes and cigars, they had made arrangements with Petros to sell a limited rangefrom his taverna.

  What a civilised way to conduct business, all done by word of mouth. Talking of the new taverna - it is really excellent value. Petros has roped in his sister to help with cooking, but the prices are great. We had small plates of fava (bean mash), dolmades (stuffed vine leaves), apaki (smoked pork), chicken souvlaki and chips, a carafe of wine and Sprite with a basket of bread and plates of spoon sweets to follow. When the bill arrived it was 12 euros (About 10 pounds) remarkable value for two.