Happily, we have been able to get out
and about recently both in the car and, more excitingly, on foot as
we have discovered some beautiful walks round and about which are
almost magical in the early Spring sunshine.
Early February was spent on an
excursion to Heraklion where shopping, eating and visiting the
Archaeology Museum were on the programme. The museum is excellent
and never fails to excite us with amazing exhibits from the Bronze
Age with expertly written descriptions and in stunning condition.
The ceramics, which look so contemporary in design and shape, always
blow me away each time I see them. We enjoyed a visit to the Curry
Restaurant (rare in Crete) and even returned from Heraklion with two
new carpets in traditional designs. Check out the doorway we spotted
from the Curry place … it didn't look very busy for some reason but
when we read it twice, we realised that we were at fault!!
One of the nicer things that has
happened recently is that I have found a way of getting a good
regular country walk with a nice lady who has similar interest in
wild life and wild flowers, so we can go for leisurely strolls
– usually a circular walk – for two or three hours once per week
and enjoy the joys of nature as Spring gets under way.
The first
walk around Roumeli and Achlade took us down through quiet olive
groves where anemones and wild cyclamen were in bloom under the trees
and we picked oranges and lemons which were hanging off the trees
over the fences. Olive picking is over for this year and the various
farmers we passed are now busy tidying up their gardens, cutting down
the dead wood and storing logs for firewood. I arrived home with
fists full of wild parsley, sage and thyme and promised myself to
take some small plastic bags with me next time to collect some wild
herbs.
The next walk took us from Panormo down
country lanes to the Geropotamos river and we examined various
stippled plants, orchids and carpets of yellow clover-like flowers
under the olive and fruit trees. On reaching the river, we realised
that the recent rainfall and snow-melt meant that the water was much
deeper than we had anticipated. Other routes were tried and failed
so we had to return to the crossing point and trying to waterproof
our trainers as best we could. Finding discarded poly bags and
trying to encase my trainers looked hilarious … Milan fashion it
was not … and we crossed over with only a little dampness to
contend with. The stroll along the river bank was magical and we
stopped as fresh water turtles plopped from the muddy river bank into
the stream and were just about visible as the sun shone over the slow
flowing water. Pressing on, we came to a second crossing point where
an old pallet and a few carefully placed stepping stones helped us to
return to the other bank with a minimum of wetness (for me) and bit
more effort and scrambling and splashing for my energetic friend.
Uphill from here, past two lots of greenhouse businesses where tomatoes
could just be spied through the cloudy poly tunnels, we arrived full
circle just to the South of the national road. Just under the bridge
and past the school to get home again. On days like this, we are
glad to be alive and living in Crete. Footsore and weary I trudged
to the car and was amazed to hear that my chum was now off to play
tennis! Oh to be young and fit again!
Yesterday, K and I had promised
ourselves to take a journey to the Amari Valley and set off early
with the sun shining and all well with the world. We had a hilarious
time with the SatNav lady who was having terrible trouble with Greek
pronunciation of road and place names. She kept telling us to turn
left or right onto a gobbledygoop road name when the road simply went
round a sharp or hairpin bend. The Amari is absolutely beautiful and
we stopped for a spell by the newish reservoir and spent a coffee
break just looking at the water and enjoying the sunshine on our
skin. K was happy, so I started a little sketch in my water colour
book and enjoyed myself. We returned home by driving round the whole
perimeter of the lake up and around a few mountain bends avoiding all
the sheep and goats that seem to be moving around at the moment to
the accompaniment of little bells and birdsong in the breeze. K
really enjoyed his outing but we realised we need to go back a little
later to catch the wild flowers at their best.
Rethymno is preparing for Carnival at
the weekend and we have been invited to a party with the theme of
Cretan Agriculture for fancy dress. Pictures to follow! After this
weekend, and the customary kite flying on Clean Monday, a restrictive
Lenten fast will follow. Having delayed any “must go on a diet”
feelings during January and through all the cold, snowy weather, I
think I might try the Greek Orthodox tradition of no meat, fish,
dairy or eggs until Easter. We may eat soups, beans, sea food such
as squid and shrimp, lentils, veggies, pickles, chickpeas and
unleavened bread. Watch this space!
