CIRCULAR WALKS

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!