....and the cupboard was bare !

As the truckers strike in Greece continues against the government decision to end the closed shop agreement the average Greek citizen suffers. Grocery shops are stripped of basic food lines and most large retailers have totally empty dairy, meat, frozen and other fresh food fridges. A visit to a Lidl store in Messini the other day brought home the truth, besides no food basics there was little on the shelves. Even toiletries, paperware and cleaning materials were stripped. 

One can partly sympathise  with the truckers that may have spent thousands of euros on obtaining their truck licenses, but "free trade" must rule to benefit the majority. Too long have closed shops in Greece existed in too many trades, the Greek mentality must change, a fair days work for a fair days pay and pay your dues.  Get back to work and make your country GREAT again !

Messini Market - Fair

Each year in the town of Messini (which is the nearest town of any reasonable size to us) a giant fair / market visits. The local authority commences the building of the 

stalls late August on open land surrounding the town but the stalls also fill side streets and car parks in the town.

Traders from all over Greece and adjoining countries arrive with their wares. In true Greek style the market starts early but stall holders siesta in the afternoon (see above)......

Whilst visiting in the afternoon affords easy walking and looking around the best time is of course in the evening. Cooler temperatures and a virtual party atmosphere exists. Items on sale range from livestock, horses, donkeys, poultry etc. Kitchen wares, carpets, tools, clothes etc. indeed there is little you can not get ! The whole event continues until 29th September this year......

First fruits

 We started planting fruit trees on the land within a year of having the property built. The first trees planted were various citrus, plums, pomegranate and apples however a few of these fell foul to the local goats as at that time we had not had a gate to the property installed. Now four years on these trees and vines are producing what really is the first "good" harvest. 

Probably most successful have been the grape vines, that within 18 months of planting produced 25-30 kilo of excellent eating grapes which we have also dried to create our first home produced sultanas, ready for the Christmas cake bake.(samples pictured drying on the plate)

Fresh figs are a delight (bottom left of picture), but so are the very tasty dried figs (right of picture on tray) and of course these will store well for another Christmas delight. I guess many people will not recognise walnuts in their green husk (centre top  of picture), now nearly time to open up and set the more familiar brown cased nut aside for drying, once again for that Christmas treat. The quince (top left of picture) is an odd fruit,  cooked here at New Year as a traditional Greek pork dish. Then finally the variety of plums.....

Other trees are still in their infancy but we look forward to another "free fruity year" for 2011

Yippee school holidays are over!

The normally quiet roads in the Peloponnese change dramatically during the school holidays and unlike in the UK where roads are normally busier in the school term periods and quiet in the school holidays the exact reverse applies here. You see the "invasion of the Athenians" start. This is highly noticeable by the number of cars sporting registration plates commencing in "I" and getting confused between Peloponnese country roads and what they think is the Monaco formula 1 track!

This year I believe even more Greeks stayed on the mainland to holiday owing to the current economic situation, and as this beautiful landscape with its unspoilt beaches are only three and half hours drive from Athens, its ideal for family holidays. The small fishing villages became packed and even driving through at 1.30 in the morning people still adorned the tavernas and beach bars. Thank goodness for the massive coast time, whilst despite some beaches becoming a little too busy for me, few people know the local spots villagers keep hidden for themselves.

Well is nearly over and back to normal, villages have become quiet again with grandchildren sent back to mum and dad in the city. 

But truthfully locals rely on these busy months to make money in the businesses to enjoy the rest of the year in their piece of heaven!