Celebrating My 16th Greek Easter

The weather remained sunny and warm for the whole of Easter Weekend.  I was out and about socializing and joining in the celebrations for most of it!  On Good Friday I was in my local taverna Vangeli’s from around 5pm, intending to stay only for a couple of hours but actually not leaving until 9.30pm.

Withh Solveig & Lisa in Plaka Square with the bonfire raging behind us

With Solveig & Lisa. After midnight in Plaka Square with the bonfire raging behind us.

On Easter Saturday ‘The Vibes’ were playing at Vangeli’s and so right away there was a party atmosphere going on. After the gig finished, they lit the traditional bonfire to burn Judas at midnight.  Bangers were going off all night long.  Some were so loud they made everyone regularly jump with fright!  Apart from 2020 and 2021 during covid, I have spent many years of traditional Easter Saturday’s in Plaka Square.  But this year the fireworks display was spectacular.  It felt like New Year’s Eve all over again!  It goes without saying that it was indeed a long night with much alcohol consumed and I think I staggered home sometime during the small hours of Easter Sunday morning.

Judas is visible before the fire takes hold

Judas is visible before the fire takes hold

We booked Easter Sunday lunch for six of us at the main taverna in the square of Kokkino Chorio village and I have to say it was very disappointing. The food was scarce, very average and way overpriced.  The service was awful (only one waiter – poor Yorgos!) and the lamb and potatoes were cold.  We won’t be going there again!  We left as soon as we were able and decided to try and redeem the day by treating ourselves to dessert at Francoise in Almyrida.  Our table in Kokkino Chorio had been in the shade and the breeze meant we felt progressively colder as the afternoon wore on.  Crepes and coffee at Francoise in the sunshine went a long way to dampening our disappointments.

Easter Sunday Dessert treat at Francoise in Almyrida

Easter Sunday Dessert treat at Francoise in Almyrida. Solveig, Me, Chrissie and Lisa

After more than 4 years of searching, my friend Debbie has finally found an apartment she wants to move to in Vamos.  The Airbnb industry has totally shrunk the long term rental market here, making suitable places few and far between. So I spent all day on the Thursday before Easter and again on Easter Monday, helping her move as much of her stuff as we could.  Let me tell you – it’s no easy task moving into these traditional Greek houses.  Vehicular access is pretty challenging at the best of times and virtually non-existent at others.  We got one hell of a workout with all the lifting and climbing of steps to actually reach the tiny apartment.  But it’s all going to be so totally worth it!

Made for Robert's birthday - His star sign in Seashell Mosaic on Sand.

Made for Robert’s birthday – His star sign in Seashell Mosaic on Sand

It was my Dutch friend Robert’s birthday a couple of weeks ago and what a great evening that was!  He’d booked the lovely Italian in Plaka for around 25 of his close friends to enjoy a delicious selection of Italian meats, cheeses, breads and delicacies…ooh and the lovely Italian wine!  Several hours later, when we’d all had enough to eat, we walked down to Vangeli’s where they were holding the regular Monday night karaoke.  It was well after midnight and I had drunk so much wine, that I allowed myself to be persuaded (like you do!) to sing with Robert’s sister, Helen.  But we had a real laugh and the whole evening was such good fun and with such good company!  I remember finally falling into bed at around 2.30am.

One of Kissamos' beaches on another beachcombing trip

One of Kissamos’ beaches on another beachcombing trip

I can’t quite believe how many tourists there are here on Crete already… and since the beginning of April.  I don’t remember it being this busy on the roads this time last year?  Our friends Solveig and Giers are back and joined us for all the Easter celebrations, which was lovely.

Since my last post, Debbie and I have continued avidly beachcombing and luckily Lisa  managed to join us on a couple of them.  The weather for each of these trips has been pleasantly sunny and warm, although tempered sometimes by an accompanying breeze.  Cool! This is most agreeable for this time of year because we all don’t want the summer to start yet or the temperatures to rise too soon.  So we’ve been back to Falassarna, Georgioupolis, Skaleta, Stavros and Kissamos.

View taken from the 'Beacon Chapel' at Anopolis

View taken from the ‘Beacon Chapel’ at Anopolis and showing the pretty village of Loutro far below

David’s walk to Anopolis on the South Coast was interesting.  We trekked up high to an isolated ‘beacon chapel’ where the surrounding views were spectacular!  You could see the pretty village of Loutro far below.  We noticed some vultures nearby and decided to remain very quiet and still, watching them.   They must have wanted to take a closer look at us, because they flew so low right over us and wow!   It was the closest I’ve ever been to a wild vulture!  Interestingly, the ‘big bird’ Debbie and I found at Georgioupolis after a storm,  David identified as a cormorant… which makes more sense than it being a vulture, as we had first thought.

The mighty Aradena Gorge

Taken from the bridge which spans it – the mighty Aradena Gorge

Afterwards we took a slight detour to the bridge which spans the awesome Aradena Gorge.  This bridge even has a platform at the side of it and half way along, for bungee jumping.  I would not like to drive across it because you can see through the gaps to the deep gorge below… although we noticed the goats didn’t seem to mind, as if they crossed it regularly!

 

I can’t say it often enough.  I live on a stunningly beautiful and wonderful Island. 🙂

On a recent beachcombing trip - Where the stream meets the sea at Georgioupoli's long & sandy beach

On a recent beachcombing trip – Where the stream meets the sea at Georgioupoli’s long & sandy beach

Excited to be Planning My Winter On Crete

This is the time of year for reflecting on the busy summer season I’ve just had and looking forward to all the joys that the winter brings into my wonderful life.  I love the winters here on Crete as much as I do the summers.  It always seems as though summer finishes and winter begins in such a few short days.   The temperatures have dropped from the mid 30’s consistently through the summer months, to the now much more comfortable early 20’s. The heat saps your energy but now I’ve been feeling all my energy returning and I am enjoying making plans for all the amazing adventures I will have.

So here I am..sitting on my amazing balcony, writing up this post.  For me it is the perfect climate up here, calm and comfortably warm.  When you live in hot temperatures for so many months, you start to crave days like this.  And thank goodness we have them!  The change is utterly refreshing and more than welcome!  These temperatures are perfect for being outdoors.  I live amongst all the beautiful nature I could wish for and still after 15 years, I am always blown away with the sheer experience of it all.  I never forget how lucky I am…

The view from my balcony as I write up this post

The view from my balcony as I write up this post

I am thrilled to share that I’ve had yet another successful season of selling from my stall and display by Almyrida beach. Considering all the days I missed, I am more than pleased to have sold 139 Seashell Mosaic Collage Paintings to tourists and visitors to Crete.  This is more than enough for me now.. as I strengthen my resolve in continuing to create more balance in my life.  Less hours creating my artworks and more free time to travel and explore my awesome environment.  I simply can’t do this if I am working all winter.  Albeit such pleasant work… it’s time for a change.  However, I can’t ever forget that without my Art, I would never have experienced these wonderful 15 years.  Selling my Seashell Mosaic artworks has enabled me to live a simple yet most wonderful life here on Crete.

Tropical Goldfish in Seashell Mosaic Collage Painting - 20x20cms sold from my beach stall in September

Tropical Goldfish in Seashell Mosaic Collage Painting – 20x20cms, sold from my beach stall in September

For the last two weeks the sea has been so rough that it again flooded the centre of Almyrida.  This coincided with my last couple of selling days.  Last week I set up at a different place further along the edge of the beach, for more shelter from the wind.  I noticed the seawater some distance away but didn’t imagine it would get any worse and it was far enough from me not to be a concern.  Or so I thought…  Within the space of two hours the water had reached my table and display boards.  I packed up as fast as I could and pitched up again in my usual spot.  I have never set up twice in one day!  But back where I felt comfortable – I sold well and instantly all the effort was worthwhile.

During these past weeks I have enjoyed some lovely days out with Debbie at Stavros, Kissamos and Skaleta.  These wonderful days were a mixture of beach relax, some seashell collecting and lots of exploring on foot.  We’d take our little low deckchairs, a parasol (if it wasn’t too windy to put up) and our rucksacks.  Late afternoon we’d go and find a nice taverna to eat and then round up the day with a long last walk on the nearest beach.  Perfect!

Beautiful Stavros

The far long beach at beautiful Stavros

This week I went on the first walk of the season with David’s group.  We walked all around the outskirts of Kournas village.  We were quite a large group of about 15 and so I was mostly chatting with people I’d not seen since last April.  We had a really nice lunch afterwards, at a traditional taverna in Kournas village.

I have really enjoyed some fun nights out with friends.  There have been the usual live music gigs at Vangeli’s and a party at Nikita’s.  I have also enjoyed spending time with my Norwegian friend Solveig, who joined us at some of the music nights in Vangeli’s, as well as keeping me company sometimes on my selling days, like Lisa does after work on Mondays.  Other people I know sometimes sit down to join me for a chat and it’s part of the socialising I do on my selling days .

With Lisa & Solveig on one of Vangeli's live music nights in September

With Lisa & Solveig on one of Vangeli’s live music nights at the end of September

I was also thrilled to meet up with a wonderful family I first met at least 12 years ago, through my Art.  They have been consistently good customers and have become special friends too.  It’s been at least three years since I’ve been able to meet Paul, Sheila, John and Adelle and so it was a delight to catch up with them again, over drinks on my balcony followed by lunch at Elpis in Plaka village.

I recently helped move Lisa to a new apartment in Neo Chorio.  The place is lovely but needed a deep and thorough clean before she could move in.  So I picked Debbie up one Saturday morning and Lisa collected Solveig and between the 4 of us we got her new home shipshape.  After working tirelessly for over 4 hours, we packed up and went straight to the large main taverna in Armenoi, for a much needed late lunch and refreshments. But from the moment she moved in, Lisa has had problems with the electricity supply.  It was cut off due to unpaid bills.  It’s a long story ..yet she is still without electricity – despite the bills having since been paid.  Poor Lisa… it’s not easy living here without electricity and she has all my sympathies.  Yesterday she stopped by mine for a cuppa after work and explained the latest about the situation.  Luckily I remembered my power pack.  The one I used to extend the life of my portable fan during the hot selling days by the beach.  It is perfect for extending the life of her iphone.  I am just pleased that I could help.

In the here and now, I am wrapping up this post so that I can continue my plans for another awesome winter on this beautiful Island of Crete.  I continue to live my life to the full… It brims over with all the things I love doing and I am never ever bored.  What a wonderful life!

 

A Wonderful Two Weeks Packed With Fun & Laughter

My daughter Emma and grandchildren, Ralph and Neve arrived for their two week holiday with me here on Beautiful Crete.  The children were so excited that we went straight from the airport to the poolside at the Almyrida Beach Resort.  We had to literally drag Ralph and Neve out of the water in order to grab a late poolside lunch there! Continue reading

Hottest Summer on Record For Greece and the Islands!

Since my last post it has continued to remain extremely hot here on Crete.  Although other islands, including the mainland, have suffered even higher temperatures – Crete’s have hovered around the mid 30’s for what seems like forever!  It is officially the hottest summer on Greece’s meteorological records.  From my point of view, this being my 16th consecutive summer on Crete, I have certainly found it to be the most consistently hot one I’ve ever experienced.  It is, of course, absolutely fine if you are on holiday here, but it’s a different story when you have to live and work in it. Continue reading

A Hot Month For Temperatures & Sales

June turned out to be a very hot month with temperatures exceeding all records.  I usually set up my beach stall twice a week – weather permitting.  But during a heatwave, when the cooling breezes are just not there – I stay away!  In contrast I have recently missed another selling day because it was just too windy!  Yet despite only selling on 6 days, sales figures for June have been the highest since 2015 and I sold a total of 29 Seashell Mosaic Collage Paintings. Continue reading

Creating Special Memories With My Family in Spain and in Yorkshire

I had the best time in Spain with my siblings, Karen and Mark and Brother-in-law Mike.  We spent 8 days of pure quality time at Karen and Mike’s wonderful villa in Algorfa.  This really was a special time for all of us.  Karen and I used to holiday once a year with our sister Leonie and our Mum.  Sadly we lost both our sister and Mum in 2017 and 2019 respectively and so I have not had this kind of holiday since 2017. Continue reading

Spending Time with Visiting Friends and Making Some New Ones!

I am sitting comfortably on my balcony writing up this post and reflecting on these past weeks.  It’s the middle of October and it’s a gloriously sunny and warm day.   October appears to be making up for the disappointing weather we had in September, as it has been like this for most of the time so far.  During September I had 2 ‘no sales’ days because of the weather.  On one particular day I went down to set up my stall only to find the sea had flooded the centre of Almyrida!  Consequently and for various other reasons, September sales were as disappointing as the weather. Continue reading

August is Always a Good Month for Sales

We have been very lucky not to have experienced any further serious heatwaves since I last wrote in this blog.  I know other parts of Europe and particularly Spain, have suffered with very high temperatures during August.  For the most part though, I have been comfortable on my selling days at the edge of Almyrida beach and this is all due to the constant breezes coming off the sea. Continue reading

The New Norm – Learning to Cope With Frequent Heatwaves

We are in the middle of a heatwave being experienced all over Europe and other parts of the world.  It seems to be dragging on and on…  My heart goes out to all the people and wildlife affected by the wildfires raging across the Greek islands and other parts of the world.  Sadly this is going to be normal from now on, as the direct consequences of mankind’s total abuse of our planet and world governments’ refusal to do anything or make the necessary changes – despite knowing about climate change for many many years. Continue reading

An Old & Dear Family Friend Comes to Crete for a Visit

It’s no surprise that I had a really lovely time in the UK.  The first week of my two week visit  I stayed with Emma, Ash, Ralph and Neve in Thirsk, Yorkshire.  The weather was OK this time – better than last year with more sunshine and higher temperatures.  The weather I left behind in Crete was still very unsettled and unusual for the time of year.  So I was most pleased and surprised that for the duration of my two week visit, the sun shone for most days and we didn’t get any rain! Continue reading