Greece observations

An isolated St Barbara's church. Dating back to 1600, the icons inside were stolen in 1993 by the Italian mafia.


traffic jam on the F3 - goats on the way to the beach.


Traffic jam on the M4 - outside our hotel



Kittens in a butcher shop

if you come to Greece ...

When you go to the toilet the toilet paper you use does not get put into the toilet but into a foot operated bin nearby. In some restaurants the toilets were out of action as some 'stupido' tourist put the paper down.

At the restaurant expect to stay for a while, service is excellent but they never hurry you along, especially at the end. You can just sit and sit. Ask for the bill and instead ...

... they bring something extra at the end, a carafe of wine, a tumbler of ouzo each, more dessert, sweet liquor... all for free.


A few pebbles on the beach, ouch.

Forget about ordering a cappuccino or a Flat White, Frappe is THE coffee drink of choice. It is an iced nescafe coffee. It comes with a straw and the locals take about an hour to drink it. when you drink , squeeze the straw.

Smoking is banned but hell this is Greece and there are plenty of smokers - everywhere. In offices, in kitchens, on buses, on motorcycles. Ashtrays everywhere, but none on motorcycles.

Motorcycle helmets are compulsory but hell this is Greece so no one wears them ... except for tourists. When I hired my scooter the owner said that tourists are the only people who will be fined for not wearing them.

Motorcycles can carry as many people as will fit, so far the most I have seen is four – father 2 kids in the middle and mum at the back. Kids stand on the handlebars as grandpa picks them up from school, to take them home for lunch.

Park anywhere you like – even in the middle of the road where there is not enough space for anyone to pass. The parking police don't issue tickets but blow a whistle, which tells you to get out of the shop and move it.

Backgammon is all the go. Coffee shops have a few sets on hand.


Glisteri Beach, Sunday morning slow