Hotting up
It really is unseasonably warm at the moment, I certainly don’t remember last May being quite so hot. Last night we did have a spot of rain which will have helped the plants, although they were looking a bit worse for wear again this morning.
Yesterday we went to Panormos to meet up with Olga who Sean works for in Volos. Being Greek, and therefore impervious to the heat, Olga was sunbathing in the full glare of the sun whilst Sean and I sat outside Bar Blo in the shade. Junior didn’t want to sit in the shade once she’d seen Olga and one of her friends from school who was playing in the sea. Junior, being junior and 5 years old, turned on the tears until Sean had to drive home and get junior’s swimsuit so that she could play in the sea as well. I’ve never been a beach person, the idea of sitting in direct sunlight whilst your skin burns and turns red has never appealed to me funnily enough. Unfortunately junior does enjoy beaches, and not just in the winter which is the time I like to sit on them, but all year round. Sean has promised to start taking her swimming in the early evenings at Glyfoneri which is the beach nearest to our house. I want her to swim and enjoy doing it but I just don’t like her being exposed to the full force of the sun even if she is smothered in high factor suncream. The plus side of her afternoon at Panormos was that she slept like a log last night and didn’t wake me in the early hours by climbing in to my bed!
For my birthday I decided that I’d like to go to Agios Ioannis (where they filmed the wedding in Mamma Mia) and climb to the chapel at the top. The first time I went there, junior was 9 months’ old, it was scorching hot and Sean said he’d carry her to the top but I wouldn’t let him because she was quite a chunky little pudding and I didn’t think he’d be able to make it. Subsequent visits have been to take pictures, paddle in the sea or have a picnic but not to climb to the top. I’ve heard people say that it’s really steep and there are so many steps that it really wears you out. Well, we went when it was rather warm and we all manged to get to the top quite easily without getting out of breath including junior who didn’t need any help at all. Just goes to show that you shouldn’t believe everything you’re told. Here are a couple of pictures, one of the view from the top of the road running down and the other of junior contemplating descending the steps.
Getting down was a bit more difficult for Junior with the steps being very narrow and uneven so Sean carried her, much to her relief. We then went on to Loutraki and had a drink at ‘BarKa’ which is a new cafe bar on the front which has been opened by the people who have Agnanti in Glossa. Unfortunately there was nothing there for a vegan to eat so after a quick drink and junior chatting to a large tour group of Dutch people, we set off for Skopelos and had a late lunch in Nostos (so that junior could have her spaghetti and pesto). A very agreeable birthday. It’s Sean’s birthday in a few weeks’ but he doesn’t set much store by them and I have to remind him how old he is – he normally adds on a year or two – can you image a woman doing that?? I usually refuse to tell or knock a couple of years’ off!!
Sean’s parents are arriving on Friday for a week’s holiday much to junior’s delight and excitement. She’s been nagging her Nana to visit since we moved over here and has finally got her way so that should keep her busy next week.
