Almost grounded

Friday 24th  June Hora/Livadi 

Slept a bit better last night, I did hear a cockerel this morning, but I was not woken by it, so I won’t be trying to find it… As I was not still  feeling brilliant I decided I should go down to Livadi and see a pharmacist.  My problem on getting the bus, was the smallest denominator Euro I had was fifty! There are no banks up here in Hora, in any case when I have tried to get change from them before, if you don’t bank with them, they won’t give you change. I could not see the bus driver being very happy about that, given the fare is only 1.80. So given it was windy I decided to walk down, it’s only thirty minutes. Once there I could spend a fifty euro note and get some change.

This is one of the churches on route down the steps. As I walked down, you can see Livadi and the Sea Jet was rumbling in again. As it gets close to the port it sets of its horn to warn people it’s arriving and when it’s going to leave it does the same. While on the path there was this horde of huge ants carting a load of things away, I think there was a grubs. It was happening on an industrial scale! 


This is one of the cactus that grows wild on the island. Last time I was here, they were just starting to get ready to flower, the flowers are now in profusion. The last bit of the walk isn’t that nice as it’s on the side of a road which isn’t too busy. You also get to walk past the power station. 

I first had a look in the shops for vegetables to make my Spanish omelette a bit more exciting and also for a sort of curry I am going to make later on. Given Livadi is probably the biggest town on the island, the selection of vegetables here is a bit limited. But I think we are spoiled in the UK. But maybe I could grown my own next year. Talking of which I went into what we might call a garden centre in the UK but here, it’s a very small affair. I had a chat with the owner, I think she lost interest when I said this would be for next year. She had some Basil plants, I kid you not the leaves were very big. The plants looked very healthy. She has a cat guarding the till.


I then went into the pharmacy, on the door was a poster illustrating the medical emergency number ( I know where the Medical Centre is, but it’s not a hospital, there are no A and E services there) so that goes onto my photo folder of useful Greek stuff. The lady was very helpful, I forgot my mask, in the UK they might  charge you for one, but she just took one out. She sold me some Panadol and this amazing cream that made my after sun cream feel like I was using mayonnaise as it seemed so useless. This stuff brought me instant relief. I bet she sells gallons of the stuff to Brits. She told me to drink lots of water. I then had my usual lunch at my favourite bakers on the front, the sparrows enjoying the flaky pastry crumbs that fall onto the ground. I then walked to catch the bus, armed with two two Euros coins. 

There were two English couples on the bus by me, and we had a nice chat about the islands, Milos a disappointment, Sifnos lovely, and I gave them a bit of information about the Horas, which I hoped would be useful. I got back to the house, unpacked my stuff and applied the magic cream. So by the afternoon I was feeling a bit better, I think I will take things easy for another few days and keep myself covered up! I did walk past my car hire friend’s garage but he was dealing with a load of people who had just got off the Sea Jet, I will send him an email. I might hire a car for a few days next week. 

A bit of sad news, while Hazel was walking Ronnie home yesterday a dog ran out of its house and attacked Ronnie. Hazel only being a petite lady probably felt she could not do anything except shout out to the owner to get his dog off Ronnie. It wasn’t on a lead of course. Ronnie went to the vets and did have two bite marks that have had to be stitched and he was given a general. I am sure we all wish him a speedy recovery. 


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