Reindeer and Sunset

Here is one of those amazingly funny but accidental photographs to end our Saturday. We have laughed loudly and hope that you do too!

Have you spotted Dave's likeness to Rudolph with the antlers?

Cannot let the opportunity for a sunset pic to pass, so ... here it is!!

 Kalinichta pals. 

Potions and Lotions

Here we are with nothing of any earth shattering significance to report. The big storm, forecast to hit on Friday, with waves that we're going to swamp the van, never materialised. There have been earthquake tremors, but we missed them and the sun continues to rise with regularity over the headland. The weekly tourists arrive white and return home brown, and the locals are now familiar with the two lady pensioners on electric bikes, who address everyone with cheerful " Kalimeras" as they zip up the road to the bakery.
So for this blog I will have to rely on Sue  (who missed the Hunter Gatherer era in history ) for the subject of today's blog.
Sue considers herself to be a forager, with a latent desire to be a herbalist, although with pestle and mortar in hand , she appears to be an alchemist in the making!!

In her nightie, she can be found collecting flowers and leaves from the hedgerows, which are then brought back to the van to be identified, using a library of books which she secretly stashed in one of her lockers. For Sue, weight has never been an issue to bear in mind when travelling!!

We have vine leaves drying in a colander and

bags of processed leaves lurking in any available storage space. These were found under the bed!!

Look at the top shelf of the fridge door........

These are some of the potions and lotions that were prepared earlier. Garlic for warts, celery for joints, calendula for sunburn, citronella for keeping 

the mossies at bay and cloves for teeth and gums.

Who needs an air freshener in the confines of our small camper, when it can naturally smell like an apothecary's storeroom!!

Bike ride in the countryside

Warm, but overcast today so a little gentle exercise on our battery bikes.
Sue peddled but I had the thrill of 5mph, the wind in my hair and memories of a young, hippy girl on a Vespa! The joys of an electric bike.
After so many coastal views, here are some pics of the surrounding landscape.

An old stone wall, almost disguised by grasses and wild flowers.

Oleanders grow like weeds and can be found everywhere. In gardens, at the beach and in motorway central reservations.

The small church just up the lane from Dave's house.

Ancient olive trees, dripping with signs of the fruits to come.

These cracks are the result of an earthquake!! Not felt any tremors since we have been here, thank goodness. Apparently you can see the tarmac ripple!

We have been enjoying Sue's home made lemonade. One swallow in a morning and the body gets a jump start and you are wide awake.

Back to the van and a beautiful rainbow greeted us. It began on Kefalonia and ended on Zakynthos.

It's hot in paradise.

Awoke to the morning su cooking me through the long window in the sliding door, so opened the slider and let the warm breeze and sound of the waves waft into my bedroom.. What could be more pleasant than being propped up in bed, reading the recently downloaded Sunday Telegraph on the Kindle and looking at this view?

So, what has been happening in our Greek Paradise ?

Well Sue had to be left as a hostage at Memes bar, whilst I nipped back to the van because we hadn't thought to bring any money to pay for our snack. Held to ransom by a toastie.

We are a constant source of information for passers by who want to pause in the shade of our awning and chat about routes, travelling and motorhomes. Those we really take to heart get a glass of wine and a chair!! Also, our first aid kit has been available for those who stumble on the rocks and require plasters and TLC / TCP.

David has called every other day to collect the toilet cassette, a pile of dirty washing and us of course.

So really we are wild camping with " frills and benefits " ....... especially the opportunity for a real shower. There's only so much you can do with a wet wipe!!

A couple of shots to show you Dave and Ellen's home. Can you spot their two lovely pooches?

Though we have yet to see it, there is a turtle in the harbour, kittens under a boat trailer, a poorly seagull with a damaged wing ( that we are now feeding ), and house martins swooping low over the water having an insect fest. Despite the cold sea, there are those tourists brave enough to venture into the water above their ankles - but not us !!!

Lemons are readily available from Dave and Ell's orchard and as I write, Sue is making lemonade. All this and a BBQ dinner. What a day, most of it spent at 37*C!! Phew -  Kalinichta pals.