From Jan. 22, 2007 till next entry alkionídes méres The Halcyon Days, the happy period, started on Monday, Jan. 15. It has meant that the northern winds ceased, and gave way to the warm air coming from north Africa. Even some birds staying in Africa during winter are said to return to Crete when that happens. And we have seen groups of swallows against a cloudless, deep-blue sky! According to the ancient legend the kingfisher (alkyona) makes all this happen because it needs to calm the waters in order to lay her eggs in a floating nest. When these African airs are combined with the unusually rainless and warm period almost all through December and the first part of January, it is no wonder that we also see occasional butterflies fluttering around. But a great part of the above may also be sheer over-romanticism, because these weathers have been so enjoyable to us, winter-time visitors. Perhaps everything is a result of the global change in climate. At least it's true that the Cretan winter, with rains, should have started a long time ago. The farming Cretans are already worried. Nature reads the signs of spring too early. If the rains come much later when olive trees have already grown new buds, next harvest will be a poor one. Also the water resorvoirs, the snow on the mountains, are at a lower level than usually at this time of the year. But nature is also very strong - with enough power that just a few small plants can make a crack into a wall built by man. Perhaps there is a lesson for men to ponder... Jan. 23, 2007 Olle and Annaleena (residents of Mesi, near Rethymnon) visited us in the afternoon. They came with a 2-seater kayak on top of their Lada Niva 4x4 after enjoying paddling on the way on such a lovely day with calm waters in the sea. The new kayak was "baptised" today, and now bears a Greek name after the kingfisher! to those newlyweds. They were married just some weeks ago in Athens! And now they are going off to Cuba for a month on their honeymoon. A sob, a sigh, and quite a bit of honest envy. Cuba! Once again a most enjoyable afternoon and evening: dining, wining, talking... Jan. 24-25, 2007 Sweatworthy dayhours. Avocados from dear Nikos. Problems with central heating having an intolerable mind of its own. No way to shut it down. Long discussion with Valeria about this, but especially about many much more interesting matters. [ If you see only this frame, click here to see the complete diary ] |