Seasonal Phenomena

After several days of sunshine Greece is once again swaddled in heavy cloud and strong easterly winds are disrupting shipping. The sky is leaden and the harbour choppy. Large cold splats of rain are dotting the stone flags outside our office and the bougainvillea is flailing wildly in the gusts. Fortunately this spell of overcast weather is forecast to blow over quickly and the sky should be clear again tomorrow. Continued episodes of mud rain and sand storms are expected to continue, however, for the next few weeks. The Hellenic National Meteorological Office has been at pains to remind people that this is an entirely normal phenomenon for the time of year and various health officials have advised those with asthma and other respiratory problems to remain indoors to avoid dust-induced allergies.

Here on Symi preparations for the season continue unabated and every day more places are open for business. With Easter only a week away Symi’s shopkeepers are filling their shelves with Easter egg dye and foil-wrapped chocolate eggs. The annual Easter baking marathon is about to start and there is much tut-tutting about the exorbitant price of flour and dairy products in the supermarket queues. When traditional Easter koulouria and cheese pies are made by the kilo, 10-15% increases in the prices of basic ingredients have an enormous impact. The Greek television news programs are focussing on consumer surveys in the fresh produce and meat markets and costing out the rising price of the Easter Feast. Like the mud rains from Africa, this too is a seasonal phenomenon.

Here on Symi the lambs continue to munch the daisies, blithely unaware of the fate that awaits them next week. A short life, perhaps, but a happy one!

Have a good weekend.

Regards,
Adriana