Introduction
So I’ve been here for a while. But writing is not much for me. And certainly don’t expect any extensive factual interpretations from me. Rather, a few lines of colors and impressions.
Spring Crete
It is interesting to see Spring Crete. The green color that you can’t miss here in the summer! And there are still a lot of flowers blooming here. On our property, specifically Cretan cistus (a wonderful medicinal plant) and Roman chamomile, sage, and many other plants that I do not know yet. However, I didn’t have time for the orchids; they were out of bloom.
We live in a temporary luxury punk room under the house’s foundations. The conditions for my arrival became a reality – a bed and a work desk made of wood by Vítek – the two PhDs in sociology sometimes come in handy (sarcasm :)). Also, a sufficient supply of electricity, internet from Starlink, and a new 32-inch monitor that pretends to be smarter than me.
I was greeted by not-quite-typical weather for the end of April and the beginning of May. Rain, high wind, even a thunderstorm. One day, it was even warmer in the Czech Republic than here. It was extreme. At this time, it is usually already warm, and the tourist season begins. And hardy people venture into the sea even without a wetsuit.
Little bits of everyday life…
You can shop, for example, at the market (in smaller towns it usually takes place once a week, you get mainly vegetables and fruit there). It was a bit challenging for me – a lot of noise, a lot of people.
Another possibility of purchase is in smaller shops, either specialized according to the assortment or small convenience stores. Or in a larger supermarket. We prefer to go to the Greek chain, where you can find more local and quality products. I was surprised when I visited the local LIDL – I had no idea that it was the cheapest place to shop.
A few specifics: In general, milk and milk products are more expensive here than here. About enough. In Crete, they probably don’t have cows (I haven’t verified), only goats and sheep. On the other hand, here you can buy excellent sheep’s and goat’s cheeses of all possible consistencies in excellent quality and at a nice price.
The meat counter in supermarkets is a strange phenomenon: there is usually a nice guy standing there who is happy to serve the customer and smiling. When he’s not serving customers, he’s sharpening a giant knife. Just by chance, the pork neck is more expensive here than the cutlet. And the belly is even more expensive than the neck.
Zucchini babies are already being born…
The fruit and veg section gives me a little trouble. You have paper or plastic bags available, into which you put the goods, and the lady at the scales will weigh them for you and stick a price tag on the bag. (And he’ll thank you for it.) Something like the N-EKO-necessary bag hasn’t arrived here yet. And sticking a price tag on a bunch of bananas or a cucumber, as I was used to doing in the Czech Republic in a hypermarket, doesn’t work here. Even if you hand the lady a bunch of bananas, she’ll shove them into your bag and put a sticker on the bag. I bought this onion in a net and forgot that I still have to have it weighed. At the checkout, the cashier apologized that I had to wait a while, shoved the onion net into the bag, and went to weigh it. I then apologized that I had forgotten about it, but she laughed a lot, that it didn’t matter at all, and wished me a nice day. :-O
There is a bit of a problem with the bread. Here you will find a whole shelf full of different toasted sandwiches. In some shops, something similar to a classic loaf, but instead made of light flour. So, the plan for the future is clear. Learn to bake your sourdough bread when the conditions are right.
Communication in other stores is also a unique phenomenon. Fifty percent of the time, the salesperson greets you as if you’ve known each other since childhood and laughs at you. When he sees you fumbling, he’ll offer to help. And the rule seems to apply here: the younger, the better the English. Some struggle a bit, but the younger ones speak perfectly. Well, better than me.
Dirty rain
On another point. What is unusual for us is that “it will rain” does not apply here. If you have something dirty outside and expect the rain to wash off, you’re in for a surprise. Does not wash. On the contrary, it will be even more polluted. And if you hang washed white clothes outside, you certainly don’t want them to get wet. For example, I am attaching a detail of the car after the rain.
The reason is that the rain brings sand with it from Africa.
Conclusion
More bits and pieces again sometime next time. Feel free to write me what exactly you would be interested in.
As I prefer to express myself with colors and shapes, I will instead focus on graphic and photographic concepts. You can follow our Instagram profile, where I will try to post impressions more often than here. Have a great time where you are.
