Heat and tips
Another early walk yesterday before it was too warm. I saw the usual sights on my way up and down the hill and used the same route as normal, but apparently, I did 20 fewer steps but the same mileage as the day before. First, I passed Lefteris at the kafeneion in the square, he is always there early setting up. Later, the ladies going to and from the cemetery to tend family graves and keep them tidy and remembered, and then, a little earlier than of late, the soldiers coming up the hill in their various vehicles. We recognise each other now, and so nods of acknowledgement are included in the routine. The usual wave to the dustbin lorry which spends all hours of the day travelling up and down the mountain, and finally, my wicker chair at my destination overlooking the village and the sea.
On the way down, there were waves to/from the farmers and workmen heading up, and the gathering of day-workers at Campos whose number varies by the day and time. Through the village for a kali mera to the baker and Nikitas at the kiosk, a pack of water from Maria, just opening the corner shop, and back home. Neil was also out walking, though he went down and then up, taking in Yialos and coming back via the main road.
The temperature as I left at 6.30 was 28 degrees, and I fully expect it to climb to 36 again later in the day. I hear a heatwave is coming to Europe, though we are used to high temperatures here in the summer. The advice is always the same: Lots of water, cover up, wear a hat, stay out of the sun, or at least don’t sit and lie in it for long periods of time, add a thing called Almora to a glass of water once a day, or other electrolytes, eat properly and try to resist saying, ‘It’s hot isn’t it?’ and other clichés. We don’t use the air-conditioning in our house, we prefer to have the windows open and a couple of fans going. There’s a plug-in anti-mosquito thing in the bedroom, and also some after-cream in case of bites which, in this heat, are rarer than when it’s cooler and humid. Here’s a tip; we use haemorrhoid cream for bites, one with antiseptic in it. I know, it makes people either laugh or embarrassed when I tell them, but who cares? It works within a few seconds to take away the itch, and within an hour or so, the red swelling has gone down. There, I will leave you with that top tip and get back to whatever I was doing.
