Kalimera, kaliespera, yasou, yasas or wot?
Normal service has been resumed. After a weekend of rain, sometimes quite heavy, the sun was back on Monday morning when I got up at six. The sterna is now full of free water, the plants have had a watering, not that some of them wanted it, and most of the Sahara dust has been washed away from the roof and courtyard.
It’s back to normal in the harbour as well. I popped down and up yesterday to fetch the rent money and get my tickets for Rhodes. Another day another day-trip for me, this time for a check-up follow-up follow-up. I’m going to go on Tuesday afternoon to save the rush on Wednesday, potter about (perhaps have an Indian meal if the finances will stretch) and then have my appointment mid-morning on Wednesday and come back on the Blue Star in the afternoon, nice and leisurely like.
But, down in the harbour. Work has started to clear the customs house building that went up in flames last week, and the flag is still flying high above it, as it did throughout the fire – very Greek spirited of it I thought. I’m not sure what the rebuild timeline might be, time will tell, but there was a group of workers there working hard as I passed. It was one of those mornings of saying ‘Kalimera’ to everyone; on the steps going down, around the harbour (the new bar staff in certain places have finally realised I am not going away, I’m not a day-tripper and don’t need the ‘please come in’ dialogue). Around to the bank, and passing Takis’ leather shop (six kalimeras needed there to greet all his staff) and up and down the other side of the harbour.
We’re often asked what the greeting should be, kalimera, yasou, yasa, ti kanite, mia xara, ya, kali-something else, and I usually apply the rule that, if it’s the first time I’ve seen someone then it’s kalimera (good day), second time it’s a yasou (or yasas deepening on whether the situation is singular and friendly or plural and polite, higher status or not). I reserve kalispera for after siesta time, kalinixta for on the way home at night, kali messimeri for specifically wishing someone a good lunchtime period, kali doulia for wishing them good work, and so on. I was getting quite pleased with myself and my kali-mera-ing when I noticed that some people got to me first with a yasou, which rather threw the cat among the pigeons of my greetings plan. Thinking maybe it was because the time was moving on towards midday, to the next person I saw I said Yasou! And they replied with kalimera. It’s all very confusing. I think, just say whatever comes out; ya, is a common one (hi), but not to the mayor or a priest. Actually, I think I know the mayor well enough know to greet him with a ‘watcha me old cock,’ though it might confuse him, and some of the priests are content just to slap you on the back and laugh for some unexplained reason.
So, leaving you with all that to ponder, I shall say kalimera (adjust it to your own time of day depending on when you are reading this) and have a quick check over what I have just written to make sure I’ve left some typos in for you – kali-typo! – and head off into the rest of the day. You should find a blog here tomorrow, but maybe not on Thursday, depending on what time I get back from Rhodes and whether I feel like writing something or not. Whatever you are doing, have a kali day.
