"Pandemic" is almost an anagram of "Medicane"!

 

... and they have both had a dramatic effect on late September!

With so few tourists and some "interesting" weather the beach daffodils have thrived. 

The build-up to medicane Ianos was dramatic! Through Thursday and Friday the sea became increasingly rough and far-reaching on the sand. There was wind, too, so walking to the cantina was a bit of a struggle, but Greyrocks did so, and speculated with others as to whether sandbags would be needed. Several websites showed live satellite images and the projected path, so many phones were the focus for animated discussions in bars throughout the village. We ate early on Friday and with an eye on potential cover, but the rain didn't happen, and we passed the time until curfew in the traditional manner with old friends at Cosmogonia!

There's something in the air!

The inevitable happened at 9.50 next morning! The thunder and torrential rain started. Later in the morning there was a pause, and Bob went to inspect. Already one of our access lanes was impassable. Bob met a neighbour who suggested the dry window would only comprise half an hour. He was right and we missed it, so we could not venture out until another couple hours of the storm (now with lightning) had passed. We waded to the only viable taverna for a late lunch as we feared the evening option was dodgy! This was Veggera - a place we have eschewed since it first opened following an unpleasant stifado and poor service! In these special circumstances, however, it was perfect! It was almost empty and had a solid roof! We had a couple of light dishes and stayed after the rain resumed! For a one minute view of the conditions click here!

In a another brief pause we made it home to hunker down with Netflix, then for the evening sought places with space and cover, Monika's Garden had its indoor area open, and the Vakakis Bakery was very full - mostly with locals - but did some good crepes.  As the evening progressed the view through the screens was dramatic! Well before the curfew there was another respite sufficient for the wade home!

The next day there was no rain, but it was too windy for the beach. When we did go there the day after the whole topography had changed - with yet more plates of rock exposed in some places, but an easy sea entry at our usual spot. There has also been damage to many of the parasols.

It hasn't been the best September metrologically, with the weather station statistics showing that on precisely half the days there was a gust of over 50 km/hr and an average over 15 km/h.  The month ends with another run of days with high winds and sea too frisky for Greyrocks.

The main beach at midday!

Nonetheless - and in spite of travel restrictions and multiple fears - there are still plenty of sunseekers on the naturist beach, with regular German and Scandinavian child-free visitors coming at this much later date, and -as usual - the favourite restaurants doing well. Our long-standing circle evaporated yesterday, and we have been working on our own exit strategy - with a solution found and secured only yesterday - but more of that later:- we still have ten days!

The expiry date for the midnight curfew rules for restaurants and bars came and they were extended into October. We are living with them, and are probably fitter and richer for them! It is all much clearer than the hotchpotch in England, but it is seen as "unfair" when our prefecture has had no new cases for over a week, and neighbouring Rethymnon has regular figured on the list with one or more! As for Crete as a whole being on UK's "quarantine list" with its consequences for tourism it looks as if the rest of Greece may join it there very soon as national data breaches the British criteria. 

Greyrocks is exceptionally pleased to have been able to spend the summer here!