Sometimes guests have asked me, looking at the seemingly endless days of sunshine, if I don’t ‘miss the seasons’. Actually, there is much more variation through the year here than most people experience at home.
Firstly the weather. I won’t go into it much (I seem to mention it a lot!) but the summer sunshine definitely does NOT last all year round. The two worst months of January and February are out of the way and as usual I was amazed that as soon as we get into March, spring is in the air and the sun seems to be warmer. Still, there is some rain and it poured down so hard while I was at the market on Sunday that everyone was marooned under the canopies. These are not, however, are guarantee of staying dry since the water builds up on top of them until it reaches some crucial point and then empties itself in a bucket load – splat – not good if you are standing under that point!
With the spring weather, the whole world seems to come alive again. The Poppy tortoises were out the other day – three of them, still covered in dirt (they dig themselves underground to hibernate), playing chase round the garden with a view to making up for lost time! Soon the martins will be here again – their fourteenth year – to raise more babies and leave their messages all down the front wall (and on Kenny’s window sill!)
A trip to the market also reminds you what time of year it is as many things are seasonal. At the moment oranges are plentiful and cheap, but strawberries will be around soon and then the wonderful cherries. Even some fish are seasonal so ‘hamsi’ (sardines), which are very popular here, are only good for a few months in winter and you must have those from the Black Sea as they are (apparently) the best.
But the biggest difference, or course, is due to tourism. Through the winter everywhere is quiet and I can walk the dog on the beach and not pass another person. Soon, the beach will be full of sunbeds, umbrellas and frying bodies.
As we count the weeks until the season opens, many businesses have started repairs and improvements; builders are racing to get houses finished before the building ban comes into effect and everyone is getting ready for some hard work (and looking forward to earning money again). We also all start talking about what sort of a season it will be, and how things like the price of fuel and unrest in Egypt will affect bookings.
I have this to say… we have never before had so many reservations at this time of year. So, barring any more volcanic clouds or bankrupt tour operators, fingers crossed it is going to be a good year.
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| waves at the beach last week |
