Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Signs of Easter
Easter is round the corner and there's evidence of it all around.
Easter candles are on sale. Kids will take these to church for the Resurrection sevice on Saturday night.
There's an abundance of special cakes in the cake shops. Many people give up dairy products for Lent, so can only eat sweets made without milk or butter. Syrup sweets made with nuts, filo and sugar, are commonly consumed during this period.
And for those not fasting, there are chocolate bunnies and chickens on a stick!
What does Easter look like where you are?
Easter candles are on sale. Kids will take these to church for the Resurrection sevice on Saturday night.
There's an abundance of special cakes in the cake shops. Many people give up dairy products for Lent, so can only eat sweets made without milk or butter. Syrup sweets made with nuts, filo and sugar, are commonly consumed during this period.
And for those not fasting, there are chocolate bunnies and chickens on a stick!
What does Easter look like where you are?
Thursday, March 25, 2010
You wore what?
Today is a major Greek national celebration, a day commemorating the start of the war for independence back in 1821, following 400 years of Ottoman occupation. It is traditionally celebrated with student and army parades throughout the country. The biggest military parade takes place in the centre of Athens and usually involves tanks and other army vehicles. This year the parade was rather less elaborate, as befits a country in serious financial trouble, and lasted just 45 short minutes.
Even so, thousands of people turned up bright and early to watch the good men and women of the armed forces marching through town. As a result, those of us who enjoy a lie-in (ahem) had to put up with other people's heads in our line of sight as well as (sigh!) in our photos. Still, I thought you might like to see some of my pics, so here is a small selection:
This is the Presidential Guard, dressed in national costume which includes a pleated mini skirt, an embroidered waistcoat, red fez, tights and shoes with pom poms.
These guys carried their guns AND their ski gear. James Bond, eat your heart out!
The Underwater Demolition Team came ready for a dive in the deep sea - some of them even brought their flippers.
As it was 23°C (73°F) by midday, I wasn't sure who to feel sorrier for, the skiers or the divers! I had long trousers and a T-shirt on, spent most of the time in partial shade and still wished I'd sacrificed fashion for comfort and put shorts on. But I'm not complaining. It's nice to have a bit of summer in the middle of spring, and I know from experience that marching in the sunshine is much more pleasant than marching in the pouring rain.
Even so, thousands of people turned up bright and early to watch the good men and women of the armed forces marching through town. As a result, those of us who enjoy a lie-in (ahem) had to put up with other people's heads in our line of sight as well as (sigh!) in our photos. Still, I thought you might like to see some of my pics, so here is a small selection:
This is the Presidential Guard, dressed in national costume which includes a pleated mini skirt, an embroidered waistcoat, red fez, tights and shoes with pom poms.
These guys carried their guns AND their ski gear. James Bond, eat your heart out!
The Underwater Demolition Team came ready for a dive in the deep sea - some of them even brought their flippers.
As it was 23°C (73°F) by midday, I wasn't sure who to feel sorrier for, the skiers or the divers! I had long trousers and a T-shirt on, spent most of the time in partial shade and still wished I'd sacrificed fashion for comfort and put shorts on. But I'm not complaining. It's nice to have a bit of summer in the middle of spring, and I know from experience that marching in the sunshine is much more pleasant than marching in the pouring rain.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Wordless Wednesday 85
It seems I spoke too soon.
I didn't have any pictures this morning, but then I went to the bakery for a (very late) breakfast cheese pie and saw that they'd decorated their breads and cakes with Greek flags. Tomorrow is a major religious and national holiday so flags are the order of the day, but I'd never seen any on bread before! Needless to say, I had to return with my camera to take a photo.
There we are: Wordless Wednesday isn't pictureless any more. Or wordless for that matter. Hee hee.
Pictureless Wednesday
How can it be Wednesday again?!! Forget wordless, I'm speechless - and pictureless to boot.
Time is moving way too fast for my liking.
Time is moving way too fast for my liking.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Happy birthday, bro!
My brother knows I've remembered his birthday this year, because I called him yesterday. This is a reminder for me to remember to call him today too. Apparently a call in advance of the actual day doesn't count. Hmphhh!
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