In Ierapetra they have a bigger one. Last time I was there - when buying 4 stamps at the post office what took me one hour - they were preparing a small Christmas market around on the square.
Today I ate a real Cretan dish. Bread first soaked in water, for so soaking it in fresh pressed organic olive oil (which had a green colour!, not yellow like in our European shops), with tomatoes and pepper and salt on top. Very nice.----- But nine hours later the oil with the rest came out. So I am having a busy night now. So be carefull if you are offered bread soaked in olive oil. Only eat one or two bites, when you are not used to it.
In Tertsa there is only one kafenion (cafe) open during the winter, as well as the only mini market. In this kafenion everybody who like to meet people goes there for a talk and one or more Greek coffees, internet, or one or more glasses of wine. The wine is always served with some free food, like in Spain. I made some friends here. One will be going with me to the tax office to fill out all the papers for a Greek tax number on January 2 in Ierapetra. This number you need when you want to buy some land, or a house, or a car or motorcycle. As soon as you have this number you are obliged to fill out a tax form from the year after. For that you need an accountant, also when you did not buy anything or have no money in Greece.
You probably remember that I have been looking for a place under the sun, especially during winter, for a long time. I searched whole Asia, but no that is not the place where you will easily integrate. But here in Greece I feel welcome. And in Tertsa (not Myrtos) I feel welcome and helped as well. Strange was to hear that in Myrtos the Greeks do not want to help each other. It feels like they want the income from foreigners etc. only for them selves, not others. But maybe that is because they are people with little money?
Today the other friend, a Greek, showed me some lots and houses for sale here together with the first friend from Austria, who translates for me. Knowing a Greek is more knowledge then reading the newspaper here! He even new two caravans, as well as firing wood for sale. Because in case I buy some land, I would like to live on it for some time - in a caravan - for so to find out where to build a one floor house on it. Two of the lots we saw, were only separated from the beach by a small road. You can guess that now I am fantasising about going to swim in the morning after getting up... in my bathrobe. That would be good for my skin, salt water. But I never wanted to have the beach on my door step before. Maybe because that seemed impossible?
Tomorrow I will go back to one of the lots for just to walk and sit on it for several hours. To feel the atmosphere. To see possibilities. A pity is that the 3 neighbors have their houses hidden behind a high fench. Probably people of one family, but it does not look very inviting. Maybe the Austrian friend takes me to another lot tomorrow as well; close to her house, up the mountain, just outside Tertsa, with morning sun. Sun in the morning is important for me. A lot easier to become active.
On Christmas Eve there is a music festival in Sygologos - which has nothing to do with Psychologos - with Cretan music and Greek dance. It is on the square and it starts at 21.00 until the early hours. For me a bit late, but I would love to see it.
Merry Christmas everyone!
