Slow build up to Summer...

View from Elena's in Geni

 We have been avidly keeping up to date with Mark and Maureen's progress now that they are settled into the rehabilitation unit at Pinderfields hospital in Wakefield.  It's really heartening to hear that things are progressing so fast and so well for Mark and although we do understand that it's an uphill struggle and small triumphs are really hard fought for, it's a testament to both of them that the will and strength of character is big and bountiful in both.  Keep it up guys we're still all rooting for you.

While Sandra was in England Jez and Deb took me to a little restaurant in Geni near Vliho which I found really charming and resolved at the time to take Sandra and her dad there when they got back.  With this in mind we went the other night and had a super meal in great surroundings and at the right price.  I can heartily recommend "Elena's" at Geni to any people who either live out here or are thinking of coming at some point for a holiday. 

Geoff savouring the Greek delicacies.

Sandra sheltering from the sun Amvraticus wetlands.

 On Monday we decided to have a day out on the mainland and take Geoff around the wetlands which is a national park area to the north of the Amvraticus gulf.  Many permanent and migratory birds take up residence in this area every year plus loads of other wildlife.  If you are lucky you will see Flamingoes and Pelicans in addition to the more common Egrets etc.

We also managed to see a huge tortoise on the unmade road which runs nearly to Arta down the Gulf side, it must have been ancient if the size was anything to go by.  I think Geoff was really impressed by what he saw but was much less impressed by the large insects which live in that part of the world especially some huge flies a little like horse flies, they looked like they may do you a mortal injury!  There are millions of different plant species here so a fantastic place to visit should you be interested in natural history.

The Amvraticus wetlands

Onward from there and a little shopping in Arta as we always seem to do if we are in the area, got filled with Diesel at mainland prices €1.435 as against €1.493 the cheapest on the island although you can pay up €1.58 at some garages here.  I really don't know how there can be a 15 cents per litre difference.  After the shopping we went on to have a ride around Λιμνι Ζηρου ((Lake Zero)Greek Spelling for Jez) via Fillipiada.  This is the area where the local Greek population hid all their children from the German troops in the second world war and it was later made into an orphanage to accommodate the hundreds of children who's parents were killed or displaced.

Cacti just coming into flower

We called into see all our old friends in the village of Assos while we were in the area and as usual those we managed to see were delighted that we had taken the time to come and visit them, they were also over the moon that Geoff was with us as they had not seen him since last September and always ask after him whenever we return there.  So after a couple of hours chewing the cud in our very best Greekish we left for an evening meal at the Mythos Taverna on the town quay in Preveza before going home to dear old Vournikas.

Geoff admiring the wild flowers and looking for seeds.

This week the weather has been changeable and although pleasantly warm, in fact a little hot on occasions we have had some rain, it's almost as though the weather gods don't really want to move into summer mode just yet.  Sandra has managed a couple of swims in the pool but I'm not quite that brave just yet, I put it down to her having more insulation than I have, I may just get battered for that one!  We went out last night for a meal with Kev and Linda to Festino's in Lefkas town, I do like their steaks, and had to take the car from the marina to the restaurant as it was absolutely throwing it down with rain but it didn't dampen our night out we had a really good get together with Kev & Linda who we don't seem to have seen much of lately, thanks guys.

Just had a walk around the village this afternoon to perhaps take a few photo's of the wild flowers but as usual a took about three photo's and the camera ran out of battery power, I must remember to charge the bloody things more often.  Anyway it gave Geoff a chance to gather even more seed and plants in order to take back to the UK to create his own Mediterranean idyll.