Last Days before Christmas

This morning I took Lucy to the vet in Agios Nicolaos to get her worm and flea treatment which are necessary to be readmitted to Norway. The waiting room was much like any other vets waiting room with a corner devoted to quality dog food, and a place to for people to sit with their pooches and cats. There was one other little dog that desperately wanted to say hello to Lucy, but I made her sit quietly next to me and ignore him. 

Beach at Kalo Horio

When we got called into the consulting room, all likeness with Norwegian or American veterinarys offices ended. Lucy practically tripped over a cat on the way in. The cat didn't mind at all, and so Lucy didn't mind her. There was also a teeny, tiny puppy - 4 weeks old - that came waddling up to see who the newcomer was, and Lucy sniffed it's nose in a very civilized manner, which was surprising since she usually doesn't like puppies. The puppy seemed to belong to the dread-locked assistant, because he spent most of the time holding and cuddling it. The cat obviously belonged to the lady vet or visa versa, because when the vet lady sat down to stamp Lucy's passport and write out the bill before we left, she immediately the cat  jumped onto the desk to "help" with the paperwork. The vet pushed her down onto her lap where she stayed through the whole office part of the visit. 

Beach at Kalo Horio

Anyway, after saying "hello" to the puppy,  I had Lucy jump onto the table which then rose to working height. Here she had her temperature taken, her lungs and heart listened to, teeth inspected and ears cleaned by a strange lady who hugged and kissed her face as well (but didn't give cookies like Norwegian vets do) Still, though she looked uncomfortable, she took it all in stride, with no attempts at barking or snapping. Good girl! Though when the vet stuffed a large worm pill down her throat she refused to swallow it, though she didn't try to actively spit it out either. Neither holding her mouth shut, nor pinching her nose shut made her swallow. However when the vet just went a head with the flea treatment  which was some sort of drops at the back of her neck and on her back, Lucy forgot about being stubborn and swallowed the pill.

Too many waves to make Lucy swim, pluss the pebbles were uncomfortable to walk on.

Until today, I had been noticing that Christmas is a much more low key affair than in Norway. However today the Christmas frenzy seemed to have hit Agios Nicolaos. The traffic was outrageous, much worse than last week's market day (I learned later that they had the market today since Wednesday is Christmas Day. There were people all over: shopping, sitting at the sidewalk cafes. Groups of teenagers wearing Santa hats could be seen here and there. Obviously their Christmas vacation must have begun. And there was Christmas music blaring from loudspeakers all over the town! 

But there was this tree with a branch leaning out over the water...

When I got back to Kritsa it was just as quiet and laid back as ever. People were tending their gardens, their chickens, goats, sheep and working in their workshops etc. The only indication of Christmas coming up is the Christmas lights which have become more plentiful in the last few days. 

So I had Lucy walk out to the end and lie down over the waves.

This evening Hilary introduced me to some of her English friends. An couple in their 60's that live here permanently and their son and daughter-in-law who, like me, are here for Christmas. We had drinks and snacks at the son's house first, before going down to the taverna at the entrance to the village for meze. This is a whole new eating experience for me: lots of small dishes to share: there were really only a couple of mouthfuls of each dish for everyone, but we were full by the time we were done. I especially liked the garlic mash that came with salted cod. I wouldn't mind learning how to make that.