Happy New Year!!

Weather in Patras

 2 days ago the wind shifted from North, which is chilly, but has clear skies and sunshine, to West. Which is warm but brings a lot of clouds. It is raining today.

Dec 24, 2020: Patra

Christmas decorations at Platia St George

and a new Cruise Boat. It is here temporary. The one in the distance is here permanently.

Earthquake in Patras

This morning there was a light earthquake (magnitude 4.3 (ml/mb) near Rio, at 02.25am. I was awake just before it happened. All the dogs in neighborhood were barking.....

Merry Christmas & a happy New Year!!

 

Dec 13, 2020: Patras - Winter

2 weeks ago it got cloudy, with a lot of wind from the North.
Winter has come now: Friday evening complete gray sky and it rained, not hard, but steady for 36 hours.
It is colder in the house then outside. 

Today it is dry but with a lot of clouds and wind from the east. This morning, when I got on the train to go running from the second stop, I noticed a thin layer of snow covering the top of the mountains.

Corona Virus

In Local news:

Travelers returning to Greece from abroad will be placed in 10-day preventive quarantine, government spokesman Stelios Petsas said on Monday. The measure will be in effect from 18. December 2020 until 7. January 2021.

He stressed that the 10-day quarantine will be an additional measure to the Passenger Location Form (PLF) and the negative molecular Covid-19 test carried out 72 hours before arrival.

Travelers will also be subject to Rapid Tests upon entry.

Dec 04, 2020: Patra

This morning it rained from 06.00 till about 11.00. Grey skey. I went running in the rain. Later in the day it cleared up. Yesterday I took some pictures in Patra.

Fishing Boat in Patras

 This is the type of fishing boat I want to get...

Dec 01, 2020: Patra

 After my injuries (leg, side) the end of September, here a run on October 14

and the same run six weeks later, this morning.

The leg injury is healed, my side injury 97% healed. So, doing good....

No More Lockdown

Nov 21, 2020: Patra

In November olives are harvested in Greece. With chainsaws branches are cut from the olive trees and from the cut branches the olives are stripped. The bags way about 220 lbs each. Where I live, the garden has 20 olive trees, producing 11,000 pounds. 5-6 kg of olives are needed for 1 liter of olive oil. Olives trees are alternating high and low yields every year, this year is a low yield.

5 bags with 100 kg each, from 2 trees.

Hector and Bella, in the distance is Darius

Nov 19, 2020: Patra

 Here are some of the "free" fruit trees in my neighborhood.....

No 14, 2020: Patra

For the past week it has been windy and a bit colder early in the morning.
But, I still went swimming in the ocean yesterday. 

Orange trees everywhere on my way from the house to the beach, and whereever they hang over the sidewalk I gather them before they fall down on the ground.Free oranges and mandarines every day!

Alzheimer

Ballerina with severe alzheimer recalling dance movements

Nov 09, 2020: Patra

This morning was the first time that a cold wind (northeast) was blowing. But it warmed to 24 degrees Celsius by 11.00hr.
I walked from the second train stop to downtown.
Sailing boats

Motor Boats

Tow Boat

Nov 08, 2020: Patra

Yesterday I went running and afterwards shopping for food at the Farmer market in Patras.
I had texted the number+ my name+ address required for the Corona notification. 
It went through, but I did not get a text message back.  ( I used a Dutch phone number?)
So, I also put a pdf file on my phone with the same info. 
It was very quiet, (well, it was early), no conductor on the train back home.

This morning I went walking with Bella, the mother dog. 
Along the beach and then zigzag back to the house. A lot of fruit trees along the way...
Here the fruit of my labors

Grapefruit, 2 types of oranges, mandarins, another fruit (I cannot recall the name at the moment), in the back, from the Calabash tree and a giant lemon.

Corona Virus

 Greece is locked down until the end of November.

https://www.keeptalkinggreece.com/2020/11/05/greece-lockdown-sms-guide-what-open-travel/ 

Starting Nov 07, 2020

Leave Home per SMS, printed form or handwritten note
SMS are to be sent to <13033>. Normally a confirm sms comes back immediately.
For SMS, the scheme is: x [space]  NAME/SURNAME ADDRESS (x is the option number)

1. For health reasons (going to a pharmacy, visiting a doctor or going to a hospital or health center, if this is recommended after relevant communication). [SMS – Option 1
]2. For purchase of essential supplies, where delivery not possible. [SMS – Option 2]
3. Going to a public services, if the electronic or telephone service is not possible only for urgent needs, after setting an appointment for which the citizen is informed in writing or electronically and under the additional condition of showing the above information. Go to the bank, to the extent that electronic transaction is not possible. [SMS – Option 3]
4. Provide assistance to people in need. Transfer to/from the place of work of a spouse or first degree relative, if necessary. Transfer of a minor to/from school [SMS – Option 4]
5. Attend a ceremony (eg funeral) under the conditions provided by law or going to divorced parents or separated parents to ensure necessary communication between parents and children, in accordance with the provisions in force. [SMS – Option 5]
6. Physical exercise outdoors or walking with a pet, individually or in pairs of two  [SMS – Option 6]

 What is open

Essential stores such a supermarkets, food stores (bakeries, butchers etc) pet shops, kiosks (24 hours), fuel stations,dry cleaning, optics and stores for hearing devices.

• Retail shops per e-shop sale.
•  Allowed are all activities of the primary and secondary section.
• Health services and veterinarian clinics
• Restaurants, cafes and bars are closed but Delivery and Take Away are allowed
• Open Farmers’ markets (Laiki)

 Not allowed to operate 

• among others: cinemas, theaters, archaeological sites, 
• playgrounds, amusement and theme parks.

Travel 

between regional units is forbidden except for these reasons: health, once travel to reach permanent residence, essential work (refers to seasonal workers)

• As of Monday, Nov 9, all travelers from abroad will have to show a negative COVID-19 test. It refers to travel via air (Test 48 hours prior to arrival) or land (72 hours.)
• Also as of Nov 9, travelers who leave Greece will have to fill a Passenger Location Form.

Nov 05, 2020: Patras

 I have now settled into a routine: Go to bed between 21.30-22.00.
Get up around 06.00. Go on the internet to check email and news, and do a Greek lesson, in the basement, do laundry if necessary.
At 08.00 leave the house and take the train at 08.10 to the 2nd train stop,
where I get off and start walking (every third day running) towards the ocean.
Walk or run for 3 miles, go shopping (if necessary), take the train back home.
At 11.00 feed the dogs, leave them inside the pen, take a shower, relax and read (for now) in an easy chair on the terrace.
At 16.00 feed the dogs again and let them out the pen until tomorrow around 11.00.
In the evening I watch one of my shows/films on my hard drive collection.....
Roses from the garden!

Nov 01, 2020: Patras

 Yesterday was Nov 01: I went swimming in the ocean. We'll see if how far in November it is still possible...Achileas car broke down Friday evening (timing belt), it should be fixed today.

Oct 30, 2020: Patras

After the rain a couple of days ago, back to sunshine. Ira & Achileas are visiting from Athens, we went swimming today in the ocean......They are going back to Athens tomorrow.

Oct 28, 2020: Patra

 Today was the first rainy day since I arrived in Patra. 

I took the train to downtown and walked along the boardwalk.
Cat family waiting for nice man to feed them

Seagulls waiting for fish

The Port Patra

I went back home, by train. When I got out at the Kastellokampos stop, it was raining heavily.

Running in Patra: Route 3

 

Yesterday I started at the downtown Train Station and ran Southwest. First through the port and then on the boardwalk. At the new Port of Patras I turned around and headed back.

Oct 18, 2020: Patra

 I took the 08.10 train this morning to Patras. To the last stop. I took my DJI cameras with me. I walked back to to the train station and walked up 12 sets of 15 stairs to the castle.

Cat shelter

Boardwalk

Fshermen

Small fishing boat (ideal for me)

The Port

Agiou Nikolaou

Stairs to the Castle (12 sets of 15)

from the Stairs

The Castle