Linda over on Poros was obscured by smoke yesterday as a fire raged behind Voula in the Athens southern suburbs and the dense dark grey smoke drifted eastwards across the Saronic Gulf. Firefighting aeroplanes and twin rotor helicopters chuntered across our view from the military airfield on our right, to the fire on our left.
No one in Voula was harmed (according to the news) but their eyes must have been watering and we bet they were scared. We would have been.
F swam out into the bay to see where the smoke was coming from. She asked me if I would let her paddle me out onto the water if we had to do it to survive. If she's that worried about fire then she needs to go out and buy me a life jacket.
I don't like water. I refuse to even drink the stuff (and it has not escaped my attention that F makes all my meals into soup these days.)
This morning she went cycling. Early. She arrived back to find the 2.5km turn point in a 5km foot race was right in front of our house.
It is 36 degrees C in the shade on our balcony today (it was 38 yesterday). No wonder Athens is burning. I let F wrap me in a wet towel. Bring out the wrapped ice things.
Hari OM
ReplyDeleteYes, Tigger dear, I spotted the headlines about the Athens fires on my evening run of the news last night. I immediately thought of you, of course! (Which means, by default, F and a friend of my sister's who lives nearby the city.) F's forward plannin regarding escape by water is a worthy one. I look forward to seeing you in a life vest she has created from an old wetsuit and air-filled water bottles... but more than anything I pray you both remain safe and unsmoked. Hugs and whiskeries, YAM-aunty xxx
I can feel myself melting just thinking about those temperatures.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear about your high heat, you do look HOT even with wet towels n ice packs. fire is so scary to me, more so than hurricanes and wind and water. maybe water wings for your donkey? for just in case? I did not know Greece got this hot until now. this is even hotter than our Florida temps. now i wonder if yours is dry heat or humid like ours.. for the months of July through Oct we suffer unless we have air conditioning. I lived my whole life until I was 35 without AC but not sure I could do it now
ReplyDeleteAthens is hottest city, or hottest capital in Europe. It is possibly closer to the equator than any others but it is also located in a kind of basin between mountains that traps heat. It doesnt help that cities generate their own heat. The humans that started off here a few 1000 years ago probably never imagined a million people and motorcars and electtic sub stations and everything else that makes heat.
DeleteI'm glad you're safe. That was some scary stuff.
ReplyDeleteI agree with JayCee and with Yamini. Keep say both of you.
ReplyDeleteWe were covered in smoke. The summer fires have started early. I see that one is mainly under control, after having burnt 7 houses, but now there's another on Parnitha. I hate this season. We live in the middle of a very dry rural area, and in a cul de sac. I shall be outside observing and sniffing at any hint of smoke. Damn those who start these fires!
ReplyDeleteTigger, you'll have to get F to make you a basket of rushes like Moses. Better a bit of surfing than a singed tail.
We had our triathlon event 2 weeks ago and it was another very hot day. My granddaughters ran. And sweated. Dont these organisers know that June in Greece is normally unbearably hot.
We heard a power sub station started the Voula fire but haven't verified that from a reliable source. Last thing Greece needs is its infrastructure starting fires as well.
DeleteRelax Tigger. Do you like cold beer or perhaps milk?
ReplyDeleteI like it when the humans sit down with cold beer, and lunch at tavernas (with cold beer).
DeleteOh dear Tigger, Gail and I do not like to think you have fires nearby and hope that you and your family are all safe. Definitely you need a life vest. (I ventured into the river Dee for a paddle earlier today and unexpectedly found myself out of my depth and had to doggy paddle quickly to the river bank. I'm not sure I'll be venturing into the water again in a hurry.)
ReplyDeleteToodle-oo!
Nobby.
Nobby you ARE brave. I reckon water is something the devil invented. I sit by the sea when i have to, but there will be no jumping in I assure you.
DeleteOh my. That is hot. Who runs in the heat? Not normal I’d say
ReplyDeleteFires are very scary and we have bad fires here every few summers
I hope you can stay cool, and tigger stay hydrated
You don’t want to have to go to the vet
I bet Tigger is trying to stay cool in all the heat, not much fun with his fur coat.
ReplyDeleteF is threatening to have my tummy fur shaved again into that bikini look I sported last year. It's cooler, yes, but it is so very embarrassing.
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