On the stroke of January 6th, the "twelve days" of Christmas (Epiphany) officially come to an end. This day, takes on a special meaning in Greece. Here, there is a special ceremony of blessing the waters and the vessels that sail and work on them.
Strings or oranges line the streets for people to buy who haven't already brought your own.
The modern celebration takes the form of a priest hurling a large crucifix into the waters while blessing the briny. Young men brave the cold sea and compete to retrieve it. The cross is attached to a nice, safe long rope or ribbon, just in case this year's crop of divers sinks attempting to get the cross safely back to shore. As they stood there in a row some looking brave, others looking as though they were just about to be hurled to the lions I stood poised with my camera wanting to get a shot of them diving in.
Damn I should have set the camera to multi pics, one shot of bodies in mid flight
Ouch looks like a few belly flops here.
The next PIC a bunch of brave cold men splashing about like sharks during a frenzied attack. Still you get the idea.
Children, old folk men and woman dangle clumps of oranges into the blessed sea. I was told these are then hung on boats and in homes for the year and supposed to bring good luck.
Greece has lots of good luck trinkets in the shops. I have one in my cabin that Carol bought me, a sail boat tied with red ribbons.
A band accompanied the group of priests to the blessing spot but what made this seem strange was that they were also escorted by machine gun totting soldiers. The priests donned colourful capes and hats and of course the obligatory beards gave them a sort of holy aura.
Hmm it all looks very solemn
After the diving for the cross event, local fishermen bring their boats to be blessed by the priest.
Apparently after the ceremony folks go home to another Christmas feast but Carol and I went for a nice coffee with croissants instead. As I supped my frothy hot coffee and consumed my very nice croissants I knew I had to take the bit between the teeth and go for my bike ride. Yesterday I just did a short walk so today a concerted effort was needed. As soon as I got back to the boat I grabbed Fanny, my camera and the GPS and set off.
I’d planned a pit stop just past the windmills today however a photograph opportunity presented itself and I couldn’t let it pass. My old mate Don was cantering towards me sat astride his trusty steed and just about to do battle with a rather forlorn windmill.
The cycling is getting easier mainly due to the fact I day dream most of the way around however, I must buy a new gel seat the numbness and other sensations are not enjoyable.
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