We Walk to Fitos for lunch

It was a bright and blustery day today but really cold.  We went down to Andreas's garage to pick up Isabel's car which had been sorted.  Whilst I was waiting for John to organise payment in his pigeon Greek and manic gesticulations we were passed by what would be John's dream vehicle for the village - a rotavator on wheels - but this one the Rolls Royce - a long wheel base with a trailor back.  It was being driven by the village cleaner Pantelis - we had passed him about quarter of an hour earlier leaving the village.  Bet it was chilly coming down the hill in this bad-boy!

Although it promised to be a nice day there was too much cloud cover over Droushia - it was cold in the house but at least it was dry and so I persuaded John to go walking with me.  We decided that we would walk somewhere and have lunch.  Leaving out the back of Droushia we had the choice of the Winery or Fitos and we decided that we would go to Fitos as it was slightly closer and we didn't want to get wet if it did start to rain.  We calculated that a brisk walk to Fitos would take us around an hour.

When we turned off at Arodes we went past the house with the mini zoo.  It amazes us every time that there is, what looks to us, a healthy colony of deer residing there.  Certainly today they look clean and tidy and well fed, we just dont understand why anyone would want to keep these in captivity - they aren't indigenous to the island so where did they come from?

The weather improved a bit as we crossed the main road and took a road less traveled which brought us around the back of Fitos's taverna.  Out in the fields we met several old men tending to their vines, cutting back the new growth to feed the stock.  That must be hard work on their hands.  Everywhere is looking lush and green after the recent rains.  It was good to be walking again but it was clear to both of us that we hadn't done anything in earnest for a while.  We will probably pay for it tomorrow!

Our reward for the hike was lunch at Fitos.  John had said that the promise of a pork chop was what kept him going!!!!  He had his pork chop and I was pleased that Joanna's legendary Beef and Mushroom Pie was on offer.  It came hot out of the oven and was every bit as lush as I remember!  Even better there was nothing in it that I couldn't have!

We started with salad and pitta bread.  I didn't have the cheese or the tomato just in case although I am not convinced either of those things are what caused my hives.  The salad was accompanied by some pickles (John ate the chilies and said they were hot hot hot) potato salad (which neither of us really like) and pickled beetroot with garlic (which I had).

Then came our main meals - John had his chop and chips and me my pie and chips and then we got some lovely fresh cake.  It was all absolutely delicious and we were feeling pretty stuffed and we still had to walk back home.  Let's just say our return trip took a little longer than it had taken for us to get to Fitos and we decided that it was probably not the best meal to have had mid walk!!!

The weather had cleared considerably for our walk home which was good because it wasn't too cold and although we waddled rather than strode out we kept our eye on the time because John wanted to get back in time to watch the Man City v Chelsea football game and then afterwards he was going to put himself through the pain of watching another Mighty Blades abject performance and loss.

Just before we got home we came across a really beautiful wild plant flowering in the hedgerow - this is apparently the Clematis Cirrhosa or Early Virgin's Bower.  Apparently this is fully hardy and has lovely glossy leaves at this time of year.  John thought it would be a great addition to the garden so we took off a runner and hope it might root in water - if not I will ask at the garden centre if they grow it.  Believe it or not this is part of the buttercup family!