Well, I confess to another couple of days going by without a blog. But there has been a bit of drama at Ingrid’s and schedules have been thrown off, things on, then off, then on again. Near death and new life. Also the days seems to been passing much faster as we are down to one week before we leave for Crete.
Monday morning we awoke to learn that the Italian director, Ennio Peregalli, had been taken to the hospital in Nafplion, about 7 kilometers away. We had seen him Sunday morning at Polley’s Pilates session. He not feeling well then, but thought his back was just bothering him from the stress of the shoot. However, it was more than that and quite serious. He was diagnosed with a bleeding ulcer and also had some effects of an earlier by-pass surgery. We later learned that it was sort of 50/50 as to his living or dying. So, Yorgos had to go the hospital as no one spoke Greek. It was quickly ascertained that Ennio was going to be hospitalized for sometime and was not going to be able to travel. Martha, Merta and the Peregallis were schedule to catch the ferry to Italy on Tuesday morning. Martha, the lady from Switzerland took command. She and Merta had to get home so she arranged for Ennio’s daughter, who lives in Italy, to come. She was to arrive about midnight on Monday evening. We had all planned to go to dinner together that evening for a special dish, called Fish Soup. That, of course, was cancelled.
Plans were put together for the daughter to stay at Ingrid’s so that Yorgos could help her communicate with doctors, etc. Of course, Yorgos and Ingrid also had much of their plans turned upside down. As I say, lots of drama!
Polley and I, now not having Fish Soup made other plans and generally tried to stay out of everyone’s way while helping in any way we might. Then, Monday afternoon, the Fish Soup dinner was back on. So instead of our now dining alone, at maybe 7:30 or 8 and turning in early, we were back to dinner with 5 other people and waiting until 9:30 to begin. From the Greek Party onward, it has been a whirlwind!
Polley and I went into Tolo about 8:30 for a little time alone with a glass of wine. At 9:30 we arrived at Ilias’ Taverna, the place with had had dinner with Martha a couple of nights before. Like last time, the amount of food was amazing. Fried cheese as a starter along with carafe’s of wine and another beautiful, big salad. Then, the Fish Soup, served in individual tureens the size that would be suitable for dishing out to a table of 6. You can see the bowls on the right side of the photo.
It was a broth-based cream soup and they you added great hunks of fish. It was delicious, but Polley and I needed to stop then . But, on no! Then came a whole fish.
He said it weighed about 3 kilos, 6 pounds! Beautiful to look at and my God, was there a lot of flesh on it. More wine, of course, and then DESSERT!
As were finishing, Ennio’s wife/partner arrived for her dinner. It was now 11:40. She had been at the hospital and had now arrived to have here dinner and bring us up to date on Ennio, who was resting and stable. We, of course, had to sit for another hour and drink and pick at the dessert. And throw a bit of fish to this little fellow.
At 1 am, we excused ourselves. What a day.
Tuesday a little calm moved into our lives. Yorgos spent the day translating at the hospital, Ingrid was hanging on by a thread, so we made ourselves scarce. We had planned to take the bus into Athens to visit the Acropolis Museum, but gave up on that idea as we fell into bed at 1:30 in the morning. WE walked into Tolo for some wine, mostly read and napped and then went to Kastraki, the little place on the bay, for our own private dinner. We had an excellent Greek salad and Calamari. Such a pleasant place. Had a bit of a conversation with two French couples and returned home to fall down at a reasonable hour.
There was bit of sunshine in all of this, as a recently new-born kitten was introduced in the family. She had been inside for the last week or so and this was her first venture outside.
It was great fun to see the mother care for her and sort of show her around her new home.
Mama Cat even brought the baby down to our place, as if to say, “If you are ever hungry and cat find food, you can always come to Bungalow 4!”
Anyway, with a week to go, we are still treasuring everyday at Ingrid’s. The weather remains “iffy,” but we can’t control that. We will just enjoy what we can while it lasts! More later
Ed and Polley
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