“Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun”. All morning there had been the joyous squeals and laughter from the pool then suddenly it went quiet. The water was still, flat and inviting but everyone had retreated onto sun loungers, into the kitchen for a bite of lunch or under the olive trees in the shade. Earlier that morning some of the men had taken two cars and driven to the supermarket with food orders. On the return journey up the very steep, windy road to the villa they wedged the precious wine bottles into the boot with plastic water bottles and groceries to prevent them from rolling and smashing. Sharing food worked really well. A further shopping  trip was later necessary to top up milk, bread, fruit and – of course! – wine.

The second night we decided that we should eat together at the tavern-down-the-hill which  overlooked the bay. As the crow flies it was only a short distance but for walkers and cars it was a switchback of the very steep, windy roads. The grannies were driven down in style!  Once seated around a long trestle table overlooking the bay we were given the menus. Ordering proved to be a challenge. Not because it was difficult to read but because  it was difficult to understand. The menu was written in English but how do you order Sea Bass when it is priced “per kilo”? With the aid of the waitress our food was sorted, with several of us sharing dishes. And, naturally, bottles of wine. Our table was the  first to arrive but as we left we realised that the locals dined later than us. Chattering over the dinner table, I learnt more about how the others spent their day if they were not by the pool. Some walked round the promontory and some swam in the sea and/ or snorkelled, watching the fish. Returning to the villa we chilled and chatted beside the pool. I retired around midnight after a great day.

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