Greek summer... Sun, sea, vacations, rest, relax... Of course, this year things are quite different, my goodness coronavirus that came and has changed our lives and many of our daily habits, in order to protect ourselves against the pandemic. But since the summer has come and we have had a good first taste, the corona virus has not changed the "tribes of summer" and many of their hoogies.
They are here, next to you (you may also belong to one of them, why not?) and to remind you - apart from the excessive heat - that summer here is both the same and so different, thanks to the coronavirus. But let's see what are the famous races of people you meet next to you in the summer.
We said, with the corona virus, many people learned that we should also wash our hands, thoroughly. What they haven't learned is how we should use it deodorant, respectfully! Why, you may now meet passengers wearing their masks on the means of transport (metro, buses, trams, suburban trains) (there are also those who have them in their hands), but the tribe of passengers who are fighting with the deodorant is here for to remind you that we have summer.
And because of heat we sweat. And sweat smells and they need regular showers and underarm deodorant. Because, the mask may protect you from the corona virus, but it does not do the same as the stench of the person next to you on the bus. And it may be that in the means of transport, there is no longer the well-known crowding, but the mixing of smells continues as normal.
Of course, in the means of transport you also meet other races of passengers. Those who talk on their cell phones as if they are alone in the middle of nowhere, those who sleep and snore (yes, ahem, a ride on the Suburban to Corinth at midday and you will hear a "concord" of snoring), those who seize on the slightest thing because in the summer either it is moderately hot, or very cold. If so, there are also the (slightly older) ladies, who take off their flip flops and stretch their legs on the opposite seat.
An immortal tribe of the beach is the hysterical mother. From the time he arrives at sea until the time they leave, orders are given and taken. Always, with a loud voice from the deckchair, the child commands.
Until last year, when the coronavirus was an unknown word, you heard the classics: "not deep", "Don't dive", "Shall I order you a toastie?" etc. This year, along with these - because these are immortal mother's sayings - have been added: "Put antiseptic", "Don't touch the sunbed, it might have coronavirus". Of course, always loudly because if all the other bathers can't hear, what's the point?
Until last year, you mostly met them on more organized beaches or on those with people, but who didn't care how annoying the "taka touka" from their rackets was. Now, the "racquet tribe" is everywhere. The coronavirus imposes a safe distance and the once deserted beach where you used to go for a swim is now filled with people who want to avoid the crowds.
And with them came the fans of the racket with that "taka toka" ringing in your ears and the ball constantly coming to your feet, sometimes even to your head.
The gyms may have been closed until recently due to the coronavirus and many of us may have gained a few extra pounds during the quarantine period, but the "tight" and "body" who respect their well-trained bodies, even in confinement, did not succumb to dietary "sins".
Evidence; From my first visits to the beach, I saw nose-blowing men - "tight" and women with shapely bodies (and Brazilian swimsuits) who this year have the role of... "voice of my guilty conscience" that in quarantine I ate without tomorrow.
Recently, we saw images of incredible crowding in beach bar. I have not seen such images with my own eyes, yet. But there is a crowding outside the summer shops and especially on the opposite sidewalks.
But again this year, the summer shops in the evening are still... My Style Rocks and you in the role of Laki Gavalas rate the patrons.
Another favorite category and with a wide variety of passengers. Sta ships of the line, therefore, for the Greek islands, you meet the last-minute passenger, who always catches up with the boat in the chak. You meet the one who thinks that the living room of the boat is the living room of his house and besides "pouring" into the sofas and spreading his legs as if there is no one else next to him, sometimes he also has an opinion about what will play on the television. In fact, he asks the ship's crew to change the channel. Since it doesn't ask for the remote control, it's good to say again, huh?
You meet, of course, the young people, mainly, on the deck where, if the itinerary is in the evening, they lie down wherever they can and you limply jump left and right so as not to step on them.
I don't know how the tourist season will move this year and what and which tourists will visit our country, but it cannot be "summer tribes" and that does not include the tourist tribe, mainly the English and the German who every summer leave the their stigma.
You will also have happened in a tavern at the next table, a group or a family of tourists who all order together what one of us orders. Everything in the middle as if it were an appetizer. And at the end, they also ask for a disposable taper to take with them what's left!
Also, in this category you also meet the northern European with the pedilaki, who also wears socks at night. Classic summer image.
Since I was little, I remembered that every summer the Athenians (locals who now lived permanently in Athens) would come to the village to spend their holidays. This really makes a lot of summer for me, since the memories are many.
Especially, when it came to families whose children and I played all summer together, from morning to night. They were our so-called "summer friends", that we may not have been together all year round and we didn't share many moments, but those summer times were intense and now form the best childhood and summer memories.