The people you meet

We've met all sorts of people on this trip. Yesterday we spent some time talking with our waiter about the world cup. He said the Germany-Argentina game would go to penlty shots but that Germany would win because their goaly was better. He was right. He said Italy would beat Ukraine. (They kicked their butts.) He predicts England and Brazil will win. Then Germany will play Brazil for the final and Brazil will win. So, let's see if he's right.

Last night we went down to PK's bar, run by Peter and Karen from Yorkshire. We had a good talk with them about all sorts of things, from football to politics. I tell you, the world wants the US out of Iraq--it's not just the Iraqis who want a timetable for withdrawl. So I suppose it's good that many of the Greeks think we're English. Then again, the other day I went into a store and the owner said, "Guten Morgen." (OK, it's been twenty years since I took a German class, so my spelling will be awful.) I said, "Ich bin Amerikanerin." And then he said something spreche something auf deutsch. Nein. Nein. English bitte. Milo Anglikas (that's Greek for I speak English.) Then he had his wife come talk with me. I suppose my Dutch genes are easily confused with German.

At our hotel, we've chat up a father-son pair from Stoke-on-Trent who go on lots of "sun holidays", but you couldn't guess that from their dark skins. :-) They're always sitting in the hotel lounge smoking and smoking and smoking and then stopping for a drink of rum and coke. They said that's what they like doing--finding some sun and spending the entire day at the beach having a smoke. When they go on holiday with "mum", they end up doing history stuff, which they don't like. Can you believe they went to the pyramids but then didn't want to do the tours? They just wanted to see the sights, have a look round, and then sit back with a cig and a drink. They're certainly funny, but the nice thing is that they know everyone in the hotel and their comings and goings, so they're acting as sort of security guards for the place.

Speaking of smoking (again), on our boat trip to Spinalonga island we saw an entire Welsh family of smokers. Oh, the parents must be so proud. Their three teenagers were puffing away constantly (three or four cigarettes during the 45-minute boat ride). The son looked about 17 maybe 18, but he couldn't have grown a mustache if he gave it a year's time. The two smoking daughters looked 15 and 13, all freckley faced with the small mounds of a girl just gone through puberty. For the life of me, I can't figure out why the youngest (about 10) wasn't also puffing away. He must be the rebel. But I'm sure the parents are working on him. "Here son, take a puff! Be a man! You will fit into this family some day."

The family that runs our hotel is nice. The guy who owns the hotel where we're staying also owns a cafe down by the port. He picked us up from the bus stop. His English is limited but he's very polite. His favorite saying is "no problem, no problem." When piling our bags into his truck, "no problem"; when showing us the hotel rooms, "you no like, no problem, I show you upstairs"; when pointing out the way to town, "go to stairs, no problem."

When we were at the bus station, we started talking with a Norwegian woman. She had the same guide book that I have. (I need to give another plug to the folks at Lonely Planet; best guides around and their phrase book is a godsend.) She and her family were leaving to Mikonos, but she told us about some places for the kids to play.

And play they do. Erin asked me how to say, "I don't understand," so she could say it to the kids at the park. (Then katalaveno.) And she wanted to know how to say "I speak English" (milo Anglikas).

Today (Saturday) will be a loafing-on-the-beach day, followed by some shopping for the girls. (Erin wants to find a tank top or something and Teagan wants a hat.) Tomorrow we'll likely rent a car and head to the Lasithi plateau up in the mountains.