Poco a poco
As you can imagine, the island is still very quiet, but some of the bars are open, as are some of the tavernas. We’ve yet to see many visitors from other islands, presumably, everyone is in the same boat; little spare cash, working where they can, and staying home the rest of the time. The government have released their list of countries from where Greece will accept visitors after specific dates, and according to certain rules, and it’s a start. A cautious start, which is good in one way (not so good for people needing to make money), and it will be monitored. Keep your eye on the reliable news outlets, if there are any left, but expect restrictions such as one week’s quarantine if you test negative on arrival, and two weeks if you test positive. Arrival, so far, is limited to Athens and Thessaloniki, and the government are to pay for the quarantine in hotels. Sounds to me like these first measures may benefit those who come for long periods, have holiday homes or can afford to take several weeks off work for what would end up being a one-week holiday of freedom on a near-deserted beach, with little in the way of day trips. But hey! Early days.
There are still things to see from one’s seat at the village café when having an ice cream in the afternoon. The Tilos Veg Man, for example. He was here the other Friday selling five kilos of potatoes for a few euros, plus hordes of other organic vegetables grown on his land on Tilos, and he is a regular visitor through the better weather months. He’s known locally as ‘The Tilos Veg Man’, and that’s how I’ve always known him. I was on Tilos a few years ago (I was there this time last year, but that’s another story), and while sitting in the square one afternoon, heard his familiar cry of ‘Potatas, kremithia…’ ‘Ah,’ I thought. ‘It’s the Tilos Veg Man. I wonder what they call him here on Tilos?’ Just the veg man, I assume.’ Anyway, it’s good to hear the familiar sound of his voice, and the cries of the pedlars who tour the islands, sleeping in their vans and selling their wares. So, there is some kind of returning normality to be found, but it’s early days. Poco a poco, as they say.
