Last night, we watched ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3’ and had a few titters at some of the details, a few ‘Ahs’, and a few moments while we waited for something interesting to happen, and ultimately decided we had enjoyed the film.
A strangely satisfying moment came near the beginning, and it followed on from a typical film-making moment. First of all, the family arrived at Athens airport (and it was, unmistakably, Athens airport), walked through the doors and outside, and there, where the Sofitel should be, was a view of the city and the Acropolis. Artistic licence and all that.
A little later, after stopping for a swim to show a) they are on holiday b) and washed clean of the USA by being in the water – some kind of metaphorical baptism I assume and c) a typical Greek summer beach, they board a ferry to ‘the island.’ The ‘ferry’ is little more than a cargo boat, and according to the film’s map, left from somewhere around Sounio. A short while later, for no apparent reason, it sailed past St Evangalismos in Harani, on Symi.
Just out of interest, I turned my head 45 degrees to the right and looked at the same view from the comfort of my own sofa. That was a satisfying experience.
After that, the Neoclassical architecture of Symi we’d just witnessed for 1.5 seconds went out of the window, and we were on Corfu, or in what looked like parts of the Plaka, in Athens. (The film was shot in Athens and Corfu, apparently.) A fun film with a simple pot, though not as much emotional spine as the others because, I think, we know the characters already and they have mostly done their development. Some great observations of Greek life and people though.
That done, I took myself to bed at the usual early hour and was sleeping peacefully, until I wasn’t. I was woken at 1.15 by the sound of rain tapping at my window. Yes, I said rain, not Wayne. (For that gag, see The Golden Girls.) Actually, it wasn’t so much tapping as demanding to be let in, and I realised that every window and door in the house was open, there was a thunderstorm going on, and the PCs and internet were still plugged in. So, that was me up and about, closing this, mopping up that, clearing the leaves off the bathroom roof to free the overflow in my bare feet…
… clearing the leaves off the bathroom roof in my bare feet to free the overflow…
… and just sitting down to a cup of tea when the power went off. It was only down for five minutes, and I raised my teacup to whoever worked through the night at the power station and kept things running.
So, my Thursday has started with a bang, though now, at 2.52, the storm has passed, all is quiet, and all I need do now is make another cup of tea and I can get on with the rest of the day. Well, the next few hours until a siesta kicks in, probably around 9.00 am.
