Thassos 2004

back to Thassos menu
forward to next day

Day 6 - Monday 14th June 2004

Debs couldn't handle breakfast so I ate alone once more, bringing her a roll back if she fancied it. I reserved our sunbeds for another week and settled on the beach with the third of my three books - Tom Clancy's 'Red Rabbit' - in the knowledge that I'd better make a start, given the 927 pages it contained...

Debs joined me after a while and spent the day in the shade. I periodically wandered off for a quick dip in the pool and occasionally cursed at a bawling German toddler, but really the majority of the day passed uneventfully as we lay reading and dozing in the hot Greek sun.

As evening approached, the sky began to darken and the horizon became a dirty blanket of rumbles and flashes as an Aegean thunderstorm moved in. I was loving it, watching the storm brew and get nearer and nearer as I sipped a can of Amstel.

At the smell of rain, Debs and I headed to the restaurant for dinner. Most people had sat at tables inside rather than out on the large terrace, but there were still a few die-hards out there hoping to finish their meal and settle in the lounge for the clown show before the storm hit.

Fortunately our bungalow neighbours Stephanie and Alec spotted us meandering aimlessly between tables in search of a vacant one and invited us to join them, which was both kind and very much appreciated considering the masses of straight-backed Germans peering menacingly at anyone sat at a table in their search for a seat.

By now the storm was just about upon us, the thunder was incredibly loud and the lightning dazzled the darkened sky. The restaurant was choc-a-bloc with people - the lucky ones sat down, others standing plate-in-hand, and others dashing through to the bar for a beer whilst the feasting crowds subsided. Anyone from outside had given up bearing Mother Nature and headed for cover as the rain hit the ground with the full force of a power shower.

As we watched the ferocity of the storm and smirked at those who were uncomfortably and awkwardly eating whilst standing up, we noticed a woman jogging towards the restaurant. She has clearly been out for a walk before dinner but had been caught up in the thunderstorm, underestimating the speed with which it had approached and deposited its delige of rainwater. She got closer and closer, running up the steps, meandering through the recently soaked tables and chairs of the outside, panting from her brisk jog and BANG! - she jogged straight into one of the plate glass windows and fell back on her arse.

It was the funniest moment of the holiday so far and I could not contain the laughter, nor the obvious delight when it became clear that she was German. She could have no complaints though, the glass had a small sticker on it warning of the danger, but mostly to indicate that stupid Germans should not go for long pre-dinner walks as Aegean thunderstorms are brewing.