OCTOBER 28, SATURDAY

OXI DAY

Tourists are mostly oblivious to what is happening in the countries they visit. They suddenly find themselves in the middle of a strike or unexpectedly find all the stores closed because it is a national holiday. But we had been told last night that today would be a national holiday, Oxi day, and that there would be a parade. It turns out that on this day in 1940 Mussolini announced that his troops would be crossing the Greek border and wanted to do it peacefully. But the Greek Prime Minister announced in the diplomatic language of the time, “Alos C‘est la Guerre“, “Then it will be war“ and for 6 months the Greek army kept Mussolini’s Italian army out of Greece. It is the valor, resolution and heroism that their fellow countrymen showed then that is celebrated yearly by a big parade in Athens, but also by parades all across the country including in Naoussa. The parade was to be at 11, countrywide. When we got to the parade site in the center of town at 10:30 it was already crowded with families there to see the parade including a large number of grandmotherly women dressed in their Sunday best. All the paraders were dressed in identical white and blue. First was a group of boy drummers, then group after group of school children marching in military fashion with large steps and their arms swinging to the beat of the drums. The grandmothers and everyone else clapped. It was wonderful fun.

PIPERI BEACH

Only about ten minutes walk, very close to Efi’s rooms, is Piperi Beach, a sandy crescent with crystal clear water. So in the late afternoon we went for a swim and then after the swim stopped at a seaside restaurant for happy hour, Mojitos and nuts with delicious French fries and Greek salad and then walked home.