Page 19 of The Cruise Club

‘I expect they’ll bump into Don and Debbie.’

‘It’s a very steep climb.’ Sid stared up at the top of the hillside where the ruins of the Venetian fort peeked out.

Suddenly, an old man appeared from the shadows. An unlit cigarette hung from his lips, and a dusty cap dipped low over his weathered face. He held a jar of honey and a sign in his grubby hands.

Startled, Fran greeted him, ‘Kalimári!’ she said.

The old man looked bemused and thrust his hands out further.

‘I think he wants us to buy his honey.’ Sid reached into his pocket and peeled off a ten euro note.

‘It’s pricey, I hope it’s good’ Fran commented as she took the jar and smiled at the honey seller. ‘Kalimári!’ she called again and placed the purchase in her bag.

With a furrowed brow, the old man cocked his head and stared wide-eyed at Fran. Shaking his head, he turned and silently moved away.

‘I’m hungry. Shall we find somewhere for a bite to eat?’ Sid asked.

‘Aye, that would be lovely.’

Taking Sid’s steady arm, Fran slipped her feet into her sandals, picked up her phrasebook and they set off. Reaching a courtyard close to the harbour, Sid and Fran saw a man placing chairs around tables under a wooden gazebo. Tall and well-built, his stomach bulged from the waistband ofhis trousers, and as he prepared his taverna, he began to sing. His operatic voice carried across the courtyard to the gift shop, where a woman swept needle-shaped leaves, gathering them into piles.

‘Ya, Jimmy!’ the woman called out and nodded towards Sid and Fran. ‘You’ll frighten the tourists.’

But Jimmy continued to sing, his voice gaining momentum. ‘Toreador! Love, love awaits you!’

Side-stepping cracks in the path, Fran and Sid stopped to listen, and when Jimmy ended his song, Fran clapped her hands. ‘Kalimári!’ she applauded. ‘Your voice is wonderful, and I love that song from the operaCarmen.’

Jimmy began to laugh. ‘But you just said, “squid”,’ he said. ‘Next time, try “Kaliméra”. Good morning is a more traditional greeting.’

‘Oh, hell.’ Fran felt her face flush, her fingers tightening on her phrasebook.

Jimmy grinned and placed beefy hands on his hips. ‘Where are you going?’ he asked.

‘We’re gasping for a drink and something to eat. Can you recommend anywhere?’

‘My bar isn’t open yet, but you could try the Psaro Taverna.’ Jimmy pointed to tables beneath colourful umbrellas, a short distance away. ‘Spiros will be happy to serve you,’ he added.

‘Aye, that sounds grand,’ Fran thanked Jimmy.

‘My pleasure,’ Jimmy said and adjusted a chair. ‘Squid!’ he added with a wave of his hand and, with another belly laugh turned away.

Once they’d crossed the street to the Psaro Taverna, Spirosgreeted them warmly. ‘Squid!’ he called out to Fran with a grin and ‘Opa!’ to Sid when he saw Sid’s T-shirt. Indicating that the couple joined others from the ship, Spiros guided them to a table overlooking the harbour.

Don, Debbie, Colin and Neeta sat alongside Carmen and Betty. Peter, who was pouring wine, stood at the head of the table.

‘SQUID!’ everyone chanted and began to laugh.

‘Blimey, news travels fast.’ Fran pulled at the collar on her kaftan and slid into a chair next to Don.

Don, his face flushed red and breathing laboured, looked like he’d just completed a marathon in ninety-degree heat, and drained a bottle of beer. ‘We were at the top of the hill when a Dutch couple told us there was a strange lady by the beach calling everyone a squid,’ he chuckled, ‘Debbie and I knew that it had to be you.’

‘That must have been the hiking couple,’ Fran muttered. ‘Whatever must they think of me?’

‘How does a squid go into battle?’ Don asked. ‘Fully armed!’ He guffawed.

‘Did you get to the fort?’ Fran asked, keen to change the subject.

‘Oh yes, and it was worth the effort,’ Don replied, wiping his brow with the back of his hand. ‘You can see for miles up there, but the climb nearly killed me.’ He held out his bottle for Spiros, who quickly refreshed the beer.

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