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MicktheGreek

The omen (2)

Heraklion, Crete
15th October 2022

Grigoris take-away café is situated across the road from the harbour’s entrance and the smell of cof...
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Heraklion, Crete
15th October 2022

Grigoris take-away café is situated across the road from the harbour’s entrance and the smell of coffee was impossible not to get wind of. I grabbed a Nescafe and croissant and as I was paying the guy on the till, I said to him: “You are lucky to be placed on such spot, mate” Keep an eye because there will be quite a spectacle in an hour”. “It is the weather you are talking about, isn’t it? I have heard”, he replied.

The harbour was a sight to behold, to start with. There was hardly a breeze ruffling the waters on either side of the breakwater structure. As I started to stroll along the 2-mile jetty -unsavourily nicknamed as “Bypass Avenue”- I kept looking at the sea on my left. The whole place was cloaked in the proverbial calm, but clouds in the offing and gulls hurtling away from them and in our direction boded what was to ensue. It all unravelled quickly. The fast-approaching waterspout was the last photo I took on the day. On ascending 25th August Street towards the city centre, the rain started to beat down to a drizzle and soon after I had sat down at Central Park with Nikos it was cataclysmic. Our pleasant talk was interrupted by the torrents of rainwater leaking through the café’s outdoor roof defences and overflowing the street gutters. Every nearby cafe, bar or restaurant was in a state of emergency. There was chaos for about an hour, yet nowhere near as bad as that experienced in nearby resorts. It wasn’t long before grim news started to reel in. Two people lost their lives, one trapped in a car that submerged in water and another carried by the torrential rainwater into the sea and later washed ashore. Shops and restaurants by the beach were flooded, streets became rivers, seashores were littered with anything from plastic cups to vehicles. For whatever it is worth, there was a tiny consolation to be had: the elemental wrath lasted only for a couple of hours.

The city centre recovered quite well. Slowly and steadily, the gutters drained all water and the strong wind blowing for hours dried the pedestrianised streets. With exception of the odd bar that remained shut for the night, the centre was bustling. When my sister texted me “We are at Whistler’s with Stella who is asking if you will join us”, I replied “Sounds good to me”.

I could write a book about this two-week break and not just for the above; that was only a tiny part of it. Back in the UK now and worrying about how Arsenal will get on.

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Jan, 2023

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What a Capture. Well done that man.

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Cheers Keith!

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Oh, my goodness! Excellent capture of that "water spout"! And what an experience you and Nikos had! Relieved that you are safe, my friend.

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Ah, you know me, my dear! Looking for anything ominous to capture and record and the inconvenience goes with the venture, which adds to the spice xxx

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Amazing capture

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Thanks Marilena! If you have read the description, as well as that of the previous photo, you will see what the title refers to,

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Great land seascape with a beautiful small tornado

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Thanks Erik! That was an eventful day, to say the least, if you read the description as well as that of the previous one. How are you doing? I hope you are well.

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What and adventure! and what a great picture. Be safe my friend.

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Great capture

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Thanks Richard!

Amazing.!!! 😊

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Cheers Mel, glad you like it x

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Wonderful shot Mick, only ever seen one of these it was in Kefalonia during the day fascinating experience didn’t have my camera then it was before I was interested in photography, just a tiny snapshot camera for the odd family shots:-)

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Thanks Liz! That was certainly a day to remember, or maybe forget. I don't know if you have read the description of this one as well as the one before to see where I am coming from.