The winter scene

Feels like its been ages and a day since I put finger to keyboard, so apologies.

Contrary to common belief the sun isn't always shining above Athens. Three hundred or so days of sunshine, cannot be considered a poor score by any means, especially for those from northern Europe, but Athens does get its fair share of winter every year too.

Come the autumn, the locals slowly withdraw from the beaches and prepare for this very Greek, twice-a-year ritual of replacing their personal wardrobes. In mid October, all the summer gear, T-shirts,. shorts, flip flops etc is put away till next May, and sweaters, coats and scarves are unearthed. On the city front now, although the tables never disappear from the pavements and the squares, people from now on tend to stay indoors and many restaurants, bars and nightclubs closed for the whole summer are now back in business.

For those of you who started diving in the summer, I sincerely hope you won't be packing away your dive gear. The water's warm enough for a 5mm full wetsuit with hood, gloves and booties. Best of all, for most who shore dive, the parking is easy and the sites deserted.