Roll Up Your Sleeves

Jonathan spent several hours at the house, priming the new windows with Yioryio's help. The two drove to the west of Finikounda in search of painting materials and came up short at the first few stops--the paint shop's shelves were bare. It was no better in Methoni. The effects of the economic crisis, so profound in Athens and other large cities, are more nuanced here in the countryside, where people have plenty to eat but still struggle just the same, with established businesses closing unceremoniously, or simply subsisting.

Finally, the large building supply center, located on the outskirts of Pylos had everything we needed--and more. It would put to shame its equivalent in Downeast Maine. There is a seemingly infinite supply of υλική (building materials), lumber from Sweden, plumbing supplies from Italy, steel and aluminum products from Greece. The woodworking apparatus is highly computerized, a real marvel here in  rural Greece.

Later in the day, Jonathan followed some British friends to the village of Exhoiko (population 25) where we purchased three wooden chairs for the little the metal table purchased yesterday.