Monday 9 June 2008

The barber


The barber is not really such an old-fashioned institution in Hania, but this barber's days are numbered, judging from the shabby shelves crammed with cups and medals showing past glories, the out-dated cosmetics and the rickety chairs which looked as though they hadn't been cleaned in a while. My son needed a haircut, and since the barber's shop was empty when we passed by (across the road from the former Italian embassy), we didn't have to wait long. We had just been to the municipal gardens where there's a children's play area, three doors away from where the barber keeps his shop.

My daughter was with me, and asked me, in light of the rules of equality, if she was going to have her hair cut too. "No, dear, only men get their hair cut here."

"I can do her too," quipped the barber, and I was relieved that I wouldn't have to take her to a salon where they'd charge us more for a coiffure.

Admittedly they weren't the best haircuts; my son's neck was nipped at the back, while my daughter's came out all crooked round the front. Maybe that's why the barber's not updating his equipment. Still, I was impressed by his perseverance: his scissors flew into the air like a pro and his white coat made him look like a scientist.

"Call that a haircut?" my husband exclaimed when I returned home at lunchtime. "He's only good for sheep shearing!"

9 comments:

  1. It is a shame you found a poor barber - we found a great chap in Maleme who not only cut my hair but did my wife's too and we were very satisfied with the result.
    His price for me was comparative to what I pay at home and he charged the same for my wife, but at home she has to pay around four times as much.

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  2. Hey, what's happening with Greece's earthquakes? Was it near you? Are you OK?

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  3. πάντα μικρός προσπαθούσα να αποφύγω τον μπαρμπέρι. πηγαίνοντας εκεί έχανα ώρα από το παιχνίδι. τώρα προσπαθώ να τον αποφύγω γιατι... δεν έμειναν και πολλά να κόψει.

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  4. Honestly, this place looks like a fairy tale compared to our barbershop. Sorry the nick in th eneck might forever make you son afraid of barbers. But maybe not.

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  5. That is really like an old fashioned barber ... I still remember seeing chairs and shelves like that on some portuguese barbers ... between you and me, I now am my own barber because I bought one of those machines they use and cut all my hair ... some kind of Yul Breyner!
    Wife and mum protest a bit, but I like it ...

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  6. haha, I love the last sentence, really funny..'he's only good for sheep shearing'.

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  7. The only time we ever got near a salon when I was a kid is the freebies with the trainees. You were lucky to escape with your ears!

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  8. i think the greek barbers are the best in the word i go to this barber more than 20 years.im now 46

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  9. if you like him, you should be proud of it

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