Spring rain

After all the sunshine and good weather that we have been having recently, we got just what we had been hoping for: a good rain shower.



In Crete, it stops raining some time in May, and not a drop of water falls from the sky until at least mid-September. We love it; it cleans up the town and ensures our water supply over the summer period. Only the tourists might have been disappointed.



This particular shower lasted from early evening Sunday until early afternoon Monday, and it was very heavy, as can be seen by the state of our recently planted garden.

Red rain

A few days ago, a big windstorm raged all night. Strangely enough, it was very warm wind, not from the Arctic, but from Africa. It was so strong that the ferry boat didn't leave that night, and I lost a bath mat that I had left on the washing line to dry off. I tried to take a photo of the swaying trees, but this was the best I could come up with in the late night.



While everyone was trying to sleep with the sound of the wind seeming like it was blowing roofs off the houses it started to rain. The aftermath of the combination of warm strong wind and rain is red rain.



The phenomenon is due to dust clouds gathering in the African desert, rising and being pushed north (Crete is above Libya). If it rains during that period, the dust settles wherever it lands, and stays there until you clean it; unlike ordinary dust, it sticks to the surface it lands on. If you were unlucky enough to have washing on the line to dry, that too will become red and you'll have to wash it again. In any case, you have to wipe down the washing line, because your clean washing will get red streaks on it.



This storm occurred a few days ago in Hania. When this happens, you can see most people outside their house as soon as the rain stops, cleaning the red sand from the Sahara Desert off their walls, yards and cars.

And that's life in the Mediterranean right now - we had another bout of it yesterday, this time during the day. As I don't want to get muddy just by standing on my verandah (it actually sticks on your clothes), I've uploaded these photos from the last bout of red rain.

Rainbow

After nearly a week of rain (praise the Lord, we needed it), we finally saw a rainbow.



And if you look closely, you can also see its shadow in the sky...



These photos were taken yesterday morning.

Camera critters: swallows

These swallows were caught in the downpour. They must have been migrating from the colder northern climates, making their way to Africa. When they reached my town, where the weather is usually quite good at this time of year, they must have thought they had found a temporary winter home, so they had a little break in the sunshine. Suddenly, the rain began to pour down as if a bucket (a very large one) had been upturned. Their wings soaking wet, they felt too heavy to continue their flight southwards. So they took a break on the electricity cables just above our house, where they remained until the downpour passed, and then they moved on to find another drier spot to hide.

Skywatch Friday: a bit of everything

The paradoxes of the first heavy autumn showers at the end of summer in Hania: the sun, the blue sky, the clouds, the rain and even a rainbow (can you see its reflection on the hill), they are all vying for space in the sky. The rain clouds bet them all that night in any case.

SkyWatch Friday: Rain

It finally came. And when it came (on Wednesday afternoon), it darkened the sky with its thickness, turning the blue into something akin to a bruise.

The rain dutifully stayed away from Hania for four months without a drop falling from the sky. Umbrellas were stored away, raincoats hung up under summer jackets, boots stashed away in the darkest corners. The days were filled with sunlight. The Northern European tourists were thrilled to enjoy rainless days on their summer vacation, without the worrying thought that in the middle of their holiday, they may have to head for a covered passage or a large tree to avoid a sudden downpour, soaking them to the skin and dampening their happy memories of a Mediterranean holiday under the sun.

(Street scene near the district court)

In the meantime, dust particles piled upon more dust, the earth dried up, our skins became parched, and everything had become as dehydrated as a sun-dried tomato. The arrival of the rain refreshes us, it washes away the dust and dirt, it cleans up the atmosphere, it moistens our skin, it fills up our reservoirs. We wear our raincoats, we search for our umbrellas, we close our doors and watch it falling from our windows. Drivers beware: the first rains are always more dangerous than subsequent showers, especially in dry climates like Crete. The water falls on dirty roads laden with dust, making them extremely slippery. When driving on such roads, do make sure to drive slowly.

The first rain in my town always comes on a day when I'm not able to stay at home to enjoy watching it fall from the window. I hope the next time it rains, it will be during the weekend.