From the previous blog you will know we had arranged to move into the house early. I had also managed to negotiate a long term car hire in favour of a scooter for the winter.
So Louise was up at the house preparing and sorting out our gear and Nicolas & I had just visited the Port Police to surrender our boat papers for the winter.
We had stopped at one of the cafes in Pythagorio harbour, and were in the middle of an ouzo when ………………….
On 30 October 2020, at 13.51 local time (11.51 UTC), an earthquake of magnitude 7.0 Mw struck off the Aegean coast of Turkey, south of Izmir, and north of the Greek island of Samos (37.91 N 26.79 E), with an estimated hypo central depth of 21 km (USGS-United States Geological Survey).
I have never been in an earthquake before and this was quite a big one.
To say it’s a weird feeling is a gross understatement. We dashed out from under cover, Nicolas at least remembered his ouzo, I left mine and it and the table and chairs crashed to the floor. Cracks appeared in the buildings and pavement and all the mirrors and gantries in the tavernas could be heard shattering.
Meanwhile Louise was up stairs in the house felt it shuddering and groaning and couldn’t keep her feet to come down a spiral staircase to get out of the house. At first she had just thought it was a heavy truck passing, lol
There was a lot of damage to the island particularly in Karlovasi nearer to the epicentre and two kids were killed.
We went to check the boats were OK then I headed up to the house. There continued to be aftershocks and every time the shuddering started we made ready for a dash outside hopefully having managed to get Lily in her carry basket.
All in all an interesting few days introduction to our chosen wintering location.
They say things come in three’s – Lily, F7 earthquake, what’s next?
Scarey stuff ! Thank goodness you weren’t on the boat. We had a richter 6 while in Rhodes. The top half of the hotel was a ruin so know how you felt. Poor Lou on her own at the time.
LikeLike