Warmth is back - at least in the sunshine. It's a long weekend, in that Monday is a national holiday. It's Green Monday, otherwise - and perhaps more accurately - known as Clean Monday. It marks the beginning of Lent in the Orthodox Church, which follows the Julian calendar. This year Lent and Easter are a week earlier than on the western calendar, although they're often later and occasionally coincide. Clean Monday is a fast day, although of a pretty cheerful nature. In keeping with the eastern tradition, meat and dairy products are not eaten. Traditionally greens are eaten, and - less explicably - sea food, though not fish, which is reserved in Lent for major feast days. Picnics in the country are common and kite flying is traditional.
Today we're back at our favourite café by St Lazarus Church, enjoying the sun on our backs.
