Big fish

The quay on Pera Pigadia Island

This morning, at Pera Pigadia, a fisherman in a small boat approached some wealthy Americans on a power yacht anchored nearby offering them a large fish for sale. Three and a half kilos for 100 Euros.

The Americans didn't want to buy it. Perhaps it was too expensive for them or they didn't like the fish. Who knows. So, the fisherman putted away back to the small quay on Pera Pigadia island.

I wondered what he would do with such a big fish. Would he take it to Vathi on nearby Ithaka, an hour or two away to sell to one of the restaurants? It wouldn't last very long on ice on his boat. And he couldn't just let it rot. I worried for him when I didn't see him leave.

I forgot about the fish and the fisherman during the day but late in the afternoon, I noticed several other Greeks tying up their boats to the quay. Perhaps he would sell the fish to one of them? Or perhaps to one of the other tourists who had recently tied up their boats there.

Then, just before sunset, I heard a noise of a gas motor on the island near the quay. Perhaps one of the cruisers was using a generator to get some power for his refrigerator. No, it wasnt' that. Several Greeks were cutting wood on the island. Perhaps a path for some rich American who decided to buy the island and wanted to take a closer look? Perhaps the rich Americans from the power yacht?

The island is covered with bush and small trees, so difficult to walk on unless a path is made. Soon, the Greeks returned from the island, dragging the wood behind them. And in a few minutes I noticed smoke near their boats. A bbq! Of course.

Several other boats arrived full of people, soon the music was on, and so it looked like the big fish was going to find itself on a table after all. And of course, the fisherman would be the hero of the day with all his buddies owing him favours and invitations in the future.

And the Americans? Probably wishing they had bought the big fish after all.