Greek women

Now, over the years I have seen a tremendous change in Greek women. Their style, look, aura all seem to have gone through a makeover, and to be honest, the results are astonishing. Wen I was younger, I remember vacations spent with relatives, always left me in a bit of a muddle. My aunts were always either dressed in black, in mourning, or wore shapeless skirts and dresses. My cousins, having no real contact with the fashion world, except for magazines, tended to be dressed in whatever was handed down from others, or made by mothers and grandmothers. This seemed to be the case wherever I went, apart from in Athens, where it seemed fashion started and ended. Nowadays, times having changed, and boutiques opening up left, right and centre, there is no longer a problem of not being trendy, but rather one of being a bit OTT. More skin, less cloth appears to be the message, especially in the hot summer months, and believe me, the frumpy, pear shaped bodies have quickly disappeared, and in their place we now see beautiful long legged, tanned Greek women strutting around, and they are not to be ignored. In the evenings, when I have time to sit and have a coffee in the village square, I find myself surprised at the ways things have changed. When I was 18, on holiday from the UK, the foreign relative, I remember the local women looking me up and down, as I walked along the streets in my mini skirt, or my extra short shorts. All I could hear was tut tut and a "koitaxe tin...den ntrepete" which for those non Greeks out their is loosely translated as "look at her...shame on her". Today, as I watch their daughters and granddaughters wearing even shorter skirts, and high heeled stilettos, I wonder if they have even noticed them as they leave the house, and I am sure that if they have, their only reaction would be to give them a clove of garlic to carry around with them, so as to ward off the "evil eye". Times have changed though. I remember that to have a haircut or even styled the nearest hairdressers was an hours drive. Now, well, now two of my best friends own one of the three salons within walking distance from my house. Anna and Rania ... great stylists, modern salon, a good place to go even if you' re just a bit down, and a need something to pick you up. Head massages while you have your hair washed are a must, especially if you feel tired. Then there are the clothes shops. Again, in just a few minutes you can pop in and find current fashions, for men women and children. Also, another friend has accessories from bags to bangles, whatever you fancy. Gone are the days of just being a mother, a wife, a housekeeper. Gone are the overalls. No more facial hair, no more bland makeupless faces, discreet clothing, flat shoes. Greece and Greek women are making their mark in the world, becoming more like Greek goddesses each day, even in small villages like this.....