Tales from a Trip: Greece

A friend of mine went to Athens in Winter.  The first thing that came to mind was: Winter???  Sure, it is mild but still. I think he still enjoyed it, threats of strikes notwithstanding.

Made me think about my time in Greece. I have been to many places, but that still counts one of the best times in my life. Like many, I feed off the energy of the people. And back then, the energy was bright, and infectious.

We tried to have the luxury at a bargain basement price. And careful planning ensured most of that objective was achieved. So we stayed at the Intercontinental Athens with a spectacular view of the Parthenon at a steal. We had a wonderful resort in Mykonos with an awesome view of the sea. And later, we had a fabulous hotel on the side of the volcano that is Santorini.

The sun gave the perfect light for the most flattering of pictures. The blue of the sea was the perfect backdrop for the golden skins that walked around mostly bare bodied.

The Celebrity Sandal Maker

The days were long, and nights packed. We met a humble elderly sandal maker whose book is on the reading list of a prestigious university.  We took geeky pictures in between centuries old columns. We imagined how men and women in Grecian drapes would stand on cliffs as they waved goodbye to seafaring ships.

We would sit by the sea and see the sun rise in the morning. Oh the magic of seeing dark skies turn amber. We met a famous pelican. We found the Venice of Greece. We spent days at the nude beaches, baking with carrot oil until we had that 'healthy' orange glow. Over tanning made our skin itch, something the pharmacist said was common among unwary visitors in Summer. Our feet got burned on a volcanic sand beach. We discovered a local hair genius who gave us radical cuts that defied gravity. We partied in gay clubs where women get hit on by men who knew the catch of the day would be found there. We spent too much money on island boutiques selling prestigious Greek designer labels. We found seafood restaurants where the locals went to. We drove around islands.

It was magic.

If there is one thing that would have made the experience complete, it would have to be a summer romance. Love was certainly in the air.  It has always been my dream to return, but somehow Life has pushed me into different parts of the world.

One day.

Here are some pictures. Click on any to open up the lightbox. I tried to install a simple gallery but it was just too complicated to code it. Sigh. If anyone knows how, please let me know.

Enjoy.

© SRFlyer 2013