A Dream…
We love our little place here. I intermittently listened to the sound of the waves hitting the beach all night. At one point I got up and wandered out onto our deck to look around. It was dark with the light of a three-quarter moon playing across the clouds and the water. The crickets were doing their thing and I thought for a moment about how privileged I am to experience this moment. Not to ‘do it’ or later say ‘I did it’ like seemingly ticking something off a list, but to actually experience the moment. For me there’s a difference. Perhaps something learned from literally hundreds of days of distance walking where you live moment to moment.
Of course being me, I got to thinking about this when I went back to bed.😅 A couple of hours later and still awake I was up to watch the sunrise. That was quite a lovely moment too. It always is.
Last night our kind host told us that there wouldn’t be anywhere open in the village for breakfast. He offered to make our breakfast, and when we told him how kind of him to offer, he asked if we would like it served on our balcony. Yes please! We’ve travelled often, but as I’ve said before we typically choose not to travel very high-end. So his offer and the experience were unique which made it all the more special. Simple things…🙂
Over breakfast I raised the question with Annemarie. Why couldn’t we just stay here for a month? We sort of laughed about the idea. But why not? Shouldn’t retired grey hairs like us be able to spontaneously do those sorts of things? After all, your 70’s and hopefully 80’s are really your last chance to do the crazy things in life that you’ve always dreamt of doing when you were tied down by life and responsibilities, right? I think of my friends John and Cordu who a couple of years ago jumped in their RV with a plan to drive down into Spain and possibly onwards to Morocco. They end up driving through Morocco and halfway down the continent of Africa. Or even more impressively, their trip to India perhaps 3 years ago where they drove most of the way around the country in a three-wheeled tuk-tuk for a couple of months (John well into his 70’s). Even as I write this our good friends Corie and Jim are finding their way through North Vietnam and Laos. I’m wondering what they are thinking about concerning the typhoon that’s presently ravaging Taiwan? I think that their arrival there should be after things have settled, right Jim?
Of course these thoughts often enter my mind at home on drab winter days, or when I’m travelling. And then our nice reality settles in. We have four lovely young grandchildren and their parents (of less young ages) who we greatly enjoy being around. I’m also emotionally supporting an aging father who I’m enjoying reconnecting with. So, I guess I have my answer. I still have a very strong desire and emotional need to adventure travel and that probably will stay with me for a long time. I’m considering a distance walk next year as I turn 72 and unsurprisingly I’ve already started mulling over options in my mind.🙄😂 But that’s a project for those upcoming drab winter days.
Turns out that the path is apparently a GR route (not sure that’s correct) that runs on for quite some distance. Our landlord told us that it’s a beautiful walk that passes through the next small village and onwards to an old monastery. Of course we had to check it out so we put on our walking shoes. They felt so odd after sandals for the past 3 weeks. Geared up with water we set off.
While Annemarie rested in the small taverna with a cold drink, I walked up to the top of the next headland. Great views, but sadly no monastery.
It was a very nice hike and we returned to our 3rd floor apartment for a light lunch and we even almost had a swim. However, clouds rolled in as we sat on the beach waiting for the sun to return. It did, but only after we were showered and cleaned up. Such is life.
As much as we’ve enjoyed it here, we won’t be staying a month.😂 The weather promises rain late tomorrow and on Monday. So we’ve booked a nice, inexpensive apartment in Ierapetra an hour and a half down the coast (east). If it rains we will have a good place to weather the storm and restaurants and grocery stores to keep us nourished. With the season pretty much over we are finding some nice accommodation deals!
Happy Saturday! Oh, and election day in BC as well. There could be a few surprises!!😬😬😬
Geoff🍷
