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Log of Greece, Day 1
May. 8th, 2006 11:49 amOur first day in Greece nearing sundown, though I am exaggerating slightly. The sun is a good 2 hands above the neighbouring buildings, but has already lost the fight with the wind; outside it is decidedly chilly.
Yesterday we flew in, and I swear even the worst goat-brained German tourist on Kos has more situational awareness than the people on an airport. I was quite apalled at the way every-one seemed to be in my way. Outrageous prices for a decent cuppa coffee and my stress-headache didn't help a single bit. This gets me in quite the fatalistic mood, and also got me to snap at kids.
When we exited the plane, two kids got separated from their dad in the isle of the plane. Kiddo's were at least 10 years old, and asked "daddy" in the most plaintive pained voice. "Daddy's not coming, he's going back to Holland" I said.
Flying gets people nervous, while I endure it as stoic as if it were a trip on my bike. 'T was quite adorable in NoKey though.
The kid on front of us in the airplane was wailing during descent. NoKey giving the mommy a tip, and then the mommy saying, "he doesn't want to wear the seatbelt". I wonder how he manages in the car. I would have replied "Then you are going to die", but mommy spoiled the brat rotten and coaxed and bribed it.
I'm so good with kids.
Meanwhile, we are blessedly free of them. There was some sort of hostess-parade this morning, but we slept clean through it and ate around 11ish.
NoKey took me for a walk into the centre of Kos-city. from the Lambi boulevard where Artemis is located, to the harbor and churches, the Agoras (market) and of course, Stamatis' Taverna Alexandros. The delighted faces of Lydia and Stamatis as they recognized NoKey was great. I was introduced to my new fav. caffeine-source: frappé and we lounged for a good while.
After that, we explored the crowded, bazar-like homely and filled with terraces Old Town. I had expected the Greek to be short and squat, like Lydia (who's Polish, actually), but modern Greek women are thin, blonde, and wearing stylish sunglasses.
I stumbled upin a beaded, bias-cut summer dress with Greek sleeves and tried it on, but the yellow and teal was definitely not my colour. We then found a black dress with purple daffodils which fit better and was definitely my colour, and bought it. I also found an Eastpack backpack with single strap for 8,50.
The Greek way of exploring ancient buildings is simple: First, you wait for an earthquake. Then, when the island is half-collapsed, you look for remnants. Anything that is found, will be left as it is, excepting the mosaics, which will be covered with sand and gravel to protect it. Anyone interested can just traipse, climb and photograph as they please. Oh and large mosaics of deities will be put under a roof.
NoKey and I spent some time exploring the remnants of an old bathhouse. Overgrown with pretty flowers I took loads of pictures, loving my camera every pixel.
'T is a shame that pictures nor words can describe the atmosphere here. I was very fed up with the Dutch mentalitly of eat-and-be-eaten, the everlasting ikke-ikke-ikke.
The trees and shrubs are in bloom. Roses feaured a lot, and wild flowers of course. The narrow sidewalks are sport to dodge the tresses and palms and cars and scooters. The very air is pregnant of the perfume of all the flowers.
And then there is the people.
As soon as they find out NoKey speaks the language, they swoon and test the extent of it. They are very tolerant and laid-back, and I can sense the way they take each day as it will come, enjoying it all the while. It is a good way to live, and I will revel in their presence.
Note: all times are LT, or local time (GMT +2)
Yesterday we flew in, and I swear even the worst goat-brained German tourist on Kos has more situational awareness than the people on an airport. I was quite apalled at the way every-one seemed to be in my way. Outrageous prices for a decent cuppa coffee and my stress-headache didn't help a single bit. This gets me in quite the fatalistic mood, and also got me to snap at kids.
When we exited the plane, two kids got separated from their dad in the isle of the plane. Kiddo's were at least 10 years old, and asked "daddy" in the most plaintive pained voice. "Daddy's not coming, he's going back to Holland" I said.
Flying gets people nervous, while I endure it as stoic as if it were a trip on my bike. 'T was quite adorable in NoKey though.
The kid on front of us in the airplane was wailing during descent. NoKey giving the mommy a tip, and then the mommy saying, "he doesn't want to wear the seatbelt". I wonder how he manages in the car. I would have replied "Then you are going to die", but mommy spoiled the brat rotten and coaxed and bribed it.
I'm so good with kids.
Meanwhile, we are blessedly free of them. There was some sort of hostess-parade this morning, but we slept clean through it and ate around 11ish.
NoKey took me for a walk into the centre of Kos-city. from the Lambi boulevard where Artemis is located, to the harbor and churches, the Agoras (market) and of course, Stamatis' Taverna Alexandros. The delighted faces of Lydia and Stamatis as they recognized NoKey was great. I was introduced to my new fav. caffeine-source: frappé and we lounged for a good while.
After that, we explored the crowded, bazar-like homely and filled with terraces Old Town. I had expected the Greek to be short and squat, like Lydia (who's Polish, actually), but modern Greek women are thin, blonde, and wearing stylish sunglasses.
I stumbled upin a beaded, bias-cut summer dress with Greek sleeves and tried it on, but the yellow and teal was definitely not my colour. We then found a black dress with purple daffodils which fit better and was definitely my colour, and bought it. I also found an Eastpack backpack with single strap for 8,50.
The Greek way of exploring ancient buildings is simple: First, you wait for an earthquake. Then, when the island is half-collapsed, you look for remnants. Anything that is found, will be left as it is, excepting the mosaics, which will be covered with sand and gravel to protect it. Anyone interested can just traipse, climb and photograph as they please. Oh and large mosaics of deities will be put under a roof.
NoKey and I spent some time exploring the remnants of an old bathhouse. Overgrown with pretty flowers I took loads of pictures, loving my camera every pixel.
'T is a shame that pictures nor words can describe the atmosphere here. I was very fed up with the Dutch mentalitly of eat-and-be-eaten, the everlasting ikke-ikke-ikke.
The trees and shrubs are in bloom. Roses feaured a lot, and wild flowers of course. The narrow sidewalks are sport to dodge the tresses and palms and cars and scooters. The very air is pregnant of the perfume of all the flowers.
And then there is the people.
As soon as they find out NoKey speaks the language, they swoon and test the extent of it. They are very tolerant and laid-back, and I can sense the way they take each day as it will come, enjoying it all the while. It is a good way to live, and I will revel in their presence.
Note: all times are LT, or local time (GMT +2)
