Let me begin with a story that has occupied my mind since it happened ... As my therapist used to say: "Don't ever act too fast on a matter that bothers you; take a deep breath, pause, and think first."
On the eve of my travel to the Greek islands, once again, Don Juan appeared as a genie to grant my last wish of desire on a magical carpet, almost flying to the moon and back before I left for the airport early Friday morning. Opening the door and seeing his inviting smile brought a deep yearning of lust in my heart. What draws me to fancy him is the similarity in our way of thinking and our free spirit. It is bonding without the stress of a relationship, a meeting of the mind, soul, and body. He is a high flyer, and I sure fly high, too! In more ways than one.
No sleep was in store as we left at 4:00am to head to different airports to catch our flights. Mine was island hopping in sunny Greece by sea, with a group of friends and the most 'Sympatico', charismatic crew; all gorgeous, each in their own right.
Thanks to the Dear Friends 'of' Mykonos, the five of us were booked at the Nautilus restaurant in town, where the night began with Irene's best hospitality as we ate and watched the passers-by. The night followed me to a bar near Caprice (where I usually spent time getting mesmerised by the sunset). The new bar we were at this time round was buzzing, and we began 'shooting away' and dancing to great house music. A few of us followed on to Jackie O's, where their yearly anniversary celebrations began with a cabaret type of act on a platform, the look-alikes of Amy Winehouse singing her songs to Tina Turner (if I remember well). Ernest took my hand, and we went on stage after the singing ended and boogied the night away. Kelly and Daniel joined too, and I kept teasing Kelly and pointing out to Ernest 'how she does not like this house music!'. She really was into it. The fireworks display added even more flavour to an already delicious night.
At sunrise, we decided to head back to our Boat, anchored not far from the disco.
Saturday was at Nammos Beach, where Sergio had adorably booked us the best six-seater table by the beach. Lunch was only half over, accompanied by Ott Domaine Rose (a summer favourite). I started chatting to the table of six guys behind us, and then .... Ooopsy la stood on the chair as soon as the music got louder. Everyone was in full party mode; the whole place rocked with joy. This went well into the early evening when our minibus awaited us back to The Boat. Before sunset, some of us dipped into the inviting blue sea to freshen up from the heat of all the dancing.
Sergio had also organised a small cocktail party of 60' to watch the sunset at his magnificent villa the following night.
I told him: "Darling, what's exactly 'small' about 60 people?"
Then again, the man thinks big and significant is granted to him. Another thoughtful and generous soul my life is blessed with.
The party was fab; I saw the super sisters I had met the year before, who sweetly threw me a birthday party at their place then. So, the world is still full of wonderful, kind-hearted and lovely people. Now, that is to those who have stated otherwise to me.
On the day of Ernest's birthday bash, he, accompanied by Kelly, Daniel, Gracie and myself, took the ferry from Mykonos for a rough 5-mile journey across the sea to the island of Delos. Could not believe that in all the years visiting Mykonos, I had never made it there. Better late than never, here we were, walking through the ruins of what was once a sacred site for the ancient Greeks, where they forbade anyone to be born or to die there during a purification. The birthplace of Artemis and Apollo. And what a site it was. The girls sat in the coffee shop after a walk around, whilst Ernest and I climbed further after visiting the museum of marble statues to view standing columns, stone walls and the remainder of what was once a Sacred island. Daniel's jog to the top of the Hill and back, sweating in full glory on those toned muscles, was admirable.
All these hot, hot men around, and they have to be gay. Well, they do make terrific friends.
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| Delos Island |
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| Museum on Delos |
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| Statue of Artemis - Shooter of Deer |
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| Terrace of the Lions along the Sacred Way |
We were all back on The Boat to appropriately prepare for a night of Greek Gods and Goddesses' party on board. From Artemis to Apollo, Athena to Poseidon, I was encouraged to go for the title of Aphrodite: the Goddess of love, beauty and desire. On the day we had walked in town, gathering the last details to add to our costumes for the party of fifteen taking place amid the Aegean sea.
We had a blast, with games to enhance the fun, bubbly champagne to drench our thirst and lots of laughter to soothe our souls. Oh, what a night!
The following day, at rough seas, we headed towards Paros, where we embarked on Naoussa Bay, lustrous by the sun's warmth shining high above us. We spent a couple of hours on the charming island of Paros in the evening, walking around the lit-up seats set amongst an alleyway next to a church by the sea, and I must add, the small boat ride was quite challenging for the crew taking us on shore; through high waves making us wet on return.
I had to go back and take photos of the charming white streets of Paros in the early morning while Gracie met an old friend for coffee.
Went to a shop where I had five eye bracelets made for each of my friends as a souvenir of our time together. While waiting, I noticed the time. Was it late again? I rushed up the Hill to view the Church at the top, took photos, and descended as fast as my legs could possibly take to get back to The Boat for our next destination.
Antiparos was next, where we settled in a local restaurant by the sea to watch another glorious sunset on a bay surrounded by Greek people. Obviously, unknown to most foreign travellers.
We had a blast, with games to enhance the fun, bubbly champagne to drench our thirst and lots of laughter to soothe our souls. Oh, what a night!
The following day, at rough seas, we headed towards Paros, where we embarked on Naoussa Bay, lustrous by the sun's warmth shining high above us. We spent a couple of hours on the charming island of Paros in the evening, walking around the lit-up seats set amongst an alleyway next to a church by the sea, and I must add, the small boat ride was quite challenging for the crew taking us on shore; through high waves making us wet on return.
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| First trade of the morning |
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| La Dolce Vita on Paros |
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| The central Church on top of the Hill |
I had to go back and take photos of the charming white streets of Paros in the early morning while Gracie met an old friend for coffee.
Went to a shop where I had five eye bracelets made for each of my friends as a souvenir of our time together. While waiting, I noticed the time. Was it late again? I rushed up the Hill to view the Church at the top, took photos, and descended as fast as my legs could possibly take to get back to The Boat for our next destination.
Antiparos was next, where we settled in a local restaurant by the sea to watch another glorious sunset on a bay surrounded by Greek people. Obviously, unknown to most foreign travellers.
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| Antiparos - Octopus and fish left to dry at the Sunset cafe |
We also visited Ios, which was more of a tourist destination to cater for a younger crowd of visitors. Our stay there was not extended, and we descended yet another island through the cobbled stairs, me in platforms and Kelly in her uncomfortable golden sandals, cursing along the way. Quite an unadventurous evening ended with a drink at the pirate ship anchored close by.
Next came the island of Santorini, set on top of hills high above the sea. Although I had been there five years ago with Aisha and Risha, celebrating my birthday during our three-day stay at the trendy Vedema resort, approaching the island by sea was a different experience.
We got there before sundown and were taken by Boat to the stairs below, where the houses and shops of Thira were placed on top of the Hill. The choices of getting up were the tramway, which we were told would leave after 35 minutes, walking uphill in the warmth of the summer evening OR riding the large donkeys (more horse-like) right up the Hill.
Ernest jumped on the first donkey and rode away; Kelly was happy to follow, but Daniel's brand-new white shorts were in danger of getting stained, and he hesitated. Gracie was not a happy bunny and was unwilling to take the donkey ride. As for me, I recalled summer camp at age 7, when I first rode a horse a hundred times larger than my size (well, you know how kids exaggerate!), and the last time was 25 years ago when MY horse decided to take off at the sound of a thunderstorm. It was a fear I was happy to overcome, but the road up looked steep and narrow, and the donkeys were as large as any horse I had ever seen. Sooooo, it's out of the question. But then, the owners of the animals seemed fierce in their bullying us to get on them. A strong man simply picked me up and almost threw me over the 'horse' while my tight-ish skirt lifted right up and my feet were placed on the leather straps attached to the iron stirrups as he could not be bothered to tighten the strap. Greaaaat! In one way, I was so happy to have conquered my fear of riding as I was not the least frightened of handling myself on the animal; however, the owner, who depended on the donkey in front, engaged in deep conversation during the long journey to the top. At each bend, my poor donkey kept going right close to the wall (I guess he was scared of heights), and in fear of scratching my well-tanned legs against the coarse walls of the Hill, I kept screaming to get his attention. He simply ignored my cries except almost at the top, when he turned around and literally shouted at me:
"Madam, shut up!"
Well, we got to the top, safe and sound and walked around the stoned streets of shops. Ilias Lallaounis, the jewellers, still existed, so we admired the byzantine styles of their 24-karat collection, checked out an art gallery carrying various fish wall hangings, and returned to our Boat for some rest. Glad to say, by taxi this time.
Dining on the rooftop of the Sphinx restaurant concluded our last night in Santorini with memories that will not fade for a long time to come. Our friendship grew more robust; the dream-like experience of island hopping in Greece was nothing short of lightning ... Greece Lightning.
One last visit was to the museum of Akrotiri in Thira, Santorini; a ruin buried under the ash of a volcanic eruption, discovered and now protected by a large roof.
Villages come and go, volcanos erupt, earthquakes shake people's lives, and tsunamis wash away; humans have a limited time on this earth, so why not make our moments count as precious. Smile, for all you have is NOW, and it will only take a second for it to last.
Again, it has been over a week back home, and Olympics mania has hit London hard. The games may be over now, but the stories that popped up since my return that week have left me in awe and happy to be alive again! Yes, again.
See you next time. Be safe, Happy, And loved.
Next came the island of Santorini, set on top of hills high above the sea. Although I had been there five years ago with Aisha and Risha, celebrating my birthday during our three-day stay at the trendy Vedema resort, approaching the island by sea was a different experience.
We got there before sundown and were taken by Boat to the stairs below, where the houses and shops of Thira were placed on top of the Hill. The choices of getting up were the tramway, which we were told would leave after 35 minutes, walking uphill in the warmth of the summer evening OR riding the large donkeys (more horse-like) right up the Hill.
Ernest jumped on the first donkey and rode away; Kelly was happy to follow, but Daniel's brand-new white shorts were in danger of getting stained, and he hesitated. Gracie was not a happy bunny and was unwilling to take the donkey ride. As for me, I recalled summer camp at age 7, when I first rode a horse a hundred times larger than my size (well, you know how kids exaggerate!), and the last time was 25 years ago when MY horse decided to take off at the sound of a thunderstorm. It was a fear I was happy to overcome, but the road up looked steep and narrow, and the donkeys were as large as any horse I had ever seen. Sooooo, it's out of the question. But then, the owners of the animals seemed fierce in their bullying us to get on them. A strong man simply picked me up and almost threw me over the 'horse' while my tight-ish skirt lifted right up and my feet were placed on the leather straps attached to the iron stirrups as he could not be bothered to tighten the strap. Greaaaat! In one way, I was so happy to have conquered my fear of riding as I was not the least frightened of handling myself on the animal; however, the owner, who depended on the donkey in front, engaged in deep conversation during the long journey to the top. At each bend, my poor donkey kept going right close to the wall (I guess he was scared of heights), and in fear of scratching my well-tanned legs against the coarse walls of the Hill, I kept screaming to get his attention. He simply ignored my cries except almost at the top, when he turned around and literally shouted at me:
"Madam, shut up!"
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| Do you see how the road intertwines right up the Hill? |
Well, we got to the top, safe and sound and walked around the stoned streets of shops. Ilias Lallaounis, the jewellers, still existed, so we admired the byzantine styles of their 24-karat collection, checked out an art gallery carrying various fish wall hangings, and returned to our Boat for some rest. Glad to say, by taxi this time.
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| Santorini - Thira |
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| View from Sphinx restaurant. |
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| The black, Volcanic island ahead |
Dining on the rooftop of the Sphinx restaurant concluded our last night in Santorini with memories that will not fade for a long time to come. Our friendship grew more robust; the dream-like experience of island hopping in Greece was nothing short of lightning ... Greece Lightning.
One last visit was to the museum of Akrotiri in Thira, Santorini; a ruin buried under the ash of a volcanic eruption, discovered and now protected by a large roof.
Villages come and go, volcanos erupt, earthquakes shake people's lives, and tsunamis wash away; humans have a limited time on this earth, so why not make our moments count as precious. Smile, for all you have is NOW, and it will only take a second for it to last.
Again, it has been over a week back home, and Olympics mania has hit London hard. The games may be over now, but the stories that popped up since my return that week have left me in awe and happy to be alive again! Yes, again.
See you next time. Be safe, Happy, And loved.
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