Wednesday, 25th of July 2012

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oday I woke up starving and decided it was probably time to put some kind of food in my fridge so I headed up the road to the local grocery store owned by my father’s good friend George. The produce on the island is entirely seasonal and organic and much of it is grown locally on the island. I stocked my hand basket up with apples, peaches, grapes, cucumbers, feta cheese, local honey and Greek yoghurt and headed inside to pay. 

The fresh produce section of the store

As I was walking out I was called to by one of my father’s other friends Tasos, who is from Sydney. He invited me for lunch that day to meet his family. Later in the afternoon I came back and was delighted to meet Michael, Kerry and their two daughters Emma and Lauren- Aussies! It’s funny how excited one becomes to meet one of their own and revel in the instant connection of familiarity. I spent the whole afternoon with them discussing work and life on the island.

Later in the evening Lauren and Emma met me for cocktails and wi-fi at The café over the Stefani. It’s nice to have some new friends!

With every day that passes by on Meganissi I am feeling more and more at home. It's a strange feeling to have as I have often felt that I don't really belong anywhere. I don't want to leave this island. I want the days to slow down and the summer to last. Before leaving Australia I was plagued with many ailments all of which have disappeared since being here. Strange. 

The view from the Stefani lookout 

Tuesday, 24th of July 2012

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oday I again frequented Fanari beach for a short tan and swim and then returned to Spartohori on the 1:00pm bus. I then went for walk down to the bay to see what new additions had been made to the island since I last visited. I love everything about this place. The walk down the hill is scenic as the path down is adorned with Cyprus trees and undergrowth paving the way to the dock where the ferry and numerous boats are moored. My father told me that his primary school class planted the Cyprus trees some 55 years ago!

The walk down to Spillia bay

I spent the rest of the afternoon perched on the beach in a café reading a book and drinking frappe- definitely not a bad way to pass some time. I accidentally fell asleep in the sun and made the trek back up to town feeling slightly sorry for my beetroot self. 

A Map of the Island with a Eucalyptus tree in the background

Traditional fishing boats

Spartochori town on the top of the hill

My future Sunseeker Yacht! 

More traditional fishing boats

The entrance of Spilia bay

Drinking frappe on the shoreline 

The Meganissi ferry

On the way home I decided to visit Lakis taverna to say hello to Ulla, Lakis and their son Spiros. Spiros is an adorable 18 year old boy, who in my eyes, will always be the 12 year old boy who snuck into my house 6 years ago and surprised me with a homemade bow and arrow to my head- cute right?! I stayed there for dinner, and later went to Vathi, the next town, with Spiros on his scooter to meet some more people for drinks.

The crowd is different to a few years ago, and for the first time I was one of the oldest there! Luckily for me, everyone was convinced I was lying about my age and counted me as being 20 years old. I love Greece! 

Monday, 23rd of July 2012

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oday I went to Fanari beach, one of the most beautiful beaches on the island. The only goal I had for myself on this trip was to get a tan so Fanari beach seemed like the perfect place to make this happen. I braved the thirty-something heat and trotted down to a small bus stop located a few metres from my house. Apparently there is a bus that goes to Fanari beach at 10:45 and returns at 1:00pm. At 11:10 the bus arrived (rolling my eyes at myself, should have known better, Greek standard time). Along the way the bus picked up a group of small children who were also on their way to the beach. Seven young, dark skinned, sun bleached children jumped aboard, unaccompanied. They would not have been any older than 10 or 11 years old. I love that about this island. Children are allowed to be children. They are allowed to explore the outdoors without fear of kidnapping or corruption, they are not cooped up inside addicted to video games or mobile phones and they grow up respecting their parents and their elders. A different sight to that of the city.  

The Bus stop and bus timetable

The road to my house

On the beach is a café adorned with palm leaves and beautiful outdoor seating. I took up residence here for a period of time to get some time out of the sun and enjoy a frappe. This café also happens to be the local gathering place for the majority of youth on the island. Everybody knows everybody so to walk into a place where no one knows you causes quite a stir.

‘Confidence’ I muttered to myself.

‘Confidence, you can do this without making a fool of yourself’.

Easier said than done perhaps but I strutted into the café and immediately sat down as coolly as possible at the nearest table and casually reclined into the yellow directors chair. I could feel their eyes burning into the back of me, not with malice but with curiosity, but they burnt none the less.

Tan Insurance 

Fanari Beach

Fanari Beach

Later in the afternoon a friend of mine joined me at the beach. I have known him going on eleven years, but this was the first time I have sat down with him to have a proper conversation. Our conversations revolved around politics, work, travel and the ideas of love and a higher power, slightly deep for a beach conversation I suppose, but an interesting perspective on Greek values and way of life. This conversation left me contemplating my past relationships and current situations and as the wind from the motorbike blew away the salt from my skin I knew something was about to change.