Have just finished a plate of magnificent grapes I brought from Athens. It is the first day that the sun has come out since I arrived here but it is blowing a gale, south westerly, the boats are not sailing and the locals say its force 9 gusting to 10. Apparently it will turn to the north wind tomorrow, less strong but colder.
It has been very mild until now, 22 degrees during the day but I didn’t go to walks as it was raining on and off. I might go this afternoon. I have been mostly reading and doing odd little jobs in the house.
The basilic is thriving still but of course has gone to seed. It is enormous. The hibiscus in the patio is covered with beautiful flowers and there are still new roses coming up. These must be the last of the season. The third bougainvillia on the terrace, the one that had remained small has suddenly shot up with a tall branch covered with deep pink/purple flowers, a different colour again. Each plant has a different colour, various shades of red and pink.
The social life has again taken off. On Saturday dinner I met a new client of my architect, an Athenian whose name I didn’t catch, who has bought an old mill and its surrounding land near the road on the way to the northern beach, just after the new petrol station. He wants to build a house next to the mill and renovate the mill itself. His view is panoramic, I saw it today. The main question is how to build the house without spoiling the beauty of the old mill etc.
On Sunday dinner chez Brigitte. We were eight people. Apart from Jane and a Greek American whom I had met at her last party the others were new. A Greek chap who lives in the northern beach, ex boatbuilder from Piraeus who found his happiness in this beach before the new road. A bit primitive but quite funny with an interesting face. A Swedish woman living in Greece since 1972, married to an Athenian-islander (again missed the name) and who has a house in the south of the island, not far from the house Peter could buy. She now lives here the whole year. I get the feeling she is part of the Athenian grand bourgeois circles. Finally, the new German woman assistant who spoke no English and didn’t talk the whole evening
Talking of houses, the one of Peter’s is extremely charming. It has a magnificent view, much better than his land, there is not a straight line in it, has a grown up little garden and with some minor changes it could become extremely livable. The cost of these changes would be low. There are some fine pieces of old furniture in it. It is 6-10 minutes walk from the main road, about the same as his land but it is at the end of the village, very quiet and a bit “wild” as Peter likes it. There is no possibility of closing his view because it is high above the road and the lands in front of it are much lower. I would go for it but he has to bargain hard for the price which I think is a bit steep. Apparently it is booked for renting the whole next season by the people who were there last year. Also Simon has seen it and rent it for a week but finally did not come due to urgent political problems. I think Peter has to come and see it soon and make up his mind.
Last night we ate with the architects in the port, good fish, magnificent sweet cabbage, delicious frites. All the products local including the olive oil. Apparently you can now get chez la vieille first class cauliflowers, cabbage, beetroots, lettuce and other winter goodies.
I am so relaxed here, I can’t explain why. Maybe the fact that I’m away from the “real life” which is Paris and even Athens a bit. I could stay here again much longer. There is no pressure at all. In a way the weeks I spent at home are like a sad dream. Here I am free from all that and I meet people who are looking for the same. I am never bored. I’m comfortable. The air is fantastic. The sea a continuous “spectacle”.
1 Comment
August 13, 2008 at 6:33 am
We visited Greece last year and I must say, it made a difference having the freedom of a car, we hired one for two weeks and saw so much more, we saved quite a bit of time and convenience getting here and moving on. We really had a great time there, we are thinking of coming back.