Unplugged

No Internet connection in the village for days. Have just a few minutes here at the internet cafe in Rethymnon, just enough time to ask for your patience. Need to post this before I get booted. See you soon.

Crete: Sensory Overload

My Midwestern senses need time to adjust to the endless beauty of this land. For now, I can offer no more than scattered pieces: a peek at the land, a taste of her fruit, a whiff of her fragrance, a brush of her hand, a whisper of her wind. If my camera and my words weave the parts together just so, then you might also perceive that which lies beyond the senses: the mystery of Greece, the magic of Crete, and the power of stepping out of your known world and into the unknown.

Welcome to my fairy tale.

My room in Marianna's house

This is the sun that my sister gave to me 

that I brought with me that I hung over the door to my room:

This is my bed. When I lie here, I feel like a fairy tale character, 

like Goldilocks, but invited and satisfied:

This is the back wall of my room. The house is 12th century Venetian. 12th century! 

At night, before I fall asleep, I listen for stories that the stones might tell.

Just outside my room is an open area used to dry herbs.
Everyday, I breathe sage, cypress, laurel.

Piraeus

My stay in Athens did not work out as I had hoped, but that's okay. I have a way of spinning disappointments into gold. Today has been an absolute delight. My day started with breakfast at my hotel:

Strolling and shopping in Piraeus...

Koulouras! This is the first koulouras I've seen since 1977. Golly, when I was a child, the koulouras did not sit down. He walked up and down the streets with the koulouria on a stick. Well, it's been thirty five years, I guess he's tired. ;)

 

Beggars abound in Piraeus. I felt compelled to photograph this woman. Whereas most beggars stood or sat along walls and curbs, this woman plopped herself in the middle of the sidewalk with her legs crumpled beneath her, as if to say, "Notice me, dammit!" And so I did.

 

Clearly, this driver took lessons from Mr. Bean.

Interesting juxtaposition.