Last I signed off, Witt and I had spent one day on the Isle of Paros. It is now the sixth day of our journey, and we are sitting on the ferry on our way back to Athens. I have picked up two things from Paros that I am bringing back to the mainland with me: mosquito bites and a sunburn. Although I am currently uncomfortable, the time on the island was well worth it and the happy memories will long surpass the discomfort of the moment.
The food, people and beauty of the island were all
exquisite. The food in Greece really is to die for. I could sustain myself with
the food prepared on that island for the rest of my life without any
complaints. From the traditional plates (eggplant dip, clay pot beef dishes,
gyros, greek salads, etc.) to the classics like pizza, everything we had was so
good, and I even had a couple of meals twice just to maximize my ability to try
more new dishes. The drinks, too, were rather good. I had two of the best
cocktails of my life at two different bars throughout my time there. I wonder
how my bartending skills would improve if I were to move out to an island.
Beyond the food, we
also really enjoyed the people in Paros. We made good friends with the staff at
our “hostel,” enjoyed the hospitality of everyone at the restaurants and bars,
and met some locals for a fun night out. One of my favorite moments was meeting
an owner of a restaurant in Leftkes, a small village in the interior of the
island. She was incredibly kind, and as we left she took my hand in both of
hers and kissed both of my cheeks and said “thank you” in Greek. It wasn’t so
much the action as the tenderness with which she did it that made the
impression on me. I hope that I can be so kind to strangers one day.
We found a number of beaches that were just gorgeous around
the island. My favorite was one that was tucked into a cove with crystal clear
waters that overlooked the bay and the mountains of a distant island. We also
took the chance to go scuba diving, where we were able to take a little dingy
out towards some rock outcroppings in the middle of the ocean. The dive was
really fun. Visibility was poor, but I just love the meditative feel of
breathing underwater. We were able to go through a number of different caverns
too, which made for a fun swim.
We ended our last day on the island with drinks on a rooftop
bar to watch the sunset, and then an unexpected adventure – a fish pedicure! It
was SO uncomfortable at first, but it was kind of fun pushing myself to try
something so different. The fish bite all of the dead skin off of your feet,
and they swim and nibble so quickly that the water feels like it is vibrating.
The first 30 seconds Witt and I were laughing uncontrollably, and the next
minute I was just trying to collect myself to get through the 10 minutes we had
purchased. By the time the initial shock passed, however, I was able to slightly
enjoy the process. Afterwards my feet looked and felt great, so at least it was
an effective process!
One last day in Greece before Bain World Cup! Stay tuned.
