Around the neighborhoods

Ι was out walking on a sunny Sunday afternoon. 

Strolling around the neighborhood areas, contemplating 

the first spring awakening...yes, what indulgent way to 
spend free time! Here in Greece, a multitude of tiny 
heralds have already come out of the ground coloring 
and highlighting a divine canvas! Those little heads popping 
up everywhere round off a promising nature palette. 

It’s a joy to walk and look around feeling the warmth 

of the generous sun, observing all those changes that 

seasons can bring to a peaceful landscape. 

I got to thinking… There never was a greater need for

 a genuine spring awakening than there is right now. 

Here and throughout the world… 

We all carry sunshine in our hearts, why do we let 

negativism prevail over our lives? 

A handful of wood anemones brightened up those

 precious hours across the countryside and 

chased away every dark thought… 

My little tour ended up with a warm cup of coffee and a nice 

chat with friends. Real life friends, you are irreplaceable! 

And you virtual ones, you are unique as well even 

if we don’t meet face to face.

Wishing you a great start into spring...

I'm leaving you with a great poem I love so much...

.....I will mourn forever, can you hear me? For you,

all alone, in Paradise. 

……………………….

This is how I speak of you and me

because I love you and in love I know

To enter like a full Moon

from everywhere, for your small foot in the vast

 sheets

to pluck jasmine petals and I have the power

 as you are asleep, to blow, to take you

through glimmering passages and hidden archways of the sea

 hypnotized trees with spiders that shine silver.

Waves know you from hear-say

how you caress, how you kiss

how you say “what” and “eh” under your breath.

All around the neck, the bay

it’s always us the light and the shade....

“The Monogram”  

Odysseas Elytis (1972)

Nobel Prize for Literature 1979

Until next

O

Countryside stories

Keeping life simple, this is what I always bear well in mind 

every time I leave the countryside. In mid December, 

we had a romantic getaway to Arachova, a winter destination, 

a little mountainous town built on the hills of Parnassus. 

Despite being a touristy region, life carries on 

as if it was yesterday.

People seem to understand themselves and the world around 

them in a deeper way. By virtue of its striking authenticity, 

village life appeals so much to me. You could say that things 

are never perfectly candid. Yes! But I insist on retaining 

this generous integral part of pureness 

as a good purpose in life. 

The story is the following. 

Once in the village, we woke up to a snowy scene outside

our windows. We took the car to reach a café giving an 

exhilarating view on top of the mountain. At the beginning, 

the road was still pretty clear and dry. The snowy landscape 

caused us a flurry of excitement but alas, ice suddenly 

brought an end to the fun. The car was sliding up and 

down on the icy tarmac making it impossible to put 

the chains on! A man appeared...

...from nowhere. He calmed us down, helped to steer the car 

to the edge of the road and invited us to have coffee 

at his home, a cottage hidden in the woods. 

Convinced by his nice behavior and struck by this squeeze 

of kindness we were hosted for a couple of hours by a 

wonderful man and a woman, both retired in province 

by will. The authenticity of their simple being and the fact 

that they were so genuinely interested in our problem,

 made us think that village people are the best. 

Those simple things count the most and can bring an amount 

of joy. The more sophisticated we become, 

the more egoists we are… 

I’m not sure but it’s a piece of the puzzle 

completing the human face. 

Wishing all people and especially women (8th March)

all the best things of this world.

I will be back soon with pretty spring photos.

O