Today, I hiked up to the Paleokastritsa Monastery. It's at the summit of a large hill on a peninsula. It was quite the journey to get there walking up the skinny winding road while taxi and huge buses went flying by. I walked on top of a stone barrier because it was off the road but i had to be careful i didn't fall off that. I took some fantastic photographs. It's almost impossible to take a bad photo here. Being a holy holiday, it was packed with people from all over the world. I spent a lot of time just listening to all the different languages. I am getting very good at distinguishing Greek from Italian, French, Russian, etc. the monastery was beautiful. So many gardens and cats. There were about 30 cats. There are cats everywhere here. Sleeping wherever they find shade. I love that.
As I made my way back down, I often stopped to take a break and enjoy the lovely views. I can't wait until I can post more pictures. My iPod has trouble posting more than one photo. I also found a boat company which takes you all about paleo through the blue grottoes and to secluded beaches. I need to wait for another day through its too windy today the water is not as clear. Then, I walked to my favorite super market to buy some sour cherry juice for making cocktails. I got some kumquat liquor the other day. It's a Corfu specialty. I also picked up more bread to eat with my olives and yogurt and tzatziki mix. I need to pick up some local wine sometime as well my apartment neighbors Chris and Sara are raving about it. They are so nice. They let me borrow their snorkeling gear yesterday and tomorrow they are bringing me with them to Corfu Town the capital of Corfu. Everyone I have met here is so welcoming and generous.
Snorkeling yesterday was amazing I couldn't believe how beautiful the underwater world is! I would love to go again when it's sunny instead of raining. I wonder if the rock pools would look different. I actually fell asleep on the beach. I think I was out quite awhile too.. Haha. No one else was out in the whole of platakia bay. It was raining off and on and cloudy. Good thing too or I woulda been fried.
Nikos and his family are wonderful and so good to me. I am not a customer but rather part of the family. I met Nikos' parents and brother, Aristotle, today. I thought i heard that Nikos and Natasha have ten kids. My favorite is Spiros. He is about 8 and quite the character! I almost lit of a firecracker in the lounge and at the last moment threw it outside by the pool before it loudly burst. I also love his name!! He is named after St. Spirdon who came to Corfu from Cyprus.
This afternoon, I went to the pool bar and talked to Nikos before the restaurant opened. He made me a complimentary Greek Frappe. So delicious. So much better than anything on Caribou Coffee's menu. As a part of Easter tradition, I got lamb off the spit today. It was fabulous. The view was as amazing as the food. I am not sure what kind of white sauce they served with the bread but it was very tasty. it was like a garlic tzatziki. I was savoring my frappe so much Aris made me another one and I sat enjoying the view. I always find it funny when people talk in Greek about me like I can't understand what they are saying. It's pretty easy to pick out America and Minnesota from the humble jumble of Greek. But, it doesn't bother me. I don't believe they are gossiping, just conversing.
Last night I found out that I should be buying water not drinking from the tap. They said it wasn't too bad, it's just very heavy. I really noticed the difference when Nikos gave me a big bottle of pure water to take back to my apartment. Whoops. I should have asked but I saw a drinking plastic cup by the sink and assumed it was okay. It probably wouldn't hurt me, but I won't drink any more.
Well, the sun has come out and I am going to head down to the beach. Tonight I hope to take a nice long walk. I hope everyone back home is well and in high spirits as spring sets in. Greece is all about family so to all my relatives I have you all in my thoughts often here and I look forward to reuniting this summer:)
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