Skopelos

 

It would be hard to describe Skopelos and not use the word "perfect" in there somewhere. The place is a little glimpse of paradise both in how it looks and in how it makes you feel. It's rather quiet, but with enough open conversation and chatter to keep things alive. It has the perfect fit of wonderful people and wonderful places and, in the small bays where we like to hang out, it also provides a chance to live a full experience in an area of no more than one square kilometer. 

So what if one opens his/her windows in the morning only to walk out onto a balcony with full view of the beautiful Aegean Sea, in all its peaceful splendor (and framed by green)?  So what if the slow walk down the hill crosses a small garden with watermelon, eggplant, peppers, tomatos and honeydew?  So what if crossing the street (after looking both ways, of course) one reaches a small restaurant and pebble beach where home base is established just under the shade of the mulberry tree?  So what if the water is nearly motionless and clear?  So what if children run back and forth in the sun, playing games?  So what if the food is bountyful and completely yummy, served with a smile and a "Geia sas kirie Giorgo" (as pappou was renamed). So what if here time almost stood still and the girls spent hours and hours doing the simple things while the adults... well, they did the simple things too!

It would be hard to find fault in Skopelos, whose quiet demeanor is quite a refreshing change from chaotic Athens. The essence of the place, as beautiful as it is, is also in its people. Simple, open, welcoming, smiling. In the distance you can still feel the pain of economic problems. It comes up in conversation too if you let it, but you often chose other topics and you bask in the light of both sun and people here. It was the perfect place for a mini-family reunion of sorts. It was the only time that all of us - the KL gang, Pappou, Moca and Aleko - would be there together. And it was perfect (there is that word again!) for it. Small talk. A glass of wine, a beer, or retsina (for some). A family table overlooking the darkening sky (through Amalia's organge and Irini's pink) and a post-dinner chat while the children play on the beach (skipping stones?  chasing the little kitten?).

Leaving it was difficult, but filled with smiling good-byes and big hugs from friends both local and visitors alike.

Fun in Athens

Considering how much time we spent in Greece (six weeks!) this summer, it would be hard to pinpoint just one set of Athens-based photos to give a true image of who we were with and what we did with them. As usual, our time in Athens was a constant flow of people coming and going. We are sure that Stelio and Vasil (and their families) see our arrival and stay as nothing less than a continuous barrage of movement. In fact, that would be an apt description. Our early days in Athens included the pre-Pappou and Moca and pre-Aleko time. It was "down time" to a certain extent as we worked on fixing up the apartment, going shopping, doing paperwork and maximizing time with friends before we headed out to an island. 

The pictures above are only a small glimpse of things we did around home base before our island jaunt. Hanging out. Playing. Sipping on frape. Chatting with friends. Home time. We love spending time with every one of you~ thank you for putting up with us!

Glimpses of Italy

We write now from Malaysia, where we are about to embark on year 12. Wow!  But in the flash that was summer and the hundreds of pictures that we are now sifting through, there are memories that seem like a long time ago, and yet were just a month or so. Was it really just that?  Did we really do so much?  Were we really surrounded by such wonderful people on such a regular basis?  The answer is a loud and unequivocal "Yes!". Now comes the rush to share it all with the world before our work takes over and our time is squeezed yet again. Take a deep breath. Here we go.

Back in late June we took a week to visit Adri and Luca. Our stay in Milano was a relaxed one with lots of roaming the town and walking around a neighborhood (construction and all) that highlighted the contrast between the old (like the building they live in) and the new (like the three buildings around the block that are as futuristic as could be). The visit also took us on a three day - two night visit to Tuscany, and specifically to Siena, to visit the namesake of Amalia's middle name. 

Tuscany was beautiful, as we expected. Milan was too. Italy brought with it a "down to Earth" sophistication that was a nice change from what we're used to. It was a contrast to Greece's more rough approach to being and was opposed to Malaysia's futuristic approach to development. What do we take with us? Rolling hills in Tuscany. Lots of people walking dogs (and allowing us to pet them). Slow moving city life. Family everything. Laughter. Things of essence.

Amalia's Message to Daddy

This video was recorded the day after Amalia, running down an incline at our hotel in Skopelos, stumbled and banged her her forehead onto the ground. Daddy was gone that day in Athens to show some friends around Athens and would return two days later. In an effort to make sure that everything was okay, mommy took this video, which subsequently sat on the desktop for several years until the formatting would work for this blog. [This video, though taken in June 2013, was posted on Jan. 2, 2019]

One of daddy's favorites, we're delighted to add it to this blog for memories sake. Love through the years only grows stronger. We love you little (growing) girl!

Water & Sun

Then there was the beach... ahh the beach. It's always great to return to that, to the calm movement of cool water and the endless invitation to look outward, to the horizon, where the blue sea meets a cloudless blue sky. The beach was shallow, as we like it, and the girls were happy in the water despite early statements that they would not go into the water because they didn't want to wash their hair later on. 

But the sea does that. It invites you in with the sparkles and the fish. One thing leads to another - perhaps it's wanting to put water in that pail - and you get your feet wet. Then you realize that the wetness isn't so bad and, once your toes get accustomed to the temperature it's actually quite lovely. Next it's the leg, perhaps only up to the knee. Then it's watching the small fish surrounding your toes as your feet fluff up the sand. Then it's wanting to go out just a bit further. Finally, it's the pure delight in the splashing and the playing. By then the sea has overcome your desire for non-showers and keeping hair dry. You squeal in delight and laugh as you splash each other. Summer has arrived for real.