The last Days of a Greek Summer

The last day of September, and what a beautiful day, it is too.

The previous week, autumn had hit Greece with a bang, totally unexpected, black clouds gathered, the wind howled and we had rain, temperatures dropped from around thirty degrees centigrade to the low twenties.

We scuttled indoors when evening fell, the wind made it too uncomfortable to sit in the garden, as I closed all the windows, the first time since late Spring, I was overcome by a great sadness, is this it then, the end of  summer?

The end of lazy, boozy evenings with friends and family in the garden?

Are we going to have to be indoors from now on?

It’s too early!

Summer’s end usually happens around the beginning of November in Loutraki, I should have known better, we were only having an odd week of bad weather.

Today dawned sunny and calm, still a bit chilly in the early morning, but things soon warmed up, I grabbed my beach gear and headed seawards.

I only need to cross the road from our house and I’m on a narrow, rough  track which will take me to the beach.

It’s rare that I ever meet anyone; the odd car sometimes comes along, causing me to jump into the undergrowth at the edge.

I worry about snakes when this happens; quite a few have slithered across my path down here, especially in the spring.

I stroll along taking in the scenery, a few olive trees here and there, and tall cypress trees standing to attention in the distance, all against a backdrop of the Gerania Mountains.

Houses are few and far between, one I sometimes stop to admire is well kept, spic and span, painted sparkling white with bright blue shutters.

I do love this house but I’m not sure if it isn’t out of character with its surroundings, I think,  maybe it’s more suited to one of the Greek Islands, the Cyclades let’s say.

Once I reach the end of the track the sea awaits me, no matter how often I see the sea, which is every day that first glimpse takes my breath away, and my heart soars!

I had the beach to myself, just as I like it, people ask me if I become bored, do I take a book with me?

The answer is no to both questions.

I sit and look at the sea, what’s in there? What’s out there? Do we really know?

It is so peaceful and calming, I just sit and think and reflect on life.

Feeling the sun on your face, the breeze on your skin, the silkiness of the water once you are in the sea, for me it’s heaven!

I hear the church bells of Saint Marina in Loutraki ringing, which means  it’s one o clock, they only ring at one o clock, what the significance of this is, I don’t know, anyway, time for one last dip in the sea, dry off and head for home and lunch.

Back to where I started from, our house is in sight.

Tomorrow, I’ll do the same again!

Sea fever

John Masefield

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,

And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;

And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,

And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking,

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide

Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;

And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,

And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,

To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife;

And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,

And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.