Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Island Adventures












Another trip has come to an end. It is bitter sweet that travelling phenomenon, there's always something you'll miss forever once you leave yet another place. 
I can't deny, after another marathon of driving car rentals,running through airports and sleeping on questionable hotel sheets, I appreciate being back to the comfort of our faithful Merc, couch and the barking of an easily excitable pug. 

This trip was extra special because it involved going back to Greece, which had become my homeland for the duration of the past decade. I stand firm in my belief that "home" is a matter of choice and for me this land of sun, sea аnd scattered vegetation certainly qualifies as such.
Even though I've lived in Greece for years, there's always something new to see and another island to explore. 
This time we drove to Athens, which is quite a journey in itself, involving a 1000-km-trip, crossing the entire country. There are dangerous turns and marvelous views of the sea, simply put, I'd recommend this journey to a friend. 



















I have to admit, Athens may be the cradle of Western civilization but it's not among my favorite cities. Nevertheless, there is a good reason I love to go back to Athens: F-O-O-D! My favorite little restaurant, Sardelaki, is right there, in the heart of Glyfada. I guess I'm growing wise (sounds better than old), since food is a top priority of mine and culinary tourism is always on top of my list. If you are ever in town, stop by for possibly the best sardines you'll ever taste. 



As you can imagine, I didn't drive for 1000 kilometers  just for the sardines, as good as they were. Athens was just a brief stop on the way to the strangest place I've ever visited - the island of Karpathos. After an hour of flying over the Mediterranean, we reached a windy island, devoid of vegetation, blessed (or cursed) with an unique topography.
This is an odd place where the main inhabitants seem to be cats and goats. There is so little going on, time is standing still (or least it's passing really really slowly). If I had to come up with a single-word definition of a "traditional Greek island", I'd say "Karpathos".

















































































Navigating Karpathos is a challenge even for the most experienced drivers. Greeks aren't famous for being too safety cautious and this is evident in the picturesque yet dangerous roads, carved along the cliffs that encompass the entire island. I'd attribute the relative lack of accidents only to its minuscule population size (just above 6000 inhabitants) and its remote location, which discourages the less adventures traveler.



I was sad to leave this strange place and I'd love to return, despite my resolution not to repeat destinations. Karpathos is certainly not for everyone. Somehow the surrounding sea has shielded the island from the outside world. There is little trace of the modern industrial civilization, restaurants are family-run, their products are home-grown or they rely on  the catch of the day to feed their customers. You can drive for quite some time, without meeting another vehicle, without meeting a soul, actually (if you don't count the goats that roam the cliffs).
Gazing at the dramatic lunar paysage, offset by the sea, which shimmers in million shades of blue, you may find yourself engulfed in purifying solitude. This tiny self-contained cosmos may be just an hour away from the bustling Athenian metropolis but it resembles nothing familiar. For this reason you may love it or hate but it won't leave you indifferent.















 




 








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