The wind

The wind blows clouds 

across Chora’s sky

all day and night.

Swimming is a challenge in the choppy sea.

Fish soup is appreciated on chilly nights

and new books are a welcome treat!

Breakfast at Big Theo’s

We were invited to share breakfast this morning at one of our adopted son’s homes in Kato Kambos, 

south on the island. The house is at the end of a long dirt road with a lone palm tree...almost 60-70 feet tall. 

Vassiliki, John and Big Theo

At the very end of the road, about 100 yards from the house is the beach...

...a beautiful windswept spot with a small church at the edge of the water.

Our breakfast included local eggs, tomatoes, cheese,

peppers, cucumber, olives, capers and a beet chutney!

After lunch we were invited to view Theo’s collection of Lino printings.

He had a very successful exhibition this last summer.

We selected two to display on our walls at home.

Backgammon and brownies

We started the day with a backgammon lesson

for John from Anastasia.

She was the teacher and he was forced to learn a new style of playing!

Later in the afternoon we went to Michael Anne’s in Langada

for an early dinner of pumpkin soup, beetroot salad, broccoli salad

and a dessert of western style brownies!

Theo, Marianna, Zoë (Theo’s mother) at Michael Anne’s.

Sunset from Michael Anne’s home.

Homemade pasta lasagne

Last night we had guest chefs in the underground kitchen.

Alex decided to make his special homemade pasta lasagne.

Jenny and I were his assistants!

Thirteen guests from Belgium, Germany, Canada and Greece

enjoyed a delicious lasagne dinner with a gift of homemade wine.

October 3rd

We have enjoyed summer warmth for the past three days.

 This morning we wandered through the village after breakfast, enjoying the quiet pathways.

Despite  having a head cold, I could not resist the urge to swim at Agia Anna. 

The sea was like glass...smooth and clear! 

My mother would have celebrated her 93rd birthday today.

As I was floating in the sea I thought about how she would have enjoyed this moment.

The October Face of Chora

There is something so special...so unique...about being regular visitors to Chora.

We are not tourists. We do not have expectations.

 We do not wonder why the pathways are silent and empty...why shops and cafes are closed...why the village has almost gone to sleep. 

We love this “ October face” of our village as it prepares for the deeper silence of winter. 

There are evening gatherings of familiar faces...more conversations in Greek than in French, Italian, German and English.

We know when the bakery is open...when the grocery stores close...why the church bells ring...where to find a good home cooked meal. 

The days are still warm enough for outdoor coffees...the evenings warm enough for outdoor wines at sunset. 

It is the perfect time to be here.

A calm day

Well...Zorba passed to the north and did not affect us at all. We both have head colds but decided last night that we would attend a house concert down in the port. Unfortunately there was no concert because the musician was stuck on another island without ferry service. On the positive side we were all served a wonderful dinner of pumpkin soup, pasta, salad and desserts as well as beverages by the hostess in her home by the sea.

There was no wind today...absolutely calm!

And we are happy to report that Chora is finally becoming calm.

Tonight we shared sunset drinks on the upper terrace of Jazzmin.

It was a spectacular sunset!