Greece

I've spent a fair bit of time in Greece but it has been a long time since I was there last. I don't write journals as a rule. I do have a bazillion of notebooks on the go with bits and pieces, thoughts, lists, etc BUT when I am traveling I do keep a journal. Last night I was browsing through some of them and got such a wave of nostagia. Some of the things I don't remember. I am not a great sleeper and I am convinced that has something to do with it. *My theory is that sound sleepers have better memories*

Anyway....here is one of the excerpts.(I was traveling with a girl named Trish I had met on the ferry to Greece. She was from Vancouver.) Gythion, in the southern Peloponnesos. We were staying in an old house in a ground level room with windows open to a lovely courtyard full of potted geraniums and grape vine trellises.

Bed , exhausted after a long day exploring and on the beach. Today's temperature was around 100. About 3am, I heard a tap on the far window shutter. I immediately woke up and strained to hear more. Wondering who or what was out there.... Then I saw a hand slowly reach through the sheer curtains. Our shutters and windows are always open because it is too hot otherwise. Anyway, I froze with fear. Suddenly, I saw the thin shape of a cat slink through the window. What a relief, I thought it was a person! About five minutes later, what sounded like an old woman moaning and then a strident cat's reply, back and forth nonstop until a crescendo was reached and then dead silence. I was pretty unnerved. All this seemed to be happening within a foot of my head!
I sat up for a while and then finally laid down. All of a sudden a cat jumped over my head through the window!! I leaped up and scared it away. Woke Trish in the process. I can't believe she slept through all that racket. We shut the windows but it was too hot so then had to open them again. I got up and went outside. Tomcats fighting, must be a female in heat somewhere. I decided to sleep in the big bed with Trish, away from open windows and further stray cats climbing over me! Took AGES to get to sleep, donkeys braying, old man next door coughing, shuffling down the hall to the bathroom. Finally I fell asleep zzzzzzzzzzz


Antiparos, sunset