Up early today to beat the heat and catch the early morning light. The rooster next door has been crowing since first light so thank god for earplugs. I make my way down to Boni’s Windmill, Little Venice, Agios Nikolaos Church and Matoyianni Street, the most picturesque street in Mykonos.
Other than the local fisherman and gentleman selling vegetables out of the back of his truck, there’s hardly anyone out at this hour, so I have the port and alleys pretty much to myself. I meet Nikolaos and Caesar (another Caesar in Greece? What are the odds?) who are cleaning out their nets of this morning’s catch. We greet each other, “Geia sas!” I snap a couple photos while Nikolaos proudly holds up his fishing net.
A portly gentleman has taken a morning nap on the bench in front of Agios Nikolaos Church and I can’t resist taking a photo of him and his swelling belly escaping from the bottom of his t-shirt. Cats are roaming the alleys and I hear the the snarls and yowls of ongoing cat fights. A pair of Jessica Simpson high heels that couldn’t make the tottering journey home after a night of dancing have been abandoned on the steps of a church. Empty ouzo bottles are strewn in the alleys from the previous night’s party. I’m glad that my hotel is fifteen minutes outside of the town centre so I can avoid the raucous parties. I’m too old for that shit and Grama needs her beauty sleep.
As I wander Matoyianni Stsreet I come across a young man from South Africa. After several attempts at taking a bad selfie, I offer to take his photo for him and he gives me a big smile. He’s recently arrived in Greece and has no plans but will “go where the wind takes me”. I envy him his youth and freedom.
I continue wandering Matoyianni Street and come across an elderly gentleman sitting in front of a souvenir shop. “Geia sas. Is this your shop?” He tells me he’s eighty-seven and this has been his shop for over fifty years. “Can I take your photo? I need a photo of a handsome Greek man.” He chuckles while shrugging his shoulders and poses stoically. I ask him his name and he tells me it’s…wait for it…Caesar. Three of them in this town?! This is just crazy! I show him his photo and he eyes it critically before saying, “I’m not as handsome as I used to be.” I tell him his face is full of character and I love it. He gives me a gap-toothed smile and we part ways. It’s time for breakfast.
Because of the heat, I prefer to rise early and then get back to the hotel for a late breakfast before lounging by the pool for the afternoon during the heat of the day. Then at dusk I head back out to enjoy the sunset. It’s a gruelling schedule but someone has to do it.
I walk 5.5km to the lighthouse for sunset. Figured I needed to work off the 20lbs of feta I’ve inhaled since arriving in Greece. On the way back, a car pulls up beside me with a young Greek man and a little dog. “Would you like a ride? I saw you walking on the way to the lighthouse and I thought you may have a long way back.” I could’ve hugged him. I love walking but I was worn out, sweaty and tired and a ride was much appreciated. “I’m John and my dog is Thor. Where are you from?” We exchange introductions and he tells me that he’s working at a hotel in Mykonos for the summer but will go back to the mainland at the end of the month. He says that because he’s twenty-five and doesn’t have any responsibilities, the work suits him but he will have to start looking for employment in his field of political science soon.
“Are you traveling alone? I would be too depressed at twenty-five to travel alone. I think maybe in ten years.” I chuckle and tell him that sometimes it’s not ideal and a bit lonely, but I also meet lots of people – like him, for instance – and it allows me to do what I like. “There’s pros and cons. And right now the pros far outweigh the cons. Perhaps when you’re my age, you’ll change your mind and not be depressed.”
The drive is over all too fast and before we part ways I take a quick snapshot of him and Thor. Thanking him again, he tells me this is Greek hospitality and I am most welcome. The world could do with a little more of Greek hospitality.
