Skala, Patmos - 4th July
Today marks the date five years ago when we sailed from Plymouth at the start of our journey to the Med. We've come a long way - in many senses. On the day we arrived here in Skala, we celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary as well.
We reckon that it's quite an achievement to stay together when you're living together in a 40 foot box. We may have had some low points, but on balance we've had some of the happiest days of our lives onboard and we have no regrets about doing what we're doing. What's more, we're collecting some amazing experiences to remember in years to come.
It seems fitting that we went to visit the cave where St John had his vision of the Apocalypse. He's the reason that Patmos is on the tourist trail. Cruise liners bring them in by the thousands. By a lucky stroke, a service was in progress when we entered the little chapel enclosing the cave, and the priest blessed us with holy water flicked from a bunch of wet parsley.
One lunchtime we stopped for a drink at a taverna and got talking to two ladies who were decorating the poles holding up the awning over our heads. It turned out that one of them lives in Florida but spends three months a year for the last ten years volunteering at a local farm owned by the church. Joy (or Hara in Greek) invited us to drop by the farm at Kalogiro. Inspired by her story, we did.
Kalogiro is a small farm lying in a fertile valley that runs down to the beach on the northwest coast of the island. Hara was hoeing when we arrived but stopped to show us around. Aubergine, peppers, tomatoes and watermelons were growing in the fields; we saw apricot, fig and pomegranate trees; and stooks of oats were piled up ready for winnowing in a traditional threshing circle. There was grazing for goats, a cow and some mules.
At its heart stood a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Tenant farmers Nikolas and Kristina live with their family in the old monks' cells. The place has an in-tune-with-the-seasons quality, a place that's far removed from worldly pressures. No surprise then that Hara has a calm grace about her - a living example of taking things slowly.
However it may not last. Hara told us this year the monastery tried to evict the farmers. They've been granted a two-year reprieve. She may yet turn out to be their best defence - she fund-raises for charities back in US, and would get backing to save it if it's threatened again. We wish them well.
Today marks the date five years ago when we sailed from Plymouth at the start of our journey to the Med. We've come a long way - in many senses. On the day we arrived here in Skala, we celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary as well.
 | |
| Still together! |
We reckon that it's quite an achievement to stay together when you're living together in a 40 foot box. We may have had some low points, but on balance we've had some of the happiest days of our lives onboard and we have no regrets about doing what we're doing. What's more, we're collecting some amazing experiences to remember in years to come.
It seems fitting that we went to visit the cave where St John had his vision of the Apocalypse. He's the reason that Patmos is on the tourist trail. Cruise liners bring them in by the thousands. By a lucky stroke, a service was in progress when we entered the little chapel enclosing the cave, and the priest blessed us with holy water flicked from a bunch of wet parsley.
 |
| The chapel at Profitis Ilias |
One lunchtime we stopped for a drink at a taverna and got talking to two ladies who were decorating the poles holding up the awning over our heads. It turned out that one of them lives in Florida but spends three months a year for the last ten years volunteering at a local farm owned by the church. Joy (or Hara in Greek) invited us to drop by the farm at Kalogiro. Inspired by her story, we did.
Kalogiro is a small farm lying in a fertile valley that runs down to the beach on the northwest coast of the island. Hara was hoeing when we arrived but stopped to show us around. Aubergine, peppers, tomatoes and watermelons were growing in the fields; we saw apricot, fig and pomegranate trees; and stooks of oats were piled up ready for winnowing in a traditional threshing circle. There was grazing for goats, a cow and some mules.
At its heart stood a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Tenant farmers Nikolas and Kristina live with their family in the old monks' cells. The place has an in-tune-with-the-seasons quality, a place that's far removed from worldly pressures. No surprise then that Hara has a calm grace about her - a living example of taking things slowly.
However it may not last. Hara told us this year the monastery tried to evict the farmers. They've been granted a two-year reprieve. She may yet turn out to be their best defence - she fund-raises for charities back in US, and would get backing to save it if it's threatened again. We wish them well.
1 comment:
Congratulations on celebrating your 10th wedding anniversary - Sheila and I celebrated our 38th on June 30th. I love reading your blog - Joy is one smart gal - the East Coast of the USA is awful during the summer - today is very hot (36 C) and humid (72%). You are so fortunate to be able to do what you are doing - seeing and learning about ancient times.
Safe sailing
Best wishes, David
Post a Comment