Proof that I had fun is the fact that I hardly wrote a word the whole month. I actually harboured crazy hopes that would write as much as two chapters. Then I got there and reality hit. I was on an island. Camping on sand dunes under cedar trees above an idyllic beach with golden sand, clear green-blue sea and lots of good looking naked men (it was a quasi-nudist beach), was I seriously going to pass my time writing? I am embarrassed to say that I do not have such strength of character.
What I did do was get a nice dark suntan, do a lot of swimming and meet new people. What’s remarkable with free camping is how much easier it is to meet people. You can’t not meet your neighbours, for one. Also it proves really easy to invite total strangers, who you see cooking over fires and gas heaters, if they want to eat with you. Everyone pools their food and drink together and you have a dinner party!
We did a bit of exploring and sight seeing (there weren’t actually any sights on the island), but for most of the time we just lazed around. On the beach, at the taverna, in the shade on the sand dunes. So many days passed where I did nothing and yet didn’t get bored. That’s the life!
The island was Gavdos, the southernmost island of Greece – and Europe. It’s a whole journey to get there from Athens. A boat and then a bus and then another boat. But it’s worth it. It’s one of the few islands where you can free camp without a problem. Also there is no real tourism (hardly any foreigners even know about the island) and only lately has development slowly begun with rented rooms and more tavernas.
So much happened in so little time and most of it incidental, the you-had-to-be-there sort of things. One thing was for sure, I had a shock upon returning to civilisation. I am certainly thinking of going there again next year, even though I don’t often go to the same place twice. The thing about Gavdos is not the actual island, but the ambiance and the people. Which means that every time is different.
No comments:
Post a Comment