On island time in Kalamata and Athens, Greece
The sea, the sights and the wedding that brought us there.
Where does one begin with Greece? I’ll be the first to admit, I didn’t know where to start or where this draft would go. I felt like I didn’t have much to say, and yet, maybe that says it all. Maybe the fact I have ‘nothing’ to say is in itself a testament to the peace, ease and somewhat well rehearsed chaos found in the everyday of this nation.
It all followed the same rhythm, at least in Kalamata: wake, breakfast, pool and/or beach, dinner, drinks, bed. Routine, but on seaside time. Countless negroni’s, with countless bees buzzing around my shoulders desperate to have their own sip of Campari. Greek salads included at minimum one meal per day, though likely twice, and chips on the side mandatory. The skincare routine being sunscreen, sunscreen, more sunscreen and Eve Lom’s balm cleanser to rinse it all off at night.
We’ve been in Greece for the wedding of Damian’s cousin, Nina, which was set atop the hills of Kalamata with sweeping views of the ocean and coastline. The setting was the kind of place that makes you go, “this is what it’s all for, right?” Where you are stood there in wonder and you can feel that you’re somewhere everyone who has stood before has had the same moment of awe overcome them.
The sun blazed upon us until its delicate setting, lazily floating further down behind the horizon, leaving a pink hue across the coast. Guests were advised not to wear stilettos and after opting to wear sensible-yet-stylish flats, I can honestly the biggest realisation I had was wearing flats to a wedding is a game changer and we should all do it. We danced until almost four AM and not one blister from or moment of heel-induced irritation formed while doing so. Death to heels!
Athens has been a slightly different story. Admittedly, as our first visit to the Grecian capital, there have been slights to be seen including the Acropolis (from along Dionysiou tou Areopagitou, as it was 35° and neither had the stamina to climb), the Temple of Zeus and Hellenic Parliament. However, it was our last night in Athens that I felt was most special.
Setting out to find somewhere lowkey for dinner, we traversed streets that felt far away from the busyness of the city, yet anctually only a few hundred metres from the bustle. Accompanied by cats and sprawling bougainvillea, we walked until our feet hurt taking in pastel coloured buildings, inviting alleyways and the chiming of church bells and clock towers as the hours clocked by. We dined at the Old Tavern of Psarras, a more than 100 year old establishment perched somewhat precariously on the side of a set of stairs and also had seating in the opposite two buildings and a rooftop. This was a street so tranquil children were playing in it while parents were able to sip their spritzes, one eye on the drink and one eye on the child, with a sense of relaxation imbuing it all. And so we sat and stared and the scene before us, quietly appreciating the sounds and vista that is Athens. Bliss.
*if I had taken a good photo of the bride, I would obviously have included this but all my photos of Nina were taken after about seven drinks and are a combination of iPhone camera night mode and a general blurred mess.*