Dan Kistler Studios

And now for something completely different

5.8 Santorini

The strange thing about eating in Greece is that all, and I mean ALL the restraurants serve the exact same food. At least this is true along the waterfronts where tourists are walking ATM’s and the men standing out front of each restaurant tries to lure everyone walking by into their restaurant. The differences are so slight you have to be there for a week before you can see an difference and you select the restaurant based on who hassles you the least when you walk by. Some have a slick and practiced come on and others are clumsy and try to guess what country you are from.

But in Kamari Beach on the island of Santorini you are in luck. There you can treat yourself to a dinner at  the Taj Mahal and Blue Diamond restaurant. “The One and only Indian and Chinese Restaurant in Santorini.” Well, not to be denied this adventure in dining Kayleigh, Bronwen, Joy, Heather, Sara, and me sauntered over to the Taj for a dinner. A cool evening on Santorini with a light breeze. Light breeze but hot spices at the restaurant. I had a medium hot chicken dish with rice and my entire head was sweating from the back of my neck to my lips and chin. Sweet torture. Others had chinese food that was slightly curray spice like. The men working at the restaurant spoke little English and I am sure less Greek. They appeared to be straight from India.

So if you find yourself on the island of Santorini and near Kamari Beach be sure to stop by the Taj Mahal and Blue Diamond and endulge your wild eating side.

Red Beach

5.11 Santornini and Red Beach

We traveled to the Red Beach on Santorini today. People filtered in and out at the beach all day. Some dressed and ready for the beach and others just stopping by to see the site. The beach is small, pushed in close to dark red and black bluffs. The beach is covered with stones that are the full range of greys, reds, and blacks. The water is cold and fresh.

Three Chinese women sat down in front of me. Two together and chatting up a storm. One had a veil over her head the entire time and was sort of like a talking bag. Neither one was dressed for the beach. Their freind sat by herself to my left and spent the entire time sadly staring at her cell phone. Saddest person I have ever seen at a beach. She at one time stuck her feet in the water with her shoes and later stuck her feet in the water with her socks on. And I swear at one time she stuck her water bottle in the water and then drank from it.

I started a ring of rocks that transistioned from pure black stones to grey-red to red to purple red into white and back into greys and blacks. Helped with this endeavor by Brook and CJ. When it was completed other people on the beach took photos of it. A very Andy Goldsworthy moment.

Most fun I have had at a beach.

Going to the movies in Greece

5.12 Iraklio

Went to a movie in Greece and it was a treat and a half. First of all it started at 11:20 pm. You buy assigned seats. They lead you to your seat. The theater was almost empty, more employees than paying customers. The sound system was the strongest, most vibrant I have ever heard. My seat was shaking during parts of the movie. The walk back to the hotel was about ten minutes along the seashore with still lots of cars on the road. The Greeks like to stay up late.

Oh, and the movie. We (Bronwen, Brook and Gwyn) saw the new Star Trek movie. And the movie was fantastic. I laughed, I cried, I was on the edge of my seat. I was entertained, amazed, floored, and enjoyed the story start to finish. See it for yourself.

Our scooter angel

5.13 Chania

Driving into Chania I am driving the first van. I have some idea of where I am going after checking out the city last June. But since it took us three and half hours last time to find the old harbor and the streets are crazy, crazy, crazy saying I have some idea of where I am going is giving me too me far too much credit.

Well, sitting at a light a man pulls up next to us on a scooter. He is on the phone and talking very loudly. He finishes his call and looks over at me in the van. “Do you need some help?”, he asks. I tell him yes. I point to where we need to go on a map and he says “Follow me. I am going right there.”

He guides right to the spot. Right to the place we needed to go.

Our scooter angel all dressed in brown on his brown scooter with one big huge mustache and a smile to fill up the world.

Thank you.

The best meal ever

5.18 Milia - and eco-tourist resort in Crete

Today was spent partially at Milia, a very small restored hide-out in the western end of Crete. The establishment was used during the time of the Turkish occupation of Crete as a hide-out for Greeks. Today it is owned by two families who run an amazingly beautiful and rustic lodge. They have restored the landscape surrounding the buildings, fencing off the area to keep out the goats who eat everything in sight. They grow a great deal of their own food on site. They power the establishment with solar, up to 80% year-round. The lunch began with three types of salads, one with a variety of beans, one with yogurt and avacado. This was followed by a horta, steamed greens with huge beans. Bread was also served and combined with the salad and the yogurt was a slice of heaven. Eating the greens and salad was like eating a hike through the woods. Then they started bringing out more food. Grilled meat, pastery filled with cheeses and spinach. Then more meat. Pork and lamb. All this was followed by huge bowls filled with yogurt and honey. Nothing can compare to this meal. All natural foods with no junk added.

We left the place in the rain and proceeded down the hills in the fog. Filled and content.