The Sound of Silence
By Helen Grubner. Filed in Uncategorized |
Agia Paraskevi Beach – Spetses
Yesterday, 16 May 2012, my desire since first visiting the island of Spetses – to walk the 26 kilometres around the island, became a reality. Retiring early the previous night, I was out of bed and away just before 0700 hours, unfortunately, having missed the sunrise about 0620 hours but never mind. Heading east past the Old Harbour and Agia Marina Beach – on to Kouzinos. The day could not have been more ideal … with a sunny, cloudless, brilliant blue sky, perfect for taking photographs, my only concern was that it would become very hot before I completed the circuit.
The sound of silence – yes, interrupted from time to time by the sound of a lizard scurrying into the under growth from it’s roadside sunbathing position. The colours of the sea … from turquoise through to aquamarine blue, contrasting with the green of the pines – it was so good to see the reforestation after decimation by fires of so many of the island’s pine trees.
Points of interest along the way … Spetsopoula Island off the coast from Kouzinos – privately owned by the Greek tycoon Stavros Niarchos. A little further on, two fabulous properties side by side … the one complete with helicopter pad belonging, I understand, to the owner of Folli Follie Group, a Greek based international company which designs, manufactures and distributes jewellery, watches and fashion accessories. Nearby, another house which I am told was depicted on the cover of some editions of John Fowles book “The Magus”. However, apparently the actual house is cube shaped with a flat roof and overlooks Agia Paraskevi but this I cannot confirm.
Xilokeriza Beach – very impressive with it’s beauty … there is a path down the hill which I did not take, staying on the main road and on to Anargyri, from where I telephoned our friends Ken and Anita at 0930 hours. Anargyri is roughly halfway, I had done well to make it thus far in two and a half hours. Ken gave me directions to the dirt road up the hill to the house they live in but sadly, will be leaving soon to return to the U.K. After 10 wonderful years on the island, the decision has been made … there simply is not enough work here for them now to stay, but for sure, they will have many precious memories and will return for holidays.
From Anargyri, the road leads on to Agia Paraskevi, considered by some to be the most beautiful beach on the island. There is a quaint wee church there amongst the trees and I sat nearby on the jetty, with my feet in the cool waters, partaking of pizza and a banana, taking in the beauty of my surroundings. Then, time to move on as the day became hotter – past the splendid Korbi Bay … the silence interrupted by the call of a bird. My ears and eyes followed the sound to a pair of Rock Partridges nesting on the bank roadside. I took a photograph, slowly moving closer in for another and even closer until eventually, alas, I frightened them away … undoubtedly, a highlight of my day.
With no shade and very little breeze now, the kilometres slowly ticked over, past Zogeria, Vrellos and on to Ligoneri by which time I could stand the heat no longer and just knew I had to brave the cold and take a dip in the wonderful blue sea I had been admiring all day … ouch, as expected, it was somewhat cold, however, it certainly refreshed me. Back on the road and a walk around the little church of Panaghia Elena, then onwards, eventually reaching Kaiki Beach on the outskirts of town and home by 1440 hours … feeling very pleased with myself that I had done it and what is more, it had been a wonderful day.
After a long, well earned siesta, made it into Bar Spetsa in the evening. Ken and Anita were there … I came home around 0200 hours. This afternoon saw a change in the weather to overcast skies and quite windy – it would not have been an ideal day for my walk around the island. We met Nikos, a friend of Costas’ for lunch at Spetsiotiko – delicious fresh fish, fries, vleeta (garden greens) and a salad of tomatoes, cucumber, onions and olives … as always, I thoroughly enjoyed. Tonight I am more than happy to spend a quiet one at home.