Sun beach

I can stand winter in the North. I don't mind its being cold, rainy, snowy, whatever. It's winter, let it be so.
It's summer the hard part.
When the only colour you get during a late June day is a uniform shade of grey, when you still need a scarf and can profitably use a pair of boots, when you decide to turn back on the heater, well, then it's too much to handle. Someone used to call me "my southerner" and knew very well what it means for my mood.

But sometimes, out of nowhere, when you are not waiting for it anymore, and not hoping either, it suddenly happens. The grey sky opens up and the (slightly pale) northern sun comes to pierce the unexpected blue above you.
And suddenly it's too hot for your jacket, it's too bright for your eyes, it's too nice for staying in a city who doesn't even know what to do with it.
And so, off you go. Huge empty beaches, boats at the horizon and a promenade of cafés and blondish, pale-gone-pink people. Not "my" sea, not "my" people, not "my" cafés, yet Nieuwpoort was a very nice surprise. And the ice-cream with fruit salade was on the menus.

Dreams or reality?

There is a fine line between sleep and wakefulness. A vanishing but rich place populated by ghosts and by great intuitions. It's the place where the best ideas are born. 

In that tiny place, I saw success to achieve, tasks to complete and novels to write.  

Maybe I saw the truth but did not recognise her. She was disguised as sorrow.

I saw myself there and I saw you. You were walking away. I let you go and slowly slid into the darkness.

A ticket to heaven please

When your thoughts travel quicker than your actions. When your body betrays you and prevents you from flying away. Sometimes you cannot travel with your body, but you can still fly away with your mind.

I have no ticket, but a smell or a picture can take you a long way.

A jasmin smell threw me back in Tunis, good time of hot sun, new friends and wound healing.

A beautiful photo on a website and I'm back in Malta, when it was time for hopes - or perhaps illusions.

What will come next? What word will be pronounced to make me jump back a few years into good memories? Or maybe make me want to get another ticket and run away.

E il pensiero va

The end

A un certo punto il film finisce e le luci si riaccendono.
I titoli di coda elencano i personaggi e interpreti:
Daniela, nel ruolo della guida turistica sorridente, semi-astemia e piena di energia che molla tutto e si trasferisce in un'isola greca.
Lisos, nel ruolo dell'imprenditore turistico che arruola ragazze mai viste per fare da fotografa o da guida.
Yorgo, nel ruolo dell'amico del ristorante, silenzioso e timido che mentre serve ai tavoli colpisce il cuore delle turiste.
Alessandro, nel ruolo del macho del bar, abbronzato dagli occhi verdi e dalla parlantina abbondante di avventure, probabilmente inventate.
Tasos, nel ruolo dell'albergatore un po' imbranato, che ha appena scoperto booking.com e con la mamma che prepara da mangiare per un reggimento.
E mentre il sole, il blu e il bianco restano lì dove sono nati, i titoli di coda finiscono, le luci del cinema si accendono definitivamente e io torno alla realtà.
L'aereo atterra, io sto bene e penso che a volte ci costruiamo da soli le nostre prigioni, per poi passare giorni, mesi e anni a cercare di scappare. Solo che alla fine la prigione ce la portiamo dietro dovunque andiamo.
This is the end.

The photographer

Meet the Greeks.

Studios owner's mama brings you lunch and flowers.
Tavern owner gives you Ouzos every time you pass by.
Tour agency owner offers you a free boat trip if you take photos for them. And offers a job to your friend.

Meet the Americans.

Go for the boat trip as 'professional' photographer and explain to the American family your life as free lance.
Give them tourist tips.
Get tipped.

Sweet and spicy, as good life

Streets with no signs, but I drove them.
Stones under my feet, but I kept walking.
Wrong shoes on the cliff, but I climbed.
Little and big drops of egoism, but I smiled.

I'm almost perfect. I only need a tattoo.

Beach discovery

By car today, trying to discover hidden beauties while coping with the local efficiency and with the street indications.

First conclusion of the day: here distances are measured differently and 1km can be anything between 2 and 5 of the km you are used to.

So, 1 or 2 local km away, we reached Vlychada, with its white cliffs and 1-2 more km took us to the beautiful red beach: the spectacular view was worth the flip-flop climbing experience.

Perfect end of the day can be only sunset and cocktail on the caldera. Besides, by now I know my way around even without signs.

Touring the south

Day starts at Profitis Ilias monastery, on a hill about 500 mt high, with nice views, 2 small churches, priests aged between 24 and 44 and thousands of lady bugs (shall I believe in so much good luck?).

Next stop: Megalochori. Very cute and quiet traditional village, land of wineries, where grapes are grown in baskets to protect them from wind and volcanic sand. At some point we gotta taste it!

Beautiful Emporio comes next with ancient castle, a labyrinth of small streets, and cute white round buildings. Nicest village so far.

Off to the beach finally.

Fira and Oia

"You can't compare it to Venice" was the first thoughtful insight collected in Fira, courtesy of some unknown French girl.
What to say? She is certainly right.

A long stroll along the caldera gives plenty of satisfaction to the beauty seeking eyes, as the warm sun helps healing some winter wounds.

Absolutely impressed by the views, though not impressed by the attitude in those posh pretentious cafés and hotels occupying much of the town.

Yet, definitely pleased by the breeze and by the peaceful breaks between the international hordes crowding the white streets whenever a bus or a ship stops by this tiny port.

Next comes Oia, home to more stunning views and to the most romantic sunset. And sunset is the main theme here: no restaurant or bar will fail to promise the 360 degree view every visitor deserves. Unfortunately, having arrived a little too early, this waiting for the sunset is starting to make me a little anxious. I'm getting a bit afraid of the moment when the sun goes down and hordes of lovers - or of photo fanatics - arrive to take control of the whole town.

Trying a glass of white on one of those sunset view terraces to recover my Zen.

Well, u know what? This Oia sunset is overrated.