Update from the Island but different Island.
So here I am on the Greek Island full of sunshine and warm weather and also tourist of course, who are the bread and butter the Islanders. Arrived late at night from Gatwick, easily with Easy jet full of English sun seeking tourist. Well they might be sun seeking but after few days on Island I realized that they also seek the party and booze. They disembarking the pirate party ships in harbor under the influence and a bit loudly with fresh lobster red patches on their marble white skins.
Arrival at the airport caused a bit commotion. The customs girl watched me like hawk when I was waiting in the luggage hall for my “little” suitcase with diving gear and some clothing. Just to pain t the picture clearly, I had my electrical back pack and regulators bag while wondering the arrival hall, like headless chicken after day of traveling. Started my journey at 5am that day so midnight was a bit stretch of day. The back pack is not electric but I called it that way as most of the stuff in it are cables, chargers, laptop, etc so I called it my electric pack. However when my “little” suitcase bag came she was ready to stop me as I got it from luggage belt. However I fooled her as when I aimed at exit and at last minute turned right and parked myself to empty bench. I saw her watching me and the eyes were clearly sending message, ‘I will get you’. She did as soon as I got my bicycle case one hand a dive bag in another. ‘Sir come this way please’ she said as I approached exit with sing nothing to declare. Looking on my bike case she pointed and asked ‘what is this ?’ I said bicycle and she start looking and turning the case around. ‘Is this new bike?’ she asked ? No I said old one. ‘Is this your bike?’ she questioned and for split second I thought to say no, I just like to carry 30kg of luggage of some stranger for no reason through the airport. Then she saw the address written on the box and her face showed confusion. My passport being Slovak and address Irish, she was not sure what to say. Eventually she asked if I came for holidays and I said yes, ‘how long are you staying ?’ and my answer frozen her face and generally shut her up. I don’t know for how long as I retired and just enjoying traveling around. She was lost for words, just smiled and showed me with her hand to proceed through exit. Welcome in Greece kind of, I would say.
Taxi men were similar as anywhere in the world as they saw me coming from the terminal building, shouting here my friend taxi for you. Then they saw my luggage and stop smiling as I said that I need bigger car. Thankfully there was one estate E-class in the line of waiting 20 or 30 cabs so skipping the line the driver was happy to get this €40 fare.
When taking taxi I think that I’m in Germany as all taxis are silver Mercedes E class. However the Island is built for tourists, either German, Dutch or English so the Mercedes is classy for classy tourists. First days on Island are somehow orientation and discovering that coffee here is drank as much as water. Hot, cold, sweet, dark, milky any type of coffee any time of day, mostly delivered on scooters anywhere. Coffee delivery here is the same as junk food delivery in Ireland.
Well next day was just easy stroll around before meeting my new boss as I came to do diving internship here to get experience as DM. All went well and after breakfast and report to all friends back home I was ready for some meal so on the recommendation of new boss I temporarily left my vegetarian diet and went for traditional Greek meet skewers lunch / diner. Tasty but not so cheap I was ready to get some sleep.
On third day, got my bike assembled and ready to explore the island I went t mountains and aimed for Mount Dikeos but as I came to last section of the trail I decided to leave it for next time as the trail was really for hiking and not cycling. But I saw the Hippocrates garden and ancient Greece ruins what were remains of temple and baths. Also scrap yard in middle of mountains surrounded by high concrete wall with barbwire on top and gypsy settlement of makeshift houses nearby. Cycling is nice around island as except the hills all is flat and nice green / farming land. Salt lake with pink flamingos was nice surprise too. At the end of the day I found Thermal spring at beach which was exactly what I need to relax after the cycle around. Nice hot water coming from underground spring missing with cold sea water in shallow pool is fab spot to lay down to relax. After some time in the pool with 40 degrees water jump into sea what is 17 degrees is nice way to enjoy this natural sauna. Did four cycles of this and happy as Larry cycled home to the mansion for absolutely great sleep.
After few chilling days it is time to get to work and start my scuba internship. Well not so scuba as initial start was painting the boat, laying down carpets and various small tasks of handy man style. Week or so later the first dive is scheduled and I cannot wait for me to take dip into home as I call sea/ ocean. The one thing is different here is the temperature of water as 17 degrees is a bit colder that what I was usually dove in, except of Atlantic back home in Ireland of course. Anyway still better than no diving, two wet suits and one hooded vest later I was in the water and first splash not so cold but in around 30 minutes of dive time, I knew why I had to endure the dressing on with so much rubber.
Generally I’m happy to be in the water and the trip with small boat to dive site of boat wreck was really nice too. Waves splashing against the boat and sun is shining.
What a lovely feeling, water all around me and the weightlessness as if I was in the space. I have feeling that this will be great summer at Kos island of Greece.
