Wendy is visiting! I am incredibly excited! My dream of living on a Greek Island always included visitors arriving at the airport and now it is coming true! She is due to arrive in the evening, and I spend the day in preparation, assisted by my Greek-Australian friend, Johnny. Johnny is an agile seventy-seven-year-old … Read More
The days pass by in simple serenity. Village life is unhurried and is almost, but not quite predictable. One morning I awake early and decide to go exploring while it is still cool. It is only 6.30am but already the village is coming to life. A few old men are having coffee at Toula’s restaurant. … Read More
It is Saturday afternoon in the village square. I am having a frappe at Toula’s restaurant while I do a little work on my laptop. Toula and her family sit at another table, chatting. The old men are at Stellos and Melania’s restaurant playing backgammon and drinking Greek coffee. Magdelena and hairdresser Toula have gone … Read More
‘Eat! Eat! Come on Anna!’ Magdalena insists waving her hand at the various platters of deliciously tempting food on the table. ‘But I’ve already eaten.’ I protest ‘It doesn’t matter! Here, take some more potato’, she says, thrusting the platter of crisply fried potato slices at me. ‘You know you like them!’ It’s true. I do … Read More
“I’ve never seen a waterfall.” Twenty-year-old Manon casually mentions while we wait in the queue. “What? Never?” I question in astonishment. “Well Belgium isn’t exactly known for its waterfalls, is It.” she defends with a laugh. “A fair point.” I concede, picturing Belgium’s flat terrain in my mind. I need a moment to process this. I … Read More
Dear Diary I can’t believe it is just over a year ago since I launched the Barehotelier! I was flying over Goose Bay Newfoundland on my way to Belize in Central America at the time via Houston Texas and was nervous about the trip. Really nervous!! Recent events had left me fragile, had stripped me of my … Read More
