Tsambika

I woke up this morning to a text from Jay wishing me a happy birthday. It wasn't the 17th yet at home but he figured it would be here and he was right!

Maria and Georgia were up already and there was coffee made so we sat on the balcony enjoying it. It's much cooler here, still hot but a beautiful breeze. 

After about 15 mins on the balcony Maria said "Happy Birthday!" And gave me a postcard as she had forgotten my card at home. Lol. It was even postage paid!

We plan to go up to a monastery, Tsambika, on a hilltop. You drive up most of the way and then have 350 steps to climb (so says Sophie, a friend of Georgia's) to get to the top. The road up is a little sketchy, but we have a Jeep, so it was no problem at all!  And we found an open parking spot at the top. lol. 

I was very glad that I had filled my water bottle and added ice cubes this morning even though getting them out of the tray was impossible. I finally said to Maria "I think the two cubes in the middle are original and have never come out". 

On the way here Georgia was telling us how, until a few years ago, she didn't drive when she was here, that John drove. She said "I'm a good driver...." this is the second time she has mentioned she's a good driver..when someone tells me they're a good driver I'm a little suspect. I'll let you know when she drives, which is not today because I don't want to die on my birthday.

Once we got out of the car and parked we started up the path to the monastery. At 25 steps the number was painted on the step. At first I really didn't like that, it was like 'oh my god, we have 325 to go' and it was painted every 5 steps. But by about 95 it was like 'ok, we're a third there, this isn't so bad'. It was also shady with a breeze which was perfect because you never got too hot. The steps were pretty even and not a full tread height but long, two steps long in places. Most of it had a hand rail as well. 

Turned out too there were only 306 steps which was awesome I said "it's ok to tell someone there are 350 steps and there are only 306. If you tell someone there are 290 and there are 350 not so much". 

I had said to Maria yesterday in Athens, you can always tell the European women, they're the ones in impractical shoes, cute little flat sandals on the cobblestone streets. The walk up today didn't necessitate runners, I was fine in my burks, but some of the delicate, pretty sandals were just ridiculous. And would be especially perilous on the way down where the concrete was a little slippery from so many people travelling on them. 

This monastery is known to be a place where you would come to pray for fertility, even today, and make a promise to god. Georgia said you will often see people bringing gifts up when they come back, bringing what they promised they would if they were blessed with a child after visiting. I said "as long as it's not their first born it's ok" (har har) Commonly, if you meet someone names Tsambiko or Tsambika their parents have been to the monestary as that's what they promised, to name their child after the Monestary. 

From here we went to the beach below the Monastery, Tsambika Beach, rented 4 chairs and 2 umbrellas side by side for 20€, dipped in the ocean to cool off, had fries for a snack, read my book and relaxed for a couple of hours. My hair air dried, which is always does, but it's so humid here that I have wicked curls. It's not uncomfortable humid though because of the constant breeze. 

Georgia had told us yesterday on the drive that there are 10,000 Greek islands. I asked if any were private and she said only one, which used to be owned by Onassis but then was sold to a rich Russian for his daughter's 25th birthday for 125M€.  So the only private Greek island is leased for 99 years by a Russian. She's mentioned the rich Russians here a few times so they must visit here often, there are fur shops and on the way today Maria said "who will buy a fur coat in Greece?"  The rich Russians, that's who. 

When we left the beach we went up to the top of the ridge and had lunch at Panorama Restaurant above the beach on the opposite side to the monastery. 

There was no parking spot, but we have a Jeep so..

As we got out of the car the girls called and all I could hear was "Mom it's a FaceTime. It's a FaceTime". They couldn't see me because I was holding it up to my ear. So they wished me a happy birthday and I showed them the restaurant we were just entering and our table overlooking the sea. The girls are off to the Terry Fox run with Jay. I forgot to ask if they were running or biking, they were a split decision before which makes it tough for one person to take them, but they usually meet up with Olivia and Annabelle or Penny and Ellen or Myah and Alice and take off with their friends anyway. 

For lunch we ordered grilled vegetables, Greek salad, fried saganaki, and a stuffed pepper and stuffed tomato. Georgia wondered if that was enough and Maria said "It's just lunch" I turned to Mom as she turned to me and we both said "It's 3 o'clock" No wonder they don't go out to dinner until 10 o'clock. Georgia added sardines to the order for her and Maria to share and said later the rest of them she will feed to the cats in her neighbourhood (there are lots of stray cats everywhere, same in Athens)

Maria connected her Mom to the wifi at the restaurant and Georgia friended me on Facebook so that I can tag her in the blog. I went through Maria's photos to Airdrop some for later and came across a photo of Mom and I sitting eating fries on the beach and took care of that. When Maria says later "I thought I took a picture of you guys..." Uh no, you didn't. Delete. 

After lunch we came back to the apartment for a bit in the afternoon to shower before we go to Georgia's friend Sophie's to drop in for a drink because it's her Name Day today. When I talked to my Sophie earlier today I let her know it was "Sophie Day" in Greece. 

After everyone was suitably rested and washed Mom came down from her rooftop suite and asked if we were having a drink. I said "No" then got in trouble from Maria for not helping myself to wine. I would help myself to anything but the first glass of wine. Then Maria got in trouble for telling her Mom not to treat us like guests because we would help ourselves. 

Mom said "We should buy bubbly for tomorrow". What's tomorrow? "Uh, another day". Oh, ok. Lol. 

We went to Sophie's house and it was beautiful and they had a long table set under a pergola covered in grapevines. She kept insisting that we eat and drink. Her son said "can I get you a glass of wine?"  No, I'm driving. "You're entitled to one". I had one before I came. Lol. I didn't eat, even after Sophie said I could celebrate my birthday tomorrow. Lol. And when we were leaving she said "you're really going to leave without eating - I'll remember this and I'll get you back". I told her "Ok, next time you're in Uxbridge I'll have you over and you can not eat". She was a lot of fun. 

We drove back to Georgia's and walked to an Italian restaurant for dinner. I commented that the temperature is perfect, it's not as hot as it was in Athens. My Mom said it was because of the island breeze and Maria said "Well it's also September". Ok...It was September in Athens too. Lol. She's tired. 

We had a delicious dinner, then a shot for dessert, walked back to Georgia's and now it's 11:57pm, time for bed. I had a great 41st birthday!  There is a gorgeous breeze coming in my bedroom window, I'm going to sleep well tonight.