Saturday 20 May 2017

The Magic of the Island

No need of a book - Happy to stare at the view in
Marina Taverna in Vlychos, Hydra. 

After a week spent in England socialising with family and friends, my liver is enjoying a much needed rest in Hydra.  I've swapped my usual glass of red wine for a pot of tea and dinner is a simple Greek salad. If I can keep this up for 10 days I might fit into my summer clothes. 



The ferries and hydrofoils have been hit by a 4 day strike so the island has been particularly quiet; not good for the tourism trade, but great for those of us who arrived on the Monday and don't have any urgency to get off the island.


I usually take a book with me when I eat out but Greek menus make good reading. I've never encountered a quote from an ancient historian in a Turkish or British restaurant, and my tea tastes much better knowing that any attempt at world conquest will have a cool yet sunny touch.


I'm not just sitting around in tavernas; getting to them involves the up and down of 200 to 300 steps. Despite my many visits, I still miss-judge where I am and yesterday found myself on a steep staircase where every narrow polished stone step sloped at 45 degrees.  Edmund Hillary would have been proud of me.


14 comments:

  1. Just beautiful, how I wished to be there :)xx

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  2. Wow! I love the photos. The salad and tea look great. I almost feel like I am sitting right there with you.

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  3. Seamen on strike is not necessarily a bad thing!That said, I wish them and you success in your endeavours.

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  4. B to B, We're absolutely drooling looking at your salad photo. I think we've been to that taverna only I think we drank stronger stuff than the tea. Getting the maximum pleasure out of simple things like a cup of tea puts you in Thucydides' number.

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  5. Those steps would kill me but I bet the views are to die for!

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    1. The knees and calves suffer the first few days

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  6. I hope this finds you and yours doing well. BaktoBodrum has been added to our new Site Directory, SiteHoundSniffs.com. Its linked header is under All, Daily Life, Pets and Turkey. In essence, SiteHoundSniffs is just a grander version of an individual’s blogroll or favorite sites list. Please email me at jerryebeuterbaugh@sitehoundsniffs.com if you want more details or have the site removed. I am sorry for failing to find a way to contact you privately.

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    1. Thank you for including us Jerry. My email address is backtobodrum@gmail.com

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  7. hi- i love your blog- the food photos in particular!
    I am an American expat living in Seoul, South Korea and - I have to ask -
    Do you think Bodrum is a safe place this summer?
    The US Dept of State has a Travel Warning for Turkey. for what it's worth.
    My teen age son has been invited by his friend to stay at their home in Bodrum (not in the city center, but in the residential area- Ormancilar).
    I don't know anyone in Turkey and I've never been there. All I have is hours, no -days of googling Turkey and terror and violence. I would so appreciate any thoughts you have on Bodrum and safety.
    I know there are no guarantees, but it would be so helpful to get the thoughts of an intelligent person who lives there. Of course I understand if you don't have time to respond. I hope you stay safe &thanks for reading this.

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    1. I don't usually allow anonymous comment, but as this seems a genuine request, I will print it. I live in Bodrum but travel frequently and I feel as safe here as anywhere else. I feel safer at Turkish airports because they have more security than I experience at Athens and London airports where anyone can wander in to the check in area with a suitcase. I would not have any extra worries about allowing your son to stay with his friend.

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