Ok, so I've been holding out. I have a pretty amazing story, and I'm sorry for the delay.
Saturday was a day that will stand out in my mind, and my burning thighs for years to come.
I agreed to go on a cross island hike that lasted for six hours and 20 miles. What was I thinking, right?! It was as ridiculous as it sounds.
We awoke at 9am to gray skies and cloudy minds. Pulling on my sneakers I remember thinking that the impending hike couldn't possibly be that bad, and that an extra long walk around our little island might be even more fun in the rain. I mean, so much for tanning, but my spirits were high.
In preparing for the hike I neglected to think about the landscape of the island. In that it is mountainous.
About 15 minutes in I find myself drenched and battling a breathless climb towards the apex of our first mountain. The wind and the rain gave it an almost cinematic quality. A fellow hiker only added to that.
"At least it can't get any worse than this."
"Carl, this is the point in the movie where you get struck by lightning."
"You know, you're probably right."
It's nice to know that I can manage to sputter those same old sarcasms between deep and desperate intakes of air.
I cannot recall a more physically trying experience. In retrospect I'm quite glad it was raining. I think tears were running down my cheeks at one point, and the weather probably saved me from that one embarrassment.
At the top of the mountain I felt an overwhelming sense of relief. For about five minutes.
Suddenly my thighs were tingling with that too familiar feeling of being forced to move the rest of me upward. There was another incline to overcome, and it was arguably more intense than the last.
Let me paint it for you: When we finally reached the top, we were standing next to the satellite towers. We were literally at the highest point on the island. All I could think of the entire time was, "if I put one foot in front of the other I HAVE to get to the top eventually. That logic kept me somewhat sane.
Reaching that top was completely rewarding, however we then began our descent. It was no where near as exhausting as getting there, but a bit painful after the first hour. Gravity is not much of a friend there.
Walking, exhausted and drenched, into the town of Aliki was again like a moment from a movie. We were led into a small restaurant on the coast. Our guide knew the owners and we soon indulged in a buffet of Greek delicacies.
I wondered how I had just survived that hike. I still wonder.
We took the bus back (which only took about 30 minutes, compared to the six hours it took to get there int he first place), and limped back to our rooms.
I quickly showered off what bits of the mountain I had brought home.
I crawled into bed, and tried my best not to move.
That night, and the following days were some of the most painful. Turning over in my sleep was a chore, and walking any distance required small, excruciating steps.
The pain has faded, but my memory of that hike has not.
I'm probably leaving out some important details, but you'll have to wait and hear them in person.
We leave for Turkey on Saturday.
I'll be sure to tell you all about it.
Sorry to cut this short, but I must run.
Peace for now.
Love.
Ash
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
A Little More Wandering, Definitely More Rambling
So its been over two weeks since my last post. Every time I think about that I imagine various loved ones typing my wed address in vain, wondering if they will ever stumble upon new words.
Surprise! Whether my words are a distraction from obligations, or way to pass the time, thank you. Thank you for your interest in my adventure.
From the beginning.
Shortly after my last post, I was able to visit the lovely island on Naxos. It's about an hour away by ferry, and an incredibly fascinating island.
There has long been a rivalry between Paros and Naxos. One is always far superior to the other, and the people refer to their islands as they would sports teams. It's like traveling between Wrigley and U.S. Cellular.
The sweeping landscape of Naxos becomes more breathtaking the farther up you travel. The roads are just as winding as Paros', but the people have a sense of having been unaffected by tourists. Their hospitality is superb, and the lunch that was served could have fed all of us for days. Just when you thought it was over you were faced with more Greek salads, more meats, more cheeses. It was all delicious, but most spent the ferry ride home lazily submitting to their food induced comas.
That was Naxos. We saw so much, but i hardly have the patience to describe it all. Here's a link to the pictures I took. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2079535&l=16d49&id=48603861
Just copy and paste that into your address bar, and it should take you right there. I should tell you that some of the pictures are from my apartment, and from my art class' trip to the dumpster. Which was disgusting.
Moving on.
Since our trip to Naxos, we haven't left the island.
Don't worry, there is still plenty to tell.
Back on Paros, we took a recent trip to our instructor's home. He built it mostly from scratch, way up in the mountains. They way the old Greeks used to do it. It's filled with art, and literature. A dream of a home, despite the treacherous climb to and from it's high up resting place.
There we listened to music, heard some astoundingly honest poetry, and washed down mouthfuls of hand-tossed pizza with gulps of cheap red wine. It was one of the highlights of my time here, and one likely to be repeated. Watching the sunset from a place so high up is an image I will always carry with me.
Inspired.
I didn't know how that night could possibly be topped, but my experiences here continue to amaze.
Just this weekend we drove to a place outside of Naousa to be at the Tao's Center.
The Tao's Center is a Buddhist retreat nestled quietly atop one of the hills that overlooks the water.
The place is fascinatingly beautiful, and the people are so warm and welcoming.
We spent two hours with the resident zen master, learning about inner balance.It was an interesting time. It was about listening to YOUR voice, not the voices of peers or parents that dance around inside your head. It had nothing to do with converting anyone to anything, just about discovering what's inside of you.
The exercises involved being blindfolded, and wandering around the room. Someone you didn't know was behind you to make sure you didn't hurt yourself, but they were only there to guide you out of danger, the rest of the way you had to trust your inner voice and guide yourself. That was interesting, and bumpy. Apparently my inner voice has a thing for walls.
The most incredible exercise was quite intense. You were asked to look to the left, raise your left hand, and stare intently at your palm. Then, holding your right arm out for balance, you had to continue staring at your palm while spinning around in a circle to music. We did this for 11 minutes without breaking our pace, and at the end we collapsed onto the floor in total silence. It was an odd sensation of complete freedom.
That's the only way to describe it.
After our zen lesson, we ate the most delicious Thai food I have ever tasted. It was a nice change of pace from the Gyros, Greek salads, and saganaki.
That day was again, one of the most memorable days I've had on the island.
In other, slightly as relevant news, we're going to Santorini this weekend (tentatively).
We leave for Turkey the weekend after that, and Mykonos and Delos are not far behind.
I struggled with the idea of going to Turkey, but the only places I want to go outside of that are in the Middle East (Egypt, Jordan, Israel, etc..) and since I'm not terribly excited about the idea of giving my parents a heart attack, I'm putting those plans on hold.
For now.
I am very excited for Turkey. I know it's going to be incredible. I'll be in Selcuk (not Istanbul, as I had thought). If anyone knows anything about this place, travel advice is more than welcome.
As for my schoolwork. It's extremely challenging, in the best way possible. So far I have completed a poem, a few short stories, 1/3 of a screenplay. I've read The Odyssey, The Invisible Man, The Secret Sharer, The Sandman, several Greek myths, Mr. Wilson, and currently I'm reading Heart of Darkness, and Keep the River on Your Right. I've also painted, sculpted, carved, and pondered.
It's all be interesting, to say the least. I've learned so much I fear my head will explode.
I would post some of my work, but a lot of it is personal- so I'll either be sharing it with you in a public forum or releasing it under a well-devised pen name.
I am so happy to be here, and I often wonder how difficult it would be to move just a few people I love from home to here. I try not to think about having to leave in a few months, but I am ecstatic to see everyone again.
Anyway I miss you all, but it's time to unsheathe my pen and get to work.
Love.
Ash
Surprise! Whether my words are a distraction from obligations, or way to pass the time, thank you. Thank you for your interest in my adventure.
From the beginning.
Shortly after my last post, I was able to visit the lovely island on Naxos. It's about an hour away by ferry, and an incredibly fascinating island.
There has long been a rivalry between Paros and Naxos. One is always far superior to the other, and the people refer to their islands as they would sports teams. It's like traveling between Wrigley and U.S. Cellular.
The sweeping landscape of Naxos becomes more breathtaking the farther up you travel. The roads are just as winding as Paros', but the people have a sense of having been unaffected by tourists. Their hospitality is superb, and the lunch that was served could have fed all of us for days. Just when you thought it was over you were faced with more Greek salads, more meats, more cheeses. It was all delicious, but most spent the ferry ride home lazily submitting to their food induced comas.
That was Naxos. We saw so much, but i hardly have the patience to describe it all. Here's a link to the pictures I took. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2079535&l=16d49&id=48603861
Just copy and paste that into your address bar, and it should take you right there. I should tell you that some of the pictures are from my apartment, and from my art class' trip to the dumpster. Which was disgusting.
Moving on.
Since our trip to Naxos, we haven't left the island.
Don't worry, there is still plenty to tell.
Back on Paros, we took a recent trip to our instructor's home. He built it mostly from scratch, way up in the mountains. They way the old Greeks used to do it. It's filled with art, and literature. A dream of a home, despite the treacherous climb to and from it's high up resting place.
There we listened to music, heard some astoundingly honest poetry, and washed down mouthfuls of hand-tossed pizza with gulps of cheap red wine. It was one of the highlights of my time here, and one likely to be repeated. Watching the sunset from a place so high up is an image I will always carry with me.
Inspired.
I didn't know how that night could possibly be topped, but my experiences here continue to amaze.
Just this weekend we drove to a place outside of Naousa to be at the Tao's Center.
The Tao's Center is a Buddhist retreat nestled quietly atop one of the hills that overlooks the water.
The place is fascinatingly beautiful, and the people are so warm and welcoming.
We spent two hours with the resident zen master, learning about inner balance.It was an interesting time. It was about listening to YOUR voice, not the voices of peers or parents that dance around inside your head. It had nothing to do with converting anyone to anything, just about discovering what's inside of you.
The exercises involved being blindfolded, and wandering around the room. Someone you didn't know was behind you to make sure you didn't hurt yourself, but they were only there to guide you out of danger, the rest of the way you had to trust your inner voice and guide yourself. That was interesting, and bumpy. Apparently my inner voice has a thing for walls.
The most incredible exercise was quite intense. You were asked to look to the left, raise your left hand, and stare intently at your palm. Then, holding your right arm out for balance, you had to continue staring at your palm while spinning around in a circle to music. We did this for 11 minutes without breaking our pace, and at the end we collapsed onto the floor in total silence. It was an odd sensation of complete freedom.
That's the only way to describe it.
After our zen lesson, we ate the most delicious Thai food I have ever tasted. It was a nice change of pace from the Gyros, Greek salads, and saganaki.
That day was again, one of the most memorable days I've had on the island.
In other, slightly as relevant news, we're going to Santorini this weekend (tentatively).
We leave for Turkey the weekend after that, and Mykonos and Delos are not far behind.
I struggled with the idea of going to Turkey, but the only places I want to go outside of that are in the Middle East (Egypt, Jordan, Israel, etc..) and since I'm not terribly excited about the idea of giving my parents a heart attack, I'm putting those plans on hold.
For now.
I am very excited for Turkey. I know it's going to be incredible. I'll be in Selcuk (not Istanbul, as I had thought). If anyone knows anything about this place, travel advice is more than welcome.
As for my schoolwork. It's extremely challenging, in the best way possible. So far I have completed a poem, a few short stories, 1/3 of a screenplay. I've read The Odyssey, The Invisible Man, The Secret Sharer, The Sandman, several Greek myths, Mr. Wilson, and currently I'm reading Heart of Darkness, and Keep the River on Your Right. I've also painted, sculpted, carved, and pondered.
It's all be interesting, to say the least. I've learned so much I fear my head will explode.
I would post some of my work, but a lot of it is personal- so I'll either be sharing it with you in a public forum or releasing it under a well-devised pen name.
I am so happy to be here, and I often wonder how difficult it would be to move just a few people I love from home to here. I try not to think about having to leave in a few months, but I am ecstatic to see everyone again.
Anyway I miss you all, but it's time to unsheathe my pen and get to work.
Love.
Ash
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