Back In Houston - Probably A Good Thing

It’s currently 95 degrees in Houston but sunny and not terribly humid. I’m still shaking a little Jet lag and feel pretty disconnected from the City as I really wasn’t ready to come home nor did I really have to. However, I think I did the right thing.

A few days before I left Greece I developed a rash under the top part of my arm. I also felt mildly achy with a bit of a stiff neck but my energy level was fine. I really didn’t think much of it until the rash got a little worse and I thought it might be getting infected. When I arrived home the rash was starting to get better but it was obviously caused by some kind of bite and I felt I should get it looked at just be safe.

The Dr. took a look at it and said it was definitely and insect bite. I then told him where I’d been and what I had been doing. He suspected there was a chance I may have contracted Lyme’s disease and was adamant I start treatment immediately. He said it wasn’t worth taking a chance. Although he couldn’t confirm for sure that I had been exposed to Lyme’s I did run into a mess of ticks while hiking through North Devon on the Southwest Coast Path in England. I found a total of ten ticks crawling me while hiking. They were the type that could potentially carry the disease but I didn’t find a single one dug in. However, the ticks are so small they can be easy to overlook. It’s not uncommon for someone diagnosed with Lyme’s to ever remember being bitten by a tick. I developed the rash at precisely the time you would expect for incubation. The rash was similar to other reported cases but not the classic bulls eyes type. A stiff or achy neck is a classic common symptom in the very early stages of Lyme’s. There was enough suspicion to warrant caution so I heeded the Dr’s advice and started treatment immediately. Often this is how Lyme’s is diagnosed, deductive reasoning, because the test used to confirm diagnoses is not always accurate.

Fortunately early treatment is cheap and well tolerated with an 87% success rate. If you don’t do something early Lyme’s can cause all sorts of problems years down the line. I can’t say I’m thrilled about being on antibiotics for 30 days but at least it’s a mild antibiotic that doesn’t seem to be causing any side effects. The drug has a low incidence of negatives with the most common being nausea when taken on an empty stomach.

In one regard I feel out of place being in Houston right now but on the other hand, considering the circumstance, I feel like I’m where I’m supposed to be. My cuurent plan is to settle back into a work routine until I finish the meds then consider a little road trip out West. I am also thinking of traveling overseas in the Fall.

All in all my recent travels in England and Greece went really well. The trip home via ferry to Athens, flight to London, two night layover in London, and flight back to Houston went like clockwork despite a Tube strike the day I left. Greece really impressed me and I plan to spend at least a month in the Greek Islands next year. I’ll most likely go during the month of June.

My last stop in London was kind of interesting. Every time I stop in London I stay somewhere different. This time I stayed in South London at the National Sports Center in Crystal Palace Park. I took a room in worn out funky 70’s contemporary designed multi-level building constructed for housing athletes. The complex and park are kind of peculiar and at one time a big attraction. Now, it’s just kind of oddly interesting.

I checked into my room at the complex early in the evening and walked uphill to a nearby pub with a good atmosphere. I noticed it was quiz night so I roamed around asking teams if they needed an extra teammate. I wound up crashing a family birthday and sat between dad and his very attractive daughter who I suppose was in her late 20’s or early 30’s. It was mom’s birthday.

As is often the case when traveling I can be very outgoing and quite social. It really comes out when I travel, much more so than when at home. Another pint and I fit right in. Quiz night at a pub is not only about coming up with the answers to riddles it’s also about drinks, laughter, and stories. British Pubs have got to be some of the best places in the world for swapping stories. Pubs are about pints and conversation. More often than not there is no music. If there’s music it’s rarely loud so conversation is always easy. Anyway, I had a great time. Good fun.

For my last day in London I just walked around Crystal Palace Park. On the morning of my departure I negotiated the Tube strike by taking the Southern line to Victoria Station then walked across Hyde Park to Paddington Station to catch the Heathrow express. The strike wound up costing me an extra $35 USD to get to the airport without worry. I made good time and was able to use my complimentary United Club Pass for a 3 hour wait in a posh lounge with loads of complimentary food and drink. The icing on the cake, for the flight home, was a row of 3 seats all to myself on a Boeing 787 for a 10 hour trip. Very comfortable! It allowed me to lay down. I was very lucky because the flight was almost full.

Again, it was a very good trip. For now I’ll just hang tight and make some money. We’ll see where the future leads me next……

I Love The Islands But It's Time To Go Home

As stated in my last post it seems a shame to leave the Greek islands right now. I really don’t have to rush home but for whatever reason I feel like that is what I need to do. This morning I boarded a ferry from Amorgos to Pireaus (Athens). I’ll spend the night in Athens then fly to London where I’ll have a couple of days to transition before for the flight back to Houston. One thing for sure is that I’ve had a great trip and will be leaving on a high note. Upon my return I will have been gone for a little over 5 weeks that has passed incredibly fast.

For my last day in the Amorgos I spent my time swimming off the small rocky beaches of Agia Anna and stared at the sea from a small taverna perched above. It’s a spectacular place to swim and somewhat of a pilgrimage site for the French who are drawn there by the movie, “The Big Blue”. The water is serenely clear, clean, and of course, Blue. If you haven’t seen the movie I highly recommend it.

The previous day I hiked up a valley from Aigiali upon old donkey paths to traverse a steep mountain on trail to a small chapel sat upon a fiercely windy saddle. I would have liked to continue up to a mountain summit but it was wickedly windy. I returned to Aigiali mostly retracing my steps with a variation to visit a couple of more white washed blue trimmed chapels that seems to be scattered all over the Greek Islands.

Back in Aigiali wanted to swim at beach while waiting to catch a return bus to Katapola. I asked a young French couple if they could watch my stuff while I swam. Theft seems to be unheard on the small Islands but it’s when you get too comfortable that stuff disappears. After swimming I returned the favor while the French couple went for a swim. When they returned I struck up a conversation with the woman who is from Lyon. She was very nice and chatty. The boyfriend was from Paris. He was quiet and not particularly friendly. I then got the impression he wasn’t too happy with the easy conversation I was having with his girlfriend. Trust me; it was nothing more than simple conversation. Oh those silly Parisians, or, maybe I just got the wrong impression.

My final evening in Amorgos had me debating whether to extend my time on the Islands or not. I tried to make a few calls over skype but couldn’t get a good connection. I just wanted to see what changing tickets would cost, options, etc… I couldn’t really get anywhere with that but in the process I decided to stick with my original plans to head home and bought a ferry ticket back to Athens at about 10 pm. Sometimes it’s best to stick with an original plan when indecisiveness blurs clear thinking.

Once I boarded the ferry and arrived back in Athens I started to feel like going home. I then began to think about other things I’d like to do when I get back. I’m missing the guitar and I’ve got a pile of work inventory I’d really like to clean up, liquidate. I’ve got money in reserve for another trip so I might consider traveling again in the fall. For the time being my cup feels full. When I arrive home I’m sure I’ll have a tired yet satisfied feeling. Needless to say I am definitely returning to Greece! The only thing I’m not looking forward is the jet lag that comes with an 8 hour time difference.
 

Amorgos, Greece

I may have made a mistake by purchasing a return ticket. That’s how much I am liking the Greek Islands. I’ve strayed away from the most popular areas and landed via ferry in Katapola on the Island of Amorgos. Within fifteen minutes I once again found a nice room in a pension for $25 Euro a night. Katapola also has a campground that’s nearly empty for $7 Euro a night but I’m going on easy on myself.

If I wanted a little slice of France in Greece I’ve found it on Amorgos. A well know art film, “The Big Blue”, was filmed in Amorgos in 1988 by a French director. The shot locations are stunning and have been calling tourists from France ever since. Amorgos is an independent traveler destination so there are no cruise ships, tour groups, etc. Aside of the French the Swedes have also discovered Amorgos. English is the universal language between Greek, French, and Swedish. I have yet to meet another American.

Amorgos is a very arid Island with Mountains rising abruptly from the sea. It measures approximately 30 km in length with its widest section only a few kilometers. Over the last two days I’ve hiked upon old donkey trails with one route taking me along a mountain ridgeline with the ocean to the right, left, then right again as I traversed high through mountain saddles. A few clouds sped over head as the Islands have been unseasonably windy. One local informed me that the weather has been autumn like. However, there is no chance of rain.

On my walk yesterday, while crossing the mountains from Chora to Egiali, I visited the Monastery, Chosoviotissa, built into a cliff wall above steep rocky mountain slope that disappears into a dark blue void below. Visitors are welcome with proper attire so I slipped long pants over my shorts. You have to hunch over to enter a small door to climb steep narrow steps that lead to a small room of worship. A balcony provides a view outside. Living quarters are set off in the opposite end of the building.

After visiting the chapel a heavy set monk in orthodox garb directs you to a hospitality room where you are served a traditional powder sugar coated gelatinous sweet with Raki, a local grape whiskey liquor flavored with honey and spices. A glass of water is also provided. You are then welcome to purchase a souvenir or make a donation.

From the monastery I continued on towards Egiali passing through a village where I saw a man hauling water and a small goat on a donkey. I took his photo and he waved erratically at me. I wasn’t sure if it was a hello or sign language for not liking his picture taken. I also passed an old man walking as he herded a few cows and bull. The high route appropriately known as, “ The Old Way”, provided outstanding views. Upon arriving in Eigali I had lunch on a terrace overlooking the sea then went for a swim before catching a bus back to Katapola.

The warm sunny island life really suits me. The nice thing about the Greek Islands is that it’s not too humid nor too hot. There are no tropical diseases or any major health concerns. The people are nice and it’s easy to get around with just English. There are many Islands to choose from varying from a full on tourist destination to barely discovered. In all there are approximately 1400 islands with about 225 inhabited. Depending on what you consider an island the number could be in the thousands. 

Right now the price tag is very reasonable for traveling Greece. At times it can be downright cheap unless you’re in the most popular tourists regions during the high season which starts in mid- July. August I am told is ridiculously busy but as on Greek told me, “Without August we couldn’t make it”. The Island Greeks fully embrace visitors and tourism. The most popular destinations seem to be Santorini and Mykonos, both of which can be expensive.

I could easily spend the entire summer in the Greek Isles. Remarkably my finances are holding out well. It seems kind of a shame to leave Greece and head home to an awfully hot humid Houston summer but on a deeper level I feel like I should probably stick with my original plan. One thing is for sure, all things considered, I’m certainly doing something right and feel incredibly lucky. It’s all in the choices we make.