"Of Mice and Men"

My first full day in Greece started late. I think the excitement of the night before had taken its toll.

I woke up around 10.30 am (which would make it 8.30am in England) and having then marvelled at the view several times over, I began to unpack.

I had already been sent through a list of sundry food items to purchase ready for arrival should I choose (I chose) and these had been ready and waiting the night I arrived.

On a side note, how fabulous is the word ‘sundry’ why do we say various when we can use ‘sundry’ I shall try and make a conscious effort to use it more often!

I digress…

I had already brought coffee, cereal, and breakfast biscuits with me and I had ordered water and milk for my arrival. I did this so I knew I would be able to have breakfast before I needed to go anywhere to stock up with essentials.

I was overjoyed to find a kettle in the apartment as the Airbnb reviews had remarked that there wasn’t one. That alone made my morning. I hung a few things up and faffed about. That’s the lovely thing, as someone who is a serial faffer, when you are solo there is absolutely no one, to tell you to hurry up!

Teo had already told me there were supermarkets in Benitses (the nearest town/village) he said it was better to walk, as the bus was silly expensive for the short journey of 20mins by foot. What he didn’t mention was how perilous parts of that journey would be!

It was magical just walking and taking in the sights, the sea so clear, the sky so blue, just beautiful.

These are the sixty steps that lead down to the beach and road to Benitses. I haven’t counted them, it’s one of the many things Teo told me (that I did remember) on the way from the airport. The following photos are the views along the way:

At this point there is no path, you are just walking along the road. Having said this, the oncoming traffic can see you, so all is well. That is, until you are faced with this…

A blind spot! No path, no way of the oncoming traffic seeing you. You are literally taking your life in your hands, but there is a knack.

Just before you start walking around the corner, you remember your Green Cross Code!

For those too young to know, it goes like this; Stop, Look, Listen.

As soon as the traffic is silent, you stick your head around the corner which means you can see if anything is coming then when all is clear you run really quickly, as there is another bit of path directly after.

Then immeditely after that is the next treacherous bend…

Again, the trick is to listen, stand on the second step, and when quiet, check to see if anything is coming then proceed quickly with caution.

After that it’s plain sailing as there is then a proper path to Benitsis although I use the term ‘proper' lightly.

This is the sign that then faced me, and made me laugh the most!

Why would the horrifying image of a shark who clearly wants to eat you, entice you to visit that shell museum?

I had made a list of things I needed. I love food shopping in other countries and I really loved the way I had to guess what certain things were as it was “All Greek to me” I’m sorry, but I had to get that pun in somewhere.

I almost bought myself some fish but decided against it as I thought I would go out for dinner, but I really should have.

The journey back was still tricky with the added bonus of carrying shopping but easier, as the traffic is behind you. There is no point in walking on the other side of the road as there is no path whatsoever.

I had already made the conscious decision of eating early and returning to the apartment before it got dark, as I knew, that was when I would feel most vulnerable and I also knew I would be quite happy sitting on the balcony watching the sun go down.

So I put my shopping away, made a sandwich, sunbathed and read. Time had run away with me. I knew that my first day would be about getting my bearings, supplies and deciding where to go and what to do.

I’d also caught up with Teo and managed to pay for my journey and met his wife Clementina (Tina) who is lovely and from Italy. I used the only Italian word I could remember which was ‘Grazie’ and now say ‘Ciao’ whenever I see her.

I showered and got myself ready to go out. It is very hot here, 96 in old money 36 in new. I then walked down the 60 steps heading towards a Taverna that Teo had recommended in the other direction.

It was getting quite late and the sun had now set. I wasn’t really sure how far the Taverna was, although thankfully this outing was complete with a path.

I was wearing knee length denim shorts and a flowy top which showed nothing but my arms, not that it should matter what I was wearing but I wish to make a point.

There are scooters everywhere here and they bib constantly to warn people as they approach bends without paths.
However, I was on a straight path without a bend when I was bibbed and heckled.

I really was taken aback because I just didn’t expect it. Yes, it has happened to me before but I was much younger and it made me so angry and sad that we as women are still so sexualized. I am sure if I was a man on my own I would not have had the same reaction.

I have recently attended a four day ‘Positive Psychology’ course and we were shown a video of a woman in her late twenties/early thirties dressed in a t-shirt, jeans, and leather jacket walking through New York. There had been a hidden camera recording her journey. She was constantly whistled at, heckled and some men were verbally abusive “Hey sexy, why aren’t you talking to me?” One guy walked right next to her for an alarming amount of time.
Not once did she make eye contact with anyone, she was just walking.

The guy who was running the course then asked the women in the room if there was any one of us that hadn’t experienced on any level, this type of behaviour in our lives.
There were women of all ages in that room and sadly not one of us could say yes.

This is when I was really disappointed in my feminist self, I wasn’t sure where I was going and I felt like I had walked an awful long way with no sign of the Taverna and it was now dusk.

So, I turned and walked back. I knew by the time I reached anywhere it would be dark once I’d eaten.

Teo was barbequing (outside their house which is next to the apartments) when I arrived back. “You finished quickly!” I Iied “Yes.”

I lied because I was embarrassed and I felt stupid. I was also very annoyed at myself for letting something so silly unnerve me.

So, you live and you learn.

I was just glad I like sandwiches…