Today, after one whole month, I finally felt like I am in Greece. Athens doesn't quite live up to the images I had in my mind of this beautiful country. After navigating ourselves through cobblestone allies and unlevel, tiled sidewalks with many incoveniences day after day, I think our impatience with Athens was starting to show. The hotel owner where the models stay, must have seen it all over our faces because he offered to take my friend Soledad and I on a day trip (I like to call her Lunadad though, because she prefers the moon), to an island called Evia for Easter Sunday. We were the only girls left because all the others were smart and left during this extremely slow time. We would go for a traditional Greek celebration with food and dance. It was fantastic to exchange the graffiti-coated concrete and second hand smoke for salt-coated sunglasses and the taste of the Mediterranean breeze. We departed from a port in Rafina; it was a short ferry ride of about 45 minutes to Evia.
Once we got off the ferry we went straight to a sea side home. It was breathtaking - basically my dream home, complete with a perfect garden, H2O-view terrace, dogs, trees, sunshine and the smell of amazing food in the air. The men at this gathering, now in their sixties, are from a very famous Greek rock band, and one of the other fellows had owned a famous Jazz club where they hosted acts such as B.B. King. The lady of the house visits India often. Really cool to meet them.
Lunadad and I trudged around the fields stopping to take in the ocean-view, enjoy the flowers, pet the horses, check out the ant farm we stumbled over in the field, taste the homemade lemonade, and sip white wine on the terrace all while soaking up the rays of a near-perfect day. One of the girls collected fresh herbs and veggies in a wicker basket to include in their dinner as we gazed at our surroundings.
After a short visit, we went to another place by the sea. This was a summer home, full of family for Easter weekend. The view was incredible. Food for miles and a sweet 8 year old girl named Zenya who was very helpful when it came to serving the meals. She was even trying to teach me Greek...I am terrible at Greek! She was so sweet, and even ran up the driveway as we said our good-byes to open the gate for us...10 minutes before we even got there. They were such great hosts. Amazing meal, complete with traditional Greek dance (Luna and I were so awkward when they tried to get us to join in, and unfortunately there is video somewhere to prove it). Plates were being thrown by their feet and the whole family was singing at the table, while ouzo, beer, wine and traditional Greek sweets were passed around the table. It was a day I will not soon forget!
The table of tapas
A pretty little church we stopped to visitWe left by 4:30pm to sip espresso at a cafe. I had a Freddo Cappucino - one of Greece's specialties - and I had them add hazelnut syrup. We had a sea-side table with a view of many fish in the crystal clear water. We then caught the 6pm ferry home, bellies full and ready for a nap, despite the caffeine wizzing through my body.
Yiamas!
(Cheers! or "to our health." Fully, you would say Stin iyia mas which means to our health. it's like saying drink to our health)
Some more shots from Fashion Week:
Me with one half of the design-duo "Mi-Ro" immediately following the show. I love his expression... it really captured the moment.
Lovely people and lovely clothes :)
Me and Luna....finally done!!!!
