Reflections: On Travel

Mycenae. Athens. Oia

Over the past two months I have had the privilege of travel. Staying and meeting with family and friends and having solo adventures.

I spent special time with my family in Greece and soaked up the sun and had a margarita or two on pebbled beaches. Sipped espresso freddo and swam in the Aegean.

(Note for the above ‘soaked up the sun’:  when I say ‘soaked’ I mean, I sat under an umbrella, with a large hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and a long shirt.)

Big breath and the first part solo -

I toured the south of Ireland with a delightful group and made some new friends- and even reconnected with a family friend from the past. We visited castles, beehive huts, a carriage ride through Killarney National Park, Blarney Castle, Village of Cong, Dunguaire Castle, Blasket Island Centre, National Museum, Irish music and dance performance, crossed the River Shannon, Cliffs of Moor, Kerry, Doolin, Dublin, Annascaul, Dingle, Galway, Killarney… (I know I’ve missed heaps!).

Scotland then called and I was welcomed so kindly by a lovely friend and thanks to her got to experience the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. In four days I saw 11 shows. Not an all time high I’m sure but I had a delightful time nonetheless. Edinburgh Castle, Writer’s Museum and man just the city itself! A day trip to Culross and another to Glasgow to visit another friend who has wandered so far away.

And then off on a new tour to the Isle of Skye and Loch Ness. Skye - one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. With a tour guide who compiled his own Scottish playlist for our adventure. More new friends, lots and lots of castles, a boat trip to see seals with an ex- navy seal! I put my face in a river (I can’t remember why). A fairy glen. A magical meeting with a fox, a badger and two hedgehogs within 5 minutes! And then off to London.

London. What did Johnson say? When you’re tired of London you’re tired of life? I am certainly not tired of this life and ate up London with the biggest spoon I could find! Many steps, many sights, many tube rides and day trips. Tower of London, British Museum, V & A, Tate Modern, Bath, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Stonehenge, Oxford, boat trip down the Thames, Warwick Castle, Richmond, Westminster Abbey, Museum of Natural History, Portrait Gallery, Borough Markets, Globe Theatre, West End, Kew Gardens, brunch on a boat in Little Venice, South Bank, outside Kensington place (it was closed), Notting Hill. A beautiful reconnection with family here and 5 shows. I think I have essays in me about my love affair with London. They may come at a later date.

And then I’m in Athens. In it. Walking. And seeing as much as possible. Acropolis, observatory, Temple of Zeus, Cycladic Museum, Benaki Museum, War Museum, Byzantine Museum, Acropolis Museum, National Gallery, Archaeological Museum, Lyceum of Aristotle, Mount Lycabettus, Philopappos Monument, Socrates’ Prison, Ancient Agora, Roman Agora, First Cemetery of Athens - Tomb of Heinrich Schliemann and more I’ve forgotten. Pausing only when my body gives out. Trying desperately to understand my place in this city, in this country, a country that I love and feel so connected to and so at a distance from. Here I’m with family and meeting with friends. I even managed to see an English language show, performance art and a musical performance at the Odeon.

A last minute decision and I’m in Mykonos. Tagging along for a work trip. I walk through the town and make a dash away from Mykonos to the Island of Dilos (Delos). I’m so glad I did. Drinks in another Little Venice! Then off to Naxos - oh how I wish I had longer in Naxos. I actually stopped and sat in Naxos. Not an easy thing for me. And then to Thira (Santorini). The strangest place I’ve been. (It is like the moon - Effie you’re right). Something bizarrely familiar- almost all the trees on the island are Australian natives - and so distinctly itself. I walked up the winding cliff-side streets, found the most amazing bookshop run by American migrants. I visited many villages on a day tour, ate lunch by the sea, did a wine tasting and made a new friend who got us a table with an unimpeded view of the Oia sunset! (If you’ve been you’ll understand what an amazing feat this is - I’ll always be grateful to her!) I had three nights in a row where a cat came and sat next to me as I ate in restaurants (I might be single but not ready to be cat lady!).

The next day with more marbles calling me I set out for Akrotiri. Overwhelmed, awed, moved. Then down to the beach for lunch. Hearing a man from a boat yell ‘red beach, white beach, black beach’ I jumped on and toured the beaches. Exhilarating! Back to Fira and a walk way up the cliff side to the next town. Returning so sweaty to the kind hotel who let me shower before my flight - even though I’d already checked out.

To the airport and back to Athens. More museums, more sights, more family and food. And a last minute trip to Mycenae and Nafplio (the old capital of Greece after the revolution). And a last night bowling adventure with my little cousins, my wonderful guys.

While I was away I wrote - where I could, when I could. In cafes. In quiet moments. Alone. or surrounded by people. I wrote on my phone. Small snippets of a play that I didn’t realise was so intrinsically dealing with my split identity. (The conversation with you helped Candace - thank you!) This writing. This thing has become - or always has been - part of me. My catharsis. My release. My expression. I’m grateful for my moments to write. I’m grateful for my little notebook and my smartphone.

And now…

I’ve learnt more about the world and myself traveling solo than I ever expected. I am so grateful for the support of family, friends and colleagues at home who supported and encouraged me to go - To the friends and family who answered my messages when I had moments of needing connection -To the family and friends who met me for a dinner, a show, a drink or a 9 hour meandering walk and chat -To the family and friends who hosted me overseas  - I’m humbled by your generosity, kindness and love.

My head is full of all the things I have learnt, my eyes are blurred with the sights I’ve seen, my feet are exhilarated from the steps I have taken and my heart is full of old friends and new.

(A thousand ‘thank yous’ to Effie and Yiani, Kate and Natalie)