Wisdom comes with winters.
-- Oscar Wilde
Let me make one thing perfectly clear: now that we've been here for two winters, I can assure you that we do have winter in Greece.
This year has been a poster child for winter with snow falling throughout the northern half of Greece while the rest of us were bombarded by cold temperatures, hail that turned nearby beaches white and rain. Lots and lots of rain. . .and wind. Lots and lots of wind.
This country – a playground for sun and sand seekers – proved again that it can also a winter wonderland.
A walk on a winter's day |
The Stone House on the Hill sits below a dusted mountain range |
Winters are wet at times in The Mani |
It is amazing how much fun an ‘errand outing’ -- almost a miniature staycation -- can be. And we probably should have done more of them in our Pacific Northwest when we lived there, but traffic congestion and windows of travel time always seemed to take the edge off such spontaneous outings.
Here, with no traffic and a new world to explore, we simply set off. . .like the day we drove around the bend to the village at the end of the road:
On a winter's day in The Mani. . . |
I’ve recently been reading of high-priced travel destinations designed so that the traveler can ‘tune out and turn off'; simply disconnect for a bit of time. No cell phones, television or computers. Lots of walks and time spent outside. 'Time to reconnect with yourself. Slowing down your pace,' are the marketing hooks used to lure guests.
If those people signing up for those getaways read this blog, they’d know they could have the same experience by running errands in rural Greece. . .we leave the phone in the car, turn off the computer and don’t own a television: instant, easy and cheap disconnect!
New paths to explore on an errand outing |
On those spring-like winter days like the one that prompted us to take this outing, we’ve explored the villages around us. It is amazing what you can find in your ‘own backyard’ if you simply give yourself permission to get out and enjoy it instead of being tied to a self-created ‘to do’ list.
What would we do with this place if we owned it? |
Imaginations soar in village settings. . . |
When we are lucky enough to happen upon a bench we do as A.A. Milne's famous quote says. . .
'Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits...'
Exploring our world includes sitting time |
We ended this errand outing by sitting on the single bench that overlooks the town and harbor. The sun was warm on our flannel shirts, it was a reminder that winter will soon be drawing to a close. Spring can’t be far away.
Errand outings are easily accomplished. They can be a long or short as you want them to be and require no advance planning. Now that I’ve planted the seed, are tere some places near you that you’ve been thinking of exploring that would make for a perfect as an errand outing?
Let us know in the comments below or shoot us an email. Where ever your travels take you ~ enjoy! Thanks so much for the time you spend with us here! We’ll have a few more tales of our Arabian nights coming next week - hope you'll join us then!Linking today with:
Through My Lens
Our World Tuesday
Wordless Wednesday