Vance's #7. what beauty there is in life, place, friends, weather, food, drink (galatas)

From Vance's email.  what beauty there is in life, place, friends, weather, food, drink. 10/1/2014 4:48 PM

today, up at 6:30, ready by 7, nice lady tapped on my door telling me the phone was not working, for my wake up call, but my van to the boat was there, i was ready....sweet,

as i arrived at the van she ran up and  gave me a kiss on each cheek and a little bouquet of flowers from the garden...happeee beersteesdaye, loving, kind, human to wish me a happy birthday!.
 

then to the boat, huge, no wi fi, sit anywhere, open seating. interesting people on board, young and old, babies, strollers with twins, a handsome older male couple with a kitty, playing cards, a 5 hour trip. reading deepak chopra "super brain", cappucino coffee, a croissant, a few almonds, edited and titled my pictures from years back, a short nap and finally we arrived in refina, near athens. well not so near really as most airports are not so near!

there was supposed to be a bus to take me to the port pireaus to catch another boat to poros to meet my friends, charlene archibeque, colleague from san jose and husband bob and their good  friend joanna. no bus! hmm, what to do,

i caught a cab, great driver, 80 mi an hour and he got me to the port in 45 min to catch the 2pm boat. hmm, boat is an hour late. finally at 3:20 said boat loaded and left pireaus for poros. i know, too many names sound alike, pireaus, poroa, poras, but finally over an hour and a half late met my friends and new friend joanna, my hostess. great to be with people!

after all that boating yet another motor boat to galatas, a little island, galatas where joanna has a super gorgeous home. joanna got the car and off we drove up switch backs to the tip top of the mountain and there the sea, galatas, stunning!!!

what a view. amazing. now to setlle in. unpack my stuff in my palatial room, then to join the others for some delicious gravlax, (cured salmon), octopus, all home made, cheese, and fab tasty tomatoes.

later --- lots of emails, then a fab dinner of spinach with fresh pomegrante seeds and cheese in a vodka sauce. deeeeelicious. huge shrimp,  more bread, great mussles with a tomato cheese sauce, rich, and cheese cake for dessert. so a great trip and great reception.lively conversation. feeling happy to be here and just let go, rest with friends. we need our friends.

be well all
more tomorrow

vyg