Greece - Day 5 - Politics and Greek Coffee

September 23, 2008 | Filed Under Cyclades, Syros, Uncategorized, greece 

This was my third day at this little cafe on the waterfront … and the first I was acknowledged. “You’re back,” a big smiling face from the next table said to me. “I am here everyday.” Me too :))

We chatted a bit through broken English. He didn’t know of Seattle near where I am from in Washington State but he did know smaller Tacoma, a large seaport. Of course, he sailed the world when he was younger on the great Greek shipping lines and visited every major U.S. seaport between 1961 and 1985.

A man stops by to talk politics and while I don’t understand the conversation, it’s clear he’s talking about the U.S. Presidential election. The Obama t-shirt he’s wearing with “Vote for Change” emblazoned in red is a bit of a clue. He doesn’t want his picture taken … too bad. I point to is T-shirt, he smiles and says, “Ne, Ne, good man,” and rushes off. My new friend at the table turns to me and explains he does not trust Obama, “he will kill,” he says, “he will kill, he is an American.” Tough, tough words to hear in this the birthplace of democracy. It breaks my heart but I know much of the world feels this way now, and for good reason. Emerika has lost it’s way I am told. I nod in agreement, “Ne, Ne but Obama is best bet,” I say. It will be a long uphill road back.

He smiles, slaps my shoulder and with booming voice and beaming face says, “take my picture.” I am in :)) It’s about time, I was starting to feel like the creepy quiet guy in the corner at the party.

I have decided to stay here on Syros through Sunday before meeting Sue on Thira (Santorini) Monday for our 6th wedding anniversary. She is at a women’s conference on the Pelion Peninsula in mainland Greece right now. We have been together 18 years and have only set the reset button once, recently in fact during dark, dark days, but it has all been for the good. We are both shifting careers and our way of life right now … more experiences, more meaningful work, less “stuff” … working for ourselves and our life instead of “stuff.” Change is never easy, though.

So I am here through the week to really experience the center of the Cyclades. I have found the right island, the real Greece with balance of modern and ancient, I am just unpacking my bags. I owe it to my friend Chris Nelson, who was also the matchbook minister for our wedding, a lifelong photographer who attended the Aegean School of the Arts in the ’70s. He told me to come here. Tonight, singing in the taverna! I stumbled across it at 3 a.m. this morning … the singing of Greek songs echoed through the streets. Beautiful. Greece is LIFE, big and bold … Zorba lives.

Off to siesta, much shuts down here between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. and then reawakens to go long into the night.

Efharisto Chris!!!!

YASSUS!

Everyone is giving this guy a hard time about always losing in backgammon. “Lose again?,” they ask him teasing. He explodes, in good spirit, in a long string of what I can only guess are curses to conclude with this unmistakable gesture. The cafe explodes in laughter.

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