New Years Day

 Sunday 1st January 2023

We had a lovely night last night. We all gathered around a friends house in Kamares, we brought along some finger food and our friend has prepared some other things. We ended up playing the favoured card game, which was new to our host, there was a little bit of initial confusion! But it all ended up nicely in the end, with myself winning five rounds. I made a terrible gaff on one of the rounds giving up an opportunity to put down three cards in one go. Never mind. Before we gathered at this house, I went to my other friends who have the dog, he came up and lay beside me, his head nuzzled against my thigh. It reminded me of when after walking the cocker spaniel I used to look after, he would do this and have a nap. He is no longer alive, I still miss him. Here he is.

At a few minutes before midnight, I opened the fizz, we all had some, except the dog! Later we all left and I imagine all were home by one am. There were a few fireworks at midnight, but not many. This morning, while my friends had to feed some cats, for friends who are away, I said I could walk the dog, on a route up the road to Hironissos turning off towards a church. The path should then go down to join the main path at the bottom of the dry river bed, returning to Kamares. 

That was the plan ! As we walked along the road, we were climbing with super views around us, and although it had been cold and  windy at the beach, I was getting warm again. We past two Greeks in separate houses, both who said hello to us, one watched over me as I gave the dog a drink and he said the word breakfast in Greek to me. We soon turned off onto a track that was signed to the Church of Panagia  Lagadakia. 

On the path we actually saw ( for me a first ) crop of nettles that looked like the ones we get in the UK. We saw a beautiful horse in a field, looked in very good condition. We heard but did not see goats, their bells clanging away. We did at one point have a lovely view of Kamares, the beach and sea. The problem with the church is it’s built on terracing so you can’t take a decent photo of it. 

We were sitting enjoying the views when the potter who has his shop in Kamares turned up, I heard his vehicle before I saw him. He said hello, Happy New Year and went inside. I then heard him singing for quite a long time, after this he came out and said goodbye. I went inside and saw two candles had been lit.

After a bit of looking about, I saw steps and they looked to be in the right direction. The steps carried on but were covered in places by rocks and vegetation. Eventually they just stopped. From here we ended up walking terraces, with olive trees and prickly shrubs. Climbing over walls and going up, we actually wanted to go down. Eventually a lucky break, I saw a flash of white and red paint, on a wall and we had found the path again . 

Not long after here it went steeply down, still in a state of disrepair, but worse as the surface was slate and quite slippery. We carried on, the dog was on lizard duty, but they are too fast for  him. When we got to the dry river bed, we were by where the Apollonia path also comes down to it, by a massive boulder. From here we just went forward to Kamares. When we got there we had a drink at my house, then walked back up to where the dog lives, for some much needed lunch. He is fast asleep by my side my right hand gently rubbing his tummy.

When we had a chat with one of the dogs owners, they said when they were driving back to Kamares they saw both of us on the path. Tonight I am back having dinner here, some UK TV and an  early night before meeting the accountant tomorrow!