Today is a day of beginnings and endings. For the former, I would like to introduce my new notebook. Although it says 8th August, my first proper travelogue entry was for today – 11th August. You will also note that it lasted a rather long time. I may have had some intermediary notebooks, or I lost my writing mojo, or not much happened in my life worthy of noting.
For the latter, these are my final hours in Matala. Last night there was drinking of wine and a bit of smoking by firelight in the caves. I enjoyed the final sunset, reflecting on its meaning and symbolism.
I ended the day with a giant “Mama sandwich”.
I was awake just before dawn.
Cat of dawn, creeping across the sand…sneaking off into the half-light…fowl of dawn, scavenging…cock crow, flights of birds, the dawn chorus on the move…
As yesterday, there was a feeling of unreality, as if I was intruding on dawn’s privacy…
…and as daylight spread…fisherman in a bobbing boat, and on the cliffs, sunlight happy and yellow, blue waves breaking white over rocks…
I left Matala with a cheese sandwich and an unopened letter from my mum.
The following details relate to today but were written on 13th August. We caught the 14.00 hrs bus to Heraklion to catch the evening boat (“Sophia”) to Piraeus, but there were no tickets available until 17.30 hrs. We queued diligently but the staff behind the counter at the ticket office were not very helpful. A woman in front of us bought the last three tickets. We were told to wait until all ticket holders were on board to see if there was any space for us. At the time of departure, the gangway was swung away and we panicked. The guy swung it back and allowed us to board. Big relief! Athens was waiting for us!
Next update will be continuing the entry for Day 124 (13th August 1973).
Psychologist on the Move 