Saturday 2 July 2016

I'm a morning person





I always go to Kos town first thing in the morning to avoid the real heat of the day and aim to make my way back out along the flat coastline of the north shore to Mastichari or Tigaki for lunch but still have time for snacks in Kos town. A creature of habit I park near the Odeon walk along past the museum and turn left to the shops. The shop keepers have set up small tables and chairs outside their shops today and are drinking coffee and chatting as there are so few people around at the moment. A group of school children troop past with their teachers off to look at ruins even they have to do the tourist bit and I guess there is plenty of opportunity in Kos town. Kids seem to be the feature of the day today groups on the beach in Mastichari later giggling and chattering chasing each other in and out of the sea. Marching across the square in line heading towards the Boats in the harbour. It’s not the first time I’ve experienced this as I’ve met them hiking in the woods and picnicking in Plaka before. I’m on holiday though and came to get away from school children.

So back to shopping, just managed to avoid that amazing Ice cream, cake shop on the corner with every flavour imaginable and popped in for some advice in the Phone shop really helpful in there. Straight over to the Agora and the aroma hits you before you even go in. Herbs, spices, olives, honey, fruit and veg, perfumes, lotions, potions you name it it’s there and out into the Square for coffee, cake and people watching.

 







 
No one is hurrying, people saunter around taking photos, posing, taking selfies and soaking up the atmosphere. Even the business men cool in suits with open necked shirts cross the square purposefully but unhurried with briefcases and smart shoes stop for takeout coffees on their way through. Watching the world go by is only a precursor to other things…………

Highway I





Highway 1 as I call it from Kefalos to Kos makes an interesting ride and if only they had a double decker bus with the top off. The journey would be the better for it so that all the senses could be used to fully experience the journey.








It’s early summer and the sun hasn’t had chance to dry out the land yet, so the landscape is fresh and blossoming. The surrounding fields are golden and newly mown. Wild flowers are buzzing with bees and vivid blue Morning Glories raise their heads to the sun. Great waves of Pink and White Oleander line the road from Kefalos to Antimachia.

Grazing in the distance are small flocks of sheep, tethered cows next to their calves and herds of goats with their Bells Jingling as the climb over the rocks and rough pasture. Women wearing head scarves to protect them from the sun are collecting berries and herbs as chickens wander round their feet.

Pockets of Olive groves and vineyards appear in this patchwork landscape and as you get nearer to the turning for Zia the white ducks quack on the little lake. The Mountains loom up to my right cloaked in deep green pine trees almost to the tip and houses nestle in their midst. To my left the sea and distant Islands feature on the horizon.

The occasional Farm shop has set up by the road and old, new and unfinished houses sit left and right of me. Garden stores, Bakeries, Fashion stores appear from nowhere and the closer you get to Zipari and beyond the more shops and Businesses line the road. Yet still the backdrop of fields and farm animals remain but now the serious commercial end has started. Lidl, Peugeot, Toyota, Bridal wear, Tool hire and framing this picture of trade are Hibiscus, bougainvillea and scented geraniums tumbling out from the gaps in the wall or over the driveways.

As I drive into Kos town the old car park is scented with Honeysuckle and Jasmine and brightly coloured shrubs line my walk in to the centre and I’ve arrived for another sensory experience.