» A simple way to recharge batteries

A sight to make you smile - another beautiful, almost deserted beach

We had a rare day out on Sunday.

It was a spur of the moment thing – well almost. The day before I’d begun to realize it had been weeks since we’d had a real day off. A day totally away from the computers and anything to do with the internet, websites, blogs, products etc. And when that type of thought starts flitting around my head I know it’s time to do something about it. My body and brain are telling me their batteries are running low, a recharge is needed.

Apart from occasional festivals the rural area of Greece where we live doesn’t really lend itself to organized activity. There are some ancient archaeological sites, the odd museum, and a few beaches  offer water sports activities when the season gets started, but on the whole it’s up to you to make your own entertainment, and this suits us fine.

After breakfast we made up a simple picnic, put chairs and table in the car and set off. Our mission: to go places we hadn’t been before.

We took a leisurely drive along the coast, past places we knew and into new territory. We stayed on the coast road and turned down track after track to see where they led. Sometimes this was to a dead end, but more often than not we’d find ourselves in a sleepy little village or on a beach. The beaches we found were delightful: long crescents of golden sand, deserted or with just a token human and natural harbors dotted with small boats. We discovered rocks that looked volcanic – an unexpected delight – and lots of different plants surviving happily in the hot, dry, salty environment.

We wandered, calling each other to come and look at the latest discovery: a twisted and weathered plant stem, a delicate butterfly blended beautifully into the flower it was visiting, a colony of snails packed tightly into the spiked leaves of a plant.

Nature never ceases to amaze and delight

After a while we turned inland, driving through towns and villages bright with color from the many gardens and tubs brimming with flowers. Navigating cross-country on roads without signposts, we were never quite sure where we would end up. At one moment we were up high with views to both coastlines, the next snaking down a valley side in a series of switch-back turns.

A search for an abandoned village led us along windy dirt tracks to a different village than the one we were aiming for. Not so ancient ruins that are rarely visited, but open to anyone with the desire to wander. Climbing among the buildings gives you a real feel for how it must have been to live in these remote places, and goes some way to an understanding of why the inhabitants chose to move closer to ‘civilization’.

Eventually we too found ourselves back on familiar roads and headed home, tired but full of new experiences.

A simple day that took little effort to organize and cost very little.

But the positive outcomes were plentiful:

The delight of new people and places discovered

Appreciation of the unending variety and beauty of nature just sitting there, waiting for anyone willing to stop and take a look

Quality time spent together, sharing our experiences and strengthening our relationship.

Next time you’re feeling jaded or harassed, throw some simple food and drink into a bag, open the door and just go look at the world around you. Whatever the weather, urban or rural, by car or on foot, you can always find something new or rediscover something forgotten in the world around you. Leave your troubles behind and step back to childhood, willing to just open your eyes, look and enjoy.