First post from Lesvos

So finally I get to add to this blog. Or rather really begin it. It is now Thursday afternoon and I think I am finally alive. The trip over was gruelling. The Air-con in the planes does not do my eyes any good and after 24 hours ie by the time I got to Dubai they were in a very bad way. Only today after a swim in the sea have they come right. Enough complaint. Emirates is a good airline to fly and I find Dubai airpot fascinating. I wonder if there is any other place in the world where there is such a number of different nationalities and ethnic groups together in the one place. From women in full burka to the most wayout westerner all move about peaceably. Given the number of flights and people passing through, it is a fairly quiet airport, so I imagine it could be easy to miss your flight. One of the good things I discovered there was a quiet lounge - yes for those of us who have travelled cattle class, there is a relaiviely quiet area where you can semi-recline, with your bags next to you and get a little sleep.
Athens and Olympic Airlines was a different affair. Athens airport portrays itself as a quiet airport - God help us. And Olympic Airlines is a fantastic advertisment for the Greek Ferry Service. Maintainence is not in their language - or rather not as we know it. There was TAPE, BLACK TAPE on the engine, the bolts on the seat were chipped (how do they do it) and the way the cabin crew (one) gave the safety advertisement, I realise were "Effie" was taken from. I must say this was the first person to demonstrate putting on the life jacket with ridicule. Did we really think we were had a chance of getting out of the plane to use it? The descent into Mytilene could have been interpreted as the descent into Hell except that I intend going to heaven and prepared myself accordingly. I swear we came in at over 30 degrees angle. I just shut my eyes and prayed. For the second only time in my life I was scared flying. There is still the trip back. Even the GReeks here snort when they hear the term Olympic Airline.
As some of you know, Geoffrey was not here to met this tired, tired little bod when she arrived. I had no phone card, the airport closed down with rapidity at 11pm and, in tears, I threw myself on the kindness of a cleaner to try and ring Geoffrey - and his phone was off. So in no fit state to do anythingI took myself off in the hire care - on the right side of the road, ie right in terms of our wrong. The car is bigger that ours, good but with sticky gears. The complication with driving on the right side of the road is that everything from the waist up is the opposite of what we know, eyes, hands, turning etc - but the feet remain the same. So one needs to be careful corodinating accelorator and clutch. Mmmm. I leave that to your imagination. I found a hotel, probably paid more that one should, had a good nights sleep, finally contacted Geooffrey and then took myself accros the island by the quiet route but only after having to go through the capital of the island. The roads are unbelievably narrow. MOst streets were made for donkey, the wide ones take just the width of a car and as there are pedestrians as well as weaving motorbikes, travelling slowly is acceptable. In fact after four days of (sometimes very inept) driving I have not felt pressured by other cars and have rarely been tooted. (Tell that to the Italians) I realisied that I had to switch to 'intuitive' driving and in trying to get through the maze of the Mytilene followed a line of traffic thinking 'this is it' . After a few rounds of the ferry car park realised my mistake. Then I took off round the castle, got lost but just kept going (in desperation) and then found they had opened a new pass and I was free of the city. The quiet road is so winding that I rarely travelled over 40 kph...and so after 2 hours got to Molynos, Eftalou hotel, Geoffrey.
The family that run the hotel are kind and the place is quiet. My accomodation is basic, clean, firm bed but with plenty of quiet, which is what I needed. I can see why Geoffrey likes working here. There is a sense of collegiality amongst the staff and they treat each other gently.
There are sooooomany hotels/ apartments. studios etc around here. Some of the hotels are very modern. But what is wierd is the abysmmal infrastructure the moment you step out of the hotel. There are cracks in the roads with weeds everywhere. Narrow, narrow roads which are two way and would barely be one way by our standards, and rarely with safety barriers. As for paths etc, Workplace Health and Safety is from another planet. But it does not have to be like this. Today we went (amongst other places) to Sigri where there is the Museum for the Petrified Forest. Without any hesitation it was the best musuem I have even been in. Wonderful displays, beautfully laid out, well and truly 21st century - so the Greeks can do it.
Enough for this first posting of Nuntrek
I will eventually modify the site and post some flicks.
Till then peace joy and ove to you all.

May 24

I am at the O'Donnells home.

Bye

Opening post

Fine day, birds singing and flowers falling from the sky. Here is a picture I took whilst skydiving.


etc etc