Around the "neighborhood" - first impressions

Hi all,

If you are new to our blog, forgive me if it seems like I’ve jumped ahead. These photos are in reference to some of correspondences I sent out as “Crete Journal” emails before the blog was set up. So, if you were on my mailing list starting in September when we moved here, you might remember me talking about some of these places and events. But as they say, “a picture is worth a thousand words” so I’ll just start with some sunsets that left even me speechless!

Every chance we get, we explore our little part of the world and always manage to discover something new along the path…

through grape vines…

past shepherd huts…

past typical Cretan mailboxes…

meeting up with a local bee keeper (Giorgio)…

and a local farmer…

and sometimes ending up at the neighborhood corner taverna for a robust “Café Alinika” (Greek coffee). Footnote to the Greek coffee – we really tried hard to acquire a taste for this thick, muddy liquid but finally gave up and have resorted back to a good old fashioned espresso.

After a full day of taking in the sights, we return to our little apartment in Stavros which serves as our temporary digs until we find a permanent home. It’s quite comfortable with beautiful views of the cliffs…

the pool and sea beyond…

and a flower bedecked “garage” for our island beater (the car!)

In the kitchen, Richard prepares a great Greek salad of cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, olives, a big slab of feta cheese sprinkled with fresh oregano and topped off with some local extra virgin olive oil. (The secret ingredient is “freshness”!)

And when we stop for a moment to relax from all the sightseeing, we indulge ourselves by finding a quiet cove where we can just sit still, read, pray and thank God for blessing us with each other, for old friends and new, and for creating another beautiful spot in this world to enjoy.

“God’s word and our prayers make every item in creation holy.”

(1 Timothy 4:1 The Message)