I haven’t blogged for a while.My last few blogs about re -membering in the sense of reassembling memories, lie waiting for the touch of a finger,

Here I am after my first full day in Sifnos after a mixed day of discovery, activity and the usual travel frustrations . But it took the gift of a small packet of pastries right out of the blue to jolt me out of that slightly off kilter mode of response of the newly arrived.

I was hanging up my washing in front of our accomodation when a lady came up the steps and gave me the small package, She said something in Greek, smiled and walked off down the path. An oldish woman dressed in black, a small gold crucifix on a chain around her neck. I burst out stupidly “ how much?”. She smiled and raised her hands in that universal gesture of goodwill.

As she walked away, I vaguely recalled two women sitting on their patios this morning as my friend and I set off confidently for our short walk through the hills to Apollonia , the next town. They smiled and gestured , how brave we were to tackle a steep climb, and indicated they did not know where the path started . They laughed and nodded again as we walked back :” wrong way “ we gaily called as we went past. They waved again as we returned a third time retracing our steps to find that elusive path.

Thank goodness they were no longer outside when we returned 3 hours later, defeated. Change of plan : a swim and a bus to Apollonia,

I think she was one of the women

So where is this leading? Kindness, yes. But for me also a reminder that words don’t always mean the same , that images are constructs determined by culture, experience and a host of other factors . Most embarrassingly, how deeply ingrained are my own expectations.

So yesterday and today, especially today, I still misinterpreted directions, swamped others’ input with my own knowing , expected routes and paths and times to be clearly displayed in recognisable signage.

I also made quick judgements about places , behaviours, labelling the center of Apollonia, when we did get there “ so touristy and fake”. Well it may be … but that’s not the point .

All in all this has been a great day. Thank you smiley woman .

Now for another swim in the clear water in front of our stay . A magic spot, And I’ll keep my opinion to myself, until next time.

The most important discovery is that travel is fun and this is a holiday in a country I have always wanted to visit. Here I am with my friend.