May 24, 2019
Sikia, Greece
Day off at the beach. Saying at the beach in Greece is like saying I am having a glass of wine in the Willamette valley. Although this is a very nice beach. It is also Germany. At least most of the people here are German.
Took a day off because this is such a nice place and I realized after I got here that I must go back the same road for 25 kms to go north out of this country. Yes, I am getting within a week of being in Macedonia. Must begin to think of all the things that will mean.
When I come into a new country of course the language change is important but there are many other items that I must learn.
Today I walked into the village to buy some bread, peanut butter, wine for dinner and find a pharmacy. I have not had much trouble with allergies in my life but the olive trees are in heavy flower, the ground is covered in yellow as is the bike and the tent. Very bad for me. I purchased something they recommended and it is already taking effect. I must find such places in the next country.
Just buying bread can be interesting. What time do the bakeries run out of fresh bread? What stories carry what products. One super market, loosely used term, had a complete room dedicated to Greek wines. One had peanut butter the other did not. One had packaged bread, one did not. I cannot find knifes in hardware store but find camping gas for my stove in the super market. These things I must know and many others.
I am not going to learn the language but to know certain words is important. How to say thank you and you are welcome. Hello, goodbye and to count. Numbers are so important, everything you do involves them. Of course Greek numbers are pretty familiar. We do use them more than you think. How many sides does a pentagon (Greek word) have? Well 5 of course. So, what is five in Greek, pende. Eight, is pronounced och to. Remember the octagon(another Greek word)?
How the roads are identified and which can I use? The names on the maps, what must I learn about translating those to the ones on the signs? Greece uses 3 iterations of the language. Ancient, middle and modern. Many signs carry all 3 but the maps normally only 2. In Greece this is something very difficult apply. Sort of wish I had Gree fraternities in my college. Just have to learn the pattern of the name.
Roads are something else that changes with each country. Here the national (interstate) roads have nice service roads that run almost their entire length. Will that be true in Macedonia? What are the foods like? What cultural taboos should I know?
You just cannot imagine how nice it is here. Bright blue skies, around 73 degrees, a light balmy breeze on a bay with white sand beaches framed by mountains. Just could not help sharing that. Back to the subject.
As to driving. In every country I have ever cycled the people say “watch out for the drivers here, they are crazy.” I take my time and watch just how they drive. What the real rules are. Do they stop for traffic lights. Do the turn right from the left lane? Do they respect each other? The laws are often not the rules. In Ashland drivers will stop when someone is waiting on the sidewalk. That is not the law but it is the rule. To be safer I learn the rules and drive my bicycle under those rules. Another thing that must be learned in Macedonia.
When you travel at the level I do you must know so much more. Must be very aware of how business is conducted. Greeks like to argue and negotiate. Here one almost never pays the asked price without discussion. My favorite word is “Really?” when quoted a price.
So, much to learn again and again. So much to look forward to. Accepting the challenge and the resulting education is one of the reasons I travel.
