Inertia.

It was four years ago to the week almost, that this blog started. A long and spontaneous travel adventure triggered everything and a whole life before triggered that. All has changed in the meantime and mostly me. And it was the return from that trip that coincided with some of the biggest changes. Looking back, the aftermath has been more profound than the trip itself.

The reason for this post though is the leave of my best friend, four years later and with the same destination, having gone through some revelatory times and having walked some parallel steps together in between. I'm full of hope and admiration but surprisingly little jealousy for his fresh start. Inertia is a powerful thing but motivation and need are even stronger. I've learned to miss and will do so again but life keeps on moving. (If anything, I'm afraid we might have been there and missed the stop.)

Good luck and enjoy it Mr. P!

The Kids Are Alright.

Palm Trees.

Saturday Morning Sunset.

Pedalos.

It's a surreal place, Greece is.

A photo from last summer just reminded me of that again. It was a sultry summer day, early morning and the menu had a boat ride, maybe fishing. Went by the captain's usual post on the beach to borrow a pedalo to his boat, the early birds already busy on their break-strokes. Had our morning coffee but the proprietor was nowhere to be seen. Ended up turning away a few potential customers of his since all was locked up before realizing nothing was actually locked up. An hour overdue and somehow bemused we nicked the pedalo and it was a beautiful day.

This picture was hanging over his office. A legendary militant of the WWII resistance and tragic figure of the subsequent civil war. A true revolutionary!

That's Family*.

And family is family, everybody knows that.

But there's so much more that can be family. A new born baby (or two) obviously are, and long time friends that stand beside you also. But so can be honesty and a long silence during the rain. Someone half a globe away you only meet on a screen. A summer's day work and a welcoming house, a familiar sock and a football match, the next person you'll meet and the dozens others you won't. And finally the future will be family. It goes on an on...

It's never too late to appreciate it.

* As Richard Farnsworth says in David Lynch's wise The Straight Story.

Animals.

Autumn In The City.

On Fences, Grass and Other Sides.