The Last Day on the Island...

On Saturday, our last day on the island, the choirs had a free day up until the call time to be the chorus for the Opera Gala at the Apollo Theater. We all agreed that sleeping in was definitely called for and the fact that the breakfast buffet was open until 10:30 a.m. meant we didn't even have to miss breakfast! After the wonderful concert the night before and the yummy birthday dinner, it felt  luxurious to wake up and simply roll over and go back to sleep! When I opened the drapes, the Aegean Sea was still there!! So blessed!

Jeshua had organized a "field trip" for VOT that involved a lot of hill climbing so I elected to stay home from it. They were going to Ano Syros, a medieval Catholic settlement on a high hill above Hermopolis. The plan was to take a city bus up as high as they could, then hike/walk the rest of the way. It was a good plan. 😎 Somehow, they missed the bus, or it missed them, so they ended up hiking up the whole way. The last part up is not open to cars and Jeshua said they passed a donkey on their way down laden with cases of bottled water and other goods for the cafe at the top. It was a wonderful view, and they enjoyed lunch together. They also visited the Church of St. George--a Catholic church built in the 1200's and sang in it, of course.

Meanwhile I had the day to myself and had a list of last minute things I wanted to do. I set out walking along the harbor, making a point to take more careful notice as this would be my last time.

I had enjoyed this flower garden each time I passed by.

I had not really stopped to look at this statue on the harbor path...

...nor had I noticed that when you stood in front of it, it was at the base of the street that led from the harbor up to the main town square, Miaoulis Square, and the steps of the City Hall--which is the main administration building for all the Cyclades.

A very welcoming statue...and note the nice view of the Church of the Resurrection at the top of the hill.

I also took a picture of a very important business, and, as far as I know, the only one of its kind on the island--

...the Green Shirt--laundry services!

No laundromats here! But for 7euros/kilo (about $8.50), they would wash and dry your clothes for you. A one day service. Much pricier (and not nearly as nicely done, I might add) than the 40baht/kilo (about $1.20) in Thailand, but much cheaper than having it done at the hotel.

This is the view out from inside at the laundry counter. Wouldn't that make for a refreshing sight during the work day?

The main thing on my list was to visit the Church of the Assumption (Dormition) of the Virgin, a Greek Orthodox church that is home to an El Greco painting, Dormition of Virgin Mary, dated 1562. El Greco, meaning "the Greek, was a Greek man, Doménikos Theotokópoulos, who ended up living and painting in Spain during the Spanish Renaissance. The painting was probably brought to the island during the Greek War of Independence in the early 1800's. The painting was not publicly recognized and authenticated until 1983!! That was the year Jeshua was born! Good thing the "church ladies" hadn't thrown it out!

I really didn't want to go--it would be a long walk up and then down, but I will tell you, in case you don't experience it your own lives, that guilt is a great motivator! I knew if I told my fellow Grad TRAK! teachers that I had been in the town with one of the "masters" and I didn't make the effort, I would totally feel guilty!! And I could see if for free to boot! Ahh, the weight of guilt!

Jeshua had already been earlier in the week and encouraged me to go, also. But it was three blocks of steps up from the harbor walkway and sounded like way too much for me...with the coming down being much worse than the going up. However, as I explored the town during the week, I found that you could get to that area by following the street it was actually on beginning from the north end and go up the slopes of each block, thereby avoiding the steps of the direct route. So that was what I did.

At the corner before the church I stopped and took a picture looking up the hill...

...and down the hill toward the harbor.

The entrance to the church was this simple little gate. On a funny note, the next building which you see just a little to the left, is the island casino.

I appreciated the translation of the sign.

When I stood on the steps of the entrance and looked across the street, there was a sweet little garden...

...looking down on the harbor. I love how all the blue in this photo is water, not sky! It is still 2 blocks above the water.

A little further on the garden opened up and expanded.

When I went into the church gates, this is what I saw...

...the main doors to the right. The gates you see in the back went out to the next street above.

As I walked up the marble steps...two sets of them...I could feel the places where the steps were worn from the thousands upon thousands of folks who had climbed them before me. The church was built in 1828.

The view from the interior doors. I don't know the architectural terms, but the sanctuary has a large center and a wing on each side.

A close up of the always-present-front-and-center painting of the Last Supper. This one had smaller paintings of various scenes from the life of Christ to each side.

A much more ornate elevated lectern spot than I had seen elsewhere.

I had also not seen a sitting place that was so ornate either. Read that it was for visiting higher ups...bishops, etc. It was directly across from the elevated lectern.

This "hall" was down the far right hand side of the sanctuary. The painting at the top left was in memory of those who died in the failed Cyprus Revolt against British Rule in 1931.

The ceiling over the central section. One of the few churches that did not have a dome.

And, of course, the El Greko painting.

The Dormition of the Virgin...meaning the passing of Mary from this earthly life.

It is a small painting, only 18" X 24". This is the sign next to it and I thought it worth a picture for the information.

So I was at one end of the harbor and the next location on my agenda was at the other end, up the hill from our hotel. But I'm running out of time today, so that story must wait for the next blog installment. Stay tuned! It's a good one!