Decision vs Indecision

Once Kathleen Price and I moved to an apartment in Aliki and no longer had a clear view down to the ocean my paintings got a little more introspective - but they still have the islands that can be seen from Paros, Greece in the background.  The question at hand was whether to follow the rolling star ball to new adventures or stay static and do nothing.  Fortunately the rolling star ball won the day!

Aliki Harbor

The center of the little fishing village of Aliki (on the island of Paros, Greece) is the harbor where numerous fishing boats ride the water near outdoor restaurants and a sandy playground for children.  Apparently Tom Hanks and friends make the occasional appearance, when he comes over to the bigger island from his vacation house on Anti Paros, but I did not see him while I was there.

Remarkable Greeks in Lefkes

One day during our Greek vacation, my friend Kathleen Price gathered up her computer and I my art supplies and we drove our rental car up towards the center of the island of Paros to the village of Lefkes.  After wandering through the picturesque narrow alleys of town we discovered a restaurant with outdoor tables sheltered from the sun in a little patio area.  Unlike most restaurants in the USA, in Greece the staff seem happy to have guests stay for hours.  After dining on a delicious meal of freshly baked bread, tzatziki, grilled Mackerel and Greek salad, Kathleen set up her computer (the restaurant had wi-fi) and set to work on her novel and I proceeded to draw and paint the view from our table.  We stayed there 4-5 hours.  With tourism down in Greece as a result of the disturbances in Athens, we were the only guests at the restaurant so had a chance to talk with the owner.  It turns out he had had a successful career working for General Electric (GE) and in his retirement had returned to his home town to open and run a restaurant.  He and his wife were delightful - good cooks, good hosts and genuinely nice people which made our brief encounter truly memorable.

Greek Clouds

There wasn't much to do when I was in Greece - as in working, shopping, partying, watching TV, etc.  But there was a lot to do that I don't normally do - like spend hours looking at the clouds in the sky.  I strongly recommend it!

Paros Bird

As Benjamin Franklin observed: "fish and guests stink after three days."  Having worn out our welcome in the hills of Paros, it was time to head to the beach.  This wild-eyed bird painting was done with a blank box waiting for just the right words for the occasion.

Speaking of fish, check out the new post at "What to Love."   Although the food and wine were great in Greece - for variety and organics there is no place like home.

Paros Potted Plant

Last painting from the hills of Paros, this potted plant had a great view from its perch on the white marble whitewashed pillar to the sea miles below.

Paros Window

On Paros, most Greek windows, doors, trim, fences and railings are painted either dark or light blue - the same blue as can be found in the flag of Greece.  There are  few exceptions - but this interior bedroom window in green is one of them.  It is built into a typical island house constructed out of stone and wood then covered with stucco and painted annually with a whitewash made out of crushed marble.  As is common with this style of architecture, some elements of the underlying stone or wood structure remain visible - such as the recessed wood beam above the window which is not completely covered by stucco.  The exterior scene is a common one - an olive tree!