too much cheese....

Santorini really was amazing...I took to spending the days by the beach and the nights being fed bad tourist food and wine by my new friends...long laungorous naps filled the spaces in between. I actually made it out of Fira, to Oia, to catch the sunset on the last evening of my stay on the island. Oia, a bit more upscale than where I'm staying, is a gorgeous little collection of colorful little houses, perched on the edge of the caldera with a crumbling castle looking out to sea. It is truly beautiful. As I was poking around the shops, waiting for the sun to begin its descent into the ocean I stumbled upon an artisit's workshop. Strangely enough, I was pretty sure my parents had purchased some of his art a couple of years ago. I poked my head inside and decided that he had sold art in the north midwest of the USA, thus it was entirely possible one of his paintings was currently sitting at my childhood home. He invited me in for a cappucino, which he ran off to fetch. I got uncomfortable after 2 minute of various tourists gawking at me, I can't imagine how he manages to create some pretty amazing art work under such conditions. However he returned and we happily drank coffee and chain smoked and chatted about art, the US, Greece and traveling. He invited me back after the sunset for some wine, but as he had mentioned his fondness for younger women earlier in the conversation, I figured that probably not the wisest. Instead I returned to my campsite to pack and bid farewell to my "taverna friends". They played def leopard one last time for me....I arrived in Naxos early afternoon and found a place to stay, Pension Irene, reccomended by my guidebook. I got there after schlepping my pack from the port only to be told that it was full. They had room, but at pension Irene 2, just a short drive away. The owner heaved me and my pack in his car and we arrived at a very cute little place. Spotlessly clean, with a private bath, a kitchenette TV and airconditioning. I managed to talk 5 euros a night off the fee and metioned I wanted to rent a scooter. Without a word he loaded me on the back of his scooter and zipped me over to a rental place. After seeing my wobbly attempts on a scooter, the owner insisted I rent a quad, lest I get myself dead on my vacation. I set off only to soon realize I had no clue where I was. With the driving and the scooting I had got all turned around. For twenty terrible minutes I was certain I would have to abandon my stuff and start life anew, just me and my ATV. I did manage to find my hotel after incredible amounts of circleling and much cursing and set off to scope out the beaches. On my way back I stopped at the grocery store to pick up some rations. I had gotten oranges, some bread, a bit of cheese, some taziki and a few drinks. As my greek is nonexistant, i had muddled my way through at the deli counter. When I unwrapped my purchases I discoverd that my 6 slices of cheese was enough to feed a small nation of mice and my taziki was in fact spiced feta spread. Oops. I am literally swimming in cheese. At least i know what I'm having for breakfast tommorow...and lunch...and dinner....