We all know that experiences change a person – their outlook on life, how they process thoughts and emotions, how they interpret events and places. But I have personally never felt this as starkly as when I recently returned to Greece after a gap of twenty years.
Parts of Athens and the Cape of Sounion appeared familiar, especially travelling down the coast to the Temple of Poseidon. But retracing my steps all these years later gave me an entirely different perspective of those places.
On my first visit, the thrill of exploring somewhere new was overwhelming. Everything was exciting. Every sight was precious. I took a lot of photos!
On my recent visit, however, since I knew what to expect, that thrill wasn’t there. Instead it was replaced with a settled admiration for the Greek people and their beautiful country. Everywhere I went, I was greeted with smiles, a gratitude for visitors and an enthusiasm for co-operation across language barriers. Thankfully similar sounding words like chocolate and σοκολάτα (pronounced sokoláta) helped a lot!
The last time I was in Greece, I was also a vegetarian, whereas this time I could eat all the gyros and moussaka I wanted! I delighted in every local dish I could find.
On my first visit to the area, landmarks such as the Acropolis, the Ancient Agora, the Temple of Hephaestus and the Temple of Poseidon were impressive testaments to the architects of Ancient Greece. On my return I was still in awe, yet I also moved past that to seek out more background details.
Here are some ‘then’ and ‘now’ photos back-to-back…
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For example, at the Cape of Sounion, I found myself fascinated by its strategic importance in controlling the sea passage to the Aegean Sea, Piraeus, and the rich silver mines that enabled Athens to become such a major power in the 5th century BCE…
Given the importance of trade by sea to the ancient Athenians, of course they built a temple of Poseidon on the headland – Poseidon being master of the sea!
And of course the theatres of the country’s ancient storytellers and philosophers held my attention more tightly than ever. Oh, the importance of story across the epochs!
I can only imagine the exhilaration of attending any production in these incredible structures, the true origins of dramatic art!
And of course stories themselves are all about change, so what better country than Greece to appreciate how much a person can change over time and experience? The character who enters a story on page one is always different from the character who enters that story’s climax, and that’s what makes all the difference. If it were not for their change, that character would likely fail against the odds.
Sometimes, my characters do still fail! Such as in my darker fantasy and horror short stories.
But the characters who succeed against the odds are always those who overcome the challenge of change and grow – an important thought for when we face change in our own lives… However hard it might be to come to terms with new realities and let go of old expectations, change can also offer us a wealth of wisdom, personal growth and success if we let it.
Thank you, Greece!
