Mantra

   In the years I lived with the Thai family in Ayutthaya, Thailand my mantra was "All will be revealed." That worked well because with the language issues explanations were difficult, things were planned and I trusted the family. That's also a good mantra on a tour led by Anna who is spontaneous and random. 

    Yesterday, after leaving the monasteries at Meteora we drove to Volos. (Google their floods.) The bus parked on the waterfront, following the bus driver we walked down the quay. When we reached a huge truck unloading bottled water the driver told us to take water. Carrying multiple bags of 4 two liter bottles we continued down the waterfront. "What's this about?", I wondered. On we trundled until we were seated in outdoor restaurant. 

    The explanation: Volos' floods have compromised the purity of the drinking water. So we drank the bottled water at the restaurant and took the remainder to our hotel. The government is supplying water temporarily.

    Because of the floods today's planned excursion was cancelled. The roads that were to be used were impassible from flooding. Personally I welcomed a day of rest and recuperation. It's been a welcome respite from the arduous days.

    Tonight we walked about 20 minutes up the mountain to our restaurant. The other reader, there are two of you, asked if we literally had sixteen courses. No, I said, that's an estimate of the number of dishes each meal. Tonight I tried to count, tried because they came so fast. Not counting the baskets of bread and bowls of olives, my count was twenty-five!! This was a bit more than previous meals. Anna pre-orders and eating is family style. In addition there are endless carafes of red and rose' wine and beer. Fortunately the walk after dinner was down the mountain!😂

   It's a tough life but someone needs to do it.

Takk for alt,

Al

                      The view at breakfast today.

                        The dinner venue.

                               Greek Sunset