Needless to say, the Teams meeting didn’t happen via Teams, but by phone, but let’s not go back there. Instead, let’s go up to the village for a wander. Some people investigate the village while they are here for the day, but many don’t have enough time. Others don’t see it at all, because they are on guided tours which stay in the harbour and follow the routine of ‘Everyone off the boat. Right. We’re here. That’s that, the history is this, follow me, sit, eat, you’ve got an hour and back on the boat, please, all tips welcome.’ More independent visitors manage to walk up, the even more intrepid think to use the bus or a taxi, and usually, people are looking for ‘the church,’ as in, ‘Which way to the church?’ ‘Which one?’ There are at least thirteen.’ Directions are given, which many then ignore and go blithely wandering off in the other direction, and it’s closed anyway, but they don’t need to know that. No, I’m talking about seeing the inner village, if you like. The off-the-beaten-track parts, such as this old shop front…
For some, I think it’s a fear of getting lost. Perhaps they’re worried they will get sucked into a time warp and never find their escape from the maze of lanes, and still be here in twenty years’ time. Others may worry they’ll miss their boat back to all-inclusive paradise, and for many, it’s probably because a) they don’t know it’s there as the reps don’t tell them, or b) they don’t know how to get there. It’s not just day-trippers either; many longer-stayers miss the fun of exploring the lanes. It’s a shame because they are missing out on public toilets.
At least, that’s what I was told this building was when on my first guided walk all those years ago. It makes sense, as, once upon a time, when properties didn’t have the bathrooms we know today, and when clusters of homes centred around an open space such as this one below Ag Athanasios, where else could you go when you wanted to go? That’s just one of the unusual sights you can find when exploring Horio (also seen written as Xorio). It’s actually not that easy to get lost. If in doubt, head downhill and you will eventually come to the sea. It may not be the bit of sea you started from, but that’s okay too. Alternatively, head upwards and you will, at some point, be able to go no further. Stay high, follow the boundary and you will find the main road. After that, follow rule one and head downwards.
As for me, I am heading off into the writing world, today, using the kitchen as my base as our niece is staying in the room beside the office, and I’m sure she doesn’t want to be woken by the clattering of my inept typing at 4.30 in the morning. Instead of my view of the harbour, I have a view of the draining board and the bathroom. Delightful.
