Folegandros!

Images: SL in Folegandros, Frankie Surveying his Realm; Folegandros Cliffs; Kim and Mair; Dmitri Pa\laying the Travelcaster; Outdside the Melissa Taverna
Folegandros
Anyone trying to improve their writing should have to tour the Greek islands as we are doing. Your credibility begins to unravel as you use the words “beautiful”, “spectacular”, “gorgeous” again and again.
Folegandros, named for Prince Folegandros, the son of King Midas, is a tiny island in the Cyclades, not far from Santorini. Thirty two square miles and 667 inhabitants. The town we are in, Chora, allows no motor vehicles other than the occasional delivery mini-truck or scooter laden with roosters or live sheep tied to the carrier on the back – (seriously!).
You look down the cliffs, dotted with yellow, orange, purple and red to the pastels painting the sea, and watch the waves crashing endlessly against the steep rock. You realize there is a uniqueness to Folegandros, and start to understand that it is the multi-hued mountainsides rising in each direction, then plunging into the beautiful Aegean Sea. (Damn! I wasn't going to use that word again - “beautiful” - not “Aegean”).
Our adventures here started even before we left Santorini. As we waited for the ferry, we sat in a cafe next to two young Americans who were enjoying a beer before leaving for Folegandros. When I questioned why they got a free bowl of peanuts with their beer and we didn't, Kim said, “It's because Mair has such great breasts.” Then, looking at SL, she said, “No, that can't be it, because you've got a great rack, too!”
Then Mair started to talk about guitars, and the rest was pre-ordained – we made plans to hook up in Folegandros for a night of guitar, song, ouzo, wine and possibly even some food.
We checked into our hotel and I assembled the “Travelcaster” - my guitar. I sat outside and played a bit. Music is the universal magnet. We soon had Dimitri, an employee of the hotel and a student of the guitar, and several young guests of the hotel singing along. Mair, Kim, Dimitri, SL and I did several renditions of old favourites, and Dimitri demanded an encore of “Oh Etna”, my new song, which has become a NEW favourite for him.
The next night we went to another baptism, where Gianni, the restaurant owner, invited us in as his guests and kept us well supplied with wine as we listened to the violin, bouzouki, and singers. We are invited back tonight on the provision that I bring Travelcaster, and that accept ouzo and fresh fish in return!