Nafplio, Greece : Finding Beauty in Solitude

Jul 19, 2014


Nafplio, Greece

6am. I can’t pretend that I can still sleep. The five hour time difference, or jet lag, is setting in. I opened the door to the balcony and welcomed the morning light. The town is still asleep. But the birds chirping greeted me a good morning.


Nafplio, Greece
view from my room's balcony

Prepared coffee and some toasts for breakfast. And I just felt the need to write this down. This mood, this pretty balcony, this silence, is what I needed. A clear mind to start the day.

I could live in a place like this. Or wish I could live in a place like this. After traveling extensively and moving around so much, I hope to have this life soon.

Nafplio, Greece

I was so exhausted last night. I regret pushing myself to climb that palace without proper sleep. After eating dinner, I headed out to the port and waited for the sun to set. It was a simple sunset. Not much color, yet still beautiful.

LR Nafplio-0873
sunset

For a moment I felt sad to be alone, watching couples probably on their honeymoon, families on a cruise break, friends taking selfies. So I decided to walk back to the hotel and just call it a day.

"The fear of being alone will rob you of all the lessons that solitude has come to teach."

Along the way, I found this frozen Greek yogurt place. I’ve always been curious to try it and see what the whole fuss is about. A nice man explained to me my options. I just ordered the plain one and looooved it.

I decided to walk around again after, with no specific destination. A couple having coffee outside their shop said something to me in Greek and smiled. I told them I can't understand Greek. The man said ‘How are you today?’ I told him I was doing good. They wished me a great night ahead.

Walked up nearly empty streets where only the residents live. A group huddled together having wine greeted me a good night.

Palamidi Castle, Nafplio, Greece

From this alley I could see the sky turning orange, the small buildings and balconies becoming more beautiful. I don’t know why, but I just felt happy and content after that. Must be the yogurt, but I guess I just realized that it’s okay to be alone. That this is how it’s supposed to be right now. Everything is as it’s meant to be.

For the first time since last month over getting anxious preparing for this trip, I was at peace with my thoughts. I was happy eating yogurt and walking along these pretty streets, and getting greeted by these nice people.

"Live a life that let's you see such things. Buy the tickets, board the planes, get lost, find yourselves, come home changed. Live a life that creates more out of all you were the day before." 
- Tyler Knott Gregson

Every single time I travel, I try to escape something, I hope to find myself, to find love, to find answers. But every single time I come home, I fall even more in love with life and this beautiful world. I get so much more inspired to move, do, and create, and look forward to life ahead. There's so many more new places to see, strangers and people to meet, and moments to experience. :)





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