An odyssey in Elounda wouldn’t be complete without taking a boat over to Spinalonga (The Island).
We’ve been before and read the book …….
…… but that was before we’d immersed ourselves in all twenty six, one hour episodes of the Greek TV series “To Nisi” (twice, over ) ……..
….. once last Christmas and then a monster binge just before we came away.
Without Victoria Hislop’s book we would never have gone on to learn the true history of the island, in the main being one of the last active leper colonies in Europe until it finally closed in 1957.
https://greeking.me/blog/crete/item/255-the-story-of-spinalonga
The most emotional part for us was walking through the long tunnel into “the village”……….
….. as it had featured so strongly in the series. You just can’t imagine how awful it must have been to pass through knowing that you may never see your family or leave the island again
To be honest, in some ways we felt as if we were intruding ………
……. and not a little voyeuristic ……..
…….. which is why we tried to avoid the many large guided tour parties to explore and take it all in on our own …….
If ever there was a place on earth that should to be haunted it would have to be Spinalonga ……
……. it’s so beautiful ………
……. but feels so sad at the same time.
However, without wishing to sound irreverent, when we were discussing this, Nigel did wonder if there was any ghostly activity in this sort of heat would there be a noticeable Derek Acorah (RIP) spooky and dramatic drop in temperature?
Before we left, we lit a candle in the church, perhaps our favourite part of the island ……. each lost in our own thoughts ……
….. wondering if we will ever return to a place we are all so drawn to.
Who can tell, but I know Darrell is already planning another viewing of To Nisi when we get back home ……. what is he like?
2 comments:
Spinalonga sounds and looks wonderful. A bit of a poignant visit, however.
Having been to Greece so often, have you picked up much of the lingo? I imagine Nigel can have quite that chat in Greek.
Having read Victoria's book - your trip and your words bring it all back and the atmosphere she creates in pages makes this blog post so poignant....and oh yes, The Tunnel....those people, that place, those emotions...you capture it all so well. Janthefan x
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