Solitary but not lonesome, I wander into the town for my one indulgence – an evening meal in a taverna with two or three beers. Lamb kleftiko, Greek salad, stuffed tomato. The tables are arranged upon a spacious terrace overlooking the harbour’s twinkling lights. An almost full moon is reflected in the bay and there are stars a-plenty.
A mixture of Greek and more familiar pop music oozes from hidden speakers. The volume is lifted as the Mediterranean blue and white tables are cleared. More drinks are consumed. Dancing happens in the middle of the terrace. There’s even that “Zorba the Greek” tune. Initial inhibitions start to melt.
Midnight passes. A smiling woman’s small hand grasps mine and I am there in the middle with the rest of them. We are dancing and laughing unselfconsciously – Greek and English, German and French, American and Dutch. United Nations. Yes we are dancing. Maybe twenty of us.
A current popular song leaks from the speakers. It is “Because the Night” performed by Patti Smith and her group. We have formed a circle, arms around each other and we are whirling, having fun. All as one. Turning and laughing. Looking into each other’s eyes. All from different places. United by the song and we are singing the familiar chorus. Our voices echoing along the narrow white alleyways that lead down to the harbour.
It is one of my signature memories of the Greek islands. That particular August. That particular place:-
Because the night belongs to lovers
Because the night belongs to lust
Because the night belongs to lovers
Because the night belongs to us
The barman puts it on again and the night really does belong to us. Yes - we whirl like dervishes. Briefly, the rest of the world does not exist.
Of these things I shall say no more. It was long ago and far from here.
You have reminded me of a video( old style VHS) I used to have many years ago. It was Leonard travelling and chatting in Greece and was interspersed with him singing on the tour that he was also doing at the time. Would have been probably early 80s as it was in this house that I watched it many times.Somehow I lost it so can't even get it put onto DVD! Pleased to hear that my namesake is keeping well with the pregnancy.
ReplyDeleteThe name Frances must mean "natural born mother". At least you have that memory of the Cohen film.
DeleteYou have reminded me that my young wandering adult life was spent entirely in the hills and mountains of England and Wales (Scotland occasionally but it only became my permanent home when I was 30). I had completely forgotten meeting a young farmer in a pub in the Lake District and striking up a fleetingly promising romance. I wonder what would have happened if I'd become a farmer's husband. Mmemories - you can't beat them.
ReplyDeleteCan't spell them either it would seem!
DeleteMmmemmories... Stay off the whisky Grraham!
DeleteMy comment just disappeared; 2nd attempt:
ReplyDeleteI imagine that since then, you have never heard the song again without being transported back to that time and that place, to what it felt like being that younger version of yourself.
You are right Meike. It always takes me back though I will never know that feeling again.
DeleteBruce Springsteen "The Boss" originally wrote the song and Patti Smith wrote some of the lyrics. Did you meet Shirley Valentine? It sounds like a great film script YP?
ReplyDeleteMy wife is called Shirley but I did not meet her on Hydra.
DeleteOh, you made me realize I need to see that movie again. I lost my copy and miss it so much.
DeleteI remember heady days like that in Greece. Thanks for taking us back there.
ReplyDeleteI think I saw you once at the end of the beach.
DeleteI remember that song well, brings back great memories of being young and fancy-free.
ReplyDeleteOnce upon a time in a faraway place...
DeleteSuch are the memories of our youth, misspent only in the judgement of others, and like you I shall say no more!
ReplyDeleteOnce your middle name was "Madman"...not Maurice or Martin or Michael.
DeleteWonderful memory.
ReplyDeleteOne of my regrets...I took life too seriously. Never let go and spent some time on my own, allowing life to lead the way. Spent too much time mapping and planning. I can still imagine it though, or live vicariously through you for just a minute.
Well-considered Linda. I am grateful for that.
DeleteAren't you glad you have that memory? You are so much richer for it. Hell, we're richer because you shared it.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Glad you read it and appreciated it MM.
DeleteYet another reason why young people should travel -- to make lifelong memories like that! (I have some of my own from Mykonos and Crete.)
ReplyDeleteGreece was magical. Maybe in some little corners it still is.
DeleteI didn't travel when I was young sadly, now I wish I had. I got pregnant at twenty and was a mum at twenty-one. I was far too shy and afraid of the world to do anything like travel by myself. As I said, I wish I had.
ReplyDeleteMy own daughter has traveled a fair bit and lived in Zambia for three months doing an intership while she went to school. She much braver than me:)
Thanks for sharing your memory. Perhaps I'll make it to Greece one day, who knows.
She is much braver than me. I don't proofread. Shit.
ReplyDeleteWhy would you proofread shit Lily? It would be good for you and The Big Guy to fulfil a travel ambition - be it Greece or Portugal or Italy - when the COVID shadow has faded away. I know that you have spent quite a bit of time in England. At 58, you deserve to fulfil a happy travel dream.
Delete.. dot dot dot. Were you played by Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth or Stellan Skarsgård?
ReplyDeleteNone of them. Kermit the Frog.
DeleteThis reminds me of a lovely holiday we had in a little French village. Trans en provence. We had a lovely meal in an old mill carved into the rock face. We dined and then all the tables were pushed to the side and the disco commenced. English music. The French locals embraced us and encouraged us to dance. It was wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThese special moments are best when you do not expect them. Thanks for sharing Christina.
DeleteAnd what, my dear brother, brought that particular memory back to you on this particular day? My memory booster is mostly smells, I think. Odd as that may seem. Lovely picture you painted for me on this chilly, smoke-filled, breezy day. I thank you.
ReplyDeleteNothing in particular ignited that memory Big Sis. I just wanted to write something happy in this time of COVID. Where is your smoke from? Has Big Bear been puffing on cigars?
DeleteI was so in tune with your story. I too have been to a Greek Island and wined and dined and danced in the moonlight with wonderful strangers. That is still my best vacation ever.
ReplyDeleteSo glad that the story "connected" with you Barbara.
DeleteSuch wonderful memories of a special time. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank you for imagining it Bonnie.
DeleteI remember a moment like that, everyone United by the music, the sense of being high on life. The location was a lot less romantic, a Sydney train.
ReplyDeleteYou have great stories, YP
"The sense of being high on life"...yes, I like that expression Kylie.
Delete