Village taverna

I was invited to join a dinner with friends in neighboring village Rustika. The night was so wonderfully Cretan. The taverna we met at was a mom and pop establishment that doesn’t have a menu, you just get what is being served that day, and they bring out plates and plates of food and jugs of wine until everyone I satiated. This evening we had salad, bread, cheese, stuffed vegetables, french fries, and rabbit. Jugs of (I think) a fortified red wine were constantly filled and shared, raki made its way across the table at the end of the meal as well as some really good watermelon. The older gentleman who runs the place sat with our table most of the time we were there but occasionally visited the other tables as well, as did his wife. This was clearly a place that our dinner companions had visited often. There was another table there that was an American couple – I know this because the old man was very excited to tell me my people were there, lol (we said hi by the end of the night, they were from the Chicago area). And as a gesture of gratitude for everything, everyone at the table helped clear the plates and bring everything back to the kitchen before we left.

We got to dinner at 9, and by 12:20 we were still saying goodbyes to everyone, you just don’t rush a dinner here. But what I am learning is that there is a real wisdom in the way that the Greeks experience life that is heavily centered in the now. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow is not guaranteed so we live for now. Why rush a dinner when it is a chance to sit and enjoy each other’s company? I am constantly reminded that I have not yet learned to relax and stop trying to rush through the now, and I sincerely hope I can get closer to the way the Greeks can sit and enjoy even the mundane, and truly appreciate the good. #lifegoals