What an
endless return home for King Odysseus, after going to the Trojan War, wandering
for a decade through the Mediterranean sea dominated by beings of the
underworld, cyclops, and evil sirens. This is how Homer recounted the Odyssey
in a legendary epic poem where the destination was not the important thing but
the journey in itself, full of adventures, growth, and learning. I saw the ‘silhouette’
of Ithaca for the first time on the horizon, aboard the ferry that completes
the route through the Ionian Islands of Greece. Unlike the poem, the journey
had not been long for me. I had set sail from the port of Sami in Kefalonia and
within 25 minutes I had this small, rocky and forgotten island in front of me.
Its name evokes literature, Greek myths, the very essence of a classical
culture that spread throughout Europe and made a continent flourish with music,
theatre, philosophy and democracy itself. Ithaca belongs to the imaginary of
those places halfway between reality and fiction, such as the legendary Sparta,
Delphi and the mythical Oracle of the Gods or the city of Athens of Pericles,
presided over by the majestic Parthenon. However, in the 21st century, with the
explosion of mass tourism and “instagrammable” places, the millions of tourists
who travel to the Hellenic country every year seek Santorini, Mykonos, Ithaca’s
neighbour Zante, Sissi's Corfu, and other much more popular islands. Who
remembers Ithaca anymore, where Penelope patiently waited for her beloved
husband? And it is that, even though Lord Byron himself wanted to buy it back
then, in love with it, Ithaca has generally gone unnoticed all these years.
Keeping calm, keeping its charm.
It is
an island of abrupt landscapes, with vertical cliffs and rocky walls. Mountains
where bushes and forests grow wild. There are not sandy beaches; just a few
hidden coves, made of stone, and crystal-clear waters. With just 100 kilometres
and 3,500 habitants, Ithaca is a retreat from the world at any time of the
year. With only a couple of ferries a day during the summer months, Ithaca,
poorly connected to the mainland and its own siblings seemed like a proud loner
who doesn't entreat visitors. Vathy (meaning deep in Greek), the charming
capital of Ithaca, is located in a very closed and protected bay within a bay with
its little houses painted in bright colours, under a mountain of cypresses and
olive trees. With a square wherein the bust of Homer and his hero and eternal
navigator Odysseus stand opposite looking at each other. To the south of Vathi
there is a legendary grotto, the Cave of the Nymphs, the small town of
Perachori, a couple of monasteries and small hidden beaches that are difficult
to access, only by sea or on foot. The road that runs north through Ithaca
offers incredible views of the sea and the coast of Kefalonia, always on the
edge of the mountain. In this part of the island there are tiny Greek Christian
Orthodox chapels and churches such as Agios Andreas, Agios Dimitrios or the
Panagia Eleousa monastery or charming little towns such as Stavros or the port
of Frikes and Kioni.
I, who have always been a fan of the Greek mythology, couldn't think of a better place than this to flaunt this incredible jacket. Besides it being hand painted and customised by two little ones that I adore, I love all the figures that represent and evoke us to all those fairy tales from our childhood. Vibrant colours standing out from the white of the denim representing in some way many of the myths and legends of mythology. Castles, sailboats, fish and mermaids, flowers, monsters, are examples of the rich content of this jacket that awakens tenderness just by looking at it. I am wearing it with a green, notched, collar shirt, as thin as it goes and relaxed, perfect for the island’s temperatures. The rest is composed by a pair of wide tailored shorts in navy and the beautiful leather sandal in brown and white matching the sunglasses. The bandana and the tote bag are the final touch to complete this holiday outfit.
Comments
Post a Comment