I am sitting on a park bench, looking at the castle and wondering how many times I’ve seen it over the past two and a half years.
Thousands, for sure.
Since I started spending most months of the year here, the castle has been part of my everyday life. It’s always there, whether I’m rushing somewhere or just wandering aimlessly. I’ve seen it at all hours. Early in the morning when the light is soft and golden, in the harsh midday sun, in the quiet blue of dusk, and even lit up at night when the whole hill seems to glow. I’ve seen it under grey skies and rain, in the fog, in the thick summer heat, and under winter light. And still, without fail, I get this subtle sense of surprise when I happen to lift my gaze and notice it again.
Still. Eminent. Timeless.
Then there are the endless walks. Most of them with the dog, some without. Always more or less the same routes, circling the town again and again. I know every corner, every old house, the trees that change with the seasons, the little cracks in the pavement, even the spots where the light falls a certain way in the afternoon. And yet, in the middle of all this familiarity, I often get this feeling:
how did I get here?
A strange mix of intimacy and surprise. I’ve found my place here, but at the same time, I remain a stranger.
This isn’t a new feeling. And it has nothing to do with Nafplio. I felt the same in Crete, for almost a decade. And it’s the same feeling I’ve had in the past, even in my birthplace, the city of Athens.
Of course, it’s not the same as what refugees experience, trying to survive in foreign, hostile, and often dangerous environments. Feeling like a stranger in my own country is less physical and more mental. But still, it’s real, even if it only exists in my mind.
It can also be so liberating. Not belonging anywhere gives you the freedom to dream, to plan, or even to move wherever you feel drawn to.
No, I’m not announcing a new move. Far from it.
I’m just rambling on a hot summer afternoon :)
For now, I’m spending another summer in this charming town, trying to make the most of it and to enjoy the sea, the sun, and the scenic surroundings as much as I can.
And if I get those funny feelings now and then, I can’t think of many better places to feel them in.
Have a nice Sunday and a great week ahead!
