On Sundays I start at 9 rather than 8, so this morning I’ve risen early, cycled to a town a few km away, and sat in a cafe to write this. I’m in the town square, by a church that’s blasting out a call to prayer. There’s an old bloke up in the tower (pictured below) singing very solemn and monotone hymns in Greek, acapela. Never heard anything like it coming from a church.  |
| It’s one of many reminders that we are very close, culturally and geographically, to Turkey, which is visible on the horizon from the coast. The most obvious reminder is the military presence on this island. Every time I go for a ride, I come across old jeeps driving at full tilt with young, camouflaged drivers, or trucks with bored looking soldiers in the back. There are small military bases dotted all over containing huge concrete weapons stores and tanks with tarpaulins draped over them. The eastern, Turkish facing coast is lined with bunkers, outposts and dugouts, which is a strange contrast to the beach bars, boat rental shops and tourists that swim and sunbathe. |
  I’ve had a few days of holiday this week, the majority of which I’ve spent sitting in this cafe in the square, attempting to be vaguely productive. Being among the hubbub of strangers while gaining a slow sense of progress as I complete self-assigned and almost completely pointless tasks makes me very happy. I like Greek coffee shop culture. People sit for hours and hours sipping a coffee, topping it up with water as they go to make it last longer. There’s no expectation to buy something else or leave after a certain amount of time… as far as I’m aware. So I’ll often sit for an entire morning lapping up the free Wi-Fi before handing over €2 for my frappe and heading on my way.   Back at the bike shed, we’ve been a bit thin on the ground with bike staff, but this week, two guys moved here from other resorts to help. This has improved the mood of Paul, a bike guide with a thick Glaswegian accent and a jaded hospitality worker vibe about him – he’s scathing and takes angry cigarette breaks after people piss him off. His bleak outlook makes for some funny moments though. The other night, we were locking up. I started saying, ‘another day…’ He cut in: ‘…another slap in the fucking face’. It was very funny.  The Levante Lawn Tennis Club is still meeting regularly. As we sipped a post-hit pint (what a tongue twister) the other night, Matt raised an interesting conversation point that I thought I’d share. He reckons that all vaguely active people can be placed on a triangular spectrum between three things: 1. Sportsperson 2. Outdoorsy type 3. Athlete. The sportsperson has effortless hand-eye coordination and picks up new sports and games with ease. They ace a game of rounders on the beach, a quick knockabout with a football or an evening game of tennis with ease. Their skills have been borne of many years taking part in extracurricular sport, and even though they probably stopped playing tennis/rugby/hockey years ago, their skills emerge effortlessly when someone invites them to join in with a sporty, technique focussed activity. Specialisms: Racket sports Ball sports The outdoorsy type feels as confident when deep in the bosom of mother nature as the sportsman does in the throes of a doubles rally. They can read a map, light a fire, and layer appropriately. They are able to open wine bottles with a surprising range of tools and objects. They could probably gut a fish. They love new, unfamiliar and remote places, and are at one with the weather, the waves, the tides. Specialisms: Camping Watersports Hiking The athlete can participate in the pastimes of the outdoorsy type and the sportsperson, but they do it with an intensity that sets them apart from the other two. The athlete seeks constant improvement, marginal gains and data. They struggle to take part in something simply for the pleasure of it. Their favourite sports are repeatable, measurable and strava-able. Specialisms: Triathlon, and all constituent sports gym things   I’m finding I haven’t got an ounce of sportsman in me, but I’ll persevere with the tennis nonetheless. Where would you place yourself on the spectrum? Please print out the graph below, draw on a dot and post to: Levante Lawn Tennis Club 123 Sports Street Rhodes Greece Hope you’ve had a swell week. Love James  |
Another Day, Another Dollar
