Sunday

Time passes differently in Astypalaia. It may be a type of disorientation, as life here is at a much different pace than in California. Daily events proceed in a slow steady stream. There is no rush hour, no extremely pressing commitments, yet somehow time slips away like the wind. The wind and heat add to the mind's confusion, and you will often hear people ask " What day is it today?"



While I was working away in the lab, the intermittent pealing of church bells reminded me that today is Sunday. Our lab is located right next door to one of the largest churches on the island, but people joke that there are more churches than people on Astypalaia. I heard bells ring several times, not only from our neighboring church, but also from more distant places of worship.



The religion practiced here is Greek Orthodox. Mass is lengthy, and the church is full of beautiful ritual objects like the mother and child icon in this photo. I took this particular picture at the little church of Agios Konstantinos. To reach the church you travel for about a mile down a long dirt road. It is perched on a hill about 100 yards from the beach.



More soon.