September 21- Sunrise, Sunset

Sunrise, Sunset, Sunrise , Sunset, Quickly goes the days. 

Each morning we wake up at seven, just before the sun has risen high enough to peek over the mountain ridge just to the East behind the house. We look out the huge window, still lying in bed, past our terrace and out onto the calm morning sea. The close islands are still shadowed. Across the water, we see the Greek island Symi already bathed in a rosy orange morning light. As we lay and talk and check our email for news from home, we watch as the sun, quickly moving higher in the sky, begins to rise behind us and above the east mountain. 

Slowly the line of morning's demarcation moves across the sea, very distinctly, changing the color of the day minute by minute. It creeps onto the tip tops of the small uninhabited rocks closer and closer until they are bright and clear. The sails and hulls of the sailors and fisherman as the wind through the channels and out to sea are set alight. 

In another twenty minutes it has reached the small cove of Sogut, lighting up the very blue sea and turquoise water's edge just below the house, then the village and the hillside below and then finally the swimming pool. The opposite of a cloud's shadow creeping across the land, a beautiful awakening swath of light of a new day. And when we are basking in sunshine, it is 8:00 and time for a delicious Turkish breakfast and another day of basking in the sun, relaxing and maybe, if we are up to it, a bit of exploring. 

As each day nears the end, we shower and dress, not even bothering to check if we match anymore since we have few clean shirts and only one sweater each, and drive the eight and a half minutes down to the village. We drive slowly and each time we are still amazed at the views and that we are here. We find a table, at another seaside restaurant and repeat our morning ritual in reverse, watching the sunset, this time with a drink. Last night the sun was big and pink as it very quickly set leaving the islands glowing in beautiful colors for a short time before night fell and our meze and grilled fish arrived at the table while we listened to the choppy water lapping on the dock five feet away. 

Paradise. Especially each sunrise, one hour, early in the morning, when it is quiet, beginning a new day, my favorite.