Mykonos, Greece
So I parked myself on a Greek island for a week. Call me a softie, but the Eastern Block is COLD and Greece is not. People are friendly here and it's been good just to rent a cheap room and write, do lots of introspection and figure out the meaning of it all.
A couple of things about Mykonos you should know is it's a major tourist trap, but also a beautiful place. Mykonos Town was built in the 1800's and the layout of it is like a labrynth. This was evidently to prevent the problem of pirates pillaging the town, so when they came in, the villagers simply cornered them off in the maze. It's easy to get lost in this small town as all the narrow closes and walkways are white.
Also, cats are everywhere. People here are very Orthodox (even though this is a Gay island tourist destination) and don't believe in sterilizing the one million cats. As a result they are everywhere. In the room where I am staying, there are four of them that bang their head in the morning trying to get in to eat. They stare through the window, claw, meow and make a ruckus. This is no one's fault but my own as I fed them when I first got there. About two days into my trip, I was walking past a gutter near little venice, and I saw the most pathetic one eyed kitten that could barely walk. Knowing how I get involved with things like this, I told myself to ignore it as this is just one of the many of suffering animals on the island and I can't save them all. The next day I walked by the area again and it was there. The wind was blowing and its eye was so infected I couldn't bear it. So I took it to the Vet, got charged 45 Euros and now have the little thing under my wing. It's getting stronger and its right eye (though now blind) is healing.
A couple of hours ago, I parked myself on a beach with the little cat and we soaked up the sun. A drunk Sri Lankan guy approached me with interest. He seemed to like the little cat (and me) so I asked him if he wanted it. He agreed (though he was really toasted) so I gave it to him. He sat on the beach with the little thing and I gave him a big bag of cat food and milk. He asked me for five euros. It was not a good scene, but it was better than leaving the cat to the elements. He promised to take care of it and feed it. Even if he does it for a week, it could mean she may get her strength to escape. So there I left her, one eyed, dishevelled, on a beach, with a drunk. She looked content, he seemed happy to have something to love (and got 3 Euros out of me). What an emotional tether ball. I need to ponder what this was all about.
I am sure I am only one of the many tourists who do this regularly. My reaction to the cat has instilled a strong response from the local Veteranarian as well as an older Greek Athenian who noticed the cat. Their response to me, because I am an American, is that I have no perspective on suffering. Both brought up the fact that Americans have killed 100,000 innocent people and yet I am getting obsessed about this measly kitten.
Yes, this is true, but the way I see it is we all do what we can. I really couldn't have lived with myself if I ignored the kitten a second time, so here I am. And as far as the Iraq war is concerned, I don't support that and never have. I also don't have a hell of a lot of control over it. I told both men this and they were surprised. They were also surprised about my theories about George Bush, US Corporations, the world bank, Al Quaeda, 9/11 and the military industrial complex. They seemed a bit dazed at my ramblings but nodded with appreciation. The Athenian gave me his son's email address and wants me to get in touch with him.
Off to the island of Lesvos tomorrow, then Thailand next Monday.
A couple of things about Mykonos you should know is it's a major tourist trap, but also a beautiful place. Mykonos Town was built in the 1800's and the layout of it is like a labrynth. This was evidently to prevent the problem of pirates pillaging the town, so when they came in, the villagers simply cornered them off in the maze. It's easy to get lost in this small town as all the narrow closes and walkways are white.
Also, cats are everywhere. People here are very Orthodox (even though this is a Gay island tourist destination) and don't believe in sterilizing the one million cats. As a result they are everywhere. In the room where I am staying, there are four of them that bang their head in the morning trying to get in to eat. They stare through the window, claw, meow and make a ruckus. This is no one's fault but my own as I fed them when I first got there. About two days into my trip, I was walking past a gutter near little venice, and I saw the most pathetic one eyed kitten that could barely walk. Knowing how I get involved with things like this, I told myself to ignore it as this is just one of the many of suffering animals on the island and I can't save them all. The next day I walked by the area again and it was there. The wind was blowing and its eye was so infected I couldn't bear it. So I took it to the Vet, got charged 45 Euros and now have the little thing under my wing. It's getting stronger and its right eye (though now blind) is healing.
A couple of hours ago, I parked myself on a beach with the little cat and we soaked up the sun. A drunk Sri Lankan guy approached me with interest. He seemed to like the little cat (and me) so I asked him if he wanted it. He agreed (though he was really toasted) so I gave it to him. He sat on the beach with the little thing and I gave him a big bag of cat food and milk. He asked me for five euros. It was not a good scene, but it was better than leaving the cat to the elements. He promised to take care of it and feed it. Even if he does it for a week, it could mean she may get her strength to escape. So there I left her, one eyed, dishevelled, on a beach, with a drunk. She looked content, he seemed happy to have something to love (and got 3 Euros out of me). What an emotional tether ball. I need to ponder what this was all about.
I am sure I am only one of the many tourists who do this regularly. My reaction to the cat has instilled a strong response from the local Veteranarian as well as an older Greek Athenian who noticed the cat. Their response to me, because I am an American, is that I have no perspective on suffering. Both brought up the fact that Americans have killed 100,000 innocent people and yet I am getting obsessed about this measly kitten.
Yes, this is true, but the way I see it is we all do what we can. I really couldn't have lived with myself if I ignored the kitten a second time, so here I am. And as far as the Iraq war is concerned, I don't support that and never have. I also don't have a hell of a lot of control over it. I told both men this and they were surprised. They were also surprised about my theories about George Bush, US Corporations, the world bank, Al Quaeda, 9/11 and the military industrial complex. They seemed a bit dazed at my ramblings but nodded with appreciation. The Athenian gave me his son's email address and wants me to get in touch with him.
Off to the island of Lesvos tomorrow, then Thailand next Monday.
posted by Mr. Sophie at 1:26 AM
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