Hello Ippolytos. My name is Rhett Brown. I am from New Zealand and we spoke late last year in Astracon.
I have visited Kythera now six times since 2010. I am connected to the island through my very good friend Debra Katsoolis whose grandfather lived there in Katsoolianikis. From the very first I was captivated by the wonderful wild rugged topography of the land. The vegetation which could withstand the long hot summers then spring back to vivid shades of many greens intrigued me. My first trip was just after the last major fire there, and I was stunned at the destruction it caused. On my trip last year I was again stunned by the rapidity of the regrowth; with the island doing its own healing. I love all the little towns and villages each with its own feeling and character along with purpose. And of course each with the unique people who populate these towns. I admire the islanders for the resilience they display to the many hardships they face in daily life, yet they just get on with “it”. The wonderful vegetable gardens to be seen all with rows planted in so very straight lines. The olive groves and vineyards stand testimate to two of the people’s staples in the diet, and jolly good ones at that. The sheep and goats farmed for food seem to hark back to long long ago. Your natural free rang poultry is second to none and each time I eat an island chook I can’t help but compare it to the miserable force fed, antibiotic filled artificially raised sparrow sized specimens we eat once off the island. I love your fresh baked bread with coarse natural flour and darker appearance. But at home in New Zealand we do win over the size of fish. Much of what you eat, our children here would count as sprats caught for cat food. However, not is all bad on the fish front because I love the fried anchovy, and the squid and octopus you serve, cooked always to perfection. The daily life played out in the plateaus is a continuous moving and changing groupings of people always talking and laughing. In short I just love being part of the island on my visits.
Imagine then to my great surprise this visit to find at Kapsali that wonderful invention ramp which takes disabled people in the water effortlessly and safely. The amount of thought that went into its construction is astounding. I had never seen anything like it in all my travels both here at home or elsewhere in the world. Swimming for me at the best of times has always been such a struggle I have avoided it. On kythera I used to be carried into the water by two or more people. This I found humiliating and reliant in finding somebody to do it. I would add that the Greek men were always so spontaneous with their help and effort. I cannot float. Swimming as such for me involves wearing a life jacket backwards and lying on my back. My friend would walk round beside me supporting my head out of the water. The very first time we tried it my head was not thus held, where upon my head flopped backwards under the surface. I could not breathe but did blow big bubbles until my friend saw my distress, much to my relief. Quietly drowning in waist deep water with people all round me was not my idea of a cooling swim. But now I was easily carried into the water in a dignified manner, and then retrieved in the same manor.
So to those responsible for that ramp I give you a very heartfelt vote of many thank-you’s, may god bless you. You made my life on kythera even greater than before. Now I could float about, completely normal. And why should I need such a ramp you may ask? I have a broken neck and live my life in a wheelchair. You will all have seen me at some time visiting in my green wheel chair. I will be back for the 2018 summer.
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