What is new for me this winter in Greece is winter swimming in the sea. I am a big lover of swimming and in the sea is a gift for me. In Holland I used to go often to the swimming pool. But the chlorine inside was not good for my hair and skin. Now swimming in the sea is so much better, or my skin and for my hair.
Normally when November starts and the sea get below 18 degrees I quit. It is for a long time my dream to do winter swimming in open sea water.
How lucky can I be, meeting a lovely lady who swims all year around in the sea?! So, this winter I continued with swimming, even after November and even after the sea temperature dropped under 13 degrees! Swimming together is motivating. Sometimes we are even with more people, and it makes it fun.
The moment of going in the sea and out the sea are the most difficult for me. When I am for 1 minute inside my skin feels numb and I don’t feel the cold any more. After 5 minutes I have to go out, before I get shaky inside.
“They” say that the first winter is the hardest, so I hope next winter it will be easier to go in and that I can stay longer inside the sea then 5 minutes.
Last weekend the temperature of the seawater was 11 – 12 degrees, outside it was only 9 degrees.
Most important tasks before and after swimming in the cold sea is to walk, keep moving or working so the body is moving and stays warm.
So after I put on my clothes I start to collect wood from the beach for my fireplace, 2 jobs in 1; wood to make my house warm during the nights and moving my body to stay warm after a cold bath!
It feels afterwards so nice to get warm again inside my body and in the night my cheeks are red and I feel mellow and sleepy.
Perfect way to spend a winter-weekend day, with my friend, beside the sea.
Natural hotsprings - Loutra Eleftheron
Between Christmas and New Year’s I discovered the HotSpring, names Loutra Eleftheron, about 1 hour away from here.
This is the to the place, if you are interested to go.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Loutra+Eleftheron+640+08,+Greece/@40.7365639,24.0886929,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x14a9327ed060e315:0x2baf3b2ccc2a7c03!8m2!3d40.7366036!4d24.0911445
The place is abandoned for years, still many locals and tourists are coming here to relax for a moment in a hot bath!
The water contains sulfur, that gives a different smell to the water and a green color to the rocks.
Some buildings are occupied by ‘hippies’ - they made their homes there and have always a hot bath close by. How nice is that, to make a life like that.
The area is natural and beautiful, beside the empty buildings, there are many places to walk. Also, there is a small river, with cold water to cool down in. Beautiful trees, and I think in the spring a beautiful place when the leaves are growing back on the trees.
I like the winter look as well, the trees look like a piece of art!
After 20 min. in the hot water I feel so sleepy and relaxed. My skins smells so different after taking a hot bath, I love it.
Greece has all to offer! Good climate, summer and winter. The sea and mountains close by, hot springs and cold sea.
We are able to have all year around a garden, grow the food we have in Holland, like cauliflower, broccoli cabbages etc. Also we can grow oranges, lemons and pomegranates.
A country on the border of Europe, where middle east (Turkey) is close by.
Full with mysteries, a rich history and known for the gods and the goddesses.
Magical Greece, it surprises me still every day.
Have a blessed day.
