From Catamarans to Communes: Navigating Greece and Bulgaria on a Quest for Self
- Sep 4, 2023
- 5 min read
So, where were we in my storytelling of my adventures while traveling and volunteering in Greece and now Bulgaria on my self-actualization journey? Right - I was on a boat, gracefully cruising along the Peloponnese coast, basking in the warm sun rays, and relishing a life I had only dreamt of before.
So, all aboard, and let's delve into how I arrived at where I am now! ⛵️ ⛵️
July 2nd - July 15th
My journey began when I stumbled upon an incredible opportunity on Workaway back in April. It was an invitation to volunteer on a catamaran, and I couldn't resist. I signed up for the website and contacted the captain, half expecting it to be too good to be true. Yet, a few months later, I found myself on the aptly named catamaran, "Strawberry Fields," with five other beautiful souls, sailing from Zakynthos to Athens!
What a name for a boat, eh? Also funny, how in one of the small seaside village restaurants where we stopped they played THAT Beatles song! Life is a beautiful chain of synchronicities!
My duties on the boat were surprisingly light. I did some cleaning, rust removal, deck net scrubbing, and when we dry-docked, a thorough cabin cleanup. Most days, the scorching weather made it challenging to move around. We took turns cooking, navigated the waters, and found tranquility in the meditative experience of following the sea's rhythm—an experience often attributed to the "Blue Mind Theory." Learning the intricacies of wind and sail navigation was also intriguing, with nautical terms like charts for maps and lines for ropes.
In the evenings, we anchored in diverse bays—some wild and untouched, others nestled near quaint villages, and a few in bustling tourist ports. To describe the full vibrant experience of coastal Greece - it would take me a long time. The serene, rural, wild, and ancient beauty this land holds, wrapped in legends and mysteries is spectacular! The islands, beaches, castles and caves, the small churches nestled on top of the hills, the fishing villages, abandoned houses, leaping dolphins, and diving sea turtles. And let's not forget the culinary delights, my favorite being saganaki—fried cheese with a hint of lemon—absolutely delightful.
It is quite funny how on our way to Athens we ran out of drinking water forcing us to dock at the nearest island, and quite significantly it was Agistri—the very first island I visited on my birthday. It felt like I had come full circle with my island experiences.
This journey was beyond any of my expectations, which truly humbled me in seeing the value of allowing myself to dream, to dare to imagine the most wild, magical experiences, and trusting the universe to deliver.
Greece now holds an eternal piece of my heart! 💙
July 16th - August 3rd
With two weeks to spare before joining an Erasmus+ project in Bulgaria, I wasn't ready to bid Greece farewell. So, I turned to Workaway once more to seek refuge from the sweltering heatwaves and wildfires. Serendipitously, the world provided yet again! I found this new place - so new that I became their first volunteer! It was nestled up in the mountains, under trees, plus it is a yoga community. Fun fact: the settlement is near the village Molos, which is where the legendary Battle of Thermopylae was - the one where the 300 Spartans fought the odds against the mighty Persian empire.
The Evergreen Project provided such a beautiful experience in meeting people from all over the world, practicing yoga every day under the guidance of professional teachers, getting a haircut, cooking, and working which included digging up stones from which I made stone paths, making trenches, chopping away blackberry vines, sanding woods, painting, and much more.
Living in a close-knit community came with its challenges, but it was a rewarding experience. Amid scorching temperatures exceeding 42 degrees Celsius, I found solace beneath the trees, showering in the moonlight, witnessing a tortoise and a gigantic yellow toad, bell-wearing goats and their shepherds, ancient oak trees and sleeping under a tree where Tawny owl hooted the night away. It was precisely what I needed to reconnect with the Earth and explore diverse approaches to community building, work-play balance, and aligned living. Thank you for welcoming me with open arms and hearts I cannot wait to see how this place evolves!
August 4th - August 16th
Two weeks later, I boarded a train to Thessaloniki, then a bus to Sofia, bidding farewell to enchanting Greece. Barely an hour into Bulgaria, I noticed the landscape transforming. Sunflower fields bobbing their yellow heads towards the sun, storks flying over and communist block buildings dotting the passing by towns. Greece had merely been an introduction to the Balkans; now, I was plunging deep into the heart of the Balkans.
My destination was a small village called Dzhurovo, home to Synergy Bulgaria house is and where I will spend my next 10 days immersed in educational LARP games in the Erasmus+ project called BEASTS.
For more on how that one went refer to THIS POST
August 16th - now
As I am now in Bulgaria, why not get to know this tree-covered mountainous landscape a bit better? Through Facebook groups, I found a yoga retreat place that is looking for volunteers to help out with daily tasks and also lead some yoga and meditation workshops – just my cup of tea!
Growing more confident in my ability to hold space and guide others through movement and stillness Rising Soul Retreat felt like ideal environment to allow me to grow in my own magic! And surely enough, upon arriving here, I felt immediate belonging. It felt so right to hold hands in a circle and sing before sharing a meal, to introduce each other, and to feel mutual love and respect, even if my first days I was so confused about what was to be done and needed more time to settle down and fully land in this space I felt a shared set of values and a commitment to natural, conscious living that was binding us here. A true community feeling!
I will be staying here until end of October, and after that – who knows! Feels strange thinking back that it is almost a full year since I left Latvia. Most of the time I feel like I am in some kind of time warp where time goes quickly and doesn't move at all. The sense of time has completely evaporated in some vortex of happenings, and I am beyond happy!
What's next?
I must admit that my financial situation could use some improvement, and my dream of studying Yoga in India still feels distant. If you'd like to support this ginger witch on her journey to a Yoga Teacher Training course, please consider donating here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/agnessi
In return, I can offer you a guided meditation to align chakra points (with fantastic feedback so far) or a 1:1 call to inspire self-love, awareness, and healing within your body. I'm eager to tap into my power, which I believe lies in harmony with nature—both within and without.
So if you feel like you could benefit from someone who's willing to probe you with loving questions - let me know!
Until the next time,
-Agnese
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