My last day painting in Rhodes for the month of September, 2008. I rode my motorbike about 30 kilometers towards the south of the Island. At a point the road turned upwards into pine groves. I took a winding dirt road that led to this church. From the terrace you could glimpse the sea through the gaps between the pines. There were also bee hives. Greece is known for their honey, especially from the bees collecting pollen from the thyme that grows everywhere there. The place was very quiet and peaceful.

Here, the church had grape vines on the trellis, and dill and other herbs growing in the planter. I have always loved the locations of  the small Greek churches, and wistfully thought I would love to have my home and studio in one of these locations. Many of them are built where ancient Greek temples used to be as well.

An ancient Greek custom still practiced today is hospitality. While I was painting, the guardian of the church quietly brought and set down a small plate of honey with a spoon. And then he left me to continue painting. When I finished up my day's painting there, I rode down the winding rode, wiping the wetness from my cheeks.

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