For as long as I can remember the influence of Italian and Greek culture as been a part of my life. My interest in reading was developed mainly thanks to my parents who always had books around the house both avid readers this encouraged me, my brother and, sister also. Reading you can free your mind escape reality and discover new worlds partly of your own making.
My memories from my time spent in Budleigh Salterton are vivid and varied in what seems like another lifetime away today.
Studying homework in the farm cottage nestled beside the river Otter if you looked out of 
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the window fields of barley gently swaying in the warm summer breeze greeted you.
One of my earlier classes studied the Minoan palace of Knossos, history had not appeared on my radar until this point but afterwards, the island of Crete changed all that I was hooked. During those years spent in Devon, we discovered the region during our long summer holidays.
Sidmouth, Dawlish, Exeter,Paignton, Brixham, Plymouth, Dartmouth, Lyme Regis to mention a few.
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Exmouth was a short bus ride away always worthy of a visit with varied shops and busy seafront with Zoo, Arcades, Skating Rink, Outdoor swimming pool,Bowling Greens,Cricket pitch and a working harbour.
At the time we never thought of travel abroad everything you needed was right on your doorstep!
Looking back it was those childhood days in Budleigh Salterton that inspired me to discover new cultures and travel in my later years. Having to return back North due to family reasons those long carefree summers in Devon and the friends made will remain in my memory always.
Today one constant theme remains my love of Italian food whenever I travel abroad or at home, I will always seek out an Italian restaurant.
Sampling the house red wines which are always very good and cheaper than their partners on the wine list!
Having to return back North due to family reasons those long carefree summers in Devon have never left my memory.
Living beside the Azure blue sea that led me to dream of exotic far off islands such as Crete and then later Sicily.
Hence my fascination with Crete and Sicily their myths and legends that have entwined both islands since the powerful Minoan fleets ruled the ancient high seas and trade routes.
Sicily was the new homeland and sanctuary for the legendary figure of Daedalus
the architect who designed and crafted the dancing floors and the rich decorated palace of Knossos on Minoan Crete.
He was said to have fled from the court of Minos on Crete to Sicily and the court of Kokalous of Camicus.
Such myths and legends reflect the truth within their tales ancient writers and orators such as Homer have preserved these tales within their work and transmitted them through the generations.
Inspiring people all over the world interestingly Homer mentions Sicily and Crete often in his works such as the Odyssey following the fortunes of an ancient seafarer Odysseus and king of Ithaca on the high seas.
During his journey, he meets a people named the Phaeacians famed for their seafaring ways and skills are these Phaecians from the city of Phaistos on Crete?
Homer details the ancient past world in his works were the Phaeacians controlled a vast hinterland and are a seafaring people.
Today we call them Minoans after Minos an ancient name akin to a Pharoh or Emperor a high king of the city states and island empire that was the Minoan world.
In ancient myths, and legends the Minotaur roamed the labyrinths within the palace of Knossos.
Karl Hoeck in his work called KRETA circa 1825 mentions the term Minos taken from the many references in Greek mythology.
Minos was by chance also the name of the first man to excavate the Knossos site on the Kephala Hill Minos Kalikairinos.
He worked alongside Sir Arthur Evans and it was his name that led to the new culture discovered by Evans to be named the Minoans.
What the Minoans called themselves is a mystery that Linear A holds the answer to unless we accept the words of Homer and his ancient seafarers the Phaecians.
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