Marc from Denmark, August 2006
Living in a tent, under a big shady olive tree with only a few hundred meters from the beach and gorgeous weather to die for. Those were my living conditions during my summer of 2006 in Greece.
I left Denmark, leaving behind friends, a soft bed and traditional Danish food. Only to meet new wonderful people, sleep with a big jumper as a pillow every night and learning to live of pasta and salad for over a month. It was fantastic.
The work I enjoyed the most, was without doubt the night patrols. Walking up and down the beach, hour after hour, just waiting to stumble across those tracks from the big turtles, one also hopes to see. A few nights could pass without seeing any tracks. Despite that, it was still exciting walking each night. And when you finally saw those tracks, it was all worth it. Finding the tracks, leading up to the back of the beach, would send your heart beating faster, every time. Though nothing beats finding that sand covered shell in the dark, and hearing the sound of soft eggs landing on top of each other, as you crawl up to investigate.
And when the female turtle is done and begins her journey back to the sea, you clearly see the determination and last ounces of strength she has left in her, as she heads back to the sea. Once in the sea, she swims out towards the dark sea, disappearing in the water, as the sand on her back creates a cover of darkness as she leaves.
It is without doubt worth the journey out to the island and working for at least a month. I was so lucky to come across a sea turtle on my second day, when out swimming, and see wild turtles laying eggs on my first week. I hope to go back in 2008 where I once again can be part of saving some of the most endangered sea reptiles.