Home Again

About half of my vacation was in Greece and the other half was in Italy. Greece and Italy, two countries extending southward into the Mediterranean Sea, are surprisingly different. Both are basically Christian countries but one is Roman Catholic and the other is Eastern Orthodox.  Churches in both countries are lovely and smell of candles and incense. Both use tomatoes and olives and wine. Greece used more feta cheese while Italy uses Parmesean. Both countries have archaeological ruins museums, beautiful art, movies and books. Children are admired and treasured in both countries. In Italy restaurant staff will take your fussy infant into the kitchen to give you a break so you can eat in peace. In Greece a lovely child will be smiled at and spit at three times. Seriously, people spit at kids in Greece to protect them from the evil eye. The spitting is more sound-based than actual saliva delivered to a kid.  Honest to Pete, it is a hard thing to get used to when you are holding a darling girl and strangers come up, pat the head, caress the curls and make the "ftou, ftou, ftou" sound. My vacation is definitely over. I am so grateful to have had this experience and to miss most of January in Minnesota. To cap off the vacation, I was greeted with seriously cold weather. How cold was it?  It was so cold that when the plane landed the jet bridge was frozen solid. We had to wait on the plane wile the luggage was removed. Eventually our plane was towed to another gate so we could leave. It feels great to be home!

European Bird Sightings

So far on my trip I have seen house sparrows, European Robins, Italian Sparrows, rock doves, Eurasian Collared doves, European turtle doves, common swifts, common kingfisher, Eurasian magpie, Eurasian jackdaw, Common Raven, Carrion crow, Greater Flamingo, northern  Shoveler duck, Coot, Great egret, Little Egret, European white storks, Eurasian spoonbill and dunlins.  The storks were sitting on their nests on top of power poles along the highway near the river.  Their nests looked similar to osprey nests. Most of the other birds were seen at the Vendicari Nature preserve south of Catania, almost to the south east corner of the island. The vendicare preserve was a wonderful place with bird watching blinds observation platforms, beautiful beaches, an ancient Roman building where tuna was processed, walking paths, and a salt marsh where most of the birds hung out together. As we watched we saw one flamingo fly to the bigger group. That group of flamingos stood up and started doing the mating dance and that was fun to see.

Subway Shenanigans

In Athens we visited the Parthenon.  I took a series of wonderful photos of the ancient ruins high on a hill. Unfortunately I cannot show you any of those photos. After three days in  Athens we traveled to Nafplio which is a small town on the coast. To get to Nafplio we walked for 20 minutes and hopped on the subway to travel to the bus station. The subway was crowded so we had to stand. I stood near Offspring #1. I had my bag and my backpack. My youngest granddaughter was a few feet away and, as usual, she was turning her head to the side making cute faces at me. So I did the same to her. At the second stop the subway car was full of people.  I was bumped on all sides as people crowded onto the car. Everyone was standing shoulder to shoulder. I kept making cute faces as my granddaughter. As the subway pulled up to the Acropolis station I felt something move at my waist. I looked down to see the man standing next to me trying to pull my car keys and wallet out of my pocket. I yanked myself away and yelled at him. Just at that moment the subway doors opened and he left. I was glad to save my car keys and my wallet because I had important stuff in there. At the time I did not realize that he had already removed my camera, my phone, and another wallet.  In that other wallet I had a small amount of cash and one debit card. At the bus station I took stock of what I had and didn't have. I was able to call the bank and cancel the debit card before any purchases were made. I called Offspring #2 about the stolen phone because I am on her phone account. And the camera, well, that is gone. I hope the pick pocket enjoys looking at photos of the Parthenon and also some videos of moose from Isle Royale. The pick pocket must have been a professional. I never felt the zipper on my back pack being opened.  I never felt his hand open the velcro on my vest and remove the phone and the wallet. I didn't even hear the velcro opening! I am lucky he didn't get my other things. The situation could have been a lot worse. I learned a good lesson and I will be more careful in the future.

Prespa Agreement

Yesterday was Sunday and we took a bus tour to Delphi.  We visited the temple of Apollo, the ancient ruins and the archaeological museum there. The drive to Mount Parnassus was about three hours. As we left Athens about 8 in the morning we saw vendors lining up selling the blue and white Greek flags. Many people were carrying flags. This did not appear to be a typical Sunday morning. As our bus traveled north to Delphi we saw 80 or more buses heading south toward Athens. The people were gathering in  Athens on this Sunday for a political rally. The rally was about the Prespa agreement between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. As we came back into town under the full moon we noticed no buses heading north. Our tour guide said this was a concern because it might mean the streets of Athens were closed due to the demonstration. She tried to make alternative plans so we could all get to our destinations.  As the bus pulled up to the Acropolis part of town, where we are located, she said we would be safe walking from here. Then the bus stopped. She said we would not be safe walking from here.  From the bus we could see people in the square blocking our street.  One young man was lobbing rocks across the square toward a line of police all wearing white helmets, white boots, and carrying riot shields. A couple other young men brought him things to throw but just one kid was doing the throwing. The bus tried to back up but could not. We waited at watched for about ten minutes. Our tour guide, who must have been in contact with the police, said the situation would clear up soon. Suddenly the riot police ran toward the bus. The kids got out of the way and the bus surged forward quickly with police on both sides of the bus. I had to admire the bus driver's skill in maneuvering this tour bus through an excited situation. Once across the square he turned down a side street. We went two blocks and excited the bus. From there we had a ten minute walk to our place. As we walked home we could see diners eating in cafes and bistros as if nothing important was going on. We got home safe and sound.  I read that people were injured that day in Athens.  Police had to use tear gas to break up the crowd. Why the citizens of Greece are so upset about the name of a neighboring country is beyond my comprehension.

Photos from Greece

National Archaeological Museum

Athena

Spinx

Zeus

Students protesting outside the University of Athens

View from a castle in Nafplio

The canal in Corinth

Opa!

I flew to Sicily and then we flew to Athens. Here is the view from our balcony in Athens. We are just south of the Acropolis so tomorrow we will explore more. When we arrived a light rain was falling. We stopped to buy some groceries and then walked to a restaurant. After dinner the rain had stopped. Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny weather.

Istanbul

I made it to Istanbul.  Here is the photo from my hotel room. I had hoped to take a tour of the city but by the time I got to my hotel it was dark out. I don't like to travel alone after dark when I am far from home. I enjoyed my travels so far.  Logan airport in Boston was very nice. Turkish Airlines is very nice. They have great food and service. I waited in line for an hour to go through the passport area at the Istanbul airport only to find out I needed to pay $30 for a visa for the honor of spending one night in Istanbul. Then I had to go through the passport line again.  Let me tell you, going through the passport line the second time was not as fun as going through it the first time. Outside the airport I waited for my hotel shuttle.  Taksi (taxi) drivers waited there smoking and encouraging me to take a taksi instead. I declined the taxi ride. After a few minutes the second hand smoke and the beeping taksis were getting to me. In any case, I made it to Istanbul.  Everyone I met seems very nice.

Crossing the Pond

As you can see it is a rainy day in Boston, Massachusetts. Sometimes the sun pokes through the clouds. As we flew in to town we couldn't see through the clouds until we got below 2,000 feet. I saw boats zooming in the harbor and two light houses. As I sit here staring out the window on my eight hour lay over, I think about the first time I crossed the pond (Atlantic). I was so nervous. I spent hours dithering over buying plane tickets. I went into a cold sweat when I finally clicked the mouse to buy the tickets. I was so nervous I got a giant cold sore on my lip the day we left. Although we were going to an English speaking country (England) I was very uncomfortable. I brought Offspring #2 along.  Offspring #1 didn't want to go along. Offspring #2 is a born traveler and a quick finder of gates at the airport. We made a few mistakes along the way. We walked from the train station to our hotel. That was a mistake. A taxi would have been a better idea. Unfortunately in London the numbers on the streets do not go in numerical order. A block of 200 numbers is followed by a block of 800 numbers and after that is a block of 500 numbers. We walked a very long way to find our hotel but we did find it. When we got to the front desk the hotelier said she had no record of my reservation. I pulled out my Expedia paperwork showing I had paid for ten nights at this hotel.  She said, "We can make this work." She found us a room. We had to cram ourselves in the tiny little lift (elevator). When we got to the room I opened my suitcase only to discover a can of Diet Pepsi had exploded in there and many of my clothes had brown stains on them. Oh, well, live and learn. For that trip I bought a tiny yellow umbrella which I still have but we never had to use it in England. For this trip I brought a plastic rain poncho. I think it is healthy for me to go outside of my comfort zone every once in a while. I feel sorry for people who have very small comfort zones. The last trip I took involved nine flights. This one will, I think, have eight. Wish me luck on my adventure!

Can I Get My Money Back?

Look at this!  My Tupperware bowl broke into two pieces.  Do you think I can get my money back?  Aren't Tupperware products guaranteed for life? Actually I inherited this green bowl and it's matching partner but only one lid in 1980. So that is 39 years of use by me and I didn't even pay for it. I should have known better than to try to knock off the frozen compost inside the bowl loose by banging it on a metal fence post on a cold day like today. The weather is just too cold for solving a frozen compost problem in that manner. Thank you for your service green Tupperware bowl!

Planner or Improviser?

Are you a planner or an improviser? Offspring #2 accuses me of binary thinking so I have to admit a person can be both a planner and an improviser. Me?  I like to plan. My thought is if you don't plan any fun, you don't have any fun.  A full half of the fun in events is the anticipation. That winter camping trip I took a week ago?  That was planned in September. I keep electronic and paper calendars. I love to plan ahead but I am not opposed to last minute invitations either.  All I know for sure is that if I have something to look forward to I am a happier person.

The Nest

Cynthia Sweeney wrote a book about the dysfunctional Plumb family. The name of the book is The Nest which refers to the nest egg the siblings are expected to inherit when the youngest sibling, Melody, turns forty.  All four of the siblings have plans for the nest egg left to them by their father.  Melody's sister Bea, and her brothers Leo and Jack, all await her birthday. The story is set in New York City. The story is entertaining. I took away the lesson that I should spend all my money before I die so that my offspring don't have the problems that the Plumb family had.

Ocean Heaven

One of the best films I have seen recently is Ocean Heaven. Set in China, this movie has stuck in my mind ever since I saw it. A single father of a son with autism tries to prepare his son for life without him. The son is an excellent swimmer. The father works at an aquarium similar to Sea World. The son swims with the fish, the dolphins and the sea turtles at the aquarium. I do not know what it is like to have a child with autism. I do have the honor of knowing quite a few parents who do have children with autism. Dafu, the son with autism, reminds me very strongly of a young man I work with. If you need an escape from your toils and troubles, take 90 minutes out of your day to watch this film.

Zone One

Colson Whitehead wrote The Underground Railroad.  Since I loved that book I thought I would like Zone One. The writing was good but I am not a fan of zombie books. In this situation the character that is nicknamed Mark Spitz is in a world where things are bad and gradually get worse and worse.

Glad I Don't Have To Cook Tonight!

After a long day at work, some time in the gym, and a trip to the feed store for chicken feed, i was driving home in the dark wondering what to make for dinner.  Then it came to me. The dish I brought to an event yesterday still has at least three servings left. Awesome sauce! Spinach manicotti coming my way! Delizioso!

Resolved!

Happy New Year faithful readers.  Are you making any resolutions?  My work friend suggested we both work on not jumping to conclusions. I think I tend to do that way more than my friend but I agreed to work on it. Jumping isn't good for me anyway. This morning as I walked into the gym I saw people putting caution tape up in the parking lot and across the parking lanes. I wondered if we were closed. I wondered if this was a crime scene. I wondered if they had a flood overnight. I walked inside and met the two men who put up the caution tape. I asked if were were open. They said we were. I asked why we were being so cautious. They explained that the club was hosting a New Year run this morning. Sixty runners were going to run together. Why did my mind jump to a murder scene?  Maybe because I am reading a very dystopian novel and I just finished watching a dystopian series on DVD (The Handmaid's Tale). Well, I have 364 more days to go to hone the skill of not jumping to conclusions.

Nature's Nether Regions

Ironically the author of Nature's Nether Regions: What the Sex Lives of Bugs, Birds and Beasts Tell Us About Evolution, Biodiversity and Ourselves, is from the Netherlands. He is actually from the town of Leiden.  Last year about this time I was in Leiden to visit a former Girl Scout and her fiancée. Why an author would devote so much time and effort into genitals is beyond me. I guess he is very interested in the mechanics of mating. I found this book highly entertaining.  Perhaps it is my third grade sense of humor but while reading the chapters at work in the break room I would frequently snicker aloud. You would have to read this book to believe some of the crazy ways organisms mate. Even hermaphroditic mollusks have an absolutely preposterous situation going on. And the beetles - don't get me started on the beetles. After reading this book I now realize that humans mate in a boring fashion compared to the other creatures on this planet.