Unforgettable Postcards from Athens

view from the balcony

in the apartment

the best gyros from Quick Pitta

this little guy is the pet of one of the kiosk owners - how funny!

morning coffee on the balcony

selfies in the park

catchin' the sunlight

while they all catch the sunset from Mars Hill, we enjoy the last of our time in Greece

view from the rooftop garden restaurant

Loved This Class!!

What a fabulous class on a memorable day - I wish all my university classes could be this awesome!
Many thanks to all these special souls for making this class so special!

The Politics of Traffic

In front of our apartment - yep, lots of construction!

U-turns, double parking, and pedestrians - oh yeah!

no, this is not a one-way street - but bikes use both lanes when clear as well as the center line when not...
also, there is a helmet law in Athens, however, only about 1/2 comply...

"If Americans drove as Athenians, there would be gridlock just from  the fender-benders alone. They do the most amazing dance of weaving cars, bikes, and even trucks and buses. Motorbikes use the center-lines as bike lanes and will pass at any given moment in the face of on-coming traffic with the expectation they can get back into the lane before they hit or get hit. One must be careful even at lighted cross-walks because some bikes almost disregard the  lights. People will even park with a portion of their vehicle still in the traffic lane. There is also little regard for actual speed limits in the main streets or in the residential areas. With all these hazards, I have not observed many accidents. I know minor ones must happen all the time, because the vast majority of vehicles have dents, scratches and obvious damage. Perhaps people tolerate incidents more because they know they are always pushing the envelope, too. I am so much more appreciative of traffic law enforcement now in America!"

More for the Scrapbook

 

Everyday view

for the record

We love these guys at Maiandros, our favorite taverna!

reflection of Greece

Don't wanna forget...

Demitrios, the best hairstylist in Pangrati.

The sound of the church bells.

Slippery marble and yellow sidewalks.

The conversations of moms in our apartment building fussing with their children on the weekends.

That they found Roman remains dated to 500 BCE right in front of our apartment.

I could probably forget the early morning jackhammer, though.

Chuck taking pictures of construction sites.

The tour buses of eager tourists flooding the platia in front of the stadium.

Religious icons sold right next to the phallic-bottle-openers.

Selfie-sticks and not-so-free roses.

That when you see someone taking a photo, you may want to, as well.

The sound of the front door of our apartment building slamming.

The standing-room-only public transit.

The fact that siesta is only kept by the businesses you want to be open.

The crazy locks on everything.

Buskers and street performers everywhere people gather.

Strolling Thissio.

Frappes, espresso freddos, and the best yogurt and honey in the known world.

Standing on the hillside in Delphi, looking out towards the sea.

Watching the store owners coming to life with the sunshine.

Every taverna featuring live music.

Taverna recruiters wanting us to stay as long as possible 

because I smile at everyone.

Pronouncing lamb as 'lamp'

The Greek-style-kiss-greeting of friends,

and the firm handshake of someone who was really glad we were there.

Dancing by the Cathedral in the waning afternoon sunlight

to our own private music.

And, we don't want to forget having the privilege of gazing upward and seeing the Acropolis, 

whether in the sunshine, or lit up in the night sky - 

it is this glorious past that is the true glory of Greece.

Last Day of Class

Last day of class. 

We are getting notifications for turning back in our books, 

our items from the apartments...

where to leave our keys when we leave.

There are good-bye parties, and end of the semester celebrations.

We are thinking of how to get everything into our luggage,

and how to get to the airport at an ungodly hour of the morning.

Soon we will be heading back to real life, back to our life.

Back to where everyone speaks our language, eats our kind of food, 

and drive rather than walk.

What will I miss?

the guys across the street at the construction site,

our friends at the tavernas we have befriended,

the freedom of 'camping' at a restaurant table freely,

the cheapness of everything...

The sunshine.

I will miss my Orthodox prof, Despina,

a sweeter soul I have never known.

I will miss the church bells, 

especially from St. Spyridon church

Yes, it was the last day of class.

And, what have I learned?

I think I will save for another post.

The Ancient Athens Cemetery

Right off our favorite taverna row, is a wonderful place to wander through. Most of the artifacts of this ancient cemetery are housed in the National Archaeological Museum, but there are some here, as well. It was a peaceful oasis in the midst of the noisy city and touristy Flea Market. The actual artifacts you see above and below were replicated and placed just as they would have been in antiquity, but the real statues are featured in a small museum adjacent to the cemetery.

You can also walk through more of the Roman Agora, as you will see in the slideshow below. I just loved this sunny walk-about as we near our time in Athens.