Saturday, January 22, 2011
Memories of Day 3 -- Exploring Greece Together -- Posting January 22, 2011 -- In honor of 60 years of married life Wayne and Arlene Porter had Together before Wayne's passage today -- This one's for you Grandma and Papa!
2 comments Posted by Kara at 9:43 PMGrandma, may my time together with Chris be as beautiful as your time together with Papa.
Climbing the hill to Acropolis, winding our way through neighborhoods, narrow passageways, encircling adobes.
Every 7 years we inhabit an entirely new body. The earth recycles, our bodies recycle, life is always changing, evolving, growing, decaying, renewing. It is a rare thing to touch a piece of stone unchanged from before the time of Christ.
This lion would like me to point out that his face IS a bit changed from his original glory. Even stone can't escape the power of change forever. 2400 years is finally getting to him.
Dangling tired feet
On day two, shopping alone, I was so caught up in the famous Monastraki Flea Market, I forgot to take pictures of it. It is really more like 7 or 8 streets of open air shops. They are set inside buildings, but without a wall on the storefronts.
Remember how I said that I made a wish to see Greece during my lifetime? Seven years ago I painted a canvas of Greece for my dining room based on picture books. Last week, in the Monastraki, I purchased 4 original paintings by a Greek man of the real Greece to hang next to mine.
I now present to you my Gallery of Greece
And finally, one more original painting for my living room.
To me, this painting speaks marital harmony.
Grandma, woven throughout your marriage was a harmony that every man and woman desires.
Your union was as brilliant as a bright light even throughout the most recent 5 years as Papa faded from this life to enter the next, a period marked by turmoil, yet his love and yours gleamed it's brightest.
Thank you.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
I was planning to take the tram to the beach today. But it's just not a good day for it. Raining on and off. Just as well. I'm tired. It's the Sabbath. Might as well rest. Big plans for tomorrow when Chris finally finishes work and joins me.
Ermou Street
Temple thing (or something), preserved and beautiful, in the middle of a modern shopping district.
Ate a traditional loukoumade (honey and cinnamon doughnut) at one of these stands.
Bought a fancy shirt at this store for 7 euros. (roughly $9)
Looking for the famous Monastiraki fleamarket, I stumbled across this less famous, but intreguing, street with flea market type shops.
Alpha Beer, Greek made. Good flavor.
Friday, January 14, 2011
At some point I will tell you about my first cozy Christmas in Europe, my Alpine ski retreat and Milan, Italy over New Year's weekend. We will re-visit those memories during long, cold weeks of January and February coming just around the corner.
For the moment, I'm certain you would be much more upset if I didn't make haste to tell you I just arrived in Athens, Greece!
My work weary husband has been here all week, holed up in a conference room. So, I have arrived to join him for a long weekend to improve his quality of life ;) and explore Greece.
Look at the view from my room!
I can see the Acropolis.
Greece is the birthplace of Western civilization and I'm here to see it!
After taking these pictures, I flopped down on the bed, famished, and ordered room service: Lentil Salad, Vegetable Soup with Goat Cheese and Yoghurt Mousse for dessert. True Greek perfection.
I've been so busy this week, it didn't hit me until I was on the plane this afternoon..... many years ago I made a wish to visit Italy and Greece during my lifetime. Those were the top two places to see before I die. In reality, I didn't expect these wishes to come true. They seemed low in the scheme of God's priorities, or what I perceived to be God's priorities. And yet here I am. Somehow my life has led me to Greece without me making much effort to bring it to pass.
It gives me renewed faith. If my minor wishes have been granted, surely my more important wishes are still on their way.
I've been to the hotel spa, erased travel aches and pains, and now it's time to plan my weekend!.....
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