Well, today is my second day here in Athens and we are expecting rain all day. We are trying to figure out what to do since climbing to the Acropolis does not sound like fun in the rain. We already went to the Museum so we are here surfing the net trying to find out what we are going to do. Yesterday it was all cloud covered and it was the first day that we weren't catching major sun. We walked all over the Plaka which is where there are shops as far as the eye can see. We also went to the Central Market in the morning which is where all of the fresh fruits and vegetables are and there is all kinds of meats hanging up for sale. We weren't able to go into the meat section because the smell of fish was so bad that I almost threw up right there on the street! But the fruits and vegetables were so beautiful that I could pass up on getting something. I got an apple about the size of a large grapefruit and it was so delicious!! Then we wandered around through the National Gardens, it reminded me a lot of Central Park in New York.
Last night we had dinner in the Psiri, it is a district town that is extremely shady at first, but once you are all the way down into the center of it, it is filled with restaurants all over the streets. We ate at a quaint little one and then wandered home. It was very relaxing...but I did learn one thing...that is if you tell them that you are cold (which I was) they will immediately find someone who will warm you!!! No worries though we were already done eating and headed back before he could "warm" me
Well we are off...to do what I am not sure...but I will write more later~
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Cyprus...and off to Turkey~
Well just in case any of you were as nervous for me as my mother I would like to let you know that I am now out of Egypt and Israel and actually just now leaving Cyprus. Turkey is tomorrow. I have been writing in a journal, but I will try to write some of the highlights~
In Egypt there were 6 or 7 buses that made the 3 hour drive to Cairo. We were all loaded in the bus and off with each bus equipped with a security guard and an armored car with several military in it that were all carrying large guns as well. Talk about a feeling that you might not be in a safe place. Once we were at the pyramids I really felt like we had traveled back in time somehow. It was so surreal.
In Israel it was so different even though they are both 3rd world countries they seemed so different, and I actually felt so much safer. The number of soldiers that were walking around carrying large guns was so many more that the 5 or 6 that we had in the armored car in Egypt. There were soldiers everywhere, but I felt so much more at ease here. I must say that I should have done a little more research on what it was that I was supposed to expect in Bethlehem and Jerusalem. It seemed that there were so many places that were commercialized and so different from what I had imagined them, that I was a bit let down. I loved that garden of Gethsemane...I could have stayed there forever. It was so peaceful there that I didn't want to leave...I have so much more feelings about this but I would rather tell you about it later.
Today was so great!!! We only took a 1/2 day tour and then we walked around and shopped and lay by the beach. On the way back to the boat our taxi (a Mercedes) had a temp gauge and it was 28.6 C!!! Great day for laying by the beach...
In Egypt there were 6 or 7 buses that made the 3 hour drive to Cairo. We were all loaded in the bus and off with each bus equipped with a security guard and an armored car with several military in it that were all carrying large guns as well. Talk about a feeling that you might not be in a safe place. Once we were at the pyramids I really felt like we had traveled back in time somehow. It was so surreal.
In Israel it was so different even though they are both 3rd world countries they seemed so different, and I actually felt so much safer. The number of soldiers that were walking around carrying large guns was so many more that the 5 or 6 that we had in the armored car in Egypt. There were soldiers everywhere, but I felt so much more at ease here. I must say that I should have done a little more research on what it was that I was supposed to expect in Bethlehem and Jerusalem. It seemed that there were so many places that were commercialized and so different from what I had imagined them, that I was a bit let down. I loved that garden of Gethsemane...I could have stayed there forever. It was so peaceful there that I didn't want to leave...I have so much more feelings about this but I would rather tell you about it later.
Today was so great!!! We only took a 1/2 day tour and then we walked around and shopped and lay by the beach. On the way back to the boat our taxi (a Mercedes) had a temp gauge and it was 28.6 C!!! Great day for laying by the beach...
Friday, September 12, 2008
We made it!!!
Well, after two of the longest flights (for now any way I am sure that the two going home will be longer) we are here. We only had a couple of interesting things happen so far...
First when we were leaving PHX and the elderly guy next to "J" pulled out a cigar to put in his mouth (yes we were already on the plane), he chewed on it the entire flight! Then when we deplaned here in Athens and made it to the baggage, my bag was like the last one to finally come around. The couple that was waiting there with us found out that there luggage was actually still in JFK. So after a near panic attack I was really glad that my luggage was here with us.
It is crazy when you go somewhere outside of the US, the first thing that you remember is that English is not every ones first language. After we wandered the streets forever towing our baggage with us we finally found the National Archaeological Museum. We visited that for an hour or so...I think that we enjoyed the cafeteria most :-)
Now we are actually waiting to get onto the boat. There are so many here at the port that we haven't actually seen that one that we are to board yet, but they assured us that we are in the right place.
As a side note, they really like the color blue here...the chairs in the waiting area are blue both here and at the airport.
First when we were leaving PHX and the elderly guy next to "J" pulled out a cigar to put in his mouth (yes we were already on the plane), he chewed on it the entire flight! Then when we deplaned here in Athens and made it to the baggage, my bag was like the last one to finally come around. The couple that was waiting there with us found out that there luggage was actually still in JFK. So after a near panic attack I was really glad that my luggage was here with us.
It is crazy when you go somewhere outside of the US, the first thing that you remember is that English is not every ones first language. After we wandered the streets forever towing our baggage with us we finally found the National Archaeological Museum. We visited that for an hour or so...I think that we enjoyed the cafeteria most :-)
Now we are actually waiting to get onto the boat. There are so many here at the port that we haven't actually seen that one that we are to board yet, but they assured us that we are in the right place.
As a side note, they really like the color blue here...the chairs in the waiting area are blue both here and at the airport.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Just when…
Isn’t life always this way? Just when you think that things are going along nice and smoothly you get like 15 hiccups all at once.
I am leaving on vacation in 3 days and things just keep popping up. First it was the sore throat…but after I drank vinegar that went away after about a day and a half (little home remedy that I use…1 tsp of apple cider vinegar if you have a sore throat as soon as you feel it coming on and it will KILL anything…trust me. Just don’t smell it before you drink it…).
Next (I am still trying to not count this as bad luck since I am SO SO SO glad that it happened before I left) I went into the garage on Saturday, and as I stepped onto the rug that I have there I thought…uh…this isn’t supposed to be wet!!! As I searched around I could see that it wasn’t coming from the water heater…instead it was coming from the wall!!! Yes there was a leak inside the wall somewhere. I could only assume that since it was below the upstairs bathroom that it was from there. I remembered that "MK", a second cousin of mine is a General Contractor…I quickly called him and he said he would be here first thing Monday morning.
Well this morning he came…he started cutting at what I like to call the inspired location and cut just enough dry wall away to expose the entire problem area. A copper elbow in the pipe had sprung a leak and was spraying into the dry wall. He smiled and said that he had done this a time or two. He assured me that he will have the problem resolved and all taken care of before I leave for Greece on Thursday.
Now let’s just hope that everything works out and there are no more hiccups!!!
I am leaving on vacation in 3 days and things just keep popping up. First it was the sore throat…but after I drank vinegar that went away after about a day and a half (little home remedy that I use…1 tsp of apple cider vinegar if you have a sore throat as soon as you feel it coming on and it will KILL anything…trust me. Just don’t smell it before you drink it…).
Next (I am still trying to not count this as bad luck since I am SO SO SO glad that it happened before I left) I went into the garage on Saturday, and as I stepped onto the rug that I have there I thought…uh…this isn’t supposed to be wet!!! As I searched around I could see that it wasn’t coming from the water heater…instead it was coming from the wall!!! Yes there was a leak inside the wall somewhere. I could only assume that since it was below the upstairs bathroom that it was from there. I remembered that "MK", a second cousin of mine is a General Contractor…I quickly called him and he said he would be here first thing Monday morning.
Well this morning he came…he started cutting at what I like to call the inspired location and cut just enough dry wall away to expose the entire problem area. A copper elbow in the pipe had sprung a leak and was spraying into the dry wall. He smiled and said that he had done this a time or two. He assured me that he will have the problem resolved and all taken care of before I leave for Greece on Thursday.
Now let’s just hope that everything works out and there are no more hiccups!!!
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Crazy lady at the door…again?
So, I bought my house over 3 years ago from Mr. & Mrs. Smith (or at least that is what we will call them). Every couple of months I get an elderly woman at my door that is looking for her son, Mr. Smith. When this first started happening I wasn’t home and I would get home to find little notes left on my door asking them to please let her be a part of their lives. If that doesn’t make you sad when you get home after a long day of work I don’t know what would…seriously!
Months passed and I didn’t get anything then I was home one night when she came and she was looking for her son. I kindly told her that I had purchased the house a couple of years ago and her son didn’t live there anymore. One would think that is the end of my story. But no…oh no!!
Earlier this year I got home to find a graduation announcement left on the door with a phone number on it. I called the number and left a voicemail trying to explain what was happening hoping that the person who I called might be able to help out. A short while later Mrs. Smith called and said that I had called her husbands cell phone and he was so embarrassed by his mother that he had his wife call to apologize for him. They told me that their mother was a part of their lives and had actually gone to spend time with them at their new home after they moved. She just can’t remember that they have moved. But she calls them about 4-5 times a day.
What am I to do…now I feel bad that the old woman seems to have lost her memory…
However, you can’t feel bad for too long when the knocking and doorbell ringing goes until 11:30 at night sometimes. In June of this year I had so many door knocks late at night that I called the non emergency police number to find out if they could help me at all with this. Turns out if I want her to stop I have to tell her to leave my property and if she comes again I have to call 911 and they will come and arrest her. Not that I am an advocate of that, but I would like some peace (especially late at night!).
It has been a few months now that I haven’t heard from her, but the other night I woke up at 3:30 in the morning to knocking at the door. Yes, you are correct in thinking that is when you heart jumps into your throat and you wonder what in the world is happening. I didn’t get up; in fact I think if I would have tried that I wouldn’t have been successful. After about a half an hour or so I finally went back to sleep…but it makes me wonder if it was the old lady again…
As a side note you might find it interesting to know that she still has a drivers license…if that doesn’t make you nervous on the road with people who can’t remember that their children moved…hopefully when she is driving she is only ever using short term memory since that seems to work.
Months passed and I didn’t get anything then I was home one night when she came and she was looking for her son. I kindly told her that I had purchased the house a couple of years ago and her son didn’t live there anymore. One would think that is the end of my story. But no…oh no!!
Earlier this year I got home to find a graduation announcement left on the door with a phone number on it. I called the number and left a voicemail trying to explain what was happening hoping that the person who I called might be able to help out. A short while later Mrs. Smith called and said that I had called her husbands cell phone and he was so embarrassed by his mother that he had his wife call to apologize for him. They told me that their mother was a part of their lives and had actually gone to spend time with them at their new home after they moved. She just can’t remember that they have moved. But she calls them about 4-5 times a day.
What am I to do…now I feel bad that the old woman seems to have lost her memory…
However, you can’t feel bad for too long when the knocking and doorbell ringing goes until 11:30 at night sometimes. In June of this year I had so many door knocks late at night that I called the non emergency police number to find out if they could help me at all with this. Turns out if I want her to stop I have to tell her to leave my property and if she comes again I have to call 911 and they will come and arrest her. Not that I am an advocate of that, but I would like some peace (especially late at night!).
It has been a few months now that I haven’t heard from her, but the other night I woke up at 3:30 in the morning to knocking at the door. Yes, you are correct in thinking that is when you heart jumps into your throat and you wonder what in the world is happening. I didn’t get up; in fact I think if I would have tried that I wouldn’t have been successful. After about a half an hour or so I finally went back to sleep…but it makes me wonder if it was the old lady again…
As a side note you might find it interesting to know that she still has a drivers license…if that doesn’t make you nervous on the road with people who can’t remember that their children moved…hopefully when she is driving she is only ever using short term memory since that seems to work.
Monday, September 1, 2008
A day for me...and one for you too I hope
We have all had them and we all need them. That is when life seems to get going so fast that you are trying to determine in which direction you are heading. Well…it would seem like I was that was for the entire month of August. I felt like the entire month was for other people, I am not opposed to that, but I am an advocate of proper me time.
So…after feeling like I had been pulled in so many different directions for so many weekends, this last weekend was all about me. (Don’t worry…I am pretty sure that it is healthy) I did only what I wanted and when I wanted. It was nice that is was a long weekend too.
First things first when you need me time is to refocus yourself. So I got up and went to the temple (I didn’t know that they had a session that early!!! I had to check to schedule before I left the house). Then…well since I had taken care of my spiritual self I headed to take care of my physical self. My next stop was the gym…up and down and up and down on the elliptical then the same on the treadmill (except that there was also running in between the ups and downs). Let’s see how many of you know really know me…if you guess where I go next correctly I need a response…
If I have take care of my spiritual self, then my physical self I now need to take care of my emotional health…and whenever I need to feel good I go here. If you haven’t guessed it already then you probably wont…I headed next to Diana’s Fabulous Nails for a pedicure of course. The people who work there have been great friends to me for the last 2 ½ years, they are always happy to see me and I am always happier having seen them (and my feet and legs are happier).
Now that I had taken care of everything (except for scouring the bathroom…which waits for a non me day) I was off to float in the pool and shop at the mall. Really I don’t always do those things, but in 10 days I am off to Greece for a cruise and I will need a base tan (or at least some sun exposure to prevent burning) and of course what is a trip without a new shirt or two?!?!?
Anyway…after reading I hope that you all take time for a “Me Day” once in a while…please note that I did not say once in a Blue Moon
So…after feeling like I had been pulled in so many different directions for so many weekends, this last weekend was all about me. (Don’t worry…I am pretty sure that it is healthy) I did only what I wanted and when I wanted. It was nice that is was a long weekend too.
First things first when you need me time is to refocus yourself. So I got up and went to the temple (I didn’t know that they had a session that early!!! I had to check to schedule before I left the house). Then…well since I had taken care of my spiritual self I headed to take care of my physical self. My next stop was the gym…up and down and up and down on the elliptical then the same on the treadmill (except that there was also running in between the ups and downs). Let’s see how many of you know really know me…if you guess where I go next correctly I need a response…
If I have take care of my spiritual self, then my physical self I now need to take care of my emotional health…and whenever I need to feel good I go here. If you haven’t guessed it already then you probably wont…I headed next to Diana’s Fabulous Nails for a pedicure of course. The people who work there have been great friends to me for the last 2 ½ years, they are always happy to see me and I am always happier having seen them (and my feet and legs are happier).
Now that I had taken care of everything (except for scouring the bathroom…which waits for a non me day) I was off to float in the pool and shop at the mall. Really I don’t always do those things, but in 10 days I am off to Greece for a cruise and I will need a base tan (or at least some sun exposure to prevent burning) and of course what is a trip without a new shirt or two?!?!?
Anyway…after reading I hope that you all take time for a “Me Day” once in a while…please note that I did not say once in a Blue Moon
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