tomorrow early, oh woe, since I for one have become very used to laid-back island life on Samos and like it very much indeed. Today was rather amazing as we went to see Eupalinus' tunnel and I ran in to my former ancient history tutor from my undergraduate days in Oxford and her husband, so we got a nice picture of the 3 academic "generations" of Miriam, myself and my students. Then in the afternoon I got the bus to the temple of Hera, which was absolutely massive - I'm not surprised that Herodotus was so impressed by it because even in ruins, it's vast and you can get a good sense of the sheer ambition that went into creating it.
Samos seems even fuller of cats than the other islands. At our hotel there is a charming tabby whose leg was evidently broken at some point and healed all crooked, but it has really been a good career move for him since everyone goes out of their way to give him a little something from their plates and he is notably more prosperous than any of his fellows.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Monday, June 4, 2007
XAIPETE from Samos
We are in Pythagoreio, birthplace of the theorem man, and it is a very pretty little seaside town full of cats, which pleases me very much, although they are rather fond of fighting and it is very loud at times. I have just returned from a very fun cruise round the bay where they fed us pork chops, fish, Greek salad, octopus and - most exotically - sea urchin and played us Greek music and someone somwhere has a rather embarrassing video of me trying to dance Greekly...
Saturday, June 2, 2007
farewell to Chios
Writing in haste some 30 minutes before we must gather our ever-expanding luggage and head from the hotel down to the port to catch the boat to Samos this evening.In a supremely Hellenic display, the departure time of the ferry has gone in 2 days from 3 to 5 to 6 pm, so Zeus only knows when it really will set sail tonight. Hoever, if the voyage was as lovely as that from Lesbos to Chios it will be no hardship to sail by moonlight to the nextisland.
Prayers of thanks to Asclepius (the god of healing)and to the splendid and apparently free Greek health care system (socialised medicine RULES!) today as several of our number were a little sick - nothing at all out of the ordinary for this part of the world - but thanks to a kindly English-speaking doctor have been given medicine and will be absolutely fine, so let no one worry about this!
Not sure I can stand the Greek rap in here a moment longer, so kallispera for now.
Prayers of thanks to Asclepius (the god of healing)and to the splendid and apparently free Greek health care system (socialised medicine RULES!) today as several of our number were a little sick - nothing at all out of the ordinary for this part of the world - but thanks to a kindly English-speaking doctor have been given medicine and will be absolutely fine, so let no one worry about this!
Not sure I can stand the Greek rap in here a moment longer, so kallispera for now.
Friday, June 1, 2007
love from chios!
hello everyone!! wow! we are currently enjoying island hopping around Greece!! we are in chios, which is similar to lesvos, the island we were just on, but has it's own charm as well! i have learned several things since only being gone a very short time. here they go....cars do NOT yield to people here!! watch out when you step in the road!!! greece has the best food ever!! one of the best things in life is to watch the sun set over the aegean sea!! clean water should not be taken for granted! also..i may really be greek...they have no set times, they say they will be somewhere at five, and it may be five or 5:30 or later...just whenever they get around to it! also..they look cheese and wine! hahaha....and fresh fish!!...also i have brown eyes and hair just as they do! haha....but the group is having a great time, we've all been happy to take some time to rest in between our grand adventures and just learn as much as we can soak in about the culture and Greek people! I will end short, since we are in an extremely social internet cafe, which they all seem to be here, so it's kind of hard to think! Lastly, what I have learned so far is that God's beauty is so apparent in this part of the world, just as it is in the simple things in life back at home, such as all my loved ones I so dearly miss!! love to you all!!
Chios!
Hey everyone!
Today were on the island of Chios, in the city of Chios in Greece. We got here yesterday night by ferry and experienced some culture on the boat! We encountered gypsys and they almost stole my purse and kelly's camera! yikeeess! It was the scariest thing that has happened to me in a long time. It was very sad though because when Kelly and I were looking through her pictures, Ally yelled our names and I looked over and saw this little boy, literally, 2 inches away from me. He was so scary! He was extremely quiet and I did not even hear him creep up. Ally said he had been there for awhile. He ran away once I grabbed for my purse though. That was quite a shock and my sense of security is GONE! At least for now anyway. Today in Chios, we got to see two old churches which was pretty cool and listen to 70's/80 music on the public bus on the way back to the town from the churches. We also almost missed the last bus going back to chios of the day after the churches! We ordered three pizzas from a restaurant with Gus as the owner. He was really great and spoke great english. The bus was scheduled to leave in 3 minutes after we received our 2 large pizzas. I ran down the hill with water in one hand and my pizza in the other while pizza was flying all over my white shirt. (That one will be thrown away mom. lol!)It was really fun and quite hecktic. I always say it's better to be rushed and have a story than not a story at all. Or maybe I just made that up.. not sure but it sounds good to me. Everyone in our group is getting sick and I feel soo bad for them. I really hope they feel better soon because I miss having our whole group. Tomorrow we will be leaving Chios and going to Samos! talk to you guys soon! love you all!
Today were on the island of Chios, in the city of Chios in Greece. We got here yesterday night by ferry and experienced some culture on the boat! We encountered gypsys and they almost stole my purse and kelly's camera! yikeeess! It was the scariest thing that has happened to me in a long time. It was very sad though because when Kelly and I were looking through her pictures, Ally yelled our names and I looked over and saw this little boy, literally, 2 inches away from me. He was so scary! He was extremely quiet and I did not even hear him creep up. Ally said he had been there for awhile. He ran away once I grabbed for my purse though. That was quite a shock and my sense of security is GONE! At least for now anyway. Today in Chios, we got to see two old churches which was pretty cool and listen to 70's/80 music on the public bus on the way back to the town from the churches. We also almost missed the last bus going back to chios of the day after the churches! We ordered three pizzas from a restaurant with Gus as the owner. He was really great and spoke great english. The bus was scheduled to leave in 3 minutes after we received our 2 large pizzas. I ran down the hill with water in one hand and my pizza in the other while pizza was flying all over my white shirt. (That one will be thrown away mom. lol!)It was really fun and quite hecktic. I always say it's better to be rushed and have a story than not a story at all. Or maybe I just made that up.. not sure but it sounds good to me. Everyone in our group is getting sick and I feel soo bad for them. I really hope they feel better soon because I miss having our whole group. Tomorrow we will be leaving Chios and going to Samos! talk to you guys soon! love you all!
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Lesbos, Greece
Kalispera!
That means good evening. Its about 8:45pm here and about 1:45pm in NC. I still think that's crazy. Anyway yesterday we arrived in Mytilini, Lesbos, Greece from Canakkale, Turkey by public ferry. Yesterday we got to see Pergamon, the first hospital ever, and the first brick building ever(a temple for the egyptian gods). It was really fascinating. Today we had a free day here and it was very relaxing. We got up a little late and went to eat at this beautiful restaurant outside overlooking the Aegean sea for lunch. I feel so spoiled. Sarah and Kelly and I tried to go shopping and buy some greek clothes, but apparently the whole town shuts down from 2-5pm for a siesta. They never opened back up!! We walked around a bit and practiced our Greek. I know thank-you, please, hello and goodbye in Greek already. I am really picking up these different languages quickly. One of the challenges here is the completely different alphabet. In Turkey at least they had the same letters! The scenery is so breathtaking here. One of my favorite things about this area is that it is a tiny town. Most of the streets are cobblestone streets and the houses look like they are from an old movie. This area is so enchanting and I really love it. I do miss everyone at home a LOT though. I can't wait to come back to NC and see everyone. I have been able to get some great presents. Shopping is great here. Even though I never doubted it wouldn't be. Although you can't barter in Greece like you can in Turkey, it seems as if the clothes and items are cheaper here. I have yet to drink some ouzo, but I am sure it will be an experience when I do. Another great thing here and in Turkey too is the animals! I have seen SO many cats and dogs running around. I guess they are homeless but they are so friendly. Many of them are skinny and it is sad to see that but Kelly, Sarah and I have been able to sneak some food to them recently. We have been naming the dogs because we see the same ones running around the streets of Lesbos. I think I have more pictures of dogs and cats than I do of Troy and the Blue Mosque! haha. Not just kidding. I must get going to work some more in my journal and read some of my math homework tomorrow. Tomorrow evening we will be going to another island by ferry in Greece called Chios. I have a feeling that this location will be just as beautiful. Talk to you soon! I love you all!
That means good evening. Its about 8:45pm here and about 1:45pm in NC. I still think that's crazy. Anyway yesterday we arrived in Mytilini, Lesbos, Greece from Canakkale, Turkey by public ferry. Yesterday we got to see Pergamon, the first hospital ever, and the first brick building ever(a temple for the egyptian gods). It was really fascinating. Today we had a free day here and it was very relaxing. We got up a little late and went to eat at this beautiful restaurant outside overlooking the Aegean sea for lunch. I feel so spoiled. Sarah and Kelly and I tried to go shopping and buy some greek clothes, but apparently the whole town shuts down from 2-5pm for a siesta. They never opened back up!! We walked around a bit and practiced our Greek. I know thank-you, please, hello and goodbye in Greek already. I am really picking up these different languages quickly. One of the challenges here is the completely different alphabet. In Turkey at least they had the same letters! The scenery is so breathtaking here. One of my favorite things about this area is that it is a tiny town. Most of the streets are cobblestone streets and the houses look like they are from an old movie. This area is so enchanting and I really love it. I do miss everyone at home a LOT though. I can't wait to come back to NC and see everyone. I have been able to get some great presents. Shopping is great here. Even though I never doubted it wouldn't be. Although you can't barter in Greece like you can in Turkey, it seems as if the clothes and items are cheaper here. I have yet to drink some ouzo, but I am sure it will be an experience when I do. Another great thing here and in Turkey too is the animals! I have seen SO many cats and dogs running around. I guess they are homeless but they are so friendly. Many of them are skinny and it is sad to see that but Kelly, Sarah and I have been able to sneak some food to them recently. We have been naming the dogs because we see the same ones running around the streets of Lesbos. I think I have more pictures of dogs and cats than I do of Troy and the Blue Mosque! haha. Not just kidding. I must get going to work some more in my journal and read some of my math homework tomorrow. Tomorrow evening we will be going to another island by ferry in Greece called Chios. I have a feeling that this location will be just as beautiful. Talk to you soon! I love you all!
Sapphotastic!
Hooray for Greek keyboards which have Greek but under the English letters and are much easier to negotiate.
I am typing in a cafe some 20 yards from the sea on the harbour of Mytilene in Lesbos. Lots of hotels/squares/shops called after Sappho, which is only right and proper - so far Alcaeus and Pittacus have only got slightly manky streets named after them! In an hour's time I am off to Skala Eressos to explore Sappho's birthplace and see how the tradition lives on. I am slightly nervous because there is only one bus and I will have to return tomorrow morning at 6.15 am (!) and I hope very much that all will be well with our group during their much-needed day off. We are generally well but tired and I for one am happy to have a couple of days off from classwork, much as I love it. Yesterday I taught a class on Greek lyric poetry on the ferry which I managed, but it was not ideal!
It is very good to be back in Greece. More soon.
I am typing in a cafe some 20 yards from the sea on the harbour of Mytilene in Lesbos. Lots of hotels/squares/shops called after Sappho, which is only right and proper - so far Alcaeus and Pittacus have only got slightly manky streets named after them! In an hour's time I am off to Skala Eressos to explore Sappho's birthplace and see how the tradition lives on. I am slightly nervous because there is only one bus and I will have to return tomorrow morning at 6.15 am (!) and I hope very much that all will be well with our group during their much-needed day off. We are generally well but tired and I for one am happy to have a couple of days off from classwork, much as I love it. Yesterday I taught a class on Greek lyric poetry on the ferry which I managed, but it was not ideal!
It is very good to be back in Greece. More soon.
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