Goodbye

Goodbye Europe ...Hello Israel..

It has been a challenging morning, but I'm here checked in and at my gate 1hour before departure.i knew all would be well if I allowed myself enough time.  The worst thing that has happened is I lst another hat.  2 gone, 2 left.  I am loosing no weight according to my cloths, but I did notice that my ear plugs fit better last night ; ). I hope Sept 11 was un eventful around the world.  Have not seen any news or heard any English comments, but everything seems normal in Greece, wonderful Greece.  I have so enjoyed it but now am going into new territory for me.  Middleton East.  I will take it slow and easy and remember psalm 24. The Earth is the Lords aNd all that is within it.  I will Praise His Holy Name.

Michelle, I thought of you and smiled as I went through X-ray and the found my half liter of water and half bottle of coke.  I stopped and drank them both.  That was after about a pound of grapes before check in.  I should be hydrated for awhile.  Loving my vest.  You will so surprised when you see it again.  The stitching over the left boob that you were worried did come out.  In turkey I bought needle, thread and Turkish bookmark that was Turkish fabrics.  And a couple of other fabric embroidered patches.  Then I bought one in Greece, now I an turning oIt into a real souvenir vest as will keep buying something in every country..  I'm excited about our creativity.

2 weeks ago about now

Can't believe I have been somewhere for 2 weeks this afternoon.  I left yesterday and landed this afternoon.  It has been a marvelous trip already.  It does feel good to have a couple of weeks, I few trips on, train, plane, auto, tram, bus, metro, under my belt.  Been through USDollars, Turkish Lira, and now Euros.  Eaten shis kabob, gyros, baklava, Greek yogurt, ouzo,lots of fresh fruit, and too much awesome bread.  I've swam in the Aegean Sea and the Corinthian Sea.  I've met people from almost all over the world.  And it's only just begun.

I guess my passion is Faith, family, then travel.  I have learned that it is important to follow you passion.  I, lie most everyone I know, does all we can to keep going and keep doing and usually for others not for ourselves.  I seriously believe that I am already a better person for following my passion, dream. Whatever.  Now that I see what a difference it is making in who I am, I will find a way to do it more.  Now that I have learned to travel cheaply, though gotta work on traveling light, I will try it again and again as long as my body will go.  Don't worry loved ones.  I won't need it this long again.  I think I just was thinking while I'm out I may as well get the best bang for my buck.  Already thinking of South America.

Gotta make a confession...I did nt do a good job of seeing Corinth.  I had seen Ephesus, and athens and more stones sounded, well, boring.  I found many stones at the beach.  I did think a kot about Paul and his journeys, and I suspected that he spent a lot of time talking and preaching at the very place I was sitting.

Well I aml now checked into my hotel for tonight the off to Israel.  Have a lovely roomie from Canada.  She is also an archeologist.  She has been digging in Cyprus and Crete.  Very nice lady.  Then off to the natl Archeology Museum.  Hugh and plenty to see.  Here again as in Rome.  All the men are nude and all the women fully clothed.  Except for the one who was Goddess of Love, Aphrodite .  She was often draped partcially.  Same in Italy, but the opposite in France.  Naked women and well dressed men.  I think that says a lot about their culture, but I don't know a lot about what.

Stopped for great lunch to go with the wonderful Spinach filled pastry I had earlier.  awesome,

Then stopped by the Victoria park for sunset, very near my hotel.  Met the nicest man from Albania.  He is an art teacher for small children in school.  Has 2 children hisself but schools are so bad in Albania that he has sent them to school in Italy.  Everywhere I go, if we get into a conversation, it leads to the economy.  Canada seems to be the only ones not hurting.

Planning to get to bed early for my travel day tomorrow.  Leave the hotel about 7:30am and get to Eilat about 8:00 pm.  No pics today, I really did not see much.

later

I would never lie

.When I came into Corinth a few days ago, I thought I did something wrong.  I got off at the end of the line when everyone else got off.  Thought I was in Corinth.  End of the line?    Loved the little town ( later found it was Loutriki). Quaint little town with lots of shops and restaurants, went to the ticket counter showed the address of my hotel and bought a ticket (I thought) to that location.  When I tried to board the bus, my driver and I laughed, because I got off too early and already had a ticket to Corinth.  He will tell me when to get off.  Only $2 so go on.  In a little while we stopped again and he told me, smiling...this is Corinth.  Others got off, he got my luggage, I looked up and we are at a bus stop bench.  No station.  No one to ask, but taxi across the street.  No options so I take a axi to my hotel for €14.  Ok nice ride to the beach.  Now I'm trying to get back to the airport in Athens tomorrow.  This really what I copied from Internet on how to get back...To get to Athens, there is a bus stations near the sea. It is a little hidden and probably hard to find at first, but just keep asking people for the bus stop...  When you are 66 pulling a50 pound bag and carring a 40 Pound ( guessing) backpack,  thosisnot a good idea.  I have learned that the hard way.   

I have made reservations for tomorrow night in Athens at Zorbas.  Sounds Greek to me.  It is only about a football field from the metro that will take me to the airport for my flight on the 12th.  It will be a long day with 2 short flights.  To Te.l Aviv the a 6 hour layover for a 1 hour flight to Eilat on the Red Sea 

Have my room there for 3 nights so I can see Petra, then a ay at the sea snorkling then off to either Jerusalem, Nazareth, or Bethlehem.  Somedays are tougher to get into Bethlehem than others, so must wait and see.  But it seemed natural to start where Jesus started and then on to where he grew up then into Jerusalem, Massada, and ther highlights.  Now it's getting exciting!

My time out here as been ver revealing.  I am not good at doing nothing.  I have a lot of word I need to use every day.  I do prefer coming home to someone in the evenings even if to strangers.  That being said, I have enjoyed spreading my stuff out everywhere and seeing what I really have.  Much of it will not be needed unless I go somewhere cooler than I've been so far.

I've always had a desire to stay in a hotel near enough to hear the waves and sleep with a natural wave machine.  My balcony is completely private so I have been able to do that.  Only problem is that the breeze dies at night and I end up turning on the AC and closing the balcony doors.  I have 2 double doors and a kitchen window so during the day it is perfectly breezy.

Yesterday I took a nap.  Yes that's the life until bedtime comes and your still awake at 2:30am.  Lesson learned.

Today I ha been east and west along the beach, so decided to go inland.  Some beautiful Villas.  The trees blew me away.  Yards filled with vegetable and flower garden, but trees were abundant and abundantly productive..  I saw, fig, pomegranate, lime, orange, grapevine, olive and several I did not recognize.  As well as sugar cane and several different palms.  I can't tell one from another without fruit.  Kinda the way we are.  You can tell us by the fruit of our life.

Just a laugh then I'm gone.  Yesterday the owner. Lady here asked me what I do to stay so fit.  Now you see what I mean by everyone wears 2 pc swimwear and really shouldn't.  If I look fit, well you get the picture...

1st pic is a grape canopy at the hotel. I want to do this with my grape vines at my house.  How can I get my grapes this big.  You can't tell but thus cluster is about as long as my arm. Second is my lovely breakfast on the patio by the beach.  Thank you God for the Blessings of life

Quick note

Been so busy tonight I better throw in a quick update.  I was busy watching NCIS.  Fist TV I've seen since I left dallas.  In seen it on but never English so moved on.  It was funny to have the Greek captions.  Course I had seen this roils ode before but who cares.  

It has been an exceptionally quite couple of days.  Only businesses are about a 10 min walk away, but along the beach, so OK.  Problem is that one way is small grocery store, the other direction is a marina and a coupe of restaurants that were closed when I went down this morning.   No shopping at all except for food.  god knows I've been eating way too much.  I thought I was surely burning it off, but when I put on my swimsuit yesterday I found it was all still here.  At least I should ave firmed it up a bit, but. no. it's still hanging around, literally.  Oh well, some things just don't change.

Had a great breakfast here at the hotel today. Then a walk then a nap then a swim, they lad in the packs by the Sea, then repacked then NCIS then to bed to check answer and delete emails.  Finally checked Dallas news and found more there than Fox nEws...Go Channel 8 online news.  I never watch their Wes but had it iPad.  Wow still hot in Texas I see.  Here too!

Just really enjoying a break.  Gotta go to sleep now so I can get up and do it all again tomorrow,

Have been drinking these here.  Sooo good.

At the beach. Ahhhhh

And a beautiful view you'll see.  I have made it to my location but but don't have a clue where I am..the address is Corinth Elle   But the cab ride out was long.  But like our future Paradise, it really doesn't matter, I'm here.  Arrived after about a 2 hour bus ride from Athens, after about a 1 hour train and bus ride from my hotel to get to the Big Bus terminal for long distance trips, not locals.  Only problem is that the reception is not opened.  2phone numbers but can't et the phone to work. Oh well.  I can just sit here and enjoy the wonderful breeze, about 82 degrees or more pleasant.  Whatever perfect is, that's what it is.  As long as they show up before that coke and water process, I. Ok.  But there s that whole big Ocean out there.  I have my luggage, I'm good to go.  

Found a nice, close little church this morning.  Pics of Jesus and Mary everywhere so likely Cathlic but man in long white robe stayed behind a wall with an alter most of the time.  Came out to ring a bell and carried insence I guess cause there were sparks coming out of the little bell.  Everyone

E who came in kissed all the pictures and instead of the cross your heart thing that I have seen Catholics do, they just did a little stutter step thing from center to a bit lower left of chest.  Anyway, I felt like I was in the presence of people of faith.  The reading included Israel and Jesus, go I was glad to be there.   

They have opened now and it is perfect. I am in Asso Greece, I'm headed to the beach

Saturday night Special.

Yeah today was awesome.  Got up early, took a round about bus ride to get as close as I could to the    

Acropolis entrance.  Can you see how far away and high up that is?  Far away didn't bother me, 

I've gone there and back 2 days in a row but not up.  So I got a head start by taking the bus. 

 It was bad but I made it.  I thank God that my body is holding up.  Very tired and a bit rickety,

but makin it.  It was incredible, but I gotta say that after seeing it last, it was all i expected.

 The enormity of it, the history behind it, the 2500 years age of it.  But it was almost out shown by 

the view of surrounding Athens.  You could see all the way to the ships where I came in a few days ago.

All in all worth the effort.

Then I walked back by way of the shops and restaurants and the Agora and another temple and the 

Church of the Apostle.  Almost new, built in 1025.  Stopped for a gyro.  Haven't had one yet

 and just seemed right.   They carve the. Meat off the roasting spigot and then add feta,some sauce, 

onions, tomatoes and boiled potatoes.  Oh my goodness, to die for.  I could eat only half, so 

enjoying the rest as I blog,  yum yum!  

Repacked for tomorrow when I say farewell to Athens.  I could stay 4 months, but better move on. 

 I have changed my plan to go to Skopelos island.  It takes a long time to connect ferries, am

Nd frankly everything here in Athens makes me think of Mamma Mia so I'm very content with 

not.  Think ill go to Corinth and Kalamate on the other coast.  Gotta close and check that out to be 

sure.  Not gonna mention how I'm missing you, got to far to go to be going there.  

Go check out psalm 7:9 and pray that for the world.  I'm praying for each of you.

Friday nights are the same all over

Another amazing day in Athens. Went to theAcropolis museum.  Kinda brought the whole thing together and at my own pace I was able to make it all fit into what I think of when I think of history.  I think of In the beginning God created.   Well lots of this was 500-600 years BC.  About the time that Judah fell to Babylon and about the time the 1st Temple was completed in Jerusalem.  The Greek mythology was very interesting too.  Something about the Virgin birth of Athena or some woman, born out of the head of Zeus.  Gotta read up on that, but I guess most religions try to get in on Gods action in their own way.  It is nice to hear God and Christianity spoken here.  Lots of churches and even some Baptist according to the Internet.  Making my way to the top tomorrow.  the acropolis.  Then back by a couple other ruins in anticipation of  leaving Athens Sunday after church somewhere and heading to Mamma Mia.  It's ?friday night here and getting a little rowdy on the street.  Still not scary but think ills head to bed and get a cool early start tomorrow to climb the Hill.  Still working on getting pics from cell to iPad or blog from iPad.