Sunday was a day of picture taking. We all agree you just CAN'T take a bad photo in Oia, Santorini. We were trying to be a little creative with our poses and angles and even made a little "Happy" video. We ate lunch at a little taverna where I had a cheeseburger. I believe it was lamb, not beef but the best Gyro restaurant in town doesn't serve lamb. Go figure. Anyway, we decided to get a fish pedicure but they were closed. We'd wait for Susan to get here anyway for that. We took it easy and got a Gyro to go and sat on our patio and ate our dinner. We turned early as we had reservations for a boat ride to another island in the morning.
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Day 2
Saturday was filled with many different twists and turns. We got in the car and drove down to Vousvoulos, a traditional village. We ate lunch at Roza's Taverna and Mara, her daughter and our waitress was very nice and spoke very good English. Most speak English in Oia well as this is an international vacation destination. The restaurant was closing early as the Easter rituals were commencing that afternoon. At the church in this village, Judas was hanging in effigy. Mora says that they shoot him with gasoline and set him afire. Seemed a little violent to me and not quite sure Jesus would really appreciate it. But they are very passionate about their religion and their rituals. Nancy had made reservations for us to eat "lamb stew" at midnight as this was traditional. It was actually lamb intestines. Nancy said she was just going to taste it. I kind of doubt it as Nancy is one of the best cooks I know but she is not adventurous in what she eats. She was unsure why reservations needed to be after midnight but we were famished and decided to eat earlier and cancel the reservations. Our friends, Penelope, Honesty, and ____ explained that the faithful refrain from meat for 2 weeks prior to Easter and then can eat at midnight Saturday night/Sunday morning. Easter reminds me a little of our Fourth of July because at midnight they set off fireworks in the church square and everyone goes to eat! They take candles back to their houses/businesses lit from the ______and burn crosses on the threshold to ensure blessings for the next year.
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Arrival at Santorini Greece
I had booked two roundtrip tickets in order to have a day to tour Athens on my way home. Deana will be accompanying me on this little side kick. After booking trip, I was informed that a leg had been cancelled and I had to find an itinerary that fit with my 2nd roundtrip ticket. I was concerned about going through customs so I had put about 4 or so hours between landing in Athens and departing for Santorini. I went through customs in Brussels which had no wait line and only to show passport. I arrived in Athens, grabbed my luggage, went straight to ticket counter and changed my flight to earlier flight. Julie was coming from Wilson and would be on the earlier flight. Nancy was picking her up and then later sending driver to get me because Good Friday traffic was a little harry. Anyway, I surprised Julie at the gate, emailed Nancy to cancel driver and off we go into the wild blue yonder.
Nancy was there waiting on us and drove like an islander through those winding narrow roads. We're staying in Oia (pronounced "ee ah") in a cave house on a side of a cliff overlooking the Caldera. That means there are many steps that are not even, nor uniform in height and can be quite treacherous for the weak kneed. However, it is the most picturesque place on this planet. We have decided you can't take a bad picture.
Our first night was a quick shower and out the door to stroll down the __________ and get a little taste of the village, literally and figuratively. Being Good Friday meant we got to be right in the middle of all of the celebrations and rituals the people of Greece adhere to. Churches are everywhere and were open so we strolled in ______ that was very near our house. The Greek Orthodox churches are very ornate and most have a blue dome. The faithful were to meet up at the church and follow the (we thought) baby Jesus to another church down the walk. We made it back to house and slept in till noon as there are 7 hours difference in EST and Greek time.
Saturday, we drove d
Nancy was there waiting on us and drove like an islander through those winding narrow roads. We're staying in Oia (pronounced "ee ah") in a cave house on a side of a cliff overlooking the Caldera. That means there are many steps that are not even, nor uniform in height and can be quite treacherous for the weak kneed. However, it is the most picturesque place on this planet. We have decided you can't take a bad picture.
Our first night was a quick shower and out the door to stroll down the __________ and get a little taste of the village, literally and figuratively. Being Good Friday meant we got to be right in the middle of all of the celebrations and rituals the people of Greece adhere to. Churches are everywhere and were open so we strolled in ______ that was very near our house. The Greek Orthodox churches are very ornate and most have a blue dome. The faithful were to meet up at the church and follow the (we thought) baby Jesus to another church down the walk. We made it back to house and slept in till noon as there are 7 hours difference in EST and Greek time.
Saturday, we drove d
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Trip of a Lifetime
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Nancy Tucker Brown and I have been friends for many years. We were high school buddies and then roommates our freshman year at Peace College. She is one of the most sincere, beautiful people I know and I am lucky that she is my friend. She is checking multiple boxes off of her bucket list and one of them is a trip to Santorini, Greece. She rented a cave house called Unique Architect, Oia for a month and invited friends and family to join her. Did I mention how generous she is too! Anyway, I'm one of the lucky friends to have been invited. Going through precheck at the security point just started my trip off right! You don't have to take shoes off or anything. I didn't even have to pull out my liquids although I had only 2 little things. Zip zap, I'm through! And the line was a mile long for regular security check. So, I am sitting in the Charlotte airport drinking a Old Mecklenburg seasonal waiting to board my flight to Philadelphia (one of the legs to my long journey to Santorini), taking a deep breath and just thinking about how wonderful my life is. I have the best husband, family and friends. I was thinking if something were to happen to me, I am ok because I have so many people that love me and that I love! Every time I fly I do think what if the plane goes down. Well, everyone does! Even though that thought does cross my mind, I am looking forward to what the future has for me. I was talking with someone about what good they saw in life and I can honestly say I can see so much good by just moving the bad cobwebs out of the way. Yes, there have been some atrocities and there will be more in the future but if we spend all our time worrying about that, how can we enjoy life. We most definitely should be concerned and do all in our power to spread love and bring attention to those things which are harming innocent people and our world but I will love this life on earth because it is the only one afforded to me. I find peace when I accept the things that I cannot change and change the things that I can and know the difference. Mmmm. I think there is a prayer about that. :)
Can't wait to get to Santorini! Until then, I will watch movies, read books, listen to music and people watch!!! Cheers to me!
Nancy Tucker Brown and I have been friends for many years. We were high school buddies and then roommates our freshman year at Peace College. She is one of the most sincere, beautiful people I know and I am lucky that she is my friend. She is checking multiple boxes off of her bucket list and one of them is a trip to Santorini, Greece. She rented a cave house called Unique Architect, Oia for a month and invited friends and family to join her. Did I mention how generous she is too! Anyway, I'm one of the lucky friends to have been invited. Going through precheck at the security point just started my trip off right! You don't have to take shoes off or anything. I didn't even have to pull out my liquids although I had only 2 little things. Zip zap, I'm through! And the line was a mile long for regular security check. So, I am sitting in the Charlotte airport drinking a Old Mecklenburg seasonal waiting to board my flight to Philadelphia (one of the legs to my long journey to Santorini), taking a deep breath and just thinking about how wonderful my life is. I have the best husband, family and friends. I was thinking if something were to happen to me, I am ok because I have so many people that love me and that I love! Every time I fly I do think what if the plane goes down. Well, everyone does! Even though that thought does cross my mind, I am looking forward to what the future has for me. I was talking with someone about what good they saw in life and I can honestly say I can see so much good by just moving the bad cobwebs out of the way. Yes, there have been some atrocities and there will be more in the future but if we spend all our time worrying about that, how can we enjoy life. We most definitely should be concerned and do all in our power to spread love and bring attention to those things which are harming innocent people and our world but I will love this life on earth because it is the only one afforded to me. I find peace when I accept the things that I cannot change and change the things that I can and know the difference. Mmmm. I think there is a prayer about that. :)
Can't wait to get to Santorini! Until then, I will watch movies, read books, listen to music and people watch!!! Cheers to me!
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