Weekend Away- Porto Heli

me view from bedroom

Miah and Kate

Weekend March 27-29, 2009

What a great weekend we had! Christina, Kate and I (and the two dogs) were in one car and Colin, Sue, Dwain and Miah were in another car - and road trip here we come!!!! I haven't laughed so hard and so much in a long time. It was basically a 3 hour car ride of laughing. We had so much fun! Our road trip to Christina's family house in Porto Heli (where I went to in January). We went out to dinner Friday night. Saturday we woke up to a beautiful blue sky and sun and we basically sat outside from 9-4 talking, eating and drinking wine. Life doesn't get better than this!!!! Our view right below was a welcoming (but freezing cold) pool and further out the turquoise blue Meditterrean sparkling Sea.

The sun has become stronger now as my "little" nose became quite red/pink. We all didn't think it was going to be such a beautiful weekend - thus we didn't bring sunblock. I have now learned my lesson, it should go everywhere with me!

We all participated in the Earth Hour. We made dinner just before (BBQ chicken, salad, rice, etc) and we ate outside under the planetarium of stars, in front of the outside fireplace.

Everyone in Christina's family is very artistic. They have a family chapel on their property and her older Paul painted a fresco in it. This is a picture of the altar in the chapel.

Sunday was also great! We ate breakfast and relaxed, read books, talked some more and then drove home. What a wonderful weekend!

Cynda's Summit

The following Friday (March 20, 2009) I went to Cynda's summit presentation. Besides seeing some people from school, I also saw some people from Make-A-Wish - you know its a good feeling when you unexpectedly run into people you know in your neighborhood or community, because you get a feeling you belong.

It's A Small World

On Friday, 5 minutes before the end of the school, a high school counselor comes into my classroom and shows me a business card and asks me if I know this person. I look closely at the business card and it indicates it is from John Hopkins University and I then look at the name and it says Cynda Hylton Rushton. And I say yes I know this person and the counselor says well she is at the Italian restaurant beside the school - and I say "No way!"

So I ran over there and it was one of those moments I saw Cynda and we ran and gave big hugs. It was just so great to see someone from "home." And what a surprise!

So for those who don't know Cynda, she is the mother of two wonderful girls I taught at Stone Ridge. Hillary is a junior in high school - I taught her my second year at SR - third grade and then she did my adventure camp and then Callie who is now a freshman at SR.

Cynda asked this counselor if a Jill Rivers worked at ACS - and Ellen, the counselor, said I think she is our new fourth grade teacher!
Cynda is working in cooperation with the Stavros Niachros Center at our school - see link http://www.snf.org/Default.aspx?ID=34&PID=45&newsID=140 and her involvment with HeartSong Project - http://www.bio-medicine.org/medicine-news-1/Study-to-explore-ethical-challenges-health-professionals-face-while-caring-for-children-with-LTNMDs-33311-1/
About Mattie Stepanek http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5272180/?GT1=3584 So Cynda was actually in town in November 2008 preparing for this summit. The big event is at the Music Hall in Athens on Friday, so I will attend it, hopefully with a friend.

This past Friday night we went out for dinner to catch up.

Another pleasant surprise was when my good friend Stefanie from Oklahoma called me this morning to say hello. Thanks Stefanie! I met Stefanie in Costa Rica with the Global Volunteers program and Stefanie is coming to visit me the first week in July - we are very excited!!!

Another good weekend!

Residence Permit

Well it finally arrived - the letter indicating that my permanent residence permit is ready. So just as a recap I arrived here August 22 - moved into my residence around August 30. The papers weren't filed until October 23, 2008 and on March 11 I went and picked up the sticker which is put in my passport.
This means I can now leave and re-enter Greece - I can now travel outside of Greece!!!!! So where am I going for spring break? I don't know yet but I think Germany. Will keep you posted.
But this residence permit expires on October 23, 2009 - don't ask I don't know....

Happiness and Hairpin Turns

It was a great weekend. Friday evening as the clouds filled with sand and rain covered Athens, my friends and I tried out an Italian restaurant in my neighborhood. (I saw clouds filled with sand because the Sahara Desert was having a sandstorm and we were getting the effects of it - cool, eh?)

Saturday morning, Dwain, Miah, Kate and I met on the metro and it took it down to Pireaus the port. We boarded a 10 ferry to Aegina - which is the closest island to Athens on the west coast. The ferry ride is about an hour long. It was a beautiful day sunny with a few clouds. (So from my house to the island it takes about 2 hours).

We walked around the harbour front and decided to eat at a taverna near the fish market (as we read this had the best fish). I had galio - some white fish and others had calamari and grilled octopus. Good meal, nice view and good company.

We had heard the beach on the other side of the island was good. We had missed the bus which only comes around every two hours so we hopped into a taxi for a 12 Euro ride to the other side. We found Marina Beach and the desolate area in which it was located. We were having a hard time imagining this place spruced up and active during high season. It was quite charmless and deserted. However with the sun still shining brightly we all took a little nap on the beach. We lasted for about an hour and then it was getting darker and cooler.

So how were we going to get back to the port? Good question.... as we walked along the deserted street we did find the bus schedule - it was 3:30 and the bus was coming until 4:20 - so we found one open restaurant and did what Greeks do best - had a cup of coffee! At this point we had already missed our 4pm ferry back to Athens so were aiming for the 5 - 6:30 was the last ferry. Surprisingly, the bus did show up at 4:20 where we hopped on. The constant speed up and then brake and the hairpin turns were wearing on us as the time was now 4:48 and the ferry was leaving at 5. And of course where the bus dropped us off was down the block from the ever-so-long pier we had to run along to catch the ferry. I have to say Miah was doing quite well for being 6 months pregnant! By the hair of our chinnie, chin, chins did we make that ferry!

We all had a good night's sleep from all that fresh air and sun! As Sunday unfolded, I was happy I had today to relax, do laundry, do a lot of research on the computer and watch the rain fall.

Kuwaits, Kites and Clean Monday

On February 25 it was the State of Kuwait's Liberation Day and the child on the right is in my class and her twin sister is in the other 4th grade class. Their father works for the Embassy and thus invited us to the reception.

Today - Monday March 2 is Clean Monday. Clean Monday is the Monday which begins Lent for the Eastern Orthodox Churches. Greek Lent is also for 40 days but they do include Sundays because Jesus resurrected on a Sunday. Greeks also the beginning of Lent the beginning of Spring - which today completely felt like it as it was about 70 degrees today.

Although it was a holiday today, bakeries were open. Today was a day to buy a special bread called lagana. You can only get this bread on Clean Monday. It is a rectangular flat bread with it's corners rounded off. I purchased some to share with my friends as we watched the popular activity of kite flying on Clean Monday.

First we climbed/and took the cable car to the top of Lykavitos - this is in the community/neighborhood of Kolonaki. Many embassies are located in thie area too. This mountain is taller than the Acropolis. Great view of the huge city!

Afterwards, we took the metro downtown (along with everyone else!) and walked around Thissio - flea market - Monastraki area. Since we did a great Greek meal yesterday after we saw the Bodies Exhibit - we chose our favorite Irish Pub James Joyce for a refreshing beer and Irish fare.

It was a great weekend of spending time with friends and enjoying the things to do and see in Athens.

However there are a few things I am missing: a dishwasher, soft towels from a dryer...