Paul's Morning Mountain Biking Adventures in Greece

Paul prepared for his return to Greece by putting together bike supplies to add a set of brakes to the bike my cousin Niko let him borrow on the last trip. Biking up the mountain to the monastery each morning was a dangerous venture with no front brakes and no helmet. However, typical with my Greek family, the bike was fitted with a new set off brakes prior to Paul's arrival. He was surprised to learn that my Uncle Nikiforos fixed the bike after Paul inquired if it was still available to borrow.
Paul's view in the morning as he began the morning ritual to head out to the mountain.
Mochas area great way to start the day.
The bike!
Paul's many photos while on his morning adventures in my father's hometown.


One of the many roadside shrines throughout Greece. The long steep road to the monastery. My father used to make the same trek by donkey to buy and sell items...except there was no road. However, the same beautiful olive trees that he used to rest under are still there.
Olive trees. I love Olive trees.
Olives!










VIDEO: biking

Greece Day 6: Chalkis

Chalkis is a famous landmark in Greece and is also the capital. It is known to the place where Aristotle fled to from Athens and where he died. Greeks tell a tall tale (they are known for their stories) of how Aristotle died by throwing himself in the water because he couldn't understand the tidal phenomenon that occurs in Chalkis at a narrow straight of water. After about 6 hours of flowing in one directions the water will stand still for 2 hours and then switch directions. Chalkis is connected to mainland Greece by a series of bridges.
Vasilis and George (the two eldest brothers)

watching a fisherman
Voula is the eldest child of the family. She resembles my grandmother the most, in my opinion. She also has an inner radiance that just seems to perpetually glow.
I think this smile says...I got to miss 5 days of school for this trip! (Thanks to his teachers for understanding the importance of returning to Greece for Niko.)

Video: How to make wine/Narration by Niko (back in the hometown)

Greece Day 5: Fishing

Day 5 in Greece was low key with time spent in the small village. This view is from my Uncle George's home down to a great restaurant where we ate on our last visit. It has a beautiful open garden-like courtyard. I also love the Mediterranean blue color of the shutters on the building next door.
I think Niko was fishing for oranges off of the orange tree. (Don't look at how close he is to the edge Yiayia.)
Chatting with friends and neighbors.
Niko has been wanting to fish. Papa used to fish all of the time but doesn't get out anymore...for some reason.
They had a bit of trouble rigging up the fishing pole but a young Bulgarian happened to be at the beach and helped out.
Niko didn't catch anything, but he enjoyed fishing with Papa in his hometown.


Yup! Look at me I'M FISHIN'!

Papa with his Cousin Niko and his wife.

VIDEO: Fishing

Greece Day 4: Cousins in Athens

Niko enjoyed the ferry ride from the island of Evia to mainland Greece. The fourth day of their trip was to see cousins who live in Athens. Uncle George's two daughters live and work in the city. My one cousin has a boy, Dimitri, who is Niko's age. It is amazing how kids can find a common language despite an obvious language barrier. They went to the Acropolis and toured the museum together...both enjoying toy tomatoes that smash and then come back together which were sold by gypsies on the street.


It was kind of my cousins to take time out of their incredibly busy lives with work, school and children to spend time with the three of us who were able to make the journey. On our first trip to Greece Rallou took much of her time to take us to Mykonos and couple of other islands.

Dora is a big hit in this baby's household. We plan to introduce them to our baby's favorite: The Wiggles.
Papa has always been a baby magnet.
I'm glad Paul was able to take lots of pictures of all of the kids and their moms.

VIDEO: ferry

Day 3: Mountain Spring

On the third day in Greece Niko, Papa and Paul went up the mountain to the fresh spring to fill some water jugs, enjoy the countryside and the beautiful churches.



The trees are so old...just incredible to think what they have lived through and bore witness to. (Is that a goat spit?)
Paul and Niko hiked up to get a better view...and they hiked...


I love the shape of the tree.

The area had gotten lots and lots of rain before they arrived in Greece. Some of the roads really needed 4 wheel drive but the little European cars they were driving did make it through.


Uncle George is knocking down some apples which Paul said were delicious.
In a small mountain town they discovered a mini amphitheater.
I believe it is used for dramatic works of art...not street stick fighting.



VIDEO: Nice view

Greece Day 2: Return to Village Life

The second day in Greece was low key. They stayed right in my father's town for the day. Here they are walking from Uncle George's house to Uncle John's house to have lunch. These are the same streets my father walked on as a kid, and here they are walking to the same location where my father was born. It used to be an asbestos/mud home of sorts but a new house was built in its place...great location right next to the Aegean Sea.

These two are so much alike. My cousins and I marvel at how their mannerisms, voices, quirks, likes and dislikes are so similar.
Just a pretty gate along the walk.

This is the street my father grew up on. It is a dead end because it meets the sea.
This is Uncle John and what is in front of him is making me hungry and so sorry I missed the trip. I think I see stuffed tomatoes; one of my many favorites. His wife, Irene, is an amazing cook who was born on the island of Crete. (Papa claims his stuffed tomatoes aren't as good, but they certainly come close.)

This is Aunt Irene. I am happy to see she actually got to sit down after all of that hard work.

VIDEO: Welcome from Aunt Passoula (Uncle George's wife)

Greece Day 1: Arrival in Athens

Paul, Niko and my father (Papa) returned from Greece early yesterday morning and are doing quite well with jet lag, considering. Although, I think Niko has been up since 3am or so...10am Greek time. Papa didn't sleep on the plane, he never can, so he has been hit the worst. They arrived home with many gifts: icons, crosses, jewelry, Greek Orthodox incense burner; as well as Greek delicacies: homemade cheese, cookies, bread sticks, almonds, walnuts and dried chick peas. Only their pomegranates got confiscated.

However, I must begin at the beginning. Here they are arriving at the airport in Athens.
On the drive to Papa's town of Amarynthos, Evia, they stopped for some Turkish...(clear throat)...I mean Greek coffee.
Papa is sitting with his brother George (left) and brother-in-law Nikiforos (middle) at Nikiforos' house. Papa looks a bit tired after 15 plus hours of travel and a crazy plane switch in Frankfurt. They arrived in Athens in the early afternoon, so they still couldn't go to bed just yet.
Niko tells me these were snails on the outside wall of Nikoforo's house; it is not a photo of what he had for dinner....my mistake.

Thanksgiving

Willow can't get enough of doing dishes. Papa isn't going to be too happy to see she has developed a new love, because soon (like tomorrow) he is going to be the one standing next to the chair.
Heading off to Thanksgiving dinner out in maple syrup country.
....ummm...your baby doesn't have any pants on...
Willow chowed down, so she wasn't much trouble. I ran into two instructors from my school who were also eating dinner out at the "local" family restaurant. (Yiayia just wanted to go for the homemade chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting.) Willow ate chicken, carrots, bread, and strawberries. Then she came home and drank Greek Mountain Tea and ate apple sauce. Right before bed she asked for soup... and she ate it!
Only Nana had the traditional turkey dinner. I've never really liked turkey much, but I do like chocolate cream pie.
Watching Wiggles before making tea and eating the dessert we brought home.
Our last big party night with the boys gone. Even Nana couldn't resist joining in on a Wiggles dance...much to Willow's delight.
Willow asks about Papa each day: when she first wakes up; when she is tired or upset. She is ready for him to be home. He will be here when she wakes up in the morning, and she is very excited about that.

While the Boys are Away...

...the girls have a party. That's right. First, the food needs to be prepared for the party.
...llama potatoes, in case you were wondering. Actually garlic scalloped potatoes to most people, but Willow likes to prepare and eat any food she thinks a llama might like. Although she didn't enjoy the raw spinach leaf I offered her off of my plate tonight, despite the fact that llamas eat leaves.
Cleaning up after a party, to remove all evidence that a party actually happened, is very important.
Willow always volunteers to do the dishes. She is able to do them while simultaneously posing for the camera.
She likes her sleeves pushed up for eating and cleaning. She also doesn't understand why Yiayia needs to stand next to her while she is doing big girl chores.
Here is where I would post pictures of our big dance party, but then the boys would come back and see them. Right now they are safely sleeping in Greece. While we are sleeping, they will be getting ready to head to Athens to the airport. I can tell you some of our guests, though. The Australian Wiggles family wanted to sing and dance all night long, but then we had to send then off in their big red car. As well, an old friend of Niko's came for a bit. He is a big red dog, and he also likes to sing and dance. Niko hasn't seen him in a really really long time, but he loved the special songs he would sing. (Despite Paul and I finding one particular friend of the dog a bit creepy.)

Willow had a great big girl day today, because she decided all on her own to remain dry all day.

Greeting from a Greek Cyber Cafe

Paul and Niko sent me a few pictures of their time in Greece. (Luckily, Paul quickly recovered from seeing the photos, I thought I had safely posted, of him wearing pretty barrettes.) I am surprised Paul and Niko took time to snap photos and then send them, because that is time away from eating. They tell me that our Greek family is plumping the three of them up. No big surprise there.

These photos were taken at the mountain spring near my father's village. His brother George makes the trip once per month or so to get fresh spring water. Greece is filled with tiny places of worship even in the remotest of areas.
Niko is standing with Papa, his brother George, brother-in-law Nikoforos, and sister Anastasia. It almost looks like the ADKs this time of the year.
Ahh...I love the lavender tones and the cypress trees. The mountain reminds me of Montana. The first time my father visited Montana he commented on how it reminded him of home. Paul took this photo on a morning mountain bike ride up to the monastery.

This photo was taken out of the window of Uncle George's house.
Nikiforos let Niko ride a tractor, but I haven't seen a photo of that yet. (If you read this post Paul...please send me one.) However, Niko did get to fish. Paul titled this photo "How many Greeks does it take to rig up a fishing pole?" Look at Niko's face as a young Bulgarian at the water's edge tries to fix the line...priceless. Excuse the bad joke...everyone has been so wonderful about making sure Niko gets to try new things and be with his cousin Dimitri.
This is my father with his sister Voula. They are the two eldest children of 8. Unfortunately, due to illness, she is not able to remember her brother. She is a very sweet and kind woman. I am glad my father was able to see her again.
Niko loves dogs...probably why he named his cat Lil' Pup. Here he is with our cousins Christo's and Niko's dog at Anastasia's house.
Paul must have taken a photo of a photo. This is my father and it looks like his close childhood friend who is an artist and still lives in the village. Many family have come to see the three of them during their short visit. Once again, Greek hospitality is unsurpassed. (Paul...tell Niko that he may be enjoying feta cheese, olives, bread, moussaka, eggplant, yogurt, honey and pastries...but I had Thai tonight.)