Back in Chicago now. Man what a long day yesterday was. We ended up, via many trials and tribulations, getting back into Hyde Park at around 1:30 am. Which was essentially 9:30 am for us, roughly 26 hours after we got up the previous morning. Flying is always an adventure.
There is a lot to do here and many decisions that need to be made. Chief of which is housing for the next year. It is expensive living in Hyde Park.
Oh man, I feel jetlag setting in....may have to go take a quick nap or something. Or at least stop trying to write.
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Monday, June 25, 2007
Last day in Athens
Today is our last day in Greece. We are both ready to get back to the rest of the world. We have tried to stay isolated but it is hard to stop the thoughts and talking about jobs, apartments, wedding presents, money, bills and all the other concerns that await us on near the other side of the world.
I really like Greece, especially the south. By far the best food we have found has all been in the south. I will also miss the pace here. We have gotten into a routine of doing most things in the morning, late lunch, nap during the hot part of the day, cafe, more activity then late dinner. That seems to be the way things are done here, if you have the ability to do it. Most shops close down from about 2 till 5 (give or take) for nap time.
Right now we are in Athens. Our flight is tomorrow morning at 11:30 am. We fly to Philly, arriving 11 hours later at 3:30 pm. Just try to do the math on that one. Our evening activity is seeing the museum of ancient archeology, it is supposed to be the best museum in the country. Then a reasonable dinner somewhere. I never thought I would say this but i think I have had enough feta cheese.
I really like Greece, especially the south. By far the best food we have found has all been in the south. I will also miss the pace here. We have gotten into a routine of doing most things in the morning, late lunch, nap during the hot part of the day, cafe, more activity then late dinner. That seems to be the way things are done here, if you have the ability to do it. Most shops close down from about 2 till 5 (give or take) for nap time.
Right now we are in Athens. Our flight is tomorrow morning at 11:30 am. We fly to Philly, arriving 11 hours later at 3:30 pm. Just try to do the math on that one. Our evening activity is seeing the museum of ancient archeology, it is supposed to be the best museum in the country. Then a reasonable dinner somewhere. I never thought I would say this but i think I have had enough feta cheese.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Taking a break from the sea....
I am in Greece right now. It has been a week since we arrived and I am just now getting to internet. We are staying in a small town on the Western coast of the southernmost tip of the Pelopenese peninsula. Neapolis, Lakonia. The house is amazing, the weather has been pretty good compared to what we are used to in Chicago.
There is a lot I could reflect on but maybe it is just good to let people know I am still around. Maybe a brief summary....
Our flight was a long 9.5 hours but not as long as it seemed that it should be. It seemed as if we had just had a really long night: we landed at 2:00 am our time, 8:00 am Greek time. So we essentially skipped a night. It was too exciting to sleep in the drive in. We met our first driver, a cabbie whose name I never really got, at the airport. He took us to a gas station where we met George who took us 4.5 hours south to Neapoli. The cabbie drove our rental down. Coincidentally Joe had rented us a new red VW Polo. It is a class smaller than my car and a bit more stripped down but the buttons are all in the same places which was nice, something familiar. The drive down was really long, Julie and I both drifting in and out of sleep. For the first time I can remember I was a little carsick toward the end of it. Driving in Greece is very interesting. I wish I could say more...the best I can figure, Greeks dont like to drive and do it as quickly as possible so as to get it over, so that they can go back to relaxing at tavernas, cafes and other such places of hanging out and relaxation.
I dont exactly remember what happened when we made it to the house, I think my memory had shut down with lack of sleep and amazement at the enormous house we were staying in for the next two weeks. I took a lot of pictures which will make it to Flickr someday.
Well ok, so much for a brief summary of our travels. There is more since then but time is up right now. More will follow when I can get some internet again.
There is a lot I could reflect on but maybe it is just good to let people know I am still around. Maybe a brief summary....
Our flight was a long 9.5 hours but not as long as it seemed that it should be. It seemed as if we had just had a really long night: we landed at 2:00 am our time, 8:00 am Greek time. So we essentially skipped a night. It was too exciting to sleep in the drive in. We met our first driver, a cabbie whose name I never really got, at the airport. He took us to a gas station where we met George who took us 4.5 hours south to Neapoli. The cabbie drove our rental down. Coincidentally Joe had rented us a new red VW Polo. It is a class smaller than my car and a bit more stripped down but the buttons are all in the same places which was nice, something familiar. The drive down was really long, Julie and I both drifting in and out of sleep. For the first time I can remember I was a little carsick toward the end of it. Driving in Greece is very interesting. I wish I could say more...the best I can figure, Greeks dont like to drive and do it as quickly as possible so as to get it over, so that they can go back to relaxing at tavernas, cafes and other such places of hanging out and relaxation.
I dont exactly remember what happened when we made it to the house, I think my memory had shut down with lack of sleep and amazement at the enormous house we were staying in for the next two weeks. I took a lot of pictures which will make it to Flickr someday.
Well ok, so much for a brief summary of our travels. There is more since then but time is up right now. More will follow when I can get some internet again.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Transition Time
The time of transition has finally come. Julie is done with schoolwork now. Soon she will run the marathon and then be done with CPE. This means that its time to move...everything...into my apartment. Right now she is packing some of her copious amount of books into boxes for transport this weekend. We a planning session with the pastor that is doing our wedding this weekend as well. Katie and Jenn are moving too. There is some static in the air, it is a strange feeling, a mix of change, uncertainty, trepidation, and opportunity. Thats quite a combination.
For me this is particularly strange. Things have been changing for a while, this is about to be accelerated. Or, rather, many of the changes that we have been anticipating for the past months are going to occur within the span of the summer. As soon as we leave Chicago we are effectively homeless for the next couple months. We are planning on spending time with both of our families, maybe go to camp for a bit, maybe go see Dave and Leigh in NC. Maybe see our honeymoon benefactors in Sacramento.
I have lived this life on the road for several months a while ago. It was fun, adventurous, lonely. I dont know how it will work having another person with me to make decisions and take up the passenger seat in the car. Maybe even drive sometime! There is no one I would want to do it more than Julie. This does not mean, howerver, that I expect the whole thing to go over 100% smoothly. She has traveled though, she knows that your life is never entirely in your own hands when you are on the road.
For me this is particularly strange. Things have been changing for a while, this is about to be accelerated. Or, rather, many of the changes that we have been anticipating for the past months are going to occur within the span of the summer. As soon as we leave Chicago we are effectively homeless for the next couple months. We are planning on spending time with both of our families, maybe go to camp for a bit, maybe go see Dave and Leigh in NC. Maybe see our honeymoon benefactors in Sacramento.
I have lived this life on the road for several months a while ago. It was fun, adventurous, lonely. I dont know how it will work having another person with me to make decisions and take up the passenger seat in the car. Maybe even drive sometime! There is no one I would want to do it more than Julie. This does not mean, howerver, that I expect the whole thing to go over 100% smoothly. She has traveled though, she knows that your life is never entirely in your own hands when you are on the road.
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