I'm sitting in paradise. I'm pretty sure that life doesn't get better than this (of course, all those I love dearly being here would make it more perfect - but that's just implied). If I had to leave London, than I'm glad it was to find this place. I arrived in Athens, Greece on Monday and today I arrived at Agistri - a small (700 people) island in the middle of the Saronic Gulf, an hour off the coast of Athens (on a fast Flying Dolphin) or a ten minute boat ride from the larger island, Aegina. It's also known as Angistri or Agkistri. And however you want to say it - it's beautiful and quaint and blissfully peaceful and everything a Greek Isle should be.
I'm staying at Rosy's Village - which is the most precious white washed collection of buildings on top of uneven levels of rocks, that I've ever seen. The sea is visible from every point of the place, whether walking down narrow stone paths through tropical overhangs to get to the traverna or standing in my room looking out the window. It's better than any picture could capture. As I walked around after my arrival (Rosy's son came to pick me up at the port, from my ferry), with my welcome glass of wine in hand, I breathed deeper than I have in weeks. And I thought that if the word relaxation was a picture, it would be this.
I've had a few brief adventures in Athens to remember - the Acropolis and Parthenon to name a few. And I have my last weeks in London to recount. But for now - my spinach pie has arrived, the waves are crashing up against the rocks below me, and I can see the sun beginning to lower. I'm a happy, happy girl.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
One Last Trip
It's 9 days and counting until my plane leaves Heathrow, enroute to Athens, Greece. There is no getting around this. A very angry UK Border Control Guard in Paris made sure to write in my passport so there would be no mistake - 'Leave to Stay in UK ONLY until June 28, 2010.' At least he decided that he was too busy to put me in a Parisian jail for the night - because he was on the fence for a few moments and that would have been all sorts of interesting. (Oh the memories! - This was my birthday trip to Paris in early June. Seems I need to write about that soon.)
And because I have truly embraced my spontaneous self, I've decided that I need a last minute trip before I go. So I've got a train ticket booked for tomorrow to Manchester. No, it's not Istanbul or Rome, it's just a two hour train ride to another part of England. But I'm excited nonetheless. A friend lives there, it's home to my team (Manchester United), and supposedly lovely. Just a one-night stopover, but still an adventure. One look around my flat and one would think there's no time for side-trips and fun...too much packing and planning to be done! But, if I have learned anything in these last six months - it's that there is ALWAYS time. Always time for new experiences, new adventures, and fun moments.
P.S. Happy Father's Day - love to the amazing Dads in the world. I know quite a few.
And because I have truly embraced my spontaneous self, I've decided that I need a last minute trip before I go. So I've got a train ticket booked for tomorrow to Manchester. No, it's not Istanbul or Rome, it's just a two hour train ride to another part of England. But I'm excited nonetheless. A friend lives there, it's home to my team (Manchester United), and supposedly lovely. Just a one-night stopover, but still an adventure. One look around my flat and one would think there's no time for side-trips and fun...too much packing and planning to be done! But, if I have learned anything in these last six months - it's that there is ALWAYS time. Always time for new experiences, new adventures, and fun moments.
P.S. Happy Father's Day - love to the amazing Dads in the world. I know quite a few.
God Save The Queen
That's the song. The one we sing before the England games - and just because the Universe is that amazing, there happened to be a paper with the words to the anthem, sitting on my table in the pub for Friday's game. I like when the magic swirls around me like that. However, England was dismal, and my official team shirt and my singing and cheering could not overcome the lack of spirit on the field, nor the fickle fans of The Bedford. They've got one more go - let's hope it's a good one.
I feel like it's perfectly fitting that I am ending my time in London in the same fashion that it began - with football. After the first couple 'rocky' weeks of navigating con artists, hotels, and studio flats, I settled into London life with a group of friends who are nothing if they aren't footy fans. And although I've managed to add plenty of culture, history, serenity, and adventure into my months here, I've remained true to the sport and have watched more games in one season than I can say about any other sport (except maybe that year the Green Bay Packers went to the Superbowl ;)). Perhaps it was my attempt to find a common language between the new blokes I'd met and my 'Yankee' self, or maybe it reminded me of home (soccer has always been big in my family) - maybe it was just the excitement and enthusiasm seeping out of the pubs on a nightly basis, I suppose it doesn't matter why it happened - I'm just glad it did.
I feel like it's perfectly fitting that I am ending my time in London in the same fashion that it began - with football. After the first couple 'rocky' weeks of navigating con artists, hotels, and studio flats, I settled into London life with a group of friends who are nothing if they aren't footy fans. And although I've managed to add plenty of culture, history, serenity, and adventure into my months here, I've remained true to the sport and have watched more games in one season than I can say about any other sport (except maybe that year the Green Bay Packers went to the Superbowl ;)). Perhaps it was my attempt to find a common language between the new blokes I'd met and my 'Yankee' self, or maybe it reminded me of home (soccer has always been big in my family) - maybe it was just the excitement and enthusiasm seeping out of the pubs on a nightly basis, I suppose it doesn't matter why it happened - I'm just glad it did.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Glee
I'm a confessed Gleek. I believe that means that I'm a 'geek' who watches the show 'Glee.' And it's a ridiculous show - the very reason I delight in watching it. And when there is something that hysterical and absurd and wonderful that comes to an end, it leaves you feeling a bit stunned. That's exactly how I'm feeling about the end end of my London adventure.
It's nearly impossible for my mind to make sense of six months going by since my arrival. When I look back and remember specific events - like the black cab ride from the airport to my imaginary flat, or New Year's eve, or the night I met my friends - then I can sense the time that's passed, if only fleetingly. I have lived a whole lot of experiences in these six months, and I am stunned with how fantastic it has been, how blessed I've become, and where it has left me standing.
I leave in 10 days. I have 10 more days to let this city run across my heart before I say goodbye - for now. That means last visits to my favorite places (Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, Picadilly, Waterstone's bookstore, the South Bank, Borough Market, Trafalgar Sqaure and the National Gallery, and Covent Garden), and new visits to places still undiscovered (Holland Park, the Aquarium, and a museum or two).
I also have to pack up my things - and I've found as the process began that, 'a girl in want of adventure, will accumulate way too many things!' I suppose it's a lovely problem to have...too many treasures to know what to do with.
And before I know it, I will be headed onto Phase 2 of my Life's Adventure - the European Adventure. Greece comes first and then Spain, before the plane turns towards the good ole US of A at the end of July. (And it's really only an extended lay-over, a month, until I board that plane again and head for Phase 3 - Central America.) There's more of my story to be told, so stay tuned...
And in case I forget to mention it - thank you for being a part of all of this. Whether in spirit or in person or in phone calls, internet chats, or care packages - I have never, ever, felt alone on this ride. Many thanks and much love being sent your way.
It's nearly impossible for my mind to make sense of six months going by since my arrival. When I look back and remember specific events - like the black cab ride from the airport to my imaginary flat, or New Year's eve, or the night I met my friends - then I can sense the time that's passed, if only fleetingly. I have lived a whole lot of experiences in these six months, and I am stunned with how fantastic it has been, how blessed I've become, and where it has left me standing.
I leave in 10 days. I have 10 more days to let this city run across my heart before I say goodbye - for now. That means last visits to my favorite places (Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, Picadilly, Waterstone's bookstore, the South Bank, Borough Market, Trafalgar Sqaure and the National Gallery, and Covent Garden), and new visits to places still undiscovered (Holland Park, the Aquarium, and a museum or two).
I also have to pack up my things - and I've found as the process began that, 'a girl in want of adventure, will accumulate way too many things!' I suppose it's a lovely problem to have...too many treasures to know what to do with.
And before I know it, I will be headed onto Phase 2 of my Life's Adventure - the European Adventure. Greece comes first and then Spain, before the plane turns towards the good ole US of A at the end of July. (And it's really only an extended lay-over, a month, until I board that plane again and head for Phase 3 - Central America.) There's more of my story to be told, so stay tuned...
And in case I forget to mention it - thank you for being a part of all of this. Whether in spirit or in person or in phone calls, internet chats, or care packages - I have never, ever, felt alone on this ride. Many thanks and much love being sent your way.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
World Cup Wonder
There are no words. I have no way to convey the absolute transformation that my current 'home' country has undergone in preparation for Friday's big kickoff of the World Cup. Houses and apartment buildings have flags hanging from bedroom windows, cars have stickers covering windows and mini flags flying like they're in a funeral procession, pubs and restaurants have life-size posters and signs hung up depicting England's finest - the boys in white, most male bodies sport the white and red shirt, and vendors on the street have traded their Union Jack apparel for England's football colors. It's an insanely all-consuming spectacle that I've never experienced before. I'm scared to see what happens when the Olympics come to London in 2012.
Last night, of course, was the big night. In a crowded pub of over three hundred people, I was the lone American warrior. I kept my status on the down-low - didn't want to drawn any attention to myself, push someone over the edge, and become a sacrificial lamb or something. I really wasn't prepared to know what to expect - I mean, I've been watching football all season, cheering and yelling along with my mates as Manchester United tried for the championship, so I thought I had it figured out. But I just didn't see it coming. The masses of fans who had been drinking since noon (for a 7:30pm game), faces painted, screaming and cursing and cheering at the television like we were in a stadium rather than a pub. I think the singular shift was that everyone was for the same team. It was 300 people moving to the same beat, one full bar wanting the same outcome, feeling the same passion, and saying the same things. This wasn't Manchester United versus Chelsea - this was England versus the United States.
I'm certain that England will be on a continuous binge of celebration for the next month. And I'm so thrilled I got to see what it's all about.
I'm actually headed back to a pub tonight, this time to The Bedford (last night was The Grove), to watch the Australian game with my two Australian friends. Some of my Balham gang will be there too - when it's the World Cup - apparently it doesn't really matter too much who's playing, just the fact that someone's playing is good enough for an evening of pints and cheering.
The next England game is Friday...I've got exactly 5 days to learn the Queen's Anthem. As I looked around the crowded bar at the start of last night's game, not a single person shied away from singing on top of their lungs. I was jostled around, rocked back and forth by merriment, and two people even tried to sing slower and louder so I could catch on. Oh my. When it was all over, I got the pat on my back, the condescending look, and the "you'll get it next time." You're right. I will get it next time ;)
Cheers!
Last night, of course, was the big night. In a crowded pub of over three hundred people, I was the lone American warrior. I kept my status on the down-low - didn't want to drawn any attention to myself, push someone over the edge, and become a sacrificial lamb or something. I really wasn't prepared to know what to expect - I mean, I've been watching football all season, cheering and yelling along with my mates as Manchester United tried for the championship, so I thought I had it figured out. But I just didn't see it coming. The masses of fans who had been drinking since noon (for a 7:30pm game), faces painted, screaming and cursing and cheering at the television like we were in a stadium rather than a pub. I think the singular shift was that everyone was for the same team. It was 300 people moving to the same beat, one full bar wanting the same outcome, feeling the same passion, and saying the same things. This wasn't Manchester United versus Chelsea - this was England versus the United States.
I'm certain that England will be on a continuous binge of celebration for the next month. And I'm so thrilled I got to see what it's all about.
I'm actually headed back to a pub tonight, this time to The Bedford (last night was The Grove), to watch the Australian game with my two Australian friends. Some of my Balham gang will be there too - when it's the World Cup - apparently it doesn't really matter too much who's playing, just the fact that someone's playing is good enough for an evening of pints and cheering.
The next England game is Friday...I've got exactly 5 days to learn the Queen's Anthem. As I looked around the crowded bar at the start of last night's game, not a single person shied away from singing on top of their lungs. I was jostled around, rocked back and forth by merriment, and two people even tried to sing slower and louder so I could catch on. Oh my. When it was all over, I got the pat on my back, the condescending look, and the "you'll get it next time." You're right. I will get it next time ;)
Cheers!
Still Alive and Kicking
Hello to all of my fans (hehe!) out there who were wondering if I'd broken my hands, skipped the country, or just plain given up on the blog. I'm still alive and I'm kicking myself for letting two months pass without diligently keeping track of my adventures. I will do my best to recapture the big things that have come to pass, and to put down the exciting things that are up ahead.
Now that summer is here, both in England and the US, I'm wishing you a very happy summer! Cheers!
Now that summer is here, both in England and the US, I'm wishing you a very happy summer! Cheers!
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