It was early spring when we were in Greece. Crocus were popping up! Athens was full of pale yellow taxi cabs, motorcycles, Smart cars, and all of them parking anyplace along the streets. Sadly, graffiti was everywhere! However, orange trees lining the streets were a lovely contrast.
Out in the country it felt like the desert being very dry with scrubby bushes, groves of olive trees, dried up rivers, greenhouses instead of farm land, and mountains everywhere. Small towns had stucco cube shaped houses with wrap-around balconies and red tile roofs. Businesses were deserted. Stray cats and dogs looking for food was depressing. Yet modern wind turbines and solar panels looked encouraging.
Why were there so many BP gas stations and no others? Religious roadside shrine icons that looked like free-standing mail boxes were interesting. The Rio Bridge and Corinth Canal were stunning, but the Parnassus Ski Resort was without any snow!
The food was wonderful: feta cheese, moussaka, lamb, gyros. Check out this grouper we had for lunch one day! Just caught that morning in the Aegean Sea!
The Greek gold key link jewelry that I saw in the jewelry store satisfied my desire to buy something. Turns out my mother-in-law bought it all for me years before I made my trip. I inherited quite a bit of her jewelry and not knowing its origin, I am happily surprised when I find it in other countries. Just a coincidence that I brought this necklace and earrings with me on this trip!
Our future vacation in Greece will include the islands, but I was pleased with my first visit to this fascinating place and all its history. George brought us to the airport and Joy let us in the waterway entrance to Casa Artom when we got back to Venice. Now back to reality. Really? Carnevale is going on now!
2020 Vision of Venice 