Spring Break

Spring break was last week from two fridays ago to yesterday. It was a good time, and now I have less than a month until it is time to come home. 3 weeks and 4 days, by my count.

Mom, Dad, Leanna, Angie, Aunt Sandi, and Grandma Gerry all arrived in Greece on Wednesday, but I did not see them until Friday (Good Friday). Church was at noon, and I met them shortly after. The afternoon was spent at the National Archaeological Museum, where I finally saw some pieces I missed the first time I went. They were apparently overwhelmed by the whole thing, because there is quite a lot in there. We went to Nafplio that night, where we spent the entire week. On Saturday, we got up and went to the market. That was a lot of fun, and we bought ingredients so I could cook a Greek dinner for them. This involved mad scrambling and strange phone calls to discover what mint is called. We also bought 3 kilos of strawberries, half of which were gone by the time we got back to the apartment. That afternoon we went to Epidaurus, which I quite enjoyed. The last time I went, I was not given enough time, and this time I saw things that I ddn't even know was there. Angie stood at the bottom of the theatre, and everybody sitting in the seats got quiet and listened. It was cool to hear the acoustics, and it was cool to hear her sing.
Sunday was Western Easter, and we went back into Athens to go to church. The church was quite literally packed, and we had a children's program during the sermon. That was a lot of fun. We took the kids out and told them the story of Holy Week and told them that we are going to the tomb to see Jesus' body and put spices there. Most were genuinely surprised to find the tomb (actually a tool shed) with no Jesus in it. Then we had a couple of angels show up. When we brought the kids back into the church, Father Malcolm asked them what they found, and one little girl pipes up and says...there was nothing there!!! That was a lot of fun. That afternoon, we went to the Acropolis. I am ashamed to say that this was my first time up there. It was actually a let down. I guess looking at it for 3 months, I just expected more. There was scaffolding covering half of the Parthenon, and rubble was everywhere. Angie and Leanna did get a kick out of seeing the Muses on one of the other temples, and they started singing a song from Hercules.
Monday, we went to Delphi. It was just as amazing the second time around. I didn't take many pictures this time, because I got most of those the first time. I just walked it and enjoyed it. This was the place where we were given 20 minutes on the site, we spent 2 hours on site last week.
Tuesday we headed to Corinth and Mycenae. Corinth is one place that I had not yet visited, and it was nice. However, after seeing Delphi, it was nothing. It was one place that was flat enough for Grandma to walk and see the whole thing, and it was the last place I will go to follow Paul. Mycenae was fun, just as I remmebered, and the weather was even the same as the first time. Rainy. But we did get a picture with the whole family in front of the Lion's gate. That night we went back to Nafplio a little early, and I cooked dinner. I made soutzoukakia, which is meat balls in a red sauce. We also had tzatziki and fried pitta bread. It turned out pretty well, though I accidently made twice as much as we turned out to need.
Wednesday we took a boat to Hydra and Spetses. The islands were beautiful, and I may have to do something like that again before I leave Greece. On Hydra, we took a donkey ride. It was fun, but it was a five minute ride in a circle around the block for 10 euros. They grabbed 4 of us, put us on donkeys, and led us away, while we tried to tell them that they left Aunt Sandi, Dad and Grandma behind. We did some shopping, and had some adventures on the freezing beach. More than anything, though, it was just gorgeous.
Thursday, we went to Sparta and Mystra. Sparta turned out to just be a city like any other. We knew that nothing was there, but we figured there would still be SOMETHING. We were wrong. Mystras was worth it all, though. It was Byzantine ruins built up a mountain. They were mostly ruins of monasteries, though there was one working monastery still there. It was quite a hike, but worth it. It was breathtaking. I can't even describe it, and pictures just cannot do it justice, but let me tell you...If you EVER go to Greece, take a day for Mystra. I thought it was even better than Delphi. Paintings remained within the churches, and it was just so different from what you normally see in Greece (meaning different from ancient ruins).
Friday we took a leasurly day in Nafplio and did some souvenir shopping. It was Greek Good Friday, so the bells were ringing all day. Three times during the day they rang for over an hour, and then there was the chanting. It just went ON and ON. The cathedral was right outside our apartment, so there was no escaping it. We thought it was bad when the bells went off at 7 every morning, but at least then they stopped after less than a minute. We were to the point that we were going crazy. Mom wanted to go tell them that Christ is Risen, so shutup. It was tempting. That night, they had services, and as part they brought decorated epitaphs for Jesus in a procession to the center of town from every church. We stood there with candles as the procession occurred. Each epitaph had pall bearers. They were highly decorated with flowers, and they all have an icon of Jesus on them. They were escorted by choirs, a marching band, a group of soldiers, and small children. People carried crosses and inscense. It was absolutely beautiful. After the procession was over, we left, because we couldn't see anything anyway. Everybody in the town was gathered in the square. Not long later, we heard the band again, and we went out to our balcony. From there, we watched as one of the epitaphs was brought back to the cathedral, with full ceremony. The marching band came, followed by the soldiers and epitaph. The band marched off, and the soldiers lined up to the epitaph was carried between them. Then they marched off. The bells started ringing again, and then there was chanting. It was 11:30 before any of us got to sleep.
The next morning, at 3:30, we woke and were out of the apartment by 4 to get them to the airport. We got all locked up, and Grandma informed us she left her dentures inside. We had to call the tour guide at 4 in the morning to come let somebody in to get it. They weren't even inside. In hindsight it is funny. They got to the plane and home with no issues, and I rode a bus back to Athens. I was in my apartment by 8:15 and aslep by 8:30. 8 hours later I woke, feeling quite refreshed. Don't worry, I was tired enough that it did not interfere with my normal sleeping schedule at all.
Sunday was Greek Easter. I went to my church then went out to get lunch. I was determined to have a traditional Easter meal. It consists of whole lamb rosted on a spit. They also have this intestine thing wrapped around some innards on the spit and roasted. I was brave enough for the lamb, but not the supposedly delicious intestines. My second easter in a week went on without a hitch, and after a day of homework, break has ended. All week I acted as tour guide in many places, which was fun. I also acted as translator, which was more fun. I will be glad to go home, but I have a lot of work to do before then.

See you in May!!

Χριστός ανέστη
Αληθώς ανέστη

Christ is risen...He is risen indeed!!