Rome

Rome is split into 2 categories for me. First there are the cultural spots. This included the Collisium, Forum, Panthean, Vatican. These are all amazing. It fealt like I stepped into an old movie set. You really get the fealing of being transported back in time. Walking around the Collisium is an other-wordly experience.

My camera malfunctioned for a day, so I do not have pictures from the Vatican. Let me just state that St. Peters is HUGE and the Sistine Chapel is very beautiful.

The other side of Rome - the non-tourist areas, I found dissapointing. A whole lot of trash and graffitti. The driving is crazy and the people a bit pushy.

A few pics from Rome:

http://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=804552002/a=21881784_21881784/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=comcast2/

Catching up.....

On sleep, blogging, relaxing....

After a world-wind 2 weeks in Rome (bad internet connection, Beijing (no access to blogging sites) and now Hawaii, it's time to catch up. Enjoy the posts...

Florence

Florence is a stunning city, everywhere you rurn is a piece of history or art that is between 400-1000 years old. The pictures I have do not do it justice. I took a walking tour yesterday, a great way to learn about the history of the city, and its importance in world culture. Considering both Leonardo and Michaelangilo lived here, they have had more than their share of great artists.

The most impressive site is David. I went there this morning and was amazed on how beautiful it is. If it asn't stone, and if I wasn't engaged....

Other great sites I saw included the Duomo, pieces at the Uffizi museum, and Santa Croce.

I had some great meals (breakfast not included in that comment).

I do have to say that I have been struggling with being a little travelled out over the past few days. I am soooo over souvenier shops, pushy people, waiting in lines, and my clothes and luggage. So I actuallyy only have 3 more stops, and need to pack 3 more times.

I am now off to Rome, enjoy the pictures.
http://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=767313002/a=21881784_21881784/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=comcast2/

Greek Islands

Over the long weekend John and I visited Turkey, Crete, Patmos and Santorini. I'll try to do my best to recap...

Turkey - port of Kusadasi.
Never in my life have I been at a spot with pushier merchants. They really do not take no for an answer. It is all done in good fun, and bartering is a way of life here. The people, while pushy, are also VERY friendly. John and I started our day having coffee and walking through the fort of Kusadasi.

We then spent the next hour participating in the national pasttime - shopping. There were many deals to be had, and we spent more then we should have. We barterred our way through shoes stores, clothing stores and other odd shops.

A highlight was watching a demonstration on a woman making a Persian rug. I was amazed on what a long, time consuming process this is. The rugs are very intricate, and made with an assortment of materials. John and I were able to walk away without buying a rug, so it looks like I will have enough money to make it home.

Patmos - a quiet town. I made this journey alone as John was relaxing on the boat. Patmos is a cute sleepy town aboutt 50 km from Kusadasi. There is a beach in the center of town where many people went swimming. I have enough sun for a year, so I decided to enjoy a cappachino at a cafe. Nothing quite like a lazy afternoon, having coffee in an outside cafe in Greece.

Crete - Our morning in Crete was also very laid back. It was a Sunday morning, so most of the town was dead when we arrived. We walked past, and ducked into the main church. The church is both simple and ornate at the same time. The outside architecture a beautiful mixture of straight lines and curved ceilings. Inside the church, a very ornate alter. Interesting service, or which I did not understand a word (sorry, It's all Greek to me). We hten sauntered down to a cafe to have a great late breakfast. The pictures of the fishing boats are from this port. While fishing is a pretty dead business in the Aegean, it makes one think back to their way of life for the past 3000 years.

Santorini - One of the most magical places on Earth. The current landscape of Santorini was created by a volcano that ripped apart the town about almost 4000 years ago. It is the basis for Plato's writing about the lost continent of Atlantis. The cliffs soar out of the sea. Cliffs of marble and lava great you as you sail into this magical place. Resting on the tops of these huge cliffs sits a town of beautiful white and blue buildings. ( by the way, move to Greece and you only need 2 colors - all the houses are white and blue)

There are a few ways to ascend the cliffs. The most modern is the tram that takes you up. The oldest way would be climbing the 4000+ steps. The most interesting way is to take a donkey. More on the donkey later. John and I took the tram on the way up. Once you get to the top, the view is stunning. An interesting meteorological event takes place here. We had not seen a cloud for 7 days, but in Santorini, when the water meats the cliffs clouds are formed and come from below and rise up over the town. You literally look down at the clouds and see them coming back up at you.

After walking though the town and some light shopping, we found a great place for dinner. We ate a great meal of mussels, Greek salad, Kabobs and Mousaka. I will really miss the great food, and friendly and boisterous people.

After dinner I decided to ride the donkey down the mountain. It was a bit harrowing as my donkey likes to walk on the edge of the path with me looking down cliffs that fell 500 feet or so. The last picture is kind of dark, but you can decide who is the biggest ass in the shot.

John and returned to the boat and packed up. We had a wonderful 3 weeks together and now I'm back to traveling solo.

Enjoy the pictures, some of them are a amazing.

http://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=750976002/a=21881784_21881784/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=comcast2/

Getting Married

After 16 years of dating John and I have committed ourselves to marriage. John asked me to marry him while at the windmills on Mykonos. I was honored to be asked, and gratefully accepted. It was a very romantic spot, and will always be a wonderful memory.

We had been talking about this for the past few months, and we appreciate what a wonderful life we have had together, and wanted to commit to each other for our futures.

I think it is really important to have the community recognize our commitment to one another. Relationships are so very rewarding, but also hard work. Without the support of the community, it makes it even harder.

For a long time in my life I did not understand what love was about. Then, for a while, I fealt I would never have the opportunity to share my life with someone. This relationship has taught me how great life can be when sharing it with someone that you love. We are very different people, but we have learned to appreciate the differences, and work with one another to get the most out of life.

I apologize for telling people in this kind of impersonal manner. If I had to call everyone it would cost me a fortune, and we have a wedding to pay for now.

Random Thoughts on a boat...

On the Blue Star Itaki on my way to Mykonos. Beautiful ferry ship. Sat out for an hour or so, now kicking back in the lounge.

Athens was great. The people are so friendly. I wonder what type of cultural differences drive our behaviors. In Greece if you walk pass someone with a map open they stop you and ask where you need to go. They then point you in the right direction. If they do not know where you are going, they take it on themselves to get you the correct directions. Sometimes this means that they get a whole group of people together to come up with the best directions. This gets quite comical as the next thing you know there are 3 or 4 Greeks yelling at one another on what is the best way to walk 4 or 5 blocks. After a consensus is reached, they give you the verdict, and you are on the way. In NY people basically ignore you if you ask for directions. Especially if they ask in another language. I promise to be more helpful in the future.

Again with the fruits and vegetables. I grew up thinking the US has the best produce. This is so far from the truth. I do not ever remember eating better produce in my life. All of the growth hormones and genetically engineered produce that the US has created is really awful. It may look good, but there is absolutely no taste to it. I haave not had a bad tomato in a month.
That being said, I miss the US beef. They do not understand how to create a steak or hamburger in Europe. I’m looking forward to a big juicy hamburger when I get home. After that it will need to be diet time. I have gained a ton or weight on the trip. Too many great meals and not enough running.

Speaking of coming home, I am definitely not ready yet. I need to figure out the next steps of life. Not having much luck. I am need of direction and purpose. Yesterday, while touring the Acropolis, I was thinking back to college when I took a Greek Philosophy course. I loved that class and thought back to all of the idealism I possessed. Maybe life sucks that away from you, but I need passion in my life again. The thought of going back to a job where I get yelled at by clients on a daily basis, all in an effort to make a large corporation more money is not doing it for me. We get one pass at this, I’d rather not have my obituary state that I made a lot of money for a large corporation….

The next week should be a lot of fun. 3 days at the beach and then a 4 day cruise. I’ll try and keep in touch.

Wonderful Mykonos Pictures posted

Mykonos was a very magical and romantic place. John and I had a wonderful time. We spent 4 days in Mykonos, rented an ATV to get around town with, spending most of the days at the beach or the pool. The food in Mykonos is amazing, very fresh and full of flavor.

Unfortunately internet connection has been a challenge the last few days.

We are now on a cruise of the Greek Islands where there is no real connection. The pictures of Mykonos and the islands will have to wait until I get a good connection. Hard to believe it, but John returns home in 48 hours.

I'll post more when I have time.

Pictures below:
http://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=750975002/a=21881784_21881784/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=comcast2/