Where do I begin? I know that sounds like the beginning of the Dr. Zhivago love song, but that is how I feel when I speak of this subject. My travels to Greece. I’m writing this to you from vacation, and my head spins with so much…. As a little background to this post, some of you might know already, I am Greek, and the hubs is Greek, and we both grew up going to Greece almost every other summer. After life’s happenings, we are now back to the motherland after 10 years and see the value in teaching and sharing our heritage and culture with our children.
Let this be the first of several posts (as of now, I’m thinkin) that will share with you some of the culture of the country… some things you might and might not expect… So feel free to enjoy this and some future posts on Greece as a perspective tourist with helpful and informative information, but of course, a bit of humor thrown in.
Ready? Let’s GO!
First of all… if you plan on visiting Greece, you KNOW you’re at the right gate for the right plane when everyone around you is Yianni, Kosta, Taki, Toula, Maria and everyone is LOUD. It might not smell like feta or garlic, but the volume level is enough to know you’re at the RIGHT place!
At the sight of this out of my window, the butterflies and overwhelming emotions began.
A little more background to our story. We have family left here, hubs having WAY more than me (most of mine are in the states). Our home is in the mountains, and we head to the islands to get away. So look at it as living in the very comfortable climate of Colorado combined with the escape to the islands.
First off, Greece has gotten lots of publicity the past several years about their state of uncertainty and economic crisis. Based upon my PERSONAL observation, yes, people are making less, but they are finding ways to spend less, too. Do they have a HUGE desire to get out there and tear it up and work their tails off??? Well, let’s just say, they still take their naps, they still enjoy their Nescafe Frappe’s, and despite what the news says, they have a love of life regardless.
Driving to our home, this is what I see that evening….
and my heart flutters more.
I can tell you that I made a distinction as to the way lives here are led in 3 ways: city life, country life, and island life. I’ll be sharing with you sprinkles of all, but know that the way the people live, their routines, their dress, their “society” norms differ from one to the other. For example, my kids can go out into the streets and meet their cousins (all 15 of them, YES…. we needed a flowchart to show who they all are and the relations!) and have no issues with them being out late (as long as they are together). In the city, that wouldn’t fly. I think lots of those things probably mirror American culture as well. (laid back rules and a sense of security in smaller towns vs. big cities).
A few more pictures of our home base, in the town of Levidi, outside of Tripoli…
A view from our top balcony.
A view of the Platia (town square) where everyone gathers and “hangs out”, both young and old.
WiFi has been sketchy wherever we’ve been, even in our home (when we realized others were having issues). The hubs response: “The goats must have eaten up some of the lines!”
I’ll be honest with you, many days I feel like my life here has been “a day in the life in Green Acres” (if you’ve ever seen the 60’s show)! But I can’t complain. If I don’t know what time it is, and what day of the week it is, then vacation is serving it’s purpose. {{{GRIN}}}
More to come…. the island life, shopping in Greece (of course!), mystery, some great videos and more. Stay tuned. Ellate Konta! (Come join me!)
Filakia!
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