Erin and I survived a 15 hour flight and arrived at 9:30 am in 80 degree sunny blue sky Athens, Greece greeted by sweet Stratos (Erin's fiance'). We went to the coast for a yummy freddo (espresso) and gabbed as we watched waterskiiers cruise, and swimmers glide through the beautiful inviting sparkly clear waters.
Waves of fatigue would hit Erin and I but we were determined to stay awake all day in order to get on Greek time and overcome jet lag sooner. Stratos took us out to lunch where we chowed down on the best Greek salad-everything is so incredibly fresh, super crispy, and mouth-wateringly flavorful! I could NOT slow down! I also got a veggie gyro along with hot feta with olive oil, herbs and veggies. I was in complete heaven! After lunch we walked to the gym. It's not odd enough that Stratos left his double parked car while we ate lunch and went to check out the gym but that he (6ft 7) drives a SMART car!! Anyway, he paid for Erin and I to have a two week membership at this really great gym!! He also bought Erin and I our flights to Santorini tomorrow! What a gem! Erin and I will go play while he heads of to France for a couple days (he plays pro-bball on one of Europe's best teams).
We went back to his house (which I absolutely LOVE!) and Erin and I faded fast and without our permission both zonked out for two and a half hours!! Stratos left for practice and Erin and I hit the gym. So embarrassing was the fact that not one girl wore shorts and we seemed to be the object of the whispering and laughter. Erin and I didn't care as we got to watch Stratos in his game on TV. The run felt wonderful and my swelling from the flight went down just a tad. On the way home, I've decided to try an experiement that may help me in traveling to France next year in possibly avoiding the extreme swelling in my limbs. I will buy compression stockings for my legs, and go on a 15 hour NO SALT, NO FAT diet with only fruits and water. I'll let you know how that experiement goes. I spent most of the flight with my legs up and downing water but it only seemed to pool in my extemities and does NOT want to go away, even now!
Well, I got to drive around town in the SMART car. Most of the roads are back ally tiny passageways. The intersections are so small that most of the time I didn't see them and luckily didn't run into anyone. Erin said she's seen many bad accidents because neither way has a stop sign and it's hard to see the other cars coming!! I did ok though, nobody even honked at me! That's more than I can say back at home. Haha!
So, I feel safe here. Erin and I were able to walk around in shorts and tanks (it's like 70 at 9pm) go grocery shopping, get coffee and not have a single thought about safety! I really really appreciate that! I'm grateful for the warm weather and hope it lasts for the whole time that we are here. We just left San Francisco cold, windy and rainy only to arrive in Athens in two jackets, a scarf, and Ugs...thought I was going to fall over overheated. There are thousands of tall apartment buildings that cover the rolling land of the city. The ruins just appear in the middle of the city along with very charming chocolate candy shops, cafe's, and often times next to gorgeous flower boutiques. At first the hustle and bustle of the city, the millions of unreadable street signs, the mountainous dirt backdrop, the pending marathon and unknowns about the course mixed with feeling like a gigantic human water balloon and heavy fatigue had me a bit overwhelmed.
There were two therapeutic remedies for the above. Firstly, we visited this missionary couple who have their whole estate established for sports ministry (climbing walls, basketball courts, tennis, volleyball, soccer field etc...) and they were so sweet to talk with and we saw their newborn baby! Definitely a blast! Secondly, the amazing remedy...GREEK SALAD!! My most favorite of all! I cannot tell you how fresh and flavorful and yummy and tasty and yummy and tasty and fresh and yummy it is!!! I think my whole worldview of Greece changed at that very point today! haha! Wish you could all be here to eat this amazing dish! Ahhhh!!!!
Well, it's late and were about to go eat dinner ( i think it's like 11 pm and that's normal here!). Greece is wonderfully different!
Tomorrow, it's up early to workout and then off to santorini for Erin and Jenny pamper (not to forget to study though!)
Keep in touch!
Τζενη (Jenny)
Εριν (Erin)
Τζειμς (James)
Εμιλη (Emily)
Μαρτζη (Margie)
Τζιμ (Jim)
Ζαντρα (Zandra)
Μπραιαν (Brian)
Τικα (Tica)
Αντζελα (Αngela)
Τζουλη (Julie)
Μπελλα (Bella)
Αντρια (Andria)
Μαιρη (Mary)
K, it's so late and i need to sleep! Night!
Waves of fatigue would hit Erin and I but we were determined to stay awake all day in order to get on Greek time and overcome jet lag sooner. Stratos took us out to lunch where we chowed down on the best Greek salad-everything is so incredibly fresh, super crispy, and mouth-wateringly flavorful! I could NOT slow down! I also got a veggie gyro along with hot feta with olive oil, herbs and veggies. I was in complete heaven! After lunch we walked to the gym. It's not odd enough that Stratos left his double parked car while we ate lunch and went to check out the gym but that he (6ft 7) drives a SMART car!! Anyway, he paid for Erin and I to have a two week membership at this really great gym!! He also bought Erin and I our flights to Santorini tomorrow! What a gem! Erin and I will go play while he heads of to France for a couple days (he plays pro-bball on one of Europe's best teams).
We went back to his house (which I absolutely LOVE!) and Erin and I faded fast and without our permission both zonked out for two and a half hours!! Stratos left for practice and Erin and I hit the gym. So embarrassing was the fact that not one girl wore shorts and we seemed to be the object of the whispering and laughter. Erin and I didn't care as we got to watch Stratos in his game on TV. The run felt wonderful and my swelling from the flight went down just a tad. On the way home, I've decided to try an experiement that may help me in traveling to France next year in possibly avoiding the extreme swelling in my limbs. I will buy compression stockings for my legs, and go on a 15 hour NO SALT, NO FAT diet with only fruits and water. I'll let you know how that experiement goes. I spent most of the flight with my legs up and downing water but it only seemed to pool in my extemities and does NOT want to go away, even now!
Well, I got to drive around town in the SMART car. Most of the roads are back ally tiny passageways. The intersections are so small that most of the time I didn't see them and luckily didn't run into anyone. Erin said she's seen many bad accidents because neither way has a stop sign and it's hard to see the other cars coming!! I did ok though, nobody even honked at me! That's more than I can say back at home. Haha!
So, I feel safe here. Erin and I were able to walk around in shorts and tanks (it's like 70 at 9pm) go grocery shopping, get coffee and not have a single thought about safety! I really really appreciate that! I'm grateful for the warm weather and hope it lasts for the whole time that we are here. We just left San Francisco cold, windy and rainy only to arrive in Athens in two jackets, a scarf, and Ugs...thought I was going to fall over overheated. There are thousands of tall apartment buildings that cover the rolling land of the city. The ruins just appear in the middle of the city along with very charming chocolate candy shops, cafe's, and often times next to gorgeous flower boutiques. At first the hustle and bustle of the city, the millions of unreadable street signs, the mountainous dirt backdrop, the pending marathon and unknowns about the course mixed with feeling like a gigantic human water balloon and heavy fatigue had me a bit overwhelmed.
There were two therapeutic remedies for the above. Firstly, we visited this missionary couple who have their whole estate established for sports ministry (climbing walls, basketball courts, tennis, volleyball, soccer field etc...) and they were so sweet to talk with and we saw their newborn baby! Definitely a blast! Secondly, the amazing remedy...GREEK SALAD!! My most favorite of all! I cannot tell you how fresh and flavorful and yummy and tasty and yummy and tasty and fresh and yummy it is!!! I think my whole worldview of Greece changed at that very point today! haha! Wish you could all be here to eat this amazing dish! Ahhhh!!!!
Well, it's late and were about to go eat dinner ( i think it's like 11 pm and that's normal here!). Greece is wonderfully different!
Tomorrow, it's up early to workout and then off to santorini for Erin and Jenny pamper (not to forget to study though!)
Keep in touch!
Τζενη (Jenny)
Εριν (Erin)
Τζειμς (James)
Εμιλη (Emily)
Μαρτζη (Margie)
Τζιμ (Jim)
Ζαντρα (Zandra)
Μπραιαν (Brian)
Τικα (Tica)
Αντζελα (Αngela)
Τζουλη (Julie)
Μπελλα (Bella)
Αντρια (Andria)
Μαιρη (Mary)
K, it's so late and i need to sleep! Night!
2 comments:
Yay Jenny! I'm so glad you and Erin arrived safely...and sounds like you're having a blast! So is my name pronounced Zovt-pah?...because it looks like Zavtpa! Their alphabet is so awesomely different and cool at the same time. You amaze me with your motivation to go on a greek vacation and workout so diligently : ) I know you're going to have lots of fun at the marathon. So I expect to see some pics of you pumping your fist at the finish line! Dave says hi. Please say hi to Erin and Mr. Perperperpuharappeerglueo...hehe! I hope your anasarca goes away! Z.
Hi Zandra!! Having soooo much fun! Greece is absolutely amazing! Were in Santorini and you will be sorry when i post about 4.6 million photos on this site when I get home! Look for them on the 20th!! You would love it here! I ate the best fish in my entire life. I'm thinking about just staying here forever for the fish! We had Berit (i think that's what it's called, never heard of it) and the guys go out in the boat while you pig out on yummy olives, Greek salad, Oozo (liquer?), and baked feta, and they catch your fish, bring it in and grill it right out there with you. You'll see in the pictures. We lucked out on the best villas in Santorini and got a $380 "HOUSE" villa for 200/night!!! UNREAL!!! The owner Alaxander keeps wanting to take Erin and I out for dinner and we keep flaking out...i don't want to! Is that bad? I just don't feel like standing around talking to random guys! The only guy we came to spend any time with here is Stratos! The peace and quiet is a dream, and im soaking up every second of it! Anyway, i better go now since this is like a personal email...haha! I love it here! I'm going to post a quick blog. See you soon! Pray for my knee, it's bugging a bit.
J
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