Impressions of Greece

Parthenon in Athens

Greek Bible College 

Beautiful Beach in Rafina

Sweet friend Bekah

Athens @ sunset

It's been a little over a week since I returned from lovely Greece. I am still processing the experience, and after a crazy fast move on Wednesday, it may take a little longer than I thought.

I got the opportunity to travel to Greece through my masters program at Liberty University. I am in their online program for school counseling, and am required to take 4 intensives. So, I traveled to the Greek Bible College in Athens to take one in group counseling. They planned excursions for us to Ancient Corinth, the island of Andros, and I took a quick trip to another island, Mykonos with friends.

Rather than try to recount all my experiences, I will just leave you with some of my thoughts & impressions of Greece:

1.Greece, ESP the islands, is the most beautiful country I have ever seen. Hands down. The mix of tall, arid mountains and a coastline of clear turquoise waters is indescribable. Just go see it. You must find a way to make that happen.

2. The food was fantastic! Great Greek salads topped with a big slab of feta, luscious tomatoes, oregano flavored potato chips, and my favorite were the French fries that were fried in olive oil. Yumm!! They also eat bread with every meal in Greece, which I don't think is included in the Mediterranean diet books.

3. Greece is so old! Between the acropolis in Athens and Corinth, I saw things over 2,500 years old! We are talking B.C. people!

4. There was awesome shopping in Athens! A neighborhood below the acropolis, called Plaka, is filled to the brim with trinkets stores, olive wood shops, handmade Greek sandals, tapestries, and bakeries. I spent a lot of time there, and had to eventually stop the hemorrhaging of money. Thank goodness my trip was only 10 days!

5. I met some very kind people, both Greek and American, that I really enjoyed getting to know. There were a few run ins with the Greeks, but I used my NYC street smarts to handle that! ;)

Everyone needs to go to Greece! Even if it's just for the french fries.

Dinner on Lycabettus Hill overlooking Athens

Lycabettus Hill-highest point in Athens

On our way to Mykonos on the ferry


Kim & Maurice in Mykonos

Windmills of Mykonos

Paradise Beach in Mykonos

New Adventures

Write Blog....it's been sitting on my to do list for about 2 months. I am not sure why I have been absent so long. It's been a busy time with finishing up a great school year, traveling to the Dominican Republic with my best friend Susanna, studying abroad in Greece, and packing to move to Astoria tomorrow! Whew, I probably shouldn't even be blogging now, but there's no time like the present.

I feel a little sad to be leaving this beautiful neighborhood that welcomed me into NYC two years ago. This morning, I made my last routine laundry at Bubbles on Broadway/run in Riverside park/Absolute Bagel run. There are several things I will miss seeing. I will miss the Dominican men that sit outside their stoop all day everyday, my grocery store, "Garden of Eden," the view of the city when I look down my street each morning, the Catholic church on 107th, the access to Central and Riverside park, and the smell of mexican foods cooking in my apartment building. The walk up to my fifth floor apartment, not going to miss as much. :) I am so thankful for these past two years here and the memories I have made.

Tomorrow the "Movers of Oz" will arrive and take my belonging to Astoria. I am moving in with my wonderful boyfriend, Pat. We are excited to start a new adventure there. I look forward exploring a new neighborhood filled with cultures from all over the world and will fill you in here on the blog about it all. 

Hope you're all enjoying the pleasure of summer- watermelon, berries, cold drinks, sun, the beach, and sandals. 

xoxo

Hellgate Bridge seen from Astoria Park