The Twisted Gypsy

Seriously, Mykonos looks a little like Tatooine in Star Wars. No Joke. Look:

Okay, that is enough of that.  But really, don’t you agree that it looks a little like Tatooine?  It was slightly shocking going from the plush forest green filled Poros to the brown, dry, rocky Mykonos.  But, of course, that wasn’t all of Mykonos:

Paradise View (of Tatooine) Hotel

Within minutes of arriving at the hotel, we meet this hip Canadian (Lee) who works in the film industry.  He is traveling alone and has been in Mykonos for a few days, so he knows the ropes.  We end up spending the whole night out on town together and having one bang up time.

Here stands a nuclear pelican that I thought was fake.

We also met this cool couple from Australia, Mark and Mellina, and had dinner with them at the harbor. They were traveling around Europe for 3 months and Mellina had quit her job to make this happen. It is so amazing to meet people who really know how to live life to the fullest.

So long, Greece!  You were glorious and just what I needed.

Gracelyn Elyse Gilchrist came into this world, in a moment that I am sure was nothing less than a miracle, at 12:15 a.m. on Saturday, September 4th.

After receiving this text from my mother at 4 a.m. Mykonos time, there was no sleep to be had:

The amazing thing is that while I have been excited like a kid on Christmas about her arrival, there was some part of me that was also sad about it happening for completely ridiculous selfish reasons.  Being half a world away when something of major significance happens in your family has the potential to cause holes in the heart that take a long time to be filled, or worse yet, can never be filled.

Needless to say, I am so grateful that there were/are no holes.  At 4a.m. when that text came in, I was chatting with my mom on Skype within seconds. Minutes after Gracey arrived, there on the screen was my mother and Alison’s parent’s and sister gathered at our kitchen table in Salina and we might as well have been in the same room.  We celebrated and had some tears and then the phone rang and it was Lance and Al and we all were quiet so we could try to hear the first sounds of this new little life. We were together: Greece, Kansas, Chicago- it didn’t matter. All that existed was joy, thankfulness and total awe at what one life can bring to so many.

Welcome to the world, Gracelyn Elyse.  I have an always and forever love for you beyond words.

When setting off on our Greek adventure, we really had no plan.  The only plan was to buy round trip tickets and the idea that we would try to make it to the island where my Great Grandfather was from. Beyond that, nothing.  So, after a day in Poros, we checked out neighboring islands and decided on heading to Hydra.  It was appealing because it was a cheap, short boat ride and it supposedly had wonderful sunsets.  Well, that was no lie.  What I failed to remember until we arrived there is that there are no vehicles what-so-ever on this island.  The only mode of transportation is donkey. HAHA!  As soon as we got off the boat, I remembered reading about an island like that, but did not think that this was the one. Umm, traveler faux pas. Well, it is not like it was a problem, it is just that it was humorous…and full of donkey poop.

If only I would have paid attention when my dad tried to teach me how to play chess those couple of hundred times:

Part of our continuing quest for the best mojito (this one ranked right up there.)

We then walked up to this look out to witness one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen.  Nippe took this sunset on as one of his artistic projects and took photos every few minutes from the same spot.  (Video of those shots to come.)

There are cats EVERYwhere in Greece.  The nice thing about it is that the Greek people seem to like them.  Shop and restuarant owners don’t mind if you feed them, as they feed them themselves.  This little cat joined us for our sunset watch and he couldn’t keep his paws off of me.

Total and complete cheese:

I’m not usually too keen on late evening/into the night swimming in the ocean, but this water was unbelievably clear and inviting.  Also, after sitting on a bench for an hour and a half (with the sunset project) watching all of these people having zen floating experiences in the Aegean Sea, there was no resisting a dip.

A one meal break from Greek food for Pizza:

Aaaand, one last donkey shot for the road…

These rules were posted by the pool at our hotel in Poros. HI-larious.

My favorite: “Do not swim under the water for a very long time without taking a breath.” Oh, and of course the one just above that=)

We spent 2 days in Athens and I would for sure call that enough.  It is a city steeped in history and has a lot to see, but it is so hot, dry, dirty and full of people that 2 days is about all you can take. By the time we made it to the port to head to the islands, I kind of felt like we were surrounded by flies- all the people selling things, begging and in your face. Don’t get me wrong, it was great to be there, it was just great to leave there as well.

Then it was off to the port, Piraeus, to head to the islands.
First stop: Poros- the island where my Great Grandfather was
born and raised.

We took this “Flying Dolphin” (which could have been
named the flying turd) over to the island.  Upon arrival, I was awestruck:

Digging around on line, we found this cool site that this man, who apparently really loves Greece, put together.  Taking his advice, we booked a room at a small, family run hotel.  This was not the nicest hotel on the island, but it must have had the nicest people in all of Greece running it.  The second we got there (right after they gave us shots of ouzo on the house,) they were telling us stories and letting us ask a million questions.

I thought perhaps I could find the graves of some relatives (maybe my great great grandparents,) so we planned to stop by the cemetery.  While chatting with the hotel staff, I told Evie (this talkative, large Greek woman) our plan.  She wanted to assist, so she wrote down some Greek words for us to tell the undertaker in order to help find what we were looking for.  Of course, some of it got lost in translation.  I think that “Gravy” was supposed to be “Grave,” but I may never know.

If you have to kick the bucket, this place is not a bad place to hang out. A prime location, right by the beach with a perfect view of the sunset. It felt so cool to walk around there, knowing, feeling the past.  Of course, cemeteries are always reflective places, but this one made my stomach flop.

We then took our bike, that Nippe named Boo-bah, on a ride around the island.  I was slightly nervous about this because when I asked the guy at the shop how long a tank of gas would last, all he would tell me is “If you don’t drive too hard, it will last you long enough.” Long enough? Running out of gas in the middle of the Greek highlands, on the side of cliff, is not my idea of a good time.  But, yeah, off we went.

Goats!

We found this beach (way down in the crook of the photo above) on the complete other side of the island.  Really, all it was was a beach and a bar in the middle of nowhere. What was concerning is that everyone drove there and they were all apparently having a good time at 3 in the afternoon. I guess all of the really dumb people drive off the edge of the cliff, so that must be the way they regulate their population.  Yikes!

There was no resistance to a swim in the ice blue, crystal clear water.

Kansas or Poros?

Gas with a view.

We heard about this free classical concert at the old Russian naval base down on the beach and thought we’d check it out.  Per Evie’s advice, we parked up the hill going the opposite way so we could be the first ones out.  This proved to be a very smooth move as the concert started 30 minutes late (that seems to be Greek time) and we got the giggles half way through the 3rd pianist and had to remove ourselves from the situation.

Aaaand, that was the end of Athens and 24 hours in Poros.
A million more pictures of breathtaking sunsets to come.
They are impossible to resist.
Onward…

24 hours in Poros required some wheels, so we acquired
these. The only advice we got was “don’t drive if you
are too drunk.” Wow. I wonder how their insurance
prices are here?

Fried eggplant stuffed with cheese.  Oh. Yeah.

Stuffed tomatos and peppers?  Uh uh.

Baked feta and veggies?  More please.

Beer and baklava? Why not?

Pan seared cheese smothered in lemon. Why have I never
met you before?

Greek McDonald’s.

Greek McDonald’s SHRIMP BURGER.  Yes, this is what happens
when you are hungry and you have minutes before you boat
leaves the harbor without you.

Free shots of Ouzo at 2pm when checking into the hotel?
Well, when in Greece…

And, I leave you with this waffle as big as my head drenched
in chocolate:

Note to all the worried calorie counters at home:
This food was not all consumed in one day.  No fear.

Day One: Athens, Greece

• Upon touch down, the first thing I see is a giant IKEA. Ha!
• There is a smell in the air that I have never smelled before.
• People are so warm and willing to help.
• EVERY building is white, off white, sort of white or tan.

• First beer happened at 1p.m. Yikes!
• Really nice hotel.  The cheery Greek receptionist walked us to our room and gave us an entire low down on the place. Weird, but charming.

• Took a long walk around the city until our stomachs were eating themselves.

• Found a place in old town and proceeded to wine and dine through 3 courses at 2 in the afternoon.  An entire jar of house wine was only 5 dollars, who could blame us?

Giant slab of fried cheese?  Yes!

• After consuming a boat load of food and wine, we decide to ignore all practical suggestions and hike up to the Acropolis in the heat of the day to check it out.

The destination is seen at the very top of this photo.

One third of the way up.

Half way…

• When we made it to the top (red faced and sweaty) I was way more impressed that I thought I would be (yes, Jamie, it is true!)  It really was stunning- an architectural wonder.

Awkward tourist photo courtesy of other awkward tourists
photo skills.

Restored theatre of Dionysos- it made me drool.

• That was a lot for a days work (after waking up in Malmo, Sweden at 4 am this morning.) So, we decided to get ripped off by a cab driver and head back to the rooftop pool/bar.  That resulted in an immediate nap.
• In closing, all I can say is that I am in desperate need of a quadruple pedicure and excited for the adventures to come here in beautiful Greece.
  

We visited Henke, Em and Harry The Great for the weekend in Gävle, Sweden. Nothing beats just hanging out, singing and telling stories like old people on the porch.

This photo was taken just after Nippe finished shoving a stuffed chicken into Harry’s car backpack.  Of course, it was vital that the chicken join us on our trip to IKEA. Duh.