After returning from my trip to Greece, I had jet lag despite trying to say up late. I figure if I can't sleep, I should get up and do something. I would always find something to do especially in preparation for the holidays in addition to normal chores.
I queried my facebook friends for a middle name for Amber. Sophie has a middle name, Sophie Lou, which I use during our affectionate moments. I
loved all of the input my friends have suggested. I found these
wonderful help. I decided on "Amber Ann". Her middle name had to roll
off the tongue with affection. There were 2 that had sentimental
attachment. Amber Ann filled both. My sister, Kathleen Ann, passed
away in Aug.
Wednesday evening I went to a meeting with the Vintage Iron Riders motorcycle club because I got a heads up that Vince Spiranza was their guest speaker. He's the author of Nutz.
Thanksgiving morning was the first morning that I woke naturally at a reasonable hour (6:30) but didn't leave me enough time to prepare for the Powerworks Turkey Trot.
I did go to Mass at 9AM. Donations were left at the steps of the alter for the food pantry. We could also leave an item for our dinner to be blessed. I left a gray bag of groceries. Notice the bottle of wine in the middle. I brought that home for our table. A few saw me place the bottle at the steps and smiled with a thumbs up.
Seems there were more items to be blessed last year. The church office called the other day and asked what my license plate was because it was in the church parking lot a long time and there was a card attached to many for Veterans Day. Secretary said she was afraid it would get lost so she saved it form me.
I was impressed with the thoughtfulness of both Jacob and my parish for trying to get the card to the rightful owner of the vehicle with veteran plates.
We all had a hand in preparing the meal. After the meal, we all had a ritual dog walk.
We watched The Ballad of Buster Skruggs on Netflix. The 2 dogs got in a fight and one needed some Vaseline. We had our traditional dog walk. Evening ended with a full moon. Seemed to make "Amber Ann" bark a lot.
Friday evening I danced with the Central Illinois Civil War Dancers at the Peoria GAR Hall. Meet our dance callers, Joe Hutchinson and Larry Wachtveitl. It was the end of the demonstrations and looking satisfied.
We shared the hall alternating with a German choir. We got their conductor to participate in the Patty Cake Polka.
This man was not part of the dancers but rather the German Choir I presume
Next Tuesday is the dedication ceremony for the Nativity Scene in our state capitol. Chaplain Steve and I have a segment of the ceremony to place the Statehouse Wreath for Wreaths Across America in the rotunda. The following was taken from an article by Illinois Family Institute. "Military Veteran Rosemary Connolly will represent Wreaths Across America
and honor our military by placing a wreath in front of the five flags
representing all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. This is Wreaths
Across America’s 7th year with the SNSC".
I finished the remaining pumpkin pie for breakfast and a little whipped cream in my coffee. Real cream whipped not from a can or tub.
Satuday I pretty much stayed around the house but I did go to the Springfield tree lighting ceremony. It wasn't even a real tree but made by Ace Sign Co.
Those girls were so cute. They were passing out candy canes. The elf girls petted my dog girls. When I went to bed, I noticed a sticky piece of candy cane on Sophie's belly.
Sunday I went on the Sid Wood Toy Run nick named as the oldest and coldest. We departed at 1PM.
Santa and I rode to Contact Ministries with toys on a CanAm. The drizzling rain started just as we arrived. I got a ride back to my car in George's pick up truck. Afterward I went to a visitation for Digger. The snow didn't happen here until after I went to bed. The blizzard seemed to be a lot worse north of us. Still, I couldn't see out my frosted bedroom window that faced south. I'm a little upset that Amber will not do "down" like she used to. It seems to be related to wearing a harness or a coat.
Monday morning I went to exercise and then I took Sophie to the nursing home. We had a special visit with a daughter in tears over her mother's condition. They both needed therapy dog time. There were many others as well. Then I bought a gift card for our church's angel tree.
Feta Heaven!
One of the good things about the timing of this trip was missing the bombardment of election day news. Snow is also in the weather forecast. I also missed Veterans Day freebies. But that can be a stressful time too with running around between all the ceremonies.
Here's our departure of our local group from Chatham. Others joined us at Ohare Airport from Rockford, St Louis, Kansas City and even California. Please see links for further explanations of the sites we saw. I use this to save repetition.
Here is the group photo in Athens with those that joined from other places.
Here's the view from my balcony at Polis Grand Hotel. The end of the street has the Acropolis hill. No building is allowed to be higher than the Acropolis. At night it's beautifully lit with lights but a photo will not do justice. There are electric buses running under cables below.
Breakfast was included in the hotel and this was the Greek coffee maker with sand. I'd never seen this before but Fr John made me a cup and I liked it. We also had other types of coffee from the push button machine which I normally used but had to try this once.
Here he demonstrates. It's a slow process but stirring the sugar to froth point and watching the heat form and eye lets you know when it's done.
This is Wanda, my roommate for the trip. She claimed to be the oldest person on the trip and had a great time. She was supposed to be my roommate on the Poland trip but day before her doctor insisted on replacing the trip with gal bladder surgery. We kept an eye out so we wouldn't miss a bus.
This is Vicki, our Golden Frontier tour guide that met us at the airport. She went to Athens University 38 years ago. It's a free college but you have to compete to qualify.
Vicki told us that people walk most places and are apartment dwellers. She could not understand an American that would drive a car to get a burger.
This is Bob Margruter who joined us in Chicago. His voice sounds like someone with dental cotton rolls. He was sick most of the time.
This is Hector.
He was fun to be around. He loved to laugh so I asked him if he ever saw the laughing scene in Mary Poppins. He didn't. His laugh was contagious.
After Mass we went to the Acropolis. Some rooms had no photos allowed. Here's my selfie at the Acropolis museum which was build in 2009. That's Carol and Cliff Shehorn in the background getting their photo taken. These are replicas of the women holding the roof up on Athena's temple. Women would carry baskets on their heads but these gals carried a roof instead.
Here's my selfie from the Acropolis over the amphitheater
That's Vicki our Greek tour guide behind me gesturing. She pointed out the hill where Athenian Democracy was born. She also pointed out “Areos Pagos” or Mars-Hill where St Paul had preached to the leaders and intellectuals in their own terms and pointed out their weakness. They liked what he had to say. Some converted to Christianity. The Holy Spirit is what moved Paul to preach to the Greeks. Paul traveled
approximately 10,000 miles spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In the evening we had dinner at New Rigas dinner and folk lore entertainment. Musicians started off but you can tell with that stage in front of them that there's more to come.
Solo player (I don't know what kind of instrument he's playing)
Jamie got jiggity with the belly dancer
so did Hector
Paula danced with a man in a skirt and tights.
And Ron
Our table was right up to the stage and the dancer stood on a glass right in front of me.
Friday we went to the south coast of Greece called Peloponnese. Our first stop was at the Corinth. On the way stopped to see the Canal that connects the Agean and Adriadic Seas which was dedicated in 1893.
The were dredging that cave in on the side. Very steep indeed.
Then we stopped at the ancient port of Corinth from which St Paul traveled.
In the footsteps of St Paul where he arrived by boat.
You can still see some pillars from the ancient port.
group at the ancient port.
We were only there for 8 1/2 minutes and then went on to the ancient city of Corinth.
We came back to our hotel about 2PM. Paula, Wanda and I wanted to go shopping in the Plaka (old district) so we caught a cab. Wanda was interested in getting sandals. I needed new earrings since the cheapies I wore over were broke. I also needed some flip sunglasses. I found them but didn't like them as much as I do my fit-over sunglasses that I left at home. In fact they let in more sun on the sides and just added another layer of glare despite the store showing me how the UV protection looked through at a picture. I ended up buying a rim cap.
Saturday was a busy day. Our group joined a commercial cruise and visited three Islands. It was an optional trip. As I got on the boat, we had our pictures taken.
As
soon as I boarded the boat, I went to look over the edge at the others
still boarding and getting pictures taken. Fr John took this one. I
should have spread my arms like Rose.
Everyone's favorite was the Island of of Hydra because it was so quaint. The only transportation was by donkey with the exception of the hospital. There were a number of movies filmed there.
Streets did not have names but were referred to by their nature such as the candy store. This is the little memorial inside the candy store. We got to meet the the 100 year old grandmother whose grand children run the business.
There is a monastery and museum on the Island. Some did not go up because of the steps.
donkeys carrying loads of supplies.
Then we stopped at the Island of Poros. Bla!
On the Island Aegina I went by bus to see the ancient temple of Aphaia .
The we stopped a Byzantine monastery. One of the most visited sites on Aegina is the church of Agios
Nektarios. Agios Nektarios of Aegina (1846-1920), is one of the most
widely known Greek Orthodox Saints. He was officially recognized as a
saint by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in 1961. Each
month, thousands of people visit the tomb of Agios Nektarios, to pray to
him, or ask for his blessings, which always seem to be answered
It was under construction.
There was no graffiti on the walls on the islands like there was all over Athens.
Sunday we went to Mass at St Dennis Cathedral. The only English was when Fr John repeated the Gospel. Father John told us to take home a bulletin (which was in English) to prove we went to Mass.
Then we went to see the changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown on Veterans Day at the 11AM but there were too many people I couldn't see anything. Fr John referred to this as the changing of the pigeons. He had been whitened by pigeons in the past and ducked when they approached.
The crowd was partly because of the Athens marathon. Many streets were blocked off for the marathon which had many people from all over the world participating. I figure I can see it on YouTube.
This is Nassos, our guide, in the middle of them translating. Fr John met Fr George from the church of the Holy Sepulcher. Both are former military chaplains. He was one of our guides and was kind to take us around the old district of Placka. I stayed close to him because of my hearing and wanted to learn from him about the real Greece. Others fell away as they passed shops. Me and the sisters stuck with our personal guide. and later lunch.
He bought us Greek coffee
Showed us ruins of an ancient cistern. All the buildings have some sort of archeological find beneath.
He showed us a little church that was basically hidden behind street side resturant's fence.
He took us to an antique market. Sorry I took a picture of this man bending over.
then he bought us lunch which was very rich on my stomach later on.
I also saw those foot baths with the little fish that eat the dry skin off your feet. I didn't try it though.
Temple of Posien at Cape Sounion during sunset.
It was windy at the top.
There was a flock of grouse that passed on the walking path.
Then we came back and had dinner at a restaurant on the Agean Rivera. I had swordfish for the first time and it was good.
Monday we had an all day trip to Delphi. I saw a lot of their farming along the way. It was interesting to see even cotton fields. Our bus stopped at an overlook of Delphi. https://www.greecetravel.com/delphi/
Here's the group taking pictures at the scenic overlook.
At the sanctuary of Apollo 5th and 7th Century BC.
Panorama view of the temple
I went up the steps to see the amphitheater
This is the opposite view of me facing the above amphitheater. The tour sign seemed to show a 1930 performance there but I don't see how this fit what I saw before me.
this is what you see from the opposite view .. a cliff.
In the evening after dinner, our guide took 3 of us that can walk a bit out on an "excursion". We went to a little out of the way, hole in the wall place with a name that translates to "box". There we had wine and music in a small hall where musicians and songwriters cut their teeth.
Our last day we had Mass and free time. I did the reading from an iPad which kept shifting the paragraphs. We had a couple on the trip that renewed their vows for their 50th wedding anniversary. They were married at St Francis Zavier's parish and that happened to be our saint of the day as well.
Then our group of 25 split up for a final day of shopping. I followed Nassos to the Hill.
We had a lot of walking but a partial ride on the Lycabettus Funicular. One of the ladies backed away when she saw the rail because she was claustrophobic. She wanted to wait at the bottom. However, when we got to the top, she had walked it and I was so proud of her and that she didn't miss the spectacular view.
St George's chapel at the top of the hill founded in 1834.
Here is the furnicular. Don't get me wrong, there were a lot of steps before getting a ride.
Then Paula and I caught a cab to the Plaka for shopping. I stopped by the Hard Rock Cafe. We had gyro and wine in the Plaka. This is a Gyro machine used to cook pork and chicken. The machine automatically rotates and after a timer it mechanically rotates and slices.
my chicken yero.
Wow, wasn't that good that Alan brought the dogs over while I was on that long bus ride from the airport. I was going to get the girls this morning. What a life saver he is since we had 5+ inches of snow falling. I woke up in the middle of the night with cramps in both calves. Probably from sitting so long. I had to set the mouse trap.
"Oppa" as a cheer during a song. "Ya Mas" for a toast
