4 July 2009

Happy 4th of July!!

We have been to the National Archaeological Museum–and now, by golly, it sounds like thunder and we may actually see rain in Athens. I will confirm or deny that later.

Hey–what’s up with Sarah Palin?

More later. It’s lunch time.

Yes, it certainly DID rain in Athens, forcing Corona and me to dash into a cafe in sight of the Hephaistion for lunch. We enjoyed the company of a nearby Australian couple who had been traveling in Europe for two months and were on their way to Egypt. In my mind, those Aussies have the right priorities. The woman was looking forward to being–perhaps–”surplussed” on her return home and she reckoned they could just use the “buy out” to travel to Africa. I told her about Mole National Park in Ghana but they were set on South Africa and a $3000 safari instead of my 75 cent one. A refreshing and distictively un-American perspective, huh?

OK. Back on task. Here’s the team on the steps of the National Archaeological Museum looking tan and swell. If anyone is wondering where Mickie Jones is, she is behind the camera.

Below, I will put some random wondrous objets d’art that your world travelers will be able to discuss intelligently upon their return home. Maybe give them a day to sleep off the flight home . . .

 

Zeus Artemesion

Horse and Jockey

Man from Delos

He’s looking right at you, isn’t he??

OK. These next photos came from Lisa Barber last night right before all the electricity on her floor went out. Now I’m not saying that Lisa had anything to do with that, but it does seem an awfully strange coincidence. I’m not sure what each one is, so I will just load it up and then try to tell who/what each one is. Here goes.

Dr. Head on an olive hunt in the Plaka

Hmmm.
This is Sabbas souvlaki restaurant in the Plaka and I think almost everyone is accounted for here–Elliott, Ginny, Pam, Liz, Catie, Corona, me, Natalie, Katie B., and Collins and Jordan hiding from the camera. Don’t worry, Amanda and Ian ate too and so did Carol, Jenn and the “North Carolina Ladies.” 

Jenn on the approach to Delphi

Jenn is filling her water bottle at the Castalian spring –well, right above it since the spring itself was cordoned off. I sincerely suspect that OSHHA has made inroads in Greece. So, the deal is that anyone who wanted to consult the oracle had to wash his hair–or if he had done something really bad that required cleansing from “blood pollution,” he had to bathe everything in the spring–and pay a bunch of tribute money–and wait his turn.

Carol and part of Apollo

So, I’m not sure what Carol is up to here but Lisa sent me this photo to post and I’m doing it. Maybe all concerned parties will be able to work that out when she is safely back in Maryland.

Below right is Elliott doing something outdoorsy. He has the nicknmae BFG

for Big Friendly Giant. It fits. As you can see, he is the model of fitness for

the rest of us and keeps thoroughly hydrated and smiling.

OK–let’s see what else is in the Lisa selection of photographs . . .

As you might imagine, I have no idea how to put these photos in the blog so they look journalistic.

Dinner at Mouragio on the first night at Paralio Astros

Here we have the happy group on the first night in Paralio Astros. We are all tired from the long trip from Olympia via the Temple of Apollo Maleatas at Bassae–which is absolutely on the top of Greece.  There are the Davids, Lynn, Kathy, Kathryn, somebody litle and hidden, Liz, Micie, Martha, Carol, Katie B., the BFG, Tammy and no doubt everyone else back there somewhere amongst the Greek salads.

To the right are Katie and Amanda on the beach at Paralio Astros. Did

Beach at Paralio Astros

I mention that we only have a fifty yard stroll out of our hotel door before we reach the water. In the past five years, the beachfront has grown up a great deal with restaurants and straw umbrellas and lounge chairs and Greek boys who serve cold drinks with umbrellas and ice cream in them. Quite an improvement and one that agreed with 100% of us.

Miuckie and I are working hard on the blog!!

Fortunately, there is a safe place for me to work where I can “supervise” the academic endeavors of the younger students without getting a sunburn. Really, this has been such a tough teaching assignment. Note the glare of the water on my computer and the bunch of limonata that I must consume to keep up my blood sugar.

Here are Katie and Ian thinking about how dark the steps down into the sacred spring at Mycenae are. Yikes!!

Katie and Ian

LYNN EXHIBITING SANGUINITY

Here is one of the famous North Carolina ladies at Epidauros in the theater.

And finally, for all of you who didn’t think it was possible for Dr. Head to run out of energy, here’s the evidence.

Dr. Head . . . he not dead

This photo was taken on the night we went to Hydra for the celebration of the Greek Independence Day. Leave it to Dr. Head to find a quiet, horizontal spot on the cruise ship and put it to good use. He was the rare individual who was full of pep the next day!!!!!!

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