Athens July 30, 1997

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The house on the island was wonderful. It had a
walled in front yard with many olive, pomegranate
and lemon trees growing. From the front porch I
could see breath taking views of the Aegean Sea. We
spent about six days there. One night we went out with
an English guy, a French guy, and two other Greek
guys (one with a perfect English accent). We went to
a "Summer cinema" which is just an outdoor movie
theater with seats (no cars). We watched "Independence
Day." There is this scene at the very end where after the
aliens have blown up many cities, destroyed the White
House and caused the death of the president's wife, the
president's young daughter says "Happy 4th of July,
Daddy." Oh the US has figured out how to destroy
the aliens by this time. Anyway, Nick told me that
whoever wrote the subtitles for the movie didn't translate
"Happy 4th of July, Daddy." Instead they wrote a common
Greek holiday expression, "May it be the same next year."!!
Hardly appropriate.

We came back to Athens (luckily just missing the day it
was 105 degrees) the Monday after I had arrived. I had ten
days left to see the entire city of Athens. We did everything
those days. First we went to the National Archeological
museum, then to the Acropolis, a museum of Cycladic art,
the Byzantine museum of and so much more. When we went
to the Acropolis and I stood staring at the Parthenon I
couldn't talk. Nick thought I wasn't impressed because I
wasn't speaking. It was just the opposite. It was another
dream come true for me.

When we weren't museum-hopping we were going out
with his friends. All of them spoke perfect English. I felt
really bad I hadn't learned any of their language. Finally
by my 13th day there I started saying a few courtesy
words. I got to attend a Greek birthday party, which is
just like an American one except they sing a different song
and nobody gets a plate for their cake- they just all grab
forks and dig in. Actually birthdays are not as important as
"name days" which are days that are designated to the saint
you were named after. Unfortunately no one was celebrating
a name day when I was there.

My last Saturday there we went back to the island. His
mom fixed us octopus, which I had never had before. It
was quite good. My last day in Athens Nick, his two friends
Athena and Marianna, and I walked up to the top of a big
hill (910 ft) called Lyscapitos (or something like that). At
the top was a couple cafes and a little temple dedicated to
St. George. The main reason to trod all the way up there is
the view. It was magnificent, although I truthfully am
really tired of city panorama views. They all look the same.
However, there was something else that night that made the
walk worth it. Athena and Marianna presented me with a gift
from them, their boyfriends and Nick. Inside the bag was a
box filled with Greek souvenirs and treats. I got two
traditionally dressed Greek dolls, a bar of olive oil soap,
a bottle of greek wine, a bottle of Ouzo, the national aperitif,
a can of Greek orange soda, and few other goodies. Athena
and Marianna also made me two bracelets. It was a great way
to end my long dreamed about trip to Greece.

So what's next for me? Well this Friday I'm moving to
Portland, Oregon. I don't have an address yet, but I do have
a job. I'll be working at a Barnes and Noble (where else?) up
there. I'm excited, but also very sad to leave everyone I know
and love down here. I'll be checking this e-address periodically
so let me know what's up.

Thank you for faithfully reading my ramblings for the past
two months.

As a side note here was my first itinerary I wrote for you
and the actual trip:

*1st* *Actual*

6/2 London 6/2 London, England

6/4 Chunnel to Paris 6/4 Chunnel to Paris, France

6/8 Amsterdam, Netherlands

6/9 Amsterdam 6/9 Amsterdam, Netherlands

6/11 Paris, France

6/12 Rome 6/12 Brugge, Belgium

6/12 Koln, Germany

6/13 Prague, Czech Republic

6/16 Venice 6/16 Prague, Czech Republic

6/18 Budapest, Hungary

6/19 Vienna 6/19 Prague, Czech Republic

6/21 Prague 6/21 Prague, Czech Republic

6/24 Budapest 6/24 Prague, Czech Republic

6/25 Vienna, Austria

6/26 Bucharest, Romania 6/26 Montreux, Switzerland

6/27 Dracula's grave 6/27 Montreux, Switzerland

6/28 Sofia, Bulgaria 6/28 Rome, Italy

6/30 Ferry to Patras, Greece

7/1 Train to Athens 7/1 Bus to Athens

7/17 Home 7/17 Home

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This is Marisa Eide, signing off....