I first heard about the Danube River when my father played one of his favorite records on our old turntable—the one with the arm bent like an elbow that released the disc onto the base in order to play it. It was the Blue Danube Waltz by Johann Strauss. That music would float up into […]
Strolling the Danube Read More »
I arrived at the breakfast buffet at 15 minutes to 10. It closed at 10. What an amazing spread. I filled most of my plate with grilled vegetables and fresh tomatoes and cucumber and a slab of some yummy creamy white cheese that looked like feta and tasted like heaven. Nutella and…..? Not sure….what these
Now This is What I Call a Breakfast Buffet Read More »
Tonight, I had the great honor to meet with three of the volunteers from the Incest Trauma Center. We sat around a small round table for an hour and a half, just the four of us. I hadn’t planned for our meeting, except to bring a beautiful silver object I’d bought in Petra, Jordan last
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights Read More »
Last night, I had dinner with four of my new colleagues from the Incest Trauma Center at an outdoor restaurant on a long esplanade full of other packed little restaurants. I ate some kind of delicious spicy Serbian sausage and a small salad. I couldn’t believe the size of the meat portions–talk about Super Size
A Crazy Serbian Stag Party? Read More »
Back in the Istanbul airport (I learned this was a “lesser” airport for connecting flights—not the main Istanbul airport at all), when they finally posted the gate for my flight to Belgrade, I made my way there and sat on one of the hardest waiting room seats I’d ever sat upon. I picked up the
Arriving In Belgrade Read More »
Okay, maybe it’s an exaggeration. Maybe it’s because I have six hours to kill here. Maybe and probably, it’s mostly because I only slept three hours last night. But the Sabiha Gökçen Havalimanı airport in Turkey is really scraping the bottom of the barrel in terms of amenities. It’s small, there’s no free WiFi, and
The Most Uncomfortable Airport In The World Read More »
It’s 5:55 AM, Beirut time, and I’m finally settled at the gate, waiting for my 7:10 flight to Istanbul. From there, I’ll catch an afternoon flight to Belgrade. Even though all airports are basically the same, I’m looking forward to walking around the Istanbul airport during my four-hour layover. Everywhere in the world, big airports
On My Way from Lebanon to Serbia Read More »
Flying home tomorrow. Savoring every moment of our last day. I will miss the awe-inspiring beauty of this place. And the food. And the Greek people. And the olive oil….and…and…so much! Guess I’ll have to come back to Greece. Blue doors. Ruin. Broken window. Disrepair. Strange stairs. Old doors. Loved this doorway at the church
Greece: Last Day In Greece Read More »
Photos from our closing session and final reading. Another Write, Travel, Transform trip has come to a close. Talking about wrapping up the trip and re-entry. Filling out evaluations. Writing till the end. Our final reading as the sun began to set over Santorini. Surya listening Natalie listening Judy reading about Lesbos and the refugees
Greece: Our Closing Session Read More »
Here’s another wonderful response to the prompt, “Since I’ve Come to Greece,” this one from Joyce Bartlett, from Marblehead, Massachusetts: I’ve seen landscapes that look nothing like the place I wake up in most mornings of my life, even the water, the same H2O that I can see from my bedroom window, has been transformed
Greece: Since I’ve Come To Greece – Take II Read More »
Yesterday, in our final writing group, I gave the prompt, “Since I’ve come to Greece,” and I’m going to post several of the responses from my students. They provide a great recap of our two weeks together. This first version is by Marlene Bumgarner, who had the great distinction of being the only person on
Greece: Since I’ve Come To Greece – Take I Read More »
Today was a day I’ve been looking forward to the whole trip. I’d been told we’d be taking a boat from our new (and final) home base in Oia, Santorini, trekking to the caldera of the volcano that transformed this island, and then heading to a natural hot springs that had something to do with
Greece: Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud! Read More »
Our traveling company has moved on to Heraklion and this morning we went on a tour of the Minoan palace of Knossos. While the rest of the group went to the museum across from our hotel, I decided I wanted to go out and stretch my legs on my own. I had five hours before
Greece: A Long Walk In A Big City Read More »
The Samaria gorge, located in west Crete in the White Mountains, is the second most visited tourist attraction on Crete (following the Minoan palace of Knossos) and it’s definitely the most popular hike. The locals call it the “Farangas” or “Great Gorge,” in admiration of its beauty and to differentiate it from the other smaller
Greece: Hiking the Samaria Gorge Read More »
When I was growing up and we traveled as a family, my father always got up early in the morning while we were all still sleeping. He’d go for an early morning walk alone before whatever town we were in truly woke up. He particularly lived boats and harbors, the funkier and more run down
Greece: Early Morning Chania Read More »
