Last weekend I went out to relax and get away from my final project, to get my mind off of home, and make the most of the rest of my stay in Europe by hopping over to Athens, Greece. I had literally no expectations for the city and most of them were met. It was dirty, as I'd been told, and the hotel I stayed at felt like a shallow bunker in a nuclear war of desperation. No matter, though, I went to have a good time and for the most part I did. For starters I got my project done on time. I'm now finished with all of my work and that feels so good. Also, I spent an entire day at the only place I had known I wanted to go in Greece: the Acropolis:
Seeing the Parthenon was one of those moments where I really was just in awe. I'd read all about it in school and thought it looked neat, but never did I imagine going there. The view from the top of the hill was absolutely, spectacular, too:
There are more pictures in the link at the bottom, so feel free to browse those. I'd highly recommend them. The area around the Acropolis was also, as the girls say, "cute." There were a bunch of shops and cafes and things for the less discerning tourist and the even less discerning resident. They were alright. As I said, most of the day was spent there, and to be honest I could have sat atop the hill and watched the people slither around beneath me forever. Being up there made me feel removed from the desperation below and also the world in general. I relaxed and unwound a bit. I needed it.
The next day I journeyed to what's considered a beach in Greece (yeah, Pennsylvanians, it was still warm enough to swim while you were enjoying your snow). The real purpose of the trip had been to go to an island, any island, but every ferry was striking. Actually, I think it turned out for the best, because the place I found was spectacular and just as redeeming for the impoverished country as the view from the Acropolis:
The water, as you can see, was perfect and the mountains flanking the sea rose all around. The rocky coast provided for some dramatic results to meager waves. I sat in that spot for quite a long time until I decided to go down into the water. I walked down a semi-hidden staircase to the only scrap of sand I saw. Some locals were fishing and hardly seemed to notice me. It felt like I had the whole of the sea to myself. I didn't go too far out, because the people had been catching octopus and I didn't feel like stepping on one of those. The water did feel great, though, and gazing out across the vast blue expanse to the horizon, my hands in my pockets and my head up, I came to terms with the fact that I'd be home soon and that the trip I was on would be my last. I wouldn't be alone anymore. I felt at peace as the men kept at their fishing, shouting in Greek. I needed it.
I put my shoes back on and walked back up to the same bench I'd left not long before, the weary sun dragging itself to sleep behind the far off mountains, its last rays glistening across the water like fire flutters in the night:
It ended up being a relaxing voyage, despite all of Athens' shortcomings. When I got back I didn't have much else to do, so I checked the internet and saw the snow in Pennsylvania and noticed that winter weather had started to take hold back at home (and in Italy, too, actually). I miss the homely cheers of winter, the fires and fellowship inside that make the death and emptiness outside disappear. I look forward to getting back to enjoy the people that make the season so pleasant. I need them.
I wrote this in light of my thoughts. It's just a poem that I did in maybe 10 minutes, so don't expect anything too great (and I'm not very good at expressing love in poetry-form anyway), but I hope it sparks something or allows you to understand my feelings:
Grey earth’s back again,
for gloom must have its day.
The exterior stands in stark bleakness,
but the inside, it’s said, must outweigh.
Wholeness there, vibrance there,
solace sought and found at long last.
The elements wear the body thin,
but in the mind, the bitterness is past.
The world will die and fade away,
but affinity holds forever fast.
The sun will rise to hypnotize,
the season’s dismality to outlast.
Come cold, come wind, welcome in,
against your worst an oasis lies in state.
The warmth and sincerity in that one,
the reward for battling yearly fate.
Thanks to everyone for being with me through this tough time as I long for home. I'll post about my adventure to the Vatican to meet the Pope once I can get my pictures online.
Pictures from Greece can be found here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=303477&id=658221001&l=822f1dbf66
