It's All Greek to Me

Here comes the Sun. It's getting warmer, oh yes, it's getting warmer. I had that first "I wish I had a big embarrassingly nerdy wide-brimmed hat but I don't care because the sun is beating down on me like the Incredible Hulk" moment. It was walking around the Parthenon at the Acropolis. Couldn't the Ancient Greeks have planted some trees by those huge pillars? But let me tell you - if you're looking for really old things - like things that have a B.C. on the date instead of an A.D. - it's in Greece. Even their postcards say "The Gods Live Here". I think they try to claim the same thing at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, but there, the Gods have to check out by 11am.

Starting this blog off with....a jumping picture! This might be my favourite one yet. I really got some height on this one. I was so excited to come and do one here - this is a building recognized all over the world.




I met some Americans and we all spent at least five minutes trying to capture just the right reflection of the pillars of the Temple of Zeus in our glasses. Notice how we are in the shade.

Did you know video games were invented in Greece? That's culture, baby.



The Ancient Greeks really were excellent engineers and planners. Check out this kind of structural forethought.




This was a pretty cool moment for me. As an actor in school, I studied and revered places like the Theatre of Dionysis. And then I got to go there. How cool would it be to have performed in this legendary place? Not a bad seat in the house.



A short tour of the Theatre of Dionysis....



Nearby, there's another theatre still in use today (for realsies). Right next to the Acropolis!



Here's some pretty cool facts about the Parthenon at the Acropolis.




Athens is just unique: where else are you gonna have modern buildings surrounding this building older than ancient history? I bet though, just like anything you drive by day after day, the locals are over it. But just check out this view of the Temple of Zeus from the Acropolis.




Dogs are everywhere in Athens. And I'm not talking about wild dingos like in Australia or India. These are well-fed Labs and German Shepherds and Shaggy dogs - some even with tags and collars. They're just everywhere, walking around, lying in the shade. Almost as prevelant as pigeons, but way more cuddly and fun. And you can bet their poop won't land on your head. (Yeah, I went there.) They are all so nice and sweet -who could think of anything more awesome than just dogs walking around everywhere? Good job, Athens!




I saw this turtle munchin' on some grass for lunch. I just had to capture this moment.




Ok, here's the "huh?" moment of this city: In the Metro, they have this spinning fan about the escalators. It's just meant to be a piece of ambiance art. But get this: the fan is powered by a solar panel....that has an electrical light shining on it. Does this make sense to anyone? An electrical light, shining on a solar panel, just to power a fan? Just plug in the dang fan!




Another good times moment with one of my hosts. Here we discuss earth-shattering topics like ice cream and traffic.



Saw this walking around town. Who knew ice cream was this romantic? This must be the best tasting ice cream in the whole world - look at how she's basically in nirvana, and he's like "I'm totally the man right now - and I owe it all to ice cream".



Next day I decided to venture off of the mainland and to the nearby island of Aegina. There are over a dozen islands, which could be a whole trip by itself. This boat in the background was my ferry to and from the island. The interior looked like it was taken from a dirty Reno casino.



These two dogs had an hour to get to know each other. They clawed and bit and licked and wrestled each other. How simple and awesome a dogs life is. I wish I could just met a stranger and just start wrestling on a boat. (On the Bucket List now). Who knows - still have 1 and a half more months to go.



I swam and read and lounged by the beach. I wrote thoughts and drew sketches with a hand-shaved pencil and read Hemingway and it was great. I love the way everything smells like beach when you leave the beach. But I loathe how the sand seems to follow you. You shake and shake all your clothes and dust off your feet, but somehow sand still finds a way to hide in the webs of your fingers and even one in your teeth.



I sat in the shade almost the whole time - and I still got so red! My reward to myself in Athens though: shorts and sandals. After 2 1/2 months in jeans and tennis shoes, I can't even tell you how great it felt to be in shorts and sandals. Huzzah.



The island ferry was the most interesting thing in the world to the seagulls of the Greek Islands. Every boat that trudged along these blue-green waters had an entourage of dozens of birds, riding the wind current created by the boat cutting through the air. These birds were brave and curious - they came within feet of the railing on the back of the boat. One guy was even feeding them potato chips directly from his hand.



Check it out - what I'm saying here is "I can almost reach out and touch them". To be a bird, wild and free for just one day - wow.





You have to zoom in and look at this picture, all over it. Teenagers in Athens are experimenting with some crazy wild hairstyles and fashion. Quite a few beehive inspired do's here. No doubt an Amy Winehouse influence. I love how some are looking directly at me in this picture, while boys and girls point at each other in the background.





Flea markets are endlessly entertaining. One moment you're looking at a bunch of useless tourist junk, and the next, you're standing in a shop of old victrolas and brass pocket watches.



I make people stare at me.

I made dinner with my host an another couchsurfer. Broiled fish and greek salad - yum.



It's off to Italy now. A prediction: pasta? It's gonna be great- manacotti, spaghetti, ricotta chesse - oh baby! However - I cannot WAIT for a thick, juicy steak in America. Just have to put that out there. Europeans are all about bread and cheese and small, simple meals. Look out In-N-Out Burger. I've got my eye on you.