The Parthenon

This was a temple built in honor of Athena, the Greek Goddess of War and the obvious namesake of the city of Athens. It wasn’t built in such a way that was linear of even symmetrical, but rather the goal was to build a temple that was alive, and had an energy unlike anything else in Athens.  For example, the number of columns on each row is different. Unfortunately, much of this place has been ruined over the years due to wars.

The Ancient Agora

      This was at the footsteps of the Acropolis where smart folks like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle debated things like ethics and democracy. It also over-looked Mars’ Hill. On top of where the ancient Aerogapus  was. In Acts, the Prophet Paul addressed large crowds and philosophers about Jesus and even converted a few (Acts 17: 16-24). Not going to lie, that was pretty cool to see and then read!

The Rock

This was the view of the Acropolis from my hostel in Greece. I stayed across the street  from the Acropolis and enjoyed great views during breakfast. The entire city was built around this rock.

Greece Situation

I landed in Greece while they were the middle of a political stalemate due to the financial crisis. Only through travelling there did I realize the depths of the situation – much of the frustration has to do with their previous relationship with Germany. Let’s just say that my black and white understanding of the situation probably wasn’t the most informed. While there are clearly issues with government accounting and tax collection in much of Greece, much of the issue stems back from a history of corrupt relationships with German that goes back even before the start of the European Union. While Athens was mostly quiet the couple days I was there, you could feel the tension.

This first picture was taking during the changing of the guard at parliament. If you of you watch the news, this is where all of the protests take place.

I also attached a picture of their flag just because I think it looks cool.



Best Layover Possible

I started my trip with a brief 2-night layover in London. While the trip was short, I had the chance to catch up with 2 friends that I hadn’t seen in a while. Erin Abbott Anderson is about 16 hours older than me (our mother’s shared a hospital room when we were born) and has lived in London for almost 10 years with her husband, Charles, and their 4 children (the number wasn’t a typo!). I spent a great afternoon learning about the perils of raising 4 children at one time. To me, it sounds impossible. But Erin and Charles pull it off well and have much to be proud of. Their 4 children are all so unique and beautiful. After spending the afternoon with them I had the chance to catch up with my friend Krupa in Piccadilly. Krupa (and one of her good friends, Sheetal) and I met on a boat in the middle of Peru during another trip and we’ve remained friends.

Summer Trip - Take 2

Life is such a dichotomy. It is so good and has so much beauty, but it's also a battle. As we strive towards accomplishments and pursuit of goals, a sense of weariness is bound to set in at some point. Setting goals and meeting them is the most energizing thing in the world, but it can also get a bit tiring, right! It doesn't matter if you're a full-time parent, teacher, researcher, physician, or businessman - weariness affects us all. This realization was apparent to me after a particularly challenging year where I made some great memories and accomplished goals, but felt extremely weary and tired.

Besides prayer and meditation, nothing helps me combat weariness and refocus on the celebration of life  like travelling. For me there is nothing more inspiring or thought-provoking as getting out of my comfort zone and setting off to meet new people, experience new cultures and history, enjoy new food, and take in the breathtaking sights that await me overseas. There's something about experiencing this earth in it's fullest that helps me live life at its fullest.

Over the next month, I plan to go on a journey that will take me to 8 countries on 3 continents, with a particular focus on the Mediteranean and Eastern Europe. Having time to do this is an absolute blessing and one that I acknowledge and am grateful for.
The Lineup:
-Greece (Athens, Rhodes)
-Cyprus (Nicosia, Agia Napa)
-Egypt (Cairo, Giza)
-Turkey (Istanbul)
-Hungary (Budapest)
-Sweden (Stockholm)
-Czech Republic (Prague)
-Poland (Krakow, Auschwitz)

After a long trip in 2006, I created a similar blog. And after a few requests I decided to create one for this trip as well. It will mostly include photos and random thoughts and observations from some of the more interesting things I've seen. Thanks for joining......let's go!