Happy 3 day weekend Friday America

Walked around Rhodos old town today. Saw the old pier where colossus (one of the 7 wonders of the Ancient world) once stood, an earthquake took the statue out awhile ago. There are now 2 columns with a deer on each column, not clear of the symbolism there, I shall google it and get back to you. I did however wonder, why 7 wonders, seems a bit of a random number...apparently, I'm not the only one who's wondered this, and yes I did google this question, (funny, google has really taken over the term "looked up" or "researched") anyway answer is:  http://www.new7wonders.com/file/download/mediendb/1/id/16635/
Walked for 6 hours today, I love you reefs! Was rather muggy out, and it's really warming up! Must have been at least 22 out today. Lots of really cool things in old town, a church of St. Francis of Assisi (yes San Francisco, he is who our city is named for) saw the knights of Saint John castle, the Grand Masters gate, a few mosques, a few byzantine churches, lots of shops, old roads, among other things. Lots of fountains. Plenty of gazebos, made of cement...which was unexpected...) On our way to old town, we passed a diving platform, pretty cool, someone built a 3 tier dive platform out in the ocean. Favorite sign of the day: (in front of a taverna) Greek happy hour from 3 -7, buy 1 pay for 2. Haha! (in Crete, a restaurant proclaimed: we are not the best) the sense of humor here is great. Learned about a local saint. (walked by a church dedicated to him, took a picture, and googled it when we got back to the hotel)  St Phanourios, and the link: http://www.orthodox.net/recipes/st-phanourios-story-prayer-to-bread-recipes.html saint of lost things...wonder what he'd be in today's world...
Walked by a memorial to the fallen soldiers of WWII (appropriate given this weakened is memorial day in the states) 
Tomorrow, plan on driving round the island, kinda hope to find a winery or 2 (they apparently date back to pre BC, friggin' cool!) also hope to find the butterfly valley, some ancient ruins and mayhaps a beach or 2. And if anyone out there knows how to ship wine from Rhodes to the US...I'm seriously considering calling it "olive oil"
The prayer of St. Francis:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.


O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

Travel day May 26, 2011 (no really, I checked, this date is correct)

Got a flight to Rhodes, €69 one way, bit more than a ferry...but they weren't running to Rhodes from Crete today apparently (or were sold out, not clear on the subject) when given the option to ship wine from a wine shop...take said opportunity. A post office is a nightmare wherever you may be. 3 line changes later...the wine went back in the car with us. And barely made it on the plane...we had to ask the pilots permission to bring it on...friggin nuts! I did see a fed ex office here in Rhodes, and apparently they have pre BC wineries on the island...so fingers crossed we'll be shipped by tomorrow!!! Driving was another saga of got close then walked. BTW, the car...we're big time now. Ford festiva baby, pretty sure there's blue tooth, oh yeah! My hamsters have been officially upgraded to something akin to a zoom. (I know this because 60kilometers/hr now lives where 100 lived on the last speed gauge, that and I wasn't singing the little engine that could up the mountain side...) so grateful I learned how to drive on a stick shift!! It's saved some major € renting cars! Got into the airport around 5:30...after numerous failed attempts of finding the hotel on the map(think I've finally got mom convinced to give up map reading, and use it more as a loose reference tool) we were actually able to call the hotel (score!) and were told they were by the water. Parked, gyro, beer...found it! Also went by the aquarium, which is supposedly one of the biggest/best worldwide...unless most of it is underground....uhhh, as long as it's not too much €...I will be checking this apparent optical illusion out. There's a temple for Apollo 3 kilometers from here, on the way to the car, I saw a neon sign through an alley..kinky (no really that's what the sign said) it must be explored....during daylight hours. Our hotel is 3 buildings away from the beach, you can see it from our balcony, schweet. We have a (albeit tiny) tub! I'll be soaking with my knees up to my chest here soon! (I only miss a bath when it's not an option...some sort of Murphy Law, I'm sure...) Internet only works in the main waiting area...bummmer on one hand, but on the other, leads to meeting more interesting people! Headed to bed now, it's 2:30am here.
A few tips I've garnered along the way:
1)You really don't need that much crap, leave that behind, you'll be carrying it the next 2 months, make friends with laundry, wash and dry quickly items. (and if you really need it, buy it cheap
1a) this doesn't apply to your drugs, having claritin in massive quantities, and Naphcon A, has saved my life!! Don't for a second think it will be available or the same version where you're headed, save the heartache, bring it. 
2) packing in zip locks = genius idea, no more tearing everything out to find the 1 thing you're looking for, underwear in one bag, shirts in another, beach stuff another- awesome
3) use the old fashioned pinch close zip locks...those stupid zippy thingys, break, friggin annoying!!
4)always always have tissue paper, you never know when it will need to be TP...
5) bringing your old ratty, were about to go to the goodwill clothes, best plan ever. (this only works if you amend the first tip, and actually DO leave stuff as you go) Wear it till it stinks, leave it behind, ahhh bag is now lighter...or you know has room for the stuff you've bought along the way...and the stuff that you were sucking it in to fit into...bring it, by week 3, you'll fit. (walk everywhere if you want this to be true!) I'm sure the locals think I'm nuts, but hell, so does anyone who knows me...so not like that's anything new. I still revel in my crazy, hope you revel in yours too!  

Quotes:
Before God we are all equally wise - and equally foolish. -Albert Einstein
A question that sometimes drives me hazy: am I or are the others crazy?-Albert Einstein
Few are those who see with their own eyes and feel with their own hearts. - Albert Einstein  
  

Dive day!

And it's sunny out! Woo who....well it was sunny and I did woo who...but that frigging water is COLD! I've also discovered my first dive boat with no drinks (water people, water)...ugh, good thing breakfast was included at the hotel. The sea is super salty, and frigging COLD. I've got on a 5mm wetsuit, and am using 10kilos of weight...perspective, in grand cayman, I carried 4.5 kilos. But the dive master has the same amount of weight as me, and yes, my tan's darker. Went through a cavern, so awesome...and um, happy there's no sharks here...glad my first experience in a cave system didn't even include the probability of sayin wuz up to Mr. Sharkie...yeah, I'd have burned some air on that! Not a ton of fish here,(ahem, years of over fishing does take a toll) but some super colorful little guys, a few starfish, and some urchins. Started off sunny, second dive...pretty sure my lips turned blue. Gorgeous cave system...honestly though, I nearly called it, I was swimming faster than the dive master to stay warm, glad I stuck it out, coming up theough a lava tube...friggin awesome. 
Soapbox time. You have been warned, so if you read further, thank you, I appreciate it, and again, you have been warned. This goes out to all the "it's not my problem" state of mind people....especially if you like seafood. The lion king had it right peeps...it really is "the circle of life" that shit you throw on the ground, and in the water, the fish eat it...which means you in turn eat it....mmmmm cigarette butts, just the flavor I was looking for in my fish plate. Yes, I saw fish nibbling on a cigarette butt some ass tossed in the water. The Pacific gyro (google it, you need to know)  sadly very real, sea life dying from mistaking our plastic crap for food is all sadly very real. You are not immune, you ARE responsible, it is your problem. Take care of this planet...you wouldn't be here without it.
Quotes for today:
when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realize we cannot eat money. (Cree Proverb)

All things share the same breath - the beast, the tree, the man, the air shares its spirit with all the life it supports. (Chief Seattle)

I'm just a big black rain cloud, hovering over Chania town (May 25, 2011)

So much for diving today...headed towards Konosos to see the ancient palace, built by the Minoians 7,000 years BC. And yeah they had running water, and drainage...and took baths more than once a year. It's believed that when Santorini blew, the gasses and ash cloud killed the civilization. What's left is pretty gorgeous. Got to see a very famous painting, dancing with the bulls (moms art history major coming in handy!) it rained a bit...still needed sunglasses but there was enough rain to need to stand under something for a few minutes...then it went away. Found a gyro place and lunch of 2 gyros and 1/2 liter of wine = €9.19, sweet! Headed back to old town (130 kilometers...oyi) there's fruit stands (mostly oranges), and little road side mom and pop cafes (tavernas)  and thankfully, lots of gas stations. (they're only open till 9ish, fuel up early!!!). Ate at tamana, and had some of the local booze (retsina, I think?) with the dessert...okay, we all know, I'm no stranger to taking a shot, but DAMN...they claimed it was 40, maybe 45% alcohol...clearly this is some home made jungle juice, I'm telling ya, it could peel paint. Both mom and I were up to get water later!! Food was awesome, and price was great! Here's hoping the weather clears for the dive tomorrow...

Live your own life
"We don't always know what makes us happy. We know, instead, what we think SHOULD. We are baffled and confused when our attempts at happiness fail...We are mute when it comes to naming accurately our own preferences, delights, gifts, talents. The voice of our original self is often muffled, overwhelmed, even strangled, by the voices of other people's expectations. The tongue of the original self is the language of the heart."  -- Julia Cameron

 "It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. ...I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing." -- Oriah Mountain Dreamer

Adjustment...

Oyi, getting back to San Francisco is gonna take a bit of adjustment!! Just going to Crete was culture shock. Traffic circles, scooters, graffiti...loud noisy, doesn't feel like an island. Plus side, water is drinkable agin, yay! Things I'd recommend you face during the day vs at night....renting a car and driving 130 kilometers with a Greek map (read no gps) Greek maps are great for general vicinity, exact location...trust your instincts, or have an address written down that you can point to and repeatedly request assistance with! I was feeling like quite the awesome driver, my little mint blue bubble (I call the cars bubbles, they're kinda cute!) anywhozeyboozie my hamsters were whirring away (pretty sure if you open the hood you'd see a hamster in a wheel, I'm not convinced it's an engine...) at 100 kilometers/hour...yeah it's really not that fast. (look it up if you want to know, 1 woman conversion machine...hopefully joined by others soon!) so drove 2+ hours in the dark, up a brick street in old town (read narrow as all get up) did a 3 point turn....multiple times (damn I miss my back up camera!) hear we were close, turn left at the end of the road (woot! Something past just go straight!) proceeded back where I had just backed out of, turned left, and found (wait for it...) ya ready?...stairs. Yup stairs, I mean I know it's a rental and all...but uh, I reversed about 25 kilometers, nuther 3 point turn. Back down the very narrow, cafe lined road, and out to the fort. Parked, asked for directions again, (was given the same general advise) locked the crap in the car, and hoofed it. Yup, it was about 5 minutes by foot. Woo who to getting to the general vicinity of where we needed to be on hope faith a prayer and a little travel mojo, schweet. Hotel Doge is right smack in old town, and suddenly I feel transported to what I imagine Morocco must look like. Huge 4 poster bed, mosquito netting around it, red and orange bed spread all the wood work (night stand, cabinets, etc) look hand made. The floor is a gorgeous red tile. The shower way more high tech than mine at home. 5 shower heads, yes, five....though you can only use 3 at any one time (of course I had to try them) walked around old town today, as soon as you get to the outskirts: graffiti everywhere (boo hiss.) it was super muggy. Old town is pretty cool, surrounded by a fort, and there are areas where you can see the damage from the bombs dropped in WWII, pretty intense.  Lots of cute shops, plenty of tavernas. Was a heck of a drive, but happy we made it, felt a bit more like island life here, no where near as intense as Hiraklio. (like I said....I'm gonna need to ease back into this whole city life thing...)

We were constantly moving to different countries and adjusting to new things. It was such a free feeling. I'm glad I didn't have a traditional upbringing. - River Phoenix
       

Satur...wait I mean Sunday.

Yup I've officially lost track of the day, and the date. Yay me. I'm brown as a nut, (and still proud to be nutty) booked our tickets to Crete and got a hotel for 4 nights. Finally figured out how to recharge stuff in the room...and yes, we're now leaving, tee hee. Mayhaps eventually I'll catch up/figure stuff out BEFORE I go...perhaps not. Perhaps that's the meaning of this journey, learn to not only live with but actually come to revel in and enjoy the wonder of not knowing. At it's core, learn to trust. Lost my wallet for a bit today, somehow though, I knew it was lost, not stolen, just put in a pocket (travel gear comes with a ton of hidden compartments) was annoyed while I couldn't find it (mainly because I needed to pay for some stuff before we left) somehow the fear that used to yak over so quickly was much much quieter today...and it all worked out! Was in the back pocket of my bag...duh. Walked down to a black beach near the hotel, and a snack at the local taverna, I picked up trash on the way back to the hotel. Grabbed our tickets in Fira on the way to the port, and I'm currently watching a gorgeous sunset out my window seat while catching up my blog. Someone brought 2 bunnies with them, so friggin cute! They're in a bird cage in the baggage area.Crete should be an adventure...I didn't book us a transfer, (getting bolder!) might get a car at the port, unless they're asking too much. Then we'll call the hotel to find which bus we take....unless mom vetoes and requests a cab. We shall see! Looking forward to the Minoan history and ancient ruin/wreck dives on Crete. Rumor has it Zorba the Greek was filmed here, so should be a gorgeous beach. Sunset is getting very colorful, bye for now.
Alrighty then we landed around 8:45, mom voted for a cab, till we found out it would be €150, one way....we opted for a car. Just got to the hotel (it's 12:10am here) The cell only works for Internet if I'm on a network, 3G isn't an option...based on some loose directions, and a vague idea of where we were headed, I got us within walking distance of the hotel-sweet! (yeah, the number listed in the email, didn't work...not sure if it's a them or a me issue) any who, I'm exhausted...Crete is huge. Doesn't feel anymore like an island than Manhattan feels like an island. G'night for now.

Saturday- yes, I'm lost...again, maybe still

Recall how I mentioned I find things when I'm not looking? Today, I found (and even drove through) the center of Fira, yay me. As I'd found Butari accidentally on Thursday, and was shown how to get there on Friday, the whole game plan of:1) Butari, 2) red beach, 3) ancient agretiri, then tbd. Simple...uh huh. Try: found the highest point of the island, found a black beach...drove about in circles for a bit (yes butari was actually at the center of said circle I would discover later) found the red beach (score!) found ancient whatsermerhosie...it's currently closed as a portion collapsed last season. Was starving by this point, so stopped at a little cafe on the beach. The area has this volcanic compressed ash that has been dug into and reinforced creating cave restaurants on the waterfront. The guy who ran the one we ate at, bought his fish fresh (he showed us the catch) made his own wine, and fava bean dip. His brother made the olives (they were awesome, had a faint hint of roses) and the produce was all from either him, or his brother. We had dorado grilled with a bit of lemon juice, the flavors here are so fresh (ahem no monsanto gmo shit) that's really all you need/want. The home made wine, had to have a higher alcohol content than most..a few glasses in, everyone was content. (mumcicle a giggle fest) I was relaxed enough to continue the hunt for the elusive butari...that I'd found 3+ times before mind you. We finally asked for directions, and got an answer that didn't consist of "just go straight" and found our way to the winery! Yay!!! "Just go straight" seems to be the answer de jour when asking for directions. How do I get to....oh very simple, no problem, just go straight, turn left by the first church,  right at the corner...(uhhh, that's not exactly "straight") don't even begin to try "straight" in Mykonos, the roads are built through and around the buildings, not the other way around. There are signs on Santorini, they have destinations listed...naming streets doesn't seem to be something anyone has felt the urge to do, but hey people are friendly, and willing to give directions, so I'll take it! There was a group of 5 girls from San Francisco at Butari, believe it or not, no I didn't actually know any of them. (see I don't actually know the whole city...yet) went to mail home the wine but the postoffice was closed, bummer. Saw our last Santorini sunset (for now) talk about rapture, it was gorgeous! Happy the worlds still spinning, and we're all still living, let's take care of each other and our planet and keep it that way awhile, kay?

Remember: "be the change you wish to see in the world" - Mahatma Gandhi