Saturday, January 21, 2006
07:50

We are now all back from where we started and what we so politely call home. But after 10 days of intense sharing, intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, my dreams at night are still in Yassou and Ouzo land. The Germans have this wise saying: The soul travels on foot. It will be a while until I shall arrive.

Thursday, January 19, 2006
03:01

Milan. The bus left the hotel at 3.15 for the airport. After an enchanted last supper in the backroom of a tavern some decided not to go to bed at all but to chat and talk about the trip. "Even 2000 years later Paul has made a congregation out of us weary travelers from Maine," Anne said so nicely.

Wednesday, January 18, 2006
03:46

"Go! Go now!" Athena dismissed us, careful not to make it a long ceremony. "I expect to hear from all of you by email." If she ever comes to Maine to visit she wants to see a moose and a skunk. We made it to our last stop, Athens.

Monday, January 16, 2006
16:58

Our last evening with Athena, our gracious and clever guide. We find an empty taverna and order everything on the menu. For two hours the food comes faster than we can eat it. Calamari. Greek salad, cabbage and carrots, greens, giant shrimp, pork chops, tsatsiki, Greek caviar, baked goat cheese, open red and white wine, bread and olive oil, ouzo. Much more than we can eat. We invite guide and driver and still only pay 14 euro per person, including tax and tip. Excellent value.

Sunday, January 15, 2006
11:26

Every evening we gather to share our impressions. Today the overwhelming experience was the Greek Orthodox service we attended. We felt welcome in the village church of Olympia.

Saturday, January 14, 2006
18:33

Anne said she is looking forward to reading my daily comments when she is back home. She will be surprised to read this one. - We arrived in Olympia. Rosemary has been sick for 2 days now. We brought her to the hospital to check her for pneumonia. The lungs are clear, we all are much relieved.

Friday, January 13, 2006
07:38

The sixth day of our journey to beautiful Greece, 
Following days of long travel, ancient sites, and great feasts, 
We have walked where Paul walked on the so-called Egnatian Way, 
And now monasteries of Meteora are on for this day. 
                                                                         (Timoth)

Thursday, January 12, 2006
11:35

The discovery of the tombs of Alexander the Great's father Philip and Alexander's son thirty years ago are ranked among the most spectacular archeological discoveries of the 20th century. We enter the mound and stare at the boxes and urns holding the human remains, the gold and silver, realizing that it is because of these people that the Christian Bible was published in Greek. It is because of Alexander that we teach Greek in Bangor, Maine.

Thursday, January 12, 2006
06:25

Philippi. We stop at the river, where according to the story of Acts the first European, Lydia, was baptized. Some hastily fill empty bottles to take home. Moments later we stare at stones and drawings and mosaics and listen to our guide and understand that this is the oldest documented church building in Europe.

Tuesday, January 10, 2006
11:06

Thessaloniki. Rosemary thinks she found the right picture postcard for Marvin. It's about Greek folklore. "Why this one?" I ask her. She answers, "A bunch of dancing guys wearing skirts."

Monday, January 09, 2006
14:46

Twenty hours after getting on the bus in Portland we climb out of an airplane in Thessaloniki. Zareen asks me, "Is today still yesterday or already tomorrow?"

Sunday, January 08, 2006
17:54

Wouldn't you know it? 14 of 16 are now on board. Or as the Germans put it: Unkraut vergeht nicht.

Sunday, January 08, 2006
14:51

Seven of the eight students, who wanted to take the bus to Logan showed up at the station. Not perfect, but not too bad either. And of course there is always hope.