Friday, April 8, 2011

Opa!

G is for Greece


More specifically Athens but using that city for the letter A didn't occur to me until we arrived at the letter G.

Opa!

The word Opa! is an exclamation of joy, kind of like hooray.

We went to Athens one warm week in August, 2005.
Much of the city clears out in August so we didn't run into big crowds or tons of traffic which is evidently common when the residents are in town.


We stayed in a beautiful hotel beside the sea and spent much of our week right here...sitting beside this pool reading, napping, swimming and occasionally climbing the ladder into the clear blue waters of the Aegean.


The pool was salt water.
This is something you figure out when you open your eyes under water sans goggles.

Opa!

We ate a lot of Greek Salads...that never gets old.


Nor does the view.
Opa!

One thing you should know...
it's mighty hot in Athens in August.


But we forged ahead and we hiked ourselves up to the Acropolis.
Don't you kind of have to when you're in Athens?
It was hot, the steps were marble and the steps were many but look-
everybody's smiling.

Opa!

The views from that Greek hilltop?


Amazing.


They pack a lot into the space around this city don't they?
Almost half the population of Greece lives in Athens.

We also made a stop at the Olympic Stadium.



Hmmm...
Why was the 17-year old not getting with the program here?
Could it be because she was 17?

Opa!

Teenage girls can also be completely precious,
case in point...


I'd love to put us all back on that wall for just a moment.

Opa!

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18 comments:

  1. I think Athens is one of my favorite cities in the world!! It and its people could be pretentious but neither are! Thanks so much for these gorgeous photos of your lovely holiday!
    Blessings!
    Ann

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  2. What gorgeous photos. I haven't been to Athens and now after reading this, I want to go even more!

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  3. Opa love it! What a gorgeous trip!Have a wonderful Friday!

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  4. Thanks for sharing your pictures and stories. I can live vicariously through you until the kiddos are old enough for us to travel abroad. We just aren't quite there yet.

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  5. Okay...so, some days I'm only moderately jealous of your travels...but today...*drool, drool! My husband and I love Greek Food...and Greece's romance and history...*someday...someday. For today, thanks for sharing all these great pictures!

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  6. How beautiful! I love that you have such a chance to travel! Good for you. OPA! Thanks for sharing.

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  7. Thank you for taking us with you on your past travels!
    Honey and I would like to get over there someday.

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  8. I love traveling pictorially with you! : )

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  9. I'm so jealous!!! I would love to go to Greece. I was watching a documentary about the Acropolis the other day - I just never get tired of hearing about it. It's just amazing. Maybe one day I'll get there!!

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  10. I agree with Jill, I love traveling with you, via your photographs--which are fantastic, by the way! Opa! Thanks for sharing :)

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  11. Greece is on my bucket list. It's beautiful!

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  12. How neat that you have visited the St. Nicholas church in France! If on your travels you see any St. Nicholas churches...please let me know (Annnichols3@gmail.com) I'd love to link back to you!
    Blessings!
    ann

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  13. I love that picture of your daughter looking at you all like you are crazy. So funny. What a wonderful vacation...good times.

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  14. Hehe... daughter 1 thinks that picture is pretty funny. Can we go back there pretty please????

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  15. Is there any place y'all haven't been? *sigh*

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  16. Ok, I have been to Greece, but what I am jealous of is the fact that your whole family got to share in this holiday. We started living overseas and traveling after our kids were married. How wonderful that your girls have these memories of traveling the world with you.

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  17. Why were you all making the V shape with your arms?

    Opa!

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