Harvey Travel Arts

I just think that living in a little village of winding steps, flat roofs, decks, hills and clear skies might be an adventure.  Imagine waking every morning, opening the shades to take in a sleepy little town where no one else was stirring, existing peacefully in that moment of calm, sipping your tea or whatever it is you prefer.  Listening to the ocean, watching the shopkeepers roll up their doors, opening stores, restaurants with pitchers of water, cafes with old men, their stories and reliving past memories.  Just a few more minutes of peace before a little chaos called a cruise ship comes in, soon the streets flocked with tourists wearing their hats, sunglasses, sandals, women in white cotton sundresses, men in shorts, t-shirts and leather flip-flops.  They'll stop by, pick up some jewelry, a few kitschy souvenirs, maybe something beautiful to be shipped back home. They'll tour the chapels, taste the wine, get some sun, enjoy a salad with feta, tomatoes, cuc...

On our cruise last summer, Brian and I visited Olympia, the site of the ancient Olympic Games.  It is now where the Olympic torch is lit, in an unfortunately pagan ceremony.  When we walked around the area, I remember commenting to Brian that it is sad to see all of that time and energy spent building huge monuments to pagan idols when it could have been used to provide for the poor who were likely building such places.  Well, it is now that time of the Olympic season and the torch was lit just a few days ago.  These pictures, from our cruise, show the place where it was lit.  It was a pagan temple, and you can read about it in the below photo. What I would rather do, though, is talk about God: the Creator of the Universe and all that is in it.  He made our bodies capable of so much, as the athletes demonstrate during the games.  I like to watch the gymnasts, diving, track and swimming in particular, because of the fluid movement of the athl...

Does anyone else need some inspiration today?  Sometimes I think back to our Greek cruise last summer and wish I could spend just ten minutes on Santorini or Mykonos with my face to the breezy, salty air and the fresh, beautiful scenery all around me.  These little chapels, of which I have posted several photos, inspire me.  The crisp, refreshing whitewash and the cheerfully colored trim and domes exude peace.  Walking into to the incense-filled chapels was, like I've said before, a different experience from the often heavy, overwhelming decor of the cathedrals in Europe. Homes, hotels, and businesses on these islands are similar in appearance. I just want to sit on a bench in a sundress, enjoying a glass of water or wine, and feel the sun on my face.  Just for ten minutes.

The Acropolis in Athens is one of the best recognized or best known monuments. I cannot begin to tell you what we had to go through to get to the top. Our journey started when we walked through town, up a couple of hidden passages, just to arrive at the base of this attraction. You know all of the TV specials that show some man standing with an empty Acropolis in the background? I have no idea how they get those shots, unless it is off hours or the crowds are edited out. Seriously, there is no physical privacy there. Once we got to the base of the Acropolis, we saw a large crowd of people chaotically waiting near the entrance. It took a few minutes of observation to realize that tickets had to be purchased at a different area before getting in the massive crowds. So glad we figured that out first. Then, basically, there is pushing and shoving on slippery rocks until you finally make your way in. I am not exaggerating; people actually did stumble a bit around us and bodies were too ...

I need a good laugh, and today's Flower Power! post should do it. These are all more photos from Greece. I'm not sure where the "Having Pistils and No Stamens" wording came from. It must have amused Brian, though, because he photographed it. For those who aren't familiar with flowers, pistils and stamens are the female and male reproductive parts of a flower. There are some flowers which are "incomplete" and have one but not both. Not sure exactly what flower they were referring to here, but nonetheless, the English phrase in Greece amused us. Can't talk about flowers without showing this cute storefront! I love whimsy, and this place was certainly filled with it. The beautiful little jewel below is a perfect ending to today's pictures, don't you think?

Corfu, Greece was the second destination on our anniversary cruise this summer. There remains an old Venetian fortress or Palaio Frourio pictured here, which is quite a climb. We were hot in the 90 degree sun, starting to sweat, and definitely earned our lunch. We enjoyed the walk and reaching the top feels like a mini-accomplishment for the day. On top, I was surprised to find a cross. I haven't yet discovered the cross's history here, but I am very happy to share it with you.