to Athens

And so begins our spring break adventure. I hear much of America is packing up to go places this year. We are no different! But where to? 

Last year, when she was 7, I took the plunge of taking Snowdrop for the first time alone with me to Europe. She has been begging to go on a trip far away again this year. Such travel is not easy: it requires patience and stamina. And of course, she has just me for company. Despite this, she wants to do it!

I thought hard about where I could take her. Covid is still a lurking issue of course. But honestly, there are plenty of other things to think about. The passage of time: that's probably my key consideration. It's funny how it works for you and against you. It cures you of some worries even as it raises new ones, so that with every year, travel with Snowdrop is easier for me -- if things go berserk, she is more capable of managing a pivot. But in some ways, it becomes harder: she ages, but so do I. Rushing with loaded suitcases, moving around with a faulty knee, keeping my energy level up there to match hers, at the same time that I need my hours to keep Ocean updated (yes, I know, that is my choice, but it is one I make) -- all this makes for interesting twists and turns ahead!

So where do we go? Well, I want to take her to a place she is not likely to visit soon (because it's far, and her brothers are too young for it, and her parents may have other priorities). One which will not be just resort type fun, but instead -- educational! Since she is an avid reader of Greek mythology and knows the gods and myths better than I ever did, the answer is almost too simple: I'll take her to Greece.

I have nothing but fond thoughts about that country: I traveled there for the first time with my sister -- two young women, well, barely that, more like girls, getting off the boat in Mykonos at a time when it was little more than an island of fishing families, following a village boy from the pier to his mother's house where we found a room. I traveled again with my parents, and then again, many times with Ed as we hopped between the less touristy islands off the shores of Turkey. Indeed, my very last trip with Ed included a stop in Kos, in Greece. It's where he told me he was not going to travel anymore. Very dramatic. And still, I have such terrific memories of all my ramblings there. So Greece it is. Not any of the islands -- we dont have loads of time and most of the now tourist-focused islands are closed down until at least April. But Athens and a bit of the sea shore should be just great (Greece does not make sense without a look out at the Aegean Sea).

Athens. A sprawling city of over 3 million. But it doesn't feel crazy big, probably because there are no skyscrapers. Athens has laws restricting the height of buildings and the tallest structure, standing at 28 floors, is that tall only because in the period of its construction (early 70s), these laws were not strictly enforced. Only three other buildings are even close to that height. In Athens, your eyes can only turn to the towering Parthenon temple that stands at the highest point of the Acropolis.

More on that later. Let's get back to basics!

I have a rushed morning at the farmette.

(Unie, digging up my flower bed: a springtime ritual!)

And a somewhat more relaxed breakfast with Ed.

(Santorini candle: not going there, but still, I'm smelling the flower of a Greek fig)

(someone whom I'll miss very much; always hard to leave beloveds behind)

And then it's just a question of getting those pre-travel routines tidied up. Finish the packing, try to remember stuff I may have forgotten. It's complicated when traveling with a young one. For instance, I dont typically travel with a thermometer, liquid Motrin, real books (rather than just my kindle), face masks in two sizes, and snack bars. And, too, we're going to be in two weather categories: warm and then not so warm. Can I keep it light enough so that I wont need to send my bag through?  I must! It is especially important since we are traveling through Paris airport and that country is currently in a chaos of strikes and work disruptions. If a suitcase is to be lost, this month is the month for it.

Okay, packed.  Ready to go.

We meet up at the airport just after the noon hour. To Detroit first, then to Paris, and from there, we'll cross the continent to its southeastern tip -- in Athens.

So far so good. No bad weather, no delays. Yet. Wish us luck!

With love...