Greece is the Word

Home. I have returned from vacation with a sense of relaxation, rejuvenation, and inspiration. I travelled to Greece and everyday was a new experience, filled with adventure, excitement, and challenge. Before I left, when I told people I was heading to Greece, every single person remarked..."to the islands?" But in fact, I did not step foot on a beach or in the water. My trip was a trek through the mountains, forests, and ancient towns that represent a different side of Greece. A very special side of Greece.

As I reflect on my odyssey, it seems almost to have been a fantasy or a dream. I flew through the clouds to get there. Along the way I visited Dragon Lake, the Plateau of the Muses, Mikro Papingo - a village with a population of 14 affectionately known as "little" Papingo (and not to be confused with Megalo or "big" Papingo), and centuries old monasteries built into mountain walls and atop mountain pinnacles. The skies were blue everyday. I travelled through emerald green, mossy woods which were somehow magically transformed into fields filled with wild flowers in colors only nature could create. These all of a sudden became densely filled alpine forests and, just as quickly, hills of boulders with not a tree in sight. I walked through the strength and heat of the midday sun, traversed patches of the whitest snow, and trekked on thick carpets of golden leaves, appropriately dubbed "walking on baklava" by a travelling companion. I crossed paths with sheep, dogs, horses, mules, snakes, fish, butterflies, frogs, salamanders, turtles, snails, wild goats, many flies, and people from all over the world speaking many different languages. Ultimately, on the night of the full moon, I climbed to the highest peak of Mount Olympus...nearly 10,000 feet in the sky and the "Throne of the Gods." It felt like a dream but in reality it was a dream come true!

Now that I am home, I look forward to looking through all your blog posts that I missed and will be responding to your comments and emails in the coming days. Thanks to everyone who wished me well on this trip and who welcomed me back. Special thanks to Terry Rafferty, who gave me a "You Make My Day" award while I was away. Visit her blog to see examples of her amazing paintings and sketches. Thanks Terry! Instead of nominating five blogs for the same award (which I have done twice before), I will just suggest that you pick five blogs from my blogroll that are new to you and pay them a visit.

I will be posting about Greece all week so that you can share my journey. For today, here are just a few pictures of nature shots from my dream. As always, click to enlarge.