Sunday, June 22, 2008

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.

























14 comments:

Anonymous said...

HI Seth! SO glad to know you're back home safely... what an amazing trip... how on earth did you come up with that itinerary? I never would've guessed that was the sort of trip you were doing! The photos are really amazing, they came out so clearly... very nice job! BTW, have you read Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides (I think that's how his last name is spelled)? If you haven't, it's one you might enjoy... it starts in the mountains of Greece in a tiny village... :D, K.

Gillian McMurray said...

Oh, you lucky, lucky person. I am so envious. I have studied ancient history for over ten years and have never had the chance to visit Greece. I will await your following posts with great relish and anticipation. Glad you had a nice time.

Teresa Abajo said...

This sounds like a wonderful trip to a beautiful country. Look forward to hearing more!

bockel24 said...

I´ve missed you, good to see you back. Your pics look like you´ve had a great trip! I´ve never been to Greece but I know people who never spend their vacation elsewhere as they´re addicted to Greece.

Angela Wales Rockett said...

What a wonderful journey! And through your brief description, I could almost feel as if I got to be there too. Mt Olympus on the night of the full moon?! Wow. I can't wait to see how this odyssey informs your art.

Welcome home. It will be good to see your posts again.

azirca said...

Welcome back Seth!
Stunning photos, looking forward to seeing more.

notmassproduced said...

oh wow - what a lovely trip - looking forward to reading (and seeing) more about it :o)

~*~Patty S said...

Welcome back! It's spellbinding to read about your adventures and see your amazing photographs TFS! I think that travel changes us in more ways than we could ever know. I will continue to enjoy my armchair trip to Greece thanks to you!

Lost Aussie said...

Nice to see you are back safe and sound. What a wonderful journey, the pictures are fantastic and I look forward to seeing more of your journal when you share.

Anonymous said...

what an odyssey to be sure - such love filled images - wonderful Seth - quite the Ledge!

xox - eb.

Terry said...

Seth, you've only been back a week and already I'm so far behind!
I adore seeing these pictures of Greece - its been years since I have been there and my last visit to the islands was so overrun by tourists that I doubted any of the "real" country remained. Obviously you found it! The burro and the woman in black are so iconic.

mcdc3s said...

Sounds like you had a wonderful trip. What a beautiful, beautiful country. I'm sure you'll not soon forget it.

Chris said...

oh my heaven

rivergardenstudio said...

Oh Seth, your trip to Greece sounds so amazing, and your photographs are beautiful! I especially love your doorways and windows, and what you wrote about them. I can't help but to compare them to France. I also traveled off the beaten path. It is great to be home, (today is my first day.) Now I just have to wake up a little more and get busy! Thanks for your well wishes...Roxanne