Return to Athens

Our return to Athens gave us a few days of respite. In fact, the first three days there were the only days we had to ourselves at all. For daddy it was a good opportunity to re-charge a bit, and the girls managed some time with the neighbours in the garden, of course. The weather was strangely cool (for Athenian summer standards) and mommy was delighted that nights didn't involve sweat rolling down her brow.  The balcony was opened up once again, extending the living space into the outdoors, with a front view to the park. It was the perfect space to sit and sip on some coffee while the children played in the garden. Between the animals (Gizmo the dog and a number of cats) and the smattering of neighbours on their respective balconies, and the small army of little people in the garden, summer in this space generates quite a buzz. One stands up to say hello to the lady downstairs. Then answers a question from the kids downstairs, walks inside to fetch a ball (or something analogous) and throws it into the garden for play to commence. Downstairs is a diverse group of people, from little children playing ball to parents with their infants walking around and talking to their relatives. It's a virtual village-in-a-building. Daddy loves it. 

But as timing would have it - and generally does - July is also the time when local friends head out on vacation. It was a good chance to visit Stelio, Maria, Mikeala and Anastasia in Tolo, a couple hour drive away. So what do you do when you've just arrived from an intercontinental trip and your friends are out of town?  You go on a road trip!  We spent a day with them and had a wonderful time, getting to know a place that was new to us and adding it to our "to do" list for another time. 

Then it was back to Athens, and the visit of Adri and Luca from Milano and Tia, TTmouz and Avi, who were on their return from the other side of the world. Between outings to Sounio and breakfasts on the balcony, a trip to Varsos and hanging out in the playgrounds of Athens (some in a not-so-good state), as well as a return trip to Tolo with the extended gang, the end-of-vacation was a busy and happy one. 

Our final days saw us trying to maximize time with friends and our finally getting to meet Arsenis, Peter and Vika's two year old son!  Then, with the suddenness of a clock striking 10:30 am on the day of departure, the luggage was, well, lugged into two waiting cars (a taxi and Stefan's car) and off we went. Our final goodbyes were to Stefan who, as always, is a real angel in our lives. It was the end of a wonderful summer!  

Small, Quiet, Natural. A Family State of Bliss.

It was quite a shock to get off one airplane and go from the large expressways of Southern Florida to the smallness of highways in rural Sweden. The change was abrupt but nonetheless wonderful. As we drove to visit Pappou and Moca we passed through miles and miles of green, and two lane highways that turned to small country roads. The trip took three hours and ended on the edge of a small town in central Sweden:  The gingerbread house by the lake!

After the requisite hugs and kisses and the like we unpacked and as no sooner were we putting our bags into place that Uncle 'Eko and Vince rolled in!  Vince, in particular stole the show with his fishing gear and, within minutes all the girls (who now included Moca's grand daughter Alize) were sporting their fishing prowess. Drinks were brought out lake-side and the running of North America turned into a sloooooow Scandinavian experience. 

The next few days were filled with everyone sharing the house (and houses next door too) and walking around the woods, fishing or just jumping and, once, taking a boat ride down the river to the old palace of the King. You can imagine how excited our girls were for seeing a real palace!  A few days later, when Aleko and Vince had moved on, we look a tour of the place too. 

The time there also brought with it walks and visits to downtown, as well as seeing the World Cup final in an american style sports bar / restaurant. But it was the time together doing nothing in particular that was the best. Slow time. Laughing time. Sharing time. Nothing in particular time. Relaxing and recharging. 

Merritt Island Love

The Florida panhandle is a gooooooood distance from the Miami metropolitan area and it would seem logical that one would work in a transit point to break up the trip, so why not make a quick (outgoing) and a not-so-quick (return) stop in Merritt Island to visit Con and her husband Chad, their beautiful 19 month old daughter, Myah. They were flanked by a dog, Sierra, and a cat Luna. 

The breaks on either end worked out beautifully and we hope that the disruption was not too great. Our girls fell in love with Myah and insisted that they play and feed her all the time. Luna also became quite a center of attention but only ventured beyond the bedroom doorway on rare occasions.  We were also given the option of where to stay and opted, unanimously, for the trailer out front!  It was a pseudo camping experience that allowed us all to share one big sleeping space (origially intended for two). There were also shopping trips, and food extravaganzas  provided by the hosts, and a good deal of "wow" moments as we realized that practically the entire house was fitted, re-built and re-purposed by Chad himself. Daddy was quite embarrassed that his capabilities were sadly lacking in the home improvement front. 

Then there were the visits by Abuelita Emilia and Myah's grandparents, with the requisite hugs and baby carrying and family pictures and chatting away. The love was ever present in many forms. It was the love of family, from husband to wife and back, the love of parents to children and back, the love of friends and the love of one's own space. We felt instantly at ease there and our days passed quickly, always a sign of good times. 

Panhandle Reunion...after 16 years!

One would think that Natalia's extended Latin family is the only one there is with the sheer numbers and enthusiasm (especially during Colombian national team games at the World Cup), but no! In fact there was more to this US foray. 

The gang got into their fancy rental car and drove up to a place called Merritt Island. It sits about 10 miles from Cape Cañaveral of Space Shuttle fame. There we stayed with a long time friend of Natalia's (more on that on the next post), her husband, their daughter, dog and cat. It was a delightful evening, but the very next day we had to drive off to Orlando, park the car in long term parking and board a plane (Silver Airways) to Pensacola.

The flight was less than exciting, with the feeling of being stuck, literally, a tin box, but only took an hour and a half and brought us into Pensacola airport in the mid afternoon. The sky was clear with a few scattered clouds and we called Mary, Laurence's grand aunt (is that a formal relationship?). The car would be there shortly. And it was. After meeting Bill (a friend of the family) and reuniting with Robin (Laurence's youngest cousin) we were off, roaming the rather calm streets. 

We finally arrived and there was Mary, with a broad smile, waiting for us! Ray and Mary moved into a retirement community a while back and are loving it, but for our girls this was something new altogether. They were quite popular with the residents and, when dinner came around, we reunited with Scott (Laurence's cousin) and Aloma (Scott's wife) as well as Dean (Bill's wife) and, of course, Ray, who was turning 87 a couple days later. Dinner was in his honor and we sang happy birthday on the only evening that all of us would be there.

This was to be a wonderful visit, with lots of chatter and discussions, a good deal of food (often brought to the table by university student waiters). Aloma (and, after Aloma & Scott left, Robin) played cards with our girls ("Go Fish" and Crazy 8's were the big success). The girls got to go swimming too and we had a visit to the Naval Aviation Museum as well as a run to the beachfront to have lunch before our departure. In there, of course, was the requisite bringing everyone "up to speed" on whereabouts and what we dos from all sides. Robin shared pictures of their new house and shared stories of her three daughters. We shared pictures too. Ray shared old family pictures and cutouts of newspaper articles, piecing together the family history going back to the early 1800's. Aloma and Scott shared plans to move to Richmond to be with the "grandchildren". We even had the chance to talk to my Dad and Monica who were in Sweden. Connections from all over the world! 

All in all the two days spent there - after 16 years - were filled with as much chatter as one could expect. Our departure brought sad hugs and the feeling that it wasn't quite enough time, but also the talk of possible trips to Greece one day. You think? It would be so wonderful to have the ever expanding clan come visit us there one day! As we were about to head into the airport, we asked Robin if there were any news yet. There were none, but a few days later she became a grandmother for one more time! 

... And On to Family Reunions

Getting off the plane in Fort Lauderdale we rented a car and headed to Tia Millie and Tio Lucho's place!  Adrian drove in to say hello too. By the time we got there the gang was waiting. Taita and Abuelita and TTmouz, Tia and Avi who had flown on a different route to the same place half way around the world. It was family reunion time!

And the reunion was a grand one, filled with lots of little wonders and lots of family time. It included the belated 70th birthday of both Beto and Emilia and they were happy as can be. It also included lots of World Cup soccer, and the Colombian flags were out in force in the household.  Between the shopping the water park, the food and the visits to all sorts of friends - not to mention the family dinners and chats and hanging out - it was a full schedule here. 

But really this was a special chance to see Millie and Lucho. They had yet to meet our girls and, as we discovered, they were (and are) accompanied by their little dogs Sasha and Yoda. And then, of course, there was Adrian, who arrived to fanfare and cheers of cousins and parents alike. For us it was a great chance to see them, to share their life for a short while, and to create connections. The family tree and the web of life in one.