Back from trip to Greece, visiting with our friends who gave us a wonderful tour of the Ionian. Perfect weather, great scenery, hospitable people and great company. Many beautiful little harbors whose main business is the summer yachting trade, mostly chartered sailboats from bases in the areas. Few powerboats, diesel at €1.35/liter might have something to do with that. Each harbor has its collection of tavernas on the waterfront, serving excellent Greek dinners from gleaming, spotless kitchens. Somehow, the bill always came out to €70 for the four of us, including wine and gratuity. Water temperature was 20C, discouraging swimming, but crystal clear - one could easily see the bottom in 30 feet of water. Exploring meant hill-climbing, but was rewarded with gorgeous views and Greek towns that look just like the tourist brochure.

Athens, well, another story. Dirty and crowded, but still a must see for the connection with the past. Not just the Acropolis and the Agora, the National Archeological Museum is amazing with artifacts from the region that are up to seven thousand years old. The Metro is a cheap and easy way to get around, the airport trip costs only €10 each way for two people, and trips in the city center are only 80¢. But still, the most personal connection was in the museum at the Agora, from the beautiful little oil lamps from the classical era, still smudged with soot where they had been used 2,500 years ago. Just brought up images of someone blowing out the lamp and going to sleep, so long ago.

Didn’t miss a thing  in the markets, it appears. OK, I’m back, let’s get the bear thing on again.