tales of wander
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There and back again
So here we are, my final entry for this trip. My luggage never did make it to my hotel. Instead, this morning when I returned to the airport to catch my flight home, I stopped in the baggage terminal and lo-and-behold: there it stood, in a sea of other lost and damaged bags. It must … Continue reading
Nothing but coffee and the clothes on my back
I believe that my first entry in this summer’s journal said something to the effect of ‘travel is not for everyone.’ Funny how that is how my journal began—and now that I am preparing to end my journey, that is also how it will end. When I arrived in Madrid after 12 long hours of … Continue reading
The heavenly hamam
I can’t finish writing about Turkey without mentioning our trip to a traditional hamam, or Turkish bath. I wasn’t sure what to expect at first, but I was ready for a bit of relaxation. The Turkish bath experience goes like this: you arrive, remove your shoes, and change into something that looks like a sarong. … Continue reading
Turkey in a nutshell
Krystal eventually did make it to Istanbul, albeit just by the skin of her teeth and much later than expected. She was fortunate to have been on one of only a few flights that were allowed out of London that day. Flying to Istanbul from Athens might have been a breeze for me, but I … Continue reading
On terrorist plots and flying carpets
Several days ago, a terrorist plot to bomb nine planes with liquid explosives (concealed in carry-on luggage) was foiled at Heathrow Airport. Needless to say, it’s been all over the media and has resulted in even tighter flight restrictions. I had no real worries for my flight from Athens to Istanbul, however, knowing that Greece … Continue reading
A whirlwind week in the Peloponnese
Due to the magic of the Internet, a whole week in the Peloponnese has already passed. You see, this week has been my one chance to get caught up in my journals once-and-for-all, so I have been cramming over two weeks of entries into one. This entry will have to cover all of the Peloponnese, … Continue reading
Saying farewell to Aegina and the hospital
Morning is my favorite time at the hospital. Since our shifts don’t start until 9:00 am and most volunteers sleep in until shortly before, that means that waking up at 6:00 am affords me several hours of alone-time to have my coffee, read, say ‘kalemera’ to my favorite animals (which means ‘good morning’), and savor … Continue reading
Learning new skills
Last night several animals were brought in (every day many animals come to the hospital via ferry), one of which was a stork that had collided with some electric lines. The accident sheared off a wing, paralyzed part of its body, and amputated the bottom portion of one of its legs. The bird flailed around … Continue reading
Falling in love again
I’ve fallen in love. Never in a million years did I think it would happen here in Greece, least of all with one who doesn’t even speak the same language. His name is Sheldon—I know, not a Greek name, but as it happens, Sheldon’s family came to Greece from Northern Europe, so he’s not actually … Continue reading
Releasing birds and things that only seem to happen in Greece
Life at the wildlife hospital is an adventure. Despite the routine, every day seems different because of new arrivals, new diseases to treat (the center’s pigeon population is currently experiencing a chlamydia or salmonella epidemic, Mirena isn’t sure which), and the occasional event to spice up the week. Recently, another volunteer and I attended one … Continue reading
tales of wander 