Archive | travel

visiting Greek Orthodox monasteries in Crete

July 5, 2012 at 4:20 pm

On one of our afternoons in Crete, we drove to visit some nearby Greek Orthodox monasteries. These are popular tourist attractions near the tiny base, as several of them are within a 30-minute radius. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but we were all (including Lena) completely entranced by the afternoon’s discoveries.

Both monasteries were self-sufficient communities of monks. They cared for themselves as well as dozens of tidily groomed little cats, much to Lena’s delight.

Outside the walls of the monastery we discovered rolling vineyards and olive groves, which explains the abundance of wine and oil for sale inside.

The monks also kept about 100 rabbits (a nest full of babies pictured below!), sheep, goats, and so many chickens.

The next monastery we visited was known for a hiking trail down to a cave on the coast. According to legend, St. John spent the night in that cave thousands of years ago. The woman in the travel office on base said the hike would “take about 15 minutes,” and so we immediately set off down the rocky trail.

Roaming local goats watched us warily as we passed by. Can you spot the black and white one on the wall in the photo above?

Unfortunately, after about 30 minutes of working our way quickly downhill, Lena was crying continually from hunger. We stopped to feed her and assessed the journey ahead. We could tell the woman in the travel office had never hiked the trail before, as it looked like we had at least 30-45 minutes more hiking ahead of us, about 1.5-2 hours of hiking on the return, and not enough daylight to enjoy the cave (it was already 7pm). Also, we had packed no water. I have never done this before in my marriage to a hiking/nature/outdoors aficionado of the highest caliber… but I asked to turn back. Such a sense of an uncompleted mission!

“Next time, honey,” I promised, “we’ll bring water.”

And since Elliott has to fly to Crete every quarter, there seems a fairly good chance that I can make good on that promise. We all hope so!

2 :: in Greece, hiking, travel

visiting Greek Orthodox monasteries in Crete

July 5, 2012 at 3:20 pm

Both monasteries were self-sufficient communities of monks. They cared for themselves as well as dozens of tidily groomed little cats, much to Lena’s delight.

Outside the walls of the monastery we discovered rolling vineyards and olive groves, which explains the abundance of wine and oil for sale inside.

The monks also kept about 100 rabbits (a nest full of babies pictured below!), sheep, goats, and so many chickens.

Roaming local goats watched us warily as we passed by. Can you spot the black and white one on the wall in the photo above?

“Next time, honey,” I promised, “we’ll bring water.”

And since Elliott has to fly to Crete every quarter, there seems a fairly good chance that I can make good on that promise. We all hope so!

2 :: in Greece, hiking, travel

Crete: Part I

July 3, 2012 at 1:40 pm

First glimpse of Crete from the plane window:

Crete was great, but getting there and back again was harrowing. Elliott and his soldiers were flying on a teeny tiny Navy plane for this trip, but Lena and I could only fly if there was Space A[vailable] after all the official passengers were seated. This means I had to pack and close up the house as though we were leaving for the week but had no guaranteed seat on the plane. So I did all the prep the night before (cleaning out the fridge, freezing food, giving away produce, washing the last of the cloth diapers, cleaning the kitchen, watering the plants, giving a key to a friend so she can water the plants mid-week, closing all the shutters on all the windows, unplugging everything, taking out all the trash…) and then at 6am on Monday morning we drove to the Naval Air station airport.

After two hours of assuming we couldn’t go (no seats left, Lena couldn’t fly on my lap, we didn’t have the right paperwork) a crew member in a flightsuit walked up and said: “There’s room for you. You can come.”

And just like that, we did!

[There is more to the “harrowing” adjective regarding our return trip, but I’ll save that story for a little later.]

Elliott worked every day (Monday-Thursday) that we were there, but his hours weren’t super long on this trip. Lena and I kept ourselves occupied on base until he was finished for the day.

One evening we all went to the pool on base. These days Lena loves playing with volleyballs, soccer balls, beach balls, tennis balls… you name it, she wants to carry it around and then “throw” it.

Another evening we went to the beach. The water was so warm and clear!

Later that same evening we went out to eat gyros with Elliott’s soldiers. I meant to take a picture during the meal. Whoops. Obviously it was delicious!

Elliott, Lena, and I explored the port city of Hania one evening. There were hundreds of fun shops and delicious seafood restaurants. This wins the “coolest walk-in spa ever” award in my book:

More photos coming soon of a trip to a couple of monasteries, a hike that we never finished, and our pre-flight trip to another beach at about 8 o’clock in the morning.

1 :: in Greece, travel

Crete: Part I

July 3, 2012 at 12:40 pm

First glimpse of Crete from the plane window:

And just like that, we did!

[There is more to the “harrowing” adjective regarding our return trip, but I’ll save that story for a little later.]

Elliott worked every day (Monday-Thursday) that we were there, but his hours weren’t super long on this trip. Lena and I kept ourselves occupied on base until he was finished for the day.

Another evening we went to the beach. The water was so warm and clear!

Later that same evening we went out to eat gyros with Elliott’s soldiers. I meant to take a picture during the meal. Whoops. Obviously it was delicious!

Elliott, Lena, and I explored the port city of Hania one evening. There were hundreds of fun shops and delicious seafood restaurants. This wins the “coolest walk-in spa ever” award in my book:

More photos coming soon of a trip to a couple of monasteries, a hike that we never finished, and our pre-flight trip to another beach at about 8 o’clock in the morning.

1 :: in Greece, travel

that time we went to Greece

July 2, 2012 at 3:20 pm

There’s a whole story behind our last-minute, semi-harrowing journey to Crete last week, but I’m going to save it for tomorrow when the four loads of laundry are no longer calling my name. There are some lovely pictures to share of a magnificent island, and I’ll also tell you what’s like for your plane to lose an engine halfway across the Mediterranean!

In the meantime, I have a wonderful article I want to share with you: Constraint and Consent, Career and Motherhood. Kate Harris, Executive Director of the Washington Institute, wrote a response to the much-discussed Atlantic article Why Women Still Can’t Have It All. Kate’s perspective is insightful and encouraging, especially as she writes as a Christian woman who works part-time as she mothers three pre-school-age children full time. Read Kate’s article and be encouraged and inspired to use the constraints of motherhood to figure out your true calling and passions.

As I muddle through volunteering as a nurse, developing my skills as a homemaker, blogging somewhat regularly, knitting with a purpose, I wonder where in there lie my true passions, now gently and firmly constrained by the presence of little Lena in our lives. I think of two of my friends who are going back to school (taking classes at home) to become midwives while raising their young children. I think of other bloggers who have studiously developed their writing or design or photography skills while nursing young bodies or homeschooling young minds. I think of many published authors who have written during nap time as they crafted their life’s work. Wherein lies my deepest passion? How can I refine my vocation and pursue the sweetest calling of all, all to the glory of God?