Two and half weeks...

That makes me think of the movie "9 1/2 Weeks" -- which my trip has no similarities ;-)
and it also makes me think of "Two and a Half Men" -- a Los Angeles export that has thankfully not made it to the Greek television syndicate (apologies to those fans I offended).

So here's what has happened in my 2 and a half weeks:
- Played tennis
- Celebrated George's birthday
- George and I went on a road-trip to the mountains *
- My mother came to Athens *
- I had a minor melt-down
- Christmas*
...in that order. (I will have separate blog posts for these * events)

So let's go in order shall we?

Tennis... I have taken tennis lessons for years and I'm pretty bad at it.  Granted, those lessons were from 12-15 years old, I was probably more interested in heading to the mall than holding a racket.

Hence, why I look like this when I play...

(look at the expert foot and hand positioning)

George has been taking lessons for a year or so and has a joined a small league.
Hence, why he looks like when he plays...

Is this tennis or a photo shoot?!

December 16th-- George's birthday...ooh!  Where does he want to go?  

A fancy Greek place?  No.  Pizza.

Pizzoteca-- In the heart Pireaus, Greece...

I thought we should at least order a Mythos, my favorite Greek beer, for the occasion.  No luck. 

This place was like, "...we serve Heineken, Amstel and Budweiser"

-- really BUDWEISER??!!

We ordered a Heineken... Sigh, so much for sporting the Greek economy.

(Well, Germany does need the help thanks to the bail outs)

We celebrated by buying ourselves sweaters at Zara!!! Sassy.

A closer look at how cute I am!

The pizza was very tasty :-) Here's a tip add: FETA!

my minor melt-down

Ok I would say that I am a very cultured and well-traveled person.  I love exploring places, going out, etc.  (In Brazil, I once tried to drag my friend Czelena to go to a night-club in the middle of a flavella with two guys we met on the beach).  In fact, every friend I have traveled with has a "...you can't believe what Dahéli and I did" story... (at least I hope so)

So I surprised myself when I was like: 

"OMG I feel like I'm on another planet-- I cannot go one more day without being able to read, talk or understand what is going on around me! (The expression 'it's all Greek to me' as new meaning now) George is my only source of entertainment! And I'm tired of being the only black person anywhere!!!" (...the guys selling knock off Louis Vuittons on the sidewalk don't count)

My friend Talleah wisely put what I was going through in perspective.  I am not vacation in the traditional sense, it's a month-- so I definitely have a foot in the real day to day life.  It's not going to be all sight-seeing and party times.  This trip was for me to have fun in a more low-key way, have some "me" time, write and reflect.  So far the writing is 'eh'-- besides this blog.  As for my reflections... TBA.  I will say,  I'm appreciative that my only source of entertainment, George, is not going down in flames.  Especially since all my friends probably have a "Dahéli got on my last nerve" story, too :-)

Random movies & photo goodies!

This is what zipping through the streets looks like...

Another one of my food creations... I made the garlic bread from SCRATCH!!!

Flocafe.  It's my 2nd home. 

 My usual: espresso con panna (espresso with whipped cream) 3.13 euros 

George's usual: espresso freddo (cold espresso?) 4.05 euros

These drinks ain't cheap! But going for coffee in Greece for fun: priceless!

Main Square in Pireaus @ Christmas

In the nativity scene behind us, Jesus has blond hair and blue eyes-- somethings never change :-)

Pireaus is on the southern coast of Greece, just below Athens.  It's a penisula, actually.  It's also a major port-- so if you want to go the islands (Mykonos, Santorini, Crete) you can take a ferry from here.  It's pretty awesome being near the water.  However, I don't get how some people can still go swimming in this water in DECEMBER...and these people are usually senior citizens!

They actually have a communist party here, with seats in Parliament!  Here's the building...

Where George was baptized! 

FUN FACT:  When you get baptized you get named after a saint.  So George was named after St. George.  And each saint has their own holiday, so if you are named after a saint you get to celebrate on their day, too-- it's like an extra birthday!  So on Christmas, everyone with the name Christos, Christina, Chrisoula gets fetted as well... FUN.

My dryer.

Today was a special day for me when I had to knock on the first floor neighbor's door and ask for my underwear that had fallen off the line and on to her balcony awning. 

She did not give it back.   What do you think that means?