Greece Trip and 1st Island

I've labeled this map so you can see where we traveled. 

1. Athens - Parthenon

2. Lavrion - Temple of Poseidon 

3. Syros - Ermoupoli, Capital city of the Cyclades.

4. Kos - Sanctuary of Asclepius, the God of Medicine 

5. Kusadasi, Turkey to see Ephesus

6. Santorini - Akrotiri, the Pompeii of Greece

7. Milos - Venus de Milo fame

As I said in the previous post on this trip, Syros was our first island.  The trip itinerary had to be juggled when we lost a sailing day because of rough seas.  Syros was to be later in the week because it is was fully settled in the 1800s as a leading port and shipyard.

 We had a walking tour of the main part of town and then time to explore on our own.  We opted with two other couples to seek out a quaint restaurant for lunch.

Here are some scenes from that walking tour.

Narrow streets.

Notice how the trunks of the trees seem to grow out of the marble.

Thankfully it wasn't wet or these walkways would be slippery.

Did you notice how the streets are paved in marble?

We started out in the flat part of the city but look how it climbs the hill.

The Catholic Church is at the highest point on the right.  We visited two Greek Orthodox Church in two very different neighborhoods.

The grand square early on a Sunday morning.

Miaoulis, a Revolutionary commander.

Inside the government building on the square I was taken by the patterns on the floor and ceiling.

From the square we walked on to the first church.  This building in distress caught my eye.

Inside the church was an overwhelming assortment of icons.

Another view of the church we just left.

Looking up to the top of the hill and the Catholic Church.

Where does this walkway go?  Not our route to the next church.

The next church was non descript outside but inside had this treasure - an early painting by El Greco.

After the visit to the church six of us tried to retrace our steps to where we had caught a glimpse of some charming restaurants.  It was just after noon time so they were opening.

We found this one and I asked what they were known for and he said Moussaka.  I was sold and so was the rest of the party.

We each ordered something different and sent round plates to share.  It was a lot of fun.

Later that evening before dinner a troop of dancers came on board.

It was a very good day.

The restaurant had black and white photos of scenes from the town so I converted this one to b&w. What do you think?

Next stop Kos.

What Spring Looks Like Here

I took a tour around the yard after I finished mowing on Friday afternoon.  Of course in loading these to this post, blogger has put them in the reverse order that I took them.

So here's a forget me not along the driveway.  I got this from a neighbor a couple of years ago.  It has not spread like I want it to along the driveway.

Here's a look at the driveway edge that I'm working on reclaiming.  Our property line is along those standing stones, but I figure my neighbor won't mind my improvements edging into her property.  Those are her hemlock trees and 6 of them were taken down last fall.  You'll see other stumps  in the following photos.

Another look at the driveway edge closer to the barn.  We got our 2 cords of wood on Tuesday which Dan promptly stacked in the barn.  Usually we save the scraps for kindling but we had so much so I had him put some along the edge.

Here's where I have reclaimed the edge by planting an assortment of things from my garden beds: lily, Siberian iris, spider wort, violets, etc.  I still need to mulch this bed and then work to reclaim the upper part where the forget me not is.

Our trees are leafing out now.

Here's our backyard view of the hills behind us.  The pale green are the birches.

In the hosta bed this blue flower is taking center stage.  Help, I don't remember what it's called. Are they bluebells?

Here is the same plant from afar with other plants showing themselves.

Still have some daffodils just now blooming.

The myrtle is another one of the blue flowers this spring.

The sculpture bed needs a good weeding.

But here's what's blooming in this bed.  Another no name in my memory.  A gift last Mother's Day and quite the spreader.

It's tiny flowers are lovely close up.

Tom, the buglos (is that the right name?) you sent me are up and blooming. Here's #1.

#2

#3 with more blue flowers.

Last year I think the leaves were a lot bigger but maybe this is their spring size.

Another blue flowering plant.  I should know the name because someone remarked about it just on Monday.  But the name is gone for now. Another sort of wort?

In the front bed I love the color of this hosta.

I still can't explain why there is one pink tulip with 2 red/orange ones.  I thought I was planting all the same color.

Finally our house.  In honor of Memorial Day I set out my patriotic shutter.

And here's some good news for our drought conditions.  We had 2 inches of steady rain yesterday.  Much needed that I hope will offset our deficit.

Thanks for coming with me on my walk about.  Many blooms yet to come: iris, lupine, bleeding heart, day lilies, lilies, and much more. And pots of annuals to plant after the threat of frost is over.  I'll tackle those in June.