Sick Days

Nicolas has been sick off and on since he started school in September, which is normal for small children when first starting school. Thus, it has resulted in many days spent at home together. I do like to have him home with me 1. because he keeps me entertained, 2. its more time spent learning English, 3. I get to watch Sesame Street without being judged ;)

Today we have accomplished quite a bit! Its only noon and we have so far: played with cars, airplanes, and tractors, produced magnificent works of art our medium being primarily crayons, watched a Baby Brainy DVD "Animals" which he calls "E I E I O" since it is the first song that plays, played with cars again, built a garage out of legos for the cars, set up all the toy animals, put together 3 different puzzles, and now its time for lunch! I made beef and vegetable stir fry last night for Nancy and me which is what Nicolas will now have. It is his first time trying out the Asian cuisine...hopefully he likes it!

His grandmother is coming over after lunch which will allow a little free time for myself. That is, unless he clings to me the entire time she's here and refuses to play with her...this happens every so often...I think I will spend my time studying Greek or possibly be sucked into the addicting affects of facebook...we'll see...

Then it will be nap time! For Nicolas and myself :)

The parents will go out this evening but not until 8:30 or 9 which means I'll most likely only have to brush his teeth and put him to bed. I have downloaded some episodes of Lost so I'm set for this evening...

Γεια!

Κανει Κρυο!

It's cold! Ok, well not like Minnesota cold but a scarf and gloves have become necessary in my everyday attire.  The average temperature the past week has been about 10 C (50 F) which actually isn't too bad when dressed appropriately but its the rain and wind that make it much unpleasant! Everyday I walk to pick up Nicolas from school and today I was not looking forward to it... it is about 9 C (48 F) which I know to my Minnesota readers is quite warm but it is also raining and the wind is so strong its blowing the chairs over on the balcony. It has been raining the past couple days and they say it will continue through the weekend. I've been spoiled with a warm winter but I can't help but feel down about the bad weather that is to continue. My Saturday afternoons are typically spent with Jessica, we walk to the sea to get coffee and then walk along the sea side until we find a spot to sit, either on the beach or the rocks and soak up the sunshine. A very enjoyable way to spend a Saturday :) This weekend however, we will be confined indoors... watching the once dried up washes fill once again with water.

Something quite unusual that I have noticed here is that everyone is always so concerned with keeping warm. Ex. always wearing a scarf, wearing many layers along with a jacket, and always wearing socks or shoes even inside the house...but then, the strange thing is that many of the old people here swim all year round! It will be 10 C outside and you will see them in their speedos and bikinis walking along the beach and then diving into the water which I'm sure is freezing!!! I don't get it but that goes with a lot of things here in Greece :)

Istanbul

Istanbul, known in Greece as Constantinople (since it used to be called that when it was a Greek city) is absolutely beautiful. The largest city I've been to with its 12.8 million inhabitants but also one of the cleanest! While walking around I noticed there were always people cleaning: sweeping the streets, and collecting garbage...One of the cool things I learned about the city is that it is located partly in Europe and partly in Asia making it the only metropolis in the world situated on two continents.

view from my room on the european side to the asian side

It was a "family" vacation, so it was Van, Nancy, Nicolas and I that journeyed the one hour flight to this Turkish city. When we arrived we went straight to the hotel...we stayed at the Hilton because Van claims it to be the best. Side note: Van has offices here so he travels to Istanbul quite often. We stayed in the executive suites which I don't think was probably that much different than the other rooms other than we were allowed to go to the top floor where there was snacks, finger foods, and beverages (including wine and beer) at a (free) self serve basis all day long. We had adjoining rooms, Van and Nancy in one and Nicolas and me in the other. We went to the top floor where Van was to meet with one of his employees that is in charge of the Turkey offices (Ohan - not really sure how to spell his name actually...).

After chatting for awhile and enjoying a few glasses of wine we met up with some friends of theirs that were also visiting Istanbul at the time. Ohan then brought us to a Turkish taverna where there was live music and traditional Turkish food. The food was very similar to the Greek food I am now used to but I noticed there were more Indian spices used which gave everything a little bit of a curry flavor. I normally don't like Indian food at all but this mixture was actually quite tasty!

The live music was very entertaining, not only because Nicolas insisted on dancing but also because half of the restaurant got up from their seats and started dancing too! The man you see at the end of the video was dancing like this the entire night! I couldn't stop laughing....:)

The next day we got up and went to breakfast upstairs where they had everything you can imagine! So we ate and drank Turkish coffee, which by the way, is delicious! Similar to Greek coffee but a little stronger...We decided to walk around the city and go to the Grand Bazaar. The Grand Bazaar is a covered market place that is over 550 years old! It is one of the largest covered market places in the world with over 58 covered streets and over 4000 shops. Many of the shops carry jewelry, pottery, spices, carpets, and leather bags while others have tourist items such as key chains, t-shirts, etc.

This was definitely an experience, not only with seeing the different items for sale but I unfortunately got the pleasure of using a Turkish toilet....for those of you who have never used one, I do not recommend it. There is a stall, and instead of a toilet there is a basin in the floor which you are expected to squat over...not an easy task. They are said to be more sanitary but I prefer a regular toilet and seat cover any day!

We went for lunch at a small restaurant where we had kebab, coos coos, and pitas....all of which was delicious! Our table over looked the kitchen so I sat and watched them prepare our food...they weren't very happy with me when I took the following picture however :)

After lunch we continued to walk around the city, admiring the beautiful buildings and mosques that line the streets.

One of the most beautiful buildings I saw was the Hagia Sophia, meaning Holy Wisdom in Greek, it originated in 360 as a Cathedral for the Greek Orthodox. After the Turkish conquered the city they went in and changed it to a mosque, taking down the alter, bells and any other catholic traditions and added the Islamic features. It stayed this way until 1935 when it was changed into a museum. It was the largest cathedral in the world for almost 1000 years! The building itself is most famous for its massive dome, it is an example of Byzantine architecture and said to have changed the history of architecture. Definitely a spectacular sight!

It was then nap time for Nicolas so after dropping the fam off at the hotel I ventured off on my own to see more of the city. It was a little chilly so I decided carrying around a chai latte from Starbucks was a great idea, I asked the concierge where to find one and he gave me directions....however, I couldn't help but notice the strange look on his face. I realized after walking away that I probably looked like the epitomy of an American...here I am in a city known for having excellent coffee and I ask where I can find a Starbucks...  oh well! Love my Starbucks :)

When I returned to the hotel we all got ready for dinner. Ohan joined us again and brought us to a jazz bar/restaurant. I had never been to one before (not even in the states) so it was a real treat! We had dinner and then around 21:00 the band came on. They sang all english jazz songs and we all enjoyed it very much. Nicolas even sat quietly and listened for most of the time!

The next morning Van brought us to see his new offices, they were on the Asian side of the city so now I can say I've been to Asia ;) (I hope to one day actually see more of the continent :p) 

We saw the offices and then went for coffee. It was then time to head to the airport and fly home. It was a short vacation but a very nice one as well! I would love to go back there spend more time someday!

Another random side note: I kept thinking I saw my uncle Jim, so Uncle Jim...if you're reading this...you look Turkish :) I know you're not of course....just sayin.... :)

I'm adding this picture because I find it hilarious! We were in the hotel room during this excavation...luckily....however, he is now obsessed with picking his nose and isn't shy about where and when he does it :p

Holidays Away From Home

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving for most Americans is about family, football and of course, food! This is my favorite holiday and I look forward to the feast all year! Turkey, mashed potatoes, buns, green bean casserole, creamed corn, and cranberries are a few of the dishes that sit upon our holiday table. This year was different of course, mostly due to the fact that Thanksgiving is only celebrated in the states...Some of my American friends here share my love for the holiday and we decided to celebrate together at Roosa's. (also including a few Swedes :))

We each made a dish to bring, mine was green bean casserole. This dish is usually very easy to make in the states: 2 cans of green beans, 1 can cream of mushroom soup, and 1 can of fried onions. Finding ingredients here has proven to be difficult but for this recipe I wasn't too worried...that is, until I got to the grocery store and the only ingredient they had was the green beans. I was able to find cream of mushroom soup in a powder form so I picked up a package of that and headed home. I spoke to my mother and she said that the fried onions are just battered with flour and salt so they shouldn't be too hard to make. My Thanksgiving morning went a little like this: heating a large pan filled with oil, cutting very small strips of onion, tossing them in the flour/salt mixture and dropping them in the oil. This actually went pretty smoothly other than half way through the oil became filled with the excess flour and started burning therefore giving some of the fried onions a burnt taste...I decided changing the oil was the best option. I then made the soup, since it was a powder I just had to add hot water. The only problem with this was I couldn't remember (with the original ingredients) if I was supposed to add water to the can of soup or if it is supposed to stay concentrated...so due to the 8 hour time difference I waited until I knew my mother would be awake and I gave her a call. Turns out you aren't supposed to add water for this recipe so this is where I ran into a problem...I had already added the water to the powder so I decided to go back to the store and get more of the powder in hopes of making it really concentrated...I added another 2 boxes to the mix so it looked like the consistency I remembered from the can's I usually get. So I mixed the soup with the green beans, topped it with the fried onions I had made earlier and popped it in the oven.

We all met at Roosa's around 20:00, each bringing our separate dishes. Jessica and Christine were in charge of the turkey but since turkeys take forever to make they had thought to buy an already made one...of course they couldn't find one so we just settled for chicken :) Roosa made crescent rolls and mashed potatoes, Alexandra made some greek stuffing, and Spyros brought dessert. Roosa had set the table and lit some candles, it all looked so nice!

Everything turned out so well! I had warned everyone that I was unsure of how my green bean casserole was going to taste but surprisingly it was very delicious! We drank wine, chatted, and even played a few drinking games :) A very fun night!

Christmas

This was my first Christmas away from home and my first Christmas with no snow! We call Santa Saint Nicolas but here they refer to him as Saint Basil  ('Αγιοσς Βασιλειος). Also instead of riding his sleigh and landing on the roofs of houses he climbs a ladder to the roof and then drops down the chimney...I found this out because I was noticing all of these decorations on the outside of houses with Santa climbing a ladder so I asked my family about it.

Christmas morning we brought Nicolas into the living room to show him the toys Santa left for him under the tree. I don't think he payed much attention to the whole Santa story because he was too interested in what the presents were... typical 2 year old of course :)

After opening gifts we headed to church, one of two times they go each year...the other being Easter :) It wasn't too far away and it was the church Van and Nancy were married in. It was quite small but very beautiful. It had the typical charming white stone on the outside and once you entered the large doors you see dazzling crystal chandeliers and paintings that cover every inch of the walls and ceiling. It was very crowded so we lit a few candles and stood in the back to listen. They were signing, it was in ancient greek and unlike a noise I've ever heard before....not something I'd want to hear everyday...but overall a very cool experience. We then went to Nicolas's godmothers house for coffee. We sat and chatted while eating Christmas sweets and Nicolas quietly colored some pictures. The two main Christmas cookies are μελομακαρονα (melomakarona, a honey cookie) and κουραμπιεδες (kourambiedes, a shortbread cookie), both are delicious!!!

It was then time to go to Nancy's mother house for lunch. When we arrived the house smelled amazing! She had been cooking all morning and now that it was almost 13:00 we were all very hungry! We started with soup made with rice in a creamy chicken broth and cheese pie, then had chicken, potatoes, bread, and salad. She normally makes much more than this but Nancy insisted that we didn't need so much food, which is true because there is always still so much left when we are done eating! She baked a loaf of bread in which was a coin, you first cut a piece for Jesus, then one for the house, and then one for each person. If you get the piece with the coin it is said you will have good luck all year (they also do this tradition on new years). I ended up with the piece with the coin so I'm hoping my good luck will continue! We had brought the dessert, aka stopped at a bakery on the way to the house and picked up an assortment of sweets ;)

We said our goodbye's and headed home, we were all in much need of a nap! Around 18:00 people started coming over, Nancy and Van invite their friends over every year to celebrate together. We put out plates of meat, cheese and vegetables for everyone to enjoy and opened many bottles of wine :) The children played inside while the adults sat on the balcony and I drifted back and forth because Nicolas insisted on being glued to me the whole night.

People left around midnight and then we all crashed after the long day of festivities. I may not have spent Christmas with my family in Minnesota but this was the first Christmas spent with my Greek family and I enjoyed it very much :)

New Years Eve

It is typical for Greeks to spend new years eve with their family and then after the countdown at 12 they will go out with friends, so this is what I did. We went to Nancy's mothers house for a late dinner where we had chicken, lamb, greek stuffing, potatoes, salad, cheese pie, bread, and many different cheeses. Everything was delicious as usual! We drank champagne and at midnight went to the roof to watch the fireworks. Καλη Χρονια  is happy new year in Greek which I practiced earlier that day so I could say it to Nancy's mother who doesn't speak a word of english.

We left around 12:30 and they dropped me off and my friend Arialena's house. We met up with a few friends there and then headed to the bar where we had reserved a table.

There was a large group of us that met there and as it got later the bar got more and more crowded. We danced and drank for many hours where I lost complete track of time. At some point we decided to go to an "after club" where we danced a drank more :) I finally started feeling really tired and decided it was time to wrap up the night, when we left the club and walked outside it was broad day light! It's such a strange feeling entering a club when its dark and leaving when its light...We then went to get some food and go home. I walked into the house at 9:30 am and found Nancy in the kitchen making breakfast...she laughed at me and told me to get some sleep. I slept the entire next day! Not joking, I finally got out of bed around 19:30...and then went back to bed at 23:00. I may have lost an entire day but it was well worth the night out!

Rome

Ok, so I'm finally getting around to writing about my trip to Rome. First things first, I had an absolutely amazing time! Jessica and I randomly decided one day that we wanted to take a trip together and both of our first choices was Rome! We started checking for tickets online and came across a great deal, 57 euros round trip! We booked it immediately. Over the next couple of weeks we started researching hostels, this would be our first time ever staying in one so we weren't sure what to expect. We finally decided on a hostel called The Yellow, it had an age limit (18-35) and claimed to be the best "party" hostel in Rome. Next thing we knew the weekend had arrived and we were beyond excited!

The flight went smoothly and finding the train to the center was a piece of cake. When we arrived at the train station in the center (Termini) we were amazed at how big it was, a little overwhelming at first but eventually we found our way. It had many large trains traveling all throughout Italy, and I'm not talking about trains that are actually trams, metros, etc...these were real trains which was pretty cool to see. (I only say this because my first experience on a "train" was when I went to Chicago and was told to get on the train to travel towards the city and when I found it, it didn't look like a train at all...needless to say, I was a little disappointed). Moving on...our hostel was about four blocks from the train station so the location couldn't have been better. Upon check in we received a 10% off coupon for the restaurant across the street and a free welcome drink at the hostel bar! The room was fine, 7 beds (3 bunk beds, 1 single). There was already one bed made in one of the bunk beds so we chose the single and the bottom bunk of the bed next to it, this was because Jessica "wanted our heads to be close together" haha, silly girl. After making our beds we headed to the restaurant across the street, we hadn't eaten all day and it was already 15:00 so we had worked up quite an appetite for some Italian pasta. We ate our pasta and drank some wine while discussing what to do next...We had already decided to take one of the hop-on, hop-off bus tours but thought it was best to wait for Saturday when we would have the whole day. So we got a map and started walking...the weather was nice, chilly, but not too cold. Our mission was to reach the Spanish Steps before sunset but...we got lost, of course :) Luckily not too far off the path so eventually we did reach our destination. There were many tourists (even though it's the off season) but it didn't take away from the aesthetically pleasing view.

After spending some time on the Spanish Steps we decided to head back to the hostel cause it was dark and we wanted to experience the sites during the day. We found the metro which would take us back to our hostel...it was, to say the least, similar to a dungeon...I don't have much experience with metros (just Chicago, Athens and Paris) but I can definitely say that this was by far the creepiest place I'd been. Not only was it dark with low ceilings and cramped, especially with how many people travel through there on an every day basis, but it was also hard to breath...not joking. Jessica and I both noticed after a few minutes of being down there that we were breathing heavier as if we weren't getting enough oxygen with normal intakes. We weren't sure if it was just us that felt this way but after talking to some other people at our hostel it turns out they noticed it too. Fortunately it was a short ride back and greeting us at the surface was fresh, crisp Roman air :)

When we got back to the hostel we went to our room to freshen up and decide our plans for the night. We met our roommate, Jay, and then headed down to the hostel bar. Drinks were so cheap! We're used to paying at least 6-7 euros for a beer anywhere in Athens, and sometimes 10 if we're at a club. Here you could get a beer for 4 euros, a glass of wine for 2 or a mixed drink for 1.50! We decided to play some cards and after awhile we had joiners. I taught them all how to play Kings Cup, my house rules of course ;) A few of the guys liked it so much they had me write them down so they could bring it back to the UK for their friends. We ended up staying out quite late even though our plan had been to go to bed early due to the long day of sightseeing the next day but...we were just having too much fun! We met people from Canada, U.S., U.K., Australia, Sweden, and Denmark.

The next morning we got up around 8:30 but were so tired that the process of showering, getting ready, and eating breakfast took us until almost noon...We headed to the train station and bought tickets to one of the hop-on, hop-off bus tours. There were 12 different stops, all at the major sites and within walking distance of anything else you might want to see. The buses ran every 10 minutes so going to many places around the city was quite easy. We started at the Colosseum which was absolutely spectacular! Side note: I finished reading The Count of Monte Christo a few weeks prior and in the book it talked about a trip to Rome and visiting the ancient ruins and the Colosseum. It spoke of how wonderful it was to see such historic sites, mind you this book was written in 1845, it is now 2010 and I am the one visiting these historic sites, how cool is that!? I've noticed in my experience visiting sites such as this I tend to be speechless, just standing, staring at the magnificence of these structures. There really aren't words to describe the feeling of standing in place that is SO old and full of so much history.

It was a long day but we saw many things: Tiberina, Arch of Constantine, Castle Sant' Angelo, Monument to Vittorio Emanuele II, Pantheon, and then my favorite: the Trevi Fountain. It is located in a small piazza which I was surprised to see, but it was FULL of people. Jessica and I made our way through the crowd to capture a few pictures and of course toss in a few coins. We had read online how we were supposed to throw them but we forgot whether it was supposed to be the right hand over the left shoulder or vise versa. Luckily this old Italian man came up to us and explained not only how to do it but also what each of the coins means. First coin is for a trip back to Rome, second is to find true love, and third is for a good marriage. He then looks at us and says "make sure you don't throw four, because the fourth is for divorce!" which he then proceeds to laugh. So we took our three coins and tossed them into the fountain, right hand over left shoulder. I will definitely take a trip back to Rome but for the true love and good marriage part...we'll see :)

Earlier that day we had talked about venturing out to experience the night life in Rome but after the long day we decided against it and figured that we had so much fun at the bar the night before that we were bound to accomplish the same that evening. Also, we were told Rome isn't known for having a great night life and our hostel bar was the best bar around the area...so there we were once again, in time for happy hour and successful in another evening full of meeting new people, card games, and great fun! A highlight of that evening was meeting a fellow Minnesotan! I haven't seen or spoken (face-to-face) with another Minnesotan since a brief encounter in late August so this was a real treat! We talked about the Twins, which was nice considering most Europeans have a lack of appreciation for baseball, and our new found appreciation for "Minnesota nice" after being away from it for so long (he goes to school in Seattle). Overall, a great night.

Sunday also started a bit later than planned, but we eventually made it to Vatican City. We wanted to start with the museum and then wander around the rest of the day, but unfortunately as soon as we got there we were told the museum is closed on sundays...We were disappointed, of course, because seeing the Sistine Chapel was one of the top things we wanted to see but it just gives me yet another excuse to go back someday! So instead we wandered around Vatican City and then back across the bridge to many of the little streets. There were so many cute little shops and restaurants along the cobble stone streets that weave throughout the city.

While wandering around we found the Piazza Navona which just so happen to be hosting a little carnival! There were games, candy stands, shopping, street performers and a carousel! We decided to have lunch at a small restaurant facing the festivities which served for great entertainment in people watching. We ordered wine and a pizza... I was a little skeptical at first because along with the sauce, cheese, mushrooms, and rucola, all of which I've had on pizza...there was corn...I am happy to report, however, that I was pleasantly surprised by this new discovery! I highly recommend it :)

We spent some time at the carnival, seeing all it had to offer. There was a man with finger puppets who had put on a glove of Michael Jackson and was dancing to Smooth Criminal, not only was it entertaining to watch the puppet but I found the old man quite hilarious himself.

We bought cotton candy which neither of us had had in years, and I learned again quickly why I had stopped buying it in the first place...you end up a sticky mess! but I think once in awhile its worth it :) We left the piazza and continued wandering...we ended up finding a small church tucked away within one of the winding streets. When we entered there were a few older woman sitting in the pews praying so Jessica and I went to sit down in order to quietly admire and take in the beautiful sculptures, paintings, and overall view. It was breathtaking! I'm not a religious person but I can definitely appreciate the time and thought that is put into chapels such as this.

We headed back to the hostel where we joined some of the people we met throughout the weekend. We had to leave the hostel at 5 am to catch our flight at 7:30 monday morning so we thought going to bed early for once that weekend would be a good idea. This of course didn't happen...so we got 2 hours of sleep and then headed off to the airport. The weekend flew by! We both had such an amazing time and want to visit again soon!

Check out more pictures under "Photos"

Name Day

Naming in Greece still follows old traditions where the first son will be named after the paternal grandfather, this of course resulting in a small variety of names used throughout the country. So far, many of the people I have met here are named either Nicolas, George, Dimitri, and Andreas. These names come from saints and here in Greece they celebrate the saints Name Day, so if you share the name of the saint you are included in this celebration. (Its kind of like another birthday). You usually join together for a meal and give gifts to the person who shares the saints name. Since they are also celebrating the saint it is common to visit a local church named for that same saint. Some churches put on celebrations, offering food and drink while smaller ones light candles or make some sort of offering.

Yesterday, december 6, was Nicolas's Name Day. You typically say "χρόνια πολλά" which means a wish to live many years (you also say this on birthdays). We had family and friends come to the house where we ate dinner, drank wine, and enjoyed each others company. Nicolas received many gifts: a coloring set, sketch board, clothes, two pair of puma tennis shoes...they are so cute and much more! Overall, a very enjoyable evening!

What I would do for some Dayquil...

Since Nicolas started school in Septemeber there has continued to be at least one member of the family sick...and the last 3 weeks, unfortunately, it has been me. He brings home every sickness imaginable from that germ infested place...I know no one thinks that their own child is dirty but the truth of the matter is, they are all disgusting! Touching everything, touching everyone, putting everything into their mouth...its understandable why they are infection ridden little creatures...

I've noticed that people here are "cautious" to say it simply about how they stay healthy. Example: Nancy checks what I'm wearing everytime I leave the house to make sure I'll be warm enough...it will be 21 C outside (70 F) and she tells me to wear a scarf to keep my chest warm. I try to explain that I grew up in MN and that my body can handle cold weather but she still insists that it is the utmost importance to always be covered...sometimes I sneak out when she's not looking just to avoid yet another discussion on why I'm not wearing a jacket or scarf...and when she catches me: "Ελα Μπρην..." translation: "come on Breeynn..." I then just turn around, shrug my shoulders, and go put on a scarf... Another example: According to Nancy, one of the reasons I get sick is because I drink cold water from the fridge. Again, I tried to explain that this has been an everyday occurence for my entire life and that usually I even add ice but...now I stick to water from the tap just so nothing else can be said about it :) p.s. Don't get me wrong, I love Nancy and it is nice to be looked after :)

In the states you have to be 18 to buy Nyquil and most types of medication require a prescription from a doctor. Here, you can buy pretty much any medication you need over the counter. The only problem with this is that they don't have many of the commonly used medications that I'm used to getting in the states, such as Nyquil or Dayquil. I haven't been able to sleep well due to coughing and sinus pressure and instead of popping a nyquil for a good night's sleep I'm left drinking a cup of disgusting tea that doesn't help with anything other than reassuring me that my gag reflex still works. In the mornings when I wake up and my nose won't stop running and I'm continuing to cough, again instead of downing a few dayquil, I'm stuck swallowing a spoonful of thick syrup that tastes like black licorice mixed with rubbing alcohol...3 times a day I might add...It is a natural product which is fine and I'm totally down with the whole natural foods/natural cures thing but its been 3 weeks and I'm sick of being sick!!! However, I am happy to report that my mother is sending me some much needed Tylenol PM.