After Greece

Howdy, We just got back from Delos and had a rushed wonderful time. It's the island where Apollo and Artemis were born. There are amazing shrines and houses from when it was a prospering town (500bc or so). Several of the houses still have mosaic floors, so we were walking down the row between buildings, and turn to our left, and there's an amazing unmarked, unlabled mosaic floor--very strange feeling, all that history right next to you. I also sat in the front row in the theater, and that gave me chills. More later. Take care.

Hello, we are on Mykonos, an island south of Tinos. This morning we went to the shrine of Panagia (one of the many Mary the all - holy sites in Greece). There were woman crawling on their hands and knees up this huge mountain and into the church complex, up the stairs and up to the icon which was found there in 1823, but now completely obscured by offerings. We got into the line to kiss the icon on accident. We didn't kiss it. We then caught a ferry to Mykonos, found a cozy little hotel, and are exploring the city. This is Kirsten typing for once. I am a little more stream of consciousness than Sean. Ashley - tell Chester, the happiest kid in the whole world, that we miss him terribly.

Monday or Tuesday, back to Athens. Before then, motorbikes, windmills, Delos, museum, beer, vegetarian soublakia. Later- Kirsten

Last night, K and S drank Amstel on the pier waiting for the sun to go down. We are now on Tinos (you can find it on the map!). After that we walked around town waiting for dinner. We climbed a steep street of shops and keepers to an old (turkish?) church at the top of the hill. It looks like it might have been abandoned for many years, but now, it belongs to the greek orthodox. We had dinner of gigantes (enormous navy beans) in tomato sauce with feta; a greek salad; retsina (tastes like sage and incense) 2 euros a liter. After dinner, we headed to the pier for dessert and ouzo. All is well. Today we explore the island and tomorrow we head somewhere else. I'm not sure where. Take care. Love you all. ps, I'm sure the car is happy annaliese. I do miss it. It would be much happier driving these tiny streets I bet.

Hey, we're excited that folks are looking at the page. I think it'll be an easy way to keep in touch. Now, to the questions. .90 Euro = One Dollar about. That exchange moves around quite a bit depending on whether you're dealing with a traveler's check or cash, but it's almost always about 90 euros to 100 dollars. When we island hop, Peggy, Kirsten just shows up off the boat and starts haggling with all the locals, many of whom have fixed up places in their houses for tourists like us to live in. These usually go, after some brilliant tactical bids, for about 20 euros a night for both of us, so it's pretty cheap. Keep those questions coming.

Geia Sas (YA-sas) good health (sort of) Kirsten and I are on an island called Siros not Spiros, so you can look it up. It's very beautiful and blue and white. Today we went to a beach and swam and climbed on the rocks and wrote post cards. Tomorrow we may move to another island or a different place on this one. All is well. Wish you were all here (though it would be crowded). Love, Sean.

Hello, whoever you are. Kirsten and I are typing madly in an internet cafe. We're on our way to Spiros (an island not too far away) to spend some time relaxing finally. Last night we walked up to the Acropolis (well, near the top) and had a terrific view of the city. We got a bottle of wine, some cheese and some bagettes for dinner and watched as night fell. Later, walking down the steep marble covered streets back home, we stoped for two bottles of Mythos (a local beer) and listened to some musicians play and sing. Today we took most of our bags to the American School for storage until the 5th, and we have to find a place to stay more cheaply than in Athens, thus, the trip to the island. I'll tell you more after I see it, but we heard it was a nice low tourist number place surrounded by beaches. Ha. It's an island . . . anyway. All is well, but it was so hot last night I think I lost 10 lbs sleeping. Hope you are doing well, and drop me a line when you have time. sbchapm@yahoo.com Talk to you later.

Don't know why I didn't just post over here instead of on four tags. Anyway, all is well. Today we touched down at 4:10 local time, found a bus to the city for 3 Euros (about a dollar), and after some work, got a cab. We slept a bit then hit the city for lunch. Tomorrow we may head to the islands for some rest. Hope you're all well.

We went to Bath today and had a wonderful time. It was a great train ride, took a tour of the Roman baths and walked around town over the Avon, then down to the most beautiful garden, then back to the train station, then home to Hackney where we're staying. Tomorrow, I HAVE to hit the pub and see Manchester (my second team--to Arsenal) play football, then back downtown for walking--Big Ben, the ferris wheel, Tate (again, to see the Arbus photos), then to The Globe to watch Taming of the Shrew from the groundlings view (5 pounds). More photos soon. Wish you were here.

We are now in London, sipping Earl Grey and eating croissants. Today, we head to the Tate modern, right across the river from St. Paul's Cathedral. We'll be walking from Ashley and Alex's down to the river Thames and then we'll walk along the river. Last night we went to watch some football at the local. I was careful to ask earlier for "football" instead of soccer and was told by Alex, that that was a very good thing--often the locals will just look at you and say they've never heard of that sport, what's that? All is well, though we are still a bit tired from the flight. Kirsten says hello to all, and she particularly likes, among all the wonders of London, the baby Chester the best.

Kirsten and I went to the Zephyrs game the other day and took some photos. It was backwards day, and we got in for $5 by wearing our hats backwards and sat four rows from first base. Gary Gaetti was their first base coach, so that was nice for a Cubs fan. Beer was $1. That's right, a dollar. I put some pix up on the yahoo site (look to the right--you may have to make up a yahoo log-in, I'm not sure). We were playing with exposure and took a pretty nice one of a pitcher in motion. Hope all are well.

Made it to New Orleans fine, though pulling the trailer took more time, and I traveled the speed limit more than ever in my life, and of course I got a ticket. 45 in a 35. Beware of Providence Lake, LA. We'll be here for a week, then on to London. Hope all are well.

Everything seems to be going fine. I got a new computer, and I'm trying to get it set up to record some music. We're planning on leaving on Tuesday, then enjoying N.O. then heading to Ashley and Alex in London, and then, somehow, on to Greece. I may buy those tickets today. I don't think I can put photos up here, but look to the right, and we'll have a link to Yahoo. You have to send me your yahoo name (or create one) and I'll put you on the list.