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through my eyes... the world according to a globe-trotting, sight-seeing, day-tripping, frequent-flying damsel in de-stress

Trip: Greece

There are [17] stories from my trip: Greece


A whirlwind week in the Peloponnese...

GREECE | Friday, 11 Aug 2006 | Views [1790]

Due to the magic of the Internet, a whole week in the Peloponnese has already passed. You see, this week has been my one chance to get caught up in my journals once-and-for-all, so I have been cramming over two weeks of entries into one. This entry will ... Read more >

Tags: adventures, sightseeing


Saying farewell to Aegina and the hospital...

GREECE | Wednesday, 9 Aug 2006 | Views [1137]

Morning is my favorite time at the hospital. Since our shifts don't start until 9:00 am and most volunteers sleep in until shortly before, that means that waking up at 6:00 am affords me several hours of alone-time to have my coffee, read, say 'kalemera' ... Read more >

Tags: adventures, voluntourism


Learning new skills...

GREECE | Monday, 7 Aug 2006 | Views [971]

Last night several animals were brought in (every day many animals come to the hospital via ferry), one of which was a stork that had collided with some electric lines. The accident sheared off a wing, paralyzed part of its body, and amputated the bottom ... Read more >

Tags: adventures, voluntourism


Falling in love again...

GREECE | Saturday, 5 Aug 2006 | Views [1141]

I've fallen in love. Never in a million years did I think it would happen here in Greece, least of all with one who doesn't even speak the same language. His name is Sheldon—I know, not a Greek name, but as it happens, Sheldon's family came to Greece ... Read more >

Tags: adventures, Cultural Observations, voluntourism


Releasing birds and things that only seem to happen in Greece...

GREECE | Saturday, 5 Aug 2006 | Views [1772]

Life at the wildlife hospital is an adventure. Despite the routine, every day seems different because of new arrivals, new diseases to treat (the center's pigeon population is currently experiencing a chlamydia or salmonella epidemic, Mirena isn't sure ... Read more >

Tags: adventures, food & eating, voluntourism


Life at the wildlife hospital...

GREECE | Tuesday, 1 Aug 2006 | Views [2683]

I've been volunteering at the wildlife hospital for over a week now. The hospital was formed 20 years ago by some college students because no facilities existed in Greece to rehabilitate wild animals (though there are now some other organizations that ... Read more >

Tags: adventures, voluntourism


Camera-less, but good news...

GREECE | Tuesday, 25 Jul 2006 | Views [1016]

I’ve been able to put some much-needed sleep between me and what happened with my camera. I can’t say I feel a whole lot better, but I feel slightly less self-pitying about the situation. More than anything, it's not about the camera, which was insured.... Read more >

Tags: adventures, sightseeing, voluntourism


Ahh, paradise...

GREECE | Monday, 24 Jul 2006 | Views [3690]

Took a fast boat from Crete to Santorini, only 2 hours north (on a fast boat, that is). I don’t have a Thesaurus with me, which is troublesome because all of the adjectives I know are not fit to describe this place. To say that it is ‘breathtaking’ wouldn’t ... Read more >

Tags: adventures, relaxation, sightseeing


Plan B? What's Plan B?!...

GREECE | Monday, 17 Jul 2006 | Views [974]

I'm still working on Plan B and find it difficult to accomplish in Crete. Alexandra, my Greek cabin mate on the boat to Crete, offered that the difference between Greeks and Americans is that Greeks are slower from the heat, while we Americans—most of ... Read more >

Tags: adventures, cultural observations, sightseeing, voluntourism


An unexpected turn of events...

GREECE | Thursday, 13 Jul 2006 | Views [4035]

I guess how you set your expectations has everything to do with the outcome of a situation. Or at least your perception of it. Take the overnight ferry from Athens to Crete, for instance. I was prepared for it to be like most ferries I’ve been on—a huge ... Read more >

Tags: adventures, planes trains & automobiles, sightseeing, voluntourism


Greek is greek to me...

GREECE | Wednesday, 12 Jul 2006 | Views [857]

Yesterday I saw an English-language book titled “Learn Greek in 25 Years.” I thought this was pretty funny, especially since I am having quite a bit of trouble with the language. Greek is an Indo-European language, quite possibly the oldest in Europe ... Read more >

Tags: cultural observations, language


You snooze, you lose...

GREECE | Monday, 10 Jul 2006 | Views [808]

Every culture has unspoken rules by which everyone abides. Take, for instance, the rule that tells you to move to the right on an escalator so people walking past can get by. Or, the rule that says you should allow passengers getting off a bus to get ... Read more >

Tags: Cultural Observations


Public transportation and high places...

GREECE | Sunday, 9 Jul 2006 | Views [1054]

Taking public transportation in Europe is a bit like hopping into the clown car at the circus. If you’re even a little claustrophobic (like me) or averse to having any part of your body touch a strange, sweaty person (like me), then each trip on the bus ... Read more >

Tags: adventures, planes trains & automobiles, sightseeing


On the Acropolis, feral dogs, and the Roman Agora...

GREECE | Friday, 7 Jul 2006 | Views [29976]

After my morning coffee, I decided to make the most of my day and head toward the Acropolis, which looms high above the city that was named for the very reason the Acropolis was built: to honor the goddess Athena. Assuming there would be a bus that would ... Read more >

Tags: adventures, doctors hospitals & health, sightseeing


A nauseating journey...

GREECE | Tuesday, 4 Jul 2006 | Views [869]

In Morocco, each of my mates became sick with an affliction that affects travelers around the world. I guess I don’t really need to be delicate about this, since it's something that happens to everyone at one time or another. In Mexico, it's called ‘Montezuma’s ... Read more >

Tags: adventures, doctors hospitals & health, planes trains & automobiles


Gallery: Athens, Greece

GREECE | Tuesday, 4 Jul 2006 | Photo Gallery

All photos taken by Colleen Finn
See all 42 photos >>
 


Gallery: Greek Islands

GREECE | Tuesday, 4 Jul 2006 | Photo Gallery

These photos courtesy of Grant Ryde and my fellow volunteers at the Hellenic Wildlife Hospital
See all 50 photos >>