Tag: travel
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Greek Night
Today is Wednesday. At Archodissa, that has a special meaning. It means there’s Live Music from 9pm until 1 a.m. It means there will be dancing and napkins and champagne. It means it’s Greek Night. To attend Greek Night is an unforgettable experience. The small patio is transformed to accommodate 150 customers, tables moved from…
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Kavala for a Day
It felt more like three days, in the same sense that Jesus died and rose in three days, departing on Friday evening and returning on Sunday morning*. But it was really one day spent away. *death is not exactly a vacation, but try to follow the logic I was a somewhat unwilling candidate to leave Thassos. I’ve been…
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Two Month Anniversary
Two months ago from yesterday, I arrived in Greece. My two-month anniversary. It seems to only be these special occasions that shake me awake and remind me time is real and it is passing: the day the workshop started, the day the workshop ended, my 30th birthday, my two month anniversary. And today, I…
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Thirty on Thasos
I feel I owe everyone who was forced to listen to me chant, “Thirty on Thasos, Thirty on Thasos!” for ten months the story of how the big day went. It was my landmark birthday. The crossing over into the next decade. The fulfillment of my cleverly coined phrase! But underneath the alliteration there is important question to be…
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Effects of Thasos
On Tuesday, my writing workshop left Thasos. They boarded the bus to Limenas, where they would catch the ferry to Keramoti, and then continue north to Thessaloniki. They left amid hugs and tears, smiles and sadness. And I couldn’t stop thinking: wasn’t it only yesterday I wrote about their arrival? Have four weeks really gone…
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The Greek Table
I met Vasilis during my pre-workshop days at Archodissa. He is one of Tassos of Thassos’ best friends. They grew up in Theologos together, and he was the person who “bapticide” Tassos’ son, which means he was made the godfather. Vasilis’ voice is deep and rasps, almost as if he needs to clear his throat…
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Arrival to Thassos (Part 1)
Thassos is the island where I fell in love with Greece. I hadn’t planned to arrive until the writing workshop starts on June 9th, along with the rest of the cohort, but the Siren Song was strong. I could feel it calling me. Come back. Come home. One of my favorite books growing up was…
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“Kouvendes” on Naxos
I only spent three full days on Naxos, but I can already tell you about Yiannis, the advocate of Ammos restaurant, always boasting of their excellent seafood and small menu. He greeted me every day with, “Hello, Lady” as an answer to my, “Yia sas.” His resilient smile won me over for my last supper—well,…
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Return to Greece
I thought this day would never come. I sit here writing on the ferry from Athens to Naxos, having returned, finally, to the country that changed my life. Eleven months ago when I returned from Greece, I felt like part of me was missing. It was if a piece of my soul remained on the…
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It’s Greek To Me
[Note: This essay first appeared published on The International Writer’s Blog at Brown University, which you can find here] It’s Greek To Me The day before I flew to Greece for a month-long writing residency program, I called my Greek friend to ask for advice. “It’s summer, the weather is beautiful, you’ll be on the beach. What’s…
Travel & Food Writer 