Cofu

This post is a bit out of order of events, but we haven't had WiFi for the week we were on the island of Corfu.  It really didn't matter because we were on the go from morning till late at night with a good bit of beach time and we never went to the same beach twice!

This is the house we stayed in for the week. It is about 100 years old and is owned by a jeweler in the city of Corfu. The house is located in a village in the south central part of the island approximately 45 min. from the city of Corfu.  Beaches on both sides of the island are but minutes away horizontally, but a bit further vertically!

Notice the steps.  I will have you know that I successfully carried a sleeping 2 1/2 year old up those steps at midnight or later no less than six times.

FYI, the house is for sale, not the young lady in the window!

The view from our bedroom window.....

more to come.

Nea Silata and the Beach

Late Sunday morning we left Thessaloniki and headed out to Nea Silata to the home of Eleftheria's parents for a couple of days. The village is about 45 minutes east of the city and on a peninsula-like piece of land which itself has 3 finger like appendages extending into the Aegean Sea.  After we got settled we headed to a beach in Veria about 15 minutes drive from the village and stayed till sundown.  Monday we all headed down the Sithonian Peninsula to Tristanika and a beach club named Ethnik. What a great time it was.  We are beach people!!!!

Yaya and Artemis held a series of races along the shore till one of them decided it was time to return to the water.....

Another heat, different direction, same result!

Harrington family baptism.  Looks like another breaststroker with those thighs!

Potential backstroker?

A little sisterly lovin'......not CPR!

Ethnik Beach Club

Have a cookie Go-Go. Now!

There's nothing like a day at the beach to work up an appetite. So we headed to Parthenonas and Paul's Taverna.  Park the car and walk the last 1/4 mile up the hill in 90 degree heat!  Parthenonas is believed to be the oldest village on Halkidiki.  Eleftheria told me that there are many building code restrictions in place to keep the village from losing it's charm and authenticity. 

It was worth the hike.  It even included a brief barroom brawl for no extra charge!

The beach at Veria Sunday evening.

YaYa and Emily doing a little beach bonding!  Successfully bonding at beaches for 38 years!

This thing may keep the skeeters out, but not the big sister!

We stopped at a restaurant for lunch on the way to the village on Sunday.  I found the restaurant menu interesting in that it was obviously in Greek and English, but also in Russian!  First time outside the classroom I was able to use my limited vocabulary. (Russian, not English by the way!)  In case you are interested, I had the moussaka.....

A little nap time on the beach.  Thanks for the swim attire Uncle Keith, Aunt Sarah and Emm

Definitely not Lake Medina, but somehow I made it work!

A little play time.....

So the first few days have been in the city getting our internal clocks readjusted (some better than others) and a lot of playtime with Artemis and Emily.

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This is how it's done Yaya!

A little book time....

followed by a little nap time!

After the heat of the day, we're off to the playground.... 

for some swing time......

some conversation....

and a few trips down the slide!

Proud Papa

Scooter time (notice the unique style) at the harbor....

with family and seemingly the rest of Thessaloniki!

Another playground.

I never tire of the harbor at night. This will probably not be the last picture of it I post!! 

Gelato stop to refuel for the trip back to the apartment!

Happy Yaya!!

Off to Ithaca to Meet Emmett

So, after I finished the first post from Greece, Eleftheria reminded me that I had not done a post from our trip to Ithaca earlier in the month.  So without further ado, here are our photos from Ithaca!

Pop & Emmett

Gramma & Emmett

The dude himself wondering who these strange people are ttat want to him, but don't offer him something to eat.

Aunt LeAnna taking her turn.

Gramma taking another turn.....

Breakfast with Dad!

Stopped at Ithaca Beer for a couple of beers, duh!

While we were there several of Keith and Sarah's friends came in with there children who in turn were very interested in a new potential playmate....

We stopped at a couple of public swimming holes at the bottom of the gorges  in Tremain Park.  The first was completely dry as Ithaca is having it's driest summer on over 100 years.

This one was open and folks seemed to be enjoying the relief from the heat.

These are all pics from my phone, but I have more on my camera.  However, I managed to leave my card reader at home so they will have to wait until I can pick one up here in Greece! Stay tuned.

Back to Greece to Meet Emily!

We flew from Toronto on this trip as tickets were significantly cheaper than Cleveland and another benefit was that there was but one layover in Athens and the total air travel time was less than 13 hours as compared to the 17-20hrs from Cleveland!

Yaya (Gramma) getting to know each other again on the curb at the airport while Dad retrieves the car.

Gramma and Emily get to know each other for the first time! Both seemed pretty enamored with each other..... 

Emily Evangelia Harrington

Eleftheria and Ian prepared lunch/dinner for us when we arrived. It was delicious as usual. The availability of fresh local vegetables, fruit and seafood makes it even more so! However, the Greeks need to work on their beer:)

She is awesome!!

So is this one....

Definitely a trend setter