MONDAY NIGHT We ambled through Chania, Crete. Not unlike the touristy part of Athens around the Acropolis (Plaka), Chania has its hundreds of souvenir and clothing shops and as many gelato, coffee and traditional restaurants near the Old Town. Despite the throngs of people, though, it is quite beautiful. After our many, multiple-course meals in …
SUNDAY NITE, MONDAY MORNING Crete is the southernmost and largest of the Greek Islands and Chania is one of its biggest cities. It has its own airport, so tourists can jet between here and Athens with relative ease. The apartment we are staying in for the next four days is the oldest AirBnB in Greece …
In a video game, there are usually levels that the hero or heroine needs to pass through on their way to the final destination – completing the game. When we travel, Beth and I have begun using a technique I’ll call “Travel Levels.” It’s a way to move through the long day by dividing the …
Warning: this post gets a bit preachy, but as the saying goes, “take what you need and leave the rest behind.” Today (Friday) is our last full day at the Amarita Farm in beautiful Mt. Pelion. Over the course of this week, we have enjoyed delicious, organic food prepared by our host and other local …
THE BEFORE TIMES Can you point to a moment in your childhood that some have called “the end of the innocence?” For me, it was the moment when my parents sat me down in the kitchen. I was a pretty happy go lucky, eleven year old boy until my dad said, “I’m leaving.” I had …
We are in the middle of the retreat portion of our trip, what Melanie has referred to as “the deepest cave.” For those who are seekers, we know this state as the point where we confront our Shadows. Last night, some of us were returning from a dinner up the hill when another of our …
It is Tuesday in Mt. Pelion, Greece and we just spent two lovely hours in the Aegean Sea. The water is the perfect temperature, the sound of the surf is easeful and the salt content makes it easy to float. Within easy swimming distance is a cave where we sang and experienced the smell of …
Oftentimes, I ask myself, Beth, or a friend, “Why?” Why do you want to want take that course? That job? Or color your hair purple? WHY? In these moments, I am challenging myself or others to defend their choice. A current example… I am considering taking a session with our group leader. Melanie. It’s called …
Our days on Mt. Pelion begin with a sumptuous breakfast cooked and served by the owners of Amanita Farm where we are staying. We are so fortunate to have him serving us. Last night we had an equally delicious dinner at “The Lost Unicorn,” under a vine covered pergola. Our friend, Claudie, told me the …
Today (Saturday), we took the four hour journey to the farm where we will spend the next seven days on retreat. The name of the town is Tsagarada. In the distance, we can see the Aegean Sea, a fifteen minute drive from this spot. It’s very beautiful here. Before leaving Athens, we visited two places …