Ale's well that ends well.

No, Glenn hasn't been drinking alcohol, but he was curious about this non-alcoholic drink that is made by a Hungarian beer company.  It has grapefruit juice in it and no added sugar.  We're guessing the Zero means that it has no alcohol, not that it is sugar-free.  :-)    He says it was okay, but that I wouldn't like it because it isn't sweet.  Hmmm, wonder why he said that!?!

Before Glenn and I left for Greece, we needed to buy a gift for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering auction that raises money for missions overseas so we went into downtown to look for a souvenir to add to the goods.    As we were coming upon the castle in City Park that was built as part of the World Expo over a hundred years ago, we noticed that they had filled in the moat all around it and row boats were for rent!   It was quite beautiful!  In the winter, this very spot is covered with an ice skating rink!

Almost two weeks ago, Glenn and I flew to an island off the coast of Greece for a large meeting of our personnel who serve in Europe, where we provided member care appointments.  There were 1200 people there so it was a huge event!   Our whole member care team for Eurasia came to help with the appointments, along with a team of volunteer counselors from America.  

Out of that crowd, we found Robert and Sharon, a couple we knew from our days in Cote d'Ivoire!  Robert's parents, Ed and Greta, lived next door to us in Daloa when we served previously with our company from 1984-1994.  Robert had come out to visit his parents but he was already grown up and married to Sharon when we met him.  It was so neat to see him and get caught up on his parents, brothers and sisters!!!

After our meeting on the island, we moved into the mainland, into a hotel in Athens for a two-day meeting of the Eurasia member care team and a day of orientation for our newest member care couple who joined our team 3 weeks ago.  Our hotel was nice enough though not in the best neighborhood, but with the economic crisis in Greece, I'm not sure there are too many "good" neighborhoods right now.

Once we finished our meetings each day, Glenn and I would go into downtown Athens with folks from our team to "sightsee".  I, of course, coffee fiend that I am, hunted for a local Starbucks until I found one!  It was so hot in Athens that I was forced to try a COLD Starbucks drink.  Karin, I love white mocha frappacino's!  No whip cream, but still delicious!  In fact, I had 4 during our 6 days there! 

As we walked through various neighborhoods, we would find these random ancient ruins surrounded by wrought iron fences.  

Our first trip into town, we walked (and walked and walked) from our hotel into town, not the most direct route, but on our later trips we went by subway.  They were very clean, unlike the rest of the city.  

This is the Parliament building which we happened upon when we were walking around town.  We happened to pass just as they were doing the changing of the guards.

I thoroughly enjoyed browsing through the souvenir shops but after the first few, they began to all look the same.  I am always attracted by the many bright colors of the things for sale.

Off the plaza near the Starbucks we frequented almost daily are many side streets, all selling a variety of tourist items.  I bought two pairs of hand-made leather sandals, a black and a white pair, not because I needed them but because they had them in my size!  Imelda Marcos, the wife of the former President of the Philippines who owned over 5000 pairs of shoes, was quoted as saying, "If the shoe fits, buy it".   I wear a size 5, which is very difficult to find, so when I find a 5, I buy it because I cannot ever just walk into a shoe store and ask for a 5 in a particular shoe.  Instead, I walk in and ask, "Do you have ANYTHING in a size 5?"

This is Monastery Square which was always full of people milling around!

From the plaza you can see the Acropolis up on the hill in the distance.  The Acropolis is a citadel located up on a hill overlooking the city of Athens, composed of several ancient ruined buildings, the most famous of which is the Parthenon.

Some of the ruins seen as we climbed to the top.  It was about 6:30 pm and sweltering hot!

I'm standing in front of Glenn because his shirt was soaked.

A great photo op with Jeff, Andy and Kay, our member care co-workers.  

The PARTHENON on the top of the Acropolis is a temple dedicated to the Greek goddess, Athena.  Construction was begun in 447 BC when the Athenian empire was at its' height of power and reconstruction continues to this day as they stabilize the partially ruined temple.

Gorgeous view of the city.

From the top of the Acropolis you can see the ruins of the Temple of Zeus in the MIDDLE of Athens.  It was dedicated to Zeus, the chief of the Olympian gods.

A view off the other side...

We were smiling big here because we were thinking of how much easier it was going to be going down than it was climbing UP!

We returned to BP on Sunday evening and are quickly washing my clothes because I leave on Tuesday for a ladies retreat in downtown BP, put on by a church in Texas.  Although we will be in town for most of the month, we will have lots of company!