The Travel Project: Greece Day 4

Prinias

This site was difficult to reach. In the nearby town we stopped at a museum with sacrificial horse skeletons. Then we drove near the site and got out and walked. Our prof decided to take us on a "short cut" through weeds and nettles. Fun stuff that. When we finally reached the fence, the gate was locked. So instead of leaving the way we came, an executive decision was made to jump the fence. We actually ended up jumping several fences/stone walls but you didn't hear it from me. The walk up there was gorgeous though. There were about a million wildflowers on either side of the dirt path and the air was heady with their scent.

There wasn't much to the actual site as you can see but, for those interested, there is no evidence of an altar with these temples.


The Church over the Valley

You can't tell from this photo but this church is standing on the top of a mountain. Again the walk over, completely gorgeous, with the murmuring of bumblebees in the background. The low wall you see, happened to be something of a hazard as we didn't realize the drop. I almost sat down on it before looking over the side. The view is amazing though. You can see the whole valley and I only wish I'd taken a picture of it to show you.






Phaistos

This is the paved courtyard of one of the Minoan palaces. By the time we got here the sun was high in the sky. We stood in the shade of a wall to listen to the presentation about the site. At one point in time the palace was destroyed by an earthquake. Fortunately for the inhabitants, it was rebuilt. Also, this is where the Phaistos Disc was found, a clay disk with an undecipherable hieroglyphic text on it.







Ayia Triada

This was our lunch site, not far from Phaistos. This is the site of the Ayia Triada Sarcophagus, painted with scenes of Cretan life. This settlement proved to be a treasure trove of artifacts. The Boxer Vase, the Harvest Vase and the Chieftain's Cup were also found here. For the rest of us, there were a lot of bronze age drains that made my prof happy as well as a lot of stone cut stairways which made my day.








Pithoi

It's hard to imagine how the ancient equivalent of someone's tupperware could be considered beautiful but I think this storage jar comes pretty close.






















The Ayia Triada Anomaly

This beautiful little church sat on a hill at the back of the site. I'd already seen everything I wanted to. I'd taken pictures of the bronze age drain, the various gorgeous stone cut stairways, the decorated storage jars. The area was gorgeous. Just behind me was a bench underneath ancient olive trees, providing a great place for an afternoon nap. I hiked up to the bench and then saw this building that obviously didn't fit in with the rest of the architecture of the site. So I decided to hike around the front and find out what was what.





Inside the Church

I decided to see if I could get inside and to my surprise, there was no door. I walked in, confronted by these beautiful, disappearing saints. The frescoes must have been vibrant once and I could still pick out the faded faces, despite the damage. To my surprise this church, small as it may have been, was still in use. The altar had a small lace handkerchief covering it, a pot of flowers stood to the side, a censer hung on the wall and a few paintings sat against the walls, perhaps to supplement the wall saints. I started to wonder at the people who must visit and worship at this tiny church, who they might be, how far they must come from.


Ruins across from Ayia Triada

I spotted these buildings across the way from where we were. It was too far away to hike to so I decided a picture would have to do. I don't know how old the buildings were but it's fascinating to think that all over Crete there are ruins. Some have been abandoned, others forgotten, some excavated, some waiting for funding, some not worth the time and effort.








Kommos Beach

The southern part of this beach contains the archaeological site of Kommos, a Minoan harbour. It most likely served the palace at Phaistos. After an explanation of the site we had "beach time". Of course we were only told this after we boarded the bus so I spent my time on the beach or wading. I tried to read and nap but ended up getting a burn the shape of my hand. By this point we were well versed in the art of sunscreen application but I managed to miss one spot on my shoulder and spent the rest of the trip with a sunburned hand print. Hilarious I know. Other than that, it was an amazing day. The sun blazed down and a slight breeze was coming off the ocean.

Zaros

This is a shot from my room in the Idi Hotel. Zaros is a beautiful village tucked into Idi Mountain. Just as the sun was setting we walked up the street to a taverna. Close to our table there was a giant aquarium full of various fish that I suspect served as a buffet for customers. I ordered the salmon but was surprisingly adventurous with my food. Someone ordered an appetizer of snails in olive oil and I pried one out of his shell. One of my friends told me the place to eat great escargo was Crete. Unfortunately the snails were bland and chewy, much like raw octopus. I also tried swordfish which I highly recommend. It was more substantial and less flaky then my salmon. I also ordered my first beer. I'm not big on beer but I figured while in Crete, take every opportunity to try something new. Being back in Canada, I think I prefer the Greek beers. We saluted one of our group's birthday with ouzo later that night. I can tell you now I have no love for that drink. It was also during this time that we heard gunshots, the sound growing steadily closer. For our own safety we decided to turn in for the night. The next day as we were leaving we found shell casings next to the fence surrounding the hotel's patio. It turned out there was a military graduation last night and it apparently included bullets. Comforting.

Atonement - Ian McEwan

"She could have gone in to her mother then and snuggled close beside her and begun a résumé of the day. If she had she would not have committed her crime. So much would not have happened, nothing would have happened, and the smoothing hand of time would have made the evening barely memorable."

The Good:

Briony Tallis is a writer. She is also thirteen years old and has a very defined view of the world. Her brother Leon is home from school and she's writing a play in his honour. In the midst of this she spies a flirtation between her sister Cecelia and Robbie Turner, the housekeeper's son. One night she believes she sees something that will change her life and the lives of all those around her.

The story takes place in the 30s and the writing style, while wordy and somewhat archaic, lends itself to the time period, confirming McEwan as a master. Also, the level of detail is, in a word, delicious. Here's a great example.

"An old tin petty cash box was hidden under a removable floorboard beneath her bed. In the box were treasures that dated back four years, to her ninth birthday when she began collecting: a mutant double acorn, fool's gold, a rainmaking spell bought at a funfair, a squirrel's skull as light as a leaf."

The story is divided into three sections and I liked this form as each section had different themes and voices. The style also seemed to change as the sections progressed through time.

This is definitely a writer's book, which I love. Briony is a writer and by the end of the book, you realize how important that fact is. The ending is a rug-puller. It was absolutely maddening in some ways as I felt that to truly understand the book I'd have to read it again. The title is truly appropriate.

The Bad:

Just as with "Life of Pi", the first part of the book sets up the rest of the story. It may seem slow in some parts with little plot development but McEwan uses this time to develop the characters and their various relationships.

While the writing style felt appropriate to the time period it was so wordy. There were some amazing paragraphs of description and dialogue but I usually subscribe to the Hemingway style of writing. Less is more.

The Ugly:

Somebody find Eli Wallach.

Fox and Potter

Doesn't that post title sound like an awesome name for a band? Just think of it, one, a Canadian raising money for cancer research, the other a Brit writing and drawing the most popular children's stories ever. I couldn't tell you what instruments they would play though.

Today would have been Terry Fox's 50th birthday. For those of you not familiar with Terry Fox, check out this post I did a few years ago. I can't express enough his importance as a role model for raising money for cancer research.

Another bit of news about Fox is two-time NBA MVP and well-known Canadian, Steve Nash wants to make a film about Terry Fox. I'm not sure where he's going to fit in film making with basketball but I look forward to seeing the finished project.




As well, Beatrix Potter would have been 142 today. In honour of this I watched "Miss Potter" with Renee Zellweger and Ewan MacGregor. It was a good movie and interesting to see the limits placed upon women in that time period. 'Miss' Potter had to be accompanied everywhere by an older woman because an unmarried woman must not go anywhere unescorted.

The Sunday Rundown

Reading:
I'm still stuck on "Master and Commander" but not for long. I'm still confused most of the time and I think in future I'll stick to Alexander Kent books when I want to read a series set on ships of the line during the Napoleonic era.






Listening:

I discovered a treasure trove of new made for the internets Muppet-related music. Thanks to inspiration from The Indextrious Reader I've decided to share some more of this material. More Beaker in fact. (I've got a soft spot for this certain lab assistant).




Watching:

Would you be jealous if I said I spent the afternoon with Gary Cooper? I watched "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town". If you've seen the movie then I'm sure you'll agree that the man has the sexiest bedhead you've ever seen.

Here's the crazy echo clip from the movie.

"The Evil Finger is upon you!"



Thinking:

Hamburgers are pretty awesome. On Thursday I made the most amazing burgers with eggs, lean ground beef, garlic, parmesan cheese, an onion, green onions, rosemary and half a leek. Yes, half a leek. The rosemary creates this amazing smell while you're cooking and and an even more amazing taste when you bite into the burger. I guess what I'm trying to say is, I love food experimentation!

Habanera

There are no words.

The Sunday Rundown

Reading:I'm in the midst of Patrick O'Brian's "Master and Commander" but as I have no knowledge of naval terms and practices I'm a little lost. I do like Jack Aubrey's way of speech, his jovial nature, his quick friendship with Stephen Maturin.






Watching:If you're a fan of Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie then you will love this. It's called "Austrailian Soap".



Listening To:

This clip is from an amazing movie called "Auntie Mame", starring Rosalind Russell. I'm sure it's on YouTube. The song is from the musical "Wicked" and if you've seen the movie you know that it's a good fit.

Today I:

- Watched the first two acts of Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

- Sweated over the computer skills test job interview I had today

- Cursed the job after hearing there will be a second round of interviews if I pass this stage

- Attempted to find time to read the first book in the Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O'Brien. Progress: Ongoing

- Tried to finish off my Hot Artichoke Dip and failed. Again

- Wasted $4.00 worth of lean ground beef and maple ham deli meat

- Worked on my never-ending-cross-stitch project while watching "I Love Lucy" (Because really, who doesn't love Lucy?)

- Watched the "Watchmen" trailer and can only hope the movie lives up to the trailer

- Spent an entertaining three hours talking with a roommate about the nature of anarchy. Any thoughts?

- Watched this, and can't wait to see "The Dark Knight". If you liked it then check out the YouTube channel. I know only the very basics about superheros and find these clips hilarious.

The Sunday Rundown

Reading:

The blah horror that was "Nana" is now over and I've started "Murder at the Vicarage". I have to say though, if you've read "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd" this book will sound very familiar. A phone call, floor plans, etc. I have to say though, as the book that introduced Miss Marple to the reading public, she's kind of a jerk. My only other exposure to her has been Geraldine McEwan's portrayal on tv.


Watching:

I've just watched "Hellboy 2" and while I think Del Toro's imagination is right up my alley the storyline left something to be desired. Currently I'm watching the latest BBC remake of "Sense and Sensibility" Willoughby isn't nearly handsome enough and Edward is far too handsome. Everyone else seems to have been perfectly cast though. I do miss Alan Rickman as Colonel Brandon though. He seemed a far more perfect fit than David Morrissey

Listening To:

This is "Stuck for the Summer" by Two Hours Traffic. A perfect song for the season I believe.

Muppet News Flash - Rapunzel

I'm taking Serescros' advice and adding more Muppet related material to the blog. Here is one of the clips I found with Kermit as a reporter. While I've always considered Fozzy to be the reporter half of the dynamic duo, Kermit doesn't do so badly.

May I present, an addlepated version of Rapunzel in which the prince seems to be intoxicated and Rapunzel isn't the brightest crayon in the box.

Life of Pi - Yann Martel

"I was alone and orphaned, in the middle of the Pacific, hanging on to an oar, an adult tiger in front of me, sharks beneath me, a storm raging about me."

The Good:

This story follows the life of Piscine Patel, an Indian immigrant on his way to Canada by way of cargo ship. His family had owned a zoo in Pondicherry, India and was transporting the remaining animals they owned to various Canadian zoos. The ship ends up sinking and Pi is left floating on the Pacific ocean accompanied by a zebra, an orangutan and a Bengal tiger.

This an amazing tale in the theme of survival stories. Martel provides the reader with sumptuous detail that illustrates a direct contrast before and after the shipwreck. Here's one of my favourite excerpts.

" Every morning before I was out the main gate I had one last impression that was both ordinary and unforgettable: a pyramid of turtles; the iridescent snout of a mandrill; the stately silence of a giraffe; the obese, yellow open mouth of a hippo; the beak-and-claw climbing of a macaw parrot up a wire fence; the greeting claps of shoebill's bill; the senile, lecherous expression of a camel."

I loved the description of the steps Pi took to survive as well as the aspects of magic realism that crept into the pages. Although the fantastical elements of the animals vanish by the middle of the book. Watch out for the twist ending. It's both amazing and heart-wrenching.

The book combines religions and philosophies, common sense, magic realism, the will to survive and an understanding of animals. It's not every day a book combining all these elements is this good.

I'm also pleased to say there's a Canadian connection as Yann Martel, the author, just happens to be Canadian. As well, this book won the prestigious Man Booker Prize.

The Bad:

The first 100 pages drag. Martel uses those pages to ground the reader in the reality of the story in order to make the rest of the book more believable. The problem though is if you're not willing to plow through the lack of suspense and tension, you might miss the best part of the book.

As well, the book requires you to suspend your disbelief. As the it progresses the story becomes considerably more unbelievable, asking more of the reader. This is why that 100 page setup is so important in the beginning.

The Ugly:

If you're uncomfortable with violence or gore then you'll want to watch out for some parts in the middle and the end of the book.

The Sunday Rundown

Reading: So I have fifty pages left of "Nana" and I can't wait to move on. It started off as a promising read but has floundered somewhat.









Watching: I just watched "Meet Me In St. Louis", a Judy Garland vehicle that follows one upper middle class family through an entire year in St. Louis, 1903. I still don't understand the Halloween scene entirely but Margaret O'Brien is a deliciously morbid little child.

The family dynamic is hilarious and I loved all of the little touches. The grandfather with the fez, the banter between the father and the maid and the interactions between the various siblings.

Listening: I love how I keep discovering all of these great bands and when I mention them to my parents they give me this look. They then proceed to tell me "I know. I was there."

I love Sergio Leone, his Spaghetti Westerns and Ennio Morricone. So imagine my joy when I discovered this gem. If you have never appreciated ukuleles before this moment you will after listening to this amazing adaptation of "The Good, The Bad and the Ugly".



Thinking: I'm so happy to be finished moving. Hopefully tomorrow at the clinic they'll be able to tell me what's wrong with me. It could be asthma or a respiratory infection but in any case I'm moving on to another job, one that doesn't involve bleach thankfully.