I Survived the Second Night!

I survived another night, thank you Mama Mary! Thank God I had enough sleep and woke up to witness another glorious day. Photo below is the sofa I have been staying the past two nights. It is located in one corner of the living room near the veranda. I will spend the next two nights here...

I Survived the First Night!

Thank God, I survived the first night alone...I actually slept earlier than I expected..Thank you, Mama Mary...Of course I left the tv and lights on...Haha... I felt safe and not alone...

I am confident I will survive the next three nights....God is good, all the time...

Alone again...for a few nights...

   It's 4:40pm, Athens. It's a rainy day, been raining for the past three days.As I am writing, I see the tiny drops of rain on the veranda overlooking the Olympic Stadium.Last night the stadium had its lights on, and there was traffic on the street below going to one of the entrances. I don't exactly know where is the front entrance because I haven't been there. Maybe I will visit it when summer comes again next year. Summer is gone, and winter is coming. My Filipino friends who have been here for many years tell me the rain is part of the crazy Greek weather. It rains even in winter. Isnt it the same for other temperate countries? I wonder.


   My friend left this afternoon on official trip to Milan, Italy. It's been four years since our vacation in Rome and Venice.We had a great time there and I was hoping I'd be able to join her in Milan .Unfortunately, visas are now required of Private Staff of Filipino Diplomats. And there was not enough time to get one.So, I am alone...for about four nights.


   Four nights? Oh my God, when was the last time I was alone here in the apartment for about the same number of nights? And I couldn't sleep. Yes, 'duwag' at 'matakutin ako pag nagiisa. Not of burglars, really because our place is very secured. But of 'multo'...huhuhu...Specially since the death of our beloved mama last May...


   But I am confident Mama Mary will keep me safe.I prayed fervently that our Lord Jesus will guard me, through the intercession of Mama Mary...

   Thank you, Lord...

 

Greek Island Cruises

Last Sunday, August 28 my friends and I went on a 3 island cruise to Hydra, Poros and Aegina. These are the islands found in the Saronic Gulf of Greece. The weatherman predicted windy day and possibly strong currents. I didnt think twice to go ahead with the cruise in spite of the weather forecast. I knew in my heart that Mama Mary would keep us safe.

And she did. Except for a few strong currents on our way to the next island, Poros, the 10 hour cruise was fine. We had a great time crossing the clear, blue waters, enthralled by the islands we passed  along the way.

                             Hydra harbor
                     
That was my third ferry ride since we arrived in Greece. The first was a vacation in the island of Crete. Then we had a 2night/3 day vacation in Santorini.Before we embarked on our trip to Crete, I was hesitant to join my friends. It had been years since my last boat ride and I feared what might happen. It was the fourth week of April and my birthday was approaching. As superstitions go, one should not travel either by air or by land to distant places immediately before or after one's birthday.But my friend convinced me to join them.

And so I joined them. I prayed for Mama Mary's guidance. The moment i stepped into the boat, I felt that the Lord was with us, and Mama Mary too.Our ship cruised along  peacefully all throughtout the 6 hour ride.

                            Santorini

My experience in Santorini was awesome! I was able to drive in  a rented car. When we rented the car, all the available cars were of manual transmission. I had no choice. I worried about the zigzag roads and the steep hills of Santorini. Though I have been driving since my college years, these were always automatic equipped vechicles. Then, at around 4pm before the car was to be brought to our hotel, the manager called that he found a car with automatic transmission!  Thank God!My prayer had been answered. So I drove around the island with ease .....

                                          View of the island from our apartment in Imerovigli,
                                           Santorini