A good tour guide will instruct you on the correct pronunciation of the language. So here we are, in Athens, practicing "Kalimera!", meaning "good morning" in Greek. It is not pronounced "Calamari!" You always want to try to fit in when in another country, but saying "Squid!" first thing in the morning may give you away. One trip to Greece is not enough to see what this country has to offer. We thought of taking a beach vacation, but decided to see the ancient sites, and are still in awe of what we were able to see in such a short time! Keith has been reading the myths of the greek gods to try to put the temples and sights into perspective, but it is such a soap opera of relationships! We are going to be ... read more

We have dragged these kids all over the country. We've attempted to show them as much of our temporary home, in 12 days, as we could. So, no wonder that today, as I begin to write, we all are just plain lazy! We are either reading, catching up on emails, or doing laundry. Which by the way takes forever! The machine is a washer-dryer combination, and is supposed to be efficient, but it is being put to the test with the four of us! The day after we arrived back to Krakow we met one of our favorite town guides, Karolina, and she introduced the kids to the old Jewish district, Kazimierz. We crossed the Vistula River to Podgorze where the Jewish citizens were sent to the Nazi established ghetto, before being deported to the labor ... read more

Cote d'Or - "Hills of Gold" The hills of the Burgundy region of France, that we saw in this, the first week of August, were very green. But the hills were also colored with fields of golden wheat, and the bright gold of the sunflowers. Just when I was getting tired of pedalling my bicycle up another hill, our handsome guide, Matthieu ( or - our beautiful guide Christen!) would inform us that around the next hill we would be stopping for a break. And the scenery would be incredible! Sunflowers bowing their heavy heads to the overcast sky, or the next day, young plants with their heads searching out the sunny skies. Just the photo opportunity we were hoping for! After all the "teenage" years we spent telling the kids not to drink and drive, ... read more

First let me tell you where Gliwice is. It is close by, just west of Krakow, in southern Poland, a city of 200,000. Silesian Universtiy of Technology is here, attended by 32,000 students. One of the city's unique claims to fame, is the wooden radio tower. Perhaps the tallest in the world, 118 meters tall, (approximately 350 feet) But this trip wasn't for our usual sight seeing holiday. It was a chance for me to be of some use. In case you are looking for a different approach to travel, here's a formula that guarantees a memorable experience: -act on a whim. -build a house, one heavy cement block at the time -generate compassion within yourself "active desire to alleviate another's suffering" -form friendships with people from places you may never heard of. -just don't leave ... read more

Italian Riviera This is the area of Italy along the Ligurian Sea, called the Five Lands, "Cinque Terre". #1 Monterosso al Mare, #2 Vernazza, #3 Corniglia, #4 Manarola, and #5 Riomaggiore. Picture this - tiny pastel towns, snuggled in ravines, against vineyard covered hills. Rocky harbors of sparkling clear blue-green water. And two content people lounging around the beach, the most crowded beach we have been to, but a beach none the less. The little restaurants are serving maybe the most delicious suppers we have had. I debated whether or not to write about this area of Italy. It needs to be kept a secret. But I'm pretty sure this blog won't cause it to be spoiled. The towns are old and had been isolated until the early 1900's, now there is a trail connecting the ... read more