“Always Dreaming”

The headlines today read: “Always Dreaming wins Kentucky Derby on sloppy track.”  What a great headline that is, not because I’m a fan of the Kentucky Derby necessarily, but because I really do like the winning horse’s name, “Always Dreaming.”  I like today’s headline because it reminds me that those who are always dreaming must be aware that they will always be running (dreaming) on a sloppy track.  Life’s course is always sloppy.

Twenty-four hours ago we were in Athens, Greece!  During our two weeks in Greece, soaking up the sights, the wondrous sea and sunshine, the history, the gracious hospitality of the Greek people, the delicious food and the like, there was little opportunity to connect to Wi-Fi and post a daily travelogue of the adventure.  Perhaps that is just as well—for now, as I re-read my notes of each day of the journey and reflect upon them—I may better glean the deeper meaning of the whole experience.

The first day and second day had all to do with getting there!  The hour and a half ride to the Philadelphia Airport by car (three hours before flight time and the waiting) the 8-hour-plus flight overnight from Philadelphia to Frankfurt, Germany—and the waiting—and then the 3-hour flight to Athens the next day went smoothly, but traveling by air these days is not very romantic or exhilarating.  The two most exhilarating happenings were the joy of still being able to walk after the cramped economy class seating overnight and connecting with my brother and sister and their spouses at Frankfurt.

All of the drudgery of travel was immediately forgotten once we arrived in Athens and were settled into our hotel rooms.  That afternoon and evening were spent gazing at the Acropolis (as seen from the roof garden of the hotel) walking the streets of Plaka (“built on top of the residential areas of the ancient town of Athens, known as the "Neighborhood of the Gods" due to its proximity to the Acropolis and its many archaeological sites”) and enjoying a meal at a taverna along the way.  This was my sixth visit to Athens (1960, 1961, 1962, 1997, 2001, and now, 2017).  Many things have changed in the city—a new airport, for example—but some things remain constant--the hospitality of the Greek people and my penchant to be “Always Dreaming” of yet another visit to this fabulous city.  Maybe it will be?  Who knows?