Monthly Archives: September 2024

local news

Back to the villa … and then home!

MIKRI VIGLA, Greece — Well, gang, I am on my own in one of the most gorgeous places I ever have seen.

My cousin and her son have departed for another Greek island paradise, in Santorini. I am here on Naxos for another day before I started my trek back to North Texas.

My drive back from Naxos port took me along a stretch of road we hadn’t yet seen. My GPS wasn’t working because my “smart phone” was disconnected from the Internet. So, I followed my instincts traveled south, keeping the blue Aegean Sea water on my right.

Not long into my drive back to the villa, I thought: What difference does any of this make if I get back sooner rather than later? I have all day to make the drive.

I was in no hurry.

Tomorrow morning will be different. I have Internet here. I can map my route to the port and then follow the directions “the voice” lays out for me. But again, my instinct tells me to keep the ocean on my left going the other way. I’ll have a ferry to catch and then a cab ride to the hotel where I will spend the night near the Athens airport … before heading to the house.

This clearly has been the most relaxing vacation I’ve ever taken … in my entire life. 

I’ve had a moment or two of sadness realizing my bride isn’t here to share it with me. However, I have completed my journey from darkness to light and I am carrying Kathy Anne in my heart.

Now it’s back to the real world. My tanned, rested and ready self is up to the challenge.

national news

Trump says ‘no mas!’

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Can you really blame Donald Trump for not wanting any more of Kamala Harris than what he got the other evening?

I totally get what he might be thinking: I’ve got too much to lose and probably not much to gain by standing toe-to-toe with the former district attorney/former California attorney general/and current vice president of the United States.

One debate whoopin’ is enough for the former POTUS.

The Democratic and Republican presidential nominees now will slug it out at a distance. We’ll get to hear Trump spit out his lies, his fabrications about such things as dogs and cats being eaten by immigrants. We won’t see a scintilla of grace from the GOP nominee who gets to run for POTUS for the third consecutive election cycle, despite his multiple felony convictions and other felony indictments awaiting trial.

He gets to join the ranks of “quitters” to go along with his membership in the club of losers.

International news

All good things must end

NAXOS, Greece — My all-too-brief visit to Paradise is coming to an end and I am beginning to prepare for my return to what I call “normal” life in North Texas.

It won’t be easy.

Normally, I am usually ready to go home at the tail end of vacations. I’m good for a limited amount of fun and good times. This stint far from the crowds, noise, hassles and pressure is different.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time away, so much so in fact that I want to continue to enjoy it for a little while longer.

Naxos is a special place, to be abundantly clear. I have enjoyed some marvelous conversations with strangers. The locals have welcomed my cousin, her son and me with warmth … which shouldn’t surprise anyone, given how dependent this island community is on tourists and the money they spend.

But it’s almost over. The grind awaits. I am more ready for it now than I was when I arrived here.

Mission accomplished!

political news

Far from politics

NAXOS, Greece — I have told a joke on occasion that starts with Mrs. Bear Bryant moving back to College Station, Texas, where Bear coached the Texas A&M Aggies before becoming head football coach at the U of Alabama.

Bear died and Mrs. Bryant, according to the joke, moved back to Aggieland to “get as far away from football as possible.”

Yuk, yuk, yuk.

Well, I have gotten as far away from politics as I could by visiting Naxos, in the middle of the Aegean Sea. It feels quite cleansing. I don’t read my cell phone news feed too often, nor do I open my laptop to catch up on the political news of the day. For a political junkie that might seem like a mighty hill to climb. The truth is … it’s not been nearly so difficult.

I have spent the vast bulk of my day catching up on family matters with my cousin and her son; I have been fetching compliments on my ballcap that says “Pappou,” which is a Greek colloquialism for “grandpa.” I pay for items with a credit card and the vendor wants to know when he or she sees my name, “Are you Greek?” Then they mention the obvious, which is that I have a Greek name.

My answer to the last part? Uhh, yeah …  I know.

It has been a marvelous time away from the hustle, bustle, humdrum and occasional hassle of my wonderful North Texas life.

Am I ready for it to end? Not … just … yet.

national news

Harris wins by TKO

NAXOS, Greece — I awoke this morning in time to watch Vice President Kamala Harris extend her hand to Donald Trump prior to the candidates engaging in a. 90-minute debate.

I cannot tell you whether the encounter will prove decisive in this campaign for the presidency. I will say, though, that I believe Harris has delivered a stunning message to Trump and his MAGA cultists … which is that the GOP nominee can’t hold a candle to the VP while facing her on a debate stage.

She delivered the goods bigly to the former POTUS who once again felt compelled to fall back on his litany of lies, even going so far as to say that undocumented immigrants are eating our puppies and kitties.

Post-debate analysis suggests that Harris was successful in re-introducing herself to American voters.

What now? Hit the road, Mme. Veep. Keep the heat under Trump’s backside … and keep looking forward to a brighter day,

national news

Trump: small and old

NAXOS, Greece — Of all the analysis I read after watching the Kamala Harris-Donald Trump debate, one media observation stands out.

Kamala Harris managed to make Trump look and sound “small and old” during their 90-minute insult fest.

The decisive moment likely came when she mentioned how Trump rally-goers have been leaving his rallies early out of boredom. Trump was having none of that, contending that his rallies are the greatest in human history; then he fires back with Harris being a “low IQ vice president” serving the “worst president in history.”

Well, there you go. Trump is 78 years of age, the oldest presidential nominee in the history of the republic. He also no longer has the presidential seal behind which he can hide.

Small and old? Yep … that’s Trump.

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Let’s call her ‘Calico’

NAXOS, Greece — This country is known for a lot of spectacular aspects … breathtaking landscapes, centuries-old antiquities, its food, its music and its people.

It also is home to perhaps millions of stray dogs and cats that roam through city streets and rural gardens with nary a care in the world.

My traveling companions and I have made a friend of one of the wanderers on Naxos, where we will spend the next few nights. I am going to call her “Calico,” as she is a calico kitty, and I believe a young one, too.

Calico doesn’t act like a feral animal. Her fur is groomed, she purrs constantly, she loves being held and she also seems willing to join us indoors in the resort where we are staying.

Stray dogs and cats have been a source of discussion among Greeks for years. As Greece was preparing to host the 2004 Athens Olympics, a tempest erupted when the government considered methods to, um, “reduce” the number of stray animals who officials thought would bother the millions of tourists who came here for the Games.

Citizens here said, “Not so fast!” They resisted any thought of mass slaughter of the pooches and kitties. Indeed, we witnessed a woman the other morning in Athens feeding about 20 cats gathered around her for a meal.

These adorable critters, such as Calico, are part of life in Greece.

International news

He is ‘seeing someone else’

NAXOS, Greece — One of two people with whom I am visiting Greece offered a quip today that expressed the instant love he felt upon arriving in this paradise in the middle of the Cyclades Islands.

“Athens, I love ya,” said my cousin’s grown son, “but the truth is, I am seeing someone else.”

The “someone else” happens to be the largest island among the Cyclades and truth be told, I share Aaron’s love of the place.

Man, oh man. It is quiet here, As in stone-cold silent. The Aegean Sea water is crystal clear/blue. It’s not overly warm, but it is, so very swimmable.

We arrived by “ferry,” which is a misnomer describing the ship that carried hundreds of passengers and dozens of vehicles from Pireaus to Naxos. It’s more like a cruise ship than a ferry.

We intend to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of this idyllic island. I’ll be here six days total before I head back to Athens, the capital city of 3 million residents who seemingly make enough noise to be heard across the Aegean ,,.. to Naxos.

I do hate to say this, and it’s not often that I do: As much as I love my North Texas home and my family that awaits me … it will be difficult to leave this tiny portion of paradise,

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Heading for paradise

ATHENS, Greece — I am preparing to do something I had not done in three previous trips to this wonderful spot in southeastern Europe.

I will spend several nights basking under the Mediterranean sunshine on an island in the middle of the Aegean Sea.

My cousin, her son and I are boarding a ferry soon for Naxos, the largest island of the Cyclades group of islands. Naxos sits about 4 hours away from Pireaus, the chief port of Greece.

Is this a big deal? Well … not really. Except that it’s new to me. Which I suppose makes it a brief blog topic.

I am told Naxos is well-equipped with broadband internet capability, which I hope means I’ll be able to watch Kamala Harris dismantle Donald Trump on the debate stage in a couple of days.

I’ll also continue to post blog items.

I will spend the bulk of my time on Naxos doing … absolutely nothing!

Hey, I am on vacation!

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Vacation challenge awaits

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ATHENS, Greece — Very soon, I will be boarding a ferry for a four-hour boat ride to Naxos in the middle of the Aegean Sea.

That is where I might encounter the first challenge of the vacation I am enjoying. I hope it is the only challenge I will face!

How will I be able to watch the debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump?

Will there be streaming services available on the island? Will I be able to watch it live? Will I have to rely on YouTube or other media outlets to deliver tbe “news” online?

I do know this: I want it to be a game-changer. I want VP Harris to smash the former TV host to smithereens.