Today was lovely... Mom woke me up to watch the sunrise - one of my favorite things to do, ever. Our hotel room faces the east side of the island, so we could stand at our window to watch the epic phenomenon. We walked a few towns over, via back streets. We wound through resorts and homes, never really knowing if we were on public or private property.
The more of the island we walk - which, by this point, is nearly the whole thing - the more striking the resemblences to Mexico I notice. It's bizarre... I question our understanding of civilization. We consider Greece civilized, but in so many ways it looks like what we think of as poverty - unimproved roads, old junky cars, mangy animals. A lot like my experiences in Tijuana (lame Mexico example, I know). And, I remember this striking me as odd in Italy - but in the midst of seemingly ancient buildings, technology and American normality exists. (And then, of course, there's this bizarre internet cafe we're at right now, in which people are smoking. Not only inside, but in the midst of quite literally a hundred computers. Would never fly in the states.)
We poked our heads inside a couple churches today, and, as I contemplated yesterday, they are relatively simplistic, decorated in little more than icons. I have a few questions for ye Orthodox friends, which I won't bother you with now...
Santorini has been a perfect place to recover from jet-lag (and end-of-school-lag). It's been slow-paced, we've walked a lot, and I've had plenty of time to ponder issues of culture. Travelling is good for me - as much as I like to think I have broad perspectives and an open mind to culture, exposure seems to challenge me to realize things I'm unaware I nearly demand are not, in fact, necessities. Being forced to confront things done differently places theory into practice (something always easier considered conceptually). Even being thrown into a place we, as Americans, consider advanced and such, as far as worldly cultures go, is a challenge to realize that advancement can exist in vastly different environments. I'll flesh out this theorizing upon our return.
In the meantime, we're headed to Crete tomorrow. Not only have I become incredibly excited for the Samaria Gorge hike, but I've even managed to talk Mom into joining me on all eleven miles.
Hope all is well at home. Miss y'all like crazy. It's funny how we constantly see people or things that remind us of people and things halfway across the world. Jakie, I miss you too, buddy. ;)
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3 comments:
I hope the smoky internet cafe brought back that same old feeling you have when we smoke around you.
Your thoughts on the vast differences of the meaning of civilization is really interesting. I would have expected nothing less than for you to be so insightful about your daily experiences. It is so great to hear what you are thinking about while you are there. It is strange that we don't hear or see the humanity of foreign places, yet you would think we would understand that it exists. Are we so naive to think that all that exists in such places are what is advertised in the travel brochures? I'm not sure we ever even stop to think about it.
Ramiro's family lives in a small town in Mexico where they have just developed running water. Still no electricity. I was blown away by this, even for Mexico. But their lives go on, not even knowing that they are 'without'.
Anyhow, looking forward to hearing about your next adventure. That's awesome that your mom is taking that hike with you. Godspeed to you.
All my love,
Laura
Beyth! Sounds amazing! I wish I was there, too (Greece OR Mexico, for that matter).
I love reading your insights and I want to hear lots and lots more in good time.
Hope the skies become cloudless but that you paradoxically do not burn!
Midwestern love, Chris from WI
Your musings reminded me of something I hear once...
"Small people talk about other people. Average people talk about events. But really brilliant (great) people talk about ideas."
-- Tobias S Gibson
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