Cherry Blossom Life?

I want to make a blog about the churches I went to in the past month, but I scrapped my Flickr photo-hosting site account, and what I found are old pictures I made during my first time in using Adobe Photoshop (APS).  It brought back funny memories. These are the pictures which I took during the wedding of a great friend, Manang Jovy, who’s one of the bestfriends of Manang Julie. Here goes what I had kept in Flickr!

My picture with my three favorite cousins
on my Mom’s Side:

My Friends, @ work before I left ‘pinas.

My Koochie…

The Bookmark I made about Koochie. My First Try.

Some Wedding Pics I took: (not-edited)

Hehe, these are it!

I’d like to share a poem as well:

Photographic Memories
© Karen E. King

I went through all our old photographs
memories made over thirteen years

Pictures worth a million words
that bring my soul to tears.

I study each one carefully
replaying the memories in my mind

looking for clues of what the future would hold
and the heartache it would leave behind

Smiling children, visiting new places
a canoe trip, a wedding, the park

How could we have known that summer day at the Lake
how quickly our bright lives would turn dark

Birthday smiles and Christmas mornings
Putt Putt golf and a day at the beach

So carefree and not knowing how soon
happiness would be out of our reach

Our passage through life captured on paper
If not for the photos would soon disappear

Fade out of our minds like the love in our hearts
bittersweetly remembered through the years.
View Here: Photographic Memories - Memory Poems - Family Friend Poems

Nothing spectacular. Some of them just - bugs me.

1.  I lost something precious from my mom… I can’t recall what?

2. Race issue: Macedonian Language in a more Slavic Origin Country? We’re talking about the country who call themselves as “Macedonians” and telling the Greeks that “Alexander the Great is not a Macedonian” nor Greece (Northern Greece where I live now) is not a Macedonian territory/origin. This is from the people that lives in FYROM. aka. Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and some people that do not know Ancient History, whether because they did not go to school or just do not know which valid material of History Books they are reading.

I cannot believe that there are people who still argues about the authenticity of Greeks and Macedonia. Even the Cyrillic Language is being understood. Haven’t they heard of the Byzantine Era? Probably they do not have internet too, or if they had, what kind of information they may have read is a HOAX.

When you start emphasizing to them of the history background they just say to you, “No… Greeks erased the ancient stones that Macedonian Language were written and wrote it of their own.”

Something funny about this modern Macedonian Language. When you actually say Macedonia, you remind of yourself of Alexander the Great. And he’s a Greek aka from Hellas as what Greeks were called before the Turkish occupied them and call them as “Greeks” which basically means, “slave”. But up until now in their Greek dictionary which may have been modernized so that you don’t have to use those “ae” and many “o”s accentuation, “Greek” word  do not exist in ancient times, but “Hellas” does.

This Macedonian Language is basically a mix of other languages. Byzantine Empire has their “good” benefits because Orthodox Missionaries started going to other territories outside Greece to help educate the people of those places. By giving them a language; a mix of Ancient Greek and of their own that is now called “Cyrillic Language”. Shouldn’t they be grateful of this rather than acting like as if they have made it on their own without the help of those Orthodox Priests.

Note: of course “Greek” word do not exist in ancient times, it is called “Hellenic” or Hellas as a country.

The Macedonian Language refers now to the language used by the people who has a nation- identity crisis after being thrown here and there, but had lived in the Hellenic Republic (Greece) during the Byzantine empire,

- were actually Slavic people in origin. They have mixed with the people of the country and have accustomed around the Greeks for centuries. After the Turkish occupied the country, they were like orphans; they were lost where to settle down because they may be Slavic in origin but they are Greeks in culture so they do not know where to settle down. Bulgarians who is their nearest brother, had tried to occupied them, and other slavic coutries conflict they have tasted. After centuries passed, their roots have expanded and now they are in one country called, ” Republic of Macedonia”.

These are some of the arguments a person from that “Slavic - origin country” talked:

1. Asking why Greeks are still using ancient alphabet letters?

2. Talking about that his alphabet has been used for a very long time so the Greek and Russian alphabets derived from it?

3. Greeks are “nigah” and been “fucked” by Egyptians so they became “white”.

4. Greeks are propagandists.

Crap.
Hoax are the stories of their claim that they’re Macedonians by origin.What pride to they have in this claim? And thanks to the UN. OR whoever is the politician that is behind this propaganda of FYROM aka Rep. of Ma.ce.do.nia.

Check this Website for More Information: http://www.greece.org/Themis/Macedonia/history.htm

I may not be Greek in origin, but I’m married to a Greek and iLL be a citizen of Greece soon, so afterthen,  I may claim that I’m Greek, but come on… im not really Greek, check my genes. So freedom of speech. Freedom of idiocrasy. Anyone can claim whom they want to be, but at least be true to yourself when it comes to the “truth”. Do not claim what you are not.

–END of Blab–

ALL PHOTOS ARE TAKEN BY ME.

On the 2nd week of August, my husband and I went to one of the Ancient ruins around the city. A fanatic of ancient sites, I love sharing the infos, just like it is best to share the most-delicious peaches in the world to my old friends in Philippines, (it’s not like I have traveled to alot of places, haha, but, yes I found it in Thessaloniki, ^^).

I will be taking some lines or paragraphs from the brochure that was given to us at the site, because I myself can’t recall what’s in there.

For a start, you enter the site for F.R.e.E.

That day, the ground was a bit moist from last night’s rain. There was a person painting varnish on the entrance fence where an excavated area has been opened. We were met by a foreign site personnel who handed us the brochure.

Imagine this is Summer in Greece and in the news there were almost 3 million tourist in the Northern region. Thanks to the Balkan countries who do not have good beaches or no beaches at all because they come here, hehe. But amazingly, they weren’t that many that day. They’re mostly at the beach resorts. There are foreign faces roaming around the ruin set. The foreign-guide had to remind most of the site visitors not to go on “that” and “not here sir”, and “please go this way”. I did not hear any Greek language from them. Well this project is basically co-financed by the EU and the 2nd & 3rd CSF.That’s why the personnel from that site are mostly foreigners.

What is this ancient site about?

It is an ancient agora, the administrative centre of Roman Thessalonike, covered an area about 2 hectares in the heart of the city. Construction began at the end of  the 2nd AD on the site of an existing agora of the Early Imperial period.

The agora complex was discovered in 1962 during excavations on the site which the Hebrard plan, after the fire of 1917, had designated for the new law courts. In 1966, under extreme pressure, the then inspector of antiquities, Fotis Petsas, restored the only intact column found there, and this initiative determined the agora’s fate, because in 1969 the area was declared an archaeological site and its name was changed from Dikastirion (Law-courts) Square to Archaias Agoras (ancient Agora) Square.

A part of a hellenistic bath has been excavated.

It was abandoned during the 5th century, transferring the city’s administrative functions to Galerius’s palace complex and the buildings in the agora were plundered of their stone or converted into rain-water cisterns.

The complex was organised around a rectangular paved area. Three sides were lined with 2-storey porticoes with a double row of Corinthian columns giving access to public spaces.

The south portico rested on a double, vaulted structure, part of which was underground (cryptoporticus).

Further south, along the entire length of the cryptoporticus, was a row of shops facing onto the ancient commercial street along what is now Philippou street.

Market Streets: (they closed the alley area so we cannot go down to see what’s in there)

Mini theater: Odeion

Entrance:

A view of the small theater from outside the site:

A view of the surrounding areas from the mini-theater (from the toppest):

Outside the wall of the mini-theater:

In 1996-97 the cryptoporticus and the odeion began to be used as venues for cultural events. At thesame time following archaeological investigations and development work, two underground spaces were opened along Olymbou Street, where the portable finds from the agora can be classified and occasional exhibitions held. There found too are refreshment rooms, lavatories, and two underground rooms have been opened.

If you have added me as FS friend, you will see more photos from the ruins that I took even days after the 1st visit. I will be putting them up in due time.

More personal pics of mine and hubby:

This blogpost is on prior editing because I’m in a hurry to publish it. Ill pick up more details Sis Ceres!

My husband and I like going to Isolated beaches in Thessaloniki. Especially to the direction of Halkidiki (spelled as Chalkidiki iin english although when pronounced in Greek it can be simply said as Hal-Ki-Di-Ki.Amen)

Why in the direction of Halkidiki because number 1 reason, it is where the beautiful beaches are located. Period. So only those foreigners who can actually go to these places are the ones that can afford an expensive vacation. But living in Thessaloniki, is considered a very small fortune. Depending on which area of Halkidiki you are going; to the first leg, 2nd leg, or 3rd leg (which is rocky and isolated beaches are mostly located, but the great art Monastery is there too, so watch out for monks walking around in this area), you can reach these areas in 30 minutes (from Filiro which is a sub-urban area) or almost an hour, or more than an hour if you wanna go to the 3rd leg location.

You can even do this everyday if you want to, even after your work (since Greece has days of until 2.30 pm work-time only and a Sunday day-off) , the most important accessory you have in life is a -CAR-. That’s it and you can reach a sanctuary of solitude, away from busy-buzzy-city life.

Among the beach activities me and my husband had done,
taking photos of birds along the shore is quite a hectic activity because:
1. we don’t have a professional digi cam
2. we are most likely to sleep and get tanned whether we are naked or not
3. i have to practice swimming more often than bird-catching

But once in awhile, we watch out for birds cos they get food limitation as well. One reminder to those beach campers and those who are in an isolated - open beach area. Watch out for Birds.

Captured Moments: *just out of curiousity-test *

I caught a naughty bird while we were relaxing…

And it keeps going forward to our lover’s area…fishy birdie…it got a plan. Hmm…

He walks back and forth; it was entertaining to see a sneaky creature, reminds me of myself ^^…

He kept up his pace… looking at us for a moment, then looking to the sea…thesame action he did that you can’t help to be suspicious…

Then he suddenly walk a li’l bit farther… still checking on us, though. I put the peelings of the Nectarines on the ground to see what he will do. Alas… he looked back and I was able to catch his face again.

Yeah…try to hypnotize him, Baby! ((O___O))

I caught a flock of them:

While our Lil “friend”, decided to take his time, or probably tired from waiting for us to leave, he decided to relax for awhile…

So both me and hubby can go “smoochie-smoochie” ^_^

Before we went home we left our “lil friend” some snacks while we went our way to the village’s main town and bought ourselves fresh gyros. Gyros are cooked in different ways, so at the restaurant where we had it, the pita was semi-grilled and fried. It was crispy enough so I enjoyed it with the rest of my tomatoes and pork-meat with ketchup. You can also order a variety of gyros. You name it, you see it, you got it.

To get around St. Mama’s village, (Yes I am talking Agios Mamas Town so now you know where we hang out to be nude, lmao. But don’t be afraid, ’cause the villagers don’t care much of the place that’s why it is as isolated as it can be - I mean a large part of it. You can never even find the beach unless you know where to start looking for it. So good luck. And St. Mamas is the name of the town, and the saint is a MAN not a woman. Amen.)

This is town’s small cafe:

And a part of their li’l plaza where we stayed for 15 minutes to be entertained with elementary kids showing off their cellphones to each other.

It’s quite a funny scenario. Reminds me of those bratty college classmates I had who would show off what’s new and hot in the technology world, when in fact, Philippines is quite “late” for such technologies. Blah. I did not care of their BS attitude at that time so I let them be. I pretended most of the time that I’m praising them by saying ” oh that’s cute, nice, cool..” Heck, I only know that cellphone is for emergency and not entertainment at that time .  For now, unless I have an iphone (puppy eyes) , that, I will consider a big change in my life. Lmao~

*now wishing im in USA …again*

Well that’s it… the li’l friend, the winged-birdie, by the time we’re driving home, he must be having food frenzy on the crumbs we left for him. Hehe.

Till next time.

Surprise, surprise.

Today I received two post mail from my bestfriends online! So this blog is dedicated to them.

*Dee chan’s handmade letter was received weeks ago.*

1. A box of Strawberry Tea from NCRB. Presenting Booboo as the model.

“Without - A - teabag - a - day, you will keep sleeping.”

2. NCRB put a really big name on the card envelope. I went O__O.

3. NCRB’s card… I felt so loved!

4. JCL’s Piggy bookmark! It’s hanging now with Ms. Piggy , which is a gift from my Best buddy in Pinas. Ms. Piggy is so happy having an additional accessory !

5.  THANKING you Guys Back “Presented by my darlings at home”

6. MWEH !

PLanning what to do on these gifts?
1. Strawberry-flavored Tea, is delicious; my alternative to coffee ^^. So i’ll drink it with Lurve~so as my husband.

2. The cards will be added on my scrapbook about friends. The bookmark of JCL will be used from time to time but I like looking at it as an accessory for Ms. Piggy. So let it stay there for awhile.
A poem from JCL:

The Arrow and the Song
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I shot an arrow into the air,
It fell to earth, I knew not where;
For, so swiftly it flew, the sight
Could not follow it in its flight.

I breathed a song into the air,
It fell to earth, I knew not where;
For who has sight so keen and strong,
That it can follow the flight of song?

Long, long afterward, in an oak
I found the arrow, still unbroke;
And the song, from beginning to end,
I found again in the heart of a friend.